Poisonous Peasant 'Concubine' Ch 63 - Hyacinth in Bloom

Chapter 63 — What a Ruthless Family!

The conscription notice had come without warning, and nearly every household in the village was thrown into chaos. The document did say that anyone unwilling to serve could pay twenty taels of silver instead—but for farming families like ours, how many could really produce twenty taels without scraping themselves raw? And even if they could, would they be willing to part with it? Take the Old Ling family, for example.

The moment Ling Qiyun received the notice, he summoned all three branches of the family to the main hall. Everyone knew exactly why they were there. Anxiety hung thick in the air. Each feared the old master would point a finger and push someone forward.

The most uneasy were the people from the second branch. In the past, the old madam had never liked them, always finding fault; at least the old master hadn’t followed her lead. But these past few days, they had clearly felt the resentment in his gaze—though to this moment they had no idea why.

“Father, Jingwei has just gone through… that incident. Our household is barely standing because of Jinghong. You mustn’t send anyone from the eldest branch to the army again.”

At a time like this, Ling Chengcai had no mind for the dignity of being the eldest brother. No matter what, he would not send his son to die.

“Elder Brother, that’s not how you put it. What happened to Jingwei was his own doing—how can that count here? If your Jinghong and Jingwei can’t go, does that mean my Jingren and Jingyu should?”

Ling Chenghu leapt up before anyone else could speak. In his mind, the old madam might dislike the second branch, but in name they were down to little more than Jingpeng anyway. If the eldest branch washed its hands of this, wouldn’t the third branch be the unlucky ones? Any fool knew that going to the army now was the same as marching to one’s grave. If the eldest branch didn’t want to sacrifice their sons, but does that mean he did?

“What do you mean by that, Third Brother? Outsiders mock our Jingwei—that’s one thing. Are you, his own uncle, sneering behind our backs as well?” Ling Chengcai’s face flushed with fury. Brothers who once appeared harmonious turned against each other in an instant. People are selfish—who would calmly watch their son be sent to die?

“I never said such a thing. Don’t you pin that filth on me. We’re discussing conscription. Since the family hasn’t split, why should your branch get special treatment?”

“Special treatment? I’m only stating facts. Jinghong is still young—he helps with the farm work and assists Father in managing the private school. How can he leave for military service? Jingwei has only just suffered that disgrace; he hasn’t recovered yet. How can we push him out at a time like this?”

“Yes, yes—you have endless reasons. So the second and third branches are simply meant to be unlucky? Your Jinghong is ‘still young’—is my Jingren already old, then? His wife has just conceived; she needs her husband at her side. And Jingyu—his marriage has already been arranged. He’s to take a bride next spring. Sending him off now would ruin the match entirely.”

The two brothers argued as if the old master and old madam were not even present, each clinging to his own reasons and excuses, neither willing to yield an inch. In short, their sons absolutely would not go to war.

Throughout it all, the second branch remained silent. They were waiting—waiting for the old master to speak.

“Enough!”

The old master’s roar cut through the hall. The two men, red-faced and breathless, froze at once.

His stern gaze swept slowly over all the grandsons standing there and had joined in the clamor. When it passed over Ling Jingpeng, his eyes flickered—just for a heartbeat. No one else noticed. But Ling Jinghan, who had always hidden his thoughts well, saw it clearly. And in that instant, the last fragile strand of familial attachment in his heart began to crumble.

“In my opinion,” the old madam spoke at last, her tone measured, “both of them make sense. Jinghong must help you manage the private school. Jingwei has yet to recover from his divorce. Jingren’s wife has only just conceived—this is precisely when she needs her husband. Jingyu’s marriage cannot be called off. None of them can go.”

“As for the second branch… Jinghan’s health is frail. Sending him would be no different from sending him to his death. Even I, as his grandmother, could not bear that. And Jingpeng?” She paused. “I think he is the most suitable. No child, no betrothal, and in good health. Old Master—why not let Jingpeng go?”

The old madam deliberately rambled on and on. Everyone could see she had already chosen the candidate—she meant for Ling Jingpeng to go die. Yet she dressed it up as if she were reluctant, as though the decision weighed on her heart. What chilled the second branch even more was that the old master, Ling Qiyun, did not refute her. He sat there as if genuinely weighing the proposal.

