Ling Jingshu’s eyes flickered, and her expression was indifferent: “I have already said what I should say very clearly. With the intelligence of my Dage ^[1]Elder brother, you should have understood it long ago.” 

What Ling Jingshu said was not obscure, as long as you think about it a little, it is not difficult to understand the meaning.

Ling Ting pursed his lips tightly, his complexion fluctuating under the candlelight.

“Madam Li is our common enemy. With our current strength, it is not easy to deal with Madam Li. We can only attack from Madam Li’s greatest strength and her greatest weakness.”

Ling Jingshu said slowly: “A six-year-old child may fall down when walking, choke when eating, accidentally fall into the water while walking by the pool, or learn to ride a horse out of curiosity, and the gentle horse suddenly goes crazy… All kinds of accidents may cause a child to die. No matter how meticulously the servants take care of him, there will always be times when they can’t take care of him. Dage, don’t you think so?”

Ling Ting: “…”

Ling Ting gasped, looking into Ling Jingshu’s eyes, it was like looking at a stranger you don’t know at all.

Was this still the gentle and caring Ling Jingshu? Talking about these insidious and vicious means in such a light manner, made people feel chills in their hearts.

Ling Jingshu didn’t look at Ling Ting, and seemed to be talking to herself: “Madam Li can win the favor of our father only because she gave birth to a son. If she loses her son, she will be heartbroken and lose her greatest love.” Even if she wants to give birth again in the future, she may not be so lucky to have a boy in one fell swoop, and she may not be able to raise him safely.”

“I am taking Ah Xiao to the capital for treatment. If his eyes are cured, I will send him to the best academy to study. If Dr Wei can’t cure his eye disease, I will seek another famous doctor. In short, we two siblings will never come back to Dingzhou.”

“You will be the only son left under my father’s knee. Even if you are concubine-born, no one will dare to underestimate you anymore. In the future, the family property of the fifth house will also be yours.” 

“This family property is in front of you, and it depends on whether you have the courage to take it.”

…

Ling Ting’s chest rose and fell violently, his clenched right hand trembled slightly, and the expression on his face was complicated and indescribable.

After Ling Jingshu finished, she stopped talking.

After a while, Ling Ting finally made up his mind and let out a long breath: “You and Ah Xiao really don’t plan to come back to Dingzhou?”

Before Ling Jingshu could reply, he continued on his own: “Maybe you are telling me all this just to trick me, and when I really act on it, you will leak this matter to my father. At that time, I, a bastard who dared to murder my legitimate brother, will not escape death. Only you and your brother are left in the fifth room. This one trick kills two birds with one stone!”

Ling Jingshu didn’t deny it but smiled instead: “Dage is really thoughtful and cautious. Over the years, you have been keeping a low profile and pretending to be mediocre, but you actually hid your talent from everyone.” 

The words have already been said, and there was nothing to hide.

Ling Ting decided to go all out and admitted frankly: “You are right. In fact, I have long secretly suspected that Madam Li was the mastermind back then. But I kept quiet because firstly, I have no evidence, and secondly, speaking out recklessly will only bring in trouble for me.”

“I’m really moved by what you said just now. But how do I know if you’re using me and betraying me after it’s done?” 

Sure enough, she was right.

Sixteen-year-old Ling Ting was scheming and ambitious. It’s just that there was no chance to “show off your strengths”.

Because of the presence of the Lu family, she didn’t want to stay longer in Dingzhou. To deal with Madam Li, Ling Ting was the best candidate.

Ling Jingshu raised her eyebrows and said with a half-smile: “I will make a poisonous oath at this moment, Ah Xiao and I will never come back to Dingzhou and will give up the Fifth house’s family business. Will you believe my poisonous oath?” 

Ling Ting’s eyes flickered uncertainly. He took a long time to spit out two words: “I don’t believe it.”

The mouth was two skins, and there is no trace after speaking. ^[2]It basically means there is no value in words coming out of the mouth because people can deny it later.

If poisonous oaths were useful, there would not be so many treacherous people in the world.

Ling Jingshu shrugged slightly and said casually: “If you don’t believe me, then I can’t help it. Just let go of what I said tonight, big brother just pretend he never came!”

