Chapter 82: The Return to Changhe

The next day, Cao Mengyang arrived at the Yan residence again.

Ji Xiao brought Lian Ying to greet him.

Cao Mengyang didn’t give him a good look. “I didn’t expect Young Master Yan could still smile. Aren’t you afraid my father will punish you?”

“His Majesty is a wise ruler, and Your Highness is a good person,” Ji Xiao said gently. “If I continued to hide my true preferences and married you, that would be true deception of the sovereign and deception of you.”

In fact, Cao Mengyang was a person who loved and hated openly.

Besides, she couldn’t really say she loved Yan Xiao.

It was just that she had reached the age to marry, so she picked someone who caught her eye.

She admired Yan Xiao’s learning and his resolute character, so she chose him.

In the original plot, Yan Xiao ended up with his entire clan executed precisely because of his deception. After marrying her, she discovered his actions.

A princess’s pride would never let that slide.

No matter how straightforward, she was still a noble princess of the imperial family.

The emperor would never let off someone who bullied his beloved daughter and trampled on the royal dignity.

Now that Ji Xiao had voluntarily confessed before anything started, Cao Mengyang actually admired him more.

Because the person she had chosen was someone with a sense of responsibility.

Even if his future official career was rough, he wouldn’t hide his true nature, marry her, and deceive her.

“You’ve recently had a relapse of an old ailment, are frail, and fear you won’t live long, won’t be able to accompany me always, and can’t bear to delay me. Therefore, you yourself request to dissolve this engagement. My father will be moved by your good intentions and grant you a promise.”

After saying this, Cao Mengyang turned and left.

Ji Xiao bowed behind her. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Ji Xiao had not yet entered officialdom and could not directly petition the emperor, so he found a high official who greatly admired Yan Xiao’s learning, Grand Tutor Ye, and asked him to help submit a memorial.

The next day at the morning court, the emperor summoned Ji Xiao to the palace.

Ji Xiao expressed his intentions before the court officials, appearing extremely weak.

The emperor couldn’t persuade him and, moved by his good intentions, asked if he had any wishes.

Ji Xiao said, “Your servant does not know how much longer his body will hold out. I only wish to return to my hometown in my remaining years, to do what little I can for the villagers, and finally have my soul rest in my homeland.”

The emperor granted him the position of magistrate of Changhe County.

Ji Xiao kowtowed in thanks.

As court adjourned, the news spread quickly.

Ji Xiao’s reputation grew even better, and many lamented that “heaven envies the talented.”

Such outstanding learning, yet such frail health.

Ji Xiao had already taken his appointment letter and, together with Lian Ying, left the capital, setting out for Changhe County.

The journey was long. Besides Lian Ying, he only brought two young servants to take turns driving the carriage outside.

He and Lian Ying rode together inside the carriage.

Not marrying the princess, keeping the shadow guard, he had already accomplished that.

As for the original host’s final request to protect his elder sister and brother-in-law, that was even easier.

Chen Fang’s family already treated Yan Wan very well.

Yan Wan had a husband and children, got along with her mother-in-law. Barring unexpected events, she would have a peaceful life.

And with him, a county magistrate brother, Yan Wan would have an even smoother life.

As for the mission, Ji Xiao had no extra worries.

The carriage rolled steadily along.

Ji Xiao leaned against the carriage wall, one leg stretched across Lian Ying’s lap, watching his cold face massage his leg, deep in thought.

Lian Ying didn’t seem at all like someone with memories of a past life.

How had he managed to evade the system to follow him?

Following without memories… was that possible?

“Aying.”

Lian Ying looked up at him.

Ji Xiao said softly, “Come sit next to me.”

Lian Ying put down his leg and was about to move over when the carriage suddenly stopped. He steadied Ji Xiao, who had pitched forward.

The young servant driving outside, Xiao Nan, called out loudly, “Master, there’s a person lying on the official road ahead. Don’t know if they’re alive or dead.”

Ji Xiao: “?”

He suddenly recalled that in the world where he had been emperor, when he was journeying to the border with the general, they had encountered a similar situation on the road.

They had met Wei Yan, who looked like Wei Xiuyuan.

