Feng Jin shouted angrily, saying that Ling Muzhu’s mind was full of mush, easily fooled by a few words, and foolishly acting as a trailblazer.
Ling Muzhu was intimidated by Feng Jin's aura and instinctively took a step back, but still stubbornly said, "This courtyard, Grandfather... Grandfather personally gave it to me before, so it's not right for them to move in without permission..."
"Is that so? When did the Old Master say that? Is there any proof, any witness, any written evidence!" Feng Jin was not going to indulge him.
"This matter was passed down by Grandfather orally. Grandfather's word is his bond, so it cannot be faked."
Ling Yan worried about this fool Ling Muzhu, who didn't know how to respond, so she stepped forward first and said.
"Yes, that's right, Grandfather told me personally." Ling Muzhu said forcefully, but was panicking inside.
Feng Jin looked back and forth between the two, and did not intend to reason with these two fools. She directly used her authority as the manager of the entire household: "Even if Grandfather promised it to you before, I have now given the courtyard to Aunt Bai, so it is her courtyard."
"Don't even think about it! This courtyard belongs to our second branch, and we are taking it today." Ling Yan was not to be outdone, and said to the servant beside her, "Whoever drives these people out, I will reward you with ten taels of gold. Whatever happens, our second branch will bear the responsibility."
Ten taels of gold was not a small sum. They worked in the Ling family for a lifetime and would find it difficult to save ten taels of gold.
Everyone was a little moved. After hesitating, they slowly picked up the sticks on the ground.
As expected, money makes the world go round. Ling Yan thought to herself that this saying was indeed true.
"Drive them out and smash everything."
Ling Muzhu instantly gained confidence, grabbed a stick, and was about to smash it down fiercely.
A heavy force struck Ling Muzhu's wrist, causing him pain, and the stick in his hand directly fell to the ground.
"Ah..." Ling Muzhu clutched his red and swollen wrist, tears streaming down his face from the pain.
The culprit who injured him was the inconspicuous stone on the ground.
"What are you doing!" A deep and authoritative voice rang out. Old Master Ling walked forward with strong and powerful strides. His eyes fell upon the mess on the ground and the thick sticks in their hands. His face gradually turned ashen, and he immediately understood what was happening.
"You scoundrels, bringing servants to make trouble in my house, do you think I'm dead!"
"Grandfather... I... I was just getting back my courtyard. Didn't you say you were giving it to me before? Why are they living in it?"
"Yes, Grandfather, you already gave the courtyard to Muzhu, so it is..."
"You scoundrel!" Old Master Ling shouted angrily, glaring at the two with fiery eyes, a surge of anger rising in his heart.
How could the second branch produce such children, so arrogant and venomous.
"As long as I am alive, it is not your turn to make decisions in the Ling family. What do you mean it belongs to you? Every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, every tile in this Ling family was earned by me. Your eldest uncle is stationed at the border fighting for the country, your eldest brother has been appointed as the Imperial Tutor. For years of war, he has earned incomparable merit for our Ling family. Your third uncle is an honest and benevolent official outside..."
"As for your second branch, your father's official position was begged for by me using my old face. None of you have amounted to anything. Ling Yan, as a woman, you are so willful and overbearing, which man would dare to marry you? And you, you are a man, neither skilled in writing nor martial arts. Keeping you will only bring shame to the Ling family. I might as well expel you from the Ling family!"
Old Master Ling hated it. How could the second branch raise such degenerate offspring? Sooner or later, they would bring great disaster to the Ling family.
"Grandfather, I know I was wrong. You can't drive me away, Grandfather!"
Ling Muzhu was so scared that he quickly knelt down, grabbed Old Master Ling's clothes, and begged for mercy repeatedly.
"Keeping you will sooner or later ruin the Ling family!" Old Master Ling said in a deep voice, his mind already made up.
"Father, show some mercy! Father!"
Second Master Ling rushed over upon hearing the news, his outer robe not even properly fastened, and suddenly knelt at Old Master Ling's feet: "Father, Muzhu is my only male descendant. Father, please spare him this time."
"What he has done is an outrage to heaven and earth. I have given you a chance to educate him, but you did not cherish it. Instead, you did many things behind my back. Erlang, you are spoiling your son as if you were killing him!"
"Father, all the mistakes are my fault. Please, for Muzhu's youth and frail health, spare him this time. I will strictly discipline him. Father, I am useless, I can't compare to my elder brother, nor do I have the good fortune to have a child like Mo Han. Please spare Muzhu this time and let him enjoy a lifetime of wealth and prosperity."
Although Second Master Ling's character was not good, he was a good father. For his unworthy son, his willingness to go all out was quite admirable.
"Grandfather, I truly know I was wrong. Please spare me, don't drive me away, Grandfather, your grandson begs you."
Ling Muzhu cried profusely, his face full of sincerity.
"Do you truly know you were wrong?"
One was his son, the other his grandson. Old Master Ling ultimately could not bear to completely eliminate them.
"I truly know I was wrong. If I make another mistake, let me be driven out of the Ling family and never return to the capital for the rest of my life." Ling Muzhu made a solemn oath this time.
Although Old Master Ling did not like Ling Muzhu much, he was still his own grandson, and his heart was moved by compassion: "It will be as you said. If you err again, you will be directly expelled from the Ling family and banished from the capital."
"I know, Grandpa." Ling Muzhu, having escaped disaster, breathed a sigh of relief and said repeatedly.
"Alright, get up."
Ling Muzhu received special pardon and pulled Ling Yan, who was kneeling beside him, to stand up.
"Who told you to get up? Kneel down for me!"
Old Master Ling shouted angrily. Ling Yan's legs went weak with fear, and she immediately knelt on the ground.
"Grandfather, please let sister get up."
After all, they were siblings from the same mother. Ling Muzhu felt a pang in his heart seeing his sister being punished.
"Get out of here!"
Old Master Ling was frustrated by his lack of progress. How could this child be so simple-minded? No wonder he could be deceived.
"You incited Muzhu to step forward and make things difficult for your elder sister-in-law and Aunt Bai. What are your intentions? I have tolerated your spoiled nature because you are a girl, but I never expected you to do something like this. Muzhu is your own brother. You instigated him to disrespect your elder sister-in-law and assault elders. Do you really want to ruin him?"
Old Master Ling had long seen through Ling Yan's little schemes. She simply wanted to use Ling Muzhu's hand to retaliate against and suppress those who troubled Feng Jin and Aunt Bai, and to vent her anger.
If he hadn't arrived in time to stop it today, and Ling Muzhu had truly been instigated and injured Feng Jin, Aunt Bai, and Ling Wan.