TFWYH – Chapter 848 Secretly Following

“You old hags, you damned…! I’m not a prisoner! What right do you have to stop me from going out?”

“I’m going to report all of you! Move aside… Ouch!”

“Murder! These shameless, filthy sluts are bullying a helpless old woman!”

…

Old Master Ling rolled his eyes in annoyance, dusted off his clothes, then clasped his hands behind his back and strolled toward the front courtyard.

Old Madam Liu was currently sitting on the ground, wailing at the top of her lungs.

Standing before her were several burly older maids, all wearing dark expressions. Their eyes were filled with disgust and impatience.

Although they were servants, the women they usually attended—even if they were scheming behind the scenes—were all refined noble ladies who behaved with elegance and propriety in public.

When had they ever encountered someone like Old Madam Liu?

Every single day it was crying, throwing tantrums, threatening suicide, and spewing nothing but vulgar abuse.

I really want to quit…

The head maid looked coldly at Old Madam Liu.

When the old woman had first started making scenes, she had tried to reason with her.

Later, she had resorted to scolding her.

Now…

She had grown completely sick of this unreasonable old shrew.

Seeing the old woman once again throwing a shameless fit, impatience flashed across the head maid’s eyes. She turned to the maids behind her.

“What are you all standing around for? Go call Li Laosan and the others.”

The moment she heard the name Li Laosan, Old Madam Liu abruptly stopped crying.

She sprang to her feet and glared viciously at the maid.

“Y-you… I’m not lowering myself to your level. Just you wait! One day I’ll skin you alive, you old hag!”

After spitting at her, Old Madam Liu turned and hurried away.

She walked surprisingly fast.

Could she afford not to?

Li Laosan was the captain of the estate guards and knew martial arts.

She had no desire to get beaten.

The head maid’s face darkened completely.

She wished she could have this crude, uncivilized, utterly ill-mannered country woman thrown out immediately.

But…

These people had been entrusted to them by their master.

Thinking of that, she forcibly suppressed her anger and spat out coldly,

“You’d better pray you never fall into my hands.”

Otherwise, we’ll see whose skin gets peeled.

The two sides parted on bad terms.

Old Master Ling never showed himself during the entire spectacle.

After enjoying the show, he leisurely headed toward the kitchen.

After spending the whole day out, he was getting hungry.

---

Hidden in a patch of grass nearby, Ling Yue watched everything unfold.

After Old Master Ling left, she hesitated briefly before quietly following Old Madam Liu.

Old Madam Liu returned to the rear courtyard and entered a room.

Ling Yue silently crept over as well and crouched beneath the window.

Soon, voices drifted out from inside.

“My son, your mother has been making a fuss for days now, but those old hags simply won’t let me leave. What are we supposed to do?”

“And you’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Mother, you’re useless! You can’t even deal with a few old women. At this rate, when am I ever going to get my leg healed?”

“My son, just wait a little longer. Mother will think of something.”

“What about that man in black who brought us to the capital? Didn’t he say he’d find me a wife and cure my leg?”

“He hasn’t shown himself since…”

…

After listening for a while, Ling Yue finally pieced together the whole story.

Originally, this family had been living comfortably enough in Xiangxi Town.

Although their household was constantly full of quarrels, the money Ling Cangshan sent home for their support ensured they never lacked food or clothing.

Then one day, a man dressed in black appeared.

He told them that their grandson, Ling Yu, had committed a grave crime by pretending to be a member of the imperial family and deceiving the Emperor.

The elderly couple had been terrified.

They repeatedly insisted that it had nothing to do with them, saying Ling Yu had already been separated from the family and no longer belonged to their household.

But the man in black had simply replied,

“Being separated doesn’t matter. Ling Yu still bears the surname Ling. He is, and always will be, a descendant of the Ling family.”