Chapter 286 "The Truth"
"Kao'er, how exactly are you feeling?"
In the bedchamber filled with the aroma of medicine, the seriously ill Ji Chang lay half-reclined on his couch, his face haggard, his voice weak and hoarse, as if a gust of wind could blow him away. But his concerned and worried gaze remained fixed on Boyi Kao.
Bo Yikao smiled gently, trying to make his voice sound light and strong: "Father, don't worry, everything is fine."
Ji Chang frowned slightly, disbelief flashing in his eyes: "Everything is fine? Hmph, if that's really the case, why did you push all the government affairs onto Fa'er? And those Huang Feihu and the others, they clearly came to Xiqi because of you, yet you also sent them to Fa'er's command. Don't try to hide it from me anymore."
As Ji Chang spoke, he became more and more agitated. After uttering a series of words, he couldn't help but cough violently, his whole body trembling violently from the cough.
"Father!" Upon seeing this, Boyi Kao was greatly alarmed and quickly stepped forward to gently pat Ji Chang's back, trying to alleviate his discomfort. "Someone come here..."
Bo Yikao turned around to summon the physician, but Ji Chang grabbed his arm tightly.
“I know my own body best.” Ji Chang gasped, his eyes filled with resolve. “At my age, how much longer I can live is no longer of concern. But if I die without knowing the truth, I will not die in peace!”
Bo Yikao was stunned by Ji Chang's desperate words. For a moment, he didn't know what to do and just stood there in silence.
Ji Chang held Bo Yikao's hand tightly, his eyes filled with pleading: "Kao'er, what is there between us, father and son, that we can't talk about? Just tell me the truth, whatever it is, I can bear it."
Bo Yikao felt a pang of sorrow. After a long sigh, he slowly pulled open the shirt at his chest, revealing a charred, unhealed wound across his heart.
Ji Chang's eyes widened, his face filled with shock, and he tremblingly reached out to touch it.
Bo Yikao pulled Ji Chang's hand and gently placed it on his heart.
That extremely faint, slow heartbeat, almost imperceptible, traveled through his fingertips to Ji Chang's heart, like a heavy hammer striking his soul.
Ji Chang's eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. His voice trembled as he asked, "What... what exactly happened?"
Bo Yikao looked at Ji Chang, his eyes filled with longing and helplessness: "Father, on the way to Chaoge, I was attacked by a demon. In fact, I had already died before the others came looking for me. However, my obsession to save you was too strong, and it moved a certain star lord, who bestowed upon me a wisp of star power, which barely kept me alive. Now, I am caught between life and death, having stolen a moment to spend with you, but it won't last much longer."
"How could this be..." Upon hearing this, Ji Chang burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault..."
“Father!” Boyi Kao shook his head disapprovingly, grasped his hand tightly, and sat down beside him. “How can you blame yourself? That’s just how the world is. Natural disasters and man-made calamities, who could have predicted them? It can only be said that Boyi Kao’s fate was sealed.”
Ji Chang was overwhelmed with guilt and choked up, unable to speak. He could only tightly grasp Bo Yikao's hand.
“Father, you don’t need to be sad for me,” Boyi Kao said with a relieved smile. “Being able to live this long is already a blessing for me. Especially being able to stay with you and watch Fa’er grow up.”
“Kao’er…”
"Father, if you are not afraid of death, then naturally your son will not be afraid either. Could it be that when we get to the underworld, Father will no longer want to be my son?"
Knowing that Boyi Kao was trying to comfort him, Ji Chang replied very seriously: "Kao'er, you are your father's best child. Whether in death or in the next life, I am willing to be your father."
Bo Yikao smiled gently: "Then it's settled, let's be father and son again in the next life."
...
"Thank you, sir."
Back in his room, a spirit floated out of Boyi Kao's body and bowed to him in gratitude.
Bo Yikao opened his eyes. Although he looked exactly like the soul, you could tell from his eyes that they were not the same person.
"You're welcome."
“If it weren’t for you, sir, I wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye to my father. Now that Fa’er is in charge of Xiqi, I have no regrets and will obey your orders.”
"Then you should go back to your place."
Bo Yikao pointed his finger, and his soul transformed into a stream of light that flew towards the sky. Above, the White Tiger constellation of the west, the Bi constellation which governs art, music and aesthetics, flickered slightly.
Not far away, Nezha, sensing something, suddenly looked up.
...
"Father……"
After Boyi Kao left, Ji Fa emerged from behind the curtain and knelt before Ji Chang's bedside, tears streaming down his face.
Ji Chang slowly raised his withered hand and gently placed it on Ji Fa's head. His hand trembled slightly, as if he had used all his strength, yet it was full of boundless love and care.
His voice was weak, but he tried to speak clearly: "Since you've heard everything, then do a good job and don't let your older brother down."
He paused, slightly out of breath, and continued, "Don't be too hard on yourself. Your older brother has already come to terms with it, and so have I. You should try to be more open-minded too."
Ji Fa shook his head desperately in anguish, tears streaming down his face, and choked out, "Father, how could I... how could I..."
Ji Fa was incoherent, not yet prepared to lose his father, and then suddenly learned that his elder brother was also dying. How could he accept this?
Ji Chang sighed deeply, his eyes filled with tenderness and helplessness, and slowly said, "Don't be stubborn, child. If you are really sad, then focus your attention on Xiqi. Take good care of Xiqi and work hard to make it stronger. In that way, your elder brother and I will have no regrets."
Ji Fa listened, nodding frantically, tears streaming down his face, his eyes gradually hardening.
At this moment, the mission of overthrowing the Shang Dynasty had taken on a tragic significance in his heart. It was not only for the sake of the people, but also for the sake of his father and elder brother.
...
Not long after, Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, passed away. Before his death, he ordered Ji Fa to appoint Jiang Ziya as his prime minister and put him in charge of the administration of Xiqi. Ji Fa then officially took power as King Wu of Zhou.
"Why? Why? What is Ji Fa anyway?!"
Juan was furious and threw everything on the table to the ground. "It's one thing for my elder brother to be in power, but why should Ji Fa be in charge!"
Having infiltrated the Xiqi ranks early on and established a connection with Hu An, the pheasant spirit Feng Lai rolled her eyes and leaned closer to ask curiously, "Yeah, why isn't the Crown Prince in charge?"
Juan glanced at her, unguarded, and said directly, "My elder brother is unwell and is willing to step down..."
At this point, Juan slammed his fist on the table, gritting his teeth: "My elder brother is biased too. Why did he only recommend Ji Fa? What is it about me that I don't like him?"
Feng Lai seemed lost in thought. If Bo Yikao's health had deteriorated to the point of needing Ji Fa to ascend the throne, then the problem was likely quite serious. Looking at the furious and jealous Hu An, Feng Lai slowly curled her lips into a smile. Good news indeed! She needed to send this message back as soon as possible…
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