Chapter 41: Shameless
Finally, the heir of Yongning Marquis Manor passed away young, while the Top Scholar had a smooth official career thanks to the Crown Prince, rising steadily.
But Lin Tingting felt not the slightest bit grateful, and even frequently schemed against her in front of Madam Zhou, tripping her up.
Even after learning about Jiang Xuerou’s matter, she didn’t feel it was Lin Ningkun’s fault at all, and instead spoke sarcastically.
“You can’t even keep hold of your own man—what’s the point of you being alive? You were originally a merchant’s daughter, and Second Brother endured marrying you into our Marquis Manor, so you should be grateful.”
Recalling the words Lin Tingting had said to her in her previous life, Jiang Ruanxi’s smile grew even brighter. “Mother, I really can’t help you with this matter.”
Lin Tingting slammed the bowl heavily onto the table.
“Second Sister-in-law, what do you mean? Could it be that when Mother asks you to handle a little thing, you refuse like this? Which family’s daughter-in-law dares to be so unreasonable, openly defying her mother-in-law—isn’t that too lacking in rules?”
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her head and saw Madam He’s hand gripping the chopsticks tightly clenched, even the veins on it starting to bulge.
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
Suddenly, the moment she raised her head, her face was full of grievance.
“Third Sister, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not that I’m refusing, but I’m originally from a merchant background with limited abilities. The people I associate with daily are all merchants.
How could I possibly inquire about news from high officials and nobles? My refusal is actually for Third Sister’s sake—I can’t delay Third Sister because of my incompetence.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s words were perfectly reasonable, leaving no room for fault.
Lin Tingting fumed and could only look to Madam Zhou for help.
Madam Zhou hadn’t expected the usually meek Jiang Ruanxi to say such things, and yet there was no way to refute them.
“Then is there no way to handle Third Sister’s matter?”
“Mother, I’m a merchant’s daughter without that ability, but Elder Sister-in-law is from a scholarly family. The people she associates with daily are all the pure-stream nobles of the capital.”
Reminded by Jiang Ruanxi, Madam Zhou and Lin Tingting suddenly awakened and turned to look at Madam He in unison.
A “smack” sound.
Madam He directly placed her chopsticks on the table, startling Lin Feng beside her into trembling a few times, #but he didn’t dare make a sound and could only lower his head to wolf down his white rice.
“I’ve lived this long and never seen a sister-in-law whose own mother is still alive yet openly asks her sister-in-law to arrange her marriage. Your Lin Family has no shame, but I can’t afford to lose the He Family’s face. Mother, don’t even think about this matter—handle Third Sister’s affairs yourself.”
Compared to Jiang Ruanxi’s tactful approach, Madam He was extremely direct, rejecting without mercy.
“Moreover, Second Brother’s Wife hasn’t even done anything yet, and Third Sister dares to reprimand her, stirring up discord between Mother and Second Brother’s Wife’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, even openly defying her sister-in-law. If this matter fails, won’t Third Sister blame everything on me?”
Her words were bluntly direct, practically pointing at Lin Tingting’s nose and scolding her for being shameless.
Madam Zhou’s face turned as ugly as ink, and Lin Tingting was so angry she burst into tears and stormed away from the table.
Jiang Ruanxi watched from the side, feeling greatly relieved, and was very envious of Madam He—her maternal home’s backing allowed her to be unrestrained without regard for anyone’s face.
Lin Feng saw the atmosphere was very arrogant and domineering, and gently tugged at Madam He’s sleeve. “Alright, say a few less words.”
“Is this just a matter of saying a few less words? Of bad character and still dreaming of climbing high branches—without even looking at her own behavior.”
“Mother, we have a little matter in our room, so we won’t eat breakfast.”
Seeing the scene was uncontrollable, Lin Feng pulled Madam He and hurried away from the table, saying as they went, “I beg you, say a few less words…”
“The upper beam is crooked, so the lower one is too. It’s because she usually does nothing that Third Sister was raised so arrogant and conceited. It’s one thing to harm the Lin Family members, but now she wants to harm others too.”
Even after leaving, one could faintly hear Madam He’s scolding voice. Jiang Ruanxi saw Madam Zhou’s face alternating between pale and green, and she felt extremely satisfied inside.
“Mother, the food has gotten a bit cold—eat quickly.”
Lin Ningkun saw the atmosphere was awkward and thought to ease it, but Madam Zhou directly threw down her chopsticks. “If you want to eat, eat it yourself. I’m not eating.”
After being stirred up by her own eldest daughter-in-law like this, she was so angry she was full—how could she possibly eat?
Madam Zhou stormed off angrily. Lin Ningkun felt even more awkward, but Jiang Ruanxi pretended to be nonchalant. “Marquis, the food has cooled.”
Everyone was angry, but she acted as if nothing had happened. Lin Ningkun looked at her with a rather strange expression, put down his chopsticks, and said, “I’m full. Eat by yourself.”
Originally, the table was full of people, but now only Jiang Ruanxi remained.
“Madam, shall we clear the table?”
Sweeping her gaze over the full table of food, Jiang Ruanxi’s lips curved up as she picked up a piece of meat. “Such good food—why clear it? Not eating it would be a waste.”
Others had no appetite, but hers was excellent right now.
“By the way, has everything been arranged properly?” After eating, Jiang Ruanxi wiped her mouth and asked.
Hong Ye said, “Madam, rest assured—it’s all prepared.”
**
After being scolded by Madam He, Lin Tingting felt extremely aggrieved and furious inside, but Madam He wasn’t like Jiang Ruanxi—she could strike back directly.
Not to mention how formidable Madam He herself was—as soon as she made a fuss, even her own elder brother and mother had no way to handle it, so she didn’t dare retort at all.
“Is what you said true?”
Lin Tingting was stewing with anger when she heard the voices of maids in the manor.
“Of course it’s true. I heard Guangming Temple is extremely efficacious, especially for seeking marriage.” Another maid replied.
Lin Tingting was worrying inside about being rejected by Jiang Ruanxi and Madam He on this matter. Thinking of how her marriage had no prospects now, her heart stirred, and she pricked up her ears to listen carefully.
“Not only that, but basically whatever you pray for, you get. A few days ago, I heard from my sisters in Yongning Marquis Manor that the Marquis of Yongning Manor recently had an aunt who went to Guangming Temple to pray for a son, and not long after, she got pregnant. Plus the Heir Apparent placing third in the imperial exams, the Marquis of Yongning was overjoyed and said in a few days he’d have the Heir Apparent protect that aunt and personally go to fulfill the vow.”
Hearing this, Lin Tingting’s heart moved even more. She was worrying about not having a chance to meet this Heir Apparent, but unexpectedly, the opportunity had come.
After the two maids left, Lin Tingting wiped away her tears and went to Madam Zhou’s room.
Madam Zhou was still feeling very uncomfortable inside. Seeing Lin Tingting come in, she said irritably, “Why did you go provoke that shrew for no reason?”
Her own eldest daughter-in-law had a prominent family background, but crucially, her own eldest son protected her, so even if she was unhappy, she wouldn’t go looking for trouble with her.
