Chapter 2: She’s Not a Pushover

Brother Ling’s face turned pale with fright, and he quickly tried to persuade him: “Brother, don’t be impulsive. I believe Sister-in-law wouldn’t do such a thing. Besides, Brother Ling entrusted us to take good care of her before he left.”

Ling Shen said, as if he had thought of something, and took out a letter from his bosom. His hands trembled as he handed it over: “This… this is Brother’s last words, he left it for you.”

Ling Xiao stared at the letter, then put away his sword with a sullen face. He reached out to take the letter and opened it carefully.

“My dear brother, I hope that when you receive this letter, you have already achieved your ambitions, earned great military merit, and become famous throughout the world. Ling Family, after all, is entrusted to you.

Mother is getting old, she only hopes that you will return safely. My younger brother’s temperament is a bit impetuous, but he also has some talent. If you have any money to spare, send it back. I have kept it in the bottom drawer of the cabinet. It will be useful for my younger brother to marry a wife in the future.

Also, Yao’er, she is now husbandless and helpless. She has a gentle personality, so don’t let anyone bully her. In the future, I hope you can take care of her.

Old age and illness are common things. Although this is temporary, it is enough to fill my life. I will not have any regrets.

The familiar handwriting, but it was more shaky than usual. The last few strokes were crooked, showing that he was already weak at the time.

Ling Xiao’s face was tense, his knuckles turned white as he held the letter. For a long time, he couldn’t calm down.

Ling Shen’s voice was choked with emotion: “Brother rushed back as soon as he heard the news, so he specially left this letter for you, afraid that you would blame yourself.”

Ling Xiao took a deep breath and put the letter away, tucking it into his bosom.

“Brother has always been kind and benevolent, he was deceived by this woman.

If I investigate personally, I will never let this woman off!”

He went to the coffin and pushed open the lid with his palm. Ling Chen’s body lay peacefully in the coffin, his face pale and lifeless.

Seeing his beloved brother’s lifeless body, Ling Xiao’s heart ached, but he still checked for any signs of poison.

Ling Chen had been sickly since childhood, his body thin and his face pale.

If he had been poisoned, there would be obvious signs on the body. As a soldier, he had seen and identified countless poisons, it couldn’t be simpler.

But there was nothing.

“Why did Brother suddenly pass away?” Ling Xiao’s voice was sharp as he questioned.

Ling Shen struggled to speak: “Brother’s old illness left him with a weak constitution. He has never been strong. He wrote to me to report his condition, but the doctor said that Brother’s lifespan was only two years.

“He shouldn’t have died so suddenly!” Ling Xiao’s gaze swept over Jiang Yao, his expression extremely gloomy.

“Brother took Sister-in-law to the county fair, and they ran into Rong Shi Chang, the son of the Rong family. He took a fancy to Sister-in-law and wanted her to be his concubine. Sister-in-law refused, so he spread rumors about her, and the rumors spread like wildfire. Brother also heard about it from the letters.”

Ling Shen began to gnash his teeth: “When Rong Shi Chang saw that the rumors were spreading, he gathered a group of thugs and tried to force Sister-in-law into his house. Brother desperately protected her, and he even took the letter to the county government to call for the officials. Only then did the thugs retreat in fear.”

“I haven’t been in contact with the family for a long time. The situation in the capital is complicated, and I’m busy with official matters. Even if I tried to contact them, the letters I sent to the border were often delayed or lost, and I couldn’t receive replies.

However, I have already become a military officer through my military merit. I once sent a letter to the family, specially sending a letter with my official seal to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

Although the position of military officer is not high, it is enough to deter local officials.

And Rong Shi Chang was also afraid of my military officer status, so he dared to act so brazenly. He could only use some underhanded tactics.

Ling Shen wiped away his tears: “Brother was injured by the thugs at that time, and his vitality was completely depleted. Later, several doctors came to see him, but they all said there was no cure. In the end, he lasted for two days, and he passed away last night.”

Jiang Yao lowered her head, her fingers clenched tightly in her sleeves, tears falling like broken pearls.

If she hadn’t been protecting him, she would have been injured by the thugs and might have died too.

Even so, before he left, he kept stroking her hand and said: “Yao’er, don’t cry. I’m already going to be gone, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve met you in this life, it’s already enough. Live a good life in the future, don’t do anything foolish, and don’t be too sad. Yao’er, live a good life for me.”

Jiang Yao closed her eyes, trying to suppress her despair, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Ling Xiao’s face was gloomy, his veins bulging as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

“The son of the Rong family, he killed my brother!

I will tear him to shreds!”

Suddenly, an old voice came from inside: “Brother Ling.”

Ling Shen quickly wiped away his tears: “Mother, Mother was shocked by the news of Brother’s death and fainted. Brother, please comfort Mother. Now that you’re back, everything will be fine.”

Ling Xiao pursed his lips and walked towards the inner room. He passed by Jiang Yao, but stopped in his tracks.

His sharp gaze swept over Jiang Yao: “I won’t let you off easily. Don’t let me find out anything, otherwise, I will make sure you have no place to be buried!”

After saying that, he didn’t hesitate any longer and turned to enter the eastern room to see Mrs. Lin.

As Ling Xiao left, the oppressive aura in the hall dissipated. Jiang Yao was still kneeling in front of the coffin, as if her breathing had become smoother.

When she raised her head and looked at the coffin, tears uncontrollably rolled down her cheeks, and she covered her face and wept.

–

Mrs. Lin had just regained consciousness, and when she saw Ling Xiao enter, she thought she was dreaming.

“Mother.” Ling Xiao called out, and Mrs. Lin finally recognized him. She grabbed his arm excitedly: “Brother Ling! You’re finally back!”

Her son had been away at war, and Mrs. Lin had been worried every night. Now that she saw him return, she was so excited that she burst into tears.

Ling Xiao comforted her for a while before Mrs. Lin finally calmed down.

Mrs. Lin wiped away her tears: “If you two had come back earlier, you could have seen Brother one last time.”

Ling Xiao’s face darkened a bit, and he asked in detail: “What’s the story with this woman?”

“She’s the wife your brother just married.”

Ling Xiao had heard about this from the letters, but because of the frequent wars and his heavy responsibilities, he could only communicate with his family a few times a year.

Moreover, he was now in the capital, supporting the emperor and guarding the court. It was even more difficult to communicate with his family.

Mrs. Lin sighed: “She’s a poor child. Her family was in trouble in Yizhou, and there was a plague. Her parents unfortunately contracted the disease, and her uncles and aunts sold her to a brothel to exchange for money. She escaped and fled to Xingfeng, where she was rescued by Brother Ling. Later, he brought the officials to arrest the people who sold her, and Brother Ling, out of kindness, bought her with two taels of silver.”

Ling Xiao frowned. In his impression, his brother had always been law-abiding, how could he do such a reckless thing for a woman?

Ling Xiao’s family was just an ordinary farmer. His father had passed away, and his brother Ling Chen was sickly, so Ling Xiao took on the responsibility of supporting the family.

Whenever Ling Xiao won a battle and received a reward, he would send the money back home. Over the years, he had sent back about a hundred taels of silver.

His brother had never been willing to spend the money, saying that he would save it for when he returned home to start a business.

Such a frugal brother, he actually spent two taels of silver to buy a woman!

“Mother also disagreed at the time, but Brother insisted on buying her. Mother said that if he bought her, he should make her a concubine or a maid, but Brother agreed. He insisted on marrying her properly, and he was very happy with his wife. Ling Shen.”

Ling Xiao smiled: “Brother is a fool, I’m afraid this woman is not a pushover.”