The old man sighed, pushed the string of prayer beads on the table toward her, and said, "I knew you'd go have a look on your own." Without waiting for Nangong Jiu to speak, he slid the beads right up in front of her.
"I knew I couldn't stop you anyway, so do as you please. Let people start preparing for the third day of the third month." She should have taken over the succession long ago, and of course it was fine now that she was the one asking. He had been Clan Leader for his entire life, and now he too wanted to be nothing more than an ordinary old man enjoying the company of his grandchildren—though he wondered if he would even have the chance.
Nangong Jiu pressed her lips together and looked at the old man's still gentle face. All the words that came to her lips reduced themselves to just two: "I'm sorry." She was the Young Clan Leader, but this was not what she wanted.
Chapter 43