Chapter 92: 流言
[Rumors]
Upon returning to the Ji residence, the servants had already prepared mugwort bathwater. Tang Xiaobao first pulled Ji Ling into the bath, then instructed the servants to take away and discard the clothes he’d worn in prison these past days. Once Ji Ling was finished, they brought in a table laden with meals prepared long ago.
Seeing the table laden with his favorite dishes and Tang Xiaobao smiling warmly at him, Ji Ling knew Tang Xiaobao had prepared everything while he bathed. He hadn’t expected so much to be made in such a short time.
“Eat more. You suffered in prison these past days.” As he spoke, Tang Xiaobao kept serving dishes onto Ji Ling’s plate, seemingly determined to watch him eat until satisfied.
Watching Tang Xiaobao continuously load his bowl, Ji Ling paused in surprise. In the end, he didn’t mention that Tang Xiaobao’s daily visits meant he hadn’t suffered much hardship in the cell at all.
Whatever Tang Xiaobao placed in Ji Ling’s bowl, Ji Ling obediently finished. This realization filled Tang Xiaobao with satisfaction. His growing delight led him to pile even more food onto Ji Ling’s plate until the latter could no longer bear it. Setting down his chopsticks, Ji Ling looked up at Tang Xiaobao and said, “That’s enough. I’m full.”
Tang Xiaobao noticed each dish had barely been touched, appearing barely eaten. He was about to urge Ji Ling to eat more when their eyes met, and he fell silent. Pouting slightly, he said with a hint of hurt, “Alright, if you can’t eat anymore, then don’t.”
Ji Ling reached out and ruffled his hair, replying softly, “Because of you, these past few days have been wonderful. So don’t worry.”
Tang Xiaobao, who had been feeling down thinking his cooking wasn’t appreciated, perked up instantly at Ji Ling’s words. His eyes brightened as he looked at him, then asked with concern, “You haven’t been resting well these days. Should you rest first?”
Ji Ling felt no fatigue at all, but seeing Tang Xiaobao’s genuine concern, something occurred to him, and he finally nodded.
Tang Xiaobao promptly pulled Ji Ling toward the bed, urging him to lie down properly.
Sitting on the bedside, Ji Ling watched Tang Xiaobao standing before him, staring intently. He took his hand, met his gaze, and said softly, “You’ve been exhausted these past few days too. Lie down with me for a while.”
Tang Xiaobao wasn’t the least bit sleepy, but as he gazed into Ji Ling’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. He nodded again. Suddenly, as if realizing something, his face flushed, and he stammered, “You’ve suffered these past days. Let’s just rest properly.”
Ji Ling didn’t quite grasp Tang Xiaobao’s meaning at first, but upon seeing his flushed cheeks, he instantly understood and decided to tease him. He pulled him close, gazing into his eyes as he said, “It seems these past days have been my fault, leaving my husband unsatisfied. Don’t worry, in a few days, I’ll make sure to satisfy you.”
Held in Ji Ling’s embrace and hearing his words, Tang Xiaobao felt profound shame. Yet unable to escape, he buried his face in Ji Ling’s chest to hide his expression, whispering, “That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh? Then what did you mean?” Ji Ling’s words brushed against Tang Xiaobao’s ear, tickling him and making him feel even more embarrassed. Still, he didn’t pull away from his embrace or respond further.
Staring at Tang Xiaobao’s flushed ears, Ji Ling stopped teasing him. He pulled him closer into his embrace, shifted into a more comfortable position, and then closed his eyes.
Having felt no drowsiness these past days, Ji Ling awoke after only a short nap. Watching the rosy-cheeked figure sleeping in his arms, the corners of his lips curved upward, his eyes softening with tenderness. But soon, something occurred to him. He carefully shifted Tang Xiaobao to the side, watching him continue to sleep soundly, clutching the quilt. Only then did he quietly dress and step out of the room.
