Chapter 8: Accusation

In fact, it is quite normal for Li Jing to have such feelings towards Li Lin; it is not just him who feels this way. At this moment, everyone in the clan hall who knows Li Lin shares the same sentiment.

Even if he hated that maid from back then, Li Lin did not deserve to endure such injustice. Moreover, as his most valued son, Li Cheng's cruelty reached an extreme; merely over a trivial matter, he harbored murderous intent against Li Lin, wishing to put him to death

Although Li Lin has already learned to restrain this demeanor, such an aura emanates from deep within and cannot be completely concealed. Even a slight display of it is enough to captivate others.

Upon careful consideration, it becomes apparent that this matter is not as simple as it seems. Throughout his life, although he has never paid attention to Li Lin, he has not heard of any bad habits associated with him, nor has he heard of Li Lin having a drinking problem, as Li Lin simply cannot afford to drink. Other young men receive monthly allowances ranging from 100 to 300 wen, and even the youngest among them receive at least a few dozen wen. However, Li Lin does not receive any such allowance. He might receive a little, but it certainly cannot be much; otherwise, Li Lin would not be wearing such tattered clothing, which is patched in several places. Because Li Lin cannot afford to drink, other young men receive monthly allowances ranging from 100 to 300 wen, and even the youngest among them receive at least a few dozen wen. However, Li Lin does not receive any such allowance. He might receive a little, but it certainly cannot be much; otherwise, Li Lin would not be wearing such tattered clothing, which is patched in several places.

Li Lin now carries the soul of his previous life, which spans several decades. Having immersed himself in the world for so many years, he has witnessed all manner of scenes. In his past life, he was exceptionally talented in both literature and martial arts; he could compose essays with a brush in hand and wield a sword on the battlefield. He even reached the pinnacle of humanity, being just one step away from becoming an emperor. The temperament cultivated by such experiences has naturally accompanied his soul into this life, manifesting in Li Lin's character.

Moreover, what he did not expect was that Li Cheng would secretly attempt to harm Li Lin, which further illustrates Li Cheng's extremely malicious nature

Upon careful reflection, this poem seems to be a spontaneous expression, hastily composed. Neither in its language nor in its imagery can it be deemed particularly exquisite. However, the brilliance of this poem lies in its clever use of metaphor, conveying its meaning with clarity.

Li Lin is correct; a person does not have the power to choose their mother. However, he is still a member of the Li family, and within this family, he is unable to even attain the basic dignity of being a human being

At this moment, the clan members were all gathered inside and outside the clan hall, listening and watching. When they heard this poem, they couldn't help but feel a bit surprised. As members of the Li family, they all entered private schools at a young age to study. Although most of them might not be able to compose poetry, they at least possessed some ability to appreciate it, so many could discern the meaning of this poem.

Li Lin sighed inwardly, wondering how this poem could possibly be his own work. Even if he possessed the knowledge accumulated over the past twenty years from his previous life, he would still be unable to compose such an exquisite poem. This poem was fundamentally inherited from Zhou Yuan's memories. In the dimension where Zhou Yuan lived, there once existed a state called Wei, and there was a young lord named Cao Zhi, who was exceptionally talented. Due to pressure from his elder brother, he was forced to compose a poem within seven steps, or else he would be killed.

Some people simply could not hold back their tears, and gradually, more and more individuals began to feel a sense of injustice and pity for Li Lin. Outside the ancestral hall, a chorus of choked voices started to emerge. At this moment, Li Jing's face had completely turned the color of pig liver, and his heart was a tumult of mixed emotions, leaving him at a loss for words. In short, feelings of regret, self-blame, and heartache intertwined, making him wish he could publicly slap himself several times.

From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever cared for him. When he fell ill, he had to endure it all by himself. Each month, he could barely make ends meet with a meager allowance, and he was also subjected to occasional humiliation by the household servants

Reflecting on Li Lin's performance today, an inexplicable feeling suddenly arose in Li Jing's heart. However, he quickly shook his head internally, driving this thought away. How could that be possible? Even though Li Lin has some talent, he has been treated like livestock for so many years. How could he possibly achieve greatness?

Li Lin has done so much, isn't it just to wait for this sentence? In the entire Li family, perhaps the only person who can be considered upright is this third uncle. This is also the reason why he recited this seven-step poem when the third uncle passed by the small courtyard where he resides. Now, after hearing the words of the third uncle, Li Lin could no longer hold back; suddenly, his eyes turned red, and he knelt down on both knees, collapsing to the ground and weeping loudly.

The Li family is not a prestigious clan. Although the younger generation has attended private schools and received education from teachers, over the years, no remarkable literary figures have emerged. Today, upon suddenly hearing that Li Lin has composed such a fine poem, Li Jing is truly astonished and cannot help but take a fresh look at Li Lin.

Li Lin humbly bowed and replied: "In response to Uncle San, I, Lin Er, am unworthy. What I just expressed was merely a spontaneous thought, something I created casually! I did not expect it to reach Uncle San's ears, and I hope it does not cause you to laugh at me!"

Upon hearing Li Lin's tearful and blood-curdling account, the expressions of everyone in the clan changed dramatically. Even those who had never regarded Li Lin with a glance suddenly experienced a pang of conscience after listening to his heart-wrenching testimony. The Li family had indeed been exceedingly unjust to Li Lin.

As for Li Jing, the head of the family, he is indeed a master of this kind. While he may not excel at writing poetry, his appreciation for it is quite commendable. After just one listen, he immediately discerned the profound sorrow and helplessness conveyed in the poem, along with a strong sense of indignation. The meaning within the poem is naturally self-evident, and he couldn't help but regard Li Lin with newfound respect.

