Heaven-Collapsing Start [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

A crescent moon hung in the sky, spilling cold moonlight that seemed to coat the courtyard in a layer of silver frost, clear and bright as snow.

Ji Liang raised his head slightly, feeling the summer night breeze brush against his cheeks, cool and comfortable. His light voice drifted away into the night wind along with it.

“Since Father has spoken these words, you must already have a candidate in mind.”

Such a calm and composed attitude appeared both expected and unexpected in the eyes of Ji Yugeng.

He said, “I have already inquired. The Second Elder’s daughter is sixteen years of age, gentle and virtuous; she is a perfect match for you.”

After speaking, Ji Yugeng quietly waited for Ji Liang’s response. In his heart, he had likely already assumed Ji Liang would not refuse; after all, it was the “command of parents and the words of a matchmaker.”

Moreover, setting aside Ji Liang’s status as the Family Head, marrying the Second Elder’s legitimate daughter would be considered marrying up. But now, Ji Liang’s status was just right; it was a match of equal social standing. If they were affectionate after marriage, they would surely be a pair envied by all.

However, a silent atmosphere flowed wordlessly through the air. Ji Yugeng waited for a long time, but seeing no reaction from Ji Liang, his brow furrowed slightly.

“What is it? Do you not like the Second Elder’s daughter? You likely haven’t met; it is true you should interact first. But I have already looked into it for you. Though that young lady is not ‘country-toppling’ in beauty, she is fair enough to ‘sink fish and drop geese.’ Her personality is mild and soft. If you live in harmony and successfully bear a son, it will also consolidate your position.”

Perhaps standing from Ji Liang’s perspective, Ji Yugeng analyzed the situation slowly.

This time, Ji Liang finally made a move. He curled his lips mockingly and said, “What if I am unwilling?”

Ji Yugeng froze for a moment. “Why would you be unwilling? You have reached the age to marry. As your father, it is my duty to arrange your marriage.”

“Father?” Ji Liang murmured these two words, and the mockery at the corner of his mouth turned into a derisive smile. He laughed aloud, as if he had heard a massive joke.

Ji Yugeng’s expression was stunned, not understanding what was so funny.

Then, Ji Liang’s laughter stopped abruptly, and he said coldly: “You have never cared for your own son since he was a child. What right do you have to interfere in his future? It is truly thick-skinned and shameless.”

Before Ji Yugeng could recover from the impact of those merciless words, Ji Liang faced his direction and spoke indifferently:

“Let me guess. You haven’t contacted your son for over ten years, yet you suddenly asked him to return. Aside from the matter of Mother’s death anniversary, I’m afraid this is your true purpose.”

“So, is this truly Father’s own idea, or has someone been whispering in Father’s ear?”

Ji Yugeng was completely dumbfounded. When he reacted, he couldn’t help but become angry.

“What kind of talk is this? Could it be that your father asking you to marry is somehow harming you?!”

Ji Liang curled his lips in a sneer, thinking to himself: that might not be necessarily untrue.

But for now, he would not give this so-called father any face. Perhaps he truly was looking out for the original owner now, but so what? It was merely a pathetic, late sentiment.

“Father should think carefully first about how you came to have this thought.”

At this point, Ji Liang was basically certain that getting him to marry was nothing but a conspiracy. So that was what the Elders’ little tricks were: using his father’s hand to accomplish this task.

On the surface, marrying the Second Elder’s legitimate daughter indeed consolidated his position as Family Head; it looked like a simple political marriage. But conversely, by using the daughter married to him, were they not also restraining him?

Caught in the middle, the Second Elder’s daughter might not know of this, being married off to a stranger as a mere pawn which was also a tragedy in itself.

Hearing Ji Liang say this, Ji Yugeng froze again. After a long while, his lips moved, but no words came out. He naturally understood Ji Liang’s underlying meaning. Could it be… was he truly being used by someone?

In a daze, he seemed to recall that a few days ago, several acquaintances had indeed been discussing marriage in his ear. That was why he had thought of his son far away in the main house…

Ji Yugeng did not know what the original owner had experienced in the main house all these years, nor what was hidden beneath the surface of his seemingly infinite glory. He knew none of this, yet he had the gall to interfere in the original owner’s affairs.

Ji Liang stood under the cold moon. In his powerful perception, the middle-aged man across from him seemed speechless, wanting to say something but not knowing what, before hurriedly leaving the courtyard.

Ji Liang’s lips twitched slightly, revealing a trace of a mocking arc.

…

The next day.

