After returning to her study, Madam Ji Wu took a heavy breath. That Zhao woman had explained how she had met Ji Yao, and how they had been intimate. She also said that afterward, Ji Yao had given her two hundred taels of silver. She had become pregnant as a result, and unable to bear terminating the pregnancy, she had raised the child herself, finding a place to live.

Madam Song looked worriedly at Madam Ji Wu, wanting to step forward to support her.

Madam Ji Wu brushed her hand away and said softly: “Go… go call the Second Young Master for me!”

She needed to get to the bottom of this—had Ji Yao done these improper things? And he still intended to act as if nothing had happened and marry Jin Chao!

Ji Yao was called by Madam Song from Shexian Tower. Seeing Madam Song’s serious expression, he was somewhat puzzled: “Madam Song, what’s so urgent…” He thought of Gu Jin Chao and felt a bit worried, “Could it be something about Cousin Jin Chao…”

Madam Song sighed softly: “Second Young Master, how could you do something so foolish? When the Old Madam questions you, please don’t defy her. Explain everything properly; there’s nothing that can’t be resolved…”

Ji Yao frowned: “What do you mean by that, Madam Song?”

Madam Song hesitated before saying: “Second Young Master, outside… do you have a child?”

…

As soon as Ji Yao entered the study, Madam Ji Wu sternly commanded: “Kneel!”

There’s no smoke without fire. Madam Ji Wu knew that unless it were true, this Zhao woman wouldn’t have brought a child to their doorstep.

Ji Yao bit his lip, remaining silent.

Madam Ji Wu slowly walked up to him, looking at his grandson kneeling before her, sitting upright and stubbornly. She felt a chill in her heart—he had always been this obstinate. Her voice was cold as ice: “I ask you, were you friendly with Luo Tai?”

Ji Yao’s expression remained quite calm: “Yes, three years ago.”

Madam Ji Wu sneered: “At least you’re honest. Now explain clearly, did you and Luo Tai spend your days idly racing horses and fighting falcons, frequenting pleasure houses, being intimate with courtesans there, and leaving behind a child?” Madam Ji Wu suddenly understood and continued, “No wonder, I wondered how you could play double-sixes, pai gow, and dice so naturally without ever having been exposed to them…” She nodded repeatedly, saying with a smile, “You were colluding with Luo Tai behind this old woman’s back! How could you associate with someone as worthless as Luo Tai!”

When Ji Yao heard what Madam Song had said, he knew that what had happened years ago could no longer be hidden, and he didn’t intend to hide it.

He had indeed made a mistake back then, but it didn’t include a child.

No matter how confused he might have been, he wouldn’t have left a child outside.

Ji Yao said calmly: “I was fifteen at that time… When you first asked me if I wanted to marry Cousin Jin Chao, I said I didn’t want to, and your face darkened. I first learned of your wish—you wanted me to marry her. I felt very uncomfortable then. Cousin Jin Chao is your granddaughter, am I not your grandson too? I was very resentful… But I didn’t seek out Luo Tai; he came to find me.”

He smiled slightly: “I also remembered that you didn’t want us to associate with the Luo family. At that time, I desperately wanted to rebel against you, which is why I began associating with Luo Tai… But I knew in my heart, I never touched those women. Until one time, Luo Tai put something in my wine, and that’s when…”

Before he could finish, Madam Ji Wu slapped him across the face.

Ji Yao’s face was knocked to the side, and a red mark quickly appeared.

Madam Ji Wu felt a pain in her heart. She had forgotten that extremes lead to resistance; by controlling Ji Yao too tightly, even a rabbit would be driven to desperation. But what kind of reason was this… he didn’t want to marry Gu Jin Chao, so he mixed with Luo Tai.

Who exactly was he trying to take revenge on—himself? Or her, his grandmother?

Madam Ji Wu, a strong woman all her life, now had tears streaming down her face: “You’re just worthless… you, you’re about to be engaged to your cousin, and at this time, you tell me you have a child outside! If they hadn’t come to our door, were you planning to conceal it for a lifetime?”

Ji Yao closed his eyes without speaking, his lips pale.

He had done these things, and he admitted his mistake! At that time, he was only fifteen years old and didn’t know right from wrong. He had been pushed to the limit by Madam Ji Wu. Though they were all Ji family descendants, Ji Yun could study, Ji Can could do nothing at all. And what about him? Not only did he have to shoulder the entire Ji family, but why did he also have to help her bear the responsibility of Gu Jin Chao’s marriage, helping her make up for the mistakes in raising Gu Jin Chao?

He was just too resentful!

After a long while, Ji Yao finally spoke: “Grandmother, although I was intimate with that woman at the time… I never left behind any offspring. No matter how confused I was, I wouldn’t have left something for Luo Tai to hold over me. Please, believe me, this child is truly not mine…”

Madam Ji Wu laughed angrily: “That child… looks similar to you when you were young, and you still dare to say it’s not yours?”

Madam Ji Wu had Madam Song bring in the child.

The child struggled constantly, saying he wanted his mother and didn’t want Madam Song to hold him. He cried pitifully, his little face covered in tears.

Ji Yao looked at the child’s features, somewhat similar to his own, and was momentarily speechless.

Madam Ji Wu said softly: “When I first saw this child, I thought he looked like Chun’er and assumed he was left behind by Ji Yun. I never thought it would be you… How could you be so confused? You’re supposed to support the Ji family in the future, this entire family—”

Madam Ji Wu couldn’t continue at this point, pausing as if she couldn’t breathe.

After a long while, she finally sighed powerlessly: “…This is also my fault.”

