Under the moonlight, Tingqin finally saw the knife gripped in his hand.
“Second Young Master, what are you trying to do!”
Tingqin never expected him to be so brazen as to attempt violence openly in the backyard.
“Is this all you’re capable of?” Qu Ling stood unmoving. “Bullying me means nothing. If you have the guts, kill your elder brother and claim the Heir’s position for yourself.”
Qu Yi’s pupils contracted slightly, his steps faltering.
“Silver-tongued devil,” he sneered. “You’re trying to drive a wedge between me and my elder brother. Wishful thinking.”
Yet he advanced no further.
Qu Ling gazed deeply at him. “Born of the same mother, he merely arrived in this world moments before you, yet he occupies the position of legitimate eldest son. You’ll spend your entire life living in his shadow.”
Qu Yi drew a sharp breath, his heart filled with irritation.
“I’ve heard your scholarship surpasses Qu Heng’s, and the Crown Prince favors you more,” Qu Ling moved closer to him. “Can you truly be content being overshadowed by someone inferior to you?”
She reached out and, taking advantage of his distraction, disarmed him.
Tingqin’s tense shoulders finally relaxed.
“Qu Yi, your mother’s heart has always favored your elder brother. All these years, that must have been difficult for you, hasn’t it?”
Qu Ling’s voice wormed its way into his ears like a spell, unsettling his mind.
He didn’t want to admit it, but it was the truth.
Despite being more accomplished, his mother constantly restrained him, forbidding him from surpassing his elder brother in anything, from stealing his spotlight.
But why should this be?
Those less capable should yield their positions to the worthy.
“I can help you depose your elder brother and secure the Heir’s position for you,” Qu Ling murmured softly.
Qu Yi snapped back to reality, his eyes widening suddenly. “You can barely protect yourself, and you claim you can help me?”
Regaining his composure, he stared at his empty hand. “You’re just spinning these tales to save your own skin.”
Qu Ling watched him intently, then offered the knife back to him. “You could kill me. The Princess would undoubtedly have you executed. You’d have avenged your mother, but then what?”
“You’d gain nothing, lose your life, while your elder brother securely maintains his position as Heir, with no one left to challenge him.”
“Perhaps your mother is counting on you to kill me today.”
Qu Ling’s words threw Qu Yi into complete disarray.
Could this be true?
Had his mother said those things precisely to make him err, to clear obstacles for his elder brother?
“Didn’t you want to kill me?” Qu Ling said. “I’m not afraid to die, but are you? Aren’t you afraid either?”
This wasn’t the first time she’d said this.
But she was certain they all feared death.
That’s why in her previous life, they didn’t dare kill her outright, only gradually drove her to despair.
Qu Yi ultimately didn’t take the knife.
“How do you plan to help me?”
After asking, he scoffed contemptuously. “You’re utterly overestimating yourself.”
“When the autumn examinations come, I’ll ensure he cannot set foot in the examination hall,” Qu Ling chuckled softly. “Will that suffice?”
Qu Yi suppressed the restlessness in his heart. “Naturally, that’s not enough.”
If not this time, there would be other opportunities.
Besides, even if his elder brother failed the imperial examinations, as the legitimate eldest son with their mother’s support, Qu Yi could never replace him.
“What if he becomes physically impaired, unable to live as a normal man for the rest of his life?” Qu Ling proposed further.
Qu Yi fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Why would you help me?”
He didn’t believe Qu Ling would be so benevolent.
“I want to live,” Qu Ling said meaningfully. “If I don’t help you, what if you really kill me?”
Qu Yi still didn’t believe her.
“If your elder brother were standing before me now, I would help him kill you instead,” Qu Ling continued.
Often, it’s the unpleasant words that truly convince people.
Qu Yi turned away. “You’d better remember what you said. Otherwise, your death will come swiftly.”
He added, “I’ll make sure you die without a sound.”
Only after he had gone far away did Tingqin step forward to support Qu Ling. “Miss, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Qu Ling stroked the knife in her hand and actually managed a smile.
These twins from the Hou Manor.
Each more ruthless than the other.
If the brothers were united, Qu Ling would truly have a hard time dealing with them.
Fortunately, Song Shi’s favoritism had long since driven a wedge between them.
“Shall we return now?” Tingqin asked.
“Let’s go find the Marquis.”
She couldn’t have suffered this fright for nothing—someone needed to pay a price.
Qu Cheng was genuinely startled when he saw his daughter appear holding a knife.
“A Yi tried to kill me.” Qu Ling held the knife up before Qu Cheng. “Father, if the Hou Manor cannot tolerate me, then send me to the Princess Manor instead.”
Qu Cheng took the knife from her and scolded, “What nonsense are you talking? He was just trying to scare you.”
Tingqin was furious.
Was the Marquis even Qu Ling’s father?
How could he be so biased?
Qu Ling didn’t mind, instead putting on a frightened expression. “You say he was just scaring me, but what if he had slipped up? My death would be one thing, but the Princess would be displeased. That would bring trouble upon the Hou Manor.”
The moment she invoked the Princess, Qu Cheng grew irritable.
“What do you want to do then?”
Did she want to turn the world upside down?
“I want a maid who knows martial arts,” Qu Ling said. “They all dislike me, threatening and wanting to kill me. I need to protect myself, and also prevent them from committing grave mistakes.”
This request wasn’t unreasonable.
“I’ll have the steward find one for you.” Qu Cheng thought her words made some sense.
“No need to trouble yourself, Father.” Qu Ling smiled sweetly. “Sister Yuan Rong has many such maids around her. I’ll ask her to give me one.”
How could she possibly use someone from the Hou Manor?
Her gentle tone gradually calmed Qu Cheng’s previously agitated heart.
After all, she was his daughter and hadn’t done anything wrong.
When it came down to it, Song Shi was the one who had erred first.
“If the Princess of the Commandery is willing, that would be excellent,” Qu Cheng said, his tone softening. “If not, I’ll find one for you myself.”
He also feared that his son might act impulsively and truly harm Qu Ling. If the Princess investigated, his future would be ruined.
“You’ve handled this well,” Qu Cheng praised.
She hadn’t cried or made a scene, nor had she accused him of favoritism.
She had simply clearly stated her thoughts.
He felt his daughter had truly grown up, different from six years ago.
Qu Cheng’s pleased expression felt somewhat grating to Qu Ling.
“Father, aren’t you going to ask how I survived A Yi’s attack?” Qu Ling said.
Qu Cheng waved his hand dismissively. “He was just scaring you—he would never actually kill you. Your two younger brothers are both educated in the classics. Although A Yi’s temperament isn’t as restrained as A Heng’s, he’s not capable of harming his own sister.”
Qu Ling looked at him with a strange expression, but ultimately said nothing.
“Marquis! Marquis!”
An anxious voice came from outside the study.
“Something terrible has happened—the Old Madam has vomited blood!”