Eighty-five, eighty-five.

Everyone turned toward the sound to see a woman, around thirty, standing on the staircase of the second floor in a deep purple gown, her beauty undiminished by the years. Behind her stood another person: though delicate and willowy, the figure was unmistakably male—a youth, to be precise.

The boy kept his head slightly lowered, but the glimpse of his face made Beigong Qiyi’s heart tremble. Instinctively, he turned to look at Beigong Juechen, only to see the man’s elegantly arched brows knitted tightly, a cold glint flickering in his emerald eyes.

That youth bore an uncanny resemblance to Beigong Juechen—more so than Qiyi himself. His expression was calm, and even the emotions between his brows mirrored Juechen’s to some extent. Slowly, the youth lifted his head, his gaze coolly sweeping across the crowd. When his eyes paused briefly on Qiyi, there was a subtle hesitation before he turned his attention to Juechen.

Qiyi’s shock deepened as he stared fixedly at the boy’s eyes, which glimmered with a faint flush of red. For the youth’s pupils, like those of Beigong Juechen, were a rare shade of emerald green!

Unconsciously, Qiyi gripped Juechen’s hand tightly—hadn’t it been said that all bloodlines related to Beigong Juechen had perished? Then who was this youth, whose face shared such striking resemblance? Could it truly be mere coincidence? Clutching the man’s hand ever tighter, Qiyi’s gaze at the boy was so intense it seemed he might devour him whole.

The youth met Beigong Juechen’s eyes; in both pairs of emerald irises, surprise flickered. After a long moment, a faint smile curled upon the youth’s otherwise chilly face.

Qiyi’s eyes had turned entirely crimson with emotion, and just as his anger was about to erupt, Juechen gripped his hand forcefully. Qiyi drew a deep breath and turned to him. The man soothed him by rubbing the back of his hand, shaking his head gently.

They did not yet know who this person was or what purpose he had in appearing now. There was no need to act rashly; better to watch and see what tricks they intended to play.

Struggling to calm himself, Qiyi nodded steadily, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the blood-hue had faded. He threaded his fingers through Juechen’s, their hands interlocked.

No matter who you are, no one will ever take you from my side, big brother!

The woman’s beautiful smile swept the hall as she raised her voice. “Tonight here at Spring Courtyard, we’re auctioning off Young Master Qi Wen’s first night. You’ve all seen—how handsome this young master is! Even I, an old matron past my prime, can’t help but be moved!” She waved her peach-pink handkerchief, giggling behind it.

Ordinarily, such an announcement from the madam would have been met with raucous cheers, but after the bloody incident earlier, and seeing how closely Qi Wen resembled the two at the heart of that violence, the crowd hung their heads in silence.

Qi Wen’s face remained impassive, his gaze flickering between Qiyi and Juechen. Qiyi stared coldly back, stepping subtly forward to shield Juechen. The man raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curling at his lips.

The madam forced a nervous laugh and waved her silk scarf, trying to liven the mood. “Well, enough small talk! You’ve all seen how handsome Young Master Qi Wen is, but not only that—he’s talented too! Would anyone like to hear him play a piece for us?”

A smattering of reluctant responses came from the audience. The madam hurriedly had a zither brought out, her smile growing ever more stiff. Qi Wen withdrew his gaze, sat gracefully, and let his slender fingers brush the strings. The clear, melodious notes of the zither slowly filled Spring Courtyard.

He played a renowned classic—a piece that, not long ago, Qiyi himself had performed: “The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate.”

By rights, with Qi Wen’s current status, this was not a song he ought to play. The phoenix was the imperial emblem, soaring across the heavens, while he was nothing but a humble courtesan. Yet there was not a trace of fawning or coquetry about him. His demeanor was detached, almost unchanged, his back straight and proud—neither servile nor ingratiating, his movements light and elegant. He resembled a noble scion more than a courtesan. He did not play the entire song, only its most evocative passage.

“There is a beauty, whom once seen, one cannot forget.
A day apart seems like madness.
A phoenix soars, searching the four seas for its mate,
Yet his beloved is not beyond the eastern wall.
With music as my tongue, I pour out my heart.
When will she give consent, to soothe my wandering soul?
May virtue be my match, and hand in hand we go,
Else, denied this union, I am lost to despair.”

