Chapter 258 - The Decision

Old Xiong's eyes widened in disbelief. He was stupefied of what his granddaughter had said.

"Are you a fool—cough, cough!" Old Xiong coughed hard. He was too shocked that he had shouted too loudly, grating his throat in the process. 

Butler Zhou quickly ran to his side, but Old Xiong stood by himself and pushed away Butler Zhou's helping hand.

"You don't know what you are saying! You are willing to throw away the whole empire for just a mere butler?!" the old man roared, his face red. He was truly infuriated right now. 

His granddaughter was too foolish to throw away this title that any Xiong would kill for.

This was the title that only one person in the whole world can get, and with many others dying for it. The head of the legendary Xiong family! The owner of the whole Xiong Empire!

Yet his granddaughter just said, 'fine, strip it away as you wish'? Old Xiong could not believe it. If not for him still wanting to put sense into his granddaughter's head, he must have passed out already.

"Throw away? Didn't you say, you will take it away from me? That's a different matter, Grandpa," Xiong Zhi indifferently commented. She had already torn faces with him many times today, adding one would not make a difference. She was already in the bad side of her grandfather.

...However, although she looked indifferent in talking back to him, her heart felt pained, as if tiny needles were pricking her heart.

She respected her grandfather a lot. Even when he had wrecked her life because of his one decision, she still looked up to him and considered him an important family member. After all, he was the only blood related person she had been living with in this large, empty house for eighteen years. 

...Yet now they were fighting like they were at each other's throat. 

Old Xiong gritted his teeth. His granddaughter was stubborn. No matter what he says, it appeared she would not back down on this. 

He sat back down. His heart raged in fury. He closed his eyes for a moment. 

The atmosphere was very suffocating. The battle between the two Xiong masters caused the atmosphere in the room to alternate from blazing inferno to freezing temperatures.

No one talked as they watched the old man on the luxurious armchair close his eyes for a while.

The elders stayed muted on their spot, trying to erase their presence. Zhou Min stood by his Master's side. He was worrying over his Master's health, over the two youngsters' relationship, and over the fate of his son.

Linfeng took the chance to look at Xiong Zhi. 

The girl's side profile looked cold and composed, but the slight trembling on her lips told a different matter. 

Linfeng lowered his eyes. A complicated tangle of thoughts and emotions flashed by in his dark orbs.

Finally, Old Xiong opened his eyes. The turbulent madness was nowhere to be found. The magnificent king was now back in front of them. 

He looked coldly at his disappointing granddaughter. "Fine. As you have said, I can't take away your rights as the first in line of the Xiong family." 

He looked at the elders. "Let's continue." 

This cue made the elders swallow to wet their dry throats.

The trial of one chance of pardon in a butler's life began. 

There were two crimes in this matter. Based what Master Xiong had said, Linfeng had committed a.d.u.l.terous acts with the Young Miss, and also disobeyed his Master's direct order. 

These two sins were equivalent to banishment. 

However, there was no proof that Linfeng had committed blasphemy towards Xiong Zhi. Xiong Zhi herself denied the matter that they were going out. She had specified that on the night of her birthday, Linfeng had come to the East Mansion to give his greetings for her birthday. That was all. 

No one witnessed if the two exchanged intimate actions. 

In fact, Xiong Zhi did not lie. They do have feelings for each other, but they were not in a relationship yet. So, the matter of a.d.u.l.terous act was put aside for now.

Then came the crime of disobedience. It was about the matter of Linfeng's marriage.

Since Linfeng had clearly stated his stance to the elders, Grandma Zhou and his grand-uncle supported Linfeng. On the other hand, Grandpa Zhou supported Master Xiong. The elders had to do this tactic, to show their support to Linfeng without rousing Master Xiong's ire.

Xiong Zhi naturally sided with Linfeng. 

Now, the vote was two over three, not yet including Butler Zhou's vote. 

Master Xiong and Grandpa Zhou, against Xiong Zhi, Grandma Zhou, and Linfeng's grand-uncle.

Two votes on holding Linfeng accountable, and three votes for pardoning him.

If Linfeng was not pardoned from his sin, he would have two choices. Obey Master Xiong's order as the Master's last grace, or get banished from the Zhou family.

If he was pardoned, he would be allowed to follow through with his decision of not accepting Master Xiong's order and he would not be banished. But if by chance, he made another grave mistake in the future, then he would instantly be expelled immediately once confirmed of his crime.

Now, it was Butler Zhou's vote. If he put his vote on Master Xiong's side, this matter would turn to a tie. 

Then, they would have to involve the masters from the secondary branch of the Xiong family. This matter would be dragged on longer.

If he took Linfeng's and Xiong Zhi's side, then this matter would end at this point, and his son would be pardoned from his crime.

This was a heavy decision for Butler Zhou.

In fact, if Xiong Zhi did not force her way in, it would even be a more painful event for him. 

Zhou Min looked at his son, his eyes filled with hesitation, pain, and guilt.

Linfeng had his head down. As the subject of the trial, he was the guilty man who had caused all this. 

Butler Zhou knew that his son was stubborn. His son would likely choose the banishment over obeying the arranged marriage. 

Zhou Min's mind ran. It was like he was brought back to the same situation long ago when his younger brother called him in panic and asked for his help. Back then, he had already sworn with his life to be forever loyal to the Xiong family, but his brother's blood was precious to him. So he saved his brother and broke his principle. 

The guilt he had carried from then on always burdened him. He exchanged his absolute loyalty as atonement for his sin.

'I am sorry—'

Butler Zhou closed his eyes.

"I vote for Master Xiong's will. Zhou Linfeng had committed a great sin and should not be pardoned from it." His voice was firm as he stated his words. He looked at his son's eyes who glanced up at him as he started speaking.

His son slowly blinked, seemingly understanding what Butler Zhou's determined eyes were saying.

'I am sorry, Master Xiong. For choosing my kin before you again,' Butler Zhou continued in his thoughts.

In fact, the main reason for his heavy indecision was the burden of deceiving his master whom he had sworn his loyalty with.

That was right. Zhou Min and Linfeng knew that ever since Linfeng smoothened out those wrinkled hands of Grandpa Zhou, successfully softening the elders' hearts, Linfeng had already won no matter what Zhou Min ended up choosing.

The unknowingly united act of the Zhou family to help Linfeng within the extent of their power, gave a huge hand for this outcome to come up

This matter would be dragged longer—enough for Linfeng to buy time and break the treaty. 

'I'm sorry... Master.'