The Duke's Sorrow

  Jin Ge got rid of Li Qi Hua and ran a lap around the island path, returning to his residence with a refreshing body.

  This is the place where Jin Ge's maternal grandfather, Han Zhong Shi, bought for him. He has always lived here instead of in the main house of the Jin family in the city. After his mother passed away, he moved out of that house. In Jin Ge's heart, this place feels more like home compared to the grand and tall building of the main house, because it was given by his grandfather and is the closest place to his mother. The main house only has a photo of his mother in his room, nothing else. That house is just an empty shell for him, without any warmth, let alone finding the warmth of home.

  As I entered the foyer, I saw an elderly man standing in the living room, dressed in a black uniform with white hair and a straight and respectful posture.

  Jin Ge looked at the old man with white hair, the ruddy corners of his mouth slightly curled up under the brim of his hat, and a warm smile overflowed.

  "Zhou Bo, if Father has something that requires you to personally run an errand, can't he just give it to those young people to handle? Why must he trouble himself so much? And Father is indeed like this, if there's something going on, can't I just make a phone call instead of having me rush back? It's really exhausting for him, what an old-fashioned way of doing things!"

  The newcomer was the old butler in the main house, who had been serving the Jin family since before Jin Ge was born. The young man with a strong sense of justice back then was now an elderly man, and it could be said that he had watched Jin Ge grow up. Jin Ge treated him with great respect.

  The old man called Zhou Bo by Jin Ge saw the young master return, stood up straight and saluted, his tone was humble and polite yet natural and casual.

  "Master, you're back. Don't blame the old master, it was my own request to come here. Just think that I wanted to be lazy and came to this beautiful island to breathe in some fresh air, maybe I can live a bit longer and help Master bring up young Master Sun as well."

  Zhou Bo's words made Jin Ge laugh, and he walked into the living room with a stride, "What is it, Father?"

  "The young master has returned. The old master asks you to go back at noon and says that the lady will host a dinner party for the young master tonight, and there will be many people, so he's afraid you won't like it."

  "Xianzhong is back? So fast, another year has passed... Alright, you go tell Father first, I'll be right back."

  "Yes, young master, I'll get Wang Ma to stew some chicken soup for you."

  Zhou Bo heard the young master agree, and he couldn't help but show his joy. He was clearly looking forward to the young master's return. After taking his leave, he hastily departed to instruct Wang Ma to stew chicken soup. This was a method that Wang Ma had learned when she followed the mistress to Province M, and according to her, it was the young master's favorite soup.

  Jin Ge looked at Zhou Bo's departing figure, his eyes empty as if he saw that short and stout younger brother running in and out of the high and spacious main house, playing alone on the grass, his small and clumsy body rolling on the grass, covered with grass clippings, a big head with a tiger-like brain, mouth open showing two sharp tiger teeth, a pair of curved little eyes, making people think of a mischievous kitten, really cute.

  Jin family's young master Jin Xianzhong is the son of today's Mrs. Jin, Liu Yu'niang. Although Jin Ge doesn't like this stepmother and can even be said to be hostile towards her, he still genuinely likes this younger brother after all, he is also a child of the Jin family, his father's son, they have the same blood flowing through their veins.

  "I want to go back..."

  Jin Ge muttered to himself, thinking that when he returned to the main house to see his father, apart from seeing his younger brother, he would also see that woman - his stepmother.

  Jin Ge's thoughts drifted away, and he was taken back to the time when his mother was critically ill. He had hidden behind a screen door, peeking through the window to see that woman standing triumphantly in front of his mother's bed, like a queen who had just arrived, with an invincible attitude.

  If he hadn't turned back halfway, he wouldn't have heard what that woman said to his mother.

  "...I've been wanting to come see sister for a long time, but Zheng Tian won't let me..."

  The beautiful sound was like the oriole's song, melodious and pleasant to hear, as if the clear and crisp sound of jade beads falling onto a plate had floated in from afar. However, this beautiful music was wrapped around millions of poisonous needles that pierced towards the mother who lay on her deathbed, gasping for breath. Two seemingly simple sentences evoked endless reveries.

  "Child, in two days he will be born, it's a boy, Zheng Tian really likes him... I'll take good care of him, don't worry, sister..."

  The woman had a serene face, her eyes filled with the joy and anticipation of being a mother, her lips slightly curved upwards, and her round and smooth face radiated a holy glow.

  Is there anything more heart-wrenching than this, your own husband's mistress standing in front of you with a belly about to give birth, telling you that she will take good care of "him", referring to either the child in her womb or your own husband? And asking you to rest assured... what an irony.

  Jin Ge listened to the woman's triumphant declaration to the defeated, and he couldn't help but want to jump out and tear her mouth apart, then beat her up, but he didn't dare.

