Mar 10, 2026
Chapter 66 — Establishing a Separate Household • Breaking Away from the Ling Family
“You—? You shameless little bastard, what exactly do you think you’re doing? Was ruining Jingwei not enough for you? Now you want to bring down the whole Ling family as well? If we’d known back then, we should’ve drowned you outright! You claim someone harmed Ling Wang-shi just because you say so? Who knows if you didn’t throw that Rougui in yourself? In the countryside we don’t fuss over such things. Maybe you dropped it in by accident while gathering herbs.”
At a moment like this, how could the domineering old madam possibly be absent? Seeing her still wearing that lofty, superior expression, Ling Jingxuan could only feel a wave of speechless exasperation.
“Quite the fierce temper you’ve got there. How about we take this matter before the county magistrate and have a proper talk?”
He refused to believe that once they stood in a courtroom she would still dare to act so brazen. Dealing with people like her, the only way was to make them afraid—though, truth be told, he himself felt a little annoyed that he always ended up dragging the county magistrate into things.
“Bitch!”
Sure enough, the moment she heard the words court and magistrate, the old woman immediately lost her nerve and stopped shouting. But—
“Ling Jingxuan, you don’t need to bring up the county magistrate every time you open your mouth. What this old woman said isn’t entirely unreasonable. It’s unlikely you’d deliberately harm your own mother, but it’s entirely possible you picked the wrong herb by mistake—or dropped it in without noticing.”
The old woman’s belligerence gave Ling Qiyun a glimpse of opportunity. The excuse was admittedly rather far-fetched—even he himself couldn’t quite believe it—but with such a rare chance in front of him, how could he let it slip away so easily? No matter what, he could not allow rumors to spread that the Ling family harbored a murderer.
“Heh… what a convenient accident. Of all things that could fall in, it just had to be cinnamon—the one thing that would make a woman who’d miscarried bleed heavily.”
Ling Jingxuan replied with undisguised sarcasm. Ling Qiyun’s old face flushed red at once. Being a learned man, his skin was not nearly as thick as the old woman’s. The village elders who had also intended to seize on that excuse to muddle the matter over now looked thoroughly uncomfortable as well.
Don’t be fooled by how righteously they had spoken earlier. In truth, none of them cared about the actual outcome. The only thing that mattered to them was the reputation of Lingjia Village. Much like how they would banish anyone they deemed shameful to some remote corner far from the village—so long as their face was preserved, the truth itself was of no consequence.
“It seems that even if you continue investigating, you won’t uncover anything useful. But the fact that someone tried to take my mother’s life is beyond dispute. Since matters have reached this point, I cannot possibly leave my aging parents and young brother in this household any longer.”
Ling Jingxuan clasped one hand behind his back, his expression cold and severe.
“I’ll give you two choices. Either open the ancestral hall and allow my father to establish a separate household—or we go to the county seat and let the magistrate decide.”
At last, he stated his true purpose.
Establishing a separate household was not the same as merely dividing the family and living apart. The latter only meant splitting up to manage one’s own livelihood; if something happened to the Ling family, they would still be implicated. The former, however, meant cutting ties with the main Ling clan entirely—essentially severing relations with Old Master Ling’s household.
In that sense, it was similar to when Ling Jingxuan himself had once been expelled from the family. The difference was that he had been driven out bearing the mark of disgrace, whereas Ling Chenglong and the others would be leaving of their own accord. The end result might appear the same, but the implications were vastly different.
“You—don’t even think about it!”
Ling Qiyun trembled with fury, his beard quivering and eyes blazing. A separate household? That was a slap straight across his face.
“Bah! Establish a separate household? Keep dreaming! I carried the second son for ten long months and gave birth to him with my own body. As long as this old woman draws breath, he won’t be leaving this family!”
The old madam, who had only just quieted down moments earlier, was once again livid. Her eyes glared at Ling Jingxuan as if dripping with poison.
He wanted to persuade her second son to escape her grasp? In his dreams!
“If you’re truly so eager to die, old lady, I wouldn’t mind sending you on your way.”
The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
Ling Jingxuan, who had remained cold and indifferent all this time, suddenly radiated killing intent. His long, phoenix-shaped eyes glimmered with naked malice and a sinister charm. The old madam shuddered involuntarily, finally recalling just how ruthless he could be. The others, too, no longer dared glare at him so aggressively.
For some reason, they all had the same uneasy thought—
this man looked like someone who might truly be capable of killing.
Just as Ling Jingxuan had predicted earlier, Ling Chenglong’s resolve wavered when he saw the situation. After all, those two elders were his parents who had given him life. He was about to reach out and tug at Ling Jingxuan’s sleeve, hoping he would soften his words a little, when Ling Jinghan stepped in front of him first. Ling Jingpeng grabbed his arm without ceremony, silently telling him not to interfere.
