At the same time in China, the Lu family clan was celebrating the Old Masters 97th birthday. A lot of family members have travelled from all around the world, to pay their respects towards the old man. The Lu family's clan main residence, was located on a hidden Valley, that was surrounded by mountain peaks, making the access by ground impossible.
One had to travel by air to reach this location. The traditional Palace, was built 700 years ago, since the Ming dynasty, for the 9th Prince of Emperor Hongwo and then passed down to the second daughter of the 9th prince, on her wedding day. She married a noble young general from the Lu clan.
Their descendants, even hundreds of years later, had continued to thrive and rule over this area and the whole of China.
"Great Grandfather!" Lu Ye Ze called.
The old man turned around slowly to face the voice that called him. He starred at the person in front him without any emotion, like he was looking at air. The wind was blowing fiercely through the branches of the peach trees, carrying the dried leaves in to the air. It was getting closer to winter now and the air had become chillier.
Two figures were standing silently on a hill between the peach trees. Their hair was ruffled by the wind, one young and the other old, the young man's head was bowed, while the old man was gazing into the distance. They haven't said a single word to each other, but their eyes seemed to have a lot to say.
In the end, the old man, waived his hand at his aide and left the young man behind in his solitude. They made their way to the old mans chambers. Lu Shaoting lived in a secluded wing of the Palace. He didn't like to mingle with the rest of the family members that were living with him. Their familial troubles were to tiring for a man at his age. He had only a few loyal servants and his every day tasks included, drawing, playing the zither and tending to the peach forest.
He didn't want to celebrate his birthdays, what was there to celebrate. On the other hand, his family members took this yearly celebration, like an opportunity to curry favour to their master and demonstrate their abilities and achievements, hoping he would change his mind and appoint one of them, to become the head of the Lu family clan.
Although Ye Ze was the head of the clan for the past eight years, he hadn't married and he didn't produce any illegitimate children either, so his position has always been threatened. Also when the old man would die, there would be an evaluation of the current family head and a re-election might take place, if the results were unfavourable.
Lu Ye Ze didn't plan to extend his visit today, his relationship with his Great Grandfather hadn't changed, so there was no point in staying to witness a boot licking show from his relatives. He order He Mufeng to prepare the helicopter on the phone. He was then informed that his parents had arrived earlier, so before he took off he decided to go and great them. Being the parents of the family head, their living quarters were located in the right wing of the Palace, at Jin Gardens more exactly. The spouses have just settled in and were planning their activities for the remaining time, when a gentle knock was heard at the door.
"Come in!" Lu Hongxiang commanded.
The door was pushed open and their assigned butler announced the visit of the family head. Behind the short chubby man, Lu Ye Ze's eyes were cold, while his expression was sombre.
"Mother! Father! I hope your travels were light and you two are in good health. I have greeted Great Grandfather and now I have other businesses to attend to, in the capital. Enjoy your staying!" Lu Ye Ze finished greeting his parents and turned to leave"
"Ah-Ze!" His mother called him. The man stopped in his tracks, his aura started to turn the air around him colder, almost reaching the freezing point. He turned around to face his mother, which seemed to have swallowed her words. Seeing his wife's frightened face, Lu Hongxiang intervened.
"Son! Mr. Müller has returned to China and his daughter will join her parents, in a few weeks. I hope you remember the promise our family made back then and you will host a dinner party, to welcome their return!" Lu Hongxiang decided to say it all in one breath, he knew that with his son's character, it was pointless to beat around the bush.
As expected Lu Ye Ze's temper became irritated instantly and his expression changed. He already received these news a few days ago and he wasn't happy at all about it.
When he was younger the Lu and the Müller families were business partners and very good friends. Back then Lu Hongxiang was the clan's family head, he expanded their business in Europe and became business partners with the German tycoon Stefan Müller. Lu Ye Ze was only 11 years old, when his parents made a promise to their good friends, that if it is for them to have a daughter, they will marry their only son to her. A few years later the Müller spouses welcomed their daughter into the world. They had four other boys, so their wish to have a daughter, has finally came true.
Lu Ye Ze contemplated for a few seconds and turned to his mother.
"If you are so eager for me to meet them, why don't you organise it yourself...and I will honour you all, with my presence!"
Lu Hongxiang was livid from anger, he wanted to retort, but no one better than them, knew how difficult it was to make their own son, to do something that he was unwilling. So the fact that he accepted to attend the dinner, it was still good enough... it didn't matter anymore who was the one that made the preparations.
After the brief encounter with his parents, Lu Ye Ze exited the Palace and boarded the helicopter, to return to the capital.
The helicopter rapidly ascended into the sky and disappeared into the clouds. Bellow, nearby the lake, Lu Shaoting followed with his dark eyes, the direction in which the helicopter departed. His aide stood behind him, with a stack of papers in his hands.
"Old Master, shall we take action?"
"Let's give him a bit more time..." The old master replied.
Back at the Jin garden, Lin Yan has happily called a handful of restaurant managers already in order to book a venue for the betrothal dinner of her son. She hasn't been this joyous in a long time. They have both waited for this day for so many years. Their son was in his mid thirties and if they would have left it up to him, he would have never married.
They have never intervened in their son's life, nor wanted him to abstain himself for the daughter of Stefan Müller. Lin Yan didn't care about status anymore, the person who her son would decide to join hands with, will be as welcomed as a God. For them, as long as their son was happy and he held any feelings towards someone, that woman could have been, even a beggar, or a gold-digger... their wealth was immeasurable anyway. At this point, even if that person was a man, they would still be thrilled with happiness for their son.
That is why they have left him alone until now. Lu Hongxiang was an open minded and carefree individual, not long ago he has was the clan's head himself and knew very well this burden that his son was carrying on his shoulders. He would have rather been born in a simple family, where he could have a loving relationship with his relatives, rather than live in the middle of a pack of hungry hyenas. He had never forced his son to produce an heir, as nobody knew better than him, how much pressure he was enduring from the other members of the clan. If it was up to him he would rather not have a grandchild so this torture could finally end for his family.
Lin Yan was the first daughter of the Lin clan she had been loved and pampered by her family, all her life, on top of that she has married out of love. Back then, when they were young, Lu Hongxiang was the most desired bachelor in the whole of china, he had become the head of their clan at a very young age, due to his father sudden death. At 17 years old, he was already the number 4 most successful business and wealthy man, in the Forbes magazine. He attracted suitors from China and around the world, whit his exquisite features and wealth. Lin Yan was considered to be the luckiest girl alive when she married him. Although she didn't pale to him in beauty or status, her life after marriage was the complete opposite of what she expected. She constantly had to watch herself, as the whole country was targeting her. Also her husband was cold and aloof, he didn't pay her any attention and he was gone on business trips, most of the time.
Lin Yan knew her son pulled from his father's side. He resembled him in his character and appearance. He was distant and aloof since a young age, but as older he became, the coldness and fierceness seemed to have taken over completely over his persona, making him totally unapproachable.
No wonder, although he was very handsome no woman stood beside him. No one wanted to be froze to death and shatter in a million pieces. His parents biggest wish, was that he would not be left alone, when the time came for them to ascend to the heavens.