Chapter Seventy-Nine: Brothers

  The second update~

  West of the city, Xiao Wang Fu.

  It was already the third watch of the night, and the world outside was quiet and still, but in a warm pavilion on the east side of Xiao Wang Fu, the lights were shining brightly.

  Xiao Wangye was sitting beside a red sandalwood carved lilac desk, holding a Chengyuan wucai small lid cup with his left hand and drinking tea absent-mindedly, while holding a rare book in his right hand and reading it seriously.

  The door was knocked three times quickly and then three times slowly from outside.

  Xiao Wangye didn't even lift his head, "Come in."

  Then the red lacquer door opened and a man in a black mang gold robe walked in from outside, who was Xiao Qi.

  "Your Majesty." Xiao Qi walked closer and respectfully asked after his well-being.

  Xiao Wangye put down his tea cup, turned a page of the book, and didn't even glance at him.

  Xiao Qi just stood there and didn't say anything.

  Time passed minute by minute and second by second. A thick layer of candle wax had already accumulated on the bronze candle holder, and Xiao Wangye's book was also turned to the last page.

  Outside the window, a gentle breeze blows in, bringing wave after wave of coolness.

  He finally closed the book and looked up at Xiao Qi with a cold and terrifying tone, "Do you know your mistake?"

  Xiao Xi's legs had long since gone numb, but her face remained resolute. "If Shen Zhongling can't marry into the Wang family, even if I have to come back again, I'll still do it."

  "Shen Zhongling cannot marry into the Wang family, but I have my own way, no need for you to intervene." Xiao Wangye stared at him coldly, "Do you know that if the Emperor finds out who shot the arrow, all efforts will be in vain? You shouldn't be so reckless!"

  "The Emperor can't find out." Xiao Qi's voice was light and calm, but carried an inexplicable confidence.

  Xiao Wangye hummed, "It's best to be so!" He also said: "And that Lin Wu. You should also pay attention to your measure, don't catch the fox and get a body of trouble instead!"

  "Today was my fault, it won't happen again." Xiao Qi knew he was in the wrong and very consciously admitted his mistake.

  "It's good that you know your mistake. You've caused a stir in the entire palace today. The Emperor has had enough of his headache for now." Xiang Wangye understood the principle of knowing when to stop, and instructed Xiang Xi, "You shouldn't make any moves for the time being. Also, you're not allowed to practice martial arts anymore. That arrow you shot at the eagle today almost gave away our secret that the Xiang Wangfu has military power. With your second brother's strategic mind and my own abilities, all you need to do is be a charming young master."

  He was just used to replace them to handle things, and should not be superior to his "master".

  Xiao Xi's fingers turned white, but he still lowered his head and said word by word: "Your son obeys the king's teachings."

  "Hmm." Xiao Wangye nodded and waved his hand: "Go down and take a look at your second brother, you haven't returned to the mansion in recent days. He's been muttering to himself all along."

  The second son of the Xiao Wangfu, Xiao Ming, was a former genius youth who was famous in Kyoto. He could write at the age of three and fight at the age of five. At seven years old, he had already mastered all kinds of book knowledge and was praised by the world as a rare child prodigy in a hundred years. There were even rumors that the Empress Dowager intended to let the Emperor establish him as the Crown Prince.

  Xiao Xi has been living in Xiao Ming's shadow since he was a child, no matter how hard he tries, he looks so small and insignificant in front of his brilliant younger brother.

  Xiao Wangye and Xiao Wangfei both doted on Xiao Ming without restraint, ignoring his existence.

  He used to be naive and ignorant, using every means to attract the attention of Xiao Wangye and Xiao Wangfei, thinking that as long as he worked hard enough, he would definitely gain the love of his parents. He even went so far as to abandon himself, using rebellious methods to attract their attention.

  Until that year...

  It wasn't until that year that he discovered everything he had done was just a joke.

  What a joke!

  Xiao Qi entered the courtyard where Xiao Ming lived, and a maid led him all the way to the inner room.

  A faint scent of medicine wafted through the room, accumulated over the years. In the center, on a purple sandalwood carved flower bed, sat a frail young man, shrouded by layers of curtains, making him almost invisible.

  "Is big brother here?" The young man sensed it as soon as he stepped into the house, pushed away the maid who was helping him take medicine, and asked from behind the bed curtain.

  Xiao Xi nodded slightly and replied softly, "Yes."

  He walked a few steps to the bedside and his gaze swept over the young man inside, "Father asked me to come take a look at you."

  "Cough, cough." The young man let out two weak coughs, looking exceptionally frail. He panted and said, "It's just that it's been a long time since I've seen big brother, I miss him a bit."

  Xiao Xi pulled up the corners of her lips and didn't respond.

  Xiao Ming was incredibly talented and gifted, but his life was not complete. In his tenth year, a sudden fire destroyed half of his face and greatly damaged his body, forcing him to rely on medicine to survive.

  Xiao Qi also gained Xiao Wangye's attention after that and began to cultivate him seriously, teaching him knowledge.

  At that time, Xiao Qi was no longer a naive and ignorant child, and he would not be grateful to Xiao Wangye for this.

  He studies hard, not for others, but for himself.

  He deeply understood a truth that only when one is strong enough can they stand unshakeably in this world and not need to rely on anyone.

  He is good at Xiao Ming...

  Can't say hatred, can't say love, even more can't say affection.

  Perhaps it's just some sympathy.

