Poisonous Peasant 'Concubine' Ch 46 - Hyacinth in Bloom

Chapter 46 — The Old Master Arrives • the Prince Unleashes His Power

“Stop!”

All at once, a voice rang out, sharp with fury. The villagers blocking the entrance did not know when they had already parted of their own accord, clearing a path. Two men who looked to be in their fifties or sixties strode in with more than a dozen young, sturdy fellows at their heels, their manners brisk and imposing.

“Master, Second Uncle, you must stand up for me! I don’t know what bewitching draught that wretched spawn Ling Jingxuan fed the second branch, but he’s muddled their minds so badly they no longer recognize their own mother and grandmother. That vile creature even laid hands on us—look! Third Daughter-in-law’s face was beaten by that slut. What hatred, what grudge could be so great that he would strike his own blood-related Third Aunt into such a state? Wuwu… Master, Second Uncle, no matter what, you must have him dragged to the pond and drowned this time. Best drown those two little bastards with him as well. Otherwise, who knows when he’ll go mad like a rabid dog and bite again? Wuwu…”

At the sight of Old Master Ling, Second Master Ling—the village head—and her eldest and third sons, along with several grandsons and nephews, the old matriarch immediately ceased her scuffling. Turning, she rushed forward wailing to heaven and earth, striking first with accusations. Snot and tears smeared together as she listed Ling Jingxuan’s crimes. In her mind, her obedient second son and his wife—and Jingpeng—had only dared defy her because of that cheap creature Ling Jingxuan. Once he was dead, how could she fail to control the rest?

“Father, Second Uncle, you must seek justice for Mother! Jingxuan, he… he… is no good at all.”

The arrival of this group bolstered their courage. Ling Chenghua, who had been quiet only a moment before, sprang up again, eyes brimming with tears. Ling Xiaoying supported her mother—whose swollen face resembled a pig’s head—into the circle of her father and brothers. She said nothing, merely wiped her tears in silent grievance, leaving these grown men ample room for imagination.

“Huiniang? Damn it! Ling Jingxuan, I’ll fight you to the death!”

Seeing his wife beaten so badly, the broad and burly Ling Chenghu roared, swinging his fist as he charged furiously toward Ling Jingxuan not far away.

“Careful—”

Bang!

Yan Shengrui, who had been watching Ling Jingxuan all along, had just uttered his warning when—before anyone understood what had happened—Ling Chenghu’s sturdy frame collapsed like a crumbling mountain at Ling Jingxuan’s feet. His body twitched ceaselessly. Everyone stared wide-eyed in shock and dread, unable to fathom what had occurred. Only Ling Jingxuan remained as he was, the curve at his lips stained with naked coldness and killing intent.

“Y-you… you monster! What did you do to my father?”

Ling Xiaoying was the first to react, rushing forward with her two brothers. Old Master Ling and the others hurried over as well. Nearly everyone crowded around Ling Chenghu, who lay sprawled on the ground. The only ones still standing beside Ling Jingxuan were his own parents and brothers, and Yan Shengrui, who slowly approached with the support of two children.

“You’ve already called me a monster—what else could I have done?”

His smile spread like a lethal poison. Those long, alluring phoenix eyes brimmed with wickedness and slaughter. In that moment, he seemed a true fiend—dazzling and eerie. Ling Xiaoying shuddered instinctively. The bit of bravado she had borrowed from their greater numbers vanished cleanly without a trace. Terrifying. The Ling Jingxuan before her now was utterly terrifying.

“Impudence! Do not spout nonsense. What have you done to the Third Son?”

Worthy indeed of being the head of the Ling clan, Old Master Ling barked sternly, fixing Ling Jingxuan with a severe gaze. Though he was faintly startled that the Ling Jingxuan before him differed from the gentle, timid youth in his memory, he did not dwell on it. Nor did he wish to involve himself further, lest the Ling family’s reputation be tarnished. Had he not heard that the old woman and the second branch were making an unseemly uproar here, not even under threat of death would he have set foot in this place.

“Heh… Did you not say it was sorcery? What answer does Old Scholar Ling wish to hear?”

While others feared him, Ling Jingxuan did not fear them. Leisurely, he drew a strand of long hair around his finger, his refined features blooming into an extravagantly bewitching smile. Had they not called him a monster? Then he would show them a monster. Better to inspire fear in the marrow than hollow respect.

“Bewitching words to delude the masses—an insult to learning!”

The old master flung his sleeve in anger, his aged face full of disgust. By contrast, Ling Jingxuan’s smile grew brighter still.

“Bewitching words, you say? Back then, who was it that kept calling me a demon? Now that I admit it myself, you don’t believe me? Tsk—was I expelled for nothing, then? Or is it that, as my esteemed grandparents, you never liked me to begin with, so you seized an excuse, branded me a demon, and sought my death? Tsk, tsk… Even a tiger does not devour its own cubs, yet you are worse than beasts. Neighbors, take a good look! This is a learned man—this is the venerable old scholar of Lingjia Village. If you send your children to his private school, best be careful—lest he teach them into rebellious, unfilial monsters!”

Seizing upon the slightest slip in the old man’s words, Ling Jingxuan deliberately twisted the facts of that long-ago unwed pregnancy, blurring the truth and shifting all blame onto Old Master Ling. Nor did he forget to raise his voice toward the villagers gathered outside. He had said it before—if they would not let him live in peace, then none of them would. Was it not the reputation that Old Master Ling cherished most? Then he would personally destroy it.

“Y-you—!”

Old Master Ling trembled with rage, beard quivering, eyes bulging. His chest heaved violently, as though he might collapse at any moment.

