Chapter 78: Are You Willing?
The Lin family had finally produced a promising seedling with great difficulty; how could he bear to snuff it out just like that?
“The flowers in the greenhouse are destined to not withstand torment. They can’t survive even a slight cold wind; doesn’t the clan leader worry about the future?”
Lin Runkun fell silent, and Jiang Ruanxi knew he had taken her words to heart.
“The clan leader is not young anymore.” Jiang Ruanxi fiddled with her fingernail, “Lin Shu is merely twenty years old. The clan leader can protect him today, but if the clan leader passes away in the future, who else can protect him?”
Lin Runkun understood this reason, but he was still a bit hesitant, “But the risk is really too great.”
“No risk, no gain. Rather than living in constant fear every day, why not go all out?”
Jiang Ruanxi looked at the branches outside the window, “Perhaps a hundred years from now, the Lin Clan will also become a scholarly family like the He family, respected by all.”
Hearing this, Lin Runkun’s eyes gleamed with sharp light.
That was his lifelong pursuit!
If there was such a day, he could die without regrets.
“The clan leader need not worry; there are still five days left. During this time, you can think it over carefully.”
After Jiang Ruanxi left, Lin Shu thought Lin Runkun was going to abandon him and truly listen to Jiang Ruanxi’s words, so he hurriedly said, “Clan leader, her words are not trustworthy. She and my cousin are husband and wife; how could she possibly think of us?”
“But do you have a better way? Just as she said, even if we scrape together the silver money this time, the Marquis Manor is insatiably greedy. If they use this to threaten you again later, what will you do?”
“Apart from scraping together silver again and endlessly meeting his demands, what else can you do?”
His words made Lin Shu fall silent; he indeed had no countermeasure right now.
“Do you want to live a life controlled by others like this?”
“Of course your nephew does not.”
Lin Runkun nodded, “Then do as Jiang Ruanxi said. You go and confess this matter to His Majesty.”
What, what?
Lin Shu was stunned, not expecting such a method; he was completely dazed, but thinking that this was the only way now.
After all, he truly could not come up with so much silver.
He quickly let it go.
The next day.
Lin Ningkun and Madam Zhou were still at home, happily waiting for Lin Shu to send over the silver, but they did not expect Lin Tingting to come in with a bitter face first.
Not only did Lin Tingting come in with a bitter face, but even Madam He came over with her big belly.
“Mother, what exactly are you doing? Do you have to force me to death before you’re satisfied?” Lin Tingting came in and said unhappily.
Madam Zhou was baffled, Lin Ningkun also frowned slightly, while Jiang Ruanxi took a sip of tea and calmly asked, “Third Sister, why don’t you just explain clearly what happened? Mother might not understand if you speak like this.”
“It’s all your fault. Even if you want Lin Shu’s silver, couldn’t you hold off a little longer?” Lin Tingting was so angry she cried, “You’ve handled things so ruthlessly; I think my marriage is done for too. Just let me remain single forever.”
“Tingting, what exactly happened? Don’t scare Mother; can you just explain clearly?”
“Mother, your spending silver to have Second Uncle pull strings for an official career is known throughout the Capital.” Madam He said with mockery and some anger on her face.
What, what?
Madam Zhou could not believe it. Madam He continued, “Not only that, but everyone also knows that you used Lin Shu’s weakness to threaten him. Our perfectly good Marquis Manor has now become a street rat that everyone wants to beat.”
Jiang Ruanxi unconsciously raised the corners of her lips and feigned surprise as she said, “Elder Sister-in-law, are you mistaken? How could the people of the Capital know about such a private matter?”
“How could it be a mistake? Lin Shu told Lin Runkun himself.” Madam He looked at her younger brother’s wife, feeling that this matter had a great deal to do with her, but there was no evidence.
“What? Has Lin Shu gone mad? Does he really not want his future anymore?” Madam Zhou could not believe it, “And Lin Runkun, has he gone mad with him?”
“Regardless of whether they have gone mad or not, the most important thing for Mother now is to figure everything out first.” Jiang Ruanxi reminded.
“Marquis, someone from the palace has come to summon you to the Imperial Palace to see His Majesty.”
Just as Jiang Ruanxi finished speaking, a servant came in to report.
The Lin family members’ faces immediately turned grave.
“Why did His Majesty suddenly send someone? He didn’t summon you early or late, but precisely at this time?” Madam Zhou said with furrowed brows.
Lin Ningkun was not happy either, but he still comforted, “Mother, His Majesty summoning me might not be about Lin Runkun and Lin Shu; perhaps it’s for something else.”
Madam Zhou was no fool; although Lin Ningkun said this, she still could not be happy.
Jiang Ruanxi at the side said faintly, “Marquis, don’t keep the people from the palace waiting too long.”
Lin Ningkun felt exceptionally heavy-hearted but did not dare delay.
After he went to the Imperial Palace, Lin Tingting burst into tears, “It’s over. If His Majesty makes trouble this time, our Lin family is finished.”
Moreover, her marriage prospects were probably ruined too.
Lin Tingting felt extremely uncomfortable inside. If she had known, back at Guangming Temple, she shouldn’t have been so picky, shouldn’t have rejected the Crown Prince, and should have held tightly to Sun Chengye’s thigh instead; she wouldn’t have ended up in such a disheveled state now.
“Third Sister, don’t talk nonsense.” Madam He scolded, “His Majesty hasn’t spoken yet; we don’t know the situation. Don’t say such dejected words. Wait until Second Brother returns to discuss everything.”
“You all can wait if you want; I have no patience anyway.” Lin Tingting could no longer care about anything now. If she really waited for the imperial decree to come down, her marriage would truly be over.
No, before that, she had to think of a way to settle her marriage.
Lin Tingting left, and Madam He’s face turned cold, “I say, Second Brother’s Wife, with Third Sister acting like this, shouldn’t you manage her properly? Being so disrespectful, how will she discuss marriage in the future?”
“If Elder Sister-in-law blames this on me, then I’m truly wronged.” Jiang Ruanxi smiled faintly, “Mother is still here; how could it be my place to teach Third Sister? Moreover, as the elder sister-in-law is like a mother, even if Mother were gone, it would be Elder Sister-in-law’s duty to teach her, right?”
Madam He’s face looked unpleasant. Jiang Ruanxi knew Madam He’s thoughts but paid them no mind, “Elder Sister-in-law comes from a scholarly family; I imagine she knows the rules even better than I do. By saying this, are you perhaps hoping Mother is gone?”
Madam Zhou turned back to look at Madam He, her eyes filled with intense anger.
“Mother, that’s not what she meant.” Before Madam He could speak, Lin Feng spoke up, “Second Brother’s Wife, you’ve misunderstood too. My wife’s meaning is that Mother is getting on in years, and her own body is inconvenient now, so she hoped to trouble Second Brother’s Wife to handle this matter.”
Madam He had a bad temper, but she had a man protecting her.
Just this alone meant her days wouldn’t be too bad.
“Elder Sister-in-law, is that so?”
