Chapter 13: I Need To Think It Over Some More
Madam Wei tightly gripped the handkerchief, wishing it were Jiang Ruanxi’s neck, her face completely turning cold.
Jiang Ruanxi pretended not to see it and continued, “Offending the Lin Family clan leader for an outsider is never worth it. Mother, don’t you think so? Therefore, regarding Xiao Ge’er’s matter, I still need to consider it further.”
Jiang Ruanxi brushed it off with just a few words. After all, Lin Ningkun’s future was far more important than a friend’s son.
“But Mother, rest assured. I know the Marquis’s mind is entirely on his promotion right now. I absolutely will not let other matters interfere with him. As for Xiao Ge’er, although he cannot be adopted for the time being, I will certainly treat him as my own son.”
Hearing this, Madam Wei became increasingly displeased.
Treating him as her own son—how could that compare to a legitimate son?
But everything Jiang Ruanxi said made sense, and she had no good reason to refute it.
Thinking of the matter Jiang Xuerou had entrusted to her, she pondered for a moment, then her eyes brightened as if she thought of something, and she chimed in agreement with Jiang Ruanxi.
“What you say makes sense. I haven’t seen Xiao Ge’er yet. I hear he’s grown up very cute. Could Mother take a look?”
Jiang Ruanxi took a sip of tea and placed the teacup on the table, smiling as she said, “It’s really a bit unfortunate.
Although Xiao Ge’er has not been adopted yet, he is the orphaned son of the Marquis’s close friend, so our Marquis Manor treats him as a child of the manor, strictly disciplining him and sending him to a private school to study. He is now at the private school and not at home.”
Madam Wei’s face completely turned cold.
She had originally come to the Lin Family intending to have Jiang Ruanxi adopt Lin Xiao, but she hadn’t expected to hit a wall with Jiang Ruanxi.
She had thought that whatever she asked for, Jiang Ruanxi would agree as she always had before, but now not only was she refusing, she was even blocking her from seeing Lin Xiao.
Just now, she had thought that since adoption wasn’t possible for the time being, she could at least see Lin Xiao, paint a portrait, and show it to Jiang Xuerou to ease her longing.
After all, Jiang Xuerou had returned to the Zhenguo Marquis Manor and didn’t know when she could come out.
But she hadn’t expected this request to be refused as well.
All along, it had been Jiang Ruanxi trying to please her. When had she ever had to speak so humbly to Jiang Ruanxi?
Jiang Ruanxi was repeatedly slapping her in the face. The proud and arrogant Madam Wei could no longer sit still. She stood up angrily, didn’t even say goodbye, and left directly.
Hong Ye looked at Madam Wei’s retreating figure and asked full of doubt, “Madam, wasn’t the Marquis Manor Madam here to see you? Why is she so angry with you now over an outsider?”
She had thought Madam Wei was there to see Jiang Ruanxi, since Jiang Ruanxi was her biological daughter after all, but now it seemed not.
Jiang Ruanxi fiddled with the teacup lid, lowered her head to take a sip of tea, and said faintly, “Perhaps in her heart, an outsider is more important than me.”
Hong Ye thought she was sad and was about to speak to comfort her when Jiang Ruanxi set down the teacup. “By the way, from now on, no matter who from the Yongyi Marquis Manor Wei Family comes looking for me, say I’m not here.”
Hong Ye was stunned, thinking she had misheard, but seeing Jiang Ruanxi’s serious expression, she confirmed she hadn’t misheard.
But thinking of how much grievance Jiang Ruanxi had suffered in the Lin Family over the years, and how the Wei Family had never inquired or stood up for her, and now they came demanding she do something she didn’t want to do—who wouldn’t want to avoid them?
“Madam, this servant understands.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked at the sun at the doorway, calculated the time, and a smile hung on her lips.
That matter should be about done by now, right?
**
Madam Zhou went to the Zhenguo Marquis Manor early in the morning, originally going happily, but when she returned, her expression was not good.
Jiang Ruanxi knew exactly what was going on but pretended not to notice, staying in her own room.
Lin Ningkun, knowing she was back, thought she had brought good news and came joyfully to Madam Zhou’s Shoukang Hall full of delight. Before even entering, he called out from the doorway with a smile, “Mother, you’re back! Did Second Sister agree?”
Madam Zhou gulped down a cup of tea. Hearing Lin Ningkun’s words, she couldn’t swallow the tea at her lips and slammed it down on the table, spilling some tea. “No.”
“Why, Mother? Didn’t you persuade Second Sister?” Lin Ningkun was displeased inside, his face darkening.
Looking at her son, whose heart was full of that woman Jiang Xuerou, she was unhappy too, but now he was the one supporting the manor. She took a deep breath and explained what she knew. “Your Second Sister had a miscarriage, and there’s no one to care for her in the manor, so that’s why the Heir Apparent’s Wife was called back.”
Hearing this, Lin Ningkun frowned tightly. “Xue’er was never in good health to begin with—how could she go back to the Zhenguo Marquis Manor and work herself to exhaustion?”
Jiang Xuerou’s health was poor, but her daughter Lin Qingxu’s health wasn’t good either?
He, as her brother, didn’t ask at all about his own sister’s situation and only cared about Jiang Xuerou.
Madam Zhou’s heart was very conflicted. She always felt that her son was now completely bewitched by Jiang Xuerou, with only her in his heart and eyes.
“Ning Kun, the Heir Apparent’s Wife going back is something that will happen sooner or later. This isn’t just your Second Sister’s wish—it’s the Zhenguo Marquis’s order. Your Second Sister’s health was never good to begin with—how could she defy the Marquis’s order? Instead of thinking about Jiang Xuerou here, you might as well think about your own promotion.”
Although Lin Ningkun still felt uncomfortable, he knew some things couldn’t be forced.
He composed his emotions, and his expression softened considerably.
Sitting down in the chair beside her, “Mother, the clan leader told me he’s found the connection. Now we just need the silver in place, and everything will be easy.”
Hearing this, Madam Zhou smiled, relieved in her heart.
“Don’t worry about the silver. These past few days, I’ve been finding buyers to sell off the shops in West of the City that Jiang Ruanxi holds, and then we’ll have the silver.”
Hearing this, the words were like tiny needles pricking into Lin Ningkun’s heart. He very much wanted to ignore it, but he couldn’t.
Fine, all this was for his own future. Jiang Ruanxi’s money was his money too—what was wrong with him using some?
Thinking of something, Lin Ningkun changed the subject. “Mother, I’ve been away from the Capital for so many years and haven’t seen the family’s relatives for a long time. Now that I’m back this time, I want to meet the family’s relatives.”
Madam Zhou was stunned for a moment, gave Lin Ningkun a glance, quickly understood his intent, and smilingly agreed.
“You’re right. Our family hasn’t had any liveliness for a long time. Now that you’re back, let’s make our home lively.”
The next day, after receiving the message, Hong Ye hurriedly ran to tell Jiang Ruanxi.
“Madam, the Old Madam is selling your shops.”
Jiang Ruanxi, who was reading a book, didn’t even look up. “Let her sell them.”