Li Jingshi never expected that his son, whom he had never regarded with any seriousness, had unknowingly grown up and possessed such remarkable artistic talent, which left him feeling exceptionally surprised

In the past, he believed that his treatment of a son like Li Lin was not excessive. However, after listening to Li Lin's heart-wrenching account, he realized how inadequate he was as a father

Those with a modicum of appreciation can discern from the poetry that beans and bean stalks share a common root, symbolizing the bond of brotherhood. If one has not personally experienced the profound pain of brothers turning against each other, it is unlikely that an ordinary person could compose such a poem

From this poem, he can discern a strong implication of fratricide. Li Lin's ability to express his feelings and compose this poem raises the question of whether someone is attempting to put him to death. Li Jing's heart stirred as he recalled hearing about Li Lin's sudden fall into the river at night a few days ago. If one does not think too deeply about it, it seems inconsequential, as no one had cared about Li Lin's life or death before. However, today, after discovering Li Lin's exceptional qualities, he can no longer regard him as insignificant.

If a family does not come under the stewardship of a competent head, then it is not far from decline; this is the greatest disaster for a family, devoid of any personal sentiment. From Li Cheng's performance today, Li Jing has realized that he was wrong in the past, and his error was egregious.

Just from this poem, Li Jing felt the deep sorrow and helplessness in Li Lin's heart. For so many years, as one of his sons, Li Jing had never cared for Li Lin at all; one could say he treated him as if he did not exist, allowing him to fend for himself within the clan. He was well aware that a person like this would certainly have no standing in the clan, and it was mild for him to be bullied by his brothers and clansmen. It is no wonder that today, Li Gui and others would dare to insult Li Lin so arrogantly; this is also the fault of him as a father.

Li Jing suddenly turned his gaze towards Li Cheng, only to see that Li Cheng's face was flushed with a hint of pallor. When their eyes met, a flicker of panic flashed in Li Cheng's eyes, and he dared not continue to meet Li Jing's gaze. He quickly averted his eyes, dodging and hesitating, unwilling to encounter Li Jing's gaze again. As the head of the family, Li Jing was not simple; one could say he had seen countless people and was quite adept at reading them. In an instant, he had roughly guessed the root of the matter, and a pang of pain struck his heart as he began to feel somewhat guilty towards his son.

Since he had no money to drink, how could he possibly get drunk outside and then fall into the river on his way back, nearly drowning in the cold water? There must be something strange about this matter

Over the years, he had also struggled, seeking his father's permission to attend the private school at home. Although he ultimately only obtained the qualification to audit classes, he cherished it greatly. He utilized all his time to study, and when he could not light a candle, he would run to the porch under the lantern to read.

This time, when he looked closely, he realized that Li Lin was not as unremarkable as he had imagined. From earlier until now, Li Lin stood in front of the hall with an expression of calm composure, displaying a demeanor that was neither servile nor arrogant, humble yet courteous. Although he did not deliberately reveal anything, he exuded an air of distinction that was striking. This kind of temperament he had only seen in one or two scions of prominent families when he was in Xuzhou, which left Li Jing even more astonished and led to a significant shift in his perception of Li Lin.

He hoped to gain knowledge through diligent study, to earn the respect, recognition, and acceptance of his kin. However, no matter how hard he had worked in the past, he still could not earn anyone's respect. Just because of a trivial matter, someone sought to put him to death. Such humiliation would be unbearable for anyone, yet Li Lin endured the shame and hardship, suffering for fifteen years in the environment of the Li family. The blood and tears in his heart could likely gather into a river.

Thus, he felt a sinking sensation in his heart. He had always held Li Cheng in high regard, believing him to be open-minded, capable of handling matters with a sense of measure and propriety, and treating others with humility and courtesy. However, today it became clear that he had been completely mistaken. Li Cheng's demeanor in front of him had been nothing but an illusion. Today, after being blinded by rage, the violent behavior he exhibited was certainly not indicative of a suitable head of the family. Although he cared for Li Cheng, he still had to prioritize the interests of the family above all else.

Li Jing looked at his son, whom he had never truly acknowledged, and was filled with immense surprise. Was this really the same frail, perpetually terrified son he had once known? In his memory, whenever he encountered Li Lin, he only saw a boy filled with fear, constantly in a state of distress. The more he witnessed this, the less he liked Li Lin, the more he despised him, and the more he wished to avoid seeing him. As a result, he could not form a clear impression of Li Lin in his mind. Now, suddenly discovering a quality in Li Lin that even made him feel somewhat impressed, Li Jing truly found it hard to believe his own eyes.

At that time, Cao Zhi's situation was quite similar to his current predicament, both involving fratricidal conflict and pressure from elder brothers. Therefore, he recited it effortlessly, as there was no possibility of Cao Zhi existing in this realm. Thus, Li Lin unabashedly plagiarized Cao Zhi's works.

Although you did not explicitly state it, I can sense some of your grievances from this poem. Since today I have gathered the clan members here, as a descendant of the Li family, I will give you an opportunity to voice your complaints. Speak freely about any injustices you have faced; I will take responsibility for you! I will surely ensure that you receive justice!

Such a person is actually his most beloved son, and he is capable of committing such a heinous act. Even though Li Lin did not explicitly state that this matter was perpetrated by Li Cheng, no one would doubt that this incident was indeed caused by Li Cheng.