Chapter 425 - Taking One's side

It seemed like Old Lu was really upset about what happened.

"Grandpa," Lu Yin Ze tried to pacify the old man.

Although they indeed suffered, still, it was a bit impolite to speak so straightforwardly like this.

Mistress Tang still wore the apologetic smile on her face.

"I sincerely apologize for the trouble we created."

Tang Xinyang stood up and bowed a perfect right angle to the pair of grandfather and grandson. "This matter escalated into this because of me. I sincerely apologize."

Tang Yin followed her sister and bowed as well. "I am also at fault. This happened because… I am the root of the problem. I sincerely apologize."

Actually, she did not really know what to say. She could not just say, 'It's because I did not want to choose a fiancé my family offered', or, 'It's because I did not want to grab my sister's man although it was only for appearances', could she? So she could only sincerely apologize for troubling the Lu family.

"My two granddaughters are fully reflecting on the things they have committed wrong. I've also made sure to teach them a lesson. We came here to compensate Second Young Master Lu Yin Ze for the trouble we caused and brought to you."

"Compensation? How do you intend to compensate us?" Old Lu asked, still not yet moved by their apologies.

"Grandpa," Lu Yin Ze helplessly said, patting his grandfather's hand gently to calm down the old man. "Tang Xinyang is my friend. A favor from a friend should not be compensated."

"A friend would not bring that much trouble to you or your family. What the Tang family did was a very big mistake. You can't even imagine what consequences it would bring."

"..." Tang Xinyang turned red in embarrassment.

During these two days, she was scolded harshly by her grandmother. Her grandmother had told her the ins and outs of what she had done. To think that the seemingly harmless 'vote rankings' of the last dance could actually bring more trouble than she had thought.

Due to her straightforward nature, she initially thought that a mere explanation and suppression of rumors could settle it, but reality taught her otherwise. She began to truly reflect on her actions, and her grandmother also began to reinforce her teachings with more realistic views on human nature.

Tang Xinyang was going to be the next helm of the family, thus, Mistress Tang had become a lot stricter in educating and training her with these social politics.

As her grandmother said, Tang Xinyang finally saw that people who had malicious intent to the four families could grab this handle, stir up waves to make the matter worse, and threaten the delicate balance that existed between the four families.

With her grandmother's guidance, she saw with her own eyes how the weak wall separating the four families from other great families could potentially disappear by mere carelessness.

"Grandpa." Lu Yin Ze frowned.

Mistress Tang nodded her head. "Your grandfather is right. It was totally thoughtless of us. That's why we came here to compensate the Lu family. Apologizing is not enough."

Lu Yin Ze turned silent.

He knew of course the severity of the matter. He was simply trying to make the atmosphere a bit lighter. However, it seemed that it would not work.

He decided then to leave the discussion of compensation to his grandfather. Of course, if it was marriage as a form of compensation, he would strongly refuse.

Lu Yin Ze thought of that and glanced towards Tang Yin, his usually gentle silver-blue eyes strangely flashing with a determined light.

This woman had been staring at him ever since he came.

Lu Yin Ze was a man who had been continuously plagued by the eyes of ladies and subtle verbal hints of marriage offers. Thus, when faced with this kind of familiar situation, he only thought of one thing. 'You won't get my hand!'

Tang Yin who happened to be observing him: ???

"So, Lady Tang, how do you plan to compensate my grandson and the Lu family?" Old Lu asked.

Although still upset, he was more interested in this. "The Lu family certainly will be pleased with the compensation. The Tang family might be a family of martial artists, however, we also have a deep history and network like you do…"

'Please not marriage', Lu Yin silently prayed.

Mistress Tang continued to speak in a serious tone. "Our Tang family pays much attention in repaying our benefactors. Your Lu family helped us a lot, and still we caused you trouble. This is a big debt."

'Please, not marriage.'

"Under our surname Tang, with all our might, we swear an oath to take Second Young Master Lu Yin Ze's…"

'Oh, no!' Lu Yin Ze's hair instantly rose.

"Lu Yin Ze's side…"

Old Lu's eyes lit up.

"No!" Lu Yin Ze strongly disagreed.

"Eh?" All people inside the living room looked at him in surprise.

Old Lu frowned. "Why not?"

Did his grandson change his mind and no longer wanted to be his heir?

If that was the case, then he needed to remake everything for him from scratch. Old Lu wanted to spoil his gentle and filial grandson. If his dear grandson did not want to inherit the family business, then he would not force him to handle the Lu Empire.

"Grandpa, I don't want marriage." Lu Yin Ze's limpid eyes looked at his grandfather.

?????

Everyone was taken aback and looked at him questioningly.

All four people: What was he talking about?

Suddenly, Old Lu come upon a realization.

"Oh... I see."

He nodded deeply, his eyes were full of understanding. His grandson was too shy.

The clueless Tang family: 'What 'I see'? What does it mean?'

Lu Yin Ze nodded, his beautiful eyes silently pleading. 'Please don't marry me off. Not to this woman or to any Tang family women.'

Old Lu patted his grandson's shoulder and gave him the look of 'I-got-this'.

He turned to Mistress Tang. "So which lady did you get for my grandson?"

"Grandpa!" Lu Yin Ze was shocked.

'Why did you ask that?! I thought you got this!'

Old Lu just nodded again and gave him another Buddhist smile, with the 'don't-be-shy-I'll-handle-this-matter' look.

Lu Yin Ze no longer trusted this look. "No, grandpa, you misunderstand! I don't want to get married. If I will marry, I will handle it myself."

Old Lu was taken aback, finally getting confused.

Then why in the world did his grandson suddenly mention marriage? Because of that sudden remark out of the blue, he thought that his grandson was trying to imply marriage and was simply feeling embarrassed to say it outwardly.

"..." The Tang family was still clueless until now.

Did they say something wrong in mentioning their compensation?

Mistress Tang, although puzzled, coughed and decided to continue discussing their topic.

As for the Lu's problem, this pair of grandfather and grandson should discuss it later when they were gone. They already wasted so much time today. In any case, just tell them her family's compensation and they could go home.

"As I was saying, our Tang family decided to support Second Young Master Lu Yin Ze's side in the future inheritance battle of the Lu family. If ever you need help, we will extend our hand to assist."

Lu Yin Ze blinked.

Eh?

Old Lu decided to set aside his confusion and became serious as well.

"Lu Yin Ze is already my decided heir. There is no other competitor."

"You might say it for now. But based on the information I've got, your eldest grandson will certainly not back down without a fight."

With the mention of the 'eldest grandson', both of the men surnamed Lu's eyes flashed.

Lu Yin Ze instantly forgot his earlier gaffe and became silent.

Old Lu looked at Mistress Tang. For this old woman to say something like this, she might have found out something regarding his grandson whom he had cast out of the family.

"What do you mean by that, Mistress Tang?"

"I met Lu Jin in my granddaughter's banquet." Old Lu and Lu Yin Ze were both taken aback.

In the banquet?

Lu Yin Ze's silvery blue eyes trembled.

His cruel brother was in the same place as him that night? Yet… he did not even notice.

Lu Yin Ze unconsciously shuddered.

The hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stood up. It was like there was an assassin about to slash his blade behind you yet you still did not know.