Chapter 251 - One Chance of Pardon

Zhou Min's resolve wavered after hearing Xiong Zhi's plea. He wanted to help his son, too.

However, he was the head butler. Telling her meant disobeying his master's orders to not involve Young Miss Zhi in this situation. He would also end up violating the butler's code of conduct.

"Please," Xiong Zhi pleaded again. She could see that Butler Zhou Min was wavering.

After a moment of hesitation, finally, Butler Zhou Min sighed.

"The elder will come here to preside over Linfeng's one chance of pardon." 

Xiong Zhi's widened. As a Xiong, she naturally knew what that means.

"I really don't know what my son is thinking—" then Zhou Min stopped and stared at Xiong Zhi.

The other matter was still clear in his mind. Young Miss Zhi should not know of this matter.

With his Master Xiong's investigation, Zhou Min could tell that his son and the Young Miss had grown closer, too close that they began to enter a relationship that they should not cross. 

Zhou Min could not blame Xiong Zhi. The Young Miss was entirely a shut in, isolated from worldly dust, before meeting his son. The person whom she spent most of his time was with his son, Linfeng. It was natural for the Young Miss to form special feelings towards Linfeng.

On matters like this, Linfeng should have done his job and properly draw a line. An inexperienced Young Miss would eventually get over it. She might not even notice that she had once developed such feelings, and move on with her life taking his son's assistance for granted, as what it should be.

What he did not expect was that his son, who was trained carefully since young, would actually entertain their Young Miss's affection and return her feelings. 

As a butler, his son should know the consequences of such actions.

To make matters worse, his son also was investigating the untouchable treaty between the two families, effectively rousing Master Xiong's ire.

These were both extremely grave matters, and his son had done it all.

Was that not forcing Master Xiong to expel him from the family?

"What did Linfeng do that prompted this one chance of pardon?" Xiong Zhi's question brought back Butler Zhou to the matter at hand.

"Young Miss, right now, you might not understand. But when you finally rule over the empire, you will know why we have to do this for you," he helplessly explained.

His answer made Xiong Zhi more anxious.

Why must they keep it all from her? 

They say they were doing it for her?

She paused, and finally realized. It was about her.

She absolutely have something to do why Linfeng had to bow down like that.

Somehow, cold sweat started flowing down her back.

She took a deep breath and muttered in gritted teeth, "Butler Zhou, I need you to tell me what was happening. Why does Linfeng need that one chance of pardon?"

"It's his decision, Young Miss. Now, please excuse me." Zhou Min avoided Xiong Zhi.

"No," said Xiong Zhi as she stubbornly held on his coat. All polite manners that were taught to her were thrown off the window.

"I will not let you go until you tell me. What did grandfather discuss with Linfeng and Gaiyu? Why must Linfeng undergo this trial? Answer me." 

Xiong Zhi's voice was cold. Her eyes were darkened dangerously as she continued to give off a chilling aura around them.

She had promised to herself that in this life, she would stand by his side and protect him, love him, and not let him suffer.

Seeing him kneel down on the ground in resignation brought a stabbing pain to her chest. She had never seen Linfeng lower himself that much in the past. 

She did not want to see it again after today.

"Young Miss—"

"Butler Zhou, am I just a decoration to you?" Xiong Zhi's tone was bone-chilling. She was a Xiong too, the Zhou's masters. She supposedly had the power to be granted an information once she asked for it, especially from a butler.

Looking at her dark eyes and her tight grip on his clothes, Zhou Min knew that the Young Miss was desperate.

Zhou Min shook off Xiong Zhi's grip as gently as he could.

"Please forgive me, I truly cannot tell you at the moment. Once this matter ended, I will tell you personally. Perhaps, Master Xiong will inform you before I do so. But please, I hope Young Miss can act wisely at this present time," he said sincerely. He was a butler whose loyalty seeped through his bones thoroughly. Everything must be for the Xiong family before the Zhou. 

Despite the current turn of events, he sincerely thought of Xiong Zhi's wellbeing. He even chose his Young Miss' future, instead of the happiness of his own son.

He believed that this pair's relationship was just naïve puppy love. They would soon understand it once they both become a.d.u.l.ts, and realize why they have to break them this way.

Butler Zhou Min and Master Xiong both believed that.

Xiong Zhi gazed stubbornly at Butler Zhou. She used her other hand to clutch on his clothes once the other was pried off.

Zhou Min was in a predicament. He did not want to use force on the Young Miss

"Young Miss, please let go. If you don't—"

"You are going to hurt me?" Xiong Zhi challenged.

"No, I will instruct the butlers to escort you back to the East Wing. And... I will tell Master Xiong you are here." 

The words that he did not say was that Xiong Zhi would definitely be locked up.

The girl bit her lips. She could no longer control the slight trembling of her body. 

Even now, she still could not do anything despite being the official heiress of Xiong. Nevertheless, she must not back down, even if she knew she was forcing Butler Zhou to break his loyalty. 

Since Butler Zhou had said this, she would not be polite then.

"So you are threatening me?" Xiong Zhi said in a low voice. The surrounding temperature sank lower.

"Butler Zhou, does my grandfather know that it is not your brother's ashes inside that urn, but some random dust displayed in the Zhou ancestral house?" Xiong Zhi whispered. 

The dark hair framing her face made her face appear deathly pale as she stared at him with icy cold eyes.

Zhou Min turned to look at Xiong Zhi in shock.

How...

How did she know that?!

That secret was only known to him and his brother. No one else.

'If Xiong Zhi knew, then Master...'

Butler Zhou trembled.

"Don't worry, Grandfather doesn't know," Xiong Zhi, who finally grasped on a lifesaving straw, unclenched her hand and let go of Zhou Min's clothes.

"For now."

Those dark eyes staring at Zhou Min were piercing. He stood frozen, looking utterly horrified at her.

"I don't want to ruin our good relationship, Butler Zhou Min. I have no plans to act like a blabbermouth. I will keep my mouth shut, if you tell me why Linfeng used his one chance of pardon. Please... I am just worried about your son," Xiong Zhi had no choice but threaten Butler Zhou.