Conspiracy

A light snow had fallen.

The earth was blanketed in silver, a vast expanse of white.

After the surgery, Zhou Ming had spent another week recuperating in bed. His body had finally recovered considerably, his wound had scabbed over, and this morning, he had even managed to get out of bed and take a few steps.

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

"Brother, have some mutton soup. This morning, I slaughtered the last little lamb at home. In a few days, there won't be any mutton soup left."

Alice entered carrying an earthenware bowl, tear stains still on her face. Kind by nature, she had slaughtered several little lambs she usually treasured while her brother was recovering. Some of the adorable lambs had even been given lovely names by her.

But for her brother's health, she had no choice but to do it herself. Every time, she would be heartbroken for half the day afterward.

Taking the bowl and drinking two mouthfuls of hot mutton soup, Zhou Ming looked at Alice, who had grown thin and haggard. Her face was still as beautiful as ever, yet she no longer possessed her former innocence, cheerfulness, and liveliness.

One blow after another had taken away her once-sweet laughter.

"Alice, let me ask you something. When you grow up, what kind of man do you want to marry?" Zhou Ming asked Alice, who sat beside the bed, as he set down the bowl.

"Get married?"

Alice held her cheeks and thought for a while, then shook her head. "I've never 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 man do you want to marry?"

Patting Alice on the head, Zhou Ming asked with an amused smile.

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

"Silly fool, how could there be two people exactly alike in this world? Even if you found someone like your brother, he'd only be a farmer. What use would that be? He could die on the battlefield at any time, die in a famine at any time, or 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 cares for me and loves me like you do, Brother!" Alice nodded, her gaze resolute.

"You silly girl..."

Zhou Ming shook his head and smiled helplessly, but he still asked the question he had pondered for a long time. "Alice, if you were given two choices—one, marry a farmer and live an ordinary life; the other, marry a baron and become a noble Baroness, never wanting for food or clothing for the rest of your life... If those two choices were laid before you, which would you choose?"

"Brother, how can you choose like that? Whether I marry someone depends on whether he treats me well. If he treats me badly, what happiness could there be even if I married the King?"

The remnants of Alice's innocence gave Zhou Ming an answer that left him unable to laugh or cry.

This little sister had truly been spoiled by him. In a world so cruel and realistic, that thread of innocence in her heart had not yet been worn away?

"Alice, if you marry a farmer, and that farmer treats you very well, then with your looks, people like Baum may soon find every way to kill him. Then, you might become some nobleman's mistress, or a maidservant attending him closely. Once you grow old and lose your beauty, they'll cast you aside without hesitation, or you'll fall into a life of vice... When you grow old, you'll be lonely and helpless. You might end up like Old Woman Theresa in town, surviving on begging and charity..."

Determined to teach Alice a lesson, Zhou Ming painted her a scene of despair and misery.

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

Alice was so frightened that she burst into tears and covered Zhou Ming's mouth with both hands, unwilling to hear him go on.

"My dear Alice, do you think Brother wants to tell you this? Look at Brother's injuries. Brother no longer has the ability to protect you. Without Brother's protection, a second Baum, a third Baum, will soon come to our home. Do you think we can stop them?" Zhou Ming said helplessly.

"I won't get married. I'll never get married for the rest of my life! I'll stay by Brother's side forever and run away to a place without bad people!"

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

Looking at this stubborn girl, Zhou Ming felt waves of pain in his head and deep regret in his heart. Had he known this would happen, he should have let her suffer more when she was little.

"Alice, stop crying! Listen to Brother and trust Brother! In this world, only Brother won't deceive you. Only Brother will treat you well. Only Brother will sincerely think of what's best for you! As for whom you'll marry in the future, let Brother arrange it for you. Brother will definitely find you a husband who treats you well and has the ability to protect you... Do you believe Brother?"

Zhou Ming stared into Alice's eyes as he asked.

"Mm!"

Alice nodded firmly.

The next morning.

Donny, carrying a packet of pastries, saw Zhou Ming slowly walking around the room.

"Ryan, this is incredible! You were so badly injured, yet you were back on your feet in just a month. Everyone in the castle thought you were as good as dead."

Donny hurried forward excitedly to support him.

"Let them keep thinking that, Donny. You haven't told anyone that I've woken up, have you? Including Madam Madeline." Zhou Ming asked with a serious expression.

After he had been injured at the castle's Training Ground, even the renowned Traveling Physician living in the castle had shaken his head and declared that he could not possibly survive, waving his hand and giving up treatment altogether.

Only Donny and Alice had refused to give up. After having him carried home, he gradually began to recover.

A miracle. It could only be called a miracle.

"No, I haven't told anyone, not even my mother."

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

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

"What is it? Why are you being so secretive?"

Donny complained, but he still obediently shut the doors and windows. The already dim room immediately became pitch-black.

"Donny, I have an idea..."

Zhou Ming cupped a hand beside Donny's ear and whispered softly. Before long, Donny's eyes suddenly widened, and his breathing grew rapid. By the time Zhou Ming finished, his eyes had even reddened. Trembling, he grabbed Zhou Ming's sleeve, the veins on his hand bulging visibly.

And the way he looked at Zhou Ming was as though he were looking at a demon.

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

"You don't have to do it yourself, so what are you afraid of? Think about it. As long as you nod, everything in Glan Territory will belong to you. Would you still need to travel all the way to the royal capital and accept that completely unknown fate of yours? And think about Edward. How has he treated you, his own younger brother, all these years? He probably can't wait to drive you away, can he? Then think about that fat Baum. A pig-like thing holds a higher place in Edward's heart than you do. What is there left to hesitate over..."

Zhou Ming's demon-like murmurs echoed endlessly in Donny's ears.

"Enough, enough! Stop talking, don't say any more! I agree, I agree!"

Donny panted heavily, clenching his fists so tightly that his teeth ground together.

Edward, since you have been heartless toward me, don't blame me for being ruthless toward you!

"Donny, I support you completely, but I have one small condition. If you don't agree to it, then pretend I never said any of that. It would be best if you let it rot in your stomach."

Seeing Donny nod, Zhou Ming timely made a request of his own.

"What condition? Say it! Hurry up and say it!" Donny grew anxious. Why was Ryan pulling this now, at the very end?

"Marry Alice as your wife. Remember, marry her as your wife—not make her some mistress without any proper status."

"Marry Alice?"

Donny was stunned at first, then his eyes lit up. He immediately nodded like a pecking chick. "Yes, yes, yes! I like Alice the most. I'm willing to marry her, I am!"

"I said 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 Donny look as though he could not have wished for anything more, Zhou Ming knew that his plan was essentially flawless. Even if there might be some variables in the future, for now there would be no more loopholes.

After carefully giving him a few more instructions, Zhou Ming finally saw Donny out. Donny was so excited that he nearly tripped over the threshold.

Standing at the doorway and looking at the beautiful snow-covered courtyard, Zhou Ming fell into a daze.

"Brother, why did you come outside? It's cold out here. Hurry back inside and rest." Alice, who was sweeping snow, saw him and came over with concern.

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

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

"Hahahaha!"

Zhou Ming laughed heartily. There was hope. A little hope.