Starry Sky Shepherd!

The rain poured down like a waterfall, and lightning tore open the sky with one white gash after another.

Black clouds churned, the wind howled, presenting a doomsday scene where the entire world seemed on the verge of being submerged by this torrential rain.

In the Lu family's tea room, the patriarch, Lu Xingkong, stood before the massive window, his expression grave as he watched the bizarre weather. "Noble births are often accompanied by storms," he murmured. "I wonder how Xiao Yu is doing?"

"Father, she'll be fine," Lu Qingming reassured him. "The family is well-prepared. Qin Xiaoluo is the empire's best midwife; even royal princes are delivered by her."

Lu Xingkong pointed to the two intertwined black and white orbs of light in the sky, smiling. "Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl, an anomaly from birth. This boy is causing such a commotion the moment he's born, what will he be like in the future? My grandson, Lu Xingkong's grandson, will achieve great things."

"Just don't let him be a lazy bum," Lu Qingming teased.

"He wouldn't dare," Lu Xingkong said, his eyes sharp, two chilling lights flashing from them. "Our Lu family doesn't want weaklings."

BOOM—

Another bolt of lightning, trailing a long tail, flashed overhead, making eardrums ache and bodies tremble.

If not for the family's inherited martial arts protecting Lu Xingkong and Lu Qingming, they would have likely been knocked to the ground by the sudden, fierce lightning that struck right before their eyes.

In the forest, all beasts were silent; in the abyss, all demons bowed their heads.

Suddenly, specks of stars appeared in the sky above the torrential rain, and the Milky Way, like a silver chain, pierced through the end of time, stretching across the heavens.

This was a distortion of space and time, a defiance of heaven.

The black and white orbs of light circling in the sky descended rapidly, exploding on the roof of the Lu family's residence. Golden light illuminated heaven and earth, then vanished in an instant.

"Waa—"

A piercing cry echoed from the birthing room, followed by the excited exclamation of Imperial Physician Qin Xiaoluo: "She's born, she's born—Ah—"

Lu Xingkong's face lit up with joy. Before his smile could fully bloom, he heard a sharp, piercing cry: "What's going on?"

"I'll go take a look," Lu Qingming said, striding towards the birthing area.

"What's the situation?" Lu Xingkong asked in a deep voice.

"Her skin is as black as charcoal, and her eyes are blind; she still can't open them. Blood is flowing from her seven orifices, her heartbeat is extremely weak, I fear—" Lu Qingming's eyes welled up, unable to finish his sentence.

Crack!

Lu Xingkong slammed his palm onto the table in front of him. The table, crafted from thousand-year-old purple sandalwood by master artisans, instantly turned to ash.

"Damn heaven, bullying my Lu clan."

"Father—"

Lu Xingkong closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long time before asking in a low voice, "I heard a maid gave birth to a daughter today?"

"Yes, that's Xiao Yu's maid—" Lu Qingming's eyes suddenly widened, his face filled with astonishment. "Father, you—"

"Switched."

"Father, that's our Lu family's flesh and blood, your own grandson—"

"I said, our Lu family doesn't want weaklings," Lu Xingkong said sternly. "Do you want the outside world to know that our Lu family gave birth to a deformed child? Do you want them to know that my grandson, your son—was struck by lightning?"

"But what about Xiao Yu—"

"She's tired and should rest well," Lu Xingkong's voice was much lower. "Go keep her company."

Lu Qingming lowered his head and walked out, his once tall frame bent by the cruel reality.

"Her name is Lu Qiji," Lu Xingkong said.

"What?"

"That girl is named Lu Qiji. It's the name I prepared for him," Lu Xingkong said. "Tomorrow morning, let her go out and receive praise and glory."

"Yes, Father," Lu Qingming replied, his voice hoarse.

He knew that once his father made a decision, it was a done deal.

His son—

No, he never had a son.

His daughter was named Lu Qiji.