Chapter 244 (1/2)
On the way back, Duke Ling was dispirited to the point he couldn't ride on a horse, so he sat in the carriage as well. Ling Tian knew that while he had taken care of the hidden danger in his Ling Family, his grandfather was also thoroughly heartbroken! Ling Zhan had never schemed against others and would treat people with sincerity. He was a straightforward person who valued the relations.h.i.+ps around him! Of the many people they had taken care of today, there was actually quite a large group of them who were personally groomed by Ling Zhan. They were his brothers of many years. Especially Ling Kong, he was Ling Zhan's treasured foster son! The betrayal of all those people had been a hard blow to Ling Zhan. Who knew when he would be able to cheer up? Perhaps he would never be able to fully recover from this blow!
Ling Tian and Ling Xiao rode on their horses with worry in their hearts, not saying anything to each other.
”Father, in regards to the families of these people, how you think we should take care of them? We can't…” Ling Tian broke the silence first. While he had a plan in his heart, he should still show his father some face.
Ling Xiao's burly body was firmly seated on the horse as he looked at his son with a complicated gaze, ”There isn't a need to continue, I understand that principle! You can just take care of the matter yourself and there isn't a need to ask me. Didn't your grandfather hand over all authority into your hands?”
After the matter of the traitors had been settled, Duke Ling discussed the matter with Old Madam Ling for a moment. Then, he announced to everyone in the Ling Family that everything in the family would be taken care of by his grandson, Ling Tian. In other words, he was already announcing that Ling Tian would be the family head. It was just that he didn't hold a ceremony. It seemed that Ling Zhan and Old Madam Ling needed to take a break.
However, the strange thing was that Ling Zhan never discussed this matter with his son at all before announcing the matter. He then didn't bother giving an explanation and even ordered that no one was to interfere with Ling Tian's actions! The meaning behind his words was simple: apart from the two elders in the family, only Ling Xiao and Chu Ting'er would interfere with Ling Tian. However, Chu Ting'er would never go against the actions of Ling Tian. As such, Ling Zhan's words were as good as spoken to Ling Xiao alone!
Ling Tian naturally understood what this meant. With all of his actions, especially the fact that he no longer concealed anything from his family, Ling Zhan, Old Madam Ling, Ling Xiao and Chu Ting'er could already feel that Ling Tian was hiding a huge ambition! Of course, this was done intentionally by Ling Tian, since his family members might be unable to accept this if it was revealed too suddenly.
However, Ling Tian's ambitions were obviously opposed to Ling Xiao's loyalty! It was something that was completely irreconcilable! If Ling Tian were to act in the future and Ling Xiao chose to stop him, the best timing would definitely be missed. As such, Duke Ling gave such a strange order!
At this moment, Ling Tian could tell that his father was a little bit displeased. Thus, he said with an apologetic smile, ”Father, no matter what, I am your child. How can I not seek your advice on things?”
Ling Xiao's face was calm as he turned around and looked at Ling Tian in the eyes. However, his eyes were filled with complex emotions. He then said slowly, ”Actually, when you established your Ling Family Courtyard eight years ago, I had the thought of sending our 30,000 men to flatten the Ling Family Courtyard. Then, I would ground you at home for life!” He then laughed bitterly, ”But as I thought about it, I just couldn't bear to do so. You are my biological son after all. You are my only son! No matter what you decide, I can only choose to support and not oppose you. If I were to treat you with enmity, how would you be able to live with your actions?!”
Ling Tian was greatly startled! Looking at this boorish looking father of his, Ling Tian never imagined Ling Xiao to have such sentimental thoughts. His heart was completely stirred, and he was at a loss for words.
If his father really chose to do that back then, what would he have done? Conceal his strength and bide for time? Or…
The sound of the horses' hooves was rhythmic with their words being drowned by the commotion by the crowd. While Ling Xiao's words were spoken softly, it resounded like thunder in Ling Tian's ears!
”While I am a boorish man, I have fought countless battles and lived in an army camp for all my life.” Ling Xiao said with a self-mocking laughter, ”Even if I am foolish, how could I not tell what the Ling Family Courtyard was built for? What kind of men were inside, what the large plaza was used for… or perhaps, what kind of men they could be used to train. As a general who has spent my whole life in the military, I was able to tell with a single glance!”
”Father, then why did you…” Ling Tian wanted to ask.
However, Ling Xiao ignored him and looked towards the dust cloud in front of him and said, ”As such, I have only visited the Ling Family Courtyard twice in the past eight years. Every time I went to the courtyard for a visit, I would bring a large number of officers with me, stopping before I entered the front of the courtyard. Then, I would fly into a rage and give you a good scolding before leaving. This is so you would slowly become the biggest laughing stock in the army. This was also why I would always scold you in front of big groups and ensure that the whole city knew the reason! Tian'er…”
As he said that, Ling Xiao looked at Ling Tian silently with a smile in his eyes, ”it isn't easy to be a silkpants. These few years, I know that you have been rather tired of acting. Actually, I am also extremely tired. You put up your act and I put up mine.”
Ling Tian suddenly felt his nose turn sour and his eyes began to water. His throat also began to choke as though he had phlegm stuck in his throat stopping him from saying anything. At the same time, his heart also turned sour but was filled with happiness.