Chapter 142: If You Had Known This Would Happen, Why Do It In The First Place?
Lin Ningkun no longer struggled, merely closing his eyes in pain.
Curse away, curse away, so what if it’s disgraceful?
He no longer cared about anything now.
Because only like this could he keep Jiang Ruanxi’s things.
Only like this could he keep that trace of longing for her after she left.
When Lin Tingting came to mourn, she happened to see Jiang Ruanxi’s dowry being carried away.
Hearing the words Yuping had inquired about, she then understood what was going on.
Others did not understand Lin Ningkun, but Lin Tingting knew him very well, though she now despised him greatly.
But seeing his utterly dejected appearance, he was after all her own elder brother, and in her heart she could not bear to see it, “Second Brother, if you knew it would come to this, why did you act that way back then?”
Indeed, if you knew it would come to this, why did you act that way back then?
He regretted it now, but Jiang Ruanxi had died, and she had left so cleanly and decisively, not even giving him a chance for atonement.
Seeing his remorseful appearance for what he had done back then, Wei Chang’s lips curled in a mocking smile, and he no longer wanted to stay.
After Jiang Ruanxi’s coffin and dowry were carried away, Wei Chang did not linger and went directly to the Imperial Palace.
After this commotion, the Lin Clan members felt it was utterly disgraceful, and even though Madam Zhou’s funeral arrangements were not yet complete, some of the elders found excuses to leave.
The current Lin Clan avoided the Lin Family Second Branch like the plague.
Seeing that the matter was settled, the Jiang Family naturally no longer pressed, and Jiang Rui and Jiang Linlei also returned to the Jiang Family.
In the dim secret passage, two candles were lit, and a person stood in the shadows, back turned to Jiang Rui and Jiang Linlei.
They both wore expressions of utmost respect.
“Elder Brother, Jiang Ruanxi’s corpse has been taken away by the Crown Prince, and it looks like it’s being sent to Lingnan.” Even Jiang Rui, who was usually calm and unruffled, showing no emotions, now had a face full of gravity.
“But we still can’t be sure if that corpse is really Jiang Ruanxi’s, and they just took it away like that?” Jiang Linlei was still a bit unwilling.
“Whether it is her or not doesn’t matter now, have you found the thing?” The chilling voice was like a cold wind blowing in an icy snowy day, making Jiang Rui and Jiang Linlei’s hearts tremble.
Both of them bowed their heads, not daring to speak.
“You botched it.”
Not a question, but a statement.
Jiang Linlei clenched his fists tightly, “Originally dealing with the Lin Family was easy as pie, but who would have thought the Crown Prince would show up halfway through; Third Brother and I didn’t dare to force it, afraid they would notice some flaw.”
The atmosphere immediately turned chillingly cold.
After a long moment, the man turned his head, his face expressionless, his voice betraying no anger, “The trouble started from the south, since it’s gone to Lingnan, then you go to Lingnan too, and be sure to bring back the person and the thing. If you botch it again this time, don’t come back.”
This person was the eldest son of the Jiang Family, Jiang Kui.
But his words sounded like bone-chilling cold.
Jiang Linlei’s body involuntarily shrank a little.
“Yes.”
After Jiang Linlei left, Jiang Kui saw that Jiang Rui was still not leaving, and the aura around him grew colder, “Does Third Brother have other matters?”
Jiang Rui stared at the pitch-black spot for a long moment, and finally only said respectfully, “No matter.”
After the two brothers left, Jiang Kui closed his eyes, his mind recalling the star chart at night, always feeling like he had overlooked something.
If not for the obstruction of the Seven Killings Solitary Fate, how could he not see Jiang Ruanxi’s astrological mansion?
Speaking of which, Lin Ningkun was really useless; clearly consumed by greed without limits, after marrying Jiang Ruanxi, as long as he consummated the marriage and absorbed her good fortune, he could have soared to the skies this lifetime.
Yet he had to pretend to be some upright gentleman, causing such a huge joke and destroying everything for himself.
But thinking of Jiang Ruanxi’s changes during this time, he suddenly found it interesting.
She was after all his own younger sister; she liked playing hide-and-seek, so he would play with her.
**
After Jiang Ruanxi’s corpse was sent away, the Lin family members were like they had lost their backbone.
Although they had divided from the Eldest Branch, He Sheng was still in postpartum confinement after all, so Madam Zhou’s funeral naturally could not be properly handled, and the clan members were unwilling to help, so they could only let Lin Feng take charge.
But he was a man after all, and moreover had not been tempered by experience.
He had always been waited on hand and foot by mother, wife, and servants, and had never handled a funeral before, so naturally everything was in chaos.
“First Master, how should the mourning hall be arranged?”
“People coming to mourn are arriving, how should we arrange them all?”
“The steward is asking, when to hold the funeral…”
“How should the seating dishes be prepared?”
“Master, the white paper in the residence is gone…”
“…”
One question after another came to him for decisions, making Lin Feng seethe with anger; he roared directly at them, “You ask me, who do I ask? Have you always pestered with questions for even such small matters in the past?”
The servants looked wronged, “These things were always arranged by Second Madam in the past; we just had to run errands.”
It really was like seeing a ghost; just because one mistress was missing, the Lin Family had turned into a plate of loose sand. Lin Feng refused to believe it, “I just don’t believe that without her Jiang Ruanxi, our Lin Family would be done for.”
Lin Feng forced himself to perk up and think of ideas.
Compared to Lin Feng’s headache, Lin Ningkun was dejectedly sitting in the back courtyard; seeing his dejected appearance, Run Ru’s lips curled in a cold smile.
Although Lin Ningkun was selfish and heartless, he was still someone she had once loved.
But thinking of how he had caused the death of Jiang Ruanxi, who had shown her kindness, she wished she could kill him to accompany her in death; he had no right to grieve here.
Run Ru looked at his lonely back, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes, but before her hand could reach the dagger in her sleeve, she slowly approached; but just as she was about to get close to Lin Ningkun, she was directly knocked unconscious by someone.
Not long after, a sack dropped from the sky, directly covering Lin Ningkun.
“You…”
Before Lin Ningkun could finish speaking, his mouth was gagged by someone.
Then came a rainstorm of punches and kicks.
Muffled whimpers echoed in the Lin Family’s back courtyard, like a mournful aria lamenting the regret of a heartless person!
“Let’s go, don’t beat him to death.”
The masked black-clothed men left, but the sack on Lin Ningkun was still not removed.
He curled up, trying his best to alleviate his pain, but unexpectedly, another uninvited guest arrived in the back courtyard.
His eyes were ruthless; he walked to Lin Ningkun’s side and directly stabbed down with a knife, blood splattering three feet on the spot.
By the time the servants discovered his corpse, it was already the next day.
Wei Chang stood before the Emperor, “It is said that it was done by a maidservant close to him.”
“Forget it, the Lin Family has made such a huge joke; since Lin Ningkun is already dead, this matter will not be pursued further.”
The Emperor looked at Wei Chang, “Have you made up your mind?”
“Your Majesty Father Emperor, Lingnan has been suffering drought for months now, and it’s about to enter the autumn harvest; if delayed further, it will affect the harvest. Grain is the foundation of the country, and your son is willing to share Your Majesty’s burdens.”
