Chapter 82: Jealousy

A kiss, light as a dragonfly skimming the water.

Beigong Qiyi tossed a silver ingot to the stunned vendor, waved the mask in his hand, and said with a smile, “Brother, it’s yours.” Beigong Juechen cast him a displeased glance and turned away without a word. Qiyi looked at the mask in his hand, pouted, and trotted after him.

The vendor, still dazed, stared at their retreating figures and muttered, “These days, is it that all good-looking men end up together?” One had to admit, young sir, you’ve seen through the truth!

“Brother,” Qiyi caught up with Juechen, clinging to his hand in a fawning manner. “Where are we going?” Juechen replied coldly, “Weren’t you the one who wanted to go out for a stroll?” Qiyi thought for a moment, then grinned, “Why don’t we go to the frontier?”

Juechen gave him an odd look. “The frontier? A journey of over half a month just to play for a day?” Qiyi scratched his nose with a forced laugh. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea…” Juechen sneered, “A rotten idea, indeed. But if we can’t go to the frontier, let’s go to the outskirts.”

“The outskirts?” Qiyi asked. “What are we going to do there?” With a snap of his fingers, a shadow flitted past behind them. Juechen walked leisurely into “Jade Rinsing Pavilion,” with Qiyi close behind. They found a secluded corner and sat down. Juechen chuckled softly, “How about a horse race?” Qiyi blinked. “We’re going to race horses?”

At that moment, the perceptive shopkeeper had already instructed the waiter to bring tea. Juechen took a cup, nodded slightly. Qiyi’s eyes sparkled, but his smile turned sly. “Speaking of competitions, I suddenly remembered the last time we played chess. Brother, you still haven’t fulfilled your wager.”

Juechen paused mid-sip, shot Qiyi a cool glance, and said with a half-smile, “Why don’t we settle it with another competition? If you win, double or nothing. If I win, the debt is cleared. Well?”

Qiyi propped his chin on his hand and sighed. “What a calculating brother. But no matter how I look at it, I’m the one at a disadvantage here.”

Juechen set down his cup, lifted the youth’s chin, and brushed a kiss over his lips. “What, do you have so little confidence in yourself?” Qiyi gazed at him as if enchanted, then finally let out a low laugh. “Brother, you win.” Juechen smiled in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper, gleefully tallying his accounts, happened to look toward the door and his face turned ashen. He hurriedly summoned a servant and whispered, pointing at the two approaching figures, “Go, whatever you do, don’t let those two ancestors come in!” The servant, following his gaze, immediately grimaced in distress.

Blocking their entrance with a forced smile, the servant said apologetically, “I’m so sorry, gentlemen, we’re closed today.” A young girl in pink widened her eyes. “If you’re closed, why are the doors open?” “We were just about to close, truly sorry!” the servant replied hastily.

The girl craned her neck to look inside. Indeed, the teahouse was empty. She pouted and muttered a few complaints, but the servant let out a breath of relief. “So sorry, perhaps you could come back another day?” Her maid tugged her sleeve, persuading, “Miss, it’s been days and we’ve not seen him. Looks like he isn’t coming back.” The girl glared at her, took a deep breath, and said, “Fine! We’ll come another day!” The maid rolled her eyes in silence.

Just then, the sound of hooves approached. Juechen stood, raised an eyebrow, “Let’s go.” Qiyi picked up the cup Juechen had just used, drained the tea in one gulp, and followed him out.

The girl walked on, head bowed, disappointed, while her maid idly glanced around. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she tugged the girl’s sleeve, whispering, “Miss, miss, look—could that be him?” The girl’s head shot up, following the direction of her maid’s finger; in an instant, her previously dull eyes shone with light.

She watched as Juechen mounted his horse with effortless grace. Qiyi flashed a bright grin, tilted his chin, and said, “Brother, watch me!” With a flourish, he turned, seized the reins, and was about to mount with a showy swing when, at the last moment, someone grabbed his robe and yanked him down.

A man’s low, magnetic laughter sounded in his ear. Qiyi spat, scowling at the person before him. In stark contrast to Qiyi’s grim face, the girl was beaming, as if her face had blossomed. Tugging Qiyi’s sleeve, she said cheerily, “Do you remember me?”

Qiyi looked at her coldly. “No.” Her smile froze, awkwardness twitching at her lips. She said softly, “I’m the one who asked you for your jade.”

Qiyi raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips. “What do you want?” The girl’s cheeks flushed crimson. She lowered her head shyly, “Well, I never told you my name before. I’m Zhao Zisu.”

