Chapter 53: I Won’t Delay The Major Matter
Li Ningkun had always indulged Jiang Xuerou’s every request, and now that he needed this pair of embroidered shoes, he agreed without a second thought.
After Li Ningkun left, Jiang Xuerou patted her chest with her hand, feeling relieved in her heart.
That was close; she had almost been found out by Lin Ningkun that she was deceiving him.
Fortunately, Li Ningkun was a fool.
After relaxing, thinking of the recent matter, Jiang Xuerou’s face turned puzzled.
She had clearly received information that the west wing room housed the Crown Prince, so why had it turned into that profligate son Sun Chengye?
If Lin Ningkun hadn’t arrived a step earlier, she would probably have been discovered by now.
Thinking that if she were discovered lying together with Sun Chengye, that originally gentle face instantly darkened.
She must investigate clearly who exactly wanted to harm her and had passed her the wrong information.
However, this time fortunately there was Lin Tingting that scapegoat; otherwise, the consequences were unthinkable. It seemed she needed to be even more careful in the future.
**
Hong Ye, walking halfway, couldn’t help but give in to her curiosity and cautiously said, “Madam, the Marquis and the Heir Apparent’s Wife of Zhenguo Marquis Manor…”
Before Hong Ye could finish speaking, Jiang Ruanxi interrupted her.
Jiang Ruanxi stopped her steps, her face solemn. “Hong Ye, you’ve been by my side for many years, haven’t you?”
Hong Ye was stunned, not knowing what Jiang Ruanxi meant, but seeing her face change color, her heart tightened, thinking she had said the wrong thing.
She respectfully said, “Madam, this servant has been following you since childhood; it’s already been sixteen years.”
Hong Ye had been following Jiang Ruanxi even before she returned to the Jiang Family.
She could be considered to have grown up together with her since childhood.
In the previous life, no matter what, Hong Ye had stayed by her side; her loyalty to her was undoubtedly unquestionable, but some words she still needed to make clear to her.
“Regarding their matter, no matter what you saw today, do not speak of it to anyone.”
Hong Ye hadn’t expected Jiang Ruanxi to say this, but she also felt indignant on her behalf.
“Madam, the Marquis has treated you like this and done such a thing; why are you still thinking on his behalf?”
“You need not pay too much attention. You only need to know that I will not wait for death. It’s simply that the timing has not yet arrived.”
Seeing that she already had a plan, Hong Ye finally felt relieved, but in her heart, she felt disgust and shame at Li Ningkun’s behavior.
After returning, Jiang Ruanxi went back to her room but delayed in sleeping. Sitting to one side copying scriptures, Hong Ye saw that night had grown late and reminded her, “Madam, it’s late; why not wait for news tomorrow instead?”
“Wait a little longer.” Jiang Ruanxi said without lifting her head.
Hong Ye said nothing. Near dawn, there was finally movement outside the window.
“Madam, Master Bian Du has arrived.”
A smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Ruanxi’s mouth. She quickly set down the brush in her hand and turned to instruct Hong Ye at the side.
“You go outside and stand guard; do not let anyone approach here.”
“Alright.”
After Hong Ye left for a while, Bian Du, wearing a black robe and a conical hat on his head, walked in.
Jiang Ruanxi stepped forward excitedly. “Master Bian Du, you’ve come. Please sit quickly.”
After Bian Du sat down, Jiang Ruanxi poured a cup of tea and handed it to him before eagerly asking, “Master, regarding my fate, do you have any news now?”
“Master is indeed coming to the Capital, but I do not know the exact day.” After taking a sip of tea, Bian Du said indifferently.
Jiang Ruanxi was somewhat disappointed. Bian Du continued, “However, Madam, rest assured. I have checked for you. Although your fate is being secretly exchanged, it has not been completely devoured. Combined with the recent events, your fate has not been further exchanged. Perhaps the other party has also encountered some resistance.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes lit up.
This meant she could still change her own fate?
“Master Bian Du, there has always been a question in my heart.”
“Madam, speak freely.”
“Master surely knows my background. I was replaced from childhood, and another took my place as the legitimate daughter of Rongyi Marquis Manor. Do you think the person who exchanged fate with me could be her?”
Bian Du quickly flexed his fingers up and down. In a moment, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Immediately after, Bian Du spat out a mouthful of blood.
Jiang Ruanxi was greatly startled and stepped forward. “Master, are you alright?”
Bian Du waved his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Madam, someone is blocking me from peeking at Heavenly Secrets. I temporarily cannot confirm if the person you mentioned is the one who exchanged fate with you.”
“Then…”
“However, Madam, rest assured. This poor Daoist has just performed a ritual, which consumed much energy. Once I recover, I will surely divine it for you.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s suspended heart finally settled. “Master, approximately how long will it take?”
“The time is uncertain; Madam, just wait patiently.”
After Bian Du left, Jiang Ruanxi’s face grew increasingly grave, even extremely certain that Jiang Xuerou was the one who had exchanged fate with her. Otherwise, how could she have taken her place?
Now, if she could make Jiang Xuerou fall into irredeemable ruin, or even kill her, would that restore her own fate?
Originally, she had stopped Hong Ye from revealing the adultery between Li Ningkun and Jiang Xuerou because she worried that if Jiang Xuerou had stolen her fate, something happening to Jiang Xuerou might mean she couldn’t get her fate back.
But the current situation made her change her mind.
“Madam, the Marquis has returned and went to the Old Madam’s room.”
While she was thinking of the matter, Hong Ye’s voice came to her ear, and Jiang Ruanxi finally came back to her senses.
Hong Ye had only come to report this after seeing Master Bian Du leave.
As for the Lin Family matter, Jiang Ruanxi had no mind to deal with it now. She only wanted Jiang Xuerou to be utterly disgraced.
“Put the Lin Family matter aside first. Go secretly leak a piece of information to Jiang Xuerou.”
Jiang Ruanxi whispered in her ear for a bit, and Hong Ye’s eyes brightened. She joyfully said, “Madam, I’ll go right away. I will certainly handle this matter well.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked at the sky outside, her cold smile deepening. When day broke, it would be the time when Jiang Xuerou had no place to bury herself.
Jiang Ruanxi entered the room and had just lain down when she heard faint voices from next door.
“Mother, rest assured. I really didn’t do anything with Sun Chengye. I won’t delay the major matter.”
“That’s good. No matter how good Sun Chengye is, he is only a Heir Apparent. How can he compare to the Crown Prince?”
It turned out that Lin Tingting had indeed wanted to go to Sun Chengye that night, but halfway there she was stopped by Lin Ningkun.
Lin Ningkun told Lin Tingting that the room in the west wing housed the Crown Prince, and rather than labor to curry favor with a marquis manor, it was better to ascend to the heavens in a single step.
Jiang Ruanxi immediately understood. No wonder Lin Ningkun was willing to send Lin Tingting to the west wing room; it turned out he had long known the Crown Prince was staying there.
“You know that’s good. Isn’t Mother afraid you’ll be muddleheaded?”