Ling Chenglong might be honest by nature, but he was not a fool. The moment he sensed the direction of things, he dropped to his knees with a heavy thud.

“Mother, you just said yourself Jinghan’s health is poor. I’m not cursing my own son, but with his condition, he could go at any time. If that happens, I’ll be left with only Jingpeng under my name. How can you suggest sending him off?”

Back then, they had nearly forced his eldest son to death. Now it was his third son’s turn?

No. Not this time. Even if he had to bear the charge of being unfilial and rebellious, he would protect his son.

“Shut your mouth, you unfilial wretch! Are you saying I, his own grandmother, would deliberately harm my legitimate grandson?”

The old madam flew into a rage, pointing at Ling Chenglong as she lashed out. Beside her, Ling Chenghua seized the moment.

“Second Brother, it’s not my place as your sister to lecture you, but how can you curse Jinghan like that? He’s Father’s hope. Didn’t we just hear a few days ago that he was improving? You can see the family’s situation. Aside from Jingpeng, no one else is suitable. Mother isn’t favoring anyone.”

As if.

Everyone present knew they were doing this on purpose. Jingpeng had openly sided with Ling Jingxuan more than once—that alone had angered them. Add to that Jingwei’s instigation, and even the old master had grown resentful of the second branch.

Truth be told, Ling Jingxuan had been terribly unlucky. The matter of Jingwei framing him should have come to light when the old master stormed the Zhao household. But Manager Zhao, burning with fury, had only produced the physician’s diagnosis and driven them out. He never mentioned that Jingwei had kidnapped the two little boys, provoking Jingxuan in the first place.

Later, when the old master asked Jingwei why he had failed to mention the doctor’s diagnosis earlier, Jingwei brushed it off, saying he had been too shaken to remember. The old master accepted it.

That was why, in these past few days, the more he looked at the second branch, the more displeased he felt. His thinking was much like the others’: family disgrace should not be aired outside. Even if Jingwei were truly infertile by nature, it was not Jingxuan’s place—or the second branch’s—to expose it. Doing so was the same as refusing to consider themselves members of the Ling family, openly tarnishing its reputation. The old master had been nursing that resentment ever since, waiting for the right moment to vent it.

Cough, cough…

Ling Jinghan deliberately coughed twice to draw attention. “How does Aunt know I’ll be alright? You’ve all seen my health these past few years. Who knows when I’ll close my eyes and never wake up again? If I really pass away, who will take care of Father and Mother?” Pale-faced, he glanced at Ling Chenghua—who seemed eager to stir the pot—and then met the old master’s still-undecided gaze.

“Grandfather, I know you dote on me, and I respect you. But your grandson lacks fortune. A few days ago I thought I was better, yet… My eldest brother was driven out five years ago. I’m half-dead as it is. In the future, the only one who can fulfill filial duty to my parents will be Jingpeng. Forgive my unfilial words—but Father, Eldest Uncle, and Third Uncle are all your sons. You cannot favor one over another. At the very least, leave my parents a son to see them through their old age.”

In the past, Ling Jinghan would never have spoken so bluntly.

He was gambling.

Gambling on whether the old master still held even a trace of affection for his parents. Gambling on whether his fondness for him was genuine. On whether he truly regarded Jingpeng as a grandson.

If even one of those proved true, then there was no need to tear the family apart.

If not…

Then this family was not worth keeping.

“Oh my, Jinghan,” Ling Jiang-shi said in a syrupy, mocking tone before the old master could respond, her face still faintly swollen from the previous incident. “Don’t pretend to be pitiful to win Father’s sympathy. I’ve seen it with my own eyes these past few days—Jingpeng brings your medicine back three times a day. If it didn’t work, would you keep drinking it? Mother already said Jingpeng is the only suitable one. What, are you planning to follow your shameless elder brother’s example and defy your own grandmother?”

Everyone knew how much the old master cherished Jinghan. Fearing he might be swayed, she hurried to cut him off. The last incident had frightened her, yes—but it had also filled her with venomous hatred toward the second branch. She would not rest until they were ruined.

