Chapter 36: It’s On Fire
“Regardless of whether it is or not, I will investigate it clearly.” Jiang Linlei had doubts in his heart, but he could not find evidence.
“By the way, didn’t they say the Crown Prince was coming? Why did you come in again?” Jiang Linlei withdrew his thoughts and frowned as he asked.
“The Crown Prince did come, but Ning Kun doesn’t know where he went. Such a good opportunity, and he doesn’t even know to seize it.” Jiang Changjun had a face full of impatience.
“Forget it. Whether he can rise up depends on his own luck. Let’s go out first.”
After Jiang Ruanxi left the courtyard, she went to the room that Qing Xu had prepared for her. But while passing through the covered walkway, she unexpectedly caught sight of a familiar figure.
Hong Ye clearly saw it too. “Madam, isn’t that the Marquis? Why is he sneaking around in the Zhenguo Marquis Manor?”
Jiang Ruanxi touched her chin. Ning Kun really wouldn’t give up. At such a critical moment, and with so many people present today, he actually still wanted to go see Jiang Xuerou.
Looking at that elegant and noble back figure, Jiang Ruanxi hooked her lips and leaned down to whisper a few words in Hong Ye’s ear.
Hong Ye was horrified. “Madam, isn’t this a bad idea? What if it catches fire, what then?”
This was the Zhenguo Marquis Manor, not the Lin Family Manor.
“What is there to fear? With so many people in the manor today, there will be enough people for firefighting if it burns.”
After Hong Ye left, Jiang Ruanxi went to the room to rest for a while. When the time seemed right, she walked out of the courtyard.
“Where is the Heir Apparent’s Wife?”
As soon as Jiang Ruanxi stepped out, she heard Qing Xu’s anxious voice. “The adoption ceremony is about to begin. Where has the Heir Apparent’s Wife gone?”
“The Heir Apparent’s Wife just said she was going to change clothes. This servant will go find her right away.”
“Second Sister, don’t worry. This is the Zhenguo Marquis Manor. What could go wrong?”
Hearing Jiang Ruanxi’s reassurance, the anxiety on Qing Xu’s face eased a little.
“Second Sister-in-law, maybe I am too nervous. The Zhenguo Marquis Manor hasn’t held such a big event in so many years. I just want it to go smoothly.”
Jiang Ruanxi smiled. “It will definitely go smoothly.”
“Ah, fire!”
No sooner had the words fallen than cries of alarm rang out from the back courtyard.
The two looked toward the sound and saw thick smoke billowing from the back courtyard.
“Quickly, fight the fire.”
Qing Xu hurriedly stepped forward.
Jiang Ruanxi also had a cold smile on her lips as she followed closely behind.
This big fire also alarmed the people in the front courtyard. More and more people gathered to watch. Qing Xu had originally planned to see if this matter could be covered up, but as it stood now, it was already impossible.
So, she hurriedly followed the crowd inside.
“There are two people inside. Quickly pour water to save them.”
Someone in the crowd shouted.
Li Xi of the Zhenguo Marquis Manor had an unpleasant expression as he looked at the attendant beside him. “This is the Heir Apparent’s Wife’s courtyard. How could there be a fire?”
Jiang Ruanxi slightly lowered her gaze and saw that the hands of the two Jiang brothers had already clenched into fists. They clearly wanted to rush in, but seeing such a big fire, they hesitated.
A cold smile played on Jiang Ruanxi’s lips.
She had thought their feelings for Jiang Xuerou were so deep. It turned out that when compared to their own lives, it was still just so-so.
“Someone seems to be coming out from inside.”
In a moment, amid the thick smoke and firelight, a tall figure rushed out.
“Isn’t this the Marquis of Dingning?”
Seeing this, a glint flashed in Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes. She directly took the water bucket from Hong Ye’s hands and poured it straight on.
The fire at the hem of Ning Kun’s clothes was instantly extinguished, and the big fire behind him was also brought under control.
As the thick smoke dissipated, Jiang Ruanxi finally saw the person clearly.
Soaked through, his clothes and face pitch black, she vaguely smelled a burnt odor.
After the thick smoke cleared, Jiang Ruanxi realized that Ning Kun’s hair had been burned off by more than half, and even several patches of his scalp were scorched.
It was likely that after the wounds healed, he would be bald…
In such a disheveled state, where was the usual handsome and elegant appearance?
Jiang Ruanxi blinked her eyes, her gaze somewhat strange.
The last remaining filter for his appearance from her previous life shattered instantly.
She hadn’t expected this fire to yield such a great harvest.
She wondered if Jiang Xuerou would still love him to death and back upon seeing him like this.
She was even a little eager to see what would happen between them next.
It wouldn’t be a waste of the trap she had set up for so long.
“Jiang Ruanxi, what exactly are you doing?”
The loud voice, laced with anger, pulled Jiang Ruanxi’s thoughts back.
She suppressed the disgust in her heart and said innocently, “Marquis, I didn’t expect it to be you. The person who came out was on fire. To avoid harming the innocent, in the heat of the moment, I poured cold water.”
As if remembering something, Jiang Ruanxi looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Marquis, this is the Heir Apparent’s Wife’s courtyard. Why were you inside? And this room caught fire?”
Hearing this, Ning Kun trembled inwardly. Seeing so many people, he hurriedly explained, “I was just passing by and saw the fire here. Thinking someone might be inside, afraid of a fatality, I rushed in selflessly to save them.”
If not for seeing through his hypocrisy in her previous life, Jiang Ruanxi might really have believed his words.
Jiang Ruanxi felt so disgusted she wanted to vomit.
“I didn’t expect the Marquis of Dingning to be such a compassionate person. It’s truly rare these days.”
“Yes. The Marquis of Dingning has always been of noble character and high integrity, sacrificing himself to save others. Not everyone has such qualities.”
“…”
All around were various praises for Ning Kun.
Ning Kun felt elated by the praise, and the burning pain from his body no longer hurt at all.
But how could Jiang Ruanxi let him have his way.
“This is the Heir Apparent’s Wife’s courtyard. Did the Marquis see the Heir Apparent’s Wife inside?”
Jiang Ruanxi’s words made those praising Ning Kun react, and the conversation shifted.
“The Marquis of Dingning saving people is true, but there is a distinction between men and women. For him to rush in so rashly, it doesn’t seem right.”
Many people chimed in agreement.
Soon, those who had been praising him turned to criticizing him. The stark contrast made Ning Kun glare fiercely at Jiang Ruanxi.
He then turned with a face full of menace toward the murmuring crowd.
“At this critical moment when lives are at stake, I didn’t think too much about it. Could it be that in your hearts, reputation matters more than human life?”
Ning Kun was usually handsome, and women would normally be kinder to him. But now, with his hair burned by the fire and his face covered in black soot, he looked extremely ferocious.
Naturally, no one continued to indulge him.
“I don’t agree with that. Trees live by their bark, people live by their face. Marquis of Dingning, you clearly know the difference in status with the Heir Apparent’s Wife of the Zhenguo Marquis Manor, yet you insisted on going in to save her. Those who know think you are compassionate; those who don’t might think you two have something going on. After all, the Heir Apparent’s Wife is now a widow.”
