Chapter 99: 抓包
Packet Capture [catch red-handed” 或 “catch someone in the act”]
By the time Ji Ling returned, Tang Xiaobao had already prepared dinner and was waiting for him. The two enjoyed a pleasant meal together, and the atmosphere remained cheerful throughout the evening.
Meanwhile, Ji Tao stared at his trusted aide in disbelief. “What did you say?”
The aide, seeing his young master’s anger, felt a twinge of fear but still truthfully recounted the entire incident in a low voice. “Young master, when I went to look for them, they were all gone.” After speaking, he seemed worried his young master would blame him and nervously shrank his neck.
Ji Tao’s heart jolted at the answer. His gaze sharpened as he glared at the man, snarling, “Then do you know how they vanished?”
Seeing Ji Tao’s fury, even the most obtuse would realize he was genuinely enraged. The man shrank back again before cautiously replying, ” I investigated, but I couldn’t find anything.”
Hearing this, Ji Tao’s anger flared. He kicked him hard with his foot and snarled, “Then go find them for me. If you don’t, you could not stay here.”
“Yes, sir.” The loyal servant shrank back and left.
Watching the retreating figure, Ji Tao clenched his jaw, a lingering unease still gnawing at him. Deep down, he suspected who was behind this, yet the more he thought about it, the more unwilling he was to accept it.
Just as he brooded alone, Sang Jiayi strolled in. Seeing her husband seething, she spoke softly, “My lord, what troubles you? Has someone angered you?”
Seeing it was Sang Jiayi, Ji Tao’s expression softened slightly, though he still looked deeply troubled. His tone remained stiff as he replied, “Nothing. Merely a trifling matter.”
Noticing Ji Tao’s reluctance to speak, Sang Jiayi’s eyes flickered. Yet she maintained her gentle smile and said, “Then if anything troubles you, my lord, please tell me. Let me share your worries.”
Hearing her words, Ji Tao felt a wave of comfort wash over him. He took her hand, gently stroking it as he replied softly, “My lady needn’t worry. Nothing troubles me.”
Sang Jiayi smiled but offered no reply.
From that day onward, everything seemed to return to calm, as if nothing had ever happened. Only Ji Ling, reviewing the reports brought by his subordinates, grew increasingly pleased with each passing day.
“Young Master, now that we’ve uncovered everything, what should we do with those men?” Feng Ling looked at his master, awaiting his response.
Ji Ling studied his trusted aide, pondering for a moment before replying calmly, “Keep them for a while longer. Once all matters have fully erupted, then release them.”
“Understood,” Feng Ling acknowledged, turning to leave.
Ji Ling studied the mining plans before him, musing slowly. That man should be reaching his breaking point by now. The thought brought him considerable satisfaction, a faint smile curving his lips. He was eagerly awaiting the show to begin, hoping his dear younger brother wouldn’t disappoint him.
Tang Xiaobao sensed something off about Ji Ling lately, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. It was just a vague feeling. After observing for a while and still not figuring it out, he decided to let it go. He figured he’d find out eventually anyway. With that thought, he casually went off to attend to other matters.
After today, a highly sensational rumor began circulating throughout the city. It claimed that the husband of the eldest son of the Ji family had poisoned someone in his restaurant. Not only did he refuse to admit it, but he later had his own husband kill the victim’s brother who had filed the complaint. In the end, not even the body could be found. Now, the parents of the two brothers have stormed into the Ji family mansion demanding an explanation from the young master.
This incident has not only stirred the common folk but also drawn the attention of the city’s prominent families, who watch with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
“Young Master, troublemakers have arrived at the Ji residence, demanding to see you by name,” Feng Ling whispered, standing beside his master.
Ji Ling glanced at Feng Ling, then shifted his gaze to Lei Ming seated beside him, his eyes reflecting utter helplessness. He had anticipated his younger brother stirring up trouble, but never imagined it would happen so swiftly—and with such utter disregard for the Ji family’s reputation. It bore a striking resemblance to his mother’s ways, leaving him unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Lei Ming, seated nearby, observed Ji Ling with a teasing tone: “Seems your household is quite lively. Trouble strikes again so soon.”
Ji Ling gave him a faint glance before replying calmly, “Indeed. Our family’s lack of proper guidance has made us a laughingstock.”
Lei Ming didn’t seem to mind, merely teasing him, “I’m sure many people enjoy watching this spectacle of yours.”
