Chapter 62: Truly Heartless And Ungrateful
Her clear and innocent gaze made Lin Ningkun feel a surge of guilt in his heart.
Thinking about how Jiang Ruanxi had been tirelessly handling Lin Family matters by his side during this time, while he was still preoccupied with Jiang Xuerou’s affairs.
As soon as he thought of Jiang Xuerou’s betrayal of him, Lin Ningkun’s heart would become uncomfortable, but looking at the gentle and obedient Jiang Ruanxi, his heart gradually softened. Perhaps he could try to accept her.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he couldn’t help wanting to step forward and grab her hand. “Jiang Ruanxi…”
“Marquis, it’s getting late. Let’s go back.”
Noticing the shift in emotions in his eyes, Jiang Ruanxi only felt a wave of nausea in her stomach.
Suppressing the disgust in her heart, she avoided Lin Ningkun’s touch and left first.
Lin Ningkun’s hand hung awkwardly in the air. He withdrew it and looked at that graceful back figure, not getting angry like he used to.
In his heart, he thought that he had indeed been too muddled before. He would make it up to her properly.
**
In the narrow carriage, Jiang Ruanxi held a book, completely ignoring Li Ningkun.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was very quiet.
Li Ningkun’s eyes kept staring at Jiang Ruanxi.
He had never been alone with Jiang Ruanxi before and had no idea what kind of person she was.
He didn’t know if it was because he had seen through Jiang Xuerou’s hypocrisy, but now looking at Jiang Ruanxi’s serene face, it seemed attractive. Ripples stirred in Li Ningkun’s heart.
Previously, like Madam Zhou, he had looked down on Jiang Ruanxi’s identity.
Although she was the legitimate daughter of Yongyi Marquis Manor, she had ultimately been raised by merchants since childhood. Her every gesture carried the smell of money, making people feel extremely disgusted.
But now, as she sat elegantly beside him, where did she look crude and vulgar in her demeanor?
Clearly, she was very elegant, even very alluring.
“Marquis.”
Being stared at with such heated gaze, Jiang Ruanxi felt utter disgust.
She put down the book, a flash of disdain in her eyes, but it quickly vanished.
“If you keep looking at me like this, I might think you still have some feelings for me.”
Lin Ningkun’s face was awkward. Although his heart was shaken, he naturally wouldn’t admit such a thing.
“You’re overthinking it. I just feel that you’ve worked hard for the marquis manor and made many sacrifices. No matter what, I should respect you.”
“Whether you respect me or not doesn’t matter. Just don’t cause me trouble, Marquis…”
Before she could finish her words, the carriage suddenly shook violently. Jiang Ruanxi’s body instinctively leaned forward. Lin Ningkun wanted to catch her, but she disdainfully pushed him away directly.
“Bang.”
Caught off guard, Lin Ningkun was pushed to the side, making a loud noise.
At the same time, Lin Ningkun’s hat fell off.
Looking at the bald spot and sparse hair on his head, disdain flickered in Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes.
Today, Lin Ningkun didn’t know what was wrong with him to actually share the same carriage with her.
Like he was mad.
She felt disgusted.
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t even glance at him. She lifted a corner of the curtain and said coldly to Hong Ye outside, “Hong Ye, what happened?”
“Madam, there are many refugees outside blocking our way.”
Jiang Ruanxi frowned and instinctively wanted to go out, but she was stopped by Lin Ningkun, who had already straightened himself up. “Are you mad? Those are refugees outside. They eat people.”
“If the Marquis is afraid, feel free to stay inside.”
Jiang Ruanxi mercilessly shook off his hand. “If the refugees really cause trouble, hiding inside won’t help. This concubine has been used to facing things directly for so many years and isn’t used to hiding in the shadows.”
Amid Lin Ningkun’s hesitant gaze, Jiang Ruanxi had already gotten out of the carriage.
He didn’t miss the contempt and disgust in her eyes, which wasn’t because of his appearance, but because of him as a person.
She actually disliked him.
Why?
He remembered that at the time of their marriage, even if he didn’t like Jiang Ruanxi, he had felt the heat and obsession in her eyes.
But when did it become just indifference and disgust now?
Thinking of this, for some reason, a trace of discomfort passed through his heart.
“Who are you people? Why are you blocking my carriage? Do you know who we are?”
Outside, Jiang Ruanxi’s resounding voice came through. Only then did Lin Ningkun realize that Jiang Ruanxi was different from other women.
Even Jiang Xuerou had the Jiang Family as her backing, but she was still a delicate woman who needed a man’s protection and love.
But Jiang Ruanxi didn’t need to rely on anyone to stand on her own.
The most ridiculous thing was that he now seemed like a burden.
This dealt a heavy blow to his self-esteem, as someone who had been arrogant and proud since childhood, looking down on everything.
“Madam, please have mercy. We are refugees fleeing south. We’ve walked day and night to get here and haven’t eaten for several days. Please give us some food.”
The people in front of her, some wore patched clothing, some wore clothes washed to faded white.
Their faces were all sallow and emaciated, clearly not having eaten a full meal in a long time.
Jiang Ruanxi saw tiny red spots on their necks, and her heart jolted.
She hadn’t expected it to come faster than in her previous life.
“Hong Ye, go distribute the dry rations we brought to them, and give them some loose silver.”
Jiang Ruanxi instructed Hong Ye on the side.
The refugees immediately wept with joy. “Thank you, Madam. Madam is truly the Bodhisattva who saves the world.”
“I’m not helping you for nothing. After taking the rations and silver, hurry and leave the capital. This isn’t a place you should come to.”
“I thought you had such a compassionate heart like the Bodhisattva, but it turns out you’re just hypocritical.” As soon as Jiang Ruanxi finished speaking, a mocking voice came from not far away.
Jiang Ruanxi looked up and saw two carriages approaching one after another. The front one stopped in front of her.
Jiang Ruanxi’s brows furrowed slightly.
She recognized it as the Jiang Family’s carriage.
She hadn’t expected to run into them no matter where she went. What bad luck.
Soon, Jiang Changjun lifted the curtain and stuck his head out, mockery spilling from the corners of his mouth.
“Now the south is suffering drought. These refugees have come all this way to the capital with great difficulty, and you plan to send them off with just a few rations and your loose silver. You’re truly heartless.”
The carriage beside it had stopped, but no one got out.
It looked very plain at first glance, but upon closer inspection, all the decorations on the carriage were luxurious.
Ordinary people wouldn’t notice.
The person inside must be either rich or noble. Jiang Ruanxi smelled a faint medicinal scent and recalled that when she saw the Crown Prince at Guangming Temple, he also had a faint medicinal scent on him.
Jiang Ruanxi immediately guessed that the person inside was probably the Crown Prince.
Jiang Ruanxi ignored him and curtsied toward the carriage. “This subject wife has seen Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Marquis of Dingning’s Wife, no need for formalities.”
After a moment, an indifferent voice came from inside.
And the Crown Prince in the carriage did not get out.
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t mind and curtsied to the Crown Prince.
Jiang Ruanxi looked at Jiang Changjun. She didn’t get angry at his words but said indifferently, “Since Second Brother thinks I’m heartless, do you perhaps have a better way to handle it?”
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