Chapter 85: This Is Simply Outrageous
Jiang Ruanxi pretended not to understand and shamelessly accepted it. “Third Brother is too polite. Speaking of who suffered, it should be Second Brother. After all, he suffered in prison.”
Jiang Rui’s hand holding the teacup paused, and he pinched the teacup slightly harder, but his face remained calm and composed.
Jiang Rui placed the teacup on the table.
“I know Second Sister still resents Third Sister, but in the end, we are the family with blood ties. Father and Elder’s meaning is that no matter what, we cannot let the family fall apart because of Third Sister.”
“Third Brother is overthinking it. I don’t mind Jiang Xuerou’s matter at all. As for the family with blood ties you mentioned, this matter won’t change because of Jiang Xuerou.”
Jiang Rui frowned slightly. Jiang Ruanxi was the true young lady of the Jiang Family, an unchangeable fact.
Even without Jiang Xuerou, it couldn’t be changed.
So for Jiang Ruanxi to say this, she was clearly deceiving him.
For a moment, Jiang Rui couldn’t see through the daughter of a merchant in front of him.
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t care what he was thinking and put down the teacup, suddenly standing up.
“The Jiang Family asked me to come, and I’ve come, and I’ve drunk the tea. Now it’s not early, and I see that Mother doesn’t seem to like me being here, so I’ll go back first.”
His objective hadn’t been achieved yet, so Jiang Rui hurriedly spoke to stop her.
“Second Sister, please stay. We are all family; there’s no like or dislike. Second Sister, you’re overthinking it. Recently, the Lin Family had their noble title stripped. If you have any troubles, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you.”
A cold smile tugged at Jiang Ruanxi’s lips. He had finally revealed his fox tail.
Jiang Ruanxi paused and turned back to look at the strange yet familiar face, remembering how in her previous life they had toyed with her like a monkey. She hated them to the extreme in her heart, but on the surface, she still smiled faintly.
“Speaking of which, I do have one thing I want Third Brother to help with, but I think Third Brother probably won’t help me.”
“How does Second Sister know I won’t help without saying it?” Jiang Rui asked rhetorically.
Jiang Ruanxi was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
“The Dingning Marquis Manor has had its noble title stripped by His Majesty and has no chance of rising again. Because of Lin Ningkun and Jiang Xuerou, I mind it greatly deep down.
Now there’s no possibility of continuing with Lin Ningkun. I wonder if Third Brother can step in and help me leave the Lin Family.”
“Nonsense, utter nonsense.” Jiang Rui refused without thinking.
But seeing the faint smile on Jiang Ruanxi’s face, he realized his gaffe and quickly explained.
“Second Sister, what I mean is that the Dingning Marquis Manor is currently in trouble. If you leave the Lin Family at this time, others will say behind your back that you’re ungrateful. For a woman, the most important thing in life is reputation. So I think it’s better if you wait until everyone forgets about the Lin Family matter, then I’ll step in to help you resolve it. What do you think?”
If it were Jiang Ruanxi from her previous life, she might have been foolishly deceived by him.
But now she was perfectly clear.
These high-sounding words made her sneer inwardly.
Back then, after the heir of the Zhenguo Marquis Manor passed away, the Lin Family racked their brains to make Jiang Xuerou leave the Zhenguo Marquis Manor. When that didn’t work, they tacitly allowed Lin Ningkun and her matter.
But now when it was her turn, saying to wait until the Lin Family matter was forgotten before helping her was just brushing her off.
“What if everyone never forgets?”
“It won’t happen.”
“Third Brother is so confident?” Mockery flashed in Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes. “Then I’ll provisionally believe Third Brother and go back to continue waiting.”
Hearing this, Jiang Rui breathed a sigh of relief.
“Third Sister, since I’ve already agreed to your matter, shouldn’t you reciprocate and agree to one thing for me?”
Jiang Ruanxi sneered inwardly. This seemed to be the real purpose of calling her here.
Jiang Ruanxi said calmly, “Third Brother, tell me.”
“You know your Second Brother is in prison now. You’ve been granted the title of third-rank Madam. Can you enter the palace and put in a few good words for him?”
Women of the Qin Kingdom who are granted nobility decrees can submit a plaque to enter the palace, and upon approval, they will meet the Empress or other ladies.
Although she couldn’t meet His Majesty, as long as she said good words in front of other ladies, they could whisper in His Majesty’s ear, and the matter would be much easier.
Jiang Ruanxi pretended to furrow her brows, looking troubled.
Seeing her like this, afraid she wouldn’t agree, he hurriedly said soft words in front of her.
“I know what your Second Brother did to you was too much, but we are blood siblings after all. Whatever the matter, once it’s talked out, it’s fine. When he comes out, I’ll make him apologize to you.”
Jiang Rui was very confident that Jiang Ruanxi would agree.
Because in the past, as long as he spoke gently, Jiang Ruanxi would act like a fool and agree to any of their requests.
But the current Jiang Ruanxi only found his words ridiculous upon hearing them.
If an apology were useful, why would she seek revenge? That would be letting them off too easily.
They had never treated her as family and always looked down on her. How could they apologize? This was still treating her like a fool.
But she couldn’t show it yet. Jiang Ruanxi still pretended to be like before, smiling as she said, “Alright, I don’t know how Third Brother wants me to help?”
As expected, still the fool from before.
Jiang Rui sneered inwardly.
“Actually, you can do it. You just need to say that the medicinal herbs you donated were given to you by the Jiang Family. Although Second Brother found the formula to cure the plague, those formulas haven’t been verified for reliability. Second Brother was worried they weren’t safe for the people, so he kept them secret.”
Saying it this way, wouldn’t that be slapping her own face?
If the medicinal herbs given to her by the Jiang Family took all the merit, it would directly transfer to the Jiang Family?
Offering them to the Crown Prince, wouldn’t that be making a joke of the Crown Prince?
It was the Crown Prince who had Jiang Changjun thrown into prison. If she went midway to speak to His Majesty, she would thoroughly offend the Crown Prince.
Would she, Jiang Ruanxi, have any way to live?
They had truly calculated right on her face, and very viciously at that.
This move killed two birds with one stone.
Not only would it let the Jiang Family claim the merit and completely exonerate Jiang Changjun, but it would also draw the Crown Prince’s resentment toward her.
Jiang Rui was best at the tactic of slapping once and then offering a date.
His tone had also unconsciously softened a lot.
“Rest assured, as long as you agree. I’ll explain well to Mother that Xue’er’s matter has nothing to do with you. I believe Mother will slowly understand and even slowly accept you. Then we can still be a harmonious family.”
In her previous life, just hearing him say “family” would make her soften and agree.
But this life, she never would again.
Happy New Year!
