Chapter 61: Past Events over the Years; The Sick and Twisted Brother + Bamboo Horse First Meeting…
That kiss pressed down with powerful momentum. Ying Dang acted ruthlessly; no matter how Ying Xi struggled, Prince Yong only blindly used one hand to prop him up, making the two press tighter and tighter together.
Ying Xi turned his head, exposing a section of snow-white neck.
Wanting to kiss the lips but only grazing the corner of the mouth, Ying Dang released the hand restraining Ying Xi to pry at his chin. He pinched Ying Xi’s jaw tightly.
The high and mighty Emperor.
The brother who was once within reach.
Two identities overlapped before his eyes, and Ying Dang’s heart pounded like a war drum!
There were no mad dogs or vicious hounds beside him. With his brother’s immense pride, his brother would absolutely not call for guards to protect him at this time, to see the Emperor in such a wretched state, letting someone take whatever they wanted.
Their bodies clinging together completely exposed Prince Yong’s desire.
Ying Xi’s brow jumped!
There was something pressing against him, ready to strike.
Ying Xi finally understood that Ying Dang’s talk of “climbing the dragon bed” was never a lie; he had wrongly thought Ying Dang was being childish and absurd, intentionally teasing. His younger brother had long harbored these thoughts about him!?
All of Ying Xi’s blood rushed to his head. His mind roared, his face burned, and his lips were traced by the other’s finger pulp.
He shuddered and bit down hard on Ying Dang’s finger. The taste of rust filled his lips.
That blood stimulated Ying Dang’s wild nature; he tugged at Ying Xi’s dragon robes.
But a clear slap was heard in the compartment. Ying Xi had slapped him fiercely across the face.
Smack—
“You are crazy! Zhen is your brother!” Ying Xi scolded.
But because his voice wasn’t loud, coupled with his messy hair and clothes, the Emperor’s intimidating presence evolved into a strong impulse that invited people to drag him completely off the altar.
Ying Dang turned a deaf ear.
He was grabbed by the hair at the back of his head by Ying Xi and warned coldly, “If you dare be presumptuous again, Zhen will expel you from the clan, depose you to a commoner… and banish you to the borderlands, never to return to Chang’an for the rest of your life…”
“This subject brother is not afraid, Gege,” Ying Dang interrupted him suddenly. His tongue drilled into Ying Xi’s ear like a snake.
In that instant, the itch was overwhelming; Ying Xi’s scalp went numb. A clear sound escaped his throat, which he suppressed with deathly effort.
Ying Dang, however, slowly revealed a smile in front of him—a thin, cool smile.
“Gege thinks I covet the throne?”
“I am different from Gege. How did Gege‘s throne come about?”
Ying Dang clenched his teeth, the muscles in his cheeks twitching.
In that instant, Ying Xi was slightly stunned, suddenly understanding the root of Ying Dang’s change.
He originally thought Prince Yong was spoiled, and after coming to Chang’an, his eyes were dazzled by the chaotic flowers.
In reality, Prince Yong was using depravity to attract his attention, revenge for his helpless estrangement, numbing the depression in his heart, eventually developing into a morbid longing for his brother.
Ying Dang’s voice was desolate:
“Emperor Yuan Tai assassinated our Father and Mother. You wanted the throne, willingly acknowledging a thief as your father.”
“Xie Qianli has coveted you since childhood. The nephew takes after the uncle; he was lecherous and trespassed into Fanglan Hall. You coveted military power, infinitely pleasing and ingratiating yourself.”
“I lived right next door to Fanglan Hall, often lying on the eaves watching you.”
“Watching you be filial to a stepfather with power and influence.”
“Watching you dress up as a pretty girl to trick that fool Xie Qianli!”
“Watching you treat the trivial figures of Chang’an like a dish, watching you being lifted into the clouds by people day by day!!!”
—”But I was so close, close at hand. Did Gege ever turn his head to look at me?”
“Where was Gege when I was sick?”
“I always wanted to take you far away, so I practiced martial arts day and night. Where was Gege when I was injured?”
“I dreamed of our parents dying tragically over and over again, suffering from nightmare sickness. Only by chanting the oath we made to each other before coming to Chang’an did I dare close my eyes and dream. Where was Gege?”
Share glory and disgrace, live and die together.
That was the promise the brothers made to each other in front of their parents before leaving Guangling Commandery in Yangzhou.
Ying Dang said bitterly:
“Gege long ago stopped recognizing Father and Mother, acknowledged a thief as father, integrated into Chang’an alone, and long ago forgot the Yongning Prince Manor that gave birth to and raised you!”
“Who wants to return to Chang’an? Who is afraid of being banished! I wish this Chang’an City would explode into the sky right now!!!”
Once the words were out, in terms of the body, Prince Yong’s greed for Ying Xi grew even more.
He hadn’t been this close to Ying Xi for ten years.
He wished the two could merge into one immediately; that way, Ying Dang could find his brother from the beginning forever.
Ying Xi’s boot kicked on the couch.
