Chapter 104: 留信
[Leaving a Note /Letter]
Seeing Tang Xiaobao so resolute, the ladies couldn’t press the matter further. After watching for a while and finding nothing here that required their intervention, they each went off to chat with familiar acquaintances.
After observing for a moment and realizing no one was paying attention to him, Tang Xiaobao quietly slipped away with Lühe, leaving the gathering and making his way over to where the Old Master and the others were. Upon entering, he found the room packed to capacity. Doctors kept arriving at the door, briefly examining Grand Elder Ji’s symptoms before retreating to confer in a corner.
The moment Tang Xiaobao stepped inside, he sensed the grave atmosphere. His eyes immediately fell upon Grand Lady Ji, seated vigilantly by her husband’s bedside, her expression tinged with sorrow. What struck Tang Xiaobao as deeply unsettling, however, was the faint hint of relief he thought he saw in her eyes. He tore his gaze away immediately, turning instead to search for Ji Ling. Sure enough, within moments, he spotted him standing among the doctors, seemingly engaged in discussion.
Seeing they were discussing urgent matters, Tang Xiaobao hesitated and ultimately did not approach, choosing instead to stand quietly nearby. Everyone in the room was busy with their own tasks. Upon noticing Tang Xiaobao, they briefly paused to offer a respectful nod before hurrying back to their duties.
Once the physicians had settled on the optimal treatment plan, Ji Ling glanced up and spotted Tang Xiaobao sitting quietly. He signaled to Feng Ling beside him, instructing him to assist the physicians with the follow-up tasks. Then, he walked over to Tang Xiaobao.
Sitting there, Tang Xiaobao felt unsure of what he could do. His thoughts drifted, and he found himself wondering. Ji Ling had been saved by him before. Could he save the Grand Elder this time? But if he did, it would be difficult to explain. Moreover, since saving Ji Ling last time, that orb had never recovered. He didn’t know if saving the Grand Elder now would cause this divine ability to vanish. If that happened, what if his loved ones faced trouble in the future? He would be powerless to help.
Tang Xiaobao wasn’t a selfish person, but this power was too unique and singular. If it vanished, it would be gone forever. Moreover, it represented a life—how many people ever got such an opportunity? Lost in these endless thoughts, Tang Xiaobao felt deeply conflicted. Part of him believed he should save the man, while another part feared his own helplessness if something went wrong afterward.
Unaware of Tang Xiaobao’s inner turmoil, Ji Ling approached. Seeing the deep conflict etched on his face and his repeated glances toward the Old Master, he guessed what he intended to do. He placed a hand on his head. When he looked up at him, he bent down and murmured, “It’ll be fine. I’ll find a way to cure my uncle.”
Tang Xiaobao lifted his gaze to the man before him, staring at his face that was almost too handsome. Ultimately, he felt a wave of reassurance wash over him. He nodded firmly. It was okay. Let him be selfish for now. If it truly came to needing him to step up, he would be willing. But for the moment, he would choose to trust his husband.
Watching his husband, who was always so easy to placate, Ji Ling’s lips curved into a faint smile. He then gently lifted him up and led him to the bedside of the Honorable Master Ji. Seeing the First Lady quietly keeping vigil there, he whispered soothingly, “Mother, please don’t worry. We’ve already sent for the finest physician in this region. He should arrive shortly. If that proves insufficient, we shall summon every renowned healer under heaven. With the Ji family’s wealth, we can certainly secure their services.”
Hearing Ji Ling’s words, the First Lady turned to look at him. Her gaze shifted from his perpetually cold face to the hands he and Tang Xiaobao held clasped together. She gave a faint nod, then turned back to stare silently at the sleeping face of the Old Master Ji, lost in thought.
Seeing the matriarch’s reaction, neither woman showed the slightest displeasure. After all, her husband lay there in critical condition. Had they been in her place, they likely wouldn’t have fared much better. Any other display from the matriarch would have seemed far more peculiar.
What no one could have anticipated was that what they initially believed to be a temporary slumber caused by overwork turned out to be an unexplained coma. None of the physicians summoned could diagnose the cause of his persistent unconsciousness. They could only administer mild medications, hoping he might awaken on his own, or seek out even more skilled doctors for diagnosis and treatment.
The sudden illness of Lord Ji caught many off guard. Matters requiring his attention were left unattended, plunging the household into chaos. After learning the details, Ji Ling fell silent for a moment before shouldering the responsibility.
The banquet had already made everyone aware of Ji Ling’s standing, and after this incident, his swift assumption of all responsibilities drew no questions or objections. Once Ji Ling efficiently sorted out all the affairs, everyone was even more convinced by his capable takeover.
While taking over the Ji family’s business affairs, Ji Ling actively sought physicians to treat the ailing Patriarch Ji. Yet, for reasons unknown, the illness not only failed to improve but worsened markedly, causing the Patriarch to visibly waste away. During this period, both the Patriarch’s wife and his concubines wept inconsolably, making visits unbearably distressing.
Faced with this situation, Ji Ling could only manage the business affairs left behind since the patriarch’s coma while urgently drafting invitations to summon renowned physicians of great reputation. Yet no matter what was done, the patriarch’s body visibly deteriorated, appearing to be nearing its end.
Just as everyone believed the old master would soon pass away, leaving Ji Ling to inherit the Ji household, the head steward produced a letter purportedly written in the old master’s own hand. He read it aloud before the assembled crowd.
Upon learning of this unexpected existence, Ji Ling showed no trace of surprise. He did not even object when the steward insisted on reading it aloud before everyone, and instead helped gather all present.
Seeing Ji Ling so accommodating, the steward felt uneasy. When he looked up at Ji Ling, he couldn’t decipher the emotions flickering in those eyes. When Ji Ling’s cold, clear gaze fell upon him, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine. But remembering the First Lady’s promise, he clenched the object in his hand tighter. His tense face remained expressionless, save for a few beads of sweat that had slipped down his temples.
Ji Ling observed the man before him, a faint smile curving his lips as if lost in thought. Then, turning to the assembled crowd below, he spoke softly, “Since all members of the Ji family are present, I request the head steward to read the final instructions left by our late eldest uncle.”
The head steward swallowed hard, then looked down at the Ji family members, young and old, and the few elders Ji Ling had invited. For some reason, he suddenly felt extremely nervous, his grip on the object in his hand almost slipping. Finally, his gaze fell upon Lady Ji, standing pale-faced yet resolute amidst the crowd. His courage returned. He moistened his parched lips, his hand trembling slightly as he drew forth the letter. With words he had rehearsed countless times, he declared: “This was given to me by the master earlier. He instructed that should any mishap befall him before formally establishing the next head of the Ji family, I was to present this letter and read it aloud.”
Perhaps due to nerves, his voice still trembled slightly. Only when he unfurled the paper and prepared to begin the rehearsed recitation did he steady himself. Unfolding the letter, he read its contents word for word.
“The position of head of the Ji family has always been held by the most capable individual. Should I meet with misfortune before selecting the next successor, the head of the Ji family shall be chosen from among the eligible young men of the main branch, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate sons. The most capable shall assume the role, overseen by the clan elders and my wife.”
This declaration immediately stirred unease among the assembled crowd, particularly those who had taken Ji Ling’s succession as a foregone conclusion. Hearing these words, regardless of their veracity, a palpable restlessness began to stir within them.
