The night after summer was mercurial. The wind started to get colder while the vibrant leaves began to adapt to their autumn hue.
The upper society of forty years ago was ever-changing like how fast summer changed into fall. The peaceful hierarchy that was dominated by four families was disturbed by a storm.
In that year, the Lu family wreaked havoc and numbed everyone speechless.
A rising household that was just one step away from becoming one of the legendary families was utterly defeated by the wrath of the Young Head of the Lu Family.
It was said in the rumors that the broken engagement caused this uproar.
The Qian family who made a deal with the previous head of the Lu family was said to join hands through marriage. However, when the Young Master of the Lu family succeeded his father's position, he broke the said engagement from the Qian Lady and married the woman of his own choosing.
A woman with unknown and foreign origin captured the heart of the heir of the Lu family. Despite the oppression from the Young Master Lu's family and the people around him, he managed to surmount them with his determination, ability, and perseverance.
At last, after chasing the woman of his dreams for years, the whole world was moved by his love and he slowly achieve what he wanted- to marry his woman.
It was the melodramatic romance of the century where status and position were overcome by undying love.
However, not all people were happy with such an outcome.
The Qian Lady who was supposed to be the Madame of the Lu family was said to be driven by incessant jealousy.
It worsened when the news of Madame Lu being pregnant reached the Qian Lady's ears.
The whole country celebrated and showered the beautiful Madame with good graces and congratulatory. It was the happiest occasion for the Lu family.
However, the Qian Lady destroyed this happiness.
In the seventh month of Madame Lu's pregnancy, she had an accident and was sent bleeding to the hospital. The shock of the accident caused her to give birth prematurely.
Fortunately, the baby was delivered successfully. However, the baby was born weak. Her organs were not fully matured and this might cause health problems such as oxygen deprivation in the future.
The baby was born with weak lungs. This news was already dreary, however, another lamentable news hit Young Master Lu. The mother, Madame Lu, had her health greatly weakened due to the injury of the accident and forced birth.
Madame Lu only lasted for a few days. Despite the advanced medical practices and modern technology of the Lu family, Madame Lu breathed her last after her baby passed the first week.
The Young Master Lu, which was the current head at the time, spend his supposed to be the happiest moment of his life in agony and extreme regret.
It took him a few months to recover from his loneliness to take care of his own daughter and look for the cause of the incident. As time passed, the regret and sadness in his heart were replaced by fury when things uncovered the truth.
It only took him a month before he found the culprit.
Without further ado, he ruthlessly oppressed the subject of his anger- the Qian family.
The Qian family had great history and resources just one step away from the four families. However, facing the young head's madness, it became harder for the Qian family to grow.
The bond between great families and influential figures was fragile. Seeing that the Qian family was being oppressed by the Lu family and its allies, they decided to not help the Qian family and join hands with the Lu family instead.
The Lu family was one of the leading families after all, no matter how great the Qian was, they were not a match to the Lu family. Slowly, the Qian family started to crumble. The bystanders knew right then that the Qian family had no future. Thus, making the lives of the Qian family harder to survive in the harsh reality of the upper society.
When only the main branch was left of the Qian family, the prideful Old Qian Head swallowed his pride and brought his son-in-law and grandson to the gates of the Lu family.
In the cold afternoon, three people kneeled at the gates of the Lu family to express their sincerest apology.
....
The season had entered autumn. The chilling wind ruffled the three heads who kneeled down in front of the tall gate.
Moments later, the gate opened.
A man came out holding a baby covered in a thick blanket. While his touch to his daughter was gentle, his gaze was extremely cold as he looked down on the three men on the cold ground.
This man was none other than Head Lu.
His empty eyes narrowed when he saw a small kid kneeling together with the old head and the son-in-law. However, despite the child shivering through the cold, his hardened heart never wavered.
His beloved had just died. His daughter became motherless. His happiness was ruined. His lifelong dream would never be complete.
And it was all because of the people in front of him. He would never be able to sympathize with the people that came from this family.
The old head from the Qian family saw the Head's Lu feet. He looked up and expressed his sorrow.
"Head Lu, what my daughter had done is unforgivable. I am a failure as an elder and a useless parent. I did not guide my daughter on the right path. My shortcomings caused her to do immoral things. Head Lu-" Old Qian bowed even deeper. His head hit the cold ground. Despite feeling shameful, Old Qian continued the words of self-blame.
If it could pacify the wrath of this young man and save the prestige of the Qian family, he would be willing to sacrifice everything, even it was himself or his own blood.
"I cannot deny your fury and condemnation for our family. We suffered because of a silly mistake of my daughter. But Head Lu doesn't need to worry. Justice would be served to you. I abolished my own daughter from the family and made sure she would suffer a life worse than death. Head Lu-"
Old Qian started to raise his head and squeezed out the tears of shame and anger in his heart. Because of his foolish daughter, all the hard work of their ancestors might end today! Just thinking about it made the old man shed tears.
"Please don't be blinded by rage and take pity on the rest of my family. If my daughter's suffering is not enough answer for you, then I offer you my son-in-law-" Old Qian placed his old hand to the bowed man beside him. "He is very talented despite his looks. You could make use of him for the rest of his life. My grandson-"
Old Qian did not notice the coldness in the silent man who stood before him was increasing. The oblivious old man continued to sell his own blood, "My grandson is young but he is talented. I thought him everything. He is the only successor of the Qian family. To express my family's sincerity, we are willing to work for you. My grandson will pledge to assist you and your daughter in the future. The Qian family would be at your disposal-"
"You want me to take your son-in-law and grandson as my slave?" The voice without any emotion interrupted the old man.
Old Qian's eyes brightened. The young head was finally interested!
This was the decision he made a few days ago. Since the Lu family was adamant on bringing them to ruins, why not surrender and work under them instead?
It might not be the same as his daughter marrying into the Lu family to increase the Qian family's prestige, but if the declining Qian family was under the roof of the Lu family, sooner or later, they would grow. With the knowledge and wisdom he imparted to his grandson, the next generation would surely recover and pay this shame to the Lu family in the future.
He kept down his joy and sincerely explained, "Yes. My daughter had paid for her sin. But it was not enough to quench the Young Head's anger. My daughter's husband and her son had to bear this responsibility as well. A life was taken from the Young Head, we, the Qian family should return it twice to you. I know how important Madame Lu to the Young head, so I chose my grandson- the sole heir of our family and my son-in-law in return-"
"Ha." A disbelieving laugh escaped from Head Lu's pale lips. The coldness in his laughter made the old man halt from his speaking and looked up at the Young head who suddenly interrupted him.
Head Lu looked contemptuously at Old Qian who was speaking such crazy nonsense since earlier.
"I thought I have gone insane after your daughter took my wife's life. But you, selling your own blood....you are way sicker than I am. No wonder that crazy bitch could take someone's precious life so easily."
The rage in Head Lu that he was holding started to come out. His eyes that were dry for spending countless nights without sleep were now red due to hate and anger, "I will never forgive your family. Nor take anyone from your household. If you- a sick old man have a murderer as a daughter, then what about your son-in-law and your grandson? I bet they are monsters too." Head Lu's then glanced at the young child who for some reason stopped trembling.
No matter how much Head Lu thinks about it, he could not sympathize with this child. Because this was a son of a murderer.. His eyes then turned to the shock Old Qian, "If I were you, you should take your grandson far away from you or else he will grow as a monster like everyone in your family."
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