The Blessed (Book 1)

103. The Overall Arrangement before Dividing up The Family (2)

103. Asking for an Explanation; The Overall Arrangement before Dividing up The Family (2)

Seeing that every one of them got blushed under his censure, Ling Jingxuan put the medicine pot on the table and raised his voice, “Whether she knocked over my mom on purpose or not, maybe except Ling Chenghua herself, no one knows. But, I got irrefutable evidence that someone put cinnamon in my mom’s medicine trying to cause her metrorrhagia. And this person should be within the family! About this, shouldn’t you give me an explanation?”

“Hum…”

Hearing that, the whole room of people couldn’t help gasping, eyes all staring at the dregs Ling Jingxuan poured onto the table with disbelief. For village people, few people had the guts to kill someone for real, So Ling Jingxuan’s words deeply shocked them. None of them noticed that, at that very moment, Ling Jingxuan’s eyes fast swept over all of them like radar. And when he saw Ling Jingwei, a murderous look flashed on his face, because what he saw on his face was more than shock, but with nearly unnoticeable resent, scare and panic.

By this point, he was almost certain who wanted his mother’s life.

“No way! Don’t you talk nonsense!”

After quite some time, Ling Qiyun snapped, the finger pointing at him shaking lightly. It was obvious that he had already kind of bought it.

“Whether I am talking nonsense, Doctor Zhou and your eldest granddaughter-in-law should be able to prove it. Why don’t you ask them yourself?”

Slightly moving back, Ling Jingxuan bent down to hold up his dad who was still kneeling there. Dividing up the family was absolute, but he wouldn’t allow his parents to take the blame of being unfilial. That was also why he had talked so much. After moving out, his second younger brother should recover soon. And then it was the tongsheng (童生, lit. “child student”, an entry-level examinee who had passed the county/prefecture exams.) exams this winter. He didn’t want to let people gossip that he had unfilial parents some day.

“Lord Ling, village head, the patriarch, and all the elders, I did prescribe the usual prescription for fetal death. I really don’t know where cinnamon came from.”

Trying to stabilize the body, the old Doctor Zhou clenched his fists and complained, feeling wronged. If he had known this, he would have come even if they paid him ten times of money!

“I only decocted the herbs at your command, and I had no idea what is in it. Besides, since I married into this family, I have never had any grudge against my second uncle or aunt. What is the reason for me to murder them? Please hold justice for me, elders.”

As she spoke, Lady Qian even began to cry. She was the daughter of a landlord and a well-fed young lady at home. How had she ever gone through such a thing?

“Grandpa, Xiuyun would never do that kind of things!”

Ling Jinghong held her wife in his arms, raised his head to look at the lord in the main seat. Unlike other family members, Ling Jinghong was not a talkative person, and he never cheated or bullied others. He was well-behaved since he was little, but was a little different from Ling Chenglong’s style. At least, he wouldn’t allow anyone to bully him. So, the old couple had always favored this biggest grandson. And he had a say in this family.

“Dad, Xiuyun is always well-behaved and kind. How could she ever try to kill someone?”

Seeing that, Lady Li also hurriedly stood up. Cast aside whether she got along well with her daughter-in-law or not, at this time, she would never watch her daughter-in-law being accused of killing someone but do nothing.

“What is this all about? Someone nearly died? Ling Qiyun, if you don’t make it clear, I will not spare you!”

Sitting in the first place on the left side, the old patriarch, who looked to be in his 70s or 80s, suddenly exploded into a rage. It’s murdering! This had never happened in whole Ling Village before. If it alarmed the yamen, how would others see them? How were they supposed to go out to see people?

“Right, it has to be made clear!”

“Yes, definitely!”

“We can’t allow any murderer in our village…”

The other elders also echoed. Under such condition, it was not merely the problem whether Ling Qiyun disfavored his second son or Ling Chenghua knocked over Lady Wang on purpose, this was about an attempted murder, which mattered the fame of whole Ling village. So they couldn’t be partial as before.

Seeing that they looked so tense and worried, Ling Jingxuan showed a nearly unnoticeable sneer under his eyes. Who were they pretending it to? In the end, this thing would go nowhere, he could guarantee with his head.

“Dad, later, don’t say anything. Leave it to me. Whatever I say, you only need to nod. Remember, even if you don’t consider it for yourself, think it for Jinghan and Jingpeng. Now Jinghan is almost recovered. And he will definitely join the exams. It’s not impossible that he wouldn’t get listed. This family are too unbelievable! We can’t let them become Jinghan’s obstacle. And Jingpeng, he is fourteen already. And it’s time to find him a wife in two or three years. We can’t spoil his marriage because of those people.”

Taking advantage that they were still quarreling, Ling Jingxuan moved by Ling Chenglong’s ear and said so in whispers. He was only afraid his dad would be soft-hearted.

“Hmm, I’ll listen to you.”

From his son’s words, apparently it was not simply dividing up the family. If it had been before, Ling Chenglong would definitely hesitate. However bad the whole family were to them, they were bonded by blood! Now under successive blows, he felt his heart died already and already cast those things behind, otherwise, not only he’d distance himself from his sons, but also even his wife would leave him.

“Jinghan, Jingpeng, you stand by. I’ll give you signals.”

After getting his dad’s affirmative answer, Ling Jingxuan was still a little worried, so he turned around to tell his two younger brother what to do. Having made such a long foreshadowing, it was time to get to the point. Although he may not be able to get back at the one who tried to kill his mom, there’d be ample time in the future. They were in the same village, he had time to play with them. About today, just take it as some charging some interest.

“Hmm.”

The two brothers did not hesitate at all, both nodded at the same time. Ling Jingxuan gave a satisfying smile, thinking that it was time to end the farce, he took a few steps forward and urged, “So, can you give me an explanation now?”