Ling Wang-shi could bear it no longer. She stepped forward, fierce as a storm, and jabbed a finger toward Ling Jiang-shi.

“Ling Jaing-shi, how can you speak like that? Ever since that incident, the physician who had been treating Jinghan hasn’t come again. If he doesn’t take the medicine Jingpeng fetches, should he just lie in bed and wait to die?”

She had endured enough. These people would not be satisfied until they had forced her entire family into the grave.

“You wretched Ling Wang-shi! So you’re secretly calling this old woman unfair now? If your own son hadn’t insisted that Jingpeng’s medicine was better, would I have stopped his prescription? My Ling family must have been cursed for eight lifetimes to have married a worthless woman like you! It’s bad enough you gave birth to a freakish bastard—now you dare to stir up my son against me, pushing him to split the household and live separately, and even publicly accuse your mother-in-law? You shameless slut, what exactly are you plotting?”

The old madam shot up to her feet so abruptly. Each insult grew filthier than the last. Everyone in the Second Branch went pale. Especially Ling Wang-shi.

She had been married into the Ling family for over twenty years. Whatever grudges there were between sisters-in-law, she had never openly contradicted her mother-in-law—save for that one time. And now? She was being called a ‘worthless’ and a ‘slut’—what had she done to deserve this?

After a lifetime of swallowing her pride, Ling Wang-shi finally lifted her head. Her neck stiffened, eyes red but steady as she looked straight at the old woman.

“Mother. I, Wang Jinhua, have been married into the Ling family for more than twenty years. Tell me—when have I ever talked back to you? When have I ever incited Long-ge? I may not have studied much, but I know that once a woman marries, she must respect her husband and be filial to her parents-in-law.”

“Five years ago, you said my Jingxuan was a demon and tried to drag him off to be drowned—cast him out of the family. Did I say a single word against it? Yes, I used my own dowry to buy him three mu of land. But he is my flesh and blood. I carried him for ten months. I nearly died giving birth to him. You may refuse to acknowledge him, but how can I, as his mother, turn my back? He is a piece of flesh torn from my own body.”

“And a few days ago, if you hadn’t stormed to Jingxuan’s house without asking right or wrong, refusing to hear a single explanation, how would Long-ge have even conceived the thought of dividing the household?”

“Now you call me trash. A slut. Then tell me, Mother—where exactly am I wanton? Have I committed adultery? Seduced some other man’s husband?”

Her words were nothing short of an eruption decades in the making.

The old madam face darkened with every sentence. By the end she was gasping, barely able to catch her breath, her finger trembling like a claw as she pointed at her.

“Good. Good! So sharp-tongued, Wang-shi. Only today do I see—you’ve harbored resentment all along! Your own bastard did something shameful beyond mention—should we not have driven him out? I—I’ll beat you to death, you shameless little slut!”

Before she even finished, she kicked off her embroidered shoe and lunged forward with it raised.

Ling Chenglong and his three sons rushed to block her. Others might not know—but they did. Ling Wang-shi was carrying a child.

“Mother, Jinhua didn’t mean that. She never incited me. Mother, I beg you—give your son some face. Mother—”

“Let go! You unfilial wretch! If I’d known when I gave birth to you, I should’ve strangled you then and there! Watch me beat this shameless old whore to death today!”

“Grandmother, if you must hit someone, hit me instead!”

“Cough—cough—Grandmother—”

Three generations had completely cast aside the so-called dignity of a family of scholars. In the blink of an eye, the main hall descended into utter chaos. Ling Wang-shi wept so hard she could barely breathe. The old madam, clearly having made up her mind, insisted on beating someone, and Ling Chenglong and his two sons could not hold her back no matter how hard they tried. The others did not move a single step—quite content to stand aside and enjoy the spectacle.

There was no need to speak of the First Branch and Ling Chenghua; they had long since nursed a venomous hatred toward the Second Branch and were more than happy to see them suffer. The Third Branch was hardly better. To them, the fiercer the Second Branch made a scene, the greater the chance that Ling Jingpeng would be sent off to his death in military service—and the safer they themselves would be.