Ji Ling said nothing more, merely apologized to him before leaving with Feng Ling.
Watching his departing partner, Lei Ming took a sip of tea from his cup and remarked calmly, “The Ji family, once a century-old powerhouse, is rapidly losing its edge.”
But no matter how much Lei Ming grumbled behind their backs, Ji Ling couldn’t hear him now.
After leaving, Ji Ling didn’t head straight home. Instead, he instructed Feng Ling to drive the carriage to Tang Xiaobao’s shop and casually sent someone to the magistrate’s office to summon people. Sure enough, upon reaching the shop entrance, the already narrow alley was completely packed with people. The crowd seemed far larger than the last time.
As Ji Ling made his way inside under Feng Ling’s escort, he pondered that he’d have to find Tang Xiaobao another place for his private kitchen soon. Otherwise, if this kept happening, getting blocked like this next time wouldn’t be good.
Perhaps because Feng Ling’s guards looked thoroughly intimidating, Ji Ling smoothly made his way through the crowd of watchful eyes to the center. Seeing the middle-aged woman wailing incessantly and Tang Xiaobao standing there, well-protected, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to the woman, he spoke in a cold tone: “Do you realize what you’re doing?”
The tearfully wailing woman, bewildered by this sudden rebuke from the elegantly dressed young man before her, froze mid-sentence. After a moment, seemingly realizing she’d been silenced, she resumed her crying.
Facing the woman’s harsh words, Ji Ling’s expression remained utterly unchanged. Only when she began wailing about her poor, unfortunate child did he say, in a tone as flat as the sea, “If your son knew you cared so little about how he died just for money, he’d probably come looking for you tonight.”
Ji Ling spoke with remarkable composure, yet it was precisely this calmness that lent his words added weight, making them sound remarkably convincing. The man visibly startled, then looked at Ji Ling with a hint of apprehension in his eyes, as if the person before him were a vengeful spectre coming to claim his soul.
The old woman observed for a moment. The crowd that had followed her stood frozen, seemingly unable to believe the turn of events. An old man beside her, who looked rather sleazy, noticed her stupor and nudged her with his finger. Only when the old woman snapped back to reality did she remember her task and resume her wailing, appearing utterly pitiful.
Ji Ling stood beside Tang Xiaobao, coldly observing the wailing crowd. When Tang Xiaobao looked at him with concern, Ji Ling squeezed his hand reassuringly. Only after the crowd grew hoarse did Ji Ling turn to them and speak slowly: I’ve already sent word to the magistrate’s office. Officials will arrive shortly. If you have grievances, you may present them to the magistrate. But be warned—his temper is notoriously foul. Should you tell lies or falsely accuse innocent folk, your household will surely suffer.”
These men were clearly professionals at this sort of thing. Hearing Ji Ling’s warning, they shrugged it off. They even exchanged glances before crying out even louder.
Tang Xiaobao watched the scene unfold before him. For some reason, only one word echoed in his mind: absurd.
He ran his business honestly—who could he have offended to warrant such repeated harassment? Before he could piece it together, the constables arrived. They went through the motions of questioning, saw no resolution was possible, and took the troublemakers back to the magistrate’s office.
They treated Ji Ling, the complainant, with considerable courtesy. After all, this trouble hadn’t been his doing—it felt more like he was perpetually caught in the crossfire of others’ conflicts.
After exchanging pleasantries with the officers, Ji Ling instructed the sharp-witted waiter to accompany them and recount the incident. He himself led Tang Xiaobao back to the Ji residence.
Once seated in the carriage, Ji Ling noticed Tang Xiaobao’s gaze fixed on him. Turning with a gentle look, he asked, “What is it?”
“Shouldn’t we go to the magistrate’s office to clear things up?” Tang Xiaobao seemed conflicted. Last time something like this happened, they had gone to the magistrate’s office. Why not this time?
Seeing the pure innocence in Tang Xiaobao’s eyes, Ji Ling smiled softly. He gently stroked his cheek and said calmly, “It’s fine. Those men are professional troublemakers. Even if we had gone with them, they would have been released after a bit of their usual nonsense.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he continued, “Let’s head home now. There are matters there that require our attention.”
“Mm.” Hearing Ji Ling’s words, Tang Xiaobao’s heart tightened with unease. If things had gotten this chaotic just outside his small shop, he dreaded imagining the scene if they dared cause trouble at the Ji residence.
