Chapter 218 - Fighting for Love
Butler Zhou Min arrived at his Master's bedroom. It had been long time since he was called quite late such as this. He knocked first before opening the door.
"I am here, Master." Butler Zhou Min bowed respectfully to the old man who was looking at the moon through the large windows.
"How's your son?"
Thump.
Butler Zhou Min's heart skipped a beat. His Master knew that his son was here. And if he was called here because of that, then it meant that Master Xiong knew the situation his son was in.
Butler Zhou Min did not dare raise his head as he sincerely reported to his master.
"I have not disciplined my son very well. I will take responsibility for it."
Old Xiong then turned to face him.
"What big sin did your son do for you to take responsibility?"
Butler Zhou Min could not look at Old Xiong's eyes.
"He is still young and full of ambition. He… is like me in the past. He will come around soon."
Old Xiong stared at his long-time and capable butler who remained standing with a respectful bow.
"How many years are left before he officially serves Zhi'er?"
"Two years. In two years he would be the official butler serving the Young Miss."
Old Xiong looked deeply at him before turning around to continue looking at the moon.
"If that's the case, then you have two years to discipline your son."
Butler Zhou let out a breath that he did not know he was holding.
"I believe in the Zhou family. You are a family of talented butlers for centuries. My granddaughter needs your talented son as her butler. With your son's aid, Zhi'er could overcome the threatening situations she will have to face from the other branches. I will not intervene in that battle. The Xiong family heir in line for inheritance needed to prove themselves that they are deserving of the blood they are born with. That even if the other branches go against them, they will not be daunted, but continue to grow stronger. And only your son could lend a hand to her. Would your son do that?"
Butler Zhou straightened up and looked at his master's back with a complicated gaze.
"My family, including my son, had sworn to always serve the Xiong family's direct first line descendants. We will…" Butler Zhou lowered his eyes to the ground. He continued to say what he had said countless of times since he was a child, even if there was a slightly bitter feeling in his heart. Was he fooling himself or Master Xiong? He no longer knew.
"… we will never break it."
"I believe in you," Master Xiong said. But he was far from done.
"I believe in you, but not in your son. I've heard the news of what he was trying to do. He flew away just to get 'proof'. He was trying to break our peace, Zhou Min." Master Xiong's emphasized the word 'peace'.
"How do you plan to discipline him and get his thoughts back on the right track in the upcoming two years?" Master Xiong asked Butler Zhou.
Butler Zhou gulped. He too did not know. His son was more capable than him, practically unstoppable.
"And now I've heard the news that he sent the servants away from the East Wing Garden, where, apparently, my granddaughter is supposedly enjoying the moon alone. What is that supposed to mean? Is he desecrating the Xiong family?!" Old Xiong's voice finally rose on the last question
Butler Zhou Min knelt and gritted his teeth.
"My son… my son did a shameful act! I haven't disciplined him enough. I will punish him severely!"
"That's now what I wanted to hear, Zhou Min!"
Butler Zhou instantly shut his mouth.
"Zhi'er is not just the Young Miss anymore. She is now the official heir. She could not fool around with just anyone. Especially not with her own butler. And your son clearly knows how to act and what to do around his master. I have ears and eyes everywhere. Your son shows a truly great potential. If he could just do his role as what a butler should do, he and Zhi'er would be surely unstoppable in the future."
Butler Zhou resignedly closed his eyes. With Master Xiong's influence and might, it would not be too shocking to hear these all-knowing words from him. His son had really stepped on a landmine. He did not know that Master Xiong had just been waiting in the dark, wanting to confirm his conjecture by himself.
"To be honest, I don't want to waste your son. He has talents. My granddaughter would need him. But not like this. This would bring shame for the both of the families. You should know that very well. While they are still young, we must prevent this. "
Butler Zhou immediately looked up to Master Xiong.
"I had promised Zhi'er that I would not intervene in her marriage. She still has three years. Since I cannot interfere with her, we can only move your son. So now, we need to find a suitable fiancée for your son. Look for one, as soon as now. With Linfeng's talent, I can allow him to marry a Xiong from the second or third branches. With that, he should not think of breaking the families' treaty ever again."
*******
Lu Yin Ze directly went to his room and locked himself in. He had been feeling down ever since he heard those words from the banquet.