“Enough! All of you, stop it!”

No one knew how much time had passed before the old master, who had remained silent until now, finally roared in fury. The figures entangled together froze at once. Ling Jingpeng reacted quickly, pulling his mother behind him. Ling Wang-shi, still sobbing, covered her abdomen with one hand. No one present noticed the small gesture—no one except Ling Chenghua. When she saw it, a flicker of suspicion flashed through her eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by malice. Whether her guess was correct or not, she had already decided to act.

“Jingpeng will go to serve in the army. That is final.”

The old master shot a fierce glare at those still making a commotion and at last announced his decision. Or rather, it was not a decision made in that moment, but one he had already reached long ago. Ever since the scandal of Ling Jingwei, he had found the Second Branch increasingly disagreeable. Under such circumstances, he would never choose anyone from the First or Third Branch. That left only Ling Jingpeng of the Second Branch.

“Father?!”

Ling Chenglong’s eyes widened in disbelief. It felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss. Jingpeng was his only son who was still healthy and whole—how could his father treat him this way?

Ling Wang-shi began sobbing again. In contrast, the brothers Ling Jinghan and Ling Jingpeng were startlingly calm. As for Ling Jinghan, any remaining warmth he once felt toward this household—toward the only grandfather who had shown even a trace of human feeling—had completely frozen over. And Ling Jingpeng, the very person concerned, had naked stubbornness staining the depths of his eyes. From the very beginning, he had never intended to beg them. He had long known—begging would be useless.

“There is no need to say more. I have decided.”

With that, Ling Qiyun rose and strode out of the main hall.

“Father, I beg you, don’t let Jingpeng go! Father—??”

“Wait Father, I’ll go with you to Second Uncle’s house!”

Unwilling to give up, Ling Chenglong and his wife hurried after him in panic. Ling Chenghua, eager to join whatever drama was unfolding, twisted her waist and followed as well.

Just as Ling Wang-shi was about to step over the threshold, Ling Chenghua deliberately quickened her pace and charged straight at her.

“Ah!”

Caught completely off guard, Ling Wang-shi was sent flying. She tumbled across the courtyard and only came to a stop near the open sky well at its center. The sudden accident stunned everyone present. A trace of satisfaction flashed through Ling Chenghua’s eyes before she quickly masked it with feigned innocence and rushed toward the groaning Ling Wang-shi. Using the force of her crouching momentum, her knee struck—most unfortunately—directly into Madam Ling Wang’s lower abdomen.

“Ah—it hurts—my stomach—”

“Mother? Mother?!”

“Jinhua—!”

“Mother—!”

At last jolted back to their senses, Ling Chenglong and his two sons no longer spared a thought for the old master. One after another, they rushed forward. The three grown men had all gone deathly pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

There was still a child in her womb—the child they had longed for in their dreams.

“Ah—blood! There’s blood—!”

Ling Chenghua, who had just been shoved aside, suddenly pointed between Ling Wang-shi’s legs and let out a piercing scream. Instantly, every gaze turned in that direction.

The ash-gray color of Ling Wang-shi’s skirt was slowly, steadily being soaked through with a glaring, vivid red. Anyone with even the slightest experience knew what that meant.

She had miscarried.

“Jinhua?! Quick—fetch a physician! Hurry, go get a physician—!!”

Ling Chenglong’s face was white as paper. Scooping her up in his arms, he dashed straight toward their quarters. Ling Jingpeng bolted out the gate like a steam locomotive, while Ling Jinghan, just as he was about to follow inside, caught something from the corner of his eye—

The faint upward curl of Ling Chenghua’s lips. The flash of venom that flickered through her eyes.

His heart sank abruptly. Thinking back to what had just happened—The more one thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

But at such a moment, he had no leisure to settle accounts with her. Silently committing the matter to memory, he turned and entered the room.

No one had anticipated that a family meeting meant to decide who would go serve in the military would end in such catastrophe.

And even less did they foresee that what awaited them next would be someone’s towering fury—and a merciless revenge.

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Translator: LazyHermitGal