Chapter 33: Tell Me, Whose Position Did I Take?
She knew Lin Ningkun too well; he was self-righteous and thought himself omnipotent.
Even for things he was powerless to do, he never considered it his own problem, only blaming others, yet he had to bear the results.
She had long grown tired of this self-indulgent trick.
Jiang Ruanxi was not a fool; trying to persuade him at this time would be asking for trouble.
Hong Ye found the clan leader, and Jiang Ruanxi did not concern herself much with what followed, retiring early to rest.
No one knew what the clan leader said to Lin Ningkun, but the next day he relented.
“Go prepare some things for Xiao Ge’er; tomorrow people from Zhenguo Marquis Manor will come to take him there.”
The next morning, while Jiang Ruanxi was at Madam Zhou’s Shoukang Hall, he came directly to instruct her.
Jiang Ruanxi was a bit surprised that Lin Ningkun had agreed so easily, not knowing what Lin Runkun had said to him.
Though it was within expectations, she had not anticipated Lin Ningkun agreeing so quickly.
She had thought Lin Ningkun would have some feelings, but now it seemed not.
He was inherently indifferent and ruthless, selfish.
“This concubine will prepare everything, but Xiao Ge’er was brought back by the Marquis after all, and we have a close relationship with Zhenguo Marquis Manor, so shall we all personally see Xiao Ge’er off tomorrow?”
Jiang Ruanxi had no intention of letting them off easily.
Seeing her own son go to another family’s home and acknowledge another as father, seeing her own grandson call her daughter grandmother—she wanted to see how these two would feel.
Hearing this, Lin Ningkun frowned tightly, clearly unwilling to go.
Madam Zhou’s expression was also poor, and she rejected without thinking, “My health has not yet recovered, so I won’t go; you all go instead.”
“Marquis, you’re not going either?” Jiang Ruanxi looked at Lin Ningkun, not giving him a chance to make excuses. “This morning brother-in-law specially sent someone to say he was grateful to the Marquis for finding a grandson for their manor, so they want to thank you and insist you must go.”
Thinking of her own son now becoming someone else’s son made his face even uglier.
Jiang Ruanxi added fuel to the fire, feigning casualness. “I heard the old Marquis specially went before His Majesty to obtain an imperial decree so that Xiao Ge’er could rightfully become the legitimate eldest grandson, and the Crown Prince will also attend.”
“The Crown Prince will also go?” Madam Zhou asked in surprise.
“Yes. The Heir Apparent died on the battlefield back then, and His Majesty has always felt guilty toward Zhenguo Marquis Manor, so upon learning they were willing to adopt offspring, His Majesty naturally had to give them full face.”
A glint flashed in Madam Zhou’s eyes.
Her expression eased considerably.
In this way, her grandson going to Zhenguo Marquis Manor seemed not a bad thing, but rather a good one.
In the future, even if Lin Xiao did not return, he would inherit Zhenguo Marquis Manor’s noble title, and then they would be one family, and he would help Dingning Marquis Manor even more.
Having figured it out, Madam Zhou directly persuaded Lin Ningkun. “Marquis, Ruanxi is right; for both sentiment and reason, we should all personally see Xiao Ge’er off tomorrow.”
If she could use this opportunity to curry favor with the Crown Prince, then even without relying on clan connections, she could scheme a future for herself; Lin Ningkun naturally would not miss this chance. “Alright, I’ll go then.”
Lin Ningkun and Madam Zhou’s little schemes were so obvious that Jiang Ruanxi could hear them even through her belly.
Jiang Ruanxi sneered inwardly; she would let them climb higher and fall harder.
That evening, Jiang Ruanxi went to Xiao Ge’er’s room.
Seeing Jiang Ruanxi, Lin Xiao looked at her cautiously, his eyes full of vigilance.
“Xiao Ge’er, tomorrow the Marquis and I will take you to Zhenguo Marquis Manor, and from then on you will be Zhenguo Marquis Manor’s legitimate eldest grandson.”
How could Lin Xiao know what Zhenguo Marquis Manor was, or what being its legitimate eldest grandson meant?
He only knew Jiang Ruanxi wanted to drive him away, and he instantly threw a tantrum. “No, I don’t want to leave! I was brought here, this is my home, I don’t want to leave!”
Hong Ye frowned. “Young Master Xiao, this is Dingning Marquis Manor. Though you were brought back by the Marquis as a guest, you have no blood relation to him after all. Now that the Marquis has found a good place for you, you should feel gratitude—why are you still clinging and refusing to leave?”
Though young, Lin Xiao understood Hong Ye’s meaning.
His little face flushed with anger, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at Jiang Ruanxi.
“What do you mean I’m clinging and refusing to leave? Clearly you’re the ones clinging and refusing to leave. Don’t think I haven’t noticed—the Marquis doesn’t like you, Madam. You’re the one clinging and refusing to leave, occupying someone else’s place, so you’re trying every way to drive me out, right?”
Hong Ye grew anxious. “Young Master Xiao, who told you these things? The marquis manor has shown you kindness after all—how can you speak so recklessly?”
She had known in her previous life that he was an ungrateful person, so Jiang Ruanxi was not angry, merely asking, “Xiao Ge’er, whose place do you say I occupied?”
“Of course it’s…”
Just as Lin Xiao was about to say it, he looked at Jiang Ruanxi and instantly shut his mouth, changing tack. “Hmph, don’t try to trick me—I won’t tell you.”
She had not expected him to be so shrewd despite his young age, and so hard to manipulate.
“I knew you weren’t sincere toward me—you must be deceiving me. I’m going to ask the Marquis.”
With that, Lin Xiao rushed out, and Hong Ye anxiously said, “Madam, Young Master Xiao is too unruly. I’ll go chase him.”
But Jiang Ruanxi shook her head. “Forget it, let him go. The Marquis won’t indulge him this time.”
Hong Ye was still a bit worried. “Madam, though you haven’t gone all out for Young Master Xiao these days, you’ve never mistreated him. But why do I feel like he seems innately hostile toward you?”
Jiang Ruanxi’s heart trembled. In her previous life, she had wholeheartedly focused on teaching him, but Lin Xiao had always resisted. At the time she thought it was just childish naughtiness, but she had not realized some things had traces to follow.
With the ideas Jiang Xuerou and Lin Ningkun instilled in the child, how could Lin Xiao grow close to her?
After Lin Xiao went out, he felt extremely wronged and rushed straight to Lin Ningkun’s room, hugging his leg with teary eyes. “Father, that vicious woman says she’s sending me away, that tomorrow she’ll send me to Zhenguo Marquis Manor—is she lying, right?”
His words startled Lin Ningkun, who pushed Lin Xiao away and looked around outside, confirming no one else was there before relaxing.
Closing the door, Lin Ningkun’s face darkened as he looked at Lin Yi beside him.
“Didn’t I tell you to watch him? If anyone sees, you’ll answer for it.”
Lin Yi knelt in fright, his face pale. “Marquis, I tried to stop Young Master Xiao, but he was crying and making a fuss. I feared it would alert more people, so I let him in.”