Before they even reached the gate, the air was thick with wails and mourning cries, punctuated by the jarring sounds of gongs, drums, and horns. The scene was unbearable, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers drawn to the spectacle. As they approached the inner courtyard, Tang Xiaobao saw a group of people dressed in mourning robes, scattering paper money while shouting demands for justice. At the Ji residence’s entrance, the head steward stood guard with the household servants, poised for battle as if ready to charge at the slightest provocation.
Tang Xiaobao stepped down from the carriage with Ji Ling and was startled by the scene. Yet, the steady grip of Ji Ling’s hand offered a sense of security, keeping fear at bay.
As the two approached, the leader appeared even more agitated than those who had earlier caused trouble at Tang Xiaobao’s place. He instantly lunged forward, only to be firmly blocked by Feng Ling and the others. Even so, he continued flailing wildly, attempting to inflict some harm.
Observing the scene, Ji Ling shot him a cold glance before wrapping an arm around Tang Xiaobao and striding over to the head steward. He surveyed the agitated crowd below with a faint, mocking expression, his voice dripping with contempt: “I know why you’re here. If you seek gain by framing me, framing the Ji family, I assume you’ve prepared to accept punishment.”
The man hadn’t expected Ji Ling to be so blunt. Stunned at first, he spat in Ji Ling’s direction before snarling, “You dogs! First you killed my second son, then my eldest! I’m an old man now—I’ve got nothing left to lose. If the Ji family doesn’t give me satisfaction today, I’ll make sure your household is torn apart. I’ll let the whole city know what kind of scum the mighty Ji family really is. If you’re capable of treating human life like straw, then all your accumulated wealth must be ill-gotten gains. Who knows how many people you’ve killed?”
Ji Ling watched him coldly, observing his actions with interest. Then, he slightly curved his lips and said indifferently, “Impressive eloquence. Your courage is commendable.” With that, he said no more, merely giving a subtle signal to the guards beside him.
The scene fell suddenly silent. The men across from him watched Ji Ling warily, fearing he might play some trick. But after waiting a moment, they saw no action from him. Just as the leader, filled with doubt and hesitation, was considering whether to continue the commotion, the young man Ji Ling had dismissed earlier returned, leading several guards from the mansion.
Seeing the young men bound there, the leader visibly froze before resuming his curses, seemingly struggling to conceal something.
Observing his reaction, Ji Ling spoke again, “I presume you recognize these fellows?”
“Bullshit! How would we know these people? If you’re looking for a scapegoat, find a better one. What kind of trash are you bringing out?” The leader shouted loudly, though his evasive gaze betrayed his guilt.
Ji Ling looked at him, then surveyed the expressions of those around him. He spoke slowly and deliberately: “Very well. Since you claim ignorance, I’ll escort them to the magistrate. Coincidentally, these are the very individuals who arrived with your son. They vanished after his death, and it took considerable effort to track them down. I suspect your son’s death is connected to them. The county magistrate will conduct a thorough inquiry, and the outcome will provide you with answers.”
Hearing this, the leader of the group—clearly a shrewd man—didn’t mention the young people. He kept blaming Ji Ling for his son’s death, clinging stubbornly to that point. Yet, unlike his expression, the glances of those who followed him drifted subtly toward the young people beside him. They clearly recognized them.
Those youths now had their mouths covered. Perhaps the horrors of recent days had shattered their courage. Seeing their relatives now, they couldn’t recall the commission they’d accepted. Watching their loved ones wail pitifully, they desperately hoped for rescue from their misery.
Witnessing their pitiful state, the troublemakers hesitated, growing increasingly reluctant to proceed.
Ji Ling had been observing coldly. Seeing the moment was ripe, he removed the clothes from their mouths. Instantly, a chorus of voices erupted in unison: “Father/Mother/Uncle, save me!”
Hearing these words, the group clearly couldn’t keep up the act. Even though they were professional troublemakers, the people they were holding captive were their own relatives. No matter how thick-skinned they were, they couldn’t get past this hurdle.
Noticing the surrounding noise had died down, Ji Ling slowly walked up to the young man who looked the most honest among them and said calmly, “Tell everyone, what exactly are you here to do?”