The attendants packed the luggage, and the carriage sat quietly outside the Ji estate. The warriors stood on both sides of the carriage; everything was ready.

The surrounding area was a sea of people disciples of the Ji family who had run out to watch. They hadn’t known when Ji Liang arrived and missed that scene, but now they were unwilling to miss this one.

“Is the Lord leaving so soon?”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever see the Lord again.”

“But the Lord is Master’s child; surely he will return soon, right?”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent. They all realized that even if that Lord was the Master’s son, had he not been… for the past ten-plus years… The disciple who realized this point immediately burst into tears.

Ji Kun pushed through the crowd with effort, followed by the somewhat introverted Ji Chen. Using their small statues, they quickly squeezed to the front of the crowd.

Two pairs of round eyes looked around, suddenly spotting the white-clad figure walking slowly forward. Their eyes lit up, and they waved their short little arms, running to the front of Ji Liang.

Then they looked up, eyes wide with expectation: “Is the Lord returning to the main house?”

Ji Liang paused slightly, letting the attendant carrying the luggage go ahead, and then responded to the two children: “Yes.”

“Then can the Lord not stay for a few more days?”

“No.”

“Why? Is this not the Lord’s home?”

Ah, the innocent and unrestrained words of a child.

Ji Liang smiled and suddenly turned his head. On the stone steps not far away, Ji Yugeng was silently watching. His expression seemed somewhat haggard, as if he hadn’t slept all night.

Ji Liang turned back, raised his hand to gently pat the shoulders of the two children, and passed them without saying a word, walking toward the gate.

However, as he walked out the gate, the tender and clear voices of the children suddenly came from behind, shouting at his retreating back:

“Lord! We’ve finished thinking about that question from the day before yesterday! The reason we want to become powerful like the Lord is because we want to protect everyone, protect the Master, protect our senior brothers and sisters, and then drive away all the bad yokai!”

Do you hear that? Two tiny children are much better than you, who took your impotent rage out on an innocent infant.

Ji Liang did not stop his pace, nor did he turn back to look at the gaze behind him that was more fervent than the other disciples’. He arrived at the carriage, stepped onto the stool, and entered the cabin.

The curtain fell, obscuring all sight.

“Set off! Depart!”

The leading warrior nodded to Ji Yugeng, and with a command, the entire team began to move slowly. The wheels rolled over the road, leaving two clear tracks.

The carriage gradually receded, turning into a black dot at the end of the road before disappearing completely.

The surrounding disciples dispersed in pairs with looks of regret. The crowd that had gathered at the gate soon thinned until only a few remained.

Ji Yugeng’s expression was stunned, his eyes gazing blankly at the end of the road. It wasn’t until his sleeve was tugged several times that he came back to his senses. Looking sideways, it was that boy Ji Kun who had dared to pull him, while Ji Chen beside him also had a look as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Ji Yugeng paused and said, “What is it?”

As soon as he spoke, he realized his throat was so hoarse he could barely make a sound.

The two children’s eyes were bright, and they spoke bluntly: “Master, when will the Lord return again?”

Ji Yugeng froze, his vision blurring again. He couldn’t help but recall Ji Liang’s mocking and cold expression from last night.

“Return… he will likely… never return again…”

Speaking this sentence seemed to drain all his strength. Ji Yugeng’s lips curled into a forced arc. He waved his hand at the two confused children and walked away slowly.

So, he had been resenting himself all along… He truly deserved that resentment!

The old servant stopped the two children who seemed to want to follow and ask more. He shook his head at them, but let out a long sigh in his heart.

Over these years, the old servant had also seen everything. When the Young Master was small, he had tried to soften things, bringing the tiny Young Master before the Master, but… sigh.

This knot in the heart would likely be very difficult to untie.

On the other side, Ji Yugeng walked through the estate in a daze, unconsciously arriving at the courtyard where he lived. In a room next to the master bedroom, there was only one altar table with a single, lonely spirit tablet on it.

[Spirit Tablet of Beloved Wife Wen Qiuniang]

Ji Yugeng reached out and took the tablet down from the altar. His fingers slowly brushed over the cold surface, yet his movements were incomparably gentle, as if he were stroking the quiet and beautiful face of Qiuniang in his memory.

After a long while, he held the spirit tablet tightly to his chest, head bowed and eyes tightly shut, his expression pained.

“Qiuniang… tell me… was I wrong…”

That face, which had always remained stern, finally cracked at a fragile corner, revealing a profound and heavy sorrow.

He poured out his feelings helplessly, seeking an answer. However, the spirit tablet in his arms remained cold as ice, giving him no response.