Chapter 94: Looking Down On People With Dog Eyes
Jiang Ruanxi did not know that they were secretly plotting how to harm her, and was calmly looking at the account book.
“Madam, Madam, as you guessed, this Old Aunt coming to our manor has no intention of doing anything good.”
Hong Ye, who had been sent out to gather information, came in excitedly.
Jiang Ruanxi put down the account book. “Oh? Speak slowly.”
After catching her breath, Hong Ye recounted everything she had learned in full detail.
“When Old Aunt arrived, she had a girl with her. She looked about the same age as our Third Miss. Although she appeared timid, she was extremely beautiful. But no matter how beautiful, I still think she is not as beautiful as Madam.”
After saying that, Hong Ye added another sentence.
Jiang Ruanxi looked at Hong Ye helplessly.
She no longer valued her own appearance now, because she had already planned that after revenge, she only wanted to live free and unfettered by herself.
“Besides this information, is there anything else?” Jiang Ruanxi raised her eyebrows.
Hong Ye understood her meaning and continued, “I heard that when Old Aunt came, she had a quarrel with Elder Madam Li Ti, and then brought that relative girl to our home.”
She had quarreled and talked back to her own mother-in-law, yet she turned around to lecture her, really treating her as easy to bully.
After being silent for a few seconds, Jiang Ruanxi suddenly said, “Have Shugen go to the Kang Family once, and say”
After hearing this, Hong Ye was slightly surprised.
“Madam, is this appropriate? And even if we say this, will the Kang Family people believe what we say?”
“Don’t worry, although my uncle is just a minor official, he cares extremely about his reputation. With Aunt acting like this, I believe he does not know. So we just need to let him know, and then we can just watch the play.”
Hong Ye nodded. “Alright, then this servant will have Shugen go handle it right away.”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded.
Because of the Jiang Family matter, Jiang Ruanxi could not leave the manor, so she had plenty of time at home.
The next day at mealtime, Madam Zhou deliberately called Jiang Ruanxi and Madam He together.
She introduced a woman to them to get acquainted.
“This is your cousin Qihui. She just turned sixteen this year and has come to the Capital with your aunt. If you two have time, take her out to see the sights.”
The fair and clean-looking Kang Qihui blushed involuntarily and timidly called out, “Elder Sister-in-law.”
Indeed, Kang Qihui looked timid, but she was flower-like in beauty.
According to Hong Ye, this Kang Qihui was the Kang Family’s concubine’s daughter, not Madam Kang Zhou’s legitimate daughter.
She had always treated these concubine’s daughters either by beating or scolding them. Now bringing her to Lin Manor, Jiang Ruanxi saw through Madam Kang Zhou’s intentions at a glance.
She smiled at Madam He and said nonchalantly, “This matter will have to trouble Elder Sister-in-law.”
“What, Nephew’s Second Wife, you wouldn’t refuse to even help with this little thing, would you?” Seeing her decline, Madam Kang Zhou’s expression grew increasingly unpleasant.
“Your this sister has stayed in Ningnan and has not seen much of the world. It’s just taking her out for a stroll, and you are unwilling?”
“Aunt really misunderstands me.” Jiang Ruanxi smiled. “Recently His Majesty ordered Crown Prince to thoroughly investigate the Jiang Family matter and specifically ordered me to stay in the manor and not go anywhere. If I take cousin out to see the world at this time, wouldn’t that be defying the decree?”
Madam Kang Zhou’s face tightened. Defying the decree was a beheading offense; even if she was muddled, she did not dare say more.
Thus, she could only turn her gaze to Madam He.
Madam He put down her chopsticks. “I am currently with child and rarely go out. Apart from occasionally returning to my maternal home, I spend most of my time in the manor, so I’m afraid I cannot help Aunt.”
If it were anyone else, with Madam He having said this much, they naturally would not say more.
But Madam Kang Zhou acted as if she had not understood and quickly said, “I hear the He Family is a scholarly family. Qihui is probably like me, this old woman, and has not seen one. How about taking Qihui along when you return to your maternal home? She may not see the Capital’s prosperity, but visiting a scholarly family would broaden her horizons.”
As soon as the words fell, the surroundings immediately quieted down.
Kang Qihui’s eyes held some expectation, while Jiang Ruanxi saw the scheming in Madam Kang Zhou’s eyes.
Looking at Madam Zhou who was completely oblivious over there, and Madam He whose expression had slightly changed, she felt an indescribable pleasure.
This Elder Sister-in-law of hers was always meticulous in her affairs, handling everything cleanly. Now Jiang Ruanxi wanted to see if, when the fire reached her doorstep, she would still be so calm.
A flower-like jade-unmarried girl following her elder sister-in-law back to her maternal home—what intentions could there be?
Madam He was not unaware, and felt some irritation in her heart. She had always spoken directly and no longer indulged her. “Cousin following me back to my maternal home would not be appropriate.”
Madam Kang Zhou mockingly said unpleasantly, “What, is the threshold of your He Family too high, looking down on us relatives?”
“Cousin is unmarried, and my He Family has many young men. It is improper both emotionally and rationally. If Aunt truly wants cousin to broaden her horizons, it would be better to directly take a calling card to visit, which would also be proper.”
Madam Kang Zhou’s face stiffened. She was a minor official’s wife from Ningnan, from a small family—how could she have the qualification to send a calling card to a great clan like the He Family?
Moreover, even if she went, by normal rules, her own concubine’s daughter, even if she grew into a celestial fairy, probably would not see the He Family’s young men, let alone anything else.
“I see you look down on us, afraid that your cousin going would make you lose face, right?” Madam Kang Zhou said sharply and harshly.
Seeing that her own aunt would not listen and was even using reverse psychology on her, Madam He, who never indulged others, immediately pulled a long face.
“Since Aunt has self-awareness, why insist on me taking her back? I wonder what intentions Aunt has?”
Madam Kang Zhou was always thick-skinned; those with thin skin or from great clans loved face the most. She thought saying this would make Madam He embarrassed into agreeing, but unexpectedly the other was so direct.
Kang Qihui looked at the people around the table and could no longer hold back, bursting into tears directly.
Madam He stood up directly. “Cousin, you’d better hold back your tears. Those who don’t know might think I bullied you.”
Kang Qihui was stunned, and Madam Kang Zhou immediately became angry. “Now I see clearly—you’re relying on your status from a famous family to look down on us relatives, right? What damned famous great clan, just a bunch of snobbish villains, dogs looking down on people…”
Seeing the matter escalating, Madam Zhou also became anxious.
She hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Sister, Madam He doesn’t mean that. Don’t misunderstand.”
