Chapter 13 - 1#

That evening at the Ji residence, Ji Yang saw more members of the Ji family than ever before.#

Ji Yang had always assumed that the entire estate, aside from the so-called mainline branch’s third generation children, consisted only of the security center, servants, gardeners, and drivers. It wasn’t until he walked through the door and saw several people sitting below Ji Yansong—equally advanced in age and equally stern-faced, in addition to the third branch’s people—that he realized the grandfather’s generation’s collateral bloodline relationships were actually also included within the Ji estate’s domain. Ji Yang belatedly understood: the Ji family as he had conceived of it all came from the one-sided descriptions in the book. He had never truly known a family like this.

And everything he had touched before—whether people or companies—had only been the most superficial layers.

The scene before him had all the atmosphere of a three-court tribunal.

From the moment they walked in, Ji Zhonglin had automatically suppressed his authority, dutifully greeting the old master and everyone present one by one, before stepping behind Ji Yansong.

Ji Chengyi and Ji Yang—one standing, one sitting in the great hall—looked like two criminals being interrogated.

Or rather, the only one being interrogated was Ji Yang.

Ji Yang also noticed that an additional couple had appeared in the hall. The man looked quite stern; the woman, well-maintained, seemed as though she had just been crying.

Ji Chengyi was the first to speak. Still wearing those blood-stained clothes, he said: “Grandfather, I’m sorry for making you and all the elders worry. I was cooperating with the police to handle the follow-up matters, which is why I’ve returned so late.”

“It’s good enough that you’re safe,” said the Second Branch Madam—Ji Zhonglin’s mother. There was none of the contempt Ji Yang had previously heard in her voice when she spoke of Ji Chengyi. Instead, her face was full of worry. “You child too—something like this happening out of nowhere. When we heard, we were all startled. Your parents chartered a private jet and flew straight back.”

Ji Yang now understood. It was Ji Changshou and his first love—Ji Chengyi’s weak-willed biological mother.

The women of the Ji family gathered around Yao Zhaoling, offering comfort: “It’s fine, it’s fine—at least you’re back safely.”

“A perfectly good auction, who would have thought something like this would happen.”

“I just heard from the family doctor—thankfully he wasn’t injured. Don’t worry.”

Crash—

“You useless brat!” A teacup shattered at Ji Yang’s feet with a sharp crack.

Ji Changshou stood up, pointing at Ji Yang as he berated him: “Look at what you’ve done! I’ve been gone such a short time and you’re already causing trouble for me again. If your eldest brother and so many bodyguards hadn’t been there today, have you thought about the consequences?!”

“Uncle.” It was Ji Zhonglin.

He swept a glance over Ji Yang, recalling his own equally harsh words from before, and felt a slight headache. Two hours ago, he had received word from the police. Now, noticing the healing patches still stuck on Ji Yang’s arms, he said: “Today’s incident truly shouldn’t have anything to do with Ji Yang. He had already called the police beforehand.”

Ji Yang, who had been sitting in his wheelchair from beginning to end, glanced around and met the gaze of Ji Mingyue, who appeared both anxious and somewhat concerned.

Ji Mingyue shook her head at him—probably telling him to soften his attitude and apologize.

Ji Yang turned his head to look at the middle-aged man before him and spoke slowly: “Who are you again? Ji Chengyi’s father?”

Ji Changshou froze, then grew even angrier. “Say that again?”

“Enough!” The old master finally spoke.

Ji Yansong’s cane tapped the floor a few times, as though he had considerable complaints even toward this eldest son. “You failed to discipline him properly when he was young, couldn’t even handle your own family’s affairs, and spent your days pining over some woman as though you’d die without her. What good does losing your temper now do?!”

Ji Changshou’s face flushed a dark red from holding in his anger.

Behind him, Yao Zhaoling’s face showed visible embarrassment. She kept her head down, tightly wringing the handkerchief in her hands, refusing to look at her son—as if she knew she would only bring him shame.

This mother was Ji Chengyi’s soft spot.

In the book, it was written that during Ji Chengyi’s first few years in the Ji family, he had constantly wanted to leave the Ji family and take her with him, but Yao Zhaoling refused. He did have feelings for this mother, yet he felt trapped within the bonds of familial duty and couldn’t break free. That was precisely why he kept pushing himself to advance, wanting to carve out a place for himself within the Ji family.

Now, with Yao Zhaoling being criticized by the old master in front of so many people, Ji Chengyi, as expected, could not maintain his silence.

And indeed, unlike at the auction where he had directly claimed Ji Yang caused it, he said: “Grandfather, please don’t blame Dad. I was simply lacking in vigilance.”

He added: “However, that blue-and-white porcelain vase you mentioned before has shattered. The meeting with the building materials partner will likely have to be postponed. I have failed your trust.”

By taking responsibility on his own initiative and bringing up the progress of the Lan Hai Bay project, the old master’s expression visibly softened.

“No one can blame you for this.” Ji Yansong made his stance clear.

Both hands resting on his cane, his thumb rolling the green jade ring on it a few times, he then called out:

“A-Xu.”

“Tell them about today’s incident.”

Ji Yang noticed that when the old master said this, everyone else’s reactions were fairly normal. It was the old men sitting beside him whose expressions all changed subtly.

One of them even forced an unnatural grin and said: “This A-Xu was personally cultivated by you, old master. Back at Qianlong Bay, when several major families were locked in open and covert strife, dragging countless people down with them, it was A-Xu who had the courage to lead so many people out alive. And now he’s still this loyal—truly rare.”

Another person nearby added: “Indeed. Now the entire Ji family has to rely on A-Xu’s abilities. We’re just getting old.”

As this was said, Ji Yang felt an intangible presence appear behind him—a presence impossible to overlook.

What Qianlong Bay? It must be the supplemental backstory about Nie Xu’s past.

Ji Yang didn’t know the details of this, but for some reason he felt that this scene resembled a siege.

A siege by this behemoth that was the Ji family—targeting the man the old master called A-Xu.

“Go ahead.” The old master appeared very calm.

Nie Xu, too, looked like a shadow completely obedient to the other’s will, existing in the dark recesses of the Ji family. He reported concisely and clearly: “At noon, the Fourth Young Master came to Building Four with a work matter, asking me to serve as his assistant on a part-time basis. Two hours later, I received a phone call…”