Chapter 13: Thunder Strikes in Winter, Graves Everywhere

Lang Jiuchuan's return to the estate certainly made the Lang family "see her in a new light," but it did not draw much attention, especially from the adults. Someone like Lang Zhengping, the new head of the family, was far too busy; he was preoccupied with managing his late father's funeral arrangements and was more concerned with his own future and the family's prospects.

The title of Marquis Kaiping was originally a hereditary title granted by the Founding Emperor of the Great Dan Kingdom, intended to be passed down without dilution. However, by the generation of Old Master Lang, the family had been targeted because they had chosen the wrong side during the late Emperor's struggle for the throne. Although the title was not stripped, it was downgraded from an undiluted hereditary title to one that diminished with each generation. Thus, starting from Lang Zhengping, the rank would continue to drop generation after generation, unless a talented descendant could perform great feats to reclaim the original status.

The Lang family had begun to marginalize and decline while the late Emperor still held power. Fortunately, his reign was short, and he passed away quickly. When the current Emperor ascended the throne, it coincided with the Xiongnu incursions in the northern borders. Lang Jiuchuan's brother, Lang Zhengfan, had joined the military early and accumulated military merits, rising to the rank of Fourth-Rank General of Anbei. The Lang family seemed to possess the destiny of restoration; however, the good fortune was short-lived. Lang Zhengfan died in the prime of his life, and not a single one of the Lang men could follow in his footsteps.

Now, more than a decade later, the only member of the Lang family capable of attending court was the deceased Marquis Kaiping. Lang Zhengping, as the heir, held only a Fifth-Rank idle post and was not even qualified to attend court. Locally, the third son, Lang Zhengwen—a concubine-born son—was merely a Seventh-Rank County Magistrate and a *juren* scholar, and he was now entering a period of mourning.

Therefore, the next three years would be the darkest hour for the Lang family. If Lang Zhengping could successfully inherit the title, there might still be a chance for a political comeback in the future; if not, the Lang family would truly be finished.

The Marquis Kaiping had surely considered this; otherwise, he would not have disregarded his aging body in his final years to strive for connections for his descendants.

This was also why Lang Zhengping had no time to worry about a niece's return; he had more important matters at hand, matters concerning the very fate of the clan.

Elder Zhao was one of the key connections he intended to cultivate and curry favor with, yet he had been publicly humiliated by Lang Jiuchuan at their very first meeting. Although he was furious, he had no choice but to clean up her mess, personally sending a rare, treasured volume via his trusted manager, Gao Cheng, as an apology.

He was counting on Elder Zhao to help him manage affairs—to ensure his father's funeral was handled properly before planning for the future. If the current Emperor granted a posthumous honor, then they would have nothing to fear.

Indeed, shortly after Elder Zhao returned, he received the apology gift from the Lang family.

Since the Lang family was in mourning, Gao Cheng, being a servant of the Lang house, did not enter the estate. He merely kowtowed several times at the gate, delivered the rare volume, and left.

Elder Zhao flipped through the book and let out a sigh.

He understood the intentions of his nephew-in-law, Lang Zhengping, and knew the awkward position the Lang family was currently in. Originally, with the second son of the Lang family rising through accumulated military merits, the family might have re-entered the central power structure; in a best-case scenario, they might have even produced two marquises in one generation.

But unfortunately, the second Lang son had a short life and passed away early. Even worse, at the time of his death, the younger generation of the Lang family consisted only of infants. There was a gap in the lineage; that was when the talent pool of the Lang family truly suffered a rupture.

While his old friend, Marquis Lang, could attend court, he held no real power; he only attended occasionally to listen to government affairs. Now, after more than ten years, the Lang family was simply waiting for a chance to turn the tide.

It wasn't that his old friend hadn't sent letters seeking help, but now that his friend was gone, things were even harder for the Lang family. Elder Zhao thought that when the time came, he would help as much as he could, ensuring that Lang Zhengping could smoothly inherit the title. With a title in hand, it would be easier to plan for other things in the future.

Yet, inexplicably, a pair of bottomless black eyes and the words she had spoken kept surfacing in his mind.

*Rumble!*

A sudden crack of thunder exploded.

Elder Zhao shuddered, his heart racing wildly. He looked out the window.

Thunder in winter, graves everywhere.

The pitch-black sky had darkened at some unknown point, as if carrying an ominous omen.

*Thud, thud, thud.* Heavy, hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

Elder Zhao gripped the rare book tightly and stared fixedly at the door. Someone rushed in—it was his eldest son, Zhao Kun, appearing drenched in wind and snow. He lowered his voice.

"Father, in Mo Village in the western suburbs, Old Farmer Mo's house is on fire," Zhao Kun said, his voice hoarse. "The villagers fought the fire and carried out five corpses. It was Old Farmer Mo's entire family. I checked; the child is indeed a child of the Mo family..."

It was a Mo child, which meant that the child had escaped. Even they didn't know where he had gone or whose identity he was using. And the person who set the fire...

*Clatter.*

The rare book fell from Elder Zhao's hands.

To save someone who should not be saved is to trade one life for another. And for this life, he would have to be the one to pay the price.

Elder Zhao's body instantly slumped.