The young man, still basking in the joy of imminent rescue—for their captors had promised release if anyone came to find them—shuddered at Ji Ling’s words. Meeting his bottomless gaze, he stammered, ” We were hired by the second young master of this estate to frame the eldest young master.”
“Oh?” Ji Ling’s words were merely a question, yet somehow, they made the questioned man shudder violently.
Perhaps recalling the treatment he’d endured these past days, the man’s body shook violently before he shouted, ” “Everything I’ve said is absolutely true! If you don’t believe me, we have evidence. We know these troublemakers too—we’ve been hanging out together all this time!”
After staring at him until he finished, Ji Ling finally turned his gaze to the crowd standing by the doorway and asked sarcastically, “And what about you guys?”
Unexpectedly, he had just laid bare their entire background. The crowd standing there fell silent, unable to utter another word.
Observing this scene, Ji Ling felt quite satisfied. He then turned his head in one direction and said indifferently, “Second Brother, you’ve gone to great lengths for this performance.”
At his words, the crowd shifted their gaze toward a hidden corner. From what seemed an empty space, a figure emerged. Pale-faced, he stared at his elder brother, his voice strained as he protested, “What are you saying, Brother? I was only concerned for your safety. I stood here to see if you needed any help.”
Ji Ling regarded him as if observing a wayward child, shaking his head with evident regret. “Save those words for your uncle.” His gaze then shifted toward the inner gate, where a figure slowly emerged from a spot previously blocked by others.
At the sight of that figure, Ji Tao’s face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale. He struggled to say something more, but just then, the constables arrived.
“Master Ji, we heard there was a disturbance here. Our brothers came specifically to handle it.” The leader was quite courteous, his official robes looking rather imposing, seemingly more formidable than the county magistrate’s men.
Magistrate Ji bowed slightly to the officers, pointing at the troublemakers and stating flatly, “Those are the ones. Thank you for your trouble.”
“Not at all,” the officer replied courteously before turning to deal with the group. He casually took away most of the men Ji Ling had gathered, leaving only a few behind.
Only after ensuring the witnesses remained did Lord Ji turn to his own son, Ji Tao, his tone heavy. “Let’s go. It’s time to handle our own family’s affairs. We can’t let others enjoy the spectacle.”
Ji Tao’s legs suddenly gave way. His instincts screamed not to follow, but ultimately, he had no choice. Two men who had appeared beside him unnoticed seized his arms and dragged him inside, all the way to the ancestral hall.
Gazing at the figure kneeling there, Lord Ji sighed deeply. He then turned and offered a stick of incense to the ancestral tablets behind him. “Honored ancestors above, it is my failure in managing this household that has led to this day. Before you all, I declare that the second son of the twentieth generation of the Ji family is no longer one of us. From this day forward, he shall have no connection whatsoever with my Ji clan.”
These words sent shockwaves through the room. Even the matriarch, standing nearby, stared at her husband in astonishment. Looking at the stunned Ji Tao, she hesitated before speaking, “Isn’t this punishment a bit too harsh?”
Even the Second Master, who had been summoned and was initially quite bewildered, felt a sudden panic. He hurriedly turned to his elder brother, “Brother, what has Ji Tao done to deserve this? If he has erred, enforce the family rules—why make such a spectacle?”
The eldest master did not look at them. Instead, he turned his gaze to the person who had been staring at Ji Ling with fury ever since he announced his decision. His voice was calm as he asked, “Rebellious son, at a time like this, you should explain what exactly you have done.”
Ji Tao looked at his uncle, whom he had always revered. Perhaps anger had drowned out his fear, for he blurted out without hesitation, “I did nothing wrong. I refuse to accept this.”
Seeing him still trying to wriggle out of it at the last moment, the head patriarch finally lost his temper. ” You sent people to your elder sister-in-law’s shop to falsely accuse her of causing a death through food poisoning.”
Hearing this, the Second Master still saw no issue, dismissing it as a minor matter. He hurriedly pleaded with his elder brother, “Ji Tao was merely momentarily foolish. Elder Brother, please give him one more chance. He will surely reform himself.”
Watching his foolish younger brother, the First Master had nothing more to say. He merely stared at him coldly and declared, “He didn’t merely slander him. He went so far as to kill two people to make it seem true.”
At the eldest master’s words, Tang Xiaobao—who had been watching silently, looking utterly incredulous—instantly fixed his gaze on Ji Tao. The disbelief in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
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