Song Zining’s refusal to participate in the Elders’ Concil caused a massive commotion which set nigh every elder into a raging frenzy—rebuke after rebuke filled the air; accusations were launched against Zining for disrespecting the elders, ignoring family hierarchy, and for being a living example of improper moral education.
The words “improper moral instruction” were clearly directed at Song Zhongnian; nevertheless, Zhoginian displayed no anger. He merely listened in silence; when left alone, he could do naught but sigh deeply.
Whereas the elderly seemed almost in total agreement in berating Song Zining, the visitors and young generation of the Song Household—along their fringe retainers—spoke in nothing but praise. After Elder Madame passed away not long before today, those responsible for mourning began to fake devotion so insincerely that no reasonable man could be swayed thereby. Who actually cherished and loved Elder Madame was only now made apparent through this moment.
Several sun-drenched cycles later, Song Zining remained as steadfast; he refused sustenance and movement, clearly determined to fast entirely for a duration of fortnights’ mourning. According to precedent of old, mourning for seven days sufficed, yet Zining felt seven more days would not ease inner grief enough to satisfy his mourning for Elder Madame.
At early morn Zhongnian completed his cleansing and breakfasted quietly in the书房 with texts and tea before him. The new mourners having mostly arrived or departed; important guests having already left one by one to attend affairs in their stead. Formalities thus dwindled significantly, and Zhongnian found rare peace.
At that moment the aged steward approached carefully and said: “My lord, other household elders spread slander aplenty. Some dare loudly accuse you of age-induced frailty publicly demanding your abdication! It cannot stand ignored—they have overstepped most gravely!”
Zhongnian remained still with calm composure; he paused only a moment to savor a slow sip of scented tea then murmured, “And what of the child, Zining? Have they no further words for him?”
“All that could be said were words most unsuitable: that young master seven shows arrogance unearned by disrespecting elders, and that tradition has no bearing upon him. They even suggest Master Zining holds no allegiance to our family any longer—so what business does he have showing face?”
An iron-gray shadow clouded Zhongnian’s face; a low scoff escaped him, “For selfish gain they’d abandon all semblance of principle or justice! The day our house crumbles they probably celebrate with wine instead!”
“Indeed, precisely thus my lord—yet you must find solution or else all unravells ill,” said the管家。
The head sighed slowly and replied, “Zining carries his burden well and his mind’s intent has slipped mine recently; were he but willing to assume head, all concerns would flee—yet alas his young years, even with merit beyond comprehension, he risks facing opposition none can quell.”
“But none among their ilk match him! What else could they offer compared young sons of rival manors?” cried out the old steward desperately before realization struck his face. Hurriedly, he knelt, “I am an ignorant and impolite fool, saying words best left unsaid.”
Zhongnian, smiling faintly between sadness muttered, “Though aged my heart is too often softened by caution that leaves many decisions in doubt—as was often reprimanded by my own Ancestor. Perhaps even I, unwilling to strive overmuch, secretly acknowledge my inability to carry such burden honorably.”
The管家 began to plead again anxiously while Zhongnian interruopted gently with finality, “Enough then. Come walk with me to young Zining. Who in our clan bears his kind of fidelity and sincerity before the elder? Only now could such deception and selfishness come clear. Would our ancestors had seen this, she might’ve purged our home in shame. Those who truly forget decorum or defy our tradition deserve blame most fitting! This sorry excuse of House…perhaps even collapse won’t shake fate undeserved!” he concluded in a weary voice.
Reaching the ancestral altar, there they found Song Zining as he stood; kneeling solemn posture unaltered since mourning took hold. Zhongnian gazed at his late mother’s portrait awhile.
“At this point, is your endurance intact?”
“A warrior’s mettle survives foodless nights for much longer.”
“A heavy thanks then.”
“I bear no hardship.”
Zhongnian nodded his head in quiet understanding before remarking cautiously, “When days permit… you also must take care of affairs that pertain to the Household. The Elders’ Council has a seat waiting especially for you—for deliberation, yes, not final vote yet but…”
“Before the eyes of my deceased grandmother, should we still speak politics so heartlessly—must she be burdened in death?” interrupted Zining.
Zhongnian blushed slightly—embarrassed at his insensitivity—his eyes met young man again. “About things from long ago in past… have those scars not yet faded from you?”
Zining offered no resistance shaking his head with quiet clarity “No ill has ever truly passed. Indeed only through adversity, I find contentment. However it’s astounding that their haste could stretch past the proper forty nineth-day mourning. Have respect already flown so completely from them?”
The elder man turned faintly pink in embarrassment replying, ‘Such pressure mounts all sides, none yielding respite. The external pressures force decision making before we’d wish delay…And the final arrangements or parting wishes were left unspoken by our ancestors… this void led us here.”
“Perhaps they’d discard any guidance grandmother gave regardless; even if issued directly, would not those words be denounced in her age’s frailness instead?” suggested son.
The elder snapped upright, outraged. ‘Who in all recklessness dare!’
“Who not indeed? You ask.”
Anger faded slowly as long, slow breathe overcame and only quiet exhalation remained.
Zining broke through that silence with a soft yet firm tenet to father,
“You must consider deeply should thoughts rise urging me into governance for my method will starkly differ yours—and if after that I walk a course less understood or desired in eyes that see, it then may prove too late.”
