Crybaby Transmigrated into a Little Husband Chapter 80

Chapter 80: 詭計

[The Trick]

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Ji Ling raised his eyes to look at him, unsure of his intent. He had summoned someone from his own entourage that day; surely he couldn’t possibly recognize him. With that thought, he felt no desire to engage the smiling man before him. He merely nodded, offering no words.

 

Observing Ji Ling’s series of actions, the scholar showed no sign of anger. He merely glanced at the two of them before leading his fellow students away.

 

Only after they had walked far off could faint fragments of conversation be heard drifting from the group of scholars.

 

“That one was also from the Ji family. How come he doesn’t look like someone who’d be good at business at all?”

 

“Even dragons’ offspring are all different, let alone humans. I’d rather this Ji young master not be from that Ji family. Otherwise, it’d be a shame to waste such unparalleled beauty.”

 

……

 

As the crowd grew farther away, their voices faded into indistinct murmurs. Yet Tang Xiaobao still caught the name Ji Ling in their scattered remarks. He turned to look at Ji Ling beside him, his expression filled with confusion. “Do you know that man?” He found the scholar odd, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. Instinctively, he wanted to keep his distance.

 

Ji Ling pondered for a moment before shaking his head. Aside from glimpsing his disheveled figure that day, he hadn’t seen the scholar again. After a pause, he glanced at Tang Xiaobao, who had been watching him with a thoughtful expression, and offered a faint smile. “Since it’s none of our business, shall we head back?”

 

“Mhm.” Tang Xiaobao nodded, offering no objection to Ji Ling’s suggestion.

 

Yet as the two walked toward the courtyard path, Ji Ling deliberately lagged behind slightly before whispering to Feng Ling beside him,”Go find out what happened today.”

 

“Yes, young master.”

 

Feng Ling took his leave. Ji Ling turned to find Tang Xiaobao standing there, having noticed his maneuver and looking puzzled. He hastened his pace to catch up.

 

Meanwhile, upon hearing the servant’s urgent report, the Second Lady felt a thunderous roar in her head. She rushed frantically toward the execution site, desperate to save her son. But she arrived too late. Seeing the figure being supported by servants, unconscious and unresponsive, she let out a piercing scream. She then shot an incredulous glance at the master, her voice thick with unmasked panic and reproach.

 

“What crime did my son commit that you would treat him this way?”

 

Hearing the discontent in the Second Lady’s tone, the Patriarch’s brows, already furrowed with displeasure over today’s events, knitted together even more. He turned to the woman and remarked coolly, “This is the son you raised yourself. Could you possibly be unaware of his actions?”

 

Her momentary rage had clouded her judgment, emboldening her to shout at the patriarch of the Ji family. But now, under his piercing gaze, the courage she had mustered evaporated instantly. She merely stared at the master meekly, daring not utter another word.

 

Seeing the woman finally quiet, the patriarch turned his gaze to the man slowly regaining consciousness. He remarked indifferently, “I once believed he could shoulder the burden of the Ji family. Now I realize I was mistaken.” With that, he departed alongside his steward. Though this incident had silenced the scholars, numerous troubles remained to be resolved—particularly the rumors they had spread. He knew he would have to deal with them.

 

Stunned by the patriarch’s words, the second wife stared blankly at the direction he had departed. She then turned to her son. The anger that had welled up inside her was instantly replaced by heartache. Rushing to her son’s side, she looked at him with great tenderness and asked softly, “My son, you’ve suffered so much this time.”

 

Ji Tao, who had fainted from the pain but was now regaining consciousness, heard his mother’s tearful lament. Instantly, the sound felt unbearably shrill. Yet he understood it stemmed from her worry for him. Suppressing his urge to lash out, he mustered every ounce of strength to say, “Mother, my entire body is in agony. Let’s return home first. We can discuss everything else later.” After speaking, he couldn’t help but gasp for breath. The Ji family’s discipline never broke bones, but the flesh wounds were the most excruciating. The pain felt real and relentless on his body.

 

Seeing her son like this, the Second Lady’s tears flowed even more freely. But the thought of having to take him back now forced her to hold them back. She quickly ordered the servants to carry him back quietly. Along the way, she gave them meticulous instructions.

 

Even if others in the household remained unaware of the events that unfolded along the way, the commotion was so great that within two days, news of Ji Tao’s punishment spread far and wide, both outside and within the estate.