Xiong Zhi liked someone else. And that thought was making his heart ache with pain.
He laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling. Yet, her face, her cool voice, and her serious expression were all bothering his mind.
"Have you ever liked someone?" She asked that with gentleness in her eyes. So gentle than Lu Yin Ze thought he was going to drown in them. But those eyes were not for him.
Lu Yin Ze curled up. He did not like this. This feeling of bitterness.
After that dance, he could not face Xiong Zhi properly any longer.
This feeling is not...good at all.
Lu Yin Ze suddenly stood up and walked to his balcony. He faced the beautiful moonlight and closed his eyes to feel the cold wind. He had never expected to look at the moonlight once again with this much sadness.
When he was in that hospital, he had only thought of how great it would be if he could feel the cold wind and face the moonlight in a different place, in a different angle. Not from that cage.
But now that he was freed, he wanted more. More freedom… and to feel more. He became more selfish.
Lu Yin Ze stayed still, silently with his eyes closed, bathing in the moonlight. His silver hair shimmered ethereally and his translucent white skin glowed, making him appear like an angel abandoned on earth in this dark night. As soon as he opened his yes, his silver-blue orbs reflected the complex emotions interlaced with pain in them.
Moments later, Lu Yin Ze then went back to his room. He took out a small box in his private drawer. He needed to busy himself so that his mind would remain preoccupied by some things other than this feeling of bitterness and distress. He held the ring from within the box.
"Mom..." He silently called out.
His mother had trusted him things that he needed to do to stop his brother and father. He did not know what he needed to stop, but at least, it might have something to do from eight years ago.
He needed to talk to his grandfather to return to that old house.
He then went out to the hallway and walked to his grandfather's study.
Master Lu was enjoying his tea when a butler knocked on his door. The butler reported that Lu Yin Ze wanted to talk to him.
Lu Yin Ze was immediately allowed entrance.
"Little Yin, what is so urgent that you visited me in this late night?" Master Lu put down his tea.
Lu Yin Ze suddenly realized that it was already very late but he was still keeping his grandfather from taking a rest. He hesitated.
"Uhm, I just…I just wanted to say goodnight," he instead lamely made up an excuse. He felt foolish for coming here suddenly without taking consideration of his grandfather's health.
Master Lu smiled.
"Thank you, my boy. Have a good night as well."
Lu Yin Ze bowed and was about to turn back when Master Lu spoke again.
"Is everything okay, child?" Master Lu's voice was tinged with worry.
Lu Yin Ze turned to face at his grandfather and smiled assuredly at him.
"Everything is fine, grandpa. I wish you have sweet dreams," he then turned to leave the study.
But Master Lu was quick to catch him. He stood up and spoke.
"You and my daughter have the same traits. Why back down when you're here already? So, what is it? Love problems?" Master Lu moved his old body to Lu Yin Ze's side.
Lu Yin Ze finally faced his grandfather helplessly.
"No, it's not. I just wanted to ask you something but it can wait until tomorrow. You have to take a rest first, grandpa."
Master Lu stared at Lu Yin Ze's face for a while. Lu Yin Ze stared back at him for a moment, then avoided his gaze. His grandpa's gaze was so astute. The Lion Lu slowly came out the more he stared.
"Alright. Then, help me to my room, child."
Lu Yin Ze held his grandfather's arm and supported him into his room. Master Lu acted like a spoiled child as he asked for Lu Yin Ze to help him prepare his bed and tuck him in. After Lu Yin Ze finished all tasks indulgently and was about to leave, his grandfather spoke again.
"Child, how about you give your grandpa some bed stories."
Lu Yin Ze could not help laughing this time.
"Grandpa, I don't have a talent for that. Let me call your butler so he can tell you one instead."
"Child, you don't need talent for that. You just need your heart to let it out. Your grandpa has a long night ready to listen to all of it."
Lu Yin Ze suddenly realized what his grandpa was up to. He failed to notice his grandfather worrying about him and pulling up all sorts of tricks up his sleeve, just to let his heart open up to lessen the heavy feelings stuck in his chest.
Although Lu Yin Ze felt guilty for worrying his aged grandfather, he was also moved by the elder's thoughtful actions.
He gently smiled, his lashes drooping down to cover his soulful eyes.
"Alright, grandpa. I'll tell you a story."
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