Chapter Eighteen: Everything Became Clear

"Wait a moment."

At that instant, Old Master Chu suddenly remembered—yes, that useless son-in-law from the second branch, his surname is also Ling. He’s my grandson-in-law too. In a certain sense, he fits all the criteria for Mr. Ling. Could it be that I’ve misjudged all along, and this is the true, hidden great figure within our Chu family?

But that’s just too hard to believe.

This man has been in our family for three years, always completely worthless, bullied by everyone in the Chu family. If he really were Mr. Ling, why would he have tolerated it all until today?

Besides, someone of Mr. Ling’s standing would never humble himself to marry into the Chu family.

Thinking this, Old Master Chu felt reassured, “Mr. Chen, I think you’ve really made a mistake this time. Yes, he’s also my grandson-in-law and his surname is Ling, but he’s of humble birth, ignorant and poor for five generations, a nobody. Forget calling him Mr. Ling; he barely qualifies as an ordinary person. You’ve truly mistaken a counterfeit for the real thing.”

“The real Mr. Ling is still my other grandson-in-law.”

Soaked to the skin, Liu Xiangyun’s eyes suddenly brightened. She shouted in astonishment, “Good, good, now I understand. I finally get it! Chu Biyue, Ling Feng, you two are despicable! No wonder my daughter and son-in-law have suffered so much today—it’s all your doing, working behind the scenes. Everything makes sense now. I was wondering why I didn’t see that useless pauper in the main hall earlier—turns out, he was meeting the four distinguished guests at the door!”

“Auntie, you—” Chu Biyue couldn’t help glancing at Ling Feng, who looked completely innocent.

Of course, Chu Biyue knew Ling Feng couldn’t possibly be Mr. Ling, and she didn’t believe Liu Xiangyun’s words either, but she had no explanation for what was happening right now. So she wanted to ask Ling Feng directly.

“Honey, I’ll tell you the truth. Actually, I am Ling—”

Since things had come to this, Ling Feng reckoned there was no hiding it anymore; it’d be better to come clean.

“Ling Feng, shut up! Why are you trying to steal the spotlight? Haven’t we suffered enough humiliation today? Does your wife’s dignity mean nothing to you?” Chu Biyue suddenly cut him off, face flushed with embarrassment.

If Ling Feng really had impersonated Mr. Ling as Liu Xiangyun accused, she truly couldn’t go on with him. Poverty she could bear, weakness she could tolerate, but shamelessness was beyond redemption.

But then she thought again, and believed Ling Feng couldn’t have done such a thing. He was probably just trying to rile up Liu Xiangyun and her daughter, though it was a foolish move.

Ling Feng caught her glare and smiled bitterly inside. He knew that, no matter what, he couldn’t reveal his identity today. No one would believe him, and Chu Biyue would only despise him more. Their marriage might not survive it.

“You all heard him, right? He admitted it himself—he was impersonating!” Liu Xiangyun gloated immediately.

The Chu family’s relatives and friends all looked at Ling Feng and Chu Biyue with extreme contempt, while Liu Xiangyun, Ling Zheng, and Chu Huangfei acted as if they’d seized a chance to turn the tables, mocking and smirking triumphantly. Lost pride was about to be regained—how could they not be delighted?

Chu Biyue’s eyes reddened with anxiety. She hadn’t expected Ling Feng to be so foolish.

“Honey, let me tell you the truth. I am Ling Feng, Ling Feng is Ling Feng, just as my brother-in-law said—I don’t change my name whether I’m standing or sitting. I am no one else; I am simply Ling Feng.”

“Whew!” Chu Biyue let out a long sigh of relief, thinking, He’s not that stupid after all; he knows when to stop.

At least he managed to smooth things over. She’d been truly afraid Ling Feng would stubbornly play along and actually pretend to be someone else, just to defy Liu Xiangyun.

“Don’t try to wriggle out of it! That’s still impersonation—I have evidence, I have logical reasoning.” Liu Xiangyun refused to let go, relentlessly pressing the accusation against the couple.

“Everyone, think about it. He’s a deadbeat, dirt poor, and has never tasted anything good. With so much delicious food in the villa today, why would he willingly go outside? With such a perfect chance to freeload, how could someone like him let it slip by? It makes no sense at all—there must be a scheme!”

A rumble of agreement rolled through the crowd at Liu Xiangyun’s analysis—she made perfect sense. Suddenly, everyone gasped in realization. Of course, a pauper would leap at the chance for free food and drink!

To do the opposite must mean there was a plot!

The facts were plain: for someone so poor to forgo a feast, he must have gone out to stir up trouble.

So, when Ling Feng exposed President Fang’s fake jewelry, it was all premeditated. He wanted to draw attention, so Ling Zheng and Chu Huangfei—the real Mr. and Mrs. Ling—couldn’t get outside in time to clarify things to the four bigwigs.