 

The Second Lady sat by the bedside, watching Ji Tao whose face had regained a faint flush. She brought him a bowl of medicine and fed him spoonful by spoonful. After he finished, she intended to leave him to rest. Yet, the moment she stood up, as if something occurred to her, she sat back down. She watched her son, who seemed to want to speak but held back.

 

These past days, he’d been confined to the house, and the humiliation he’d suffered only made his irritation grow worse by the day. Seeing his mother’s hesitation now, he couldn’t bring himself to think about how she was only trying to help him. His tone carried a hint of weariness. “Mother, if you have something to say, just say it.”

 

The Second Lady looked at her son, her heart aching for the ordeal he’d endured lately. She didn’t take his tone to heart, merely furrowing her brow slightly as concern filled her voice. “Tao’er, the trouble you’ve caused this time is truly rather serious. I think once your injuries have healed, you should apologize to your eldest uncle and admit your mistakes.”

 

Ji Tao looked at his mother with confusion, unable to grasp why she was saying this.

 

Seeing his persistent bewilderment, the Second Lady sighed inwardly before relaying what his eldest uncle had said that day.

 

Ji Tao was genuinely surprised to hear his eldest uncle had once considered handing over the family estate to him. But as his mother continued, her face clouded with worry, he realized he’d likely botched things. Knowing his uncle’s temperament, Ji Tao didn’t believe a simple apology would mend the damage. Seeing his mother’s deep worry, Ji Tao finally grasped his mistake. He shook his head at her and said, “I will apologize. I’ve brought trouble upon the Ji family. But persuading my uncle to change his mind won’t be easy, especially since he clearly values Ji Ling more now.”

 

The Second Lady gazed at her son, suddenly feeling his fate was bitter beyond measure. Clutching his hand, her eyes brimming with tears, she asked, “Then what are we going to do?”

 

What could be done? Ji Tao himself didn’t know. Seeing his mother still weeping, irritation quickly welled up inside him. He impatiently replied, “How should I know what to do? I’ll behave myself for now. Once my uncle’s anger subsides, I’ll go and make a good impression. As for that position as head of the family… I suppose my hopes for it are probably dashed.”

 

Hearing him say this, the Second Lady grew even more heartbroken. She had pinned all her hopes on her son becoming the family head, so she could finally hold her head high and show everyone who dared whisper behind her back that she was a mistress who had climbed her way to power. She would tear their tongues out. The thought of her son failing to become head of the household—worse, being crushed under Ji Ling’s thumb with no chance of rising—sent a wave of panic through her. Then, as if struck by an idea, she suddenly lifted her head, fixed her gaze on her son, and spoke with palpable excitement: “Don’t you fancy that Miss Sang? If you can win her over, you’ll gain the First Lady’s support. That will greatly aid your path to becoming head of the household.”

 

After speaking, another thought seemed to strike her. A flash of ruthlessness crossed her eyes as she clenched her fist and whispered, “I’ll go see Da Fu Ren first. If that doesn’t work, you must find a way to make it a done deal. Then she’ll have no choice but to marry you.”

 

The first option was a clear path forward. Choosing the second, however, risked damaging his daughter’s reputation if discovered—even inviting accusations of shamelessness. Yet it was the only way to ensure Sang Jiayi’s smooth marriage to him. Ji Tao pondered briefly, his lust for Sang Jiayi ultimately prevailing. If he took advantage of Sang Jiayi, he would certainly take responsibility for her.

 

Seeing her son agree to cooperate with her plan, the Second Lady was overjoyed. She silently calculated when she could broach the subject with the First Lady. She pondered what justification would persuade her shrewd sister-in-law to consent to her scheme. After years of rivalry, she knew exactly what the First Lady desired.

 

After discussing with her son what gifts to present, she rose and departed Ji Tao’s quarters.

 

She instructed the steward to prepare gifts for the scholars who had visited that day before returning with heavy steps to her study room.

 

Having seen the world, her earlier gloom quickly dissipated. After handling several recent business matters, her thoughts turned to Ji Ling. He was the heir she favored, now appearing far more suitable than Ji Tao. After all, Ji Tao was hopelessly clueless and prone to stirring up trouble.

 

Recalling his wife’s earlier suggestion, the patriarch (Da Lao Ye) suddenly realized how long he’d been away on business. He wondered how things were back home.

After a moment’s contemplation, he summoned a servant to deliver a message.