“Enough, Ling Jingxuan. You know better than anyone what happened in those days. A man who can conceive and bear children—if not a demon, then what? Elder Brother cast you out because, as a demon, you consorted shamelessly with wild men, ending in secret pregnancy. You brought all this upon yourself. Speak no more wild nonsense here, or do not blame me for summoning you to the ancestral hall.”

Seeing that even Old Master Ling, head of the household, had been cowed into silence, Village Head Ling Qicai had no choice but to step forward. After all, he held an official post, however small; his bearing was of a different sort. In but a few measured sentences, he neatly brushed aside Ling Jingxuan’s deliberate slander.

“Who says he went about seducing wild men? From beginning to end, his only man has been me.”

Before Ling Jingxuan could speak, Yan Shengrui braced himself and stepped forward, forcing his weakened body upright. The overbearing aura that burst from him instantly crushed everyone present. Even the village head was momentarily stunned, let alone the rest. Ling Jingxuan pressed a hand to his brow in wordless exasperation. Lord Yan, what mischief are you stirring now? Is this not chaotic enough already?

Behind them, Ling Chenglong and his wife wore complicated expressions. They were grateful that he would stand forth to defend their son—but had it not been for him, would Jingxuan ever have fallen to such a state?

As for Ling Jingpeng and the two little buns, in this most peculiar moment the three revealed their childish hearts, gazing at Yan Shengrui’s domineering figure with open admiration. Was he not simply too dashing?

“And what of that? A man carrying a child is a demon to begin with. To couple without matchmaker or rites and secretly conceive—he was even a licentiate student. He has shamed all scholars under Heaven.”

Worthy indeed of a village head, Ling Qicai’s daze lasted but a breath before he coolly countered. None knew how shaken he truly was. The man before him was clearly no ordinary fellow—his bearing noble and commanding, his eyes especially so. Even Ling Qicai did not dare meet that gaze. Could he truly be the adulterer they had searched for in vain all those years ago?

At the thought, Ling Qicai cast a suspicious glance at the little bun hiding behind Ling Jingxuan. One look was enough—father and son were cast from the same mold.

“Young sir, do not act in hot blood. Ling Jingxuan was not yet fifteen when he was made with a child. If you tie yourself to him, you need not dream of holding your head high in this village again.”

Heaven knew what had possessed her, but Ling Chenghua ignored the presence of her elders and the shame she had just suffered. Swaying her hips, she approached with feigned delicacy, cheeks faintly flushed. Even a blind man could see her maiden heart had begun to stir.

“Silence! Come back here.”

Ling Qiyun’s face darkened. He seized his usually pampered daughter and dragged her back. The other Ling men’s expressions grew unsightly as well. They had only just condemned Ling Jingxuan for disgraceful conduct—now their own unmarried daughter flirted openly before the crowd. Was this not a slap across their faces?

“Father, did I speak wrongly? Ling Jingxuan has already ruined our Ling family—how can we let him harm others too?”

Ling Chenghua seemed possessed, still arguing self-righteously. Watching the farce, Ling Jingxuan turned and sized up Yan Shengrui with an odd look. Indeed—handsome, refined in bearing, with a figure beyond reproach. No wonder he could make young maidens swoon senseless. For the first time, Ling Jingxuan sincerely felt that Ling Chenghua did have at least one redeeming quality.

Sensing the scrutiny, Yan Shengrui turned, only to find Jingxuan’s face full of teasing amusement. His own expression chilled. Without thinking, he seized Jingxuan’s hand. His brilliant peach-blossom eyes swept once before fixing on Ling Chenghua.

“An unmarried maiden, openly attempting to entice me, and yet calling others ‘slut’ at every turn—I cannot help but wonder how your parents have raised you. Since ancient times, women keep to the inner quarters and men manage affairs outside. Every man present here is the head of his household. Since when was it your place—a maiden not yet wed—to speak?

“You prattle on about my Jingxuan corrupting the Ling family’s reputation. In my view, you have had no reputation to corrupt for a long while. Why speak of ruin? I need not go far—let me recount only what I witnessed today. That pig-faced woman over there and the ugly creature beside her came at noon to make trouble in our home. Jingxuan, broad-minded and mindful that he had been expelled from the Ling clan, dared not damage their names. He persuaded them at length before sending them off. Yet when Jingxuan and Jingpeng went into the hills to dig wild greens, they seized the chance to return, bringing with them an even more formidable old crone. Like bandits they ransacked this house, even attempting to carry off the bit of meat Jingxuan had specially cooked at noon to nourish my health. Tsk—such a clan speaks of ‘family reputation’?

“As the upper beam is crooked, so the lower beams follow. The old show no dignity; the young are no better. In truth, I am deeply grateful that you cast my Jingxuan and the children from your clan. That sort of household dares call itself a farming-and-scholarly family? Do not make me laugh.”

Who would have thought that this overbearing, seemingly untouchable prince would also possess such a glib tongue? The string of words crackled like firecrackers, each one striking straight at the heart. Black was painted white without a blink—truly impressive.

The Ling family members were left bristling, mustaches quivering, eyes blazing. Ling Jingxuan himself forgot to shake off Yan Shengrui’s hand and clarify their relationship, standing aside and secretly delighted. This man… was rather adorable, after all.

“Enough. A mere adulterer has no standing to point fingers at my Ling clan. Ling Jingxuan, answer me—did you strike the Third Son’s wife? And what has happened to the Third Son? If you do not make this clear today, do not blame me for summoning the clan elders and opening the ancestral hall.”

Relying on his authority as village head, Ling Qicai straightened his back, instinctively avoiding Yan Shengrui’s gaze. His stern eyes fixed unwaveringly upon Ling Jingxuan.

If you enjoy what I do, consider supporting me on Ko-fi! A little support goes a long way!

Translator: LazyHermitGal