Rain poured down like a waterfall, while lightning tore one white gash after another through the firmament.
Black clouds churned and wild winds howled, as though the entire world were about to be drowned beneath this apocalyptic deluge.
In the Lu family's tea room, the family head, Lu Xingkong, stood before the enormous window. Watching the bizarre weather outside with a grave expression, he said, "When a great person is born, storms often accompany them. I wonder how things are going with Xiao Yu?"
"Father, nothing will happen." Lu Qingming reassured him, "We made thorough preparations. Qin Xiaoluo is the finest midwife in the Empire—even when the imperial family gives birth to a prince, she's the one who handles it."
Lu Xingkong pointed at the two intertwined black-and-white spheres of light in the sky and laughed. "Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl, a heaven-born anomaly. This boy caused such a huge commotion the moment he was born—who knows what he'll become in the future? My grandson will achieve great things."
"As long as he isn't a lazy good-for-nothing," Lu Qingming teased.
"He'd better not be." Lu Xingkong's gaze turned icy, two chilling beams flashing from his eyes. "The Lu family has no use for trash."
Boom—
Another bolt of lightning dragged its long tail across the sky overhead. The thunder shook people's eardrums painfully and left their bodies trembling.
If Lu Xingkong and Lu Qingming had not both been protected by their family's secret arts, that sudden thunderclap striking right before them might have knocked them flat on the ground.
In the forest, all beasts fell silent; in the abyss, the demons bowed their heads.
Suddenly, above the rain-lashed sky, specks of starlight appeared. The Milky Way, like a silver chain, came threading through from the end of time and stretched across the heavens.
This was a distortion of space and time, a reckless defiance of heaven.
The black-and-white spheres of light circling in the sky plunged down at top speed and exploded over the Lu family's roof. Golden radiance illuminated heaven and earth before vanishing in an instant.
"Wah—"
A sharp, mournful cry rang out from the delivery room, followed by Imperial Physician Qin Xiaoluo's delighted shout: "The baby's born, the baby's born—ah—"
Joy burst across Lu Xingkong's face, but before his smile could fully bloom, he heard a shrill scream: "What happened?"
"I'll go take a look." Lu Qingming spoke up and hurried toward the delivery area in long strides.
--
"How is the situation?" Lu Xingkong asked in a low voice.
"His skin is black as charcoal, and his eyes are blind—he still can't open them. Blood is coming from all seven orifices, and his heartbeat is extremely weak. I'm afraid—" Lu Qingming's eyes grew moist, and he could barely get the words out.
Smack!
Lu Xingkong slammed his palm onto the table before him. The thousand-year-old rosewood desk, crafted by a master, instantly crumbled into ash.
"Heaven itself is bullying my Lu family."
"Father—"
Lu Xingkong closed his eyes and said nothing. After a long while, he asked in a deep voice, "I heard that a servant girl gave birth to a daughter today?"
"Yes, she's Xiao Yu's maid—" Lu Qingming's eyes suddenly widened, his face filled with astonishment. "Father, you—"
"Switch them."
"Father, that's the flesh and blood of our Lu family, your own grandson—"
"I said the Lu family has no use for trash." Lu Xingkong shouted harshly, "Do you want the outside world to learn that our Lu family gave birth to a deformed child? Do you want them to know that my grandson, your son, Lu Qingming—was struck by lightning?"
"But Xiao Yu—"
"She's tired. She should get a good rest." Lu Xingkong's voice sank. "Go keep her company."
Lu Qingming lowered his head and walked outside. His tall figure, once so imposing, was bent beneath the weight of this merciless reality.
"She'll be called Lu Qiji," Lu Xingkong said.
"What?"
"That girl will be called Lu Qiji. I prepared the name for her." Lu Xingkong said, "Tomorrow morning, let her go out and receive praise and glory."
"Yes, Father." Lu Qingming's voice was hoarse.
He knew that once his father made a decision, it became an accomplished fact.
His son—
No, he had never had a son.
His daughter was called Lu Qiji.