Xiyun woke up just as the sun was rising. He had chosen the middle room attached to the north side of the courtyard.

Outside, he noticed that Yeon’s room was still silent. He passed the courtyard and opened the gate. Sitting on a stool and leaning against the wall, was the carriage driver from yesterday, bobbing his head as he slept. Xiyun assumed the driver was supposed to be watching him. Either way, Xiyun did not wake him up. Instead, he walked up to a well and began drawing out water in a bucket which he carried back inside the courtyard. In the time that he filled up six of the pots next to the kitchen entrance, Yeon stepped outside her room.

"Good? Good Mor- Good Morning," Yeon slowly said. She took a handful of water and after a splash, her eyes became sharper.

Xiyun nodded. He carried another pot inside the kitchen. He did not find kindling, but there was a container of sulfur sticks on one of the shelves. He tested one out and it produced fire for the stove.

Fully awake, Yeon walked over to the boy. "Want me to go outside and buy something to eat? I’ve gotten quite good at it."

"I think it's better to buy a stock of ingredients to keep and cook ourselves."

"Makes sense."

As a kettle of water boiled on the plate over the stove, Yeon lifted it onto a table. She stared at it and Xiyun did as well. Most of the shelves were empty with the exception of metalwork such as pots and knives.

"We don’t have cups," Yeon said.

"We don’t have cups," Xiyun repeated.

"I want tea as well, like when we were traveling."

"We visited way too many teahouses."

"I vehemently disagree," Yeon stepped outside. She stared up at the morning sky. "But really, what are we going to do?"

Xiyun didn’t have to answer because the gate opened. Qiu Gaokang and his father, Steward Qiu, entered.

Xiyun faced them and did not speak.

Steward Qiu stopped and Gaokang stood behind his father.

"Every member of the family will share the first meal of the Lantern Festival," Steward Qiu said.

"Will the head of the family be there?" The only way Xiyun could regain any control over his life was to talk to the one in charge.

"He won’t."

"I’m not attending."

Yeon laughed. "What a coincidence! I don’t want to attend the banquet either." Half of the room couldn’t understand her comment.

"Your position will be announced there," Steward Qiu said.

Xiyun remained silent. He didn’t want to go, therefore he wasn’t going.

Gaokang stepped forward. "You know father, no one wants him there anyway. They are already complaining about him, trying to correct whatever mistake that allows the boy to stay within the estate. They want him kicked out."

"I’ll go," Xiyun abruptly said.

"Really?" Yeon said.

Xiyun hummed.

For an instant, Steward Qiu’s brow creased, however, he turned around. "Follow me."

The Qiu father and son walked in the front while the two youths followed steps behind them.

"How did you change the boy’s mind?" Steward Qiu asked his son.

Gaokang shrugged. "It's easy to understand their motives for anything after watching them."

Steward glanced back at Xiyun and spoke to the boy. "There are eleven members of the main family who are attending the meal. They are the First Madam, Fourth Miss, Fourth Master, Fifth Lady, Fifth Sir, Little Sixth Mister, Sixth Master, Sixth Madam, Fifth Mister, Seventh Master, and Eighth Lady. The Fifth Lady’s daughter, the Seventh Miss is also in the estate, but, as she’s only a year old, she won't be attending. The First Master, First Mister, Second Master, Second Madam, Second Mister, and Third Mister, are all working outside of Luoyi and can’t attend."

Xiyun hummed. He internally summarized that the Sirs and Madams were the spouses of the head’s children. The third-generation children, the Misters and Misses, were all titled by their age no matter who’s child they were.

The interior of the manor enjoyed red silk framed by dark brown wood and jade ornaments. At the end of the hall was a dining room with a single long rectangular table. Six attendants stood near the walls. Eleven individuals sat at their seats.

Xiyun’s gaze passed all of them as did theirs.

At the far end of the table was a large chair that was likely reserved for the Old Master.

Sitting at the front of the left side was a mature woman donning a blue dress and pinned hair, the First Madam. The edge of her lips pulled and her gaze did not  notice Xiyun. Next to her mother was a girl around Xiyun’s age, the Fourth Miss.

At the third seat was the woman from yesterday, the Fifth Lady, followed by a humble-looking man, the Fifth Sir, and a toddler who required a cushion on his chair, the little Sixth Mister.

On the last seat was a man, the Seventh Master, that displayed a somewhat lazy grin when he turned his head to see the entrance of Xiyun’s party.

On the other side of the table, the Fourth Master, Xiao Tailuo, sat with a grim expression.