Ling Xiao: “…”

Was she playing with him?

Such an important plot was related to life, and it was related to the future of the family of the fifth houses… It is more about his future prospects. Can you play such a play?

Ling Xiao’s face was not very good-looking, but his feet did not move half a step.

“Since Dage doesn’t believe me, why don’t you leave?” Ling Jing asked knowingly.

Ling Xiao’s mouth twitched a few times before he squeezed out a few words: “I don’t believe you. However, I will be comfortable if you give me a written letter.”

Ling Jingyi heard this request, but it was not unexpected, but she refused without thinking: “No. This kind of thing should never leave behind written evidence. In case you fail or you betray us by showing that to Madam Li, we siblings will be like fish on a cutting board.”

“You can’t believe me, why should I trust you? If we can’t trust each other, let’s forget about tonight.”

“I hate Li, I don’t want to see her happy. And you, want more. You want the fifth house’s family business, want our father’s favor, want everyone’s respect. You want so much, but you don’t want to take a risk; how can there be such a good thing in the world?”

Speaking of this, Ling Jingshu’s pretty face was cold, and the tone was also a bit cold: “I am done with what I have to say, you can decide the rest.”

……

This time, Ling Xiao stayed silent for a long time.

He thought of the horror of his mother’s death, the desolation of being an illegitimate son, the disdain for him in Madam Li’s occasional looks, and the thought of his father’s love for their youngest brother…

The resentment and unwillingness that were usually buried deep in the heart now surged up all at once, converging into a turbulent current that churned incessantly in the mind.

His biological mother died indirectly in the hands of Madam Li, and the oppressed life he has lived in recent years was also thanks to Madam Li. Does he have to continue living his life at the mercy of others?

There was such a good opportunity in front of him, why didn’t he dare to give it a go?

Ling Ting’s heartbeat was getting faster and faster, and the palm of his hand was wet. The blood of the whole body was pouring into his mind, and his handsome face was red.

Ling Jingshu’s mind gradually settled down.

If Ling Ting was unwilling, he could have already turned and left. This was so unresolved at this time, precisely because his mind was in turmoil.

Seeking wealth and danger. Ling Ting will definitely nod!

“Meimei, ^[3]younger sister I have one last question.” Ling Ting finally opened his mouth: “You will marry later, and you will have a dowry. But Ah Xiao, how can you be sure that he is willing to give up the family business?”

Ling Jingshu did not hesitate to say: “Ah Xiao will have a better future after going to the Capital. This family business seems to be more than a thousand dollars in your eyes, but in the eyes of our siblings, it is like a chicken rib.”

Saying that she raised her eyes looking at Ling Xiao: “Dage, if you make up your mind, we will form an alliance today, and each of us will make a poisonous oath. No matter what happens or doesn’t happen, we must keep our mouths shut and never reveal things that we talked about tonight.” ”

Ling Xiao bite his teeth and resolutely said: “Okay.”

Ling Jingshu suppressed all her emotions and solemnly swore, “As God is my witness, I, Ling Jingshu, make this vow. As long as my dage keeps his promise, my didi ^[4]younger brother Ling Xiao and I will never return to Dingzhou in this lifetime, and we will be willing to give up our inheritance of the family estate. If we ever break this oath, may thunder strike me, Ling Jingshu, and may I die a miserable death.”

Ling Ting solemnly made a vow as well, with a firm determination in his heart.

After each made an oath, it was considered an alliance. Talking again, there was no more twists and turns.

“Are you and Ah Xiao really going tomorrow?”

“The luggage has been packed. I will leave with dàbó tomorrow morning.”

“Does the Lu brothers know that you are going?” Ling Xiao subconsciously asked.

Ling Jingshu looked indifferent: “What relationship do I have with them that I have to let them know what I am doing.”

……. It seems that Ling Jingshu really did not like the Lu brothers. Maybe it was to hide the truth from them, so he kept the matter of going to the capital a secret.

Ling Ting’s thoughts were not entangled in this issue, and he whispered: “Meimei if things come to fruition in the future, I will order someone to deliver a letter to you.”

^[5]it may seem very cruel to plan a murder/accident of her own half-brother, but given how their lives were destroyed by her stepmother, I don’t really blame her. She is no holy saint.