As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Feng Ling standing guard there. Spotting his master emerge, Feng Ling opened his mouth to speak, but Ji Ling raised a hand in a shushing gesture, and Feng Ling fell silent. Only when Feng Ling followed Ji Ling to the study did he speak, prompted by a glance: “Earlier, the eldest master sent someone to request the young master’s presence. However, since the young master was resting at the time, they instructed us to wait until you had rested before going to the eldest master’s study to fetch you.”
Ji Ling’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated this development. He gave a slight nod and said, “In that case, I shall go now. It would be improper to keep my uncle waiting.”
Feng Ling nodded and went out to make preparations.
Ji Ling proceeded directly to the eldest master’s study. Along the way, he encountered several young masters and ladies who offered their concern, some genuine, some feigned. Ji Ling paid them no mind, returning their greetings with polite courtesy.
Upon entering the study, the Elder Master, who had been working, paused his writing brush. He studied his nephew before him, noting that he appeared unchanged from before. His earlier look of concern instantly relaxed. He then asked casually, “Have you suffered any mistreatment this time?”
Hearing this, Ji Ling shook his head. “Fortunately, I have friends. My husband visits daily. I haven’t suffered any hardship here.” Thinking of how the elder had immediately sent someone to check on him upon hearing the news, Ji Ling couldn’t muster any resentment. His tone remained respectful.
Seeing that his words seemed sincere, the Elder Master nodded. His thoughts then drifted to his second brother and his wife. He had witnessed everything they had done these past few days, and it was truly foolish. He had always known his second brother lacked wisdom, but never imagined he could be this foolish. Yet, no amount of words would change anything now. Looking at the handsome young man before him, he sighed helplessly, “Your mother has overstepped in this matter. I will punish her. But you are a member of the Ji family. I hope you will consider the reputation of the Ji name.”
Ji Ling’s face remained utterly expressionless, betraying no emotion. After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke: “As a member of the Ji family, I will naturally consider the family’s interests.”
Seeing Ji Ling’s level-headedness, his uncle grew even more pleased. He wanted someone capable of shouldering the Ji family’s responsibilities. If one only cared about personal desires, they could never bear the family’s burdens. Satisfied with Ji Ling’s response, his uncle looked at him and said, “I know you will be a good one. As for your parents, I will tell them to keep their distance from you. As for the others in the household, I’ll handle them.”
“Yes.” With this assurance, Ji Ling’s unjust suffering on this trip hadn’t been entirely in vain.
Meanwhile, under the First Master’s threats, the Second Lady had behaved herself for several days. She had even personally retrieved Ji Ling from the magistrate’s office. Yet, she remained deeply resentful. Fearful that her embezzlement of Ji Ling’s birth mother’s dowry might be exposed, coupled with the First Master purging her own people from the Ji household, her anxiety only grew. She had finally resolved to sue Ji Ling in court, even if it meant making a spectacle of herself. Yet her efforts had been swiftly thwarted. Still, the incident would leave its mark. She dispatched servants to spread rumors, convinced that Ji Ling would soon find it impossible to remain in the household with dignity.
Sat there confidently awaiting victory, the Second Lady never received the news she craved. Instead, her son rushed in, panic-stricken. “Mother, it’s terrible! Your slanderous messages are everywhere outside! What’s going on?”
The Second Lady froze, then stared at her son in disbelief. “What are they saying about me?”
Ji Tao looked at his mother, finding the rumors outside difficult to voice. He eventually selected the more bearable ones to relay: “They say you couldn’t tolerate your stepson. Because you misappropriated his birth mother’s dowry, you turned around and schemed to have him reported to the magistrate’s office.”
He held back the insults calling her a fallen woman who’d climbed her way onto the Second Master Ji through some mysterious wiles, or the accusations that she was so destitute she’d coveted the fortune of her husband’s late first wife.
Hearing her son’s words, the second wife’s mind exploded in an instant. The secrets she had concealed for so long were now laid bare before everyone.
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