54 He’s your second brother (2)

"I'm sure that this invitation is not included in his plan," Jun Hua said.

Concubine Qi nodded. "I agree. Normally, he wouldn't let Kang'er out from this residence, but now that this invitation was sent, he had no choice but to comply. The problem is Kang'er's weak body. I'm afraid that something will happen once he goes out there."

"I'm fine mom," a boy came out of the house. He looked towards Jun Hua and greeted her, "Third Sister."

"Second brother," Jun Hua replied.

"You don't have to worry about anything. If Lin Hong wants to hurt me, then he will surely do it. There's nothing I can do. With my physical constitution, it will be already good enough to survive all this year."

Lin Kang coughed and Concubine Qi hurriedly held him. She started to pat his back slowly as the cough eased up. Jun Hua watched them and the glint in her eyes grew deeper.

"The poison hadn't been cured completely?"

Concubine Qi nodded. "We don't have enough money. Even for eating there's barely anything to eat. Only this past month had been better because Concubine Sie increased my allowance and the food."

Jun Hua stared at Lin Kang. Knowing Lin Hong and his pair of cold eyes, Jun Hua was sure that he must have another plan to eliminate Lin Kang during the hunting event. This boy was truly pitiful. If Jun Hua hadn't been kicked out of the residence, she was sure that her fate would be even tragic because she was originally the daughter of the official wife.

"Concubine Qi, do you want to get out from this place?" Jun Hua asked suddenly.

Concubines never did have any real power and they were treated as mere decoration that can be tossed aside as people wish. She hated that just because they came from low birth would mean they could not fight for their own happiness. She may only meet her for one time, but it's enough. She didn't have the heart to let this little boy to suffer anymore.

In the future, when she would recall how she acted today, she too would find it surprising. She's not a very kind woman. In fact, she may appear cold towards people because of her experiences in the battlefield. But home and battlefield are different and maybe it had softened her heart.

Probably, she felt some connection towards the boy who had been mistreated. She too was mistreated by a lot of people and had undergone abuses for a long time before she could reach where she stands now.

Concubine Qi raised her head, her eyes flashed with hope. "What is your plan? Can you really take me out from here?"

Jun Hua nodded. "Yes, but I need you to act and pretend."

"Don't worry, mother is good at acting," Lin Kang answered. His previously lifeless eyes started to brim with life. "I want to go out too. Staying here is boring and mother is always sad."

Concubine Qi's eyes started to water. Whatever Jun Hua said and offered to them, she was willing to listen to it carefully. No one had ever cared for her. Not even Lin Tang who tossed her a cold expression when he saw that Lin Kang had a weak body. All these years, she painstakingly endured. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, she would definitely take it.

"Don't worry, I will help you," Jun Hua smiled. That day, a plan was formed between the three of them.

…

"Mother, Lin Kang is also invited," Lin San browsed through the invitation paper sent to their family.

"Oh?" Lin Hong was the one who responded first. "That child finally got the chance to see the world. Too bad, it will also be his last."

"Do you have any plan, Lin Hong?" Chun Maora's eyes lit up. All along she had been thinking how to eliminate that boy from the Lin family, but she could not act on it because Concubine Qi was always guarding that boy. She thought that when that boy goes to school, it would be the time to execute her plans. Who would have known that the opportunity come earlier than that.

Lin Hong's lips curled up. He may not be proficient in martial arts, but he learned archery from Lin Tang because of events such as this hunting event. Even if he was not an expert at archery, he was good enough at it.

"Mother doesn't need to be worried. I will surely eliminate him so there can only be one heir in this house."

Chun Maora nodded. "Whatever you planned, mother support you."

"Go big bro! I'm sure you can do it," Lin San smiled.

"Don't worry about me. Just wait for the good news."

…

Jun Hua didn't tell her plans to anyone as time passed by quickly. One week soon passed and it was already the hunting event. Jun Hua woke up early and dressed up as Jun Min. She called Yamin and the girl appeared soundlessly.

"Stay here and don't let anyone meet with 'Jun Hua' today."

"Yes Miss."

"Xia, if anyone wants to see Jun Hua, say that she's feeling unwell. Unless it's someone truly important, you're not allowed to meet with anyone."

"Yes Miss."

"Yasha, come here."

A man suddenly appeared before them. Similar with Yamin, he was dressed in all black but his aura and stature was completely different from her. Xia and Yamin retreated to the side of the room when this man appeared.

"Yes Miss."

Jun Hua looked towards the man then tossed him a set of men's clothes. "You're going to act as my attendant during the hunt. Pay any attention to anyone who bears ill will towards Jun Min."

"Yes Miss."

Jun Hua checked everything once more. After seeing to it that everything was properly arranged, Jun Hua and Yasha disappeared into the darkness. Xia and Yamin stayed in the room watching the two of them leave.

"You might need to wear a face mask first if in case someone unexpectedly comes," Xia said.

"Right."