As usual, after watching Rong Yu's live performance, Old Master Ji planned to take Duoduo to the top floor of Ji's Entertainment to lounge on the sofa and watch the second half of the show.
Just as he stepped out of the audience seats, Ji Zhiyuan approached him. "I need to take you somewhere," he said.
Old Master Ji frowned. "But I still have to watch the show."
"Great-grandmother is waiting for you in the car," Ji Zhiyuan replied. "It's about the fourth young master. You should brace yourself."
Old Master Ji's expression immediately tightened. "Did that boy cause major trouble?"
Ji Zhiyuan didn’t answer.
He led Old Master Ji and Duoduo into the car.
Rong Yu, still in her stage makeup, was removing her foundation with a small mirror. She wiped the powder from her face and said, "Yingbao, we're going to the hospital now to see the fourth child."
Old Master Ji's heart leaped into his throat. "What happened to him?"
"The fourth child…" Rong Yu took his hand, carefully choosing her words before realizing there was no gentle way to phrase it. She stated plainly, "Actually, the real fourth child of the Ji family isn’t Ji Liuguang—it’s Jingchuan."
Old Master Ji looked utterly bewildered. "Mother, I understand every word you're saying, but when you put them together, I can’t make sense of it."
Rong Yu picked up a kinship report from the car seat and handed it to him. "Take a look at this first."
"A kinship report between Ji Zhiyuan and He Jingchuan…" Old Master Ji’s brows furrowed deeper as he read. When he reached the final result, his wrinkled face contorted, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. "Mother, is—is this real? Am I seeing things?"
"It’s real," Rong Yu said softly, squeezing his shaking hand. "He Jingchuan is our Ji family’s child. Zhiyuan has already handled all the legal procedures. From now on, his name is Ji Jingchuan."
Old Master Ji rolled down the window, letting the cold air clear his muddled thoughts. Gulping down the chilly breeze, he rasped, "So… our true bloodline has been lost outside for twenty years?"
Rong Yu patted his back gently. "Don’t dwell on the past. Look forward."
The car drove smoothly, soon arriving at the hospital.
When Old Master Ji stepped out, his legs nearly gave way beneath him. He was desperate to see his real grandson.
The mere thought of his flesh and blood nearly being driven to death made him feel as though his heart had been pierced by a thousand arrows…
The four of them had just exited the car when two figures suddenly rushed out from the bushes near the hospital entrance, throwing themselves in front of the vehicle.
Ji Liuguang’s tears streamed down his face. "Old Master, all these years, I’ve treated you like my own grandfather. I truly didn’t know I wasn’t a Ji by blood…"
"Old Master, Old Master… the fault is all mine!" Nanny Zhang, her face haggard and voice hoarse, grabbed Old Master Ji’s hand. "I was blinded by greed and swapped the children, but the fourth young master knew nothing! He’s innocent!"
She knew Old Master Ji was the softest-hearted in the Ji family. That’s why she had brought her son here to ambush him.
If she confessed and Ji Liuguang played pitiful, surely Old Master Ji would relent… After twenty years of raising him, even without blood ties, there was affection. How could he just cast them out?
A vein pulsed at Old Master Ji’s temple. "My real grandson was nearly killed by your hands multiple times, while your son lived in luxury under my roof. And you dare show your faces before me?"
Nanny Zhang dropped to her knees, pleading. "I admit I mistreated Jingchuan, but at least I raised him! The fourth young master is blameless. Please, for the sake of twenty years of kinship, let him stay with the Ji family…"
"Kinship?" Old Master Ji let out a bitter laugh. "While your son indulged in extravagance, my own grandson had to cook and wash his own clothes at three or four years old. By ten, he was scavenging trash to earn money. When he got into university, his admission letter was torn up, forcing him to stay in the village and farm… Is this what you call raising him?"
Just speaking of it made his heart ache unbearably.
Why hadn’t he noticed something was wrong sooner?
Why had he wasted his worries on an outsider while his own flesh and blood suffered?
Why had he been so blind? If not for his mother’s return, his grandson might still be enduring torment…
At this thought, Old Master Ji’s eyes burned red.
Rong Yu pulled him behind her.
She crouched down, speaking calmly. "Tell me the details of how you swapped the children. If you lie even once, then keeping Ji Liuguang in the Ji family is off the table."
Nanny Zhang had already realized Rong Yu’s authority in the Ji household.
She hurriedly explained, "Back then, I was pregnant at the same time as the madam. She had a dozen servants attending to her, while I had to toil like an ox in the Ji household. That’s why I… I developed wicked thoughts. I know I was wrong—"
"Skip the excuses," Rong Yu cut in coldly. "A woman about to give birth couldn’t have pulled this off alone. Someone helped you. Who was it?"
Nanny Zhang stared at her blankly. "If I tell you… will the Ji family let the fourth young master stay?"
Rong Yu smiled faintly. "Speak first."
"It… it was a maid serving the madam," Nanny Zhang muttered, lowering her head. "Her name was Zhang Mo—same surname as me, so we were close. She bribed the midwife for me…"
Old Master Ji felt blood rise in his throat.
Many of the Ji family’s servants were descendants of long-time retainers, trusted and well-paid.
Yet even they had been corrupted.
Ji Zhiyuan’s expression turned icy. "Where is this Zhang Mo now?"
"After it happened, she quit. I don’t know where she went…" Nanny Zhang’s limbs turned cold. "Old Master, Young Master Zhiyuan, Miss Rong… I’ve told you everything. Please, let the fourth young master stay. He grew up in the Ji family—without it, he won’t survive…"
Beep!
An electronic sound interrupted her. Nanny Zhang looked up to see Rong Yu holding a recorder she hadn’t noticed before.
Rong Yu’s lips were frosty. "Zhiyuan, call the police."
"No, please don’t!" Nanny Zhang panicked. "I raised Jingchuan for twenty years! He sees me as his mother. If he finds out the Ji family sent me to prison, he’ll never accept you—"
Slap!
A sharp blow cut her off.
Rong Yu glanced up to see Ji Liuguang standing there, his hand still raised.
He struck Nanny Zhang again. "You’re a monster for swapping children! You deserve to rot in jail!"
Then he knelt before Old Master Ji. "Old Master, she’s her, I’m me. I have nothing to do with her. I’m the grandson you watched grow up! I was immature before, too spoiled—but I’ll change, I swear. Please let me stay, I’m begging you…"
Disappointment overflowed from Old Master Ji’s eyes.
Nanny Zhang’s crimes were unforgivable, but Ji Liuguang striking his own mother was even worse…
How could he be so foolish, deceived by a villain for so many years.