  It's not that he's afraid of how his father will react after he moves this woman, but rather the unusual quietness of his mother lying in bed, her face expressionless, as if she's listening to someone else's story, talking about someone else's husband. Her breathing is so light it's almost inaudible, and if not for the ventilator still working, he would have thought his mother had stopped breathing.

  He was afraid that if he rushed out and beat the woman at this time, it would stimulate his mother to stop her weak breathing. He was afraid, so he endured, his fingers tightly clenched on the windowsill, and the fingertips had been bloodless for a long time, showing a faint purple color.

  The woman didn't stay long in her mother's sickroom, as if she was also worried that someone would suddenly appear and discover her here. After saying those few words, feeling that her purpose had been achieved, she turned around and left.

  Jin Ge hid behind the door, watching as the woman walked out of the ward and down the corridor. A man waiting by the elevator approached her as she emerged, exchanged a few words in hushed tones, and then escorted her into the elevator.

  That man is one of Father's subordinates.

  Jin Ge leaned against the door, panting heavily, tears streaming down his face. What scene was he witnessing? What secret of his father's had he caught a glimpse of? He had always thought that his father loved his mother dearly, and his father had always shown a loving attitude towards her in public. But now, it all seemed to be a lie. His father's love for his mother was fake, so what about his love for him? Was that also fake? Jin Ge's heart was filled with panic, he didn't know what to do, how to face his father, or how to face his mother...

  Jin Ge's mother, Mrs. Jin at that time, did not hold on for much longer and stopped breathing two days later. Jin Ge remembered only one sentence from the doctor's conversation with his father: "Mrs. Jin turned off her own ventilator, she committed suicide!"

  Brother Jin still remembers his mother's last words before she died, holding him and saying the longest words of her illness, not many but repeated over and over again: Mom loves Brother Jin, Mom loves Brother Jin's dad, let Brother Jin not hate Dad, nor hate Mom.

  Jin Ge knew that his mother told him not to hate his father because he already knew about the woman outside, but she asked him not to hate her instead. At that time, Jin Ge was at a loss, what had his mother done that needed his forgiveness? When he heard the doctor's words, Jin Ge understood, his mother had planned it all along, that's why she told him not to hate her. Don't hate Mommy, Mommy loves you...

  The appearance of that woman cut off the last thread of persistence in Jin Ge's mother, who had been holding on to her life. Although she had thought about her own mortality and how Jin Ge's father would remarry after her death, she never expected this woman to appear before her own demise. It turned out that her efforts to hold on were just a joke, and the other woman was already impatiently waiting for her to step aside. Fine, let it be so. Jin Ge had grown up and would eventually leave her side anyway, there was nothing to worry about, might as well just go now...

  Jin Ge was well aware that his mother's illness had reached a critical point, and even if the woman hadn't appeared, she wouldn't have been able to hold on for much longer. But if it wasn't for the woman's appearance, how would his mother have said goodbye in such an extreme way? He didn't know where his mother got the strength to turn off the ventilator from her frail body, and she must have also felt heartbroken towards his father. The woman's methods were truly ingenious, using just a few simple words to push his mother onto the path of death, it was truly a case of "killing someone without leaving a trace". That day, the man standing guard outside the elevator must have been arranged by the woman as a lookout in case someone came up to spread the news. She wasn't only guarding against Jin Ge turning back but also his father suddenly appearing, and her timing was perfectly calculated, her thoughts were truly meticulous. But fate had other plans, who would have thought that Jin Ge got into the elevator and only went down two floors before turning back, and he even took the stairs up? It was all fate...

  "Master..."

  A subordinate walked in behind him, and Jin Ge woke up from his illusory contemplation, turning around to look at the subordinate.

  "A Ye, what's up?"

  "The stone said everything is ready on his side and asked when the young master will set off."

  "Really? Are you all ready... Hmm, I see."

  Jin Ge didn't give a clear answer, and A Ye didn't ask again either. There was no need to ask; when the time came, Young Master would naturally instruct them, and they just needed to be prepared to leave at any moment. After bowing, he turned around and left.

  Jin Ge took off his baseball cap, revealing a stunningly handsome face.

  Her oval face was fair and smooth, with a sharp jawline and a pair of piercing black eyes under her slanted eyebrows. Her lips were as tender as cherry blossoms, and her slightly open sports attire revealed delicate skin on her neck that shone like fine porcelain. A diamond earring sparkled on her left ear, casting a dazzling light that rippled across her cheek like water. What a great body, an absolute beauty! No wonder Huāzi Miss was relentless in her pursuit. Her tall and slender figure didn't appear rough at all, and the ordinary sports attire she wore looked like royal robes on her. Every move she made exuded nobility.

  What a "peerless young master"!

  "Da Yuan Qian Jin" latest chapter is released by Yun Qi Shu Yuan, the fastest and most popular online release site! (This site provides: traditional pagination, waterfall two modes, can be selected in settings)