Conspiracy

A light snow fell.

The earth was covered in silver, a pristine white.

After the surgery and a week of recuperating in bed, Zhou Ming's body had finally recovered significantly. His wound had scabbed over, and this morning, he had even gotten out of bed and taken two steps.

Lying in bed, watching his sister Alice, who was busy from morning till night, either cleaning the room, feeding the cattle, sheep, and chickens in the backyard, or boiling water and cooking in the kitchen, Zhou Ming felt a bit hesitant. Should he tell her or not?

"Brother, have some mutton soup. I killed the last little lamb we had this morning. In a few days, there won't be any more mutton soup."

Alice came in holding a ceramic bowl, her face streaked with tears. Naturally kind-hearted, she had killed several little lambs she usually cherished as treasures during her brother's recovery. She had even given some of the cute lambs nice names.

But for her brother's health, she had to do it herself, and each time she did, she would be sad for half a day.

Taking the ceramic bowl and drinking a couple of sips of the warm mutton soup, he looked at the somewhat thin and haggard Alice. Her appearance was still beautiful, but she no longer had the same innocence, cheerfulness, and liveliness as before.

One blow after another had made her lose her former sweet laughter.

"Alice, let me ask you, when you grow up, what kind of person do you want to marry?" Putting down the ceramic bowl, Zhou Ming asked Alice, who was sitting by the bed.

"Marry?"

Alice cupped her face in her hands and thought for a while, then shook her head and said, "I haven't thought about that. I want to stay by Brother's side forever!"

"Silly girl, how can you spend your whole life with your brother? You'll have to get married eventually. Tell me, what kind of person do you want to marry?"

Patting Alice's head, Zhou Ming asked with a bit of amusement.

Alice lowered her head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Zhou Ming and suddenly said, "I want to marry someone like Brother! Someone who will cherish me, care for me, and protect me!"

"Foolish girl, there are no two people exactly alike in this world. Even if you find someone like your brother, what use is he if he's just a farmer? He could die on the battlefield at any time, die of famine at any time, encounter all sorts of dangers at any time... Would you still be willing to be with such a man?"

"I would! As long as he can care for me and love me like you do, Brother!" Alice nodded, her gaze firm.

"Little fool..."

Zhou Ming shook his head and smiled helplessly, then still asked the question he had been contemplating for a long time: "Alice, if you were given two choices, one, to marry a farmer and live an ordinary life, and the other, to marry a Baron and become a noble Baroness, living a life of ease and plenty... If these two choices were presented to you, which would you choose?"

"Brother, how can you choose like that? Who I marry depends on whether that person is good to me. If he's not good to me, what happiness is there even if I marry a King?"

The remaining innocence in Alice's heart led to an answer that made Zhou Ming smile wryly.

This sister was truly spoiled by him. In this cruel and realistic world, had that trace of innocence in her heart not been worn away yet?

"Alice, if you marry a farmer, and this farmer is also very good to you, but with your appearance, perhaps before long, people like Baum will try every means to kill him, and then you might become a noble's mistress, or perhaps a maid who serves a noble closely. When you grow old and lose your looks, they will kick you away without hesitation, or you might end up in a place of ill repute... When you are old, you will be alone and helpless. You might end up like Old Woman Theresa in town, living by begging for alms..."

Zhou Ming, determined to teach Alice a lesson, painted a picture of despair and tragedy for her.

"Stop, stop! Brother, I don't believe it, I don't believe it, these things won't happen, you're lying to me, you're lying to me!"

Alice was so scared she burst into tears, covering Zhou Ming's mouth tightly, not wanting to hear him continue.

"My dear Alice, do you think Brother wants to tell you these things? Look at the injuries on Brother's body. Brother doesn't have the ability to protect you anymore. Without Brother's protection, a second Baum, a third Baum, will soon come to our house. Do you think we can stop them?" Zhou Ming said helplessly.

"I won't get married, I won't get married my whole life! I want to stay with Brother forever and run to a place where there are no bad people!"

Alice threw herself into Zhou Ming's arms and cried loudly.

Looking at this stubborn girl, Zhou Ming felt a throbbing pain in his head and was extremely regretful. If he had known this, he should have made her suffer more when she was younger.

