Her eyes sparkled with a hint of movement, her expression calm: "I've already said what I needed to say very clearly. With big brother's intelligence and wisdom, you should have understood by now."

  What Ling Jing said is not obscure or difficult to understand. As long as you think about it a little bit carefully, it's not hard to grasp the meaning behind it.

  Ling Feng pursed his lips tightly, his complexion changing unpredictably in the candlelight.

  "Li is our common enemy. With our current strength, it's not easy to deal with Li. We can only start from Li's greatest reliance which is also her greatest weakness."

  Ling Jingyu said slowly: "A six-year-old child may trip while walking, choke on food, fall into the water when walking by the pool, or get hurt while curiously trying to ride a horse, and the tame horse suddenly goes wild... All kinds of accidents can make a child die young. No matter how carefully people take care of them, they can't avoid not paying attention sometimes. Big brother, don't you think so?"

  Ling Feng: "......"

  Ling Feng took a deep breath and looked at Ling Jingxu's gaze as if he was looking at a complete stranger.

  Is this still the gentle and obedient Ling Jingyu? To mention these sinister and ruthless tactics in such a light and casual tone, it sends shivers down one's spine.

  Ling Jingyu didn't look at Ling Feng, seemingly talking to herself: "The Li family can win over Father's heart, no doubt relying on the fact that they have a legitimate son. If she were to lose her child, she would definitely be heartbroken and lose her greatest confidence. Even if she wants to give birth again in the future, it's not necessarily possible for her to have another boy, let alone raise him safely."

  "I'll take Ah Xiao to the capital to treat his illness. If his eyes are cured, I'll send him to the best academy to study. If Imperial Physician Wei can't cure his eye disease, I'll look for other famous doctors. In any case, my brother and I won't return to Dingzhou again."

  "As the only son left under your father's knee, even if you are born out of wedlock, no one will dare to underestimate you again. In the future, the family business of these five houses will also be yours."

  "This family business is right in front of you, it's just a matter of whether you have the guts to take it."

  ......

  Ling Feng's chest heaved violently, his right fist clenched and trembling slightly, the expression on his face complex and indescribable.

  Ling Jingxu stopped talking after saying this.

  After a moment, Ling Feng finally made up his mind and let out a long sigh: "You and Ah Xiao really don't plan on returning to Dingzhou?"

  Before Ling Jingyu could respond, he continued to speak on his own: "Perhaps you're just here to deceive me, waiting for me to really take action and then reveal this matter to Father. At that time, I, a bastard who dared to plot against my brother, will not be able to escape death. The Fifth House will only have the two of you siblings left. This is indeed a clever plan that kills two birds with one stone!"

  Ling Jingyu didn't deny it, but instead smiled: "Big brother is indeed thoughtful and cautious. All these years, big brother has been hiding his light under a bushel, pretending to be ordinary, and has actually fooled everyone."

  The words have been spoken and there's nothing left to hide.

  Ling Feng suddenly became frank and admitted, "What you said is not wrong. Actually, I had long been suspicious that Li Shi was the mastermind behind it all those years ago. However, first, I didn't have any evidence, and second, being a person of low social status, speaking out rashly would only bring trouble."

  "What you just said really moved me. But how can I be sure that you're not going to use me and then sell me out once things are done?"

  She was right about him after all.

  At sixteen, Ling Feng has a mind for strategy, a city's worth of ambition and a heart full of wild aspirations. He just lacks the opportunity to "show off his skills".

  Because of Lu's family being there, she didn't want to stay in Dingzhou for long. To deal with Li, Ling Feng was the best candidate.

  Ling Jingyu raised an eyebrow, seemingly smiling yet not quite, and said: "I hereby make a poisonous vow. From this moment on, I and Ah Xiao will never return to Dingzhou, and we'll give up the family business of the Five Houses. Will you believe my poisonous vow?"

  His eyes flashed uncertainly for a long time before he finally spat out two words: "I don't believe it."

  A mouth with two layers of skin, after speaking, there is no trace left.

  If making poisonous oaths were useful, there wouldn't be so many faithless and treacherous people in this world.

  Ling Jingxu slightly shrugged and said indifferently, "If you don't believe me, then I can't do anything about it. Let's just forget what was said tonight, Big Brother, let's pretend you never came!"

