The Endless Promise

15. The Shared Past 2

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Lord Xu's brows drew together.

"The Clan Elders are endlessly difficult, and have attempted to kidnap her three times already...!"

"What?!" Lord Zhang.

"Oh My!" Concubine Huang.

"Umh!" Lord Xu continued. "They all say things like, 'such a rootless thing does not belong in the head family', and they are constantly looking for ways to get rid of her. Luckily, our Yan Yan is smart! She will instantly cry if anyone but me sets foot in her room."

He couldn't resist a fond smile, then, "But it won't last for long, and this is why I'm trying to give her the necessary 'roots' she needs.

"Who doesn't respect the Zhang family? If Yan yan is betrothed to the Zhang family, it will give the elders something they've always wanted. A link to your family! She will have some value in the Clan!"

He turned to Concubine Huang. "Sister Huang, please pardon my request. I asked for Xiao Cheng, because I dare not ask for Xiao Yin. I know you are concerned about Xiao Cheng, but I can vow to give him a promising title."

Surprisingly, Concubine Huang shed a tear, and she used a silk handkerchief to gently dab at her eyes. "Sect Leader Xu, hear me out.

"After hearing your story, I think our A-Cheng is not enough to grant this little one power!" Then surprising both men, she suddenly stood up, picked her skirts and went to sit beside Lord Xu.

She held out her arms, and Lord Xu gingerly placed the infant in her arms, watching her croon at the child.

Then she turned back to her husband.

"My Lord, pardon me for saying so, but since Sect Leader Xu has given this child his name, can't we do a friend a favour and betroth her to our A-Yin?" Concubine Huang asked with her sweetest smile.

But Lord Zhang instantly turned white. "Nonsense!" He thundered. "A-Yin is my legal successor! I can't have him marry an orphan!"

Concubine Huang simply bowed. "Forgive me my dear. I misspoke. I only think that A-Yin is the uncontested genius of the Zhang family. No one can threaten his position, no matter who he marries!"

She raised her head to Lord Xu. "On the other hand, A-Cheng is my child ... the child of a mere concubine." She said, her words dripping in sadness. "He doesn't have enough power to protect this little one.

"But if she's betrothed to A-Yin," She turned back to her husband. "...she will be safe, and the Xu Clan will owe us a favour! Don't you think?"

In those days, Concubine Huang was considered the most beautiful human in the entire Yueyan City, and Zhang Guo had not once been able to deny her a single request!

Outside the door, Zhang Luoyin did not understand what the grown-ups were discussing, but just three days later, his mother had explained to him that he had to care for the child when he was grown up!

And as the years went by, he began to understand what it all meant, so when he was ten, he had dragged a six-year old Weiyan by the hand, to one of the gardens and had boldly declared,

"You will be my wife in the future! Don't worry, I will become a capable cultivator, and take care of you! Hehe!"

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At present, Bailong flushed.

'Such an adorable Love Story!' He thought.

But the memories that followed were not so great...

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In Luoyin's twelfth year, his mother, Duan Xiu had passed away due to an illness, and shortly after, Concubine Huang had become the new 'Zhang Furen'.