She had been strong-willed all her life and had demanded the same standard from her eldest grandson. If she had been more flexible, perhaps this outcome would never have occurred…

Ji Yao took a deep breath. Then he said softly: “Grandmother, please don’t say that… This is all your grandson’s fault, how could you blame yourself…”

But Madam Ji Wu waved her hand, as if she had just exhausted all her strength, and could only say: “You may go for now…”

She had always thought that being strict with Ji Yao was for his good, but now she saw that she had been too wrong. What kind of person was her Ji Yao? She suddenly wasn’t sure anymore… She had raised Chao’er to be like that, and now Ji Yao was also…

Ji Yao stood up from the ground, glanced at Madam Ji Wu, then walked toward the study door. At the doorway, he heard Madam Ji Wu say: “…Go tell Baron Yongyang’s wife first, the engagement matter needs to be put aside for now.”

Ji Yao closed his eyes briefly, then softly acknowledged.

Madam Ji Wu told Madam Song: “Since that Zhao woman has found the Ji family, we can’t just let her leave. Have the elder daughter-in-law look after the child; say it’s a child sent from the Wu family for fostering. Bring that Zhao woman to me.”

After Madam Song heard the instructions, she went to carry them out. Madam Ji Wu remained alone in the study, covering her face as she wept softly.

Since Old Master Ji’s passing, she had never felt such heartbroken despair. Both children she loved most had been raised to lose their original nature. She was the one who wanted the best for them… What should be done about Chao’er? What kind of person was Ji Yao?

And what about that child in the future?

The child was handed over to the elder daughter-in-law. Madam Song told Madam Song of the child’s identity, and Madam Song’s face also turned pale: “This child… is truly Yao’er’s…”

Madam Song nodded: “If anyone asks, just say it’s a child sent by the Wu family for fostering. The Old Madam has instructed that this matter cannot be spread.”

The elder daughter-in-law naturally understood, but Ji Yao was her son, whom she had raised. How could he do such a filthy thing? She muttered: “This child is also improper… He’s about to marry his cousin, and yet he causes such a situation!”

She couldn’t help but recall Ji Yao’s brilliantly smiling face when he came to tell her he would marry Gu Jin Chao. She felt a chill in her heart.

Madam Song also sighed softly.

She returned to the east wing compound.

Madam Ji Wu had just received an urgent letter from Gu Jin Chao, in which Jin Chao explained the circumstances and mentioned the connection between this Zhao woman and the Luo family. After reading the letter, Madam Ji Wu placed it casually on the kang table, gazing thoughtfully at the sky through the latticed window.

When Madam Song entered and saw Madam Ji Wu deep in thought, she was somewhat puzzled: “Old Madam, what is…”

Madam Ji Wu pointed to the letter, allowing her to read it herself.

Madam Song read it word by word.

Madam Ji Wu said: “This child likely cannot be blamed on Ji Yao… He should have been cautious at the time, but he was young and didn’t understand. There are many ways to make a woman pregnant; he fell into Luo Tai’s trap…” The disadvantage came from matters of romance; Ji Yao didn’t understand these things.

Madam Song put away the letter and asked: “If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t blame the Second Young Master too much. In this servant’s opinion, why not act as if this child never existed? No one else knows about this matter, and the young miss’s marriage shouldn’t be delayed…”

Madam Ji Wu smiled bitterly: “You’re thinking too simply. This marriage probably cannot be arranged now.”

Madam Song was puzzled: “Haven’t you always hoped for the Second Young Master to marry the young miss?”

Madam Ji Wu glanced at the letter in her hand and said indifferently: “Setting aside Ji Yao for now, look at Chao’er’s letter. Is there any hint that she has feelings for Ji Yao? I feel she doesn’t want to marry him, but she can’t refuse because of my wishes and the Gu family’s wishes. I don’t want to force this child… And think about how this letter came to be. Chao’er is a secluded young lady; if Ji Yao could keep it from me, how could Chao’er possibly know about it?”

Madam Song looked at Madam Ji Wu.

Madam Ji Wu continued: “There must be someone else behind this. Luo Tai wanted to use this child to threaten us; how could he easily let go and allow Zhao to bring the child to us for an explanation? But this person accomplished it. The Wu family is far away in Jiangnan, and even if someone knew that the Wu family is my maternal family, whose calling card could be easily obtained? Zhao is merely a performer; how would she have a Wu family calling card?”

“If this person wanted to target the Ji family, why not make a big scene at our door, instead of having Zhao secretly come? And why did this person tell Chao’er about these things? Think carefully, isn’t this person protecting Chao’er at every turn?”

Madam Song thought it was indeed so but was still confused: “Then who is this person… why would they protect the young miss?”

Madam Ji Wu shook her head, “I don’t know either, but having such a person protecting Chao’er is truly extraordinary. Chao’er has become increasingly sensible and mature, with many things hidden from me. At least in her letter, she doesn’t mention who this person is at all… The waters are too deep; this old woman can’t see anymore.”

Madam Ji Wu gazed at the flickering candlelight and said indifferently: “If we conceal these things and let Chao’er marry into our family, what should she do? How should she treat that child… I have always trusted Ji Yao, but with such a matter occurring, I’m no longer certain. He originally despised Chao’er to such a degree; after marrying her, would he truly treat her well? If their personalities are incompatible, wouldn’t they just cause many more problems?”

She had been too forceful all her life, always using what she thought was the best way to treat children. She didn’t want to interfere with Ji Yao’s marriage anymore, nor did she want to force them to marry. Let’s see what Ji Yao would do; she could only do what she needed to do.

…After all, she was getting old.