Chapter 334 - Epilogue

Xiong De's eyes trembled. It was a very demanding and dangerous mission.

"That would be hard. The people around Master Xiong are loyal to him, and also very capable. Just making him drink 'that' once a month was already hard. What more per week?"

"Who said it's per week? To hasten it, you need to have him drink it per day. Or at least thrice a week," Guan Gao Huan said on the other line, still with the same gentle and cheerful voice.

"..." Xiong De was silent.

How could he do that! Just once a month had already caused him so much difficulty. He could only put 'that' in during their monthly meetings. He was also always afraid that he would be found out. 

If he did it per day, people would definitely suspect. 

Besides, how could he get such an opportunity to come near Old Xiong very often? He could not trust this task to other people no matter how loyal that person was to him. He could only do it alone, so that the risk would be lower.

"...That is...too risky," Xiong De finally said after a few moments.

"Risky? Aren't we doing risky business every time? This one has a huge risk indeed, but the reward is the whole Xiong Empire," Guan Gao Huan said as if it was such a nonchalant thing.

"..."

"Well, if you can't do that, then never mind. There's a lot of people who are willing to do so." 

Gao Huan acted like he was about to end the call when Xiong De stopped him.

"Wait, Young Master Guan. I will do it. Just give me time."

In the other line, Guan Gao Huan smiled gently, his eyes shining with cold malice.

"How much time do you like?"

Xiong De looked down. He thought of a way to use 'that' on Old Xiong.

But that one would take time. Originally, they planned to end Old Xiong only after he gained more than thirty percent of the shares and before the Young Miss Xiong Zhi turned twenty-three. But since Guan Gao Huan wanted to hasten it, then he could only use that way.

Originally, the slow acting poison should be continuously fed for four to five more years to finally kill the Old Man without leaving any traces. If they try to shorten it as much as possible without alerting others... His mind calculated fast.

"I thought of a way. But I can't do it so fast."

"In a year, Xiong Zhi will soon be eighteen. The heiress will grow. See if you can do it by then."

"I can't! One year is too short, the old man will surely notice if it's too often. Also, although the Young Miss will be eighteen by then, it's not like she will able to establish her foothold in the empire at such a short time. It will take another couple of years at least."

"So how long?"

"In order to not raise suspicion, I need at least a couple of years. This is really the limit, in order to succeed. One year is too short, we will definitely fail and alert them."

"Hmm, two years? That's long. You have to make sure you succeed then."

"I will."

"Alright, I will send you 'that' through the usual channel. I wish you luck."

Toot. Toot. Toot.

Xiong De still held the phone against his ears, frozen in place. His eyes were dark and filled with killing intent.

He just needed to do it.

He just needed Old Xiong to accept 'it'.

For two years, he would lie low to avoid suspicion, and when that old man died, he could then have everything.

******

Days passed. No news about the retrial came to outside. The Xiong and the Zhou family members themselves were unsure of what happened. But the subject of it all, Zhou Linfeng, was nowhere in sight, so their curiosity about the outcome could not be quenched. 

In the end, they had to throw it to the back of their minds. 

In fact, a lot of them suspected that perhaps, Zhou Linfeng was banished since that day. Perhaps, the Zhou elders begged Old Xiong to not publicize the matter. Some were curious about what would happen to the main branch of the Zhou family. There would be no succeeding heir for the Young Miss's aide.

Even the Old Master and the Zhou elders did not seem to bother looking for a replacement.

They have questions but as the days continued to pass, this matter was eventually buried.

****

In the Lu Mansion.

Lu Yin Ze was in front of the computer. He had been checking and reading the files all over again inside the flash drive that his mother had left behind. 

All them were doc.u.mentations on various dealings... shady dealings.

His heart hung tight. How could his mother have these evidences? Was she harboring suspicions on his father for a long time? But exactly since when? 

Lu Yin Ze knew that this flash drive was a heavy evidence that could make a severe and decisive blow to his father. That was why he needed to use this accordingly, with good timing and proper preparations, so that her mother's last efforts would not be wasted.

He used the updated system that Gu Zhen had made for the file's security. Afterwards, he sent it to Xiong Zhi. In the whole world, only four people have this kind of security system. He was at ease that it would not be opened by anybody except Xiong Zhi, Song Xuantin, and Gu Zhen.

Sent.

In Xiong Zhi's room, as she was preparing herself for sleep, her phone sounded. Thinking it was Linfeng, she quickly fished out her phone and checked the caller ID. Days had already passed since they last saw each other. Linfeng already flew to the United States. They regularly messaged each other before they sleep. 

However, instead of his name, it was Lu Yin Ze's email.

…?

She opened it.