Chapter 35: You Stop Right There?
Seeing that Jiang Ruanxi, who had always been enthusiastic toward him, was now indifferent, Jiang Changjun was a bit puzzled.
This cold face made Jiang Changjun very uncomfortable inside, and seeing Hong Ye standing to the side, he vented his anger on her.
“Blind maidservant, can’t you see that I’m talking to your madam? Get out of here.”
Hong Ye shrank back.
Jiang Ruanxi’s face completely turned cold.
“Second Brother, she is my personal maidservant. Without my order, she won’t leave. If you have something to say, say it quickly. I have other matters later. If not, I’m leaving.”
Hong Ye didn’t expect Jiang Ruanxi to confront Jiang Changjun for her sake, and she felt worried for her in her heart.
After all, before she married, she had always tried to please the Jiang Family members. Now, although she had changed a bit, she didn’t want Jiang Ruanxi to offend the Jiang Family for her sake.
Jiang Changjun, who had lost face, was so angry his face turned green.
He was silent for a few seconds without speaking.
Seeing him not speak, Jiang Ruanxi turned and left directly.
“Stop right there!”
Coming back to his senses, Jiang Changjun saw that Jiang Ruanxi had already walked several meters away and angrily shouted at her.
Jiang Ruanxi ignored him and continued walking forward. Jiang Changjun stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and without caring about outsiders present, questioned her directly.
“Jiang Ruanxi, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Jiang Ruanxi stopped, looking at him with a bewildered expression. “I don’t know what Second Brother is talking about.”
Seeing her still pretending, Jiang Changjun grew even angrier. “Stop pretending. I’m asking you, what is your ulterior motive in instigating Zhenguo Marquis Manor to adopt Xiao Ge’er?”
Jiang Ruanxi shook off the hand grabbing her.
“Second Brother, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Xiao Ge’er is Zhenguo Marquis Manor’s child and also Jiang Xuerou’s flesh and blood. Them taking their own flesh and blood back to the marquis manor has what to do with me?”
Jiang Changjun was choked speechless, unable to say a word.
But unwilling to let Jiang Ruanxi be so arrogant, he still warned her.
“Jiang Ruanxi, it had better not be you scheming behind the scenes. If I find out, I definitely won’t let you off.”
“How does Second Brother plan not to let me off?” Jiang Ruanxi was not afraid of his threat at all and lifted her head to ask.
“Second Brother is so angry. Should I understand it as because today Xiao Ge’er cannot return to the marquis manor as the Heir Apparent’s Wife’s biological son, but as an adopted son, that’s why you’re so angry?”
“You’re threatening me.” Jiang Changjun was so angry he gnashed his teeth.
“Second Brother is overthinking it. We are family. I’m just reminding you that this isn’t the Lin Family or the Jiang Family. This is Zhenguo Marquis Manor. The people coming today are all prominent figures from the Capital, even Crown Prince is here. Be careful what you say, lest others hear and implicate not just Jiang Xuerou alone.”
After all, back then when Jiang Xuerou was pregnant, Zhenguo Marquis Manor didn’t know about it. Now that the child is so old before being recognized into the ancestry, if the shady dealings in this are known, Jiang Xuerou would surely be drowned in saliva.
Zhenguo Marquis Manor didn’t want this matter known, and naturally the Lin Family didn’t either.
Jiang Changjun was rendered speechless. Seeing him like this, Jiang Ruanxi cold smiled inwardly.
He couldn’t stand even this much; the real show hadn’t started yet!
Lin Xiao returning to Zhenguo Marquis Manor now was the true beginning.
“Second Sister is right. This matter indeed shouldn’t be known to outsiders.”
Just as Jiang Changjun was about to lose his temper, a slightly thin figure entered from outside.
“Third Master.” Hong Ye called softly.
Jiang Ruanxi straightened up and looked over, seeing him dressed in white clothing, his face somewhat pale, looking a bit frail, but his eyes sharp and shrewd.
This was the Jiang Family’s third son, Jiang Linlei.
“Third Brother.” Jiang Ruanxi called indifferently.
Jiang Linlei nodded, then said to Jiang Changjun beside him, “Crown Prince has arrived. Go to the front courtyard and see.”
Although Jiang Changjun was older than Jiang Linlei, he was very afraid of this younger brother and naturally didn’t dare disobey.
“Second Sister, back then when Xue’er gave birth, the matter was very secretive. That midwife didn’t even know Xue’er’s identity at all. How exactly did Zhenguo Marquis Manor Madam find out about Xiao Ge’er’s background?”
Compared to Jiang Changjun’s impulsiveness, Jiang Linlei appeared more steady, and his words hit the nail on the head.
Jiang Ruanxi’s hand slightly curled to hide her inner tension, and she said indifferently, “It seems like Third Brother is saying Zhenguo Marquis Manor Madam could investigate these matters because I told her. But Third Brother is mistaken. I know nothing about all this. If you don’t believe me, let’s go ask Zhenguo Marquis Manor Madam.”
“Second Sister, the midwife has said everything. Someone gave her silver, so she admitted it was her who delivered Xue’er’s child back then.”
Jiang Linlei spoke in a very calm tone, but Jiang Ruanxi felt a chill down her back.
Because deep down she knew clearly that Jiang Linlei wasn’t like Jiang Changjun; he must have found out something.
“Third Brother, are you suspecting that the one who gave the silver was me?” Jiang Ruanxi asked rhetorically.
Although Jiang Linlei didn’t speak, his sharp gaze said it all: no one but her.
“Then you’ve really misunderstood me. You all kept Jiang Xuerou’s matter so secret that outsiders didn’t know. How could I possibly know?” There was no trace of panic on Jiang Ruanxi’s face.
“As for Zhenguo Marquis Manor adopting Xiao Ge’er, I did have that idea, but do you think just me saying a word in Zhenguo Marquis Manor would make them listen? Then Third Brother really thinks too highly of me. I’m just a woman of the household. How could I have such great ability? It can only be said that some things are fated.”
A glint flashed in Jiang Linlei’s eyes. At this moment, he was also somewhat uncertain. Could this matter really just be a coincidence?
If she had vehemently denied it, he would have been sure she was pretending, but she admitted it instead.
“I’ve explained Third Brother’s question clearly. I’m tired, so I’ll take my leave.”
After Jiang Ruanxi turned and left, Jiang Linlei didn’t chase after her but just gazed thoughtfully at her retreating figure.
Jiang Changjun, who had returned from afar, saw this and came with some anger too. “Third Brother, how can you believe her words?”
“If she knew about Xiao Ge’er’s matter, how could she not know who Xiao Ge’er’s father is?”
Jiang Changjun was stunned, and the suspicion in his heart began to waver.
“She’s a woman, so naturally she doesn’t like her own man bringing back a strange child. Wanting to use some means to send the person away is understandable. But if she really knew about Xue’er and Ning Kun’s matter, do you think Xiao Ge’er could still have been sent to Dingning Marquis Manor?”
Jiang Changjun muttered to himself, “Could she really have just stumbled into it by accident?”
If Jiang Ruanxi knew about the relationship between the two, then Xiao Ge’er, Jiang Xuerou, and even Ning Kun would probably have been drowned in rumors by now.