"Alice, don't cry! Listen to your brother, trust your brother! In this world, only your brother won't lie to you, only your brother will be good to you, only your brother will truly consider you! As for who you will marry in the future, let your brother arrange it for you. Your brother will definitely find you a husband who is good to you and capable of protecting you... Do you trust your brother?"

Zhou Ming asked, staring into Alice's eyes.

"Mm!"

Alice nodded heavily.

The next morning.

Donny, carrying a bag of pastries, saw Zhou Ming slowly walking in his room.

"Ryan, it's amazing! You were so severely injured, and you're standing up in just a month. Everyone in the castle thought you were dead."

Donny excitedly stepped forward and supported him.

"Let them keep thinking that, Donny. You didn't tell anyone I woke up, did you? Including Madam Madeline." Zhou Ming asked with a serious expression.

After he was injured in the castle training ground, even the famous traveling physician who lived in the castle shook his head and said he couldn't possibly survive, waving his hand and giving up on treating him.

Only Donny and Alice, who didn't give up, had him carried home, and only then did he start to recover.

A miracle, it could only be called a miracle.

"No, I didn't tell anyone, including my mother."

Donny knew what Zhou Ming meant. Zhou Ming had also told him that if he "died," nothing would happen, but if he "lived," the trouble would be big.

"Donny, go close the doors and windows over there. I have something to tell you." Zhou Ming suddenly said with a mysterious look.

"What is it? So secretive?"

Donny complained, but still closed the doors and windows as instructed. The already somewhat dim room instantly became dark.

"Donny, I have an idea..."

Zhou Ming cupped his hand over Donny's ear and whispered softly into it. Soon, Donny's eyes suddenly widened, his breathing became rapid, and as he listened further, his eyes even turned red. He trembled as he grabbed Zhou Ming's sleeve, the veins on his hands bulging.

And the way he looked at Zhou Ming was like looking at a devil.

"Ryan, are you sure you want to do this? Edward is my own brother, I... I..." Donny said with a trembling voice.

"You don't need to do anything yourself, what are you afraid of? Think about it, as long as you nod, everything in Glan Territory will belong to you. Do you still need to travel thousands of miles to the Royal Capital and accept your unknown fate? Think about Edward again, how has he treated you, his own brother, all these years? He probably can't wait to drive you away, right? Think about the fat Baum again, a pig-like thing, his position in Edward's heart is more important than yours. What is there to hesitate about..."

Zhou Ming's devil-like murmurs echoed continuously in Donny's ears.

"Enough, enough! Don't say anymore, don't say anymore! I agree, I agree!"

Donny panted heavily, clenching his fists tightly, his teeth grinding audibly.

Edward, since you are unkind to me, don't blame me for being unjust to you!

"Donny, I fully support you, but I also have a small condition. If you don't agree to this condition, then pretend I didn't say those words just now, and it's best to keep them all to yourself."

Seeing Donny nod, Zhou Ming timely proposed a request.

"What is the request? Tell me quickly! Tell me quickly!" Donny was anxious. In the end, why was Ryan still playing this game?

"Marry Alice, remember, marry her as your wife, not some mistress without a proper title."

"Marry Alice?"

Donny was startled at first, then his eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded like a pecking chick, saying, "Good, good, good, I like Alice the most, I'm willing to marry her, I'm willing!"

"Marry Alice as your wife, don't get it wrong!" Zhou Ming glared at him and emphasized.

"Yes, yes, yes, marry Alice as my wife, I'm willing to marry her as my wife!"

Seeing his eager expression, Zhou Ming knew that his plan was basically perfect. Even if there were some variables in the future, for now, there would be no more mistakes.

After carefully instructing him on the precautions, Zhou Ming finally sent Donny, who was so excited he almost tripped over the threshold, out the door.

Standing at the doorway, looking at the beautiful snowy scenery in the courtyard, Zhou Ming was momentarily lost in thought.

"Brother, why did you come out? It's cold outside, hurry back inside to rest." Alice, who was sweeping the snow, saw him and came forward, saying with concern.

"Alice, what do you think of Young Master Donny? Do you like him?" Zhou Ming suddenly asked playfully.

"Brother~! Why are you suddenly asking about this? I don't like Young Master Donny at all..." As she spoke, Alice's voice became softer, and she suddenly blushed and became shy.

"Hahahaha~"

Zhou Ming laughed heartily. There's a chance, a little chance.