Chapter 264 - One month after

News traveled fast. The Zhou family were talented butlers, and all of the butlers knew how to keep themselves updated. Now that the topic was about the future heir of the Zhou family, it was natural for this matter to be discussed extensively amongst the concerned maids and butler.

Xiong Wuyue, who locked herself up in her room, asked a serving maid if there was news about Xiong Zhi's tarnished reputation. Ever since her father promised to her that Xiong Zhi would be destroyed soon, she had long been expecting Xiong Zhi's broken image to spread out to the world.

The maid answered that the Young Miss Xiong Zhi was suspected of having an illicit relationship with her butler. According to the maid, Master Xiong ordered Linfeng to be engaged with a young miss from the second branch, Xiong Gaiyu. But the butler, Linfeng, rejected and asked for pardon instead.

The maid thought that Xiong Wuyue would be happy about the rumors going around between the two families, but who would have thought that she would get slapped hard on the face instead.

Xiong Wuyue was shouting all the way that Xiong Gaiyu, that lowly bitch, was not worthy of Linfeng at all.

"Dad! He can't marry Gaiyu! What was that old man thinking! Linfeng will not marry her! You have to stop this!"

Xiong De closed his eyes tiredly and patiently answered.

"There's no decision for now. There is a re-trial." 

"Re-trial? Then our second branch..." Xiong Wuyue's eyes lighted with hope.

"Yes. I can vote. I will vote for your wish, my daughter." Xiong De did not elaborate further because he thought that even if he voted for pardoning, he would still be outnumbered. Old Xiong, the Head Master of the entire Xiong family whom the Zhou family could not afford to offend, was bound to win. 

The trial of one chance of pardon seemed to be an attempt of fairness for the Zhou butlers, but in fact, it was just a farce that heavily relied on the whims of the Head Master, whether he wanted to be merciful or not. 

Therefore, the result of the re-trial could only be against pardon. Either the butler would follow the order without any choice, or be banished from the Xiong and Zhou families, unable to step any closer to their areas of influence all over the world. 

There was no way he could say that to his daughter. It might be better if that butler ended up banished, so Xiong De could make moves in the dark, take the boy, change the boy's identity, and gift him to his daughter, since his daughter wanted this boy toy so much.

"Don't worry, dearest daughter, no matter what the result is, father will do his best to help that butler, okay?"

Xiong Wuyue nodded. "I want to come with you when the re-trial is held. I want to be there for Linfeng. Please, Dad..." 

Xiong De was taken aback by his daughter's pleading.

"You really like that boy, huh?" Xiong De knew the answer but still asked.

Xiong Wuyue blushed. She did not speak out and just nodded shyly.

'Like' was just a small word compared to her feelings for him.

Then Xiong Wuyue remembered the root cause of all this trouble. She complained to her father.

"That bitch. She caused this. Why is she still alive?"

Xiong De patted Xiong Wuyue's head comfortingly.

"Don't speak like that, the walls have ears. You don't have to worry about it. I have already taken care of it."

Xiong Wuyue's eyes sparkled. "I want her so messed up that she wished she could just die instead."

Xiong De nodded. "Those guys I hired are professionals." 

Xiong Wuyue instantly became happy when she heard this. She could finally get her revenge! She allowed herself to be escorted back to her room while humming happily.

******

Amidst, the various worries, schemes, and preparations, one month flew by quickly. 

It was a bright sunny day with blue skies and fluffy clouds. The birds sang beautifully on their perched branches. A faint sound of car engine disturbed the stillness. A luxurious car stopped in front of the huge Xiong Mansion.

Song Xuantin stepped out of her car and was escorted by the Zhou butlers into the mansion.

She was wearing cute jumpers, a white T-shirt and pair of white running shoes. 

"Zhi!" Song Xuantin's sunny temperament livened up the East Wing.

Xiong Zhi went down after a minute. She wore casual jeans, a plain white shirt, and sneakers. Her crescent necklace dangled on her neck. Her long hair was tied up in a simple pony tail. Behind her, a maid respectfully followed, holding her small luggage for the two days trip.

Song Xuantin got even more excited as she saw her friend. "Did you review our operation today?" she gushed.

Xiong Zhi nodded. "How about you? Did you get an answer from him?" 

Song Xuantin knew what Xiong Zhi meant. In the past month, the security around Xiong Zhi got stronger. Xiong Zhi could meet her friends, could visit IHZHI, and could go to school. However, she could not meet Linfeng. 

In the past month, Xiong Zhi secretly communicated with the Zhou family's elders and head butlers of the second branch. However, even though they met her out of respect, they did not give any promise to her that they would side with pardoning Linfeng. 

Instead, they gave her subtle advices that she would only look bad if she kept defending the butler that disobeyed an order from the highest level, a direct order from the Head Master himself. 

The head butlers actually wanted to tell her that she, as a Xiong and the heiress at that, should not lower herself to an illicit relationship with a mere butler, even if that butler was their head master in the future. The Xiong's dignity must not be shaken.

It showed how much of a success the long term brainwashing had on the Zhou family, for them to have such a strong and unwavering loyalty to the Xiong family. 

Xiong Zhi naturally caught on to what they wanted to say. She left them after giving them a cold stare.

The Zhou family could not help her, so she went to the Xiong's. 

Xiong De was out of the list. She would never approach that disgusting man. 

Xiong Cai readily agreed to side with Linfeng. In Xiong Cai's point of view, if his daughter married a butler, then their lineage would be corrupted, and his descendants could only go down the ranks. 

Xiong Bilan was out of the country. Xiong Zhi sent her first uncle an email about a certain project that might let Xiong Bilan take her side. She had received a response the next day. After Xiong Bilan confirmed that the information she gave to him was legit, her first uncle agreed to take Linfeng's side. The remaining half of the information would only be given after re-trial, no matter what the outcome was. It was to ensure that Xiong Bilan would truly keep his promise.

Despite all that, Linfeng's side was still at clear disadvantage. They were still short on numbers. Xiong Zhi racked her brain on how she could help Linfeng. She also wanted to know what Linfeng's plan was. 

Although she promised to trust and wait for him, she still wanted to do her best to help him in her own limited way.

Xiong Zhi also stopped herself from calling or answering calls with Linfeng, albeit with much difficulty. Knowing his grandfather, for sure, all calls inside and near the Xiong mansion would be tapped. Given the extremely tightened security around her, she did not dare put Linfeng at risk in such a sensitive period. 

Xiong Zhi only had a few chances to sneakily call him at school through Song Xuantin's phone.

Despite her probing, Linfeng only answered her to not worry, that he would handle things this time, and that he would eventually give her answer. And then spent most of the time talking about random things.

But how could Xiong Zhi stop worrying? This matter was Linfeng's future marriage. She could not let it go just like that. If Linfeng was to be banished, whether that was his intent or not, how could Xiong Zhi take that? Linfeng's future would be ruined.

The month quietly passed with Xiong Zhi's heart hanging on a thread tremulously.

Finally, last week, Xiong Zhi sent a message to Linfeng, asking him to meet her in the senior's last trip.

It was an event wherein both of them were justifiably involved. 

This would be a perfect chance to have their alone time, before their judgement day arrives.