Their elder brother had been willing to ruin his own reputation for their sake.
“Father, Mother… forgive your unfilial son.”
Ling Chenglong struggled free from the two brothers and strode forward, dropping to his knees before the elders. He began knocking his head repeatedly against the ground.
“Since this household has no place for my wife and children, please allow me to leave. Your son is no longer young. I do not wish to end my days with my family torn apart, abandoned and alone. I ask for nothing—only to take my wife and children with me. If, in your hearts, you still regard me as your son, then please… grant me this request.”
His son was willing to destroy his own reputation for him—how could he not feel heartache for that? Five years ago he had already abandoned that son once. This time, no matter what, he could not allow him to stand in front and shield him from the storm again.
At first, Ling Jingxuan felt annoyed. But when the thought occurred that his father might be doing this for his sake, he could only sigh inwardly in helplessness.
Reputation? He had never cared about such things. In fact, compared to constantly dealing with these troublesome people, he would rather they all become afraid of him—so afraid that they would never dare provoke him again.
Fortunately, his father had not lost his wits entirely. He had not overturned the demand for establishing a separate household. Otherwise, all Ling Jingxuan’s effort would truly have been in vain.
Ling Jinghan was a sharp one; whatever his elder brother could think of, he could think of as well. As for Ling Jingpeng, his displeasure was written plainly across his face. He feared his father might ruin everything.
No matter what, they could not remain in this household any longer.
Ling Chenglong’s sudden action shocked not only Ling Qiyun but also Ling Qicai and the clan elders. Seeing his forehead nearly split open from the repeated kowtows, they began sighing one after another. The anger they had shown earlier gradually faded.
To put it plainly, whether the family divided or established a separate household was the Ling family’s internal matter. It had little to do with them, and there was no need for them to interfere.
Seeing his second son so resolute, Ling Qiyun felt the blood rush straight to his head.
He had not even settled the score with them yet over what happened to Jingwei, and now they were forcing his hand first. What an unfilial son! How had he raised such a rebellious, disobedient creature?
The old madam, frightened into silence earlier by Ling Jingxuan, did not dare open her mouth again. But any mother, seeing her son kowtowing until his head bled, would at least feel a measure of concern.
Yet the way she looked at Ling Chenglong remained just as cold and venomous as before—there was even hatred mixed within it, as if she would not mind in the slightest if he actually knocked himself to death right there.
“Enough! If you want to establish your own household, then I will grant it!”
After an unknown stretch of time, Ling Qiyun finally roared in fury. He turned and stormed into the study.
Ling Chenglong froze mid-kowtow. His whole body went limp as he collapsed onto the ground, whether from relief or fear it was impossible to tell. Ling Jinghan and Ling Jingpeng hurried forward, each taking one side to help him up. Ling Jingxuan casually tore a strip from the hem of his robe and, with practiced ease, bandaged the wound on his father’s forehead.
Before long, Ling Qiyun returned holding a sheet of paper, the ink still wet.
“I ask the clan head and the elders to bear witness. From this day forth, the second branch of the family establishes its own household. From now on, whether in life or death, wealth or poverty—we shall have nothing to do with one another!”
As he spoke, he flung the paper directly into Ling Chenglong’s face, showing not the slightest trace of mercy.
Seeing this, Ling Qicai could not help stepping forward.
“Elder brother, have you thought this through? If you truly allow the second branch to establish its own household, then from now on there will truly be no ties left between you.”
Even he, merely an uncle, could see clearly who the truly filial sons in this family were. Not to mention Ling Jinghan—if his illness were ever cured, achieving success and prominence would not be impossible.
And then there was—
Ling Qicai’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward Ling Jingxuan.
His mind recalled the man he had seen at his own house that day. The natural authority and dominance that man carried was not something ordinary people possessed. Ling Qicai was certain of one thing: that man was no ordinary figure destined to remain in obscurity.
If the second branch were still part of the family—even if Ling Jingxuan had already been expelled—once that man’s identity was confirmed in the future, they could still benefit through their connection to the second branch.
But if his elder brother insisted on this decision today, then any honor or fortune that might come later would have nothing to do with them anymore.
“That’s right, Father. You mustn’t be foolish about this.”
Ling Chenghu, who had been watching the drama unfold for quite some time, hurried forward as well. If the second branch truly established its own household, then who would take on the military conscription? And who would tend the dozens of mu of farmland at home?
“Grandfather—”
“Jinghong!”
Just as Ling Jinghong was about to step forward, Madam Li quietly grabbed him. Turning back, he saw his mother shaking her head and signaling him with her eyes.