  Ling Feng: "......"

  Is this going to play with him?!

  Such an important conspiracy, concerning a life, concerning the future of the five houses... and even more concerning his own future prospects, how can it be so child's play?!

  Ling Feng's face didn't look too good, but his feet hadn't moved half a step.

  "Big brother doesn't believe me, why not leave with a flick of his sleeve?" Ling Jingyu asked knowingly.

  Ling Feng's mouth twitched a few times before he managed to squeeze out a few words: "I didn't say I don't believe you. However, for something this important, I really can't put my mind at ease without some sort of proof."

  Ling Jingyu heard this request, and was not surprised, but refused without thinking: "No way. This kind of thing absolutely cannot be used as evidence, what if you're clumsy and get caught, or use it to inform Li's family and gain merit, wouldn't my brother and I become the fish on the chopping board?"

  "You don't dare believe me, and I also don't dare trust you. If it's like this with mutual suspicion, then tonight's matter is better left unsaid."

  "I resent the Li family and don't want to see them again, it's a painful pleasure. And you, you want more. You want a five-room house, your father's favor, and everyone's respect. You want so much, but don't want to take half a risk, is there such a good thing in the world?"

  Ling Jingxu's pretty face turned cold, and her tone also revealed a few hints of chilliness: "I've said all I need to say, the choice is yours to make."

  ......

  This time, Ling Feng remained silent for a very long time.

  He thought of Xia Yiniang's miserable death, the desolation of being a concubine, Li Shi's occasional disdainful glances at him, and his father's doting love for his younger son...

  The grievances and resentment that had been hidden in the depths of my heart for a long time all surged up to my mind at this moment, gathering into a turbulent torrent, churning restlessly within me.

  His own mother died at the hands of Li, and his stifling life in recent years was also thanks to Li. Was he going to spend his whole life relying on others?

  With such a good opportunity in front of him, why doesn't he dare to take a chance?

  Ling's heart was racing faster and faster, his palms were wet with sweat, all the blood in his body was rushing to his brain, and his still somewhat handsome face was flushed bright red.

  Ling Jing's mind gradually calmed down.

  If Ling Feng was unwilling, he would have turned around and left early. At this moment, he is hesitant because he has moved his heart.

  Wealth and honor are found in danger. Ling Feng will definitely nod!

  "Sister, I have one last question." Ling Feng finally spoke up: "In the future when you get married, there will naturally be a dowry. But what about Ah Xiao? How can you be certain he's willing to give up this family business?"

  Ling Jingxu replied without hesitation: "After Ah Xiao goes to the capital, he will naturally have a better future. This family business may be worth a thousand pieces of gold in your eyes, but to us siblings, it's like a chicken rib."

  As he spoke, he raised his eyes to look at Ling Tian: "Big brother, if you have made up your mind, we will form an alliance today and make a poisonous oath. No matter whether things succeed or not, we must keep our mouths shut and never reveal what happened tonight."

  Ling Feng gritted his teeth and resolutely replied: "Alright."

  Ling Jingxian suppressed all her emotions and solemnly made a vow: "Heaven is above, I, Ling Jingxian, make this vow here. As long as my brother fulfills the promise he made, my younger brother Ling Xiao and I will never return to Dingzhou in this life, and we are willing to give up the family business of the five houses. If I violate this oath, let me be struck by thunder and die a terrible death."

  Ling Feng made a solemn vow and also swore an oath of vengeance.

  After making their own vows, they formed an alliance. From then on, there was no more beating around the bush in their conversations.

  "Are you and Ah Xiao really leaving tomorrow?"

  "All luggage and clothes have been packed up. Tomorrow morning, I'll set off with Uncle and his family."

  "Do the Lu brothers know you're leaving?" Ling Feng asked subconsciously.

  Ling Jing's expression was indifferent: "What I want to do has nothing to do with them. Why bother letting them know."

  It seems that Ling Jingxu really has no good feelings towards the Lu brothers. Maybe it was to deceive them, so she concealed the fact that she was going to Beijing.

  Ling Feng's mind flashed with electricity, and he didn't dwell on this issue any longer. He said in a low voice, "Sister, if things go well in the future, I will have someone send you a message."