Chapter 6: Can’t Chop? Then Burn Them
For so many years, Madam has been living in the manor, keeping a low profile and behaving cautiously, spending money and exerting effort for the Lin family. Without Jiang Ruanxi, the Lin family would not have today’s glory.
Now even such a small matter requires them to come and reprimand her. Isn’t this living too aggrieved?
She was also afraid that Jiang Ruanxi would really believe them again for Lin Ningkun’s sake.
Jiang Ruanxi knew Hong Ye was doing this for her own good, and she felt grateful in her heart. Whether in the previous life or the five years of this life, Hong Ye had always been by her side.
“Whether I have a place in his heart or not doesn’t matter.” Jiang Ruanxi looked at the red plum blossoms filling the courtyard and said faintly, “Have someone burn the plum blossom tree.”
If it couldn’t be chopped down, then burn it!
Hearing this, Hong Ye was overjoyed. “Madam, I’ll go right now.”
**
Front courtyard study room.
Lin Runkun’s face was full of seriousness.
“Ningkun, your performance in the external assessment this time was not ideal. If you had gotten an upper grade, for the sake of our Lin family, I would even shamelessly beg the prime minister. But this time, your assessment only got a medium grade, and it was on the lower side of that.”
“This time, many officials were transferred back from outside. Your assessment ranking is in the middle but slightly towards the tail, so even if I beg others, I can’t find a reason. Now, we can only smooth relations and see if we can get you a fifth-rank official position in the capital.”
Lin Ningkun held a sixth-rank official position outside, and with his results, getting him a fifth-rank position back in the capital would still require endless begging of others.
But Lin Ningkun felt that he had great talent, and those assessing officials deliberately gave him a low score because the Lin family was no longer in power now.
With his talent, he should have gotten an upper-grade score, slightly on the higher side.
Even though he was displeased with this fifth-rank position in his heart, Lin Ningkun knew there was no other way now and could only comply, saying, “Everything will be as Second Uncle directs.”
“For this promotion matter, there will inevitably be some things to handle midway, so you’d better prepare some silver money. Put off the matter of purchasing a courtyard for now.”
After all, between buying a courtyard and his future prospects, he believed Lin Ningkun could distinguish which was more important.
Hearing this, Lin Ningkun frowned slightly. Although he didn’t manage the household, he knew the family’s silver money was not enough to handle two matters at once.
Seeing him silent, Lin Runkun fiddled with the teacup lid.
“I’ll remind you, this is the capital. You still need to be careful in some places. When assessing an official, besides achievements in governance, the current emperor also cares about an official’s private morality.
As for your matter of adopting a child, I think you’d better put it off for now. No matter what, you have to wait until your appointment is finalized.”
“Second Uncle, there’s no conflict between these two things, is there?”
Lin Runkun narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Ningkun, things under the imperial city are not like outside. Dingning Marquis Manor is no longer what it used to be. If you truly care about your own future prospects and the good of Dingning Marquis Manor, you’d better get along well with Jiang Ruanxi during this time and not cause any more trouble.
Although she verbally agreed to the adoption, which woman would truly be happy about it in her heart? Every move in the marquis manor is under the emperor’s watchful eye. If there’s the slightest mistake at this critical juncture, it will ruin the Lin family’s future prospects, and no amount of connections will help then.”
Lin Ningkun’s brows furrowed even tighter.
Lin Runkun knew that even if he was unwilling in his heart, he would take his words to heart, so he stood up and patted his shoulder.
“Maintaining the Lin family’s connections is not easy. You know which is more important.”
After Lin Runkun left, Madam Zhou came in.
“Ningkun, what did your Second Uncle say?”
Lin Ningkun clenched his hand into a fist.
Lin Runkun was clearly threatening him. If he insisted on adding Lin Xiao to the family registry, Lin Runkun would not pull strings for him.
But if he had no power, many things couldn’t continue. This feeling of being out of control made him uncomfortable all over, and Lin Ningkun painfully closed his eyes.
“Mother, put off the matter of Xiao Ge’er’s adoption for now. Go get me twenty thousand taels of silver.”
Although the son was important, if he lost his own future prospects, what was the point of having this son?
The grandson couldn’t be recognized into the ancestral line for now, and Madam Zhou felt a bit disappointed in her heart, but when silver was mentioned, she was directly startled.
“Ningkun, why so much silver?”
“Twenty thousand taels is just for handling matters. There might be other silver needed midway.”
Over these years, while Lin Ningkun was posted outside, although his salary was not high, his food, clothing, and expenses were all provided by the marquis manor.
Everything was exquisite and fine.
He didn’t understand the mortal world and didn’t know how hard it was to come by silver money. In his view, a mere twenty thousand taels of silver was not a large amount at all.
“This… Mother doesn’t have that much silver on hand, and such a large amount would probably require asking Jiang Ruanxi’s opinion.”
Although Madam Zhou didn’t like Jiang Ruanxi, she had never doubted her ability to manage the household.
“Without her approval, the accountant’s office won’t agree.”
He had to look at Jiang Ruanxi’s face even to spend silver?
Lin Ningkun’s expression was not good.
“But don’t worry, give Mother a little time. Besides, she likes you so much, she will definitely find a way to please you and obediently deliver the silver to your hands.”
A flash of disgust passed through Lin Ningkun’s eyes, but he felt it was only natural. He said impatiently, “Mother, the matter of smoothing relations is in this period. You’d better hurry.”
“Marquis, bad news.” Just as Lin Ningkun finished speaking, the servant outside rushed in. “Madam burned all the plum blossom trees in the courtyard.”
“Damn her, what exactly is she trying to do?” Lin Ningkun’s heart was dripping blood, and he said furiously, “I want to kill her.”
“Ningkun, stop.” Madam Zhou held back the impulsive Lin Ningkun.
“We still need Jiang Ruanxi for matters now. If you charge up like this and anger her, it won’t benefit you. The plum blossom trees are gone, we can plant more, but if this opportunity is missed, the marquis manor’s future will be over.”
Lin Ningkun’s face showed forbearance, and he finally forcibly withdrew his steps, constantly reminding himself in his heart.
He couldn’t lose his composure at this time.
He would keep this account first, and one day, he would make Jiang Ruanxi pay back with interest.
