Reincarnation Realm, Year 569 of Tai'an.
Night Capital City, one of the ten great ancient cities of the Tai'an Heavenly Kingdom. Although the Li family governed this city, they had not known a moment's peace for sixteen years. All of this stemmed from the birth of Li Xiuyuan of the Li family sixteen years prior.
The Li family was a scion of a veteran general household of the Tai'an Heavenly Kingdom.
Despite governing Night Capital City, they had never abused their power to exploit the populace. The Li family's reputation was not only resounding within Night Capital City. Even throughout the entire Tai'an Heavenly Kingdom, the Li family of Night Capital City was known for their benevolent heart and their love for the common people.
In times of disaster, the Li family would generously donate alms and provisions, and construct shelters. It could be said that whenever major calamities struck, the Li family would be at the forefront, defending and upholding the nation. Even the Lord of the Tai'an Heavenly Kingdom showed the Li family considerable respect.
However, with the birth of Li Xiuyuan sixteen years ago, calamities had befallen Night Capital City incessantly. Not only had natural and man-made disasters become frequent, but even ferocious beasts and birds of prey, which rarely appeared, were attacking Night Capital City every few days. For a time, this plunged the city into widespread panic.
As days turned into weeks, resentment naturally deepened among the people. Many rumors began to spread, all suggesting that these misfortunes were directly caused by the birth of Li Xiuyuan of the Li family.
This was because at the time of Li Xiuyuan's birth, both the commoners and the city lords who came to witness the event had seen a blood-red light descend from the heavens. The incredibly malevolent aura had scared many of the onlookers into fainting.
Had it not been for the Li family's long-standing reputation for benevolence, unfavorable whispers might have emerged then. But as sixteen years passed, the people eventually connected all the occurrences in Night Capital City with the scene at Li Xiuyuan's birth.
Overnight, rumors and gossip became rampant. Even Li Mingzhe, the head of the Li family, found himself helpless against these rumors.
"Butler, what has Yuan'er been doing lately?" Li Mingzhe rubbed his forehead and asked someone behind him and to the side.
As soon as Li Mingzhe finished speaking, an old man emerged from the darkness and said, "To the Family Head, the young master remains as he always has, without significant changes."
A hint of helplessness flickered across Li Mingzhe's face upon hearing this. "I, Li Mingzhe, had a son at over fifty years old, only to have him be like this. My Li family has never wronged the common folk, not even a beggar is unaware of our name. Yet, why has Heaven bestowed such a son upon me, causing my Li family to endure such ignominy?"
"Family Head, the Lord has dispatched a special envoy today. I fear our Li family must devise a plan. The changes in Night Capital City have become more severe of late, and I fear it will be difficult to hold on," the old man's eyes showed a flicker of helplessness, but he quickly composed himself and bowed again.
"What did the special envoy say?" Li Mingzhe nodded slightly. When the special envoy arrived today, Li Mingzhe had been leading the Li family guards in resisting a flood and had no time to receive them. Now that the old butler mentioned it, Li Mingzhe finally remembered.
The old butler cleared his throat and said, "The envoy conveyed that the Lord considers Night Capital City one of the ten great ancient cities, representing the heritage of the Tai'an Heavenly Kingdom. Therefore, he hopes the Family Head can maintain the peace of Night Capital City and also provide peace for its citizens. Furthermore..."
"Furthermore what?" Li Mingzhe frowned slightly, looking at the old butler's hesitant tone as he trailed off.
Upon hearing this, the old butler immediately knelt down and said, "The envoy conveyed that rumors are rife in Night Capital City, causing widespread panic. The Lord trusts the Li family implicitly. However, he hopes the Family Head can yield to public sentiment and… and…"
"And what!" Li Mingzhe suddenly stood up, his imposing authority instantly filling the air. His shoulders trembled slightly, indicating he had likely guessed the gist of the matter.
"Family Head, please calm your anger. The Lord's oral decree also mentioned that if the Family Head is unwilling, the young master may be expelled from the Li family and Night Capital City. If the natural disasters and beastly incursions continue thereafter, it will clear the young master's name and quell the rumors, regaining the people's trust," the old butler said, bowing down.
Li Mingzhe's expression turned sorrowful. "I recall my Li family, generation after generation, has poured our hearts and souls into the peace and security of the common people. While we may not be saints, we have been true to our ancestors' teachings and to the world's populace."
"And now, when something goes wrong, my Li family must bear all the consequences? The Lord intends to… to make my Li family childless."
The old butler sighed inwardly. Their young master, Li Xiuyuan, had never uttered a word since his birth.
Furthermore, he spent his days sitting in the rear garden, watching the sun rise and set, lost in thought. This had been the case for sixteen years.
Not only were the household servants indifferent, but even the Family Head and his wife had never heard their son utter the word "father" or "mother." He had also been sickly since childhood, possessing no strength whatsoever.
If the young master, Li Xiuyuan, were to be expelled from the Li family, it was likely he would be torn apart by those ferocious beasts and birds within three days, leaving no bones behind. Even if he miraculously survived the beasts, he would likely starve to death. In that case, the Li family would truly be without an heir.
"Family Head, the Lord has only sent a special envoy with an oral decree, naturally considering this. According to this old servant's humble opinion, perhaps if the Family Head were to request an audience with the Lord, there might be another way," after a moment of thought, the old butler looked up and spoke.
Li Mingzhe shook his head. "The reason the Lord only sent a special envoy with an oral decree is to give the Li family some face. If I were to approach the Lord directly, with a single decree, everything would become irreversible. Enough. Butler, go and bring Yuan'er here."
The old butler's expression showed a hint of reluctance, but he eventually swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue, rose, and walked out.
...
"Family Head, the young master has arrived," the old butler bowed to Li Mingzhe, who was seated on the main hall.
Li Mingzhe nodded slightly. "Uncle Li, you may step down."
After speaking, Li Mingzhe's gaze slowly shifted to a young man of twenty years, standing beside the old butler. Due to his prolonged illness, the young man's skin had a sickly pallor. His handsome features appeared somewhat frail against this unhealthy complexion.
"Yuan'er, come to your father," as the old butler departed, Li Mingzhe beckoned to the young man.
The young man, however, did not move, as if he were entirely unfamiliar with Li Mingzhe, his father.
As if accustomed to this, seeing Li Xiuyuan's lack of movement, Li Mingzhe stood up and slowly walked over. Looking at Li Xiuyuan's face, which bore a faint resemblance to his own, Li Mingzhe took a deep breath and recounted all the events that had transpired in Night Capital City.
Especially the tragic scene of the flood that day, a hint of tears welled in Li Mingzhe's eyes.
Finally, Li Mingzhe looked into Li Xiuyuan's eyes and said, "Yuan'er, the Lord sent a special envoy today, asking your father to expel you from the Li family and from Night Capital City. But your father cannot do it."
"However, my Li family has, for generations, stood for the welfare of the common people. Your father cannot betray the ancestral teachings. On one hand, there is my son, and on the other, there are suffering and tormented citizens. Yuan'er, your father truly does not know what to do."
Li Mingzhe finished speaking, his lips trembling slightly. Just as he was about to continue, a clear and resounding voice suddenly echoed.
"I will go."