The low table on the couch was kicked off by him, making a loud noise.
Ying Xi dodged Prince Yong’s second kiss, but Prince Yong moved sideways with the momentum, shifting from bottom to top to his smooth neck. But before he could demand arbitrarily, the noise in the compartment was too loud, attracting the guards keeping watch outside.
Lang Xun was already extremely worried, and vaguely sour; he didn’t want Prince Yong or the Duke of Ying to be alone with His Majesty.
Lang Xun pushed the door open and entered!
Ying Xi sensed something was wrong and reached out to grab the short knife stuck at Prince Yong’s waist. When that short knife was pulled out, it was snow-bright; the edge could cut a blowing hair.
Seeing the knife light, Prince Yong thought Ying Xi was going to stab him.
Prince Yong smiled instead and buried himself in Ying Xi’s neck hollow.
But his brother refused to hurt the younger brother who was offending him; that knife stabbed toward Ying Xi’s own throat.
Prince Yong’s pupils constricted suddenly. Immediately flushed with panic, he got up and brushed away Ying Xi’s short knife.
The short knife flew through the air!
The pigeon blood ruby at the tail of the knife drew a rotating red shadow, and the blade fell.
The older brother refused to hurt the younger brother who was offending him; the younger brother seemed afraid of losing his older brother forever. The two brothers’ gazes met, and both were stunned for a moment.
Prince Yong’s lips trembled violently.
This sudden change happened in a flash, but it was enough for Ying Xi to hurriedly tidy his clothes and sit calmly without batting an eyelid.
The guards rushed in, first kicking away Prince Yong’s precious knife. Lang Xun slapped Prince Yong’s shoulder from behind. That palm strike seized the initiative, infused with the force of a thousand jun!
Prince Yong tried to attack backhanded.
The guards came prepared. Knowing Prince Yong was a bastard, they had long stopped talking about martial ethics with him, nor did they dare listen to his nonsense shouting.
The guards attacked Prince Yong’s acupoints together, sealing him completely clean.
Prince Yong was held down by two guards, kneeling towards the Emperor. Unable to speak, he seemed annoyed that the love and hate between them weren’t thorough enough. Ying Dang stared deathly at the Emperor! He let out gasping sounds from between his teeth, like a manic beast!
“Wu… Hu…”
Lang Xun and the others had to step forward to pin Ying Dang down tightly, terrified he would erupt, break through the acupoints, and harm the Emperor.
Ying Xi forcibly controlled his heart that was about to jump out of his throat. Staying up late plus this fierce confrontation, he couldn’t take it anymore: “Lock him in the palace. Give an explanation to the Court of the Imperial Clan. Send heavy troops to guard him. No one is allowed to speak to him. Let him, him—”
He wanted to say let Ying Dang calm down.
But the voice turned into coughing and panting at the end, then to inability to breathe.
He angrily clutched the cushion on the couch. The memories he wanted to forget, and the fear etched into his bones when trapped in Fanglan Hall, struck like toppling mountains and overturning seas.
Ying Xi’s knuckles were completely pale, and a layer of black mist covered his eyes.
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty!!!”
Ying Xi finally fell asleep this time.
This rest was very unsettled because he finally couldn’t hold on; he had drained himself dry and was overwhelmed with anger.
Ying Xi slept in the dragon bed of Weiyang Palace. The Imperial Physician came for a consultation again. The medical order said: nurse with care, do not disturb.
After Yu Jing fed him medicine, he transformed into a door god outside, standing left and right with Lang Xun. No one was allowed to startle the Emperor.
Ying Xi slept from the third watch until the fifth watch.
After the fifth watch, dawn broke.
Su Xueyi came once, asking about the Emperor’s final decision on the Jiangnan aspect.
Yu Jing concealed the Emperor’s illness and only said the Emperor was considering it. Su Xueyi left.
This rest was the worst one since Ying Xi’s rebirth.
Ying Xi mumbled intermittently in his dream.
He was dragged into an exceptionally complete long dream by the past.
In the dream, he had just entered Chang’an and was thrown into Fanglan Hall. The second legitimate son of Yongning Prince Manor, Ying Dang, was locked on the other side, separated by a wall of the palace hall.
Fanglan Hall was planted all over with magnolia trees. It was a very beautiful large house.
Ying Xi knew he might be chosen as the heir to the throne. showing no joy, remaining calm and collected, he studied his lessons with an uncertain future.
He was naturally talented in learning and soon gained the approval of Teacher Zhu Zhao.
By having a good relationship with the teacher, he could inquire about some outside intelligence.
Ying Xi secretly baited the teacher’s words, asking about the current situation in Yangzhou, asking about his biological parents.
At first, everything was business as usual.
Hearing that Prince Yong received land compensation and his mother’s treatment was raised several levels higher than an ordinary Prince’s wife, Ying Xi ignited with joyful hope.
Ying Xi performed excellently, was reported by Zhu Zhao, and received Emperor Yuan Tai’s approval.
