Chapter 321 - The Origin of the Treaty (II)

The moment it was opened, the Zhou young master instantly fell in love with the treasure inside. The small and slender tea cup looked majestic, exquisite, and refined. He could not help but touched its smooth surface, and trace the dragon and the phoenix on its side. If there was a queen of all teacups, then he must have probably found it.

The Zhou young master stared for a long time that the Xiong young master got anxious. He urged him to put it back as there were people coming their way.

However, because of the rush panic that came to them, the Zhou young master made a mistake and the priceless teacup slipped from his fingers. It fell to the floor and broke into pieces.

At the same time, a servant hurried in and found them. Seeing that the gift of the emperor was broken by some unknown rogues, the servant immediately called for the guards and reported this to the concubine.

There were many eyes and ears in the palace. The concubine's favorite tea cup that His Majesty personally gifted to her as a token of love was broken by some commoners. Someone had to be punished. And this was not just a simple punishment. 

The crimes of men sneaking into the harem's courtyard and destroying imperial treasures were huge sins, especially for the commoners. There would be an execution to the one who was responsible and a heavy punishment imparted to the culprit's family.

His Majesty the Emperor did not wish to entangle himself with this minor matter and nonchalantly gave the order to execute the commoner who broke the tea cup and to demote his whole family to the lowest rank of slaves.

The two young men was horrified at the sudden turn of events. It was the Zhou young master who broke the teacup, so he had to die. The Zhou Master begged and cried for his son's life repeatedly and offered to exchange his life for him instead. The concubine gave her final mercy and accepted to exchange his life for his son.

In the end, the Zhou Patriarch was executed for breaking into the collection room and destroying an imperial treasure. The whole Zhou family and all of its branches were demoted to slaves. In the instant, they fell from the highest ranks of the commoners to the bottom of the mud, their wealth and fame taken away from them. 

However, the Xiong young master, whose punishment was only to receive several plank blows, blamed himself. He thought that he was the one at fault because he was the one who had told his friend about the teacup and led him into the collection room. He told the truth to his father of his sins and cried, asking his father to help the Zhou family. 

The Xiong Master also felt guilty at his close friend's ending, he partly blamed himself for what happened. But he couldn't beg for his friend's life since he had to think of his family's fate if he takes responsibility for this incident. So he made a decision that could make up for his guilt.

He used his entire family's fortune and bought all the Zhou family members who had been demoted into lowly slaves and took them under his wings. In the end, just like the Zhou family, the Xiong family fell from their altar overnight.

The friendship between the two families was truly strong. This was also the turning point of their relationship, although both families were still not aware of it at this point.

The Zhou family members were thankful that they were saved by the Xiong family from hell, even when it costed the Xiong family their entire wealth.

The once prominent Xiong family lost their prestige, money and reputation which they had built for many generations.

The Zhou family felt deeply indebted and swore that they would work hard and serve loyally under the Xiong family, until the Xiong family rose to the greatest heights once more.

And this had become a lifetime debt.

This was the true history of what really happened back then.

However, as generations passed through the course of history, this history was eventually altered. There were many people born with different personalities that appeared in the two families' genealogies, and their beliefs and values eventually transformed the stories imparted to new generations. 

According to how it was told to the Xiong and the Zhou families, since the Xiong family saved the Zhou family who had made a terrible mistake from becoming slaves with no surname, the Zhou family shall serve them as their aides, attendants, or butlers for the rest of their lives. 

Thus, the treaty was born.

However, a plot hole appeared in the history that was passed down to the two families. Though, only a young boy could clearly see this missing puzzle that could unravel the truth back then.

Linfeng, who was only nine years old at that time and who was very obsessed regarding the two families' history, had a question that no Zhou a.d.u.l.ts could answer.

If every Xiong Master write their own journals to pass down in generations, why there was no journal of the Young Master who was the same age of the Zhou Young Master who broke the tea cup?

The first journal was the Xiong Patriarch who made a deal with the Zhou's ancestors. The second journal was from his grandson, the Xiong Master the third. Where was the journal of Xiong Master the second?

**********

Back to the present.

Old Xiong did not know the whole story, but most of it. From what he had studied, he himself felt that the Zhou family serving them loyally was a natural result of the course of history.

However, what exactly was wrong? What made Linfeng think that this balance ought to be ended?

Old Xiong was puzzled.

Then, he saw another folder attached below it.

[The Journal of the Young Master Xiong, Nth Year of XX Dynasty of Huaxia Empire, 17th Century].

There was note below.

[The Missing Journal]