Chapter 96: What Are You Crying For? Can’t Even Take This?
“I was just saying it casually. Sister, don’t worry.”
Madam Kang Zhou looked at Madam Zhou’s appearance, and deep down, she was still very unhappy.
Blocking herself like this, could it be that she feared the Kang Family, after climbing onto the Crown Prince, would step on her?
According to Madam Zhou’s thinking, the reason Lin Tingting was rejected was none other than not being pretty enough, whereas Kang Qihui was different.
Although born of a concubine in the Kang Manor, she was more beautiful than many noblewomen from great clans.
Her seductive charm was the same as that of her vixen-like concubine mother.
Not to mention men, even she, as a woman, felt full of jealousy upon seeing her.
No matter how high and powerful the Crown Prince was, he was still a man.
She didn’t believe the Crown Prince would look down on Kang Qihui’s beauty.
Madam Zhou didn’t know what she was thinking and, seeing her say this, felt relieved in her heart.
But thinking of Madam Kang Zhou’s character, she still felt uneasy deep down.
“Sister, I invited you to my home as a guest to help me, not to cause trouble. The Lin Family is in dire straits now, but we can still get by. Don’t implicate our family.”
Lin Feng was now on the right track under Madam He’s supervision.
Although Lin Ningkun was dispirited, Jiang Ruanxi still had plenty of dowry in her hands. Lin Qingxu was also the manor mistress of the Zhenguo Marquis Manor. Although Lin Tingting was a concubine, she was also the concubine of the heir of the Yongning Marquis Manor, and her status was not low.
As long as she firmly grasped Jiang Ruanxi’s money in her hands, she wouldn’t worry about good days in the future.
“I know, my good sister. Just relax. I’m unfamiliar with life in the Capital and wouldn’t dare stir up trouble.”
Seeing her speak so sincerely, and since it was indeed reasonable, Madam Zhou felt reassured.
After leaving, Madam Kang Zhou found Kang Qihui and saw her crying in the corner, a flash of impatience in her eyes.
“What are you crying for? You can’t even handle this?”
Tears swirled in Kang Qihui’s eyes, but she immediately stopped and didn’t dare cry anymore.
Seeing this, Madam Kang Zhou was very satisfied and ordered her, “Go to the front courtyard right now. Make sure to catch the attention of the man talking to Jiang Ruanxi.”
At such blatant seduction, Kang Qihui’s eyes immediately reddened. “Mother, the guest who came earlier is a noble one. I…”
“If you still want your concubine mother to be fine, you should know what to do.”
Hearing the threat, Kang Qihui swallowed her remaining words and could only comply. “Mother, I understand.”
She actually didn’t want to come to the Lin Family, but Madam Kang Zhou threatened her with her concubine mother. If she didn’t come, her concubine mother would be locked in the woodshed, and whether she lived or died would be up to fate.
Seeing her compliant appearance, Madam Kang Zhou finally felt completely at ease in her heart.
She sneered inwardly.
What Lin Family? What bullshit century-old noble clan?
Could it compare to the Crown Prince’s nobility?
If the Kang Family climbed onto the Crown Prince, would she need to go to such lengths to coax her stupid sister, let alone look at Jiang Ruanxi’s face?
At that time, she would double the humiliation she received from Jiang Ruanxi and Madam He, paying it back bit by bit.
The more Madam Kang Zhou thought, the more pleased she became, her eyes almost gleaming as if she were about to become the Crown Prince’s mother-in-law.
Jiang Ruanxi and Madam He would no longer be able to act arrogant in front of her. Whatever she told them to do, they would have to obey obediently.
Thinking of that scene, the corners of Madam Kang Zhou’s mouth couldn’t help but curve into a smile.
**
Jiang Ruanxi arrived at the main hall, where Wei Chang, dressed in dark brocade robes, was sitting upright above, sipping tea.
“This humble woman pays respects to the Crown Prince.” Jiang Ruanxi curtsied at the seat below him.
“Madam Lin, no need for formalities.” Wei Chang set down his teacup and said indifferently, “Surely Madam Lin knows why I am here. Regarding the Jiang Family matter, I must give His Majesty an explanation.”
“Doesn’t the Crown Prince already have a conclusion in his heart?” Jiang Ruanxi sat upright in the lower seat.
“Even if I have a conclusion in my heart, His Majesty won’t believe it without evidence.” Wei Chang reminded her. “That account book of Madam Lin’s can indeed prove Jiang Changjun’s involvement in this matter, but it cannot prove the Jiang Family’s involvement.”
Jiang Ruanxi smiled bitterly in her heart. Wei Chang wanted to eradicate the entire Jiang Family, not just Jiang Changjun.
He didn’t seek evidence himself but came here to ask her for it.
“The Jiang Family has operated in the Capital for many years with deep roots. For the Crown Prince to fulfill his wish might not be so easy. It will likely take much more time.”
Jiang Ruanxi took a sip of tea, the fragrance filling her mouth. After setting down the cup, a faint smile hung on her lips.
“Crown Prince, if you want more evidence, why not go south yourself to find it? There might be unexpected surprises.”
“Go south?” Wei Chang’s brows furrowed slightly.
Jiang Ruanxi chuckled lightly, rubbing her wine cup, and said meaningfully, “Heaven’s net is vast and none escape. Jiang Rui has entrenched himself in the south for so many years; there must be mistakes. Without financial support, many things about the Jiang Family will resolve themselves.”
Wei Chang’s eyes lit up. “So, does that mean Madam Lin has found some evidence?”
“The south isn’t the Capital. Even if there’s evidence, it can’t be brought back.” Jiang Ruanxi didn’t deny it.
Wei Chang looked at her bright yet determined face, her almond eyes seeming to hold firelight, and his heart trembled involuntarily.
Despite the myriad thoughts in his mind, he remained outwardly calm. “Madam Lin, the Jiang Family is still your maternal home, after all. How can I believe you?”
“Even if that account book can’t touch the Jiang Family, taking Jiang Changjun’s life should be no problem, right?” After lowering her gaze to sip tea, Jiang Ruanxi slowly said, “He is my blood brother, that’s true, but over these years, the Jiang Family has never treated me as a real daughter. He committed a crime; I can’t offend His Majesty and the Crown Prince just to shield him.”
Her words seemed true and false, leaving Wei Chang momentarily unsure of their veracity.
Although the Jiang Family treated her poorly, it hadn’t reached the point of hating them enough to destroy them. He didn’t believe Jiang Ruanxi would sacrifice her family for the greater good.
Wei Chang’s hawk-like gaze fixed on her. Jiang Ruanxi felt intimidated but, remembering she had done nothing wrong, soon met his gaze confidently.
But his gaze was too oppressive. Just as she thought she would falter, Wei Chang furrowed his brows, his voice like crushed ice.
“Madam Lin, if this trip south doesn’t find the evidence I want, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
“Crown Prince, where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Deceiving the Crown Prince was a grave crime; Jiang Ruanxi naturally understood the consequences.
So she didn’t dare make promises, only giving an ambiguous response.
That way, if something went wrong, it wouldn’t be blamed on her.