Zhongnian visibly started in momentary panic: “What…what is that you desire to do?”
“I seek to do truly naught: at forty nine’s end I leave this House completely.”
For fleeting moment elder heart felt both disappointment and slight release—though even he could barely fathom what truth resided between. He stood swiftly dismissing dust, ‘Some moons still linger; I must weigh matters further still in thought.’
Upon their shared exit toward manorial paths, old管家 whispered in urgency.
“Did the heavens grant sudden clarity today? How did our prince show willingness at long last?”
Smile laced in bitter irony shaped the lips of elder. “Even upon nodding his yes, to place him head requires my household stakes in its totality—placing him into Elder ranks could occur swift, though with Zining’s temperament… will a simple elder suffice as appeasement at best?“
“App… appeasement?! Yet weren’t the original intent always to uplift him toward Lord status over the family? When did appeasement suddenly enter thought!”
A hacking cough punctuated a deep breath. “Affaire such as these—so complex! And young prince… indifferent perhaps at best towards that role still remains.”
Before管家 could plead another sentence, he met a gaze too formidable; lowered eyes and muttered in resignation, “My place I overstepped.”
Zhongnian again breathed in slow rhythm, shaking head slightly, departing toward private chamber alone. At such hour it often would be Elders’ deliberations—but as of late daily they met, and daily they debated for nothing; always centering on competing ambitions tearing fabric of the household; every meeting now concluded on whispers of disunion more volatile than day before.
At the mere thought alone headaches surged again as he cursed within: “Even now I’d prefer a peaceful afternoon instead of dragging back into such turmoil!”
Then—a servant came, wind itself not so swift. He darted across path into the lord’s arms, panting in desperation,
“My lord! Most terrible disturbance—there be—there be a VIP guest!”
Zhongnian frown hardened into thunder. “What unseemly disorder is this! First, compose your wits and breathe before speaking!”
The panting servant hastily answered, “Y-yes, indeed—there now awaits a guest, at outer estate. Insists he seeks to enter and demands audience…with young Prince seven.”
Song Zhognnien suddenly inhaled sharply. “That…person? You have verified correct?”
“The man—exceedingly young and impossibly beautiful like not of this Earth. At my previous station on the outer frontiers, I once beheld the man once… and this—matches to the last curl.”
Zhoginian staggered momentarily from internal weight of thought “Why now?! What motive brings this being?”
“What shall be done now? Should someone take the stranger?”
“Nay! Touch none until you hear more! Immediately bring him instead to secondary hall away from public gaze! No word of his visit must leak—I make your head answer for all!”
The servant, with head nodding furiously replied, rushed back to obey.
The elder Song Lord, overcome by breath shortness and thoughts long buried stood frozen within mind palace. His position within the Song Dominion, and titles as the Empire’s Viscount of Wei bore the wisdom even now in our family’s waning state: he understood certain dangers of such a visitation—how the rogue Nyer shattered imperial order in murdering officer Lishuishing at top-secret bases. His reputation for impossible duels and victories, rising prowess beyond all expectation; whispers of his duel potential even reaching heights of the Grand Ascendant were widespread in the ruling elite’s hushed tones. There floated persistent rumors the Grand Chancellor, Min Wei had vanished on an unexplained venture into neutral territories with Nyer at some darkly implied crossroad.
Further complicating his arrival—Song could now only fathom what political maelstrom lay brewing. Whispers of his recent connections to top-tier officials hinted at possible involvements entwining with the realm-defying authority of Marrow Empress herself. Curiously—also said, whispers of Empress Li’s unusual obsession about events within the same neutral area recently had surfaced as well—these circumstances added layers upon which careful decisions must be layered.
Yet even beyond court concerns, the visitor himself had carved his fearsome legend. Bloodstained from relentless rise in martial might from underdog upstart into rumored apex-tier strength, some say with promise to surpass the heavens—the kind who would leave any past slight unforgiving in wrath if once achieved such heights of mastery.
He came now boldly declaring himself—open vampire blood, arriving unescorted upon threshold. Were he admitted within walls of the compound, the very act becomes weapon to twist and wield against Song household.
Zhognann clenched teeth in thought: ‘How reckless…merely adopting disguise not changing appearance; ‘Nightqian’ versus ‘Nyier’ holds but hair thin margin. Whether by ignorance or by deliberate design, such carelessness now leaves stain upon my doorstep!’
Whatever course chosen, this arrival’s secrecy remains unlikely—he might deny and dismiss… and even then Song Dominion itself leaks news worse than broken jug. Word of such an unseemly visitor soon reaches many tongues; at the Concil’s very table many elders will seize opportunity upon sight, transforming whispers into stormfront!
His troubles deepened when管家 spoke in sudden clarity. “My lord, the guest remains fast friends with young seven master. Would not transferring this duty directly toward him make wise course?”
Realisation struck like lightning through dry brush—insight lit into eyes.
“Indeed! Thusly I shall manage.”
With hastened urgency the管家 departed to relay tidings within mourning hall meanwhile recounting all to Song Zining as he waited steadfast; complex emotions played upon Zining’s expression—equal parts irritation and a rare sense admiration surfaced amidst sighs as he mumbled, “That mischievous fool. He couldn’t be content until bringing heaven and earth itself to disarray.”
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