Chapter 42: 因果
[Karma/ Cause and Effect]
Seeing Tang Xiaobao did not want to talk, Ji Ling did not ask, just turned his head to look at the Green Lotus standing on the side, with a look to indicate that she spoke, he sat there and picked up the tea and drank it very calmly.
Green lotus quietly glanced at her own young madam, and then glanced at the young master sitting there drinking tea, thought for a moment, or said out, “Today I went out with the madam, I heard a bit of gossip.”
Putting down the cup in his hand, and then looking towards Tang Xiao Bao who had not been looking at himself, but kept glancing at him with his remaining light, the corner of Ji Ling’s mouth gently hooked up an arc, and beckoned to him, “Angry?”
Tang Xiaobao, who had been quietly observing Ji Ling, saw his action and hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether he should go over or not, just heard his question and thought about it, he himself also did not know. Obviously, others are talking nonsense, he has no reason to be angry, just originally Ji Ling is his husband, but now it has become the object of gossip, inexplicably making some people upset.
Seeing Tang Xiaobao did not mean to come over, Ji Ling was not in a hurry, just sitting there, gently waving his hand. Afterwards, the people in the room are very interested in retreating out, wait until the people are gone, Ji Ling looked at Tang Xiaobao, said in a light tone: “I found something, is about your father, originally I think I can deal with it myself, and then think that you also have the right to know, after all, that is your father.”
Hearing Ji Ling’s words, Tang Xiaobao, who had been secretly observing him, immediately pricked up his ears and looked at him with wide eyes. After pursing his lips, he opened his mouth and asked, “What is it?”
Ji Ling lifted his eyelids, didn’t say anything, and just waved towards him again.
Seeing his action, Tang Xiaobao did not hesitate to sit over, next to Ji Ling. He looked at him with great curiosity, his intuition told him that this should be very explosive news.
Seeing Tang Xiaobao finally willing to obediently sit to his side, Ji Ling’s heart still had a few happy moments, just looking at him anxiously looking at his own did not say anything. Very calmly reached out and held his soft hands, because often cooking leads to a thin layer of callus between the fingers, touching very comfortably. Until Tang Xiaobao, about to hold back, began to dilly-dally want to open the mouth to ask, Ji Ling slowly opened the mouth, “Your father is likely to be killed by your stepmother.”
Hearing his words, for a moment Tang Xiaobao’s chest was beating very hard, not knowing whether it was because of this sudden news, or whether the original owner’s residual soul was still thinking about it. The hand held by Ji Ling also tightened in an instant, staring at him closely, waiting for his next words.
He had been observing Tang Xiaobao’s reaction, and when he saw him like this, Ji Ling gently squeezed his hand, and then faintly said: “Originally, I have always felt that your stepmother was a bit odd, the time of your father’s death was too coincidental, and then your stepmother took over the Tang family business so quickly. So I sent someone to investigate, and I found something suspicious. I found a man who used to work at your father’s side, and I asked him to confirm some things, your father’s death may really have something to do with your stepmother. Now this person is under my control, if you want to meet, I will bring him to meet you some other time.”
Tang Xiaobao had been in a state of shock ever since he heard the news, and was still a little nervous when he heard Ji Ling’s words. Feeling the warmth in his hand, looking at the person in front of him, he suddenly brightened up. As long as Ji Ling is there, and get the evidence of their crimes, then he will be able to help the original owner’s father to avenge. Silence for a while, still nodding, “Good.”
Seeing that Tang Xiaobao was a bit nervous, Ji Ling was a bit worried that his emotions would not be too agitated after seeing that subordinate, this strange emotion made him feel a bit strange, he never had this kind of emotion in the past, because no one could make him develop this kind of emotion. Just looking at the person in front of him, he felt that this unfamiliar emotion is not very bad, on the contrary, let him have a kind of inexplicable experience. Looking at the person in front of him, he faintly said, “It’s okay, I’m here.”
Tang Xiaobao looked at him and nodded, “Hmm.”
Soon after, the gossip about Tang Shiman in the city couldn’t be stopped, saying that this Miss Tang was dissatisfied with the status quo and tried to seduce her little brother’s husband, wanting to take his place. In order to achieve this goal, even at the expense of giving up the opportunity to marry the Li family. But rumours are rumours, and many people just listen to them and laugh about them. But occasionally someone will also mention that the Ji family’s son’s large sum of money, those who are psychologically dark people are secretly guessing whether it is because of this, so that led to the Tang family’s young miss keep thinking of Ji Gongzi.
