Chapter 66: You Think You Can Just Get Compensation?
Lin Ningkun had never been treated like this before. He just wanted to get angry, but thinking of the objective of his visit, he still held back his temper.
“You got my clothing wet. Shouldn’t you wipe it for me?”
“This concubine hasn’t done such things for a long time and has long forgotten how.” Jiang Ruanxi refused him without thinking.
But Lin Ningkun took it to mean something else. He grabbed her hand hard and questioned her as if his wife had been caught in bed, “Who have you served?”
His inexplicable anger instantly provoked Jiang Ruanxi. She yanked her hand back forcefully. Thinking of her hand having been touched by Lin Ningkun made her feel disgust beyond measure in an instant.
“The Marquis hasn’t been home for so many years. Naturally, I have been filial to Mother in your place.”
Mei’s brows also instantly furrowed coldly.
Lin Ningkun didn’t notice her change either.
Hearing her say this, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, feeling he had overthought it, and his anger dissipated instantly.
He thought that he hadn’t come today to quarrel with Jiang Ruanxi, but to repair their relationship with her.
He took the towel from Jiang Ruanxi’s hand, wiped the tea stains from his body, and said, “Madam said you were tired. Let’s rest early.”
Jiang Ruanxi thought she had misheard, but seeing his serious expression, she instantly dropped the pretense and said coldly, “Marquis, have you forgotten what you said back then?”
She now hated Lin Ningkun so much that she wanted to kill him. How could she still sleep in the same bed with him?
Lin Ningkun’s face stiffened.
“Madam, I know I was in the wrong before. Didn’t I tell you I would properly compensate you?”
You want to compensate and that’s that?
What did he take her, Jiang Ruanxi, for?
“No need. The Marquis should stop wasting time on me.”
Lin Ningkun had finally untied the knot in his heart and lowered his stance, yet she gave him no face.
He couldn’t keep up appearances either and was quite angry. “Jiang Ruanxi, think it over. If I walk out that door, even if you kneel before me in the future, I won’t come again.”
“Farewell, Marquis. No need to see you out.”
The indifferent words not only hurt but also stirred Lin Ningkun’s self-esteem.
He steeled his heart and directly grabbed Jiang Ruanxi’s hand, but at that very moment, the hat on his head fell off again.
His unspeakably ugly appearance, combined with his rude attitude, made Jiang Ruanxi unable to hold back any longer.
“Urgh…”
She vomited right there, all over Lin Ningkun.
“Jiang Ruanxi.”
Lin Ningkun’s face darkened instantly, and the bit of interest in his heart had long vanished into thin air.
She actually dared to disdain him.
“Marquis, your face…”
Jiang Ruanxi covered her mouth. She had never seen Lin Ningkun so ugly. Bald head aside, his face was now covered in red spots.
Lin Ningkun touched his face and also realized something was wrong. He took the bronze mirror from the table and looked at his face.
“Ah…”
Soon, a scream came from the room. By the time Hong Ye rushed in, Lin Ningkun had already fainted on the ground.
“Tell Shugen to carry the Marquis out, and find a doctor for him.”
“Madam, the Marquis is…”
“Tell the Old Madam that the Marquis has caught a contagious disease. Don’t let anyone get near.”
“Yes.”
The next day, news spread that Lin Ningkun was ill. Lin Tingting knew the disease caused red spots on the face and feared disfigurement, so she was too scared to come out. Madam Zhou cared about her son and went to see him once, but was also badly frightened.
With no ideas of her own, she came to find Jiang Ruanxi.
“It won’t do for the Marquis’s illness to continue like this. We need to find a doctor.”
“If Mother has an idea, just do it.”
Madam Zhou was at a loss for words. If she had an idea, would she be asking Jiang Ruanxi?
“However, I heard that the Jiang Family is the source of infection. But I heard the Jiang family members seem fine. Why doesn’t Mother go ask the Jiang Family and see if there’s any way to cure the Marquis?”
“Really?” Madam Zhou was only thinking of how to save her son and hadn’t considered anything else.
“Of course. How could I joke about such a matter with Mother?” Jiang Ruanxi said sincerely.
“Does Mother still remember? Back then when the Crown Prince was attacked, people from the Jiang Family and Zhenguo Marquis Manor both went, but why is only the Marquis infected now, while the Jiang Family and Zhenguo Marquis Manor are all fine?”
Madam Zhou’s face instantly grew grave. Some matters couldn’t stand scrutiny at first, but thinking carefully revealed clues.
Right, why were Lin family members infected, but the Jiang Family and Li Family were fine?
Could it be the Jiang Family really had an antidote?
The Jiang Family doted on Jiang Xuerou so much. If they really had an antidote, they would definitely give it to her.
Thinking of how her son had ended up like this for Jiang Xuerou, Madam Zhou was heartbroken and said without thinking, “Hmph, they harmed my son like this and still won’t give the antidote? No way. I’ll go to their door right now and demand it.”
Jiang Ruanxi curved her lips. Only after Madam Zhou left did Jiang Ruanxi instruct Hong Ye at her side.
“Go tell Shugen to spread the news that the Heir Apparent’s Wife was ill some time ago but has now recovered. Also, spread the news of the Old Madam going to the Jiang Family, and have him make arrangements. Make this matter as big as possible, best if everyone knows.”
“Alright, Madam.”
Though she didn’t know why Jiang Ruanxi was doing this, she trusted Madam Zhou without reason and unconditionally carried out her instructions.
**
Lin Ningkun looked at his reflection in the mirror, his entire mindset on the verge of collapse.
Sparse hair on his head, bald with many scabs. He could still cover it with a hat before, but now his face was full of red spots.
Where was his former dashing elegance?
He now looked as ugly and filthy as a toad in a muddy pit. Was he to hide in the room unseen for the rest of his life?
Never mind Jiang Xuerou turning cold toward him—even he couldn’t help wanting to vomit at his ghostly appearance.
“Did you hear? The Marquis has caught a contagious disease.”
“No way?”
“It’s true. So many doctors have been called, but none worked. The red rash on the Marquis’s face is said to be terrifying.”
Voices came from outside the window. Lin Ningkun wished he could go out and tear those people’s mouths, but facing his ghostly appearance, he clenched his fists and didn’t dare go out.
“But that’s not right. Wasn’t the Heir Apparent’s Wife said to have been infected some time ago too?”
The whispers came again. Lin Ningkun hung his head, his emotions unreadable for the moment.
“But the Heir Apparent’s Wife is said to have recovered. Given our Marquis Manor’s relationship with Zhenguo Marquis Manor, there’s no reason they wouldn’t send an antidote.”
Lin Ningkun’s eyes darkened.
