Chapter 356 - The Last Bow between the Xiong and the Zhou
While the people were still under shock and disbelief, a tall man walked along the aisles.
His perfectly built body and domineering aura was very eye-catching. As he passed through, people glanced over unconsciously.
Those who saw him stopped for a moment, because his face looked familiar. As he draw near to the tables in front belonging to the Xiong and Zhou families, along with the legendary families, he was instantly recognized.
"...!!!"
"That's..."
"Isn't he... Zhou Linfeng?"
It was Zhou Linfeng, whose news suddenly disappeared after his retrial more than two years ago.
His long straight legs were going to one direction.
Perhaps because all of the guests were still in shock, they watched him with blank faces.
What now, suddenly, a missing person appeared!
Would there be another show?
They watched as Linfeng stood in front of the stage. His wide back was on them.
The towering man, who looked more mature than before and was already a bona fide a.d.u.l.t, bowed to Xiong Zhi with a gentle smile.
"Zhou Linfeng, reporting for duty. Young Miss, I am back."
"…"
The guests did not understand why he was saying this or what his presence here was for.
Lu Yin Ze, on the other hand, stared at the man's back. His face was pale.
Xiong Wuyue, on the other hand, felt like she has found the oasis in a dry world. Her eyes lit up as she stared obsessively at the man.
Xiong Zhi accepted his bow.
This was the stage where the two of them were the main actors.
"I voluntarily pledge myself to be the Young Miss's official aide, without the treaty binding me. It is my will, not the Zhou family's, to continue working under my Young Miss."
"!!!!"
All of the people were stunned. They seemed to understand now what was going on.
The deep voice of the man sounded again and rang louder this time.
"I, Zhou Linfeng, willingly choose Young Miss Zhi as my Master. Please accept my assistance and loyalty."
Zhou Linfeng remained in a respectful bow, folding both of his hands into a fist in front of him.
Xiong Zhi approached him and held him up. She could see now his handsome face. His lips were still a bit full from the round of kissing earlier. Her eyes stayed there for a while before speaking.
"I gladly accept," she said with a light smile. She stepped back and then returned his bow. "Thank you very much for your trust in me."
"!!!!"
This bow was significant. An equal exchange of bows...
Everyone who witnessed this and still did not understand what was happening were certainly blind.
They were all people who were smart, so they naturally knew what the message being conveyed was.
For the first time in the Xiong's history, they accepted a butler as their equal. A butler that was not bound to any treaty or contract.
It was a voluntary assistance.
If it was another family, they would not take this risk. How could they know for sure that without the regulations tying the butlers down, they could work for them faithfully and honestly?
Some of the Xiong family members could not afford this risk. They were people who did not trust others initially. Yet they also could not afford to let them go.
It was then that Zhou Min moved. He walked forward, stood in front of Old Xiong, and bowed.
"I will continue supporting Master Xiong until my final years. Please accept my assistance and loyalty."
"…!"
Old Xiong was stunned. He thought that Zhou Min would resign from his position. He was already preparing for it. It was enough for him that the capable young Zhou extended his hand to help his granddaughter devotedly. He knew of their stubborn affection, so he thought it was the only exception.
Yet Zhou Min... He still chose to stay by his side despite knowing the sins of his ancestors.
The old man was silent for a moment. There was strange feeling in his heart. Then he nodded.
"If that's the case, the position is yours."
It was a domineering voice. But butler Zhou who stayed by his side for a long time knew that the old man was happy.
The head butler smiled with a warm heart.
Seeing that the two heads of the Zhou family pledged their alliance even without the treaty, some of the faithful servants who still wished to work under their masters bowed and expressed their willingness. They still have not truly recovered from the shock, but they themselves did not have other wishes aside from assisting their masters like before.
Xiong Gaiyu was stunned when her butler immediately bowed to her and asked for her to accept his aid. The same happened with Xiong Mai and Nuen Zai. The butler in front of them smiled and bowed. The two Xiongs naturally accepted them.
In fact, these two butlers were very satisfied with their masters. They even felt glad that they served under such good masters, unlike their brethren.
Xiong Cai looked at his butler, his eyes narrowed.