However, in a few days, the Tang family’s original business had problems appearing one after another. Since the old master of the Tang family passed away, this business has been handed over to Mrs Tang to take care of, and surprisingly, moreover it is also very well managed. Originally, not looking favourably on the public to see a woman can also do this business management style, even if how mean it is, the heart also had to say awesome. But now the management of the business is having problems, and people who are familiar with them heard rumours and it seems because of the offence of something. It made people think of recent rumours, secretly speculating that probably there is a connection between the two.
Gradually, the rumours spread and the story became more and more outrageous. But no matter what, at this time in the centre of the rumour Tang Shiman was very bad, since she knew about the rumours about her spread, and also spread that unpleasant, she never went out of the house. She originally thought that these rumours would subside in a short time, but who knows that not only did they not become smaller, but there is a tendency to expand more and more. Now she can’t even leave the house, she is afraid that once she goes out, those people she used to know well will surround her and ask her questions, and then look at her with a sarcastic face.
Compared to Tang Shiman’s depression, Wan Jingqian is now only angry, originally her business in her hands gradually became well, who knows what happened recently, originally said to cooperate with her, the other party, one after another, break the contract, and even the shopkeeper began to sneak around, think about it, Wan Jingqian only thought of one possibility.
Directly to his daughter’s room, looking at the person sitting there with a sad face, quickly walked over, eagerly asked: “Shiman, last time I asked you to write a letter to Li Gongzi, you really wrote it?”
Hearing her mother ask this question, Tang Shiman, who was already very sad, seemed to have been poked and prodded, and cried more and more fiercely, looking at her mother and saying, “I wrote a letter according to what you said last time, but Mr Li didn’t reply to my letter.” If in the past, she sent a letter, not to mention a few days, only a few hours apart, they would come back. Who can think that Li Gongzi has become so heartless?
Look at her own daughter, Wan Jingqian now also did not say anything, just think of her own business, if the time comes and there is a problem, that she fought for so many years things and it will be all gone. So she looked at her daughter and said in a loud voice, “Shiman, if that’s the case, you can go to Li’s house and ask for Mr Li’s forgiveness personally.”
Hearing her mother’s words, Tang Shiman was somewhat incredulous, looking at her and opening her mouth, wanting to open her mouth to refute. However, before she could speak, Wan Jing Qian, who was already very agitated by the recent events, directly opened her mouth, her tone becoming more and more severe, “Shiman, I used to spoil you because you are my daughter, I know you have your own measure, so I have never restrained you. It’s just that you’re too emotional about this, and because of this, your marriage to Mr Li has fallen through, not to mention the fact that mother’s business has also been suppressed. If this goes on for a long time, what do you want us to do, drink the northwest wind in the future?” As she spoke, she wiped her eyes with tears, looking very sad.
Seeing her mother like this, Tang Shiman instantly panicked, she suddenly remembered the many years her mother had suffered for herself, and couldn’t help but cry along with her, and soon as if she thought of something, she looked at her mother, and tentatively asked: “Can’t we go to find Young Master Ji? The last time we organised a poetry party, he gave us such a valuable gift. This time our family is in trouble, can’t we ask him for help?”
Wan Jing Qian looked at her daughter, it seems a bit difficult to accept that she still thinks about Mr Ji, if not because of that Mr Ji, how did they get to the present situation. Just look at her own ‘carefully raised for so long’ daughter, finally she still swallowed her anger into the bottom of her heart. Looking at her very seriously and said: “Shiman, I tell you, do not go to find Ji Gongzi. The way he treated you last time proves that he doesn’t have that kind of meaning for you. Think about it, if he was interested in you, why would he not even give you a letter after you said that kind of thing?”
Hearing her mother’s words, Tang Shiman subconsciously wanted to refute them, but remembering Ji Ling’s reaction at that time, there was a voice in the back of her mind that told her that her mother was right, and that Ji Ling did not care about her at all. If she didn’t care about her, why would he not tell her anything after she had declared her feelings, and not give her any response at all during this period of time?
Seeing his daughter seems to be a bit obsessive, Wan Jingqian hardened his heart, looked at her and said the harsh words, “Shiman, listen to mother, go plead with Li Gongzi. If the family business can not be done, then even if you want to find another Li Gongzi like that, also not possible. Not only is it impossible, but even a small family may not be able to look at you.”
Hearing her mother’s words, Tang Shiman was a little hard to believe, but her mind was still quite clear, looking at her mother, nodding her head, indicating her understanding.
After confirming that Tang Shiman really understood her situation, Wan Jingqian breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Xiao, who has not been out for a long time, is now painting. Looking at the landscapes on the painting, Li Xiao feels a moment of peace. When he heard the knocking outside, he put down his pen and called someone in.
The servant looked at Li Xiao and said in a very careful tone, “Mr Li, the Miss Tang family is here to pay a visit, do you want to let her in?”
