Chapter 136 – No Male Descendant? Second Young Master Ji Is Perfect
Chapter 136 No Male Descendant? Second Young Master Ji Is Perfect
As they thought about it carefully, it was indeed true. Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s first branch was gone, including the Crown Princess, who had just married the Crown Prince into Eastern Palace; the young Third Lady Ji, who had an accident in the mansion out of the blue, and even General Ji, who could make the enemy tremble on the battlefield.
Was this really a coincidence?
No matter how they looked at it, they felt the Ji Family’s second branch obtained all the benefits in this matter.
Crown Princess died, but First Lady Ji, who was Crown Prince’s concubine, was still in Eastern Palace. She might be promoted to Crown Princess in the future. Who gained all these great benefits was no other than the Ji Family’s second branch.
If something happened to General Ji, the second branch would obtain Earl Ling’an’s title. Originally, the second branch was not necessarily going to inherit the title, but now that the first branch perished, they would definitely make it, which was another great benefit.
After all, General Ji was not very old. If he wanted, he could marry another concubine and could possibly try for another son. If this effort was futile, he could still adopt a son from within the family. However, now, the title had clearly fallen into the hands of the Ji Family’s second branch.
Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s second branch obtained all the benefits. Could it be that there really was something suspicious about Earl Ling’an’s death?
Did the Ji Family’s second branch plot to murder General Ji?
It was possible. After all, when looking at the results, the second branch had all the benefits, so it made sense that they had such a motive.
Some people even wondered if it was First Lady Ji, namely Princess Ji, who harmed the Crown Princess. When the Crown Princess was sick, it was not difficult for her to take action when she went to look after the Crown Princess. She was likely to do something to the Crown Princess’s medicine.
Once Crown Princess collapsed, it was much easier to take action against the sick General Ji. If this matter was true, there would be so many questionable points in General Ji’s death as well as the Crown Princess’s!
A few people who came to pay their respects looked at each other. They were so shocked that their faces turned pale. They did not dare to think further. They felt a chill down their spines, and their bodies trembled out of fear and anxiety.
They did not dare to relate this matter to Pei Luo’an, the Crown Prince. On one hand, Pei Luo’an had always had a deep affection for Ji Hanyue in front of others. On the other hand, it was because Pei Luo’an had no direct interest conflicts with Earl Ling’an, namely Ji Yongming. It wouldn’t make sense if he was involved.
“Concubine Xiang, what nonsense are you talking about? Uncle’s coffin has been nailed close. Before his death, he said he had always been mighty and handsome, and that he didn’t want anyone to see he had such a sickly face. After being ill for so long, he looked haggard, and he only let his own children see him for the last time. Even the other two concubines didn’t get to see him.”
Ji Yongxing was shocked by Concubine Xiang’s fierceness and hurriedly explained.
“You didn’t let anyone from the first branch see him? Is the second branch hiding something? If you don’t let me see him today, I’ll go to the court and sue the second branch of the Ji Family. I’ll sue you for seizing the family property and murdering General Ji! Even if I have to risk my life, I will not hesitate to do so,” Concubine Xiang glowered, looking despair and indignant. “If it turns out that I am wrong in the end, I will bump myself to death in front of the altar to make General Ji rest in peace.”
As a matter of fact, Concubine Xiang had a will to die a long time ago. When the wife of Earl Ling’an died, everyone in the mansion blamed Concubine Xiang for it. At the time, it was because of the Second Lady’s comforting words that she calmed down, and that she was willingly exiled to the temple hall as punishment. After that, Second Lady wanted to persuade her to leave the temple hall, but she refused. It was for the sake of the peace of the mansion and the reputation of the two young ladies of the first branch that Concubine Xiang remained in the temple hall.
When all the ladies in the first branch were married, she didn’t need to uphold anyone else’s reputation anymore, so at that time, she didn’t mind if she was to remain in the temple hall or to die.
Qu Moying frowned and gently bit her lips. She could hear the determination in Concubine Xiang’s tone. This was not her intention. She subconsciously glanced around and met a pair of eyes that were secretly looking at her.
There was actually someone looking at her at the moment when almost all of the attention in the mourning hall was on Concubine Xiang.
Her watery eyes met with Ji Yuanhai’s eyes. The child whose eyes were red and swollen from crying looked extremely pitiful. But right now, he knelt on his knees and propped himself upright. His gaze fell on her without blinking. He looked at her with suspicion and some darkness.
He was so small and young. Inside the white mourning hall, he looked very pitiful. However, of all those present, only he seemed to be mourning for the dead. Unlike Ji Yongxing, Ji Yuanhai wore clothes that were entirely plain and white, including his inner lining. On the contrary, Ji Yongxing only wore a white mourning dress outside, but one could vaguely see the faint color of the colorful silk clothes inside.
This child was sincere to her father.
This child was smart.
This child was not bad…
Several thoughts suddenly swarmed into Qu Moying’s mind. The previously somewhat helpless ideas suddenly had a new direction. She could not let anything happen to Concubine Xiang. She had other ideas before, but now there was a better way.
Qu Moying slowly walked to Ji Yuanhai. Then, she squatted down and looked straight at him, and he met her eyes directly. It was rare for a little child to be so calm.
“Are you the Ji Family’s Second Young Master?” Qu Moying asked softly.
Ji Yuanhai nodded. He thought for a moment and asked, “Fourth Lady Qu, are you Eldest Uncle’s relative?”
