TFWYH – Chapter 849 Mother and Son’s Conversation

Impersonating a member of the imperial family was a capital offense.

Not only would the offender be executed, but their entire clan could be wiped out as well.

If the Emperor found out, every member of the Ling family would lose their heads.

The elderly couple were nothing more than simple country folk. Frightened by these words, they completely panicked and repeatedly cursed Ling Yu as a bringer of disaster.

At that point, the man in black spoke again.

“There is still a way for you to atone for this.”

“As long as you’re willing to come to the capital and testify against Ling Yu, not only will His Majesty spare you, but he’ll also reward you.”

“A reward?”

“A reward from the Emperor?”

Old Madam Liu’s eyes lit up instantly, and all her fear disappeared.

“What kind of reward would His Majesty give us?”

The man in black smiled.

“That depends on what you want.”

Old Madam Liu answered immediately,

“I… I want silver. Lots and lots of silver.”

Old Master Ling said,

“I want a grand mansion in the capital, with servants to wait on me.”

Ling Cangshun added,

“I want my leg cured, and I want a beautiful wife.”

“As long as you go to the capital and testify against Ling Yu, everything you want will be yours.”

The man in black promised confidently, painting them a beautiful picture.

And so, the family of three followed him to the capital.

The man in black hadn’t lied about everything.

They were immediately settled into a large mansion, complete with maids and servants to attend to them.

But before long, something began to feel wrong.

Why wouldn’t these people let them leave?

The same head maid who had argued with Old Madam Liu earlier explained,

“Ling Yu is now a Minister of the court, holding great authority. If he learns you’ve come to the capital to testify against him, he’ll silence you forever.”

Those words successfully intimidated the family for a while, and they stopped making trouble.

However, after some time passed…

Spoiled with good food and comfortable living, they gradually reverted to their true nature.

There was no better saying for this family than: human greed knows no bounds.

No one had come to treat Ling Cangshun’s crippled leg.

Nor had anyone found him the pretty wife he’d been promised.

Naturally, Ling Cangshun began throwing tantrums every day.

Old Madam Liu doted on her youngest son more than anyone, cripple or not.

Encouraged by him—and with Old Master Ling doing nothing to stop her—she completely let herself loose and resumed her daily routine of cursing and causing scenes.

Ling Yue: …

She was utterly speechless.

This family truly never changed.

A dog can’t stop eating filth.

Fortunately, she had come out today.

And fortunately, she had happened to have dinner with Ying Zhu.

Otherwise, she never would have discovered where they were hiding.

Now that she knew, she could go back and warn her elder brother.

Just as Ling Yue was about to leave, Ling Cangshun spoke again from inside the room.

“No, we have to get out. We’re already in the capital now—we don’t need that man in black anymore.”

Old Madam Liu blinked.

“Son, what do you mean?”

Feeling rather pleased with his own cleverness, Ling Cangshun explained,

“Mother, think about it. Ling Yu is impersonating a member of the imperial family. That’s a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations.”

“That means we’ve got leverage over him.”

“As long as we threaten to expose him, won’t we be able to get anything we want? Why should we sit here waiting?”

Old Madam Liu’s eyes lit up.

“That’s right! If he dares ignore us, we’ll report him.”

“Exactly!”

Ling Cangshun continued excitedly.

“He’s a Minister now—a huge official!”

“When the time comes, not only can we move into the Minister’s residence, but my leg will be cured, and Mother, you’ll have more money than you can spend!”

“You’re right!”

Old Madam Liu nodded vigorously.

“I’ll figure out a way to get out. As soon as I do, I’ll head straight to the Minister’s residence!”

She thought her precious youngest son was absolutely brilliant.

As for the maids’ warning that Ling Yu might kill them to keep them quiet…

To be honest, they’d long since forgotten it.

It wasn’t surprising.

In their minds, Ling Yu was still the same crippled, useless nobody he had once been.

Deep down, they simply didn’t believe he would dare kill them.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so eager to leave and confront him.

Outside the room, Ling Yue’s pretty face darkened like an approaching storm.