His adoptive father bestowed some things, which encouraged Ying Xi; he could become better.
While working hard, he carefully collected information about his parents.
Down to the details of the new poetry collections compiled by Jiangnan scholars every season—he asked Zhu Zhao to buy them to read. There were his father’s works in them. He traced every ink character, trying hard to connect them to the Yongning Prince Manor.
His longing was so great he almost wore through the sky outside Fanglan Hall with his gaze, almost stared down every goose flying south. He waited for a future family reunion.
But what he waited for was something Teacher Zhu Zhao said one day that didn’t match the actual situation of Yongning Prince Manor at all!
The poetry collections he looked forward to no longer had his father’s name.
He eavesdropped on palace maids talking outside the courtyard wall. The royal branch lineages entered the capital for an audience, and the female relatives of various manors were entertained by Grand Princess Huining in Shanglin Park. He had never heard his mother’s name mentioned either.
“Because the one inside… His Majesty fears he might have disloyal thoughts. He must completely steal this incense line. Sigh, what a pity for the Prince Yongning couple.”
“Shh! Do you want to die!”
“Discussing His Majesty’s decision… the one inside might be the future Majesty. You just wait—”
The voices of those two palace maids stopped abruptly.
Then, Ying Xi heard sharp weapons piercing flesh.
Before dying, the palace maid only made a muffled sound that was barely audible. On the other side of the palace wall, Ying Xi’s eyes were already wet and red, but he suppressed the emotion of extreme grief with deathly effort!
Born with early wisdom, he discovered at that moment that shadow guards were lurking in Fanglan Hall.
He inevitably had to endure, and also pretend to know nothing!
Ying Xi, who was just ten years old then—no one could imagine how strong a will it took not to cry out loud.
That kind of heart-wrenching pain was enough to make a person go mad instantly.
He determinedly realized: his parents were dead. He and his brother were being strictly guarded.
If he was slightly careless, the shadow guards would report to the Emperor.
He would die, and his brother would die too.
Under the extreme pressure of imperial power, he was a fragile ant, yet he had to protect an even smaller ant.
When he learned of his parents’ death and listened to the palace maids die for leaking secrets, Ying Xi knew he would have to struggle against Emperor Yuan Tai and his falcons and dogs for a long, long time…
From then on, he cut off the behavior of inquiring about his parents. He played the role of Emperor Yuan Tai’s law-abiding adopted son.
He brainwashed himself: He is the most suitable heir to the Great Qin Imperial Family.
From then on, he couldn’t visit his brother either.
Because his brother was innocent and straightforward. Once he said something—whether it touched his own emotions or spread treasonous words—they would be completely finished.
He intentionally alienated his last relative.
Visits changed from twice a month to once, then he forced himself to forget that there was still the closest person in the world next door.
He didn’t know how long such days lasted. Feigning compliance while acting in opposition, with a heavy heart, what he endured far exceeded the range a normal child could bear.
Countless times, Ying Xi woke up from nightmares but dared not even show fear, digesting the dreams alone.
That shadow guard leader, he named him Shadow.
The contest between them was reflected in every aspect.
Shadow tailed him; he observed Shadow.
He knew Shadow had superb qinggong, wore a silver mask, was hired by Emperor Yuan Tai, and earned ten thousand taels of silver annually.
He also knew this person was ruthless and vicious, bullying the weak and fearing the strong, liking to test him maliciously the most!
Ying Xi spoke defensively, every word and every sentence, afraid of being caught by the handle, afraid he would use him to claim credit from the Emperor.
Eventually, under habits accumulated over years, Ying Xi’s cautious and suspicious character was formed.
That Fanglan Hall seemed beautiful, but in reality, undercurrents surged.
Every time he couldn’t hold on, he would tell himself—I want this throne!!!
When I have the power to ascend to the peak of ten thousand people, my brother and I will no longer be slaughtered by others.
What if he couldn’t bear it?
Before being established as Crown Prince, Ying Xi had countless unbearable moments.
Reaching the limit, then go look at the flowers.
Look at the noblest magnolias blooming on the highest branches outside the hall. Borrow strength from heaven and earth, feel the vigor of life.
In the moment of looking up, let the brilliant sunlight accompanied by heavy tree shadows conceal the flash of tears in his eyes.
In the dragon bed, Ying Xi clutched the quilt tightly.
He was soaked in sweat.
The nightmare dragged him back to the most desperate moment in his life.
He wanted to get up from the bed, but couldn’t. He was still shrouded in the shadows of those shadow guards; they were formless ghosts.
Ying Xi longed for light to illuminate him.
At the end of this long dream—
Suddenly, the tips of the magnolia branches swayed. A young man broke through the tree shadows and leaped down. Behind that person was clear heavenly light; thousands of rays of light cast down toward him. Magnolia flowers fell like rain!
He panicked and reminded the youth in a low voice, “Run.”
The shadow guards attacked this person from all directions.
At this moment, however, he was shielded behind the youth.
“Xie… Qianli. Ju’er.”
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