Eighty-six younger brother

“Ten thousand taels. I’ll buy his freedom.” The cold, deep male voice sounded slowly. Instantly, a collective gasp swept through the building—not only because ten thousand taels was an immense sum, but more so due to the identity of the speaker.

Beigong Juechen lifted his gaze and cast an indifferent glance at the first bidder. That man, too, looked over, and upon seeing that it was Beigong Qiyi and Beigong Juechen, his eyes flashed with sudden brightness.

“Elder brother?” Beigong Qiyi squeezed Beigong Juechen’s hand in confusion. Beigong Juechen replied in a low voice, “Since this is clearly directed at us, it would be rather discourteous not to play along.” Beigong Qiyi lowered his eyes and nodded slightly. He knew that Beigong Juechen’s words held only half the truth—this Qi Wen must not be left alive.

A glint of icy light flickered in his downcast black eyes. His other hand, hanging by his side, slowly curled into a tight fist.

While the two exchanged words, the madam’s eyes darted back and forth. She forced a troubled smile and said, “Young master, tonight we’re selling off Qi Wen’s first night, not his freedom. If you’d be so kind...”

Before she could finish, Beigong Juechen lazily interrupted, “I mean gold.” The madam’s mouth fell open, stammering several times. Beigong Qiyi looked at her and sneered, “If it can’t be done, then forget it.” The madam swallowed hard and quickly forced a laugh. “It can, of course it can!” She pushed Qi Wen forward, ingratiatingly adding, “From now on, Young Master Qi Wen is yours. As for the payment...”

Beigong Juechen snapped his fingers. A shadowy guard instantly appeared before him. Beigong Juechen leaned in and whispered a few words, to which the man nodded. In a blur, the shadow had already flitted to the madam’s side, startling her before she could even steady her pounding heart. The guard bent to her ear and uttered a single sentence that left her utterly stunned.

“T-they are... they’re...” The madam trembled, pointing at the two men. The shadow guard nodded expressionlessly, his gaze full of warning. The madam swallowed convulsively, clamped her mouth shut, and nodded in frantic agreement.

The shadow flickered once more and vanished. The madam, still shaken, glanced around before finally suppressing her terror. She looked at Beigong Juechen with extreme caution, forcing a smile. “From... from this moment on, Young Master Qi Wen is yours... yours...”

Compared to the madam’s emotional turmoil, Qi Wen remained calm from beginning to end. He descended the steps slowly, unhurried, and walked up to Beigong Juechen. Their faces bore a striking resemblance, and their eyes shared the same deep emerald hue. Beigong Qiyi stepped forward, placing himself between them, breaking their gaze.

Qi Wen glanced indifferently at Beigong Qiyi. His look was not merely detached, but cold—cold as that which Beigong Juechen had once cast upon him. A chill ran through Beigong Qiyi, his black eyes instantly sharpening.

Qi Wen lowered his eyes slightly, and an odd smile curled at his lips. A sudden unease rose in Beigong Qiyi’s heart, and he half-narrowed his eyes. Qi Wen suddenly looked up and stared straight at him, but in the next instant, those emerald eyes dropped again.

Yet that mere moment was enough to send a wave of cold through Beigong Qiyi.

In those eyes—so like Beigong Juechen’s—he had seen... seen memories that he could never allow Beigong Juechen to recall, secrets that should have belonged to the two of them alone.

His grip on the man’s hand tightened unconsciously. Beigong Juechen frowned and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?” Startled by his whisper, Beigong Qiyi’s heart skipped a beat, but his voice remained steady: “It’s nothing.”

Forcing down the shock within, Beigong Qiyi’s gaze cut toward Qi Wen like a blade. Qi Wen lifted his eyes and parted his rosy lips, silently mouthing a few words.

A flush of blood seemed to surge in Beigong Qiyi’s pitch-black eyes. His gaze fixed upon Qi Wen, sharp as a thousand knives, wishing he could tear the man apart and grind his bones to dust.

Qi Wen’s words were brief—only six characters—but each one pierced the heart: I am his true brother.

The long night urged on the wind. Four figures walked slowly down an empty street, their footsteps the only sound. A low laugh echoed as a man in a silver robe, twirling a feathered fan, chuckled. “I didn’t expect to run into you here. May I ask what brings the Lord and Young Lord out to the outskirts tonight?”

Beigong Qiyi had worn a scowl the entire way. Noticing his restlessness, Beigong Juechen glanced thoughtfully at Qi Wen, who was following behind, head bowed, pace unhurried, seemingly at ease.

Their companion’s question was ignored by both, prompting an awkward cough. Beigong Juechen shot him a sidelong look and said coldly, “And what brings the Second Prince out here?”

Zhao Yixiao spun his fan, smiling. “If I said I was simply here to clear my mind, would the Lord believe me?”

Beigong Juechen raised his brows, a half-smile on his lips. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Zhao Yixiao returned with a question, “Then why does the Lord believe me?”

