No one would ever make this public, since by law, the legitimate eldest son holds the inheritance rights; most of the father's property goes to him.
From the moment Sean was born, his status as Young Palace Lord was set; unless Sean died, Skyvault Palace would certainly be his. Irene Lu’s son could only get a share of the property at best—becoming master of Skyvault was impossible.
But...
Irene Lu was favored, and her son grew up at Sean’s father’s side. Sean’s father liked this son who resembled him and often told him that Skyvault Palace would be his one day if he worked hard.
Irene Lu’s son thus took Skyvault Palace as his by right. Even knowing Sean existed, he never considered sharing.
In his view, letting Sean use Skyvault’s name to make his way in the jianghu was already generous. Now Sean wanted to come back and seize Skyvault—he thought this was sheer ingratitude, a heartless act.
Irene Lu’s son cursed freely, and her daughter was no better—spoiled and ignorant, she showed no respect for her elder brother and shouted for servants to beat Sean out of the estate.
Sean’s temper was remarkably good; facing their provocation, he didn’t get angry. Instead he calmly said, “While jianghu people may be informal, there are basic rites everyone must understand. What sort of Young Master and Young Lady do you think you are? Your mother is only a second wife; before my mother, she should have observed concubine rites, kneeling and bowing.”
All these years, your mother has never once knelt at my mother’s memorial, proving she never gained my mother’s recognition. She is no true formal wife, merely an unacknowledged mistress. As for you—even concubine-born children have better standing than you do.
With that, Sean turned to leave. But...
No one would ever make this public, since by law, the legitimate eldest son holds the inheritance rights; most of the father's property goes to him.
From the moment Sean was born, his status as Young Palace Lord was set; unless Sean died, Skyvault Palace would certainly be his. Irene Lu’s son could only get a share of the property at best—becoming master of Skyvault was impossible.
But...
Irene Lu was favored, and her son grew up at Sean’s father’s side. Sean’s father liked this son who resembled him and often told him that Skyvault Palace would be his one day if he worked hard.
Irene Lu’s son thus took Skyvault Palace as his by right. Even knowing Sean existed, he never considered sharing.
In his view, letting Sean use Skyvault’s name to make his way in the jianghu was already generous. Now Sean wanted to come back and seize Skyvault—he thought this was sheer ingratitude, a heartless act.
Irene Lu’s son cursed freely, and her daughter was no better—spoiled and ignorant, she showed no respect for her elder brother and shouted for servants to beat Sean out of the estate.
Sean’s temper was remarkably good; facing their provocation, he didn’t get angry. Instead he calmly said, “While jianghu people may be informal, there are basic rites everyone must understand. What sort of Young Master and Young Lady do you think you are? Your mother is only a second wife; before my mother, she should have observed concubine rites, kneeling and bowing.”
All these years, your mother has never once knelt at my mother’s memorial, proving she never gained my mother’s recognition. She is no true formal wife, merely an unacknowledged mistress. As for you—even concubine-born children have better standing than you do.
With that, Sean turned to leave. But...
Irene Lu’s son had never suffered such humiliation before; he couldn’t stand it and rushed forward to strike Sean, but was he really Sean’s match?
Just one move!
With a single move, Sean sent him flying...
No mistake—Sean sent him flying with a single move. Afterward, he snapped impatiently, “So noisy.”
Irene Lu’s daughter, Fiona Xuan, was stunned. When she recovered, she lashed out at Sean: “You hit my brother, you bastard! How dare you hit my brother—you’re dead! I’ll tell Father so he can beat you to death.”
“You really live up to being a mistress’s daughter—completely without upbringing. You should be grateful I don’t hit women.” Sean looked at Fiona coldly, scaring her into tears. She ran out sobbing as if her father had been murdered.
Unruffled, Sean walked back indoors toward his guests—young elites from prominent martial families, all future heirs of major powers.
That’s right—Sean was entertaining his jianghu friends in his own courtyard, all of whom were distinguished heirs with high status in the martial world.
Although their families couldn’t rival Skyvault Palace, they were still first-tier forces in the jianghu...
Having witnessed Irene Lu’s son’s disgrace, these heirs knew he would never be accepted into the inner circle of true successors—he’d be stuck with lesser figures forever.
“Sean, you’re taking this too seriously—he’s just a nobody, not worth your attention.” Anyone Sean invited here was someone he trusted; they all understood right and wrong and comforted him.
Sean laughed and socialized, making no mention of sending guests away. The others understood his intentions: helping Sean now could only benefit them later.
Sure enough, after about the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, Fiona Xuan brought Sean’s father.
“Unfilial son, get out here—who told you to hit your brother?” Sean’s father was completely biased, showing no kindness at all.
Sean didn’t get angry at all; with graceful manners, he excused himself to the other young lords and stepped outside...
The others were tactful—not only did they avoid going out to watch, they even suppressed their presence so Sean’s father wouldn’t notice them.
“Unfilial son, go apologize to your sister and brother.” After more than ten years, Sean’s father showed no warmth, only disgust and a hint of shock...
After more than ten years, this son had grown up.
“Father, are you sure you want me to apologize to them?” After all these years, Sean was neither estranged nor intimate—it was as if the gap never existed.
After all these years, his father had grown more and more distant from the loving parent Sean remembered...
Sean’s father felt uncomfortable under the gaze of this “stranger” son, but stiffened his neck and said, “Of course—go apologize to your brother and sister.”
Sean gave a self-mocking smile, with a hint of sarcasm: “So, Father, you approve of everything they said? Then... Father, if I’m a bastard, what does that make you?”