“There is a beauty, whom once seen, one cannot forget. A day apart seems like madness.” he recited softly. The music broke off abruptly. His cool gaze fell on Beigong Juechen, who returned it with equal indifference. Their nearly identical emerald eyes met, generating an undeniable pull between them.

A strange feeling stirred in Juechen’s heart. In Qi Wen’s eyes, he seemed to glimpse something—a memory or emotion foreign to his own experience. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

Just as he was about to look closer, the hand the boy was holding suddenly tightened painfully. Juechen broke his gaze, turning to see Qiyi’s undisguised fury and jealousy. Irritated for reasons he could not explain, he pulled his hand free, but Qiyi’s expression darkened, and he seized hold again even more tightly.

A flicker of impatience crossed Juechen’s exquisite features, but seeing the growing red in the boy’s eyes, he only frowned and let him hold on. Onstage, Qi Wen watched their interaction with a faint, peculiar smile that vanished almost immediately.

He shot the madam a barely noticeable glance. She nodded and stepped forward, speaking loudly in a playful tone. “Oh my, why is everyone so quiet tonight? Is it because you’ve all been entranced by our Young Master Qi Wen?” She waved her pink scarf, sending scarlet petals fluttering through the air, raining down on everyone.

Qiyi gazed at the man bathed in petals, unable to look away. Absentmindedly stroking Juechen’s fingers, he blurted, “Big brother, you’re so beautiful.” The man thumped him on the head. Qiyi winced in pain. “Big brother, why’d you hit me?”

Juechen raised an eyebrow, chuckling. “It’s one thing to act foolish at home, but don’t embarrass yourself in public.” The youth lifted his chin, a single scarlet petal landing on the vermilion mark at his brow. Juechen’s emerald eyes darkened suddenly. Qiyi blinked, his smile growing even more dazzling.

His beauty was so extraordinary that most eyes in the hall couldn’t help but fixate on the pair. A faint crease formed between Juechen’s brows. Suddenly, he pulled the youth into his embrace by the neck. Qiyi immediately wrapped his arms around the man’s waist.

Juechen’s body shuddered. His hand tightened at the boy’s nape as he murmured, “Enough.” Through the soft fabric, Qiyi’s laughter was sultry and ambiguous as he nipped gently at the man’s chest.

His tongue dampened a patch of cloth at Juechen’s chest, drawing a deep flush to the man’s face. Lowering his head, he growled, “Beigong Qiyi!” The onlookers, unaware of what was happening, only saw the elder suddenly pull the younger into his arms, and moments later, the younger’s neatly belted clothes were in disarray.

Qiyi grew even bolder, slipping his hand beneath the man’s robes to caress his smooth back. Juechen, face dark, pulled him upright by the neck, straightened his own clothes in a flash, and tossed Qiyi aside.

Qiyi staggered, barely regaining his balance, licking his lips with lingering intent. He was just about to pester Juechen again when the madam’s sultry voice rang out from the dais. “Ladies and gentlemen! Now for the highlight of the evening: Young Master Qi Wen’s starting price is one hundred taels. With that face and bearing, he’s worth every coin, don’t you think?”

In the past, many would have scrambled to outbid each other. But tonight, after her words had hung in the air for some time, Spring Courtyard remained silent. The madam’s smile froze completely.

Qi Wen’s expression remained unchanged as he gazed calmly at the crowd, as if the awkwardness of the moment had nothing to do with him. Just as the madam’s face was about to darken fully, a deep male voice rang out from the hall. “One thousand taels.”

The madam let out a slow breath, her smile instantly becoming coquettish. Looking closely, she saw the bidder was a man in silver-grey robes, holding a feather fan, his manner elegant. Her smile grew even softer and more alluring. Though past thirty, her beauty and figure rivaled any maiden; maturity only added to her charm.

She fluttered her lashes at the man, teasing, “Such generosity! A tenfold increase in one bid! Any other takers downstairs? If not, Young Master Qi Wen’s first night will belong to this gentleman.”

Murmurs rose in the hall, but no one else made an offer. After about half a cup of tea’s time, the madam raised her voice again. “As there are no further bids, then Young Master Qi Wen’s...”

“Ten thousand taels—to buy his freedom.”

Author’s note: The little darling makes his entrance!
Guess what his relationship to big brother might be~
Ooh la la~ Big brother is finally showing unmistakable signs of jealousy~ Applause and confetti~