Beigong Juechen regarded him impassively for a moment before letting out a low chuckle. “Because we’re here for pleasure as well.”

Zhao Yixiao nodded amiably and asked no further. His reason for being outside the city was certainly not so simple, but Beigong Juechen and Beigong Qiyi truly were out for leisure.

The street fell silent again, but only for a moment. Suddenly, Beigong Qiyi lifted his head and remarked, “Since the Second Prince is in the mood for a stroll, I assume affairs within the palace are settled?”

Zhao Yixiao blinked and looked over, arching an eyebrow with a smile. “Thanks to the Lord and Young Lord, Father has indeed grown suspicious of my eldest brother. In his panic, Eldest Brother sought desperate measures, only to widen the rift with Father. I must thank you both.” He stopped, bowed deeply to them.

As a prince, such gestures would have left anyone else flustered, but Beigong Qiyi and Beigong Juechen remained utterly unmoved, accepting his salute as their due. As Zhao Yixiao straightened, Beigong Qiyi suddenly said, “But I doubt that’s all, is it?”

“What do you mean?” Zhao Yixiao looked at him in confusion.

Beigong Qiyi tapped his chin with slender fingers, smiling coldly. “My brother and I have helped the Second Prince more than once.”

Zhao Yixiao’s confusion deepened. The youth’s expression hovered between a smile and a sneer. “Remember when we spared your uncle at your request? You gained considerable favor with the Royal Consort for that. In palace intrigue, the pillow talk of a favored one is ever the most effective.”

Enlightenment dawned on Zhao Yixiao. He nodded and laughed, “Indeed, I must thank the Lord and Young Lord for that as well.”

Beigong Qiyi released Beigong Juechen’s hand and laughed lightly. “If, with our help, the Second Prince wins this splendid realm, could you grant us half your kingdom in return?”

Zhao Yixiao’s face changed, his smile freezing. “That... would be rather improper, I think.”

Beigong Qiyi shot him a sidelong glance, arching a brow. “Your father once sent men to assassinate the ‘Lì Manor,’ killing my parents. If not for my brother’s timely arrival, I’d never have escaped. Retribution is only just. I don’t think my request is excessive.”

The last traces of color drained from Zhao Yixiao’s face. He gazed at Beigong Qiyi, eyes narrowed. “That condition is frankly too much. ‘Lì Manor’ commands the martial world, and you two are its revered leaders. Owning the martial world is as good as holding half the kingdom.”

He made no mention of the blood-stained past. Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly, his gaze burning. “You speak well, but you tried to uproot the Lì Manor precisely to swallow the martial world whole. The realm and the martial world both belong to this land. Second Prince, if we can raise you up, we can bring you down again. I hope you’ll give it some thought.”

Night had deepened. The moon was the only light in the darkness, but even by that pale glow, Zhao Yixiao’s face shifted from green to white.

Beigong Qiyi’s eyes radiated pressure. Beigong Juechen, standing off to the side with a half-smile, had not spoken a single word. Zhao Yixiao glanced at him, and a chill ran down his spine, unbidden.

It struck him then: this was the master of Lì Manor, a man whose mere step could set the martial world trembling. The sense of oppression about him was even greater than that which Zhao Yixiao had felt as a youth in the presence of his formidable father.

As he mused, another realization dawned. The last time he had seen Beigong Juechen, his inner strength had seemed empty, as if bound by something. Now, his power was robust, and his attitude toward Beigong Qiyi had changed dramatically. Zhao Yixiao’s gaze flickered between the two, and a sudden, startling thought flashed through his mind.

That fleeting insight genuinely startled him.

For the moment, Zhao Yixiao set aside Beigong Qiyi’s daunting demands. He looked thoughtfully at Beigong Juechen and asked, “Does the Lord remember where we last met?”

Beigong Juechen raised a brow and answered in a low voice, “Shiyuan Pavilion.”

Zhao Yixiao’s gaze shifted to Beigong Qiyi. The youth’s stunning face betrayed little emotion, his eyes cool and detached. Yet Zhao Yixiao keenly noticed the faint tightening of those rosy lips. Zhao Yixiao smiled slowly. “You two truly are close as brothers. That day at Shiyuan Pavilion, were you quarreling?”

Beigong Qiyi clenched both hands and, before Beigong Juechen could answer, said, “Our affairs are none of your concern. I suggest you consider my terms carefully—you know I keep my word.” With that, he seized Beigong Juechen and strode away.

Qi Wen followed silently behind, a thoughtful flicker crossing his lowered face.

Zhao Yixiao watched their receding figures, stroking his chin with a meaningful smile. How fascinating... truly fascinating...

Author’s Note: Oh ho ho, a new character born from the revised setting. The little brother is actually quite adorable—you’ll see as the story continues! And it seems Zhao Yixiao has made a discovery as well, haha.