His butler pursed his lips in confusion, then his eyes firmed up. He calmly looked away, but with sweat dotting on his forehead.
This sudden news surely would make his master doubt on his loyalty, given his master's temperament. It was a difficult and a desperate decision, but if he would serve a master, he would rather find someone who would be good to him. After this, he did not know where to go, but he did not wish to suffer more under his master's distrust.
"…" Xiong Cai was indignant. This traitor!
Xiong Bilan and Xiong De also looked threateningly at their butlers. Their eyes were clearly saying that they should stay if they still wanted to live.
Thus, the early problems of dissolving the treaty surfaced.
Some butlers fell into a dilemma.
The Zhou elders looked at each other and then at Old Xiong. Old Xiong nodded and stepped back, giving the space to the Zhou elders.
The elders went forward and spoke loudly.
"To the butlers who wished to return to their roots! The Zhou family has prepared for this turning point in our family history. We have already prepared appropriate positions for you. Today is the effective start date where you can resign from your current positions."
The Zhou butlers looked up with complicated mix of emotions at their elders.
"Everyone, I know your concerns. We have all considered them as well. This is not an impulsive decision. For years, we have been preparing for it, with the help of our benevolent Head Master. Please, all of you come forward."
The Zhou elders have long known that some of the Zhou butlers would have their lives threatened. They knew too many secrets, so it was natural that some of the Xiongs would not let them go.
The butlers who have decided to leave their ranks gritted their teeth and hurriedly went to the elders' side.
Their group was quite plenty.
Notably, the guests saw that there was not a single one left beside Xiong Wuyue, Xiong De, Xiong Bilan, and Xiong Cai. The others still have a few butlers loitering around them.
The Zhou elders looked at the younger generations with reddened eyes, disregarded people's gazes, and continued speaking.
"Master Xiong has been a benevolent master. It cannot be denied that the Xiong family helped us retain our surname. If their earliest ancestors did not save us from the pit of fire centuries ago, there will be no united Zhou family of today, only people who have lost their identities after being scattered throughout Ancient Huaxia."
The people from the Zhou family have long known of this, but now under this occasion, it somehow brought them a moving emotion. Gratitude and appreciation filled their hearts as they turned their gazes towards the Head Master of the Xiong family.
"Out of our gratitude, our ancestors, down to our present generations, served the Xiong family, bringing them back to more than their former grace. The Xiong family has now reached the apex with our assistance. Now, Master Xiong fully recognized us as a friend of the Xiong family. It is because he trusted us that he willingly broke the treaty, despite the potential risks."
"Everyone, I hope you can keep this in your minds. Although we will no longer serve the Xiong family, Master Xiong and Young Miss Xiong Zhi, who worked hard to let us regain our freedom, are our benefactors. Forever, we shall be the Xiong family's friend."
"Let's give our last bow to the Xiong family."
All of the Zhou members who defected from their position bowed. Their hearts were full of complex emotions.
Xiong Zhi and Old Xiong both felt guilty inside. The truth was, it was Linfeng who expended all efforts to accomplish this. Still, the show must go on. She opened her mouth and spoke.
"Everyone in the Xiong family, please return their bow as an equal. It is the last bow, as our companion over the years."
The Xiongs stood once more. Their faces were indescribable and varied. Many of them were reluctant, but under the audience's careful watch, they could not bear to stain their family name. They gave a bow with different thoughts.
What was certain was that a lot of them still held a grudge over their butlers' choices.
"Don't worry about their safety. I'll handle it," Linfeng softly spoke to ease Xiong Zhi's worries.
Xiong Zhi smiled at him. Her man knew her best.
"I leave it to you then. As for the Xiongs..." She threw a fleeting glance at those ugly faces. "Leave them to me, those stubborn ones."
Linfeng smiled, his eyes gentle. His Zhi'er has really grown more confident and more courageous.
He wanted to shower his good girl with kisses all of the sudden.
The two exchanged sweet looks.
Old Xiong coughed.
"Cough! Zhi'er. You can now end the banquet."
Xiong Zhi nodded.
The Xiong Anniversary Banquet ended with a great fanfare, shocking the heavens.
The guests left one by one, still dumbfounded.
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