Chapter 124: Let Her Be
Although Jiang Ruanxi was not injured, she was still shocked.
Moreover, during the struggle just now, Lin Ningkun had indeed hurt her wrist, but how could the friction on her body compare to the scars on her heart?
Smelling the filthy things filling the room, Jiang Ruanxi closed her eyes and recalled the scene just now, feeling a faint nausea rising from the bottom of her heart again.
“Hong Ye, prepare the bath.”
How could what had happened be treated as if nothing had occurred?
Those matters between Lin Ningkun and Jiang Xuerou, the humiliation he had brought upon her, how could it be just this little bit on her body?
He actually still delusionally thought of starting over with her?
She would not demean herself, and even more so, she would not let Lin Ningkun act cheaply.
Mixed with humiliation and resentment, Jiang Ruanxi was so angry that she almost exploded.
In her daze, she simply soaked her entire body in the water, scrubbing hard with her hands at the places Lin Ningkun had touched, as if this could make those places he had touched cease to have existed.
The moon rose outside the window, bringing a cool breeze that also dispersed the anger and warmth in the room.
Hong Ye waited for a long time but heard no response from inside, so she became somewhat worried and called out toward the inside, “Madam.”
After a long time, a voice finally came from inside, “I’m fine, come in and serve.”
Hong Ye breathed a sigh of relief, but after entering, she saw the injuries on Jiang Ruanxi’s body—the red marks on her wrist were shocking, and there were abrasions everywhere on her back and even her calves.
“Madam, does it hurt?” Hong Ye burst into tears directly. “How could Master treat you like that?”
Hong Ye thought these injuries were caused by Lin Ningkun just now, and Jiang Ruanxi did not explain, just comforting her.
“Why are you crying? He struck viciously, but your Madam struck even harder. The wound on his abdomen won’t heal for ten days or half a month.”
And she must find a way to completely leave the Lin Family within these dozen days.
After changing clothes, Jiang Ruanxi dismissed Hong Ye. “You go out.”
Hong Ye feared she was only calm on the surface, so after going out, she stood guard at the door.
Jiang Ruanxi took out the letter that Nameless Daoist had given her during the day, and upon seeing the contents, her mood sank.
**
That night, after He Sheng endured pain for several hours and nearly fainted, she finally gave birth to a son.
The Lin Family had been in a low mood for this period, with everyone immersed in the joy of the Eldest Branch, completely failing to notice everything that happened in Jiang Ruanxi’s room.
The next day, Jiang Ruanxi knew the news as soon as she got up.
“First Madam gave birth to a son at midnight last night. First Master was very happy and rewarded everyone in the manor, even giving two bones to A Wang who guards the back door.”
Even the dog received a favor, so it seemed Lin Feng was indeed very happy.
Jiang Ruanxi took a sip of tea. Seeing her silent, Hong Ye continued, “The things Madam asked to prepare, I sent them over last night, but…”
Hong Ye stopped, looking hesitant to speak.
“What is it?”
“First Madam did not accept them and had them returned, saying they were things from Madam and her son had no fortune to enjoy them.”
Jiang Ruanxi understood that the matter with Madam Zhou had made He Sheng and Lin Feng somewhat unhappy; her persona of not meddling in mortal world affairs had collapsed despite her efforts to maintain it.
Everyone inside and outside the manor knew she had threatened suicide to force Lin Feng to agree to lock up Madam Zhou, and they gossiped openly and secretly about it.
She blamed it all on herself.
“But fortunately, First Master is reasonable and accepted the things amiably.”
“Forget it, let her be.”
Wanting to kill someone without getting one’s hands stained with blood—how could there be anything good about that?
“Madam, this servant has one more thing.”
Seeing Hong Ye hemming and hawing, Jiang Ruanxi could not help but frown. “Speak.”
“Early this morning, I saw people from Marquis Yongning Manor coming to deliver gifts to First Madam.” After finishing, Hong Ye glanced at her expression and saw she was not angry, then continued, “This servant was curious at the time, so I asked a maid, and she said Third Miss wants to return to the manor and specially begged First Madam.”
When Lin Tingting married out back then, it was agreed that unless Madam Zhou died, she could never set foot in the Lin Family again. But if Madam Zhou was still alive and she returned, wouldn’t that mean completely disregarding Jiang Ruanxi?
Outside the window, the tree with more than half its yellow leaves fallen—some still drifting down slowly with the wind. Jiang Ruanxi reached out her hand, and a yellowing leaf remained in her slender palm, making her hand appear even more fair and jade-like.
Jiang Ruanxi looked at the yellow leaf for a moment, then suddenly said, “As long as this matter doesn’t come out into the open, even if Third Miss secretly goes to see Old Madam, you should pretend not to know. Understand?”
Hong Ye was puzzled but did not ask more.
**
Lin Family back door.
Lin Tingting stood at the door, and Lin Feng blocked her from entering. “Third Sister, I’ve already accepted your things. You should go back.”
When Lin Tingting arrived, she had covered herself tightly, but now she simply dropped her cloak.
“Elder Brother, I don’t want to see Elder Sister-in-law. You know seeing her is just an excuse. I want to see Mother. She’s been locked in the Ancestral Hall—doesn’t your heart ache at all?”
“Mother did something wrong and was confined in the Ancestral Hall to reflect on her errors facing the wall; that’s perfectly normal. Third Sister, since you’ve already married, it’s best not to interfere in family matters.”
“Elder Brother, Mother gave birth to me and raised me. Though I’ve married, I am still Mother’s daughter. Now that Mother is suffering this calamity, how can I ignore it?”
Lin Tingting appealed to reason and emotion. “Elder Brother, don’t you care at all about mother-son affection? I remember when we were young, you didn’t study properly, and Father punished you to kneel in the Ancestral Hall. Mother would secretly send you some food, even beg Father to forgive you. Now that you’ve married and have your own wife and children, have you just cast Mother aside?”
“Third Sister, no matter what you say, the Clan Leader has already decided on Mother’s matter, and I have my own plans. You should go back.” Lin Feng’s expression was not good; even the joy of just having a son had faded somewhat because of Lin Tingting.
“I never expected Elder Brother to be such a heartless ingrate. Mother has always been so good to you, and now you ignore her…”
Before she could finish, Lin Feng angrily rebuked her, “Shut up.”
He raised his eyes and shouted loudly toward the inside of the door, “Come here, close the back door for me. From now on, if Third Miss comes, no one is to open it for her.”
After speaking, he turned and left directly.
It was the first time the servants had seen Lin Feng so furious, and they did not dare disobey the order, hurriedly closing the door.
Watching the door close right before her eyes, Lin Tingting rushed forward to slip in before it fully shut, but by the time she reached it, the door had closed completely, nearly hitting her nose.
