"This matter concerns the life and death of the entire Ling family. To save the Ling family, I could only bear the pain of having your father imprisoned..."
After pondering for half a moment, Old Master Ling decided to tell Ling Muzhu the whole truth. Previously, he had withheld the truth for fear that it would affect his imperial examinations.
Now was the time to tell Ling Muzhu the truth. He believed that Ling Muzhu himself was capable of making accurate judgments about right and wrong.
Conversely, continuously concealing this matter from Ling Muzhu would truly turn him into a sheltered maiden who couldn't make proper judgments when faced with adversity.
Why not take advantage of Ling Muzhu's presence at home now, when he still had the time and energy to teach him properly, rather than letting others teach him later in society.
After hearing everything, Ling Muzhu's expression stiffened. His elder sister-in-law had only told him that his father had colluded with the Third Prince, intending to curry favor and join his faction, but she had never told him that the Third Prince was also colluding with the Western Liang.
That was treason! If such a grave matter were revealed, and his father's collusion with the Third Prince were implicated, then the entire Ling family would bear the infamy of treason.
With such a charge, even the merits of several generations of the Ling family would be difficult to erase. How could his father be so foolish as to do such a thing?
The most terrifying part was if his father knew that the Third Prince was colluding with the Western Liang and still insisted on attaching himself to the Third Prince, then... that would truly be unfathomable. Even now, thinking about it sent a chill down his spine.
"I am telling you this today after much deliberation. Muzhu, you are grown up now and must learn to bear everything yourself. Now that you know these things, you should make your own decisions. I will not stop you."
"Grandfather..." Ling Muzhu murmured a couple of words, but his further words caught in his throat. For a moment, he didn't know how to make a choice. The burden in his heart felt like a thousand pounds, making it difficult for him to even breathe.
Seeing Ling Muzhu's state, Old Master Ling sighed helplessly. The child had grown up. He couldn't always support him. Doing so would harm him. He had to learn to solve some matters himself.
After a moment of hesitation, Old Master Ling took the token from his waist and placed it on the table. "The token is here. Muzhu, if you wish to see your father, you may go."
After Old Master Ling left, Ling Muzhu's gaze fell on the token on the table. After a moment of hesitation, he reached out and picked it up. After a period of silence, he stood up and walked out.
Outside the ancestral hall, countless black-armored soldiers still stood guard. The leading general saw Ling Muzhu and was not surprised. Since they were ordered to guard the ancestral hall, this second young master had come about once every one or two days.
"Second Young Master, what are you sending this time? I'll help you deliver it."
Thinking that Ling Muzhu was going to send something in again, he asked directly.
Ling Muzhu took out the token in his hand. "My grandfather ordered me to come and see my father. I request the general to grant me passage."
"In that case, Second Young Master, please proceed."
With Old Master Ling's token in hand, Ling Muzhu passed through unimpeded all the way and directly met Second Master Ling.
Ling Muzhu walked into the dimly lit room and saw Second Master Ling standing by the window, looking much older. He couldn't help but call out, "Father..."
Hearing the voice, Second Master Ling was also touched. He thought it was his auditory hallucination, but he sighed and did not turn around to look. After all, he had experienced such hallucinations more than once.
With the black-armored soldiers guarding the ancestral hall, how could Muzhu get in? It must be that he missed Muzhu too much during this period.
"Father... Your son has come to see you!"
Seeing that Second Master Ling did not respond, Ling Muzhu called out again. Only then did Second Master Ling's body tremble slightly. He quickly turned his head to look back. The moment he saw Ling Muzhu, his eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"Muzhu... You... you're here?" His voice trembled, and for a moment, he couldn't believe that what he was seeing was real.
With slightly unsteady steps, he walked to Ling Muzhu's side. Second Master Ling reached out and tentatively touched him.
After confirming that the person before him was indeed Ling Muzhu, Second Master Ling could no longer suppress his emotions. Tears flowed uncontrollably. "Muzhu... it's really you, it's really you!"
"Father, it is your son. Your son has come to see you. How are you today, Father?"
"How can I be well when I'm shut away in this dark and sunless place? If you truly care about your father, go and beg your grandfather to release me!"
Second Master Ling tightly held Ling Muzhu's hand and pleaded repeatedly. Confined in the dark ancestral hall, he would go mad sooner or later. He now even dreamt of leaving this wretched place.
Ling Muzhu's eyes slightly drooped. He subtly pulled his hand away. "Father, I begged Grandfather for a long time before he agreed to let me see you. Do you have nothing to say to me?"
"This is no place to talk. Go and beg your grandfather, beg him earnestly, and he will surely agree to release me. When I leave this place, we can talk slowly about anything."
"Father, Grandfather will not let you leave. You should stay here peacefully. Perhaps when Grandfather's anger subsides, he will release you."
Ling Muzhu's tone was indifferent. He had already made up his mind. He knew what kind of person his father was: stubborn and arrogant, pretending to be learned despite his limited scholarship.
He was eager to find an opportunity to gain his grandfather's approval. Now, his father might not have abandoned his plans with the Third Prince. If his father were released and ruined the entire Ling family, then he would be the Ling family's greatest sinner. He could not do such a thing.
"Then... why have you come!"
"I have come today only to tell you that I have passed the imperial examinations. I achieved the second-class ranking."
Upon hearing this, a look of joy finally appeared on Second Master Ling's face. He excitedly grabbed Ling Muzhu's shoulders. "Muzhu, you really... really passed!"
"Yes, Father. Your son has indeed passed."
"Good! Good! Heaven has not abandoned my second branch. My own official career has ended up this way, but my son is promising. My second branch still has hope!"
"Muzhu, since you have passed, your future is boundless. Go and beg your grandfather to help you with your official appointment in the capital."