Chapter 30: What a Night
But with that realization came a sense of relief.
At the very least, it meant her five consorts hadn’t married her with some ulterior, malicious motive.
And for now, that was enough.
Not long after Zhong He’s father left, she composed herself and slipped out from behind the rockery, heading back toward the main hall.
She had no idea what was in the air tonight.
One moment, she was accidentally overhearing a private conversation between Zhong He and his father by the rockery. The next, as she was passing a grove of peach trees, her eyes caught a flash of a familiar figure.
Like a thief, she instinctively ducked behind a peach tree to hide.
A second later, she was kicking herself.
What is wrong with my brain? Why am I hiding?
Wouldn’t it have been better to just walk past them openly? Now here she was, acting like a common sneak, forced to eavesdrop on yet another conversation. It would be fine if no one saw her, but if she were discovered? She might just die of embarrassment.
Though Li XuanYue was grumbling to herself, her eyes remained fixed on the scene in the peach grove.
In the dim light, the flickering candles from the banquet cast long shadows, draping the grove in a layer of mystery. The peach branches intertwined overhead, like a thousand lovers in a tight embrace, unwilling to part.
Standing within this embrace were two figures, sizing each other up.
Neither spoke.
The stalemate was only broken when a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, scattering a flurry of pink blossoms between them.
“It seems you’re doing quite well for yourself here.” The mocking words were laced with a thread of envy.
Jun Mo couldn’t believe that even now, even in this situation, Jun He could still put on such an infuriatingly nonchalant act in front of him. He had already fallen so far. What right did he have to still be so arrogant?
The sight of him made Jun Mo want to lunge forward and tear him to pieces.
On what grounds did he still get to act so superior? Shouldn’t he be on his knees, begging him for help, pleading with him to put in a good word with their father?
A dark shadow flickered in the depths of Jun Mo’s eyes. He took a deep breath and continued his assault.
“Do you know why I was the one sent on this ‘family visit’ and not one of our other brothers?” Bringing this up, Jun Mo couldn’t help but preen.
“Because Father said that to him, you are nothing but an expendable pawn.”
In an instant, Jun He’s gaze shot toward him, as cold and sharp as a dagger, as if it could slice him to ribbons.
Jun Mo had said those words deliberately, wanting to see his brother crack, to watch him suffer. But being pinned by that icy stare, he suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine. Yet, seeing that eternally placid mask of his finally begin to fracture with rage, a perverse sense of pleasure bloomed in his chest.
“I know this truth might be hard for you to accept,” Jun Mo said, his voice dripping with superiority. “But those were Father’s exact words.”
“Oh, third brother. When you had your mother to protect you, you never realized that to Father, you were no different from the rest of us. In fact, sometimes, your position was even worse than ours.”
Jun Mo suddenly leaned in close to Jun He’s ear and whispered tauntingly, “Do you know how our fifth brother died?”
“It was because of you!”
He turned his head to look at Jun He’s twisting features, his eyes alight with triumph.
“Heh. If he hadn’t taken your side, hadn’t tried to speak up for you, hadn’t snuck into the secret chamber to steal the antidote for you, do you think he would have been shot full of arrows until he died?”
“So you see, it’s all fate,” Jun Mo said, drawing out his words with deep meaning. “It is your fate to spend your entire life being crushed under my heel. And anyone who tries to help you will die because of you!”
He spat the word “die,” the viciousness in his eyes on full display, as if he wished he could cast his brother into the deepest abyss, never to see the light of day again.
Finally, the fist Jun He had clenched at his side shot out, striking Jun Mo square in the face.
“Oof—you!”
Caught completely off guard in his moment of gloating, the punch snapped Jun Mo’s head to the side. When he turned back, his eyes were wide with disbelief, which was quickly consumed by a tidal wave of pure rage.
“You’re asking to die!”
No one had ever dared to hit him in the face. Jun He was the first. And he was nothing but a cast-off, a pawn abandoned by their father. How could he tolerate such an insult?
A faint purple halo of light bloomed in his palm before shooting straight toward Jun He.
Bang!
Unable to dodge in time, Jun He let out a muffled grunt. A trickle of crimson blood spilled from the corner of his lips. He was a wretched sight.
A sense of profound satisfaction washed over Jun Mo. His gaze turned even more venomous.
“Do you really think you’re still the great Third Prince of the Snake Clan?” he snarled, punctuating each word with another magical assault.
“Pathetic! You’re no better than a dog now. What right do you have to be so proud? Do you deserve it? You deserve nothing!”
“You bastard!” Jun Mo’s face was a mask of savagery as he loomed over him, cursing.
Back in the Snake Clan, Jun He’s twelve major meridians had been sealed, rendering him completely unable to use his powers. Under Jun Mo’s relentless barrage, he was like a fish on a chopping block, utterly at his mercy.
In moments, his snow-white silk robes were spattered with blood and smeared with dirt.
A bloodthirsty madness gleamed in Jun Mo’s eyes.
“Let me just cripple you for good.”
Even seeing Jun He in this state wasn’t enough. Jun Mo raised his powerful leg, aiming a vicious kick at his brother’s chest. It was clear he intended to waste him completely, to ensure he would never get back on his feet again.
A cold, mocking smile touched Jun He’s lips.
At that critical moment, a brilliant golden light shot out, striking Jun Mo.
The triumphant smirk was still on Jun Mo’s face, his heart pounding with the thrill of having utterly humiliated and destroyed his brother. But the unexpected blow sent him flying backward.
“Pfft!”
A scarlet arc of blood sprayed through the air.
In the next instant, a figure in pink appeared, standing protectively in front of Jun He.
Jun He’s eyes widened slightly as he pushed himself into a sitting position, leaning on one hand. With his long hair spilling over his shoulders, he looked like a tragic beauty from a painting, a sight that would evoke pity in any heart.
“Are you alright?” Li XuanYue asked, looking at his pale, exquisite face, which was now contorted in pain. It was clear the Second Prince’s attack had taken its toll.
“Thank you… for saving me, Your Highness,” Jun He gasped out.
A short distance away, the downed Jun Mo couldn’t believe his eyes. He never would have dreamed that someone would actually step in to save Jun He at the very last second.
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