  Sympathetic to him, he is the only person he doesn't want to take advantage of.

  "Big brother, you haven't returned to the mansion in days, where have you been?" Xiao Ming asked again with a cough.

  "I am at Drunken Flower Pavilion."

  Zuihuah Lou is the largest and most high-end brothel in Shengjing, where every girl is understanding and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, making it the top choice for many officials and nobles to indulge in pleasure.

  Xiao Ming's ears turned red from his unreserved words, he who had been in seclusion since the age of ten didn't know what it was all about, but having read some books, he also understood some things between men and women.

  He knew Xiao Qi was quite romantic and also knew that he had a bad reputation in Shengjing, so until now he still couldn't marry a wife.

  He wasn't not anxious in his heart, Xiao Qi was too cold as a person, he couldn't feel any warmth of an elder brother from him, the king and queen didn't have more children to take care of him, he hoped to have a gentle and beautiful sister-in-law, so he wouldn't be too lonely.

  He had once heard Xiao Xi mention a woman from the Drunken Blossom House, and he subconsciously asked: "Has she always been with Sister Mo Feng?"

  Xiao Qi raised an eyebrow, neither affirming nor denying.

  Xiao Ming said: "If big brother likes Mo Fang, then what's wrong with asking for her hand in marriage and bringing her back to the manor? Although her status is not high, as long as it's true love, nothing else matters."

  Xiao Ming is extremely intelligent and helps Xiao Wang Ye with political strategies, but ultimately lacks contact with the outside world and remains stuck in a romantic view of poetry and literature, as pure as blank paper.

  True love? Xiao Qi couldn't help but want to laugh, what is that thing?

  "I won't marry Mo Yan, she has a more important role to play, it would be a waste if she married me." Xiao Qi replied casually, and then said: "Don't worry, I won't let you wait too long, I've already found the right person for your elder sister."

  "Who is it?" Xiao Ming wondered.

  Xiao Xi curved her lips and didn't answer, "You'll know soon."

  Xiao Ming asked again, but he still didn't say anything, so he had no choice but to give up.

  Xiao Ming finished taking the medicine, and a maid brought over a plate of candied fruit. He popped one into his mouth and picked up another to give to Xiao Qi.

  Xiao Qi frowned, "I don't like eating these girls' stuff."

  Xiao Ming could only stuff it into his own mouth and said with a smile: "It's very sweet, no good fortune."

  Xiao Qi: "......"

  The two of them chatted for a while longer, and Xiao Qi was just about to take his leave when the room's curtain was lifted and in walked Princess Xiao, wearing a long gown with golden embroidery and cloud-patterned shoulders.

  Her beautiful and delicate face was originally full of smiles, but when she saw Xiao Qi, she first froze, then her expression turned cold, "You also know to come back!"

  Xiao Xi faintly opened her mouth, "Mother." Pretending she hadn't heard her question.

  Xiao Wangfei still looked unwell, with the phoenix hairpin on her cloud-like hair shining brightly in the candlelight, its sharp light just like her cold and severe gaze.

  "What's the point of coming back if you don't consider this home? Do you think the Xiao Wang Fu is a flower market, where you can come and go as you please?"

  This doesn't sound like something a mother would say to her child, but Xiao Xi was already used to it.

  Xiao Ming stepped forward to clear up the situation, "Big brother has gone on an errand for Father, I knew about it too, but I didn't say anything because I was afraid Mother would worry."

  Xiao Wangfei snorted, "What can he accomplish with this little ability? He's probably gone to the brothel again! Ming'er, don't speak up for him. It's precisely because you often plead on his behalf that he's become more and more arrogant." Her words were directed at Xiao Qi, so her tone was cold and severe, but her gaze was fixed on Xiao Ming, filled with boundless tenderness.

  "The Empress Dowager taught that if there was nothing else, the prince would have to go back and reflect." Xiao Qi replied expressionlessly.

  "It's beyond cure." The Xiao Wangfei sneered and followed him.

  Xiao Wei walked away, and Xiao Ming couldn't help but say: "Mother, why are you always so strict with big brother?"

  "You don't understand." The Empress Xiao had already put on a gentle and amiable expression, walked to the bedside, sat down, and held his hand: "In Mother's heart, you are the most important one. Don't worry, Mother will definitely find someone to cure your face and body, and let you walk out of the door with dignity."

  Xiao Ming's body trembled slightly, feeling both excited and melancholy.

  Six years of sickbed life, he had already had enough, he wanted to be admired by the public again like before.

  Rather than being pitied like now.

  Everyone says that Big Brother is incompetent and not as clever and capable as him, but they don't know how much he envies his carefree and unrestrained life.

  As long as it can make him better, he is willing to sacrifice anything...

  Thank you for walking in the rain on a winter night, passionate love ^^, the sky is already light blue, frogjerry's reward ~

  Dang dang dang, another new character is on stage ~ Xiao Ming Tong's shoes will have a heavy role behind the scenes ~

  Still the same sentence, watch the plot, don't guess the male lead, otherwise someone will get hurt.

  Later there will be another one, if you can't wait, you can go to sleep first and look at it tomorrow morning! Anyway, starting tomorrow, we'll resume updating at the normal time slot again!

  Also, let's popularize the story of Xiao An's divine dewdrop. All subscribers to Xiao An's book can go and receive Xiao An's divine dewdrop!

  It's gotta be two digits no matter what!

  Cry