Next to him was a large-framed man who shaved a light beard, the Sixth Master. His lips were stern and his eyes narrowed. At his side sat a woman, the Sixth Madam, and another toddler, the little Fifth Mister.

On the last seat was a tall and sturdy woman that could have been in her twenties, the Eight Lady, who’s expression and posture remained neutral. Out of everyone, she appeared unaffected by the heavy air.

Steward Qiu and Qiu Gaokang both stopped at the entrance, allowing Xiyun and Yeon to walk past them.

Xiyun stepped into the dining hall, and only the echoes of his footsteps made a sound. No one spoke.

Halfway, he noticed something. There was no chair available for him. The table was long enough to extend past the existing chairs, and eleven was already seated upon, an odd number which should have left a seat available, yet, there was no chair, only an oddly empty spot at the end of the right side.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

None of the attendants met his eyes. Xiyun wondered if he should just turn around now and return to the courtyard.

Qiu Gaokang watched what was occurring silently, thinking about how the boy would act against the various power plays against him. Ever since the Eight Lady finished laying her foundation and the births of the two little Misters, the family had remained largely stable and tranquil. Things are going to be hectic from now on.

Xiyun walked past the people on their seats, there really was only one seat he could sit at. Standing in front of the ornate chair at the very end of the table, he sat down. Yeon stood at his side behind the chair.

The boy took the front seat. The Seventh Master and Eight Lady were the only two who appeared to be amused. The two toddlers were oblivious. The eyes of all the others did not acknowledge the existence of the boy but many of their lips frowned.

Yeon thought that if they were going to make a point of ignoring them, this meal was going to be easy. After all, to her, who could beat Xiyun at ignoring people?

A new voice broke the silence. "Why is there a stranger eating with us?" the Fourth Miss said. The young girl’s voice was sharp and practiced.

Of the three children in the room, only the Fourth Miss could be used as a speaker by adults who did not want to recognize Xiyun.

No matter how much Xiyun didn’t want to waste his thoughts doing so, he could think from the perspective of everyone else. If he was actually part of the Xiao Family, then he was an illegitimate child. Therefore it was likely that he was the son of one of the sons of the head. The First Master, Second Master, Fourth Master, Sixth Master, or Seventh Master. The two likeliest candidates, the First and Second Masters, were both coincidentally away, and the Fourth Miss was the daughter of the First Master.

Xiyun still didn’t respond. He took the bowl of soup and drank it all in one gulp. He handed the bowl to Yeon so she could use it. "There’s enough space," Xiyun said to Yeon.

The large chair intended for the Old Master could fit at least three children, so Xiyun scooted over and allowed Yeon to sit with him.

The Forth Miss watched as the stranger, instead of answering her, invited another stranger to the table. "And who is she? How is she worthy to sit with us?"

Xiyun at this moment stared at the single pair of luxurious porcelain chopsticks in front of him. Yeon needed one as well, and the attendants didn't seem to be useful.

Yeon noticed as well and took the chopsticks. While being held in her hands, the sound of two cracks rang. Every saw both sticks of porcelain split perfectly in half.

The display of control had to be acknowledged by even those who didn’t cultivate. Only the Eighth Lady’s eyes shined in particular.

Han Yeon was once invited to sit at the front of a banquet by the Princess of Jiading at the Liu Estate. Who can say she wasn’t worthy of joining their meal?

The two youths began eating from the dishes on the table. There was an arrangement of a variety of vegetables and meats.

The Sixth Master sighed, attracting the attention of the others, while the Fourth Miss lowered her head because she could not speak over an adult. "Steward Qiu, did Father finally explain?"

Now that the silence was broken, the Seventh Master cracked a smile. "Yes, Steward Qiu, who is the boy's parents, if he really is a Xiao? Is it someone in this room?"

The First Madam deepened her scowl.

Steward Qiu shifted in place, steeling himself for the eventual fallout. "The boy is… the Old Master’s ninth child."

Everyone paused except for Xiyun and Yeon who continued eating.

"Steward Qiu, you expect us to believe that Father had an affair a decade ago at his old age?" the Sixth Master said, raising his voice.

"Yes," Steward Qiu said flatly. When the First Madam dug her gaze into him as well, he coughed. "The Old Master expects you to believe this," he compromised.

"What kind of jok-," the Seventh Master slurred.

Clank!

The Fifth Lady’s utensil fell. "Then his position…"

"He is recognized as your youngest sibling. Xiao Xiyun is now the Ninth Master of the Xiao Family."

The Seventh Master gaped "Oh. This is not a joke."