His expression immediately turned sour. “Run them over.”

Xiao Nan: “Yes!”

Ji Xiao raised his eyes to look at Lian Ying.

Lian Ying’s gaze was utterly calm, his hands still on Ji Xiao’s shoulders, steadying him.

This time, there was no general to stop him.

“Ah, whoa…”

Just as the carriage was about to run over the person, the person’s tightly shut eyes suddenly flew open. He slapped the ground, launched himself up, landed on the carriage, and drew a dagger, placing it against Xiao Nan’s neck.

Xiao Nan pulled the reins taut, stopping the carriage, cold sweat trickling down.

Xiao Bei, beside him, said warily, “Let him go!”

The man’s face was deathly pale, blood seeping through his chest and arms. His voice was hoarse. “You wanted to kill me?”

Xiao Nan said calmly, “You blocked the road.”

Inside the carriage.

Lian Ying released Ji Xiao and placed one hand on his sword hilt.

Ji Xiao pressed down on his hand, rose, and pushed open the carriage curtain. One look at the pale-faced man, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

He and Lian Ying… had come.

But there was no flower branch tattoo on his right forehead that Ji Xiao himself had given, and his build and age seemed somewhat younger than Lian Ying’s.

The man turned his head and saw Lian Ying coming out behind Ji Xiao. His pupils contracted sharply. “Elder brother…”

Ji Xiao: “?”

The man withdrew his dagger, his eyes reddening. “Elder brother…”

Lian Ying’s gaze, always cold, flickered. “Xiao Yu…?”

“Yes…”

Lian Yu wanted to approach him but suddenly stumbled.

Lian Ying stepped forward, reached out to grab him, and looked at Ji Xiao.

Ji Xiao said with a hint of irritation, “Bring him inside. Treat his wounds!”

From now on, I’m not taking a carriage. I’ll travel by water.

He didn’t believe anyone would block the road on a river.

“Thank you, Master.”

Fortunately, the carriage was spacious enough that the three of them didn’t feel crowded.

Xiao Nan, receiving Ji Xiao’s instruction, continued driving, still shaken, his eyes red-rimmed.

Xiao Nan glared at him. “No need!”

Xiao Bei: “…” So his earlier calm had all been an act.

Inside the carriage, there was naturally medical supplies.

Lian Ying stripped off Lian Yu’s clothes and bandaged his wounds.

Ji Xiao sat leaning back, watching him. “Are you twins?”

“Yes.”

“Is he also a shadow guard?”

“I don’t know,” Lian Ying said coldly. “After I entered the palace as a child, I never saw him again.”

Ji Xiao made a sound of acknowledgment and looked seriously down at the unconscious Lian Yu.

At first glance, they seemed carved from the same mold.

On closer inspection, they were only about ninety percent similar.

Lian Yu’s features were less sharp than Lian Ying’s, and the shape of his lips was slightly different.

Feeling his gaze, Lian Ying quickened his movements, closed Lian Yu’s clothes, and said coldly, “When we reach the next town, I’ll have him leave. It won’t delay Master’s journey.”

Ji Xiao smiled. “It’s fine. Since he’s your brother, he’s my brother too. Let him come with us.”

Lian Ying: “Yes.”

“You’re unwilling?” Although subtle, Ji Xiao caught a momentary shift in his mood.

Lian Ying lowered his eyes.

After being sent into the palace to be trained as a shadow guard, he had never seen his family again.

Unlike other shadow guards who each had their own personalities, he had made himself hard as iron.

But when he saw his twin brother, he realized he wasn’t as detached from all emotion as he had thought, merely following the shadow guard’s duty to obey his master.

If his master wanted him, or wanted him to do anything, he could cooperate without hesitation.

But…

He recalled Ji Xiao saying he was very boring.

His little brother had always been cheerful. Add that face identical to his own…

If his master wanted his little brother, could he watch his only brother be… enjoyed by his master, with a calm heart?

That was his only brother.

“Aying, what are you thinking?” Ji Xiao asked curiously, not having received a response for a long while.

Lian Ying moved to sit beside him, met his gaze, and asked, “When Master told the princess that you like me, was that true?”