“I have no interest in your name.” Qiyi retorted coldly, vaulting onto his horse. Juechen looked at him with amusement, “Shall we go?” Qiyi nodded, but Zhao Zisu stepped in front of them, arms outstretched, head held high. Yet the moment she looked at them, she froze.

She’d thought, after seeing Qiyi’s face, that no one else could ever stun her so completely. She was wrong. Qiyi was dazzling, but Juechen’s beauty was of another kind—chill and keen, like a flower blooming amid thorns.

Zhao Zisu swallowed, feeling her cheeks grow hotter. “Who is he?” she asked in a flustered whisper, head lowered. Qiyi’s foxlike eyes narrowed. He leaned forward on the reins, voice low, “He’s my older brother.”

Hurriedly smoothing her clothes, Zhao Zisu’s shyness deepened. So his brother was just as handsome—ah! Was this meeting the family? Was I too forward just now? What if I made a bad impression? She nervously twirled a lock of hair, stealing a glance at Juechen, and softly called, “Brother.”

Juechen arched an eyebrow at Qiyi, laughing quietly. “What, bringing home a sister-in-law for me to meet?” Qiyi shook his head decisively, “Of course not. I don’t even know her.”

Zhao Zisu’s eyes widened in surprise. She glared at Qiyi, “You don’t know me? Last time I said I liked you—did you forget?” Qiyi shrugged indifferently, “So what if I remember? I don’t like you.”

At that, Zhao Zisu’s face drained of all color. Qiyi smiled faintly, tapped her chin with his whip, and said, “Didn’t you always want to know who gave me the jade pendant? I suppose there’s no harm in telling you—it was a gift from my brother.”

Zhao Zisu’s shock deepened. She staggered back, and Ying’er, quick as ever, caught her. Zhao Zisu pointed a trembling finger, “You… you two…”

Qiyi’s smile grew more wicked. Straightening, he looked down at her, “And if we are, what of it?”

With that, he ignored her, turning to Juechen with a light laugh. “Brother, let’s go.” Juechen nodded carelessly, mounted his horse, and rode off. Qiyi tugged at the reins, then glanced back at the dumbfounded Zhao Zisu and curled his lips in a slow, deliberate smile.

Zhao Zisu shuddered, feeling herself go cold from head to toe.

Beyond the city, the countryside lay empty and still. Few travelers passed. Qiyi and Juechen rode at a leisurely pace, as if simply taking an afternoon stroll—relaxed, unhurried. Juechen glanced at Qiyi, a trace of something in his eyes. “Zhao Zisu… Why does that name sound familiar to me?”

Qiyi looked at him, puzzled, then thought for a moment and smiled. “I think she’s the legitimate daughter of Prince Rui?” Juechen laughed softly, “So first a Second Prince, now a prince’s heiress. Your charm is something else.”

Qiyi blinked, halted his horse, and turned to Juechen with a playful smile. “Brother… are you jealous?” Juechen frowned, scoffing, “Ridiculous. Why would I…”

“Brother!” Qiyi cut him off, leaping onto Juechen’s horse and wrapping his arms around the man’s waist from behind, chin resting on his shoulder. He laughed softly, “Brother, you’re jealous. I can even smell the vinegar on you!”

Juechen struck backward with his elbow, but Qiyi was ready, nimbly dodging and laughing aloud. “Brother, are you angry out of embarrassment now?” Juechen snorted, then, without warning, lashed the horse’s flank. The steed galloped off in a wild sprint. Qiyi tottered precariously on the horse’s back, shouting, “Brother, I was wrong!”

Juechen shot him a cold glance and struck again, making the horse race even faster. Qiyi’s dark eyes darted about, then, in a flash, he swung his leg over, sat astride, and threw his arms tightly around Juechen’s waist.

The whip sliced through the air toward him. Qiyi twisted aside, catching the whip in his hand, yet it still left a mark, as wide as a thumb, swelling on his jade-like cheek. He touched the sore spot, suddenly recalling the time he’d whipped Juechen in a fit of jealous rage.

So, retribution comes after all? Qiyi thought, and hugged him even tighter. The horse thundered wildly, kicking up a storm of yellow dust. Qiyi seized the man’s chin and kissed him hard.

Juechen raised an eyebrow, then suddenly seized Qiyi by the hair and dragged him from behind to sit in front. He knocked away the youth’s hand from his chin, gripped the reins with one hand, and with the other, pulled Qiyi close, kissing him fiercely.

Author’s note: Is big brother jealous or not, hmm?