Chapter 24: Has Your Elder Brother Returned?
“I can’t just ignore the rest of the Lin Family for Eldest Brother’s matter alone, right? Besides, for Eldest Brother’s matter, aside from me and the Marquis, isn’t there also Elder Sister-in-law? I believe the He Family won’t ignore this matter either.”
If the He Family were so easy to talk to, there wouldn’t have been Lin Feng showing up at the door.
Not to mention begging Madam He, if the He Family knew about this matter, not only would they not help, they might even try every means to sever ties.
Madam Zhou felt deeply uncomfortable at heart, wanting to help her son, but having no ability to do so.
She wanted to seek help from Jiang Ruanxi, but the reasons Jiang Ruanxi gave left her completely unable to refute.
For a moment, it felt as if a breath was stuck in her chest, neither able to go up nor down, extremely uncomfortable.
“Mother, I advise you to hurry, otherwise, if you miss the timing, and it causes a city-wide uproar, the Marquis will likely find it very difficult to handle.”
Jiang Ruanxi stood up, “With Mother and the Marquis handling Eldest Brother’s matter, it probably doesn’t need me to worry about anything. I still have many things in my room, so I won’t disturb Mother.”
After speaking, she turned and left directly.
At the moment she turned, a sharp glint flashed in Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes, but no one saw it.
Not long after Jiang Ruanxi left, Lin Ningkun returned in a rage.
Madam Zhou looked anxious, “How did it go? Has your eldest brother returned?”
Lin Ningkun took a sip of tea, resentfully saying, “No.”
“Why? Is Chunhua Tower unwilling to release him? You are at least the Marquis of Dingning; how can they be so disrespectful?”
Speaking of this matter, Lin Ningkun felt even more furious at heart.
“Mother, for Chunhua Tower to operate so largely in the Capital, their backers certainly aren’t simple. I just went and announced my identity, but they didn’t give any face, saying that owing debt and repaying money is only right and proper. Without delivering the silver to their door, they won’t release Eldest Brother.”
“Isn’t this overbearing and unreasonable?” Madam Zhou was unwilling at heart, “We haven’t even seen your eldest brother yet; how can we confirm that IOU was written by him? Why don’t we report to the officials?”
“No, if we report to the officials, wouldn’t it become known to everyone?”
Lin Ningkun was extremely concerned about his dignity; he absolutely would not let his eldest brother’s matter affect his official career.
“Then what to do? We can’t use Jiang Ruanxi’s silver, and we don’t have that much silver ourselves. Isn’t this pushing people directly toward a dead end?”
Lin Ningkun’s face also looked very grim. After contemplating for a moment, he spoke, “Mother, this matter can only rely on Elder Sister-in-law. You should go to the He Family and talk about this.”
Madam Zhou thought of going to the He Family, and her heart was a million times unwilling.
Without thinking, she refused, “I’m not going. Don’t you know what kind of temperament the He Family people have? They won’t lend us money. Moreover, even if they lend money, they will definitely force your eldest brother to do things he doesn’t want to at every turn, and then your eldest brother will live under your elder sister-in-law’s shadow for a lifetime.”
“So Mother intends to let the Marquis ruin his official career rather than go to the He Family? In Mother’s heart, is Eldest Brother’s dignity more important than the Marquis of Dingning Marquis Manor’s future prospects?”
The suddenly returning Jiang Ruanxi’s appearance startled Madam Zhou, and she reflexively retorted, “No, it’s not like that. Of course I value the Marquis’s future, it’s just—”
Before she could finish, Jiang Ruanxi directly interrupted her, “Since that’s the case, then Mother should go to the He Family.”
Madam Zhou gritted her teeth, forced with no other choice, and finally took a servant to the He Family overnight.
Lin Ningkun felt a bit more relieved at heart. Looking at Jiang Ruanxi and thinking of her efforts for him, the expression on his face also softened somewhat, “Thank you for reminding me about tonight’s matter.”
If it were in the past, as long as Lin Ningkun showed her the slightest goodwill, Jiang Ruanxi would be overjoyed, but after experiencing one lifetime, this current Lin Ningkun made her extremely disgusted.
Madam Zhou was originally timid, and while there were issues with how she educated her son, Lin Feng indulging in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling without pursuing the proper path, what about Lin Ningkun?
He appeared righteous and upright, seemingly noble and virtuous, but in reality, he was a petty person unwilling to take responsibility.
His own eldest brother had encountered such a matter, yet instead of thinking about the reasons, he pushed all the blame onto his own mother.
Not only that, his own dirty dealings in private were even more excessive than Lin Feng’s, to the point that Jiang Ruanxi felt faintly nauseous every time she thought about it.
“The Marquis is too polite. I’m not doing this for the Marquis’s sake, but simply because I don’t want Eldest Brother’s matter to bring me trouble.” Jiang Ruanxi appeared very cold and aloof, completely different from her previous attitude toward him.
Lin Ningkun was displeased; at this time, shouldn’t Jiang Ruanxi be currying favor with him?
“Marquis, there are other matters in the manor; I will take my leave first.”
Jiang Ruanxi did not entangle further, but Lin Ningkun, looking at her cold and aloof, slender back, fell into contemplation.
Finally, a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: did she think she could arouse his interest with such methods?
She was truly dreaming!
Jiang Ruanxi returned to her room, and Hong Ye immediately brought the inquired information.
“Madam, He Kui has already, per your instructions, hoarded the nearby lingzhi mushrooms and the specific herbs you ordered.”
She calculated the time; there was still some time before that matter. “Have him expand the scope, not just the Capital.”
“Yes.”
After Hong Ye left, Jiang Ruanxi relaxed.
With the Lin Family sister-in-law’s gossip, Lin Ningkun definitely wouldn’t act rashly in this period and impulsively go to see Jiang Xuerou.
However, this was not her true objective.
Lin Ningkun would definitely focus on managing his official career; even without her providing silver, he wouldn’t give up this opportunity.
Moreover, with Lin Feng’s matter, the amount of silver the Marquis Manor now needed to produce was not small; even if they could manage it, it would cost them a layer of skin.
Now, with them anxious and uneasy or going to beg others, the resentment in her heart from what they did to her in her previous life was greatly eased.
But this was still far from enough; she wanted the entire Dingning Marquis Manor to be buried with her.
The flickering candlelight on the table danced across her beautiful face, and Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes darkened as an idea instantly came to her.
**
Lin Ningkun sat in the courtyard, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. The time Lin Runkun mentioned was drawing nearer, and with Lin Feng’s matter arising, his heart was extremely restless.
His originally arrogant face was now tinged with a chill due to anxiety.
“Lin Yi, go see why the Old Madam hasn’t returned yet.”
Lin Yi was just about to leave when Madam Zhou returned.
“Marquis, the Old Madam is back.”
Lin Ningkun’s expression then eased, and he quickly went to greet her, but upon seeing only Madam Zhou return alone, he was extremely disappointed, “Mother, how come only you returned? Where is Elder Sister-in-law?”