“Of course it’s true.” Ji Xiao took his hand and said gently, “I said I wouldn’t deceive Her Highness, so how could I lie to her?”

Perhaps because he had been expressionless for so long, Lian Ying’s face didn’t change even at these words.

“I gave up being the princess’s consort, gave up the position of vice minister, and brought you back to Changhe County to be a minor magistrate,” Ji Xiao said, stroking his hand. “Don’t you understand yet?”

Lian Ying said, “Then when we reach the next town, we should leave Lian Yu behind. His wounds need a doctor and rest.”

So it was for his brother’s sake.

Ji Xiao laughed. “Fine, whatever you say.”

Lian Ying lowered his head. “Thank you, Master.”

Ji Xiao immediately said, “Xiao Nan, when we reach the next town, go straight into town and take Second Young Master Lian to see a doctor.”

Xiao Nan: “Yes, Master.”

Ji Xiao leaned close to Lian Ying. “I listen to everything you say. Isn’t Aying going to give me some reward?”

Lian Ying looked up at him, saw him lick his lips, and silently leaned in to lightly kiss him.

Ji Xiao reached out and pressed the back of his head, not letting him retreat, taking the offensive.

…

The carriage entered a small town by evening.

Lian Yu only groggily woke up when Lian Ying carried him out of the carriage.

After a moment, he fully came to, clutching Lian Ying’s collar tightly. “Elder brother, I finally found you. I’m not dreaming, am I? Wuwu.”

While the doctor treated Lian Yu’s wounds, Lian Yu kept a tight hold on Lian Ying’s sleeve, staring at him with wide eyes.

Lian Ying: “Let go.”

“Elder brother,” Lian Yu said, not blinking, “I’ve been looking for you for so many years. I finally found you. Just let me hold on, okay?”

Lian Ying: “If you don’t let go, then you can’t follow us.”

Lian Yu’s eyes widened. “Elder brother, you want to abandon me? I won’t get treated. I want to follow you!”

“No.”

“I don’t care! Even if you knock me out, when I wake up, I’ll immediately chase after you!”

Lian Ying, who had been about to knock him out: “…”

Ji Xiao chuckled. “Then let him follow. After a long separation, once he spends some more time with you, he won’t be so clingy.”

Lian Yu nodded. “Right, right!” I‘ll figure out how to follow first.

He still had so many things to ask, so much to say.

Lian Ying coldly glanced at this foolish younger brother and said nothing more.

Lian Yu took that as agreement and smiled, his eyes curving.

After Lian Yu’s wounds were all dressed and the doctor had prescribed medicine, Ji Xiao and his group found an inn nearby to stay.

At the dinner table, Lian Yu was extremely aggrieved. “I never thought Dad would be so heartless as to send you to be a shadow guard. No matter how much I cried and made a fuss, he wouldn’t tell me where he sent you.”

Lian Ying ate in silence.

“Only when I used every means, even starving myself, did he say he didn’t know where you were sent either,” Lian Yu sniffled. “I was still small. They wouldn’t let me go out to find you, so I snuck out.”

Lian Ying’s hand gripping the chopsticks tightened. “Nonsense. How old were you to dare run away from home?”

“Yeah, I got kidnapped by human traffickers,” Lian Yu said, a little guilty, then proudly continued, “But with my wits and courage, I didn’t suffer much, and then I met my master.”

Lian Ying: “…”

“He saved me and wanted to send me home. I said I had no home, my elder brother was sold as a shadow guard, and I was kidnapped… Then he kept me by his side and taught me martial arts.”

Lian Ying didn’t want to talk. Ji Xiao asked with a smile, “Then you became a martial arts expert and started searching for your brother?”

Lian Yu nodded. “But there are too many places that raise shadow guards, and they’re secret. Most shadow guards cover their faces, so I couldn’t see their faces. I searched for years and still didn’t find him.”

When he said this, he couldn’t help feeling bitter.

Ji Xiao nodded. “So, how did you end up lying on the official road?” Could he have also rolled down a hillside and just happened to land on the road?

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Sweet Peach Punch

Age GapBLBoys Love

Read Now →
Not interested