Ling Jinghong frowned.
How could they think things were so simple?
Jingxuan was no longer the same Jingxuan from five years ago. And Jinghan as well—after all the commotion, he had not uttered a single word. Even Jingpeng, who was usually hot-tempered and impulsive, had remained unusually quiet.
What did that mean?
It meant the three of them were changing—rapidly—and in a direction that was only getting better.
He dared to say that if the second uncle’s family were truly allowed to leave today, the ones who would regret it later would certainly be them.
“You needn’t say another word. A thing that indulges his own son in harming his own nephew—such an unfilial wretch has no place in the Ling family.”
Ling Qiyun had already been blinded by anger. The more others tried to persuade him, the more agitated he became, showing not the slightest sign of regret.
Ling Chengcai, the first to step forward and try to dissuade him, let out a deep sigh. Turning back, he nodded toward the clan’s old patriarch, silently indicating his acceptance.
The old patriarch was helpless as well. Leaning on his cane, he slowly stood.
“In that case—Ling Qiyun, Ling Chenglong, and Jinghan and Jingpeng—you will come with me to the ancestral hall.”
At this point, the farce had more or less come to an end.
Ling Jingpeng and Ling Jinghan nodded briefly to Ling Jingxuan, then helped their father to his feet and followed the old patriarch away.
Before leaving, Ling Jingxuan cast a rather amused glance at Ling Jingwei. He had not missed the old man’s earlier remark about indulging one’s son in harming his own nephew. With just a little thought, he could piece together most of the story.
A trace of mockery—and something dark and inscrutable—crept into Ling Jingxuan’s eyes.
It seemed things were becoming more and more interesting.
By the time Ling Chenglong and the others returned carrying the freshly written family register, nearly an hour had passed.
During that time, Ling Jingxuan had sent Yan Shengrui to the Zhao family, asking Zhao Dalong to bring his ox cart and take Ling Wang-shi to their house. He also wrote a prescription and asked him to help fetch several doses of medicine from the town.
From that household, they took nothing at all—except the quilt laid in the ox cart to keep Ling Wang-shi from catching a chill, and the small savings she had secretly set aside.
“Let’s go home.”
Seeing his father and brothers enter the courtyard, Ling Jingxuan immediately walked over with Yan Shengrui.
Perhaps because they had just separated from the family, Ling Chenglong still looked somewhat dazed, clutching the family register as if his soul had yet to return to his body. Ling Jinghan and Ling Jingpeng, however, simply nodded at him.
Ignoring the gazes surrounding them, the group turned in unison to leave.
Just as they were passing by the old master, Ling Jingxuan suddenly stopped.
With a smile bright as blossoming flowers, he said casually,
“Old Master Ling, earlier you said my father indulged his son in harming his own nephew. I think I should clarify something. It’s true I was the one who told Shopkeeper Zhao that Ling Jingwei was born with a cold constitution. But before that, he had already hired thugs to kidnap my sons. As for who harmed whom—I think you understand that better than I do. Shopkeeper Zhao knows about it too. If you don’t believe me, feel free to ask him.”
“What did you say?!”
Ling Qiyun, who had intended to ignore him, spun around in shock. His eyes bulged so wide they looked as if they might fall out.
Standing beside him, Ling Jinghong’s brow furrowed deeply as well.
If that were true… then hadn’t Grandfather wrongfully accused his own son and driven them away?
Ling Jingxuan merely chuckled.
“My principle in life is simple: if no one offends me, I offend no one. But if someone does offend me—I will repay it a hundredfold. Old Master Ling, so long as you don’t provoke me, I certainly won’t go out of my way to harm you. But what happened today… one day, Jingxuan will return it to you a hundred times over.”
With that, Ling Jingxuan left in grand fashion alongside Yan Shengrui.
Walking last, Ling Jinghan added coolly,
“Oh, I almost forgot to mention—my illness is nearly cured.”
“Pff—!”
“Grandfather?!”
“Father!”
“Master!”
Ling Jinghan’s words were truly ruthless—like a blade plunged straight into the old man’s heart.
Ling Qiyun suddenly tasted blood rising in his throat. In the next instant, he spat out a mouthful of blood and rolled his eyes back, collapsing unconscious.
The Ling household instantly descended into chaos.
After Ling Chenghu caught the fallen old man, Ling Jinghong turned around and gazed for a long time at the retreating figures of his second uncle’s family.
Only after a while did he let out a quiet sigh.
Who could they blame?
In the end… they had only themselves to blame.
They had a perfectly peaceful life, yet insisted on stirring up trouble until things turned out like this.
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Translator: LazyHermitGal
Author: LazyHermitGal
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