Chapter 177: Beat This Person To Death With Clubs
Besides, Zhong Ding also knows his own identity, so he wouldn’t possibly agree.
But even if they couldn’t get it back, wasn’t it still good to disgust the other party a little?
Old Madam Zhong and Zhong Xintong seemed as if they had been slapped in the face, stinging painfully, but they didn’t dare make a sound.
Deep down, they all had one doubt: was this still the Zhong Ling who had returned from the countryside?
Her methods were actually so formidable. Old Madam Zhong looked carefully at Jiang Ruanxi. She was clearly smiling, but that smile didn’t reach her eyes.
It made her heart tremble uncontrollably.
In the end, it was a message from the front courtyard that broke this awkwardness.
“Old Madam, Master asks if it’s time to eat?”
Old Madam Zhong then came back to her senses and said politely, “Yes, it’s about time. Let’s go out.”
After going out, Wei Chang came to Jiang Ruanxi’s side and asked softly, “Are you alright?”
Old Madam Zhong’s expression immediately turned unpleasant, but Jiang Ruanxi shook her head. “I’m fine, I just chatted a bit with Old Madam about family matters.”
Zhong Ding became interested. “Oh, what family matters?”
“Nothing much, just mentioned Mother’s dowry.”
Jiang Ruanxi only said it gently, and Zhong Ding’s expression changed slightly as he gave his mother a reproachful look.
He had tabooed others saying he lived off a woman his whole life. Talking about these things with Jiang Ruanxi wasn’t that exposing his own shortcomings?
“We’ll talk about these matters later. Let’s eat first.” Zhong Ding didn’t want to get angry and quickly changed the topic.
During this meal, the Zhong Family people didn’t eat happily, but Jiang Ruanxi had a good appetite, and Wei Chang kept picking food for her from time to time.
Seeing him favor Jiang Ruanxi like this, Zhong Ding felt a bit dazed deep down. At this moment, he was fantasizing that it would be great if the person in front of him was really his daughter.
Zhong Xintong felt increasingly uncomfortable deep down. All of this should originally have belonged to her; it was all because of Zhong Ling’s appearance that everything was taken away from her.
The more she thought, the more jealous she felt.
After lunch, Wei Chang wanted to go back with Jiang Ruanxi.
Tomorrow they would set off back to the Capital, but Zhong Xintong said, “Sister, why not stay for dinner before leaving? You’re going to the Capital tomorrow; I still have a lot to tell you.”
She acted as if their sisterly bond was deep, making it hard for Jiang Ruanxi to refuse.
“Yes, who knows when you’ll return after leaving. Why not chat well with Xintong? Stay for dinner before going?”
Zhong Ding’s words made Jiang Ruanxi frown slightly. Although she didn’t like the Zhong Family, because of Zhong Ling’s identity, she had to give Zhong Ding some face both emotionally and rationally. But if it delayed too long…
“One hour. We have other matters to attend to back at the manor in the afternoon.” Wei Chang, seeing her difficulty, spoke for her.
Zhong Ding was a shrewd person. Since he had already kept them, he was very happy and naturally wouldn’t object.
“Good, good, good. That’s settled.”
Jiang Ruanxi felt touched and cast a grateful look at Wei Chang.
Wei Chang just held her hand to comfort her.
Seeing this scene, Zhong Xintong’s eyes nearly spat fire.
The hand hidden in her sleeve clenched slightly.
But soon, she let go again.
She didn’t know if they could still be so affectionate after a while.
Jiang Ruanxi followed Zhong Xintong to the room. Zhong Xintong said politely, “Sister is going to the Capital tomorrow to enjoy glory and wealth. Who knows when we’ll return after you leave. I have a thing to give to Sister.”
She pretended to look around, then feigned surprise as she looked up. “Ah, I just said I would get it. Maybe I forgot. Sister, wait here a moment; I’ll go get it now.”
“Alright.”
After Zhong Xintong left, Jiang Ruanxi’s face fell.
Such clumsy acting and inferior methods were truly not enough in front of Jiang Ruanxi.
“What place has a problem?”
Yushui said, “It’s the incense. It will stupefy the husband, and it has aphrodisiac drugs too. But Madam, don’t worry. This servant noticed it when coming in and has already swapped it.”
Jiang Ruanxi curled her lips. “Just stupefying is that simple?”
Yushui hesitated for a moment before saying, “This servant just saw a man enter the Zhong Family back courtyard. He was observing outside the room earlier.”
A strange man, observing outside?
Jiang Ruanxi wasn’t a fool. She just thought a bit and understood the key point.
“I’m not the real Zhong Ling anyway, so I have no fortune to enjoy the gift she sent. Why not let her enjoy it herself?”
“Yes, this servant will go handle it now.”
“Oh no, oh no…”
In the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Zhong Ding and Wei Chang were talking in the study room when they heard their own family’s servant shouting.
Wei Chang frowned slightly, while Zhong Ding’s expression wasn’t good. He put down the teacup. “What are you shouting for? What exactly happened?”
The servant was scared by his authority and stammered, not daring to speak.
Zhong Ding knew he was afraid of Wei Chang, but now that he knew about the matter, it was probably impossible to conceal it anymore.
“Whatever it is, say it directly.”
The servant then said, “Master, a strange man was caught in Eldest Daughter’s room.”
Zhong Ding felt a chill down his spine. “What nonsense are you saying?”
“This servant is telling the truth. Just now, ambiguous sounds came from Eldest Daughter’s room. The passing maids and matrons all heard it. Now Old Madam has gone over.”
Zhong Ding’s heart sank. If something happened to Jiang Ruanxi in his home, what use would his promotion and wealth be?
At this point, he was extremely regretful. He shouldn’t have stopped them when Wei Chang wanted to leave at noon.
Now that this had happened, how was he supposed to explain to Wei Chang?
Wei Chang put down the teacup. “Sir Zhong, since such a thing happened in the manor, shall we go take a look?”
Even if Zhong Ding wanted to stop it, could he?
He could only reluctantly agree.
“Alright.”
Soon, they arrived at Zhong Ling’s room.
Before entering, Wei Chang keenly saw Jiang Ruanxi standing at the courtyard entrance.
“Are you alright?” Wei Chang quickened his steps to go over.
Jiang Ruanxi shook her head, but Zhong Ding felt exceptionally relieved and shocked deep down.
He was relieved that the person inside wasn’t Jiang Ruanxi. If she was unharmed, his chance for promotion and wealth was secured.
But at the same time, he was somewhat shocked and doubtful. This was the boudoir prepared earlier for Jiang Ruanxi. If it wasn’t her inside, then who was it?
“You damned wretch, how is it you?”
Old Madam Zhong’s shrill scream instantly echoed over the Zhong Family manor, startling the birds in the courtyard trees.
“Men, beat this person to death with clubs!”
