That would have been a crime of disobeying and beating an elder, and of cruelly treating a younger sister, with the blame falling squarely on Ling Muzhu. His official career would have been ruined.
"No, Grandfather, it's just that Muzhu said this courtyard belongs to him. I was only concerned for Muzhu and couldn't bear to see him wronged, so I asked Muzhu to come and claim it. However, my elder sister-in-law and the others were too harsh in their words, and Muzhu this time..."
*Slap!*
Before Ling Yan could finish speaking, a solid slap landed on her face.
The left side of her face immediately swelled and turned red, indicating the force of the blow. Ling Yan was stunned by the slap. She looked at Second Master Ling in shock, tears streaming down her face, and said indignantly, "Father... How could you hit me..."
Although her father favored Ling Muzhu, he had always doted on her and had never hit her before. Today, he had struck her in front of so many people.
"I'm hitting you, you unfilial wretch! Your little tricks can only fool Muzhu. Do you really think you can deceive Father and me? You were confident that I would protect Muzhu, so you incited him to be the first to act. Then, you would shift all the blame onto Muzhu and escape unscathed. What a clever plan!"
Second Master Ling only understood the whole situation after being reminded by Old Master Ling. He had never expected that his own daughter would devise a scheme to harm his son.
The scene of siblings turning against each other was unfolding before his eyes.
Feng Jin sat on a chair, with her legs crossed and her chin propped on her hand, watching this farce. The drama of a family turning against each other was truly amusing to her.
The most shocked among them was Ling Muzhu, the pitifully foolish and simple-minded one.
"Sis... Father and Grandfather are telling the truth?"
He couldn't believe that his most respected and trusted sister would try to harm him like this.
Seeing that the matter was exposed, Ling Yan had no reason to pretend any longer. She decided to break the pot and admit everything.
"That's right, what they said is true. I intentionally told you about this so that you would fight and snatch with them. It would be best if you all ended up with bloody heads. Only then would my heart find solace."
Ling Yan was practically possessed, her entire demeanor changed, her eyes filled with resentment.
From childhood, her father and mother had eyes only for Ling Muzhu; she was merely an accessory.
Furthermore, Feng Jin had ruined her appearance. All the men who came to propose marriage turned away when they saw her. And Ling Wan, that lowly concubine's daughter, dared to oppress her. How could she not hate them?
She might as well use Ling Muzhu's hand to suppress them, preferably beat them black and blue, and then seize the opportunity to disfigure them, making them suffer as much as she did.
Ling Muzhu looked at his sister before him in disbelief, his beliefs instantly crumbling. He slumped to the ground in dejection.
"You've gone mad. Keeping you is a hazard. Butler, lock her up!"
"Yes, Old Master." The butler beckoned, and the maids and women restrained Ling Yan, dragging her away.
Feng Jin couldn't help but shake her head and sigh. Why insist on being a bad person when one could be good? What was the point of ending up like this?
It truly proved the saying: the pitiable are often also the detestable.
Second Master Ling's heart was filled with sorrow. The daughter he had raised had turned out this way and had almost caused his only son to be ruined.
After a pause, Old Master Ling finally spoke, "Butler, take a few people to tidy up the courtyard and replenish anything that is missing."
"Yes, Old Master, I will make arrangements immediately."
Old Master Ling swept his gaze over everyone, finally landing on the second branch's family. He pointed at Second Master Ling's nose and reprimanded him angrily, "This matter is all due to your failure in discipline. You will bear all the losses. Additionally, you will provide Concubine Bai and her daughter with two hundred taels of silver. Do you have any objections?"
"Your son has no objections, I will obey everything you say, Father." Second Master Ling replied.
"Alas... I failed to teach my son properly. If you continue to spoil Muzhu like this, he will be ruined sooner or later. From now on, he will be handed over to Mo Han and his wife for upbringing."
Old Master Ling's words struck a heavy blow to everyone's hearts.
"Father, this is not appropriate!"
"Yes, Old Master, how can Mo Han and I teach Muzhu! You must reconsider this carefully."
For the first time, Feng Jin and Second Master Ling agreed on something, uniting against an external party.
"There is nothing inappropriate about this. As the elder brother and sister-in-law, teaching the younger brother is your inherent responsibility and obligation. This matter is settled. Muzhu, go back and pack your things. You will move to the East Courtyard tonight."
Old Master Ling's words carried absolute authority in the household. The second branch could only meekly accept.
"Old Master... You must reconsider this matter!" Feng Jin, unwilling to give up, continued to ask.
Old Master Ling waved his hand, "I have reconsidered. This matter is settled. Muzhu's affairs will be your and Han'er's responsibility. Please put in more effort."
He had long considered handing over Ling Muzhu to the young couple for upbringing but had never found an opportunity to mention it.
Now was an unmissable opportunity, and he would not let it slip away.
Fearing that Feng Jin might find another reason to refuse, Old Master Ling quickly left.
Feng Jin was full of anger but had nowhere to vent it, so she could only sulk alone.
"Sister-in-law, this is all our fault. If we hadn't moved, this wouldn't have happened, and we've caused you such big trouble." Ling Yan said apologetically.
Her sister-in-law had always disliked Ling Muzhu. Now that Ling Muzhu was being forced upon her sister-in-law, it was a huge problem.
"This is not your fault. Old Master already had plans to foist Ling Muzhu onto me. Even if this mess hadn't happened today, it would have happened for some other reason."
She wondered what Ling Mohan would think about having such an unfortunate brother around.
...
"Pfft..." Ling Mohan spat out the water he was holding, choking and coughing continuously.
"Slow down, you're going to spit on me."
Feng Jin said with a look of disgust, taking off her wet outer garment and discarding it.
"Grandfather wants us to teach Ling Muzhu, and Second Uncle actually agreed."
Second Uncle only has Ling Muzhu as his son. He has always cherished him more than his own life. What is going on today that they would ask us to teach Ling Muzhu? Aren't they afraid we'll bully their precious son?
Feng Jin snorted, "Your Second Uncle's calculations are very precise. All of this is just a temporary measure to appease Old Master. If they let Ling Muzhu continue to act out, and he angers Old Master, then all of them will have to pack up and leave."