Such cunning! Who would have thought that good-for-nothing had such a devious mind?

He might be useless at everything else, but when it came to scheming and harming others, he was quite the expert.

Indeed, paupers are a menace.

But wait—could a loser like Ling Feng really come up with such a nasty trick?

“Green tea!” Chu Huangfei pointed at Chu Biyue and cursed.

“It’s a conspiracy, definitely a conspiracy.” Liu Xiangyun snarled at Chu Biyue, “You always act so proper in front of your grandfather, but behind his back you’re so vicious. You’re jealous that Huangfei is prettier, married better, and is happier than you. You found a loser and your life is miserable—we get it. But you actually went so far as to set up such a huge trap to harm your own cousin. If you’re not a scheming snake, what are you?”

“Auntie, don’t slander me. When did you see Ling Feng impersonate Ling Zheng? If the four gentlemen mistook someone, that’s their business—what does it have to do with Ling Feng? As for whether I’m a schemer, many elders here watched me grow up; they know best what kind of person I am.”

“I know you don’t welcome us, but today’s events have nothing to do with us. Ling Feng has no interest in being Mr. Ling; we’re not cut out for that, nor do we crave such a title.”

“Ling Feng, why are you just standing there? Tell me, did you impersonate anyone or not?” Chu Biyue gritted her teeth.

“I never impersonated anyone—they made the mistake themselves. What does that have to do with me? I never told them to kneel, either. If they want me to kneel in return, I’ll do it; they’re elders, and I lose nothing. Wife, you have to trust me: I may be humble, but I’m not shameless or conniving.”

“In that, I believe you.”

Chu Biyue gestured toward the four bigwigs, “Ling Feng, the way you said that makes me see you in a new light. Husband, come here, kneel to our distinguished guests, return the courtesy owed, and then we’ll leave.”

But deep down, Chu Biyue was uncertain—would the four bigwigs really let Ling Feng off so easily?

Would returning the salute really settle things?

Her palms were already sweaty from clenching her fists.

The guests felt the same unease. Damn, how naïve—did they really think returning a bow would settle things with these four giants?

Let’s see how this family meets their end.

“Alright.”

Just as everyone eagerly waited for the spectacle, Ling Feng bent his knees, about to kneel. Yet, under the crowd’s mocking gaze, the four bigwigs suddenly turned pale with terror, leaping up and scrambling back some twenty meters.

Who in this world could bear the kneel of the War Emperor!

And now, they dared not utter another word, for they could no longer grasp the master’s intentions. Each one’s face was ashen with fear.

“No need, really, it’s not necessary.” Chen Heibai quickly forced a bitter smile and gestured to Chu Biyue, “This young man is a decent sort, Mrs. Ling, don’t be too hard on him. I can see that he’s sincere toward you. Husbands and wives should trust each other, right? I just realized—I was mistaken. He’s not Mr. Ling at all, just my driver. Ha, my own eyes fooled me. I made a mistake, that’s all.”

“Exactly! You all heard that, right? Even Mr. Chen says he was mistaken. Our Ling Zheng is the real Mr. Ling—now the truth is clear.”

“A wretch will always be a wretch. The fox’s tail is exposed—after all, he’s just a poor driver. Dust returns to dust, dirt to dirt. The noble remain noble, and the poor remain poor. The facts prove our Ling Zheng is the genuine Mr. Ling.” Chu Huangfei swelled with arrogance, already imagining the embarrassment Sun Lao’er would face when apologizing later.

She had no intention of forgiving Sun Lao’er easily.

“Ling Feng, aren’t you leaving?” Chu Biyue no longer wished to stay. In any case, whoever Mr. Ling was had nothing to do with her.

“Not so fast. You can’t leave yet! If today’s matter isn’t cleared up, you’ll pay dearly for it.” Liu Xiangyun barred their way, arms crossed domineeringly. “Ling Feng, you think you can walk away after impersonating someone? Kneel before my daughter and son-in-law, kowtow a thousand times and apologize, and maybe I’ll let you go. Otherwise, you won’t even know how you died.”

The four bigwigs hadn’t punished Ling Feng and Chu Biyue’s family, which left Liu Xiangyun and everyone else disappointed. Still, she wasn’t about to let such an opportunity to trample them slip by.

“This useless wretch is our family’s disgrace.”

“I heard he makes a living scamming people, and now he’s impersonated Ling Zheng. He should kowtow ten thousand times!”

“Faking suicide for sympathy, freeloading off others, impersonating to win respect—there’s no shameless trick you haven’t tried. How do you even have the gall to be alive?” Chu Qiang spat on the ground.

“Poverty isn’t scary, but being so poor you have no bottom line is disgusting.”

“Get out! Kowtow and then get lost!” The Chu family members all shouted abuse.