I Am the Grand Heir, a Young Master Beyond Compare

The Grand Heir, elegant and striking, raises his cup and gazes boldly at the sky—proud as a jade tree standing before the wind.

His looks, his bearing, his talent—when people say 'the Grand Heir,' everyone understands. Just mention those three words and faces light up in unconcealed admiration.

At first, only the Wang clan called him Grand Heir; he was just their eldest son. But gradually, 'Grand Heir' became a title for all to use. Across the land, those words instantly bring William Wang Jinling to mind.

William Wang Jinling was born as the legitimate eldest son of the Wang clan. With no surprises, and under their careful guidance, he was destined to be the next head of house.

Of course, if William Wang Jinling had been dull or lacked true intelligence, the Wang clan would still have nurtured him, but they would never have entrusted him with the clan's future.

That year, under countless Wang clan hopes, William Wang Jinling was born—delicate and beautiful from the start. No one doubted he would grow into a handsome youth.

Old Master Wang cherished William Wang Jinling deeply, even more than his own father did.

The patriarch had high hopes for his grandson. After William was born, he refused to give him a formal name, insisting the whole clan address him simply as 'Grand Heir.'

The Wang clan’s Grand Heir—the carefully cultivated successor. But...

After William Wang Jinling turned one, the family discovered something unusual: the Grand Heir was blind!

William Wang Jinling’s eyes looked perfectly normal. As a baby, no one noticed anything wrong—he would open his eyes and ‘look’ all around, turning toward any sound or movement.

His attendants and family saw nothing unusual. Only as he grew older did anyone realize the Grand Heir could not see...

A blind Grand Heir? A future head of house who cannot see?

Over half the Wang clan gave up on William, urging Patriarch Wang and his wife to have another child. In their eyes, a blind heir could never lead the clan...

Though Patriarch Wang and his wife felt for William, reality was harsh. Born blind, his future seemed bleak...

Reluctantly, William’s parents accepted the truth and gave up on cultivating him as heir. They planned to have another son to raise instead. But...

Old Master Wang disagreed. To him, William might be blind, but he was exceptionally intelligent.

So what if he couldn’t see?

With the Wang clan’s wealth and influence, surely they could cure William’s blindness!

Patriarch Wang and his wife were helpless. He was their first child—they didn’t want to give up. Yet, no matter how clever, a blind boy seemed useless.

Still, Patriarch Wang and his wife decided to try for another child. Old Master Wang couldn’t stop them, so in disappointment, he kept William by his side: “I’ll raise Jinling myself!”

William’s parents agreed, sending him to his grandfather’s care and preparing for a second son. But...

Yet no second child came. Lady Wang was healthy, Patriarch Wang had no issues, but they simply couldn’t conceive again—not even with concubines.

“Could Jinling really be our only child?” Patriarch Wang wondered. By age three, William was already showing extraordinary talent.

William couldn’t see, and he didn’t have a photographic memory, but...

No matter the book, if Old Master Wang read it to him once, William could remember and recite it. If the content was simple, he could even share his own thoughts.

A genius!

What else could you call him but a genius?

Old Master Wang only wanted to guide William well, so his blindness wouldn’t doom him to mediocrity. He never imagined William would be a true prodigy.

Overjoyed, Old Master Wang got drunk and hugged William, weeping: “Good child, you haven’t let your grandfather down. You’re wonderful, truly wonderful. Your grandmother longed for your birth—her last words were of you. If she knew your talent, she’d be so happy.”

“Your grandmother spent years longing for a first grandson—she always said she wanted to teach you herself. She even picked out your name: Jinling, Jinling... Isn’t it a fine name? But that ‘Ling’ character is not something you can claim just by wishing for it.”

“Sadly, your grandmother’s life was cut short. She never lived to see your birth. But your grandfather is still here, and I’ll teach you in her place.”

“Good child, it doesn’t matter if you become head of the Wang clan. It doesn’t matter if your parents give up on you. As long as your grandfather lives, you’ll always have my protection.”

“You must work hard, fulfill your grandmother’s wish, and earn that ‘Ling’ character with your own strength!”

“Jinling, my good grandson. Whether you can see or not, whether you’re ordinary or extraordinary, you’re the pride of your grandfather’s heart.”

Old Master Wang held little William close, missing his late wife—William’s grandmother.

Those were just drunken words. When he sobered up, Old Master Wang forgot what he’d said, but William remembered—and understood.

Precocious children are rarely happy.

William knew his parents didn’t truly lack love for him. But born blind, he could never be head of the clan. As the legitimate heir, his parents had their own duties; he didn’t blame them.

He knew his grandfather’s love came from his grandmother—from being the long-awaited first grandson, the one she longed to see until her dying day.

William knew who he was, knew his responsibilities, and knew exactly what he needed to do...

He studied hard, never wasting his gifts. Sight didn’t matter—heaven denied him eyes but granted him talents no one else had. Whatever he learned, he mastered faster and better than anyone.

Whether he could see meant nothing. Even blind, William could make his grandfather proud as the Wang clan’s Grand Heir. Even blind, he could earn the name ‘Ling.’

William’s world was dark; he saw nothing. Yet his life was rich and colorful. Old Master Wang was a learned man, and a grandson raised by him could never be mediocre.

William grew ever more outstanding. Though still young, his achievements were obvious to all. Whether he could see was irrelevant.

The Wang clan valued tradition, but not blindly so. Many cared little if their heir was blind—as long as William was capable and could lead, that was enough.

Seeing this, Patriarch Wang and Lady Wang lost interest in having another son. William was their child—how could they not love him? They abandoned plans for a second heir and focused on raising William. But...

Heaven loves irony. Just as William’s parents gave up, Lady Wang became pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to a perfectly healthy son—no blindness, no defects...