To Love You Again

The curtains parted, showing the large screen hidden behind. Light grew from the center until it lit up just like the silver screen of a cinema.

Images of the written, painted, sculpted, and excavated records of the long historical eras of ancient Huaxia began showing on the screen.

The music lowered and the magnetic voice of the man sounded.

*******

After the golden age of the Huaxia Empire passed, due to the corruption and degeneracy in the imperial family and high nobles, the common people suffered. The aristocrats lived hedonistic lives, officials bribed for their own gains, and the imperial family ignored the sufferings of the nation.

Disease, famine, and poverty plagued the populace. 

Soon, riots by the disgruntled commoners rose in various provinces. 

To quell the disturbances, the imperial family decided to award honors to those who were considered meritorious by the commoners, giving them a false hope of a positive change.

This calmed the riots for a short while. However, the corruption and neglect still continued.

The common populace's hopes were crushed.

******

"Our present country was built from countless wars and constant changes of eras and dynasties. But despite it, a lot of our ancestors strove and survived against the flow of time and changes. Utilizing the ancient wisdom of sages and guardians, the ancestors were able to protect their bloodlines and uphold their namesakes in face of the internal conflicts and invasion attempts of outsiders… They were the founding fathers of our families, whom we were all indebted to."

Silence.

Ming Zhi Yi's eyes glanced at the area where the legendary families were at. 

His eyes were unreadable.

"All of us here inherited our families' wealth and honor that they have gathered throughout the years. Our lives… Each of our lives cannot even match up to the efforts that our ancestors have put in for our families' continued glory. We are forever in their debt."

Xiong Zhi: ...This is coming from a man whose family had disappeared due to the descendants' mistakes, causing the efforts of their ancestors to evaporate in thin air. How ironic.

Who was he mocking? Himself, or the families around him?

Ming Zhi Yi raised his arms. 

"But what if… We can pay back all of our debts to our ancestors, and make them joyful and full of pride in the afterlife?"

Everyone looked at each other confusedly.

What is this person saying?

"What if we can bring honor more than anyone of the previous generations? To make a contribution in their memory, so that our founding fathers' sacrifices would be upheld and honored? And make our family name shine more than any other?"

The last statement was already quite dangerous and provoking, but aside from confusion, the guests looked at Ming Zhi Yi with anticipation. 

For him to say all this, it must be related to the last item!

All of them have a long family history. If they could bring honor to their family and make their name shine through in the following generations, how wonderful would that be?

Everyone here was not lacking money. The decades and centuries of wealth and power ensured that they could live extravagantly for several lifetimes without worry.

But the value of their names were different.

Honor was very important to them, which was why they engage actively in charity.

Even the legendary families might not be able to stop them.

But was there even such a thing?

Ming Zhi Yi could see that he had successfully raised the greed in their hearts. He smiled meaningfully. 

"It is possible. This last and special item will bring you exactly that honor to your ancestors."

The eyes of the guests changed, like green-eyed wolves seeing prey.

On the other hand, the legendary families including Xiong Zhi frowned. 

What was Ming Zhi Yi planning to do right now?

"Before I take off the cover and expose the special item to everyone's eyes, I want everyone here in the room to be aware. It took most of my life, my finances, and all kinds of manpower just to get this item. This item is truly priceless. I can keep it for myself of I wish to, but as the new head of our beloved organization, however, I want everyone to know what this item is truly worthy of."

Silence filled the room again. Everyone was waiting nervously.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you..." 

Whoosh!

An old black rock with rough and broken edges was in a glass box.

"... Ancient Huaxia's Honorary Plaque of Virtue in the era of the Great Uprising!"

On the screen, the enlarged image of the 'black rock' was displayed. If one looked closely at the almost damaged rock tablet, there were ancient characters carved there.

Everyone was stunned.

Honorary Plaque of Virtue?

Some of the guests had not heard of this term before.

However, to the families and clans with centuries-old lineage as well as those dabbling in historical studies, it was a different matter.

In the front rows where the legendary families' tables were at, the heads of each family were shocked. They all shot up from their seats with wide eyes.

Xiong Zhi also stared at the enlarged picture of the rock tablet on the screen. 

The characters were ancient. 

As a person who once studied ancient characters, she recognized some of them. 

'Honorary Plaque of Virtue'.

Her frown turned deeper. 

Could it be...?

Linfeng was stunned as well. "Such a precious thing! This is actually in the hands of Ming Zhi Yi? I'm surprised he is willing to put this on auction."

"What is it?" Xiong Zhi leaned to the man beside him.

It did ring a bell a bit, but she could not decipher just what it was for.

"When I was studying as your personal butler during my training, I studied the history of all legendary families. The legendary families are not of nobility, nor are you members of the imperial family."

Xiong Zhi: "That's not surprising, because the imperial family was the first to be executed at that time. If we were, then none of us would have survived when the dynasty changed."

Linfeng curtly nodded, his eyes focused on the ancient plaque. "However, even though the legendary families' origins are from the common people, the imperial family of that dynasty created the Honorary Plaque of Virtue. These plaques… You can say that it was the reason why the legendary families survived those turbulent times."

"...Oh?" Now, the details seemed to be coming back to her.

"Twelve families who were looked kindly at by the commoners, regardless of their low status, and made great contributions to the royal families are awarded these plaques. They cannot be granted a title, land, or actual rewards, but this plaque is enough to bring them and their descendants great honor."

Xiong Zhi listened to Linfeng while she observed the various reactions of the guests for whom Ming Zhi Yi was explaining the origins of the tablet. 

Just as Linfeng said, it was a reward of honor for twelve chosen families.

Xiong Zhi recognized a few of the names mentioned. 

For some reason, she had a bad feeling.