The First Madam finally laid her eyes on the boy. "You are a child with no background that came to our home and is given a status that beggars can only even know of in their deepest dreams. However, even when you were some wastrel coming to claim the benefits of the Xiao Family, you not only do not properly greet us, you proceeded to sit on Father’s chair and eat without respect. Not even leeches will stoop so low, so what do you have to say?"

Any movement over the table paused and the room waited in silence for the answer.

Xiyun picked up another slice of chicken. "I completely agree."

Everyone had to make sure they heard the boy correctly.

The First Madam opened her mouth but she couldn’t find what to say. She felt her face distort and everyone else saw it flush. Her hands clawed on the sleeves of her dress. There were a hundred things she wanted to do, say, or scream, yet her etiquette constrained all of them.

"When will Father open his door?" the Fourth Master, Xiao Tailuo, abruptly said.

"He is resting in the Back Manor. He already told you not to disturb him at the door yesterday, you don’t need to bother him," Steward Qiu answered, awkwardly keeping his gaze on the Fourth Master. "The boy will light incense in front of the ancestral shrine in ten days, which is a week after festivities are officially over.

The Fourth Master tapped his finger onto the table’s cloth. "You made the mistake of declaring him our sibling. I am calling a meeting of family elders. Whether Father wants to oversee the meeting or not, it will occur. Steward Qiu, send the message to the First Brother, Second Brother, and the Four Branch Heads. It will also take place in ten days. I do not believe the boy is a Xiao, and even if he is, as an elder lineage, he has not made sufficient contributions to the family in twelve years. We will expel him from the family through the Clan Laws dictated by Father."

"Do whatever you want," Steward Qiu said without pause.

Xiyun stood up from his seat and began to leave.

Yeon got up and followed after the boy. "I find the food that we ate outside better. Let’s go to the Lantern Festival today and try the food in Luoyi’s stalls, you did promise."

The Fourth Miss glanced up at the pair.

Xiyun hummed and they left the hall.

Steward Qiu had retreated back near his son and was watching this occur. From beginning to end, the boy had responded in a total of three words.

Gaokang whispered to his father, "Earlier, you asked why the boy suddenly changed his mind to attend the meal. Whoever the boy is, he wants to leave. Then, the quickest way is obviously do nothing and have the rest of the already antagonistic family kick him out."

As the words sunk into Steward Qiu, Gaokang stepped away from his father and followed after the two youths.

...

In the room, the First Madam stood up. Her chair shoved against the floor. "Xuexu, the meal is over. Return to your room for the rest of the day." Without another action, she stomped out of the room.

The Fourth Miss, Xiao Xuexu, left alone in the dining hall, paled. She gave a rigid bow to her relatives and ran out.

It only took a moment before the Seventh Master began speaking. "So, what do we think about the boy?"

"The boy’s looks are Xiao, that much I can tell," the Eight Lady commented casually, continuing her meal.

"Why avoid talking about it? His facial features share many similarities with the First Wife," the Fifth Lady said.

Everyone realized that it was true. Of all the Old Master’s children, the boy’s appearance shared more of a resemblance to the three children of the First Wife, than the rest who were born after the First Wife had already died.

"No wonder Sister-in-Law was so emotional. The chances that the boy is either First Brother or Second Brother’s illegitimate child is increasing by the moment." The Seventh Master snapped his finger. "There! The chances just increase yet again!"

The Eighth Lady rolled her eyes. "They may be their favorites, but ‘Ninth Master’?"

The Seventh Master smiled and glanced in three particular directions. "Maybe Father already has an idea of who the next head is and didn’t want to harm their reputation. The boy in the position of Ninth Master? Isn’t that just giving power away?"

The eyes of the Fourth Master, Fifth Lady, and Sixth Master, all dug daggers into their seventh sibling.

"The branch heads will understand what will benefit them the most. I can assume we’re all voting correctly?" the Fourth Master grimly said.

All the siblings except for the Seventh Master and Fifth Lady nodded. The Fourth Master was satisfied with the large majority. Even if the First Master, Second Master, or Father, voted against him, or if someone changed their mind, the boy will still be expelled. He returned to eating.

In the end, no one spoke about another certain possibility, because that possibility was impossible to even consider.

The Seventh Master turned to the Eighth Lady with a raised brow. "You care about this, Zhurong?" He would have thought only he and his younger sister were the only two who didn’t care about the succession.

The Eighth Lady, Xiao Zhurong, chuckled. "Nonsense. But, no one is taking the position of the youngest away from me, certainly not a boy less than half my age."