What was originally meant as concern sounded like Feng Jin was deliberately separating father and son in Elder Master Ling's ears, and his gaze towards Feng Jin became even more hostile.
"Mu Zhu, come with me."
Elder Master Ling deliberately avoided Feng Jin, took Ling Mu Zhu's hand, and walked behind a pillar.
Feng Jin watched coldly and couldn't help but let out a cold snort. Look at that, he brought this upon himself.
He meant well and tried to do a good deed, but in the end, he gained nothing good and instead incurred resentment. She had also played the fool's part of the fisherman.
"Father, if you have something to say, just say it. Why drag me over here?"
"You foolish child, have you become so foolish from reading sage books, or has that woman poisoned your mind?"
Elder Master Ling reprimanded him, suspecting what kind of bewitching poison that vixen Feng Jin had given Mu Zhu, to have turned his son into what he was now.
"Father, what are you saying? If it weren't for Elder Sister-in-law, I wouldn't have been able to come see you at all. Elder Sister-in-law has been very good to me. Father, please stop slandering her."
Hearing his father so disparage his Elder Sister-in-law, Ling Mu Zhu felt a flicker of displeasure.
He didn't know how much resentment his father harbored towards his Elder Sister-in-law. As an elder, why did he have to slander her so much, constantly feeding him bad words about her?
Did he really want him to fall out with his Elder Sister-in-law before he would be happy? Did he want to stir up chaos in the Ling family before he would be satisfied?
"Mu Zhu, you... you no longer listen to your father's words."
"Father is right, I will naturally listen. Father, time is pressing, whatever you have to say, say it quickly. I need to leave soon."
Elder Master Ling noticed the fleeting displeasure in Ling Mu Zhu's eyes and stopped arguing with him, quickly getting down to business.
"Mu Zhu, after you leave, go and see the Third Prince. Inform him of my current predicament. This is my token; keep it close. If the Third Prince needs anything, act on my behalf and help him."
He had just been worrying about how to contact the Third Prince while confined here, and now Ling Mu Zhu had arrived. Heaven was truly helping him. With their father and son working together, what great matter couldn't be accomplished?
Ling Mu Zhu looked at Elder Master Ling in shock and, upon seeing the token in his hand, unconsciously took a step back.
"Mu Zhu, you... what's wrong?" Elder Master Ling suddenly panicked, as Ling Mu Zhu's gaze towards him was too unfamiliar.
Ling Mu Zhu sneered and said to himself, "I originally thought I could persuade Father to turn back, but I didn't expect Father to be so misguided."
"What misguided? All of this is for you, for the future of the second branch, and for the sake of the entire Ling family. It's an open secret that the Third Prince will become the Crown Prince. Only by aligning ourselves with the Third Prince now, and when he ascends the throne, can the Ling family be entrusted with important positions."
"You are still too young to understand these matters. Father doesn't blame you. When you are older, you will naturally understand my painstaking efforts. Mu Zhu, you are my only son. Everything Father does is for your future."
His second branch was weak, and he only had Mu Zhu as his son. He had to plan diligently for Mu Zhu.
Only by taking the entire Ling family's influence to support the Third Prince now, and once the Third Prince ascended the throne, he would be a meritorious official, and the second branch would surely be entrusted with important positions, ensuring Mu Zhu's future.
"Father, please stop being misguided. Have you completely disregarded the ancestral laws of the Ling family? And how do you know for sure that the Third Prince will become the Crown Prince? If the Third Prince doesn't become the Crown Prince, how will the new Emperor deal with us? Have you considered these matters?"
"Moreover, I don't need you to pave the way for me like this. I will obtain official positions through the imperial examinations. And what I wish for is not to stay in the capital, but to be a benevolent official for a region and protect its people."
Ling Mu Zhu expressed his thoughts without reservation, hoping to persuade his father to turn back from his misguided path.
"What? You... you want to serve as an official in the provinces? How can that be? The outer regions are harsh. You grew up in the capital, protected by your parents. How can you endure such hardships? Mu Zhu, don't worry, Father will plan for you and secure an official position for you in the capital. You will absolutely not be sent to the provinces."
As long as he secured a good official position for Mu Zhu in the capital, Mu Zhu would not be thinking about serving in the provinces all day.
"Father, my mind is made up. The reason I decided to take the imperial examinations was precisely to serve as an official in the provinces. Father, you don't need to think about securing an official position for me in the capital. I will not stay in the capital either."
He was already tired of the machinations and intrigues within the capital. His heart's desire was to serve in the provinces and witness the myriad aspects of the world.
"You... scoundrel!"
*Slap!*
Elder Master Ling, filled with regret and frustration at his son's lack of ambition, fiercely slapped Ling Mu Zhu across the face. The crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the ancestral hall.
After the blow, Elder Master Ling instantly regretted it. Looking at his hand, which had not yet fallen, Elder Master Ling felt immense remorse. How could he have acted impulsively?
From childhood, he had never even spoken a harsh word to Ling Mu Zhu, let alone hit him.
"Mu Zhu, I... I was just impulsive. Please don't resent... resent your father..."
The burning pain on his cheek served as a reminder to Ling Mu Zhu of the slap he had just received.
"Father, what are you saying? I know your good intentions, but this is not what my heart desires. Father, turn back from your path; do not remain so misguided."
"I will take this token, Father, but I will not give it to the Third Prince. I will beg Grandfather to keep you here in the ancestral hall until the Crown Prince is established and everything is decided. Then I will release you."
Ling Mu Zhu took the token, having made up his mind. His father's obsession was too deep. If he were released from the ancestral hall, he would undoubtedly continue to contact the Third Prince. Only by keeping his father confined in the ancestral hall was the best course of action.
"What are you saying? I am your biological father. If you do this, it is utter treason. You unfilial son!"
He could never have imagined that one day his own son would imprison him.
"Your son is unfilial, but for the sake of the entire Ling family, and for Father's safety, your son can only be unfilial. Please rest assured, Father, once the Crown Prince is established, your son will personally apologize to you and invite you out of the ancestral hall."
Ling Mu Zhu kowtowed deeply three times to Elder Master Ling, then stood up and turned to leave without hesitation.
Only then did Elder Master Ling truly panic. He felt as if he was about to lose his son, and his deeply held conviction began to waver.
After a moment of stunned realization, he hurriedly got up and chased after Ling Mu Zhu's retreating back, but he was ultimately a step too late. The ancestral hall door was firmly closed.