Among the ladies who came in just now, only this lady cried in earnest, and she was in such deep sorrow that she even bit open her lips.
“He is the husband of my aunt, and I am your second cousin,” Qu Moying nodded and explained.
Ji Yuanhai suddenly stretched out his hand. Qu Moying subconsciously wanted to move her hand away, but in the end, she froze. When the two’s hands touched, Qu Moying clearly felt that he had given her something, as his sleeve slid down and covered their hands.
Their hands separated instantly. Ji Yuanhai lowered his head again and no longer paid attention to the noise in the mourning hall. He was still a child, and he was a concubine-born son of the second branch. He had no say here, and no one would pay attention to him.
Even though people did spot Qu Moying going to the boy, they assumed that she was just comforting a sad child. After all, she also cried very sadly just now, and she could feel the boy’s pain. Now, everyone’s attention was on Concubine Xiang and Ji Yuanxing.
One was aggressive, but the other did not want to back down.
The main concern was whether or not Earl Ling’an’s coffin should be opened.
The two of them were in a deadlock when suddenly, another large group of people came in. Among them were Old Lady Ji and Xiao, the Second Madam.
As soon as they entered and saw that Concubine Xiang was indeed at the mourning hall, Xiao squinted coldly, and her heart skipped a beat. She first helped Old Lady Ji to sit down on the side and then glared at Concubine Xiang. “Concubine Xiang, why are you here? Didn’t you say you were guarding the temple hall? What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? I’m part of the first branch. Now that there’s no one left in the first branch, who am I guarding the temple and praying for? Second Madam, please open the coffin so that I can see General Ji one last time. With that, I’ll be at ease even if I die now.” Concubine Xiang raised her pale face and insisted.
She already had the desire to die, so she did not retreat at all when facing Xiao.
Qu Moying stood up. She pursed her lips, looked at Ji Yuanhai who was kneeling on the side, then slowly walked over and bowed deeply to Concubine Xiang. “Madame, are you Earl Ling’an’s concubine? The only person left in Uncle’s first branch?”
These words were worded like a confirmation of identity, but they made people inexplicably feel that there was something suspicious about Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s second branch.
Xiao glared fiercely at Qu Moying, a trace of disgust flashing through her eyes.
“Yes, I am indeed General Ji’s concubine. I was listed in the family tree when Madam was alive.” Concubine Xiang sounded more polite when she talked to Qu Moying.
Concubine Xiang was already determined to die, so she would not back down when confronting Xiao and Ji Yuanxing. Her stern and harsh tone also expressed that she was on the opposite side with them.
“Concubine Xiang, since you are Uncle’s concubine, you should not cause trouble at this time. Uncle is gone. Cousin Hanyue is gone. And now even Cousin Yanyue is gone for no apparent reason… Why not investigate her incident? What if there is something strange about her death? Don’t you want to seek justice for her?”
Qu Moying asked gently.
The three of them were all dead. They couldn’t investigate Ji Hanyue’s death at this moment. They could start with Earl Ling’an’s death, but to be frank, it was easier to start from Ji Yanyue. Since the Ji Family had hinted that Ji Yanyue had eloped with someone, they could investigate this matter thoroughly.
Due to the rumors, the Ji Family would not build a grave for Ji Yanyue to bury her. The pitiful Yanyue was so young. She might even have been chopped up and thrown onto the mass grave. A cold and bloodthirsty light flashed in Qu Moying’s eyes. One day, she would let these people all pay for what they had done. Not only her younger sister’s reputation, but also her life and her father’s life…
Now, she wanted to keep Concubine Xiang alive. She could not allow Concubine Xiang to really clash head-on with Old Lady Ji and Xiao.
“I want to, but… but I can’t even see General Ji one last time. How can I bring up Third Lady’s matter?” Thinking of the adorable Third Lady who always pestered her, Concubine Xiang started to cry, and her tears fell down from her bloodshot eyes.
Third Lady had always been a gentle child. She was not as decisive and graceful as Second Lady, but she was very likable and was close to Concubine Xiang. Even if Third Lady couldn’t enter the temple hall, she would send the maids to bring Concubine Xiang something. At the thought of this, Concubine Xiang felt a sharp pain in her heart. She was sure that Third Lady would never elope with someone.
Absolutely impossible!
Third Lady was still a child. How could they be so ruthless that they didn’t even spare a child?
“Concubine Xiang, you are Uncle’s concubine. You are now the only person in the Ji Family’s first branch who can take charge of the mansion. At this time, you should not drown yourself in sorrow. Instead, you should cheer up. It’s not like there is no one left in the first branch. Aren’t you still here? If something happens to you, who will investigate Cousin Yanyue’s case?” Qu Moying advised softly.
Concubine Xiang fell silent. Tears rolled down her face, and she sobbed.
Qu Moying let out a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid that Concubine Xiang would be stubborn. Right now, if Concubine Xiang and Old Lady Ji were to forcefully confront each other, Old Lady Ji, unlike Ji Yuanxing, could easily deal with Concubine Xiang. In the end, Concubine Xiang might die in the mourning hall.
Right now, the most important thing was to seize the last bit of authority for the first branch!
“Concubine Xiang, Uncle does not have any male descendant. I think that Second Young Master Ji is perfect,” Qu Moying whispered softly into Concubine Xiang’s ears as she approached the latter.
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