Chapter 83: A Brother’s Reunion

Lian Yu’s face stiffened. He sat up straight and said solemnly,

“I tracked them to the capital recently. I sneaked into the prince’s mansion to find the shadow guards. I fought three hundred rounds with them, one against ten. I badly injured four and slipped away. After leaving the city, I found my hidden horse and fled the capital as fast as I could. But… I passed out on the way.”

He stared at Lian Ying with a dark look. “The horse abandoned me. I don’t know where it ran off to. If I hadn’t sensed danger and woken up, brother, you’d be seeing my corpse now.”

He wanted to accuse his brother of riding the horse over him!

Lian Ying: “…”

Ji Xiao said flatly, “I told Xiao Nan to run him over.”

Lian Yu’s feelings grew complicated when he realized it was because of him that Lian Ying had agreed to let him stay. “Are you my brother’s master? Can you set him free?”

Ji Xiao curled his lips. “That won’t do. I only have this one shadow guard.”

Lian Yu said, “Set him free. I’ll be your shadow guard instead. My martial arts are very strong! I broke into the prince’s mansion and got out unscathed. That should prove it!”

Ji Xiao looked at Lian Ying. “What do you think, A-Ying?”

Hearing the address, Lian Yu’s resolve strengthened.

His brother’s name was Lian Xuan!

Now he was called A-Ying or A-Dog. Who knew what kind of mistreatment he suffered daily.

When they were young, his brother had been quiet but had taken good care of him, coaxing and scolding him. Only in front of their parents had he been silent.

But now?

He was like a block of wood or ice!

He’d heard that every shadow guard endured great hardships in training.

He felt sorry for his brother.

Lian Ying’s face was cold. “Lian Yu, if you keep talking nonsense, you can leave.”

“Brother…”

“Shut up.”

“…”

Lian Yu lowered his head, tears in his eyes.

His brother was so fierce!

It was exactly like when he was a kid and got scolded for being naughty. Even though he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong this time, the harsh tone made him feel nostalgic.

Just then, the waiter brought the food.

Ji Xiao watched the two brothers, one with a cold face and the other wronged, and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, A-Ying. I only want you. I don’t want anyone else.”

Lian Ying relaxed a little. “Thank you, Master.”

Ji Xiao and Lian Ying had one room, Lian Yu had one, and Xiao Nan and Xiao Bei shared one.

After seeing Lian Ying follow Ji Xiao to their room, Lian Yu didn’t go to his own. Instead, he went to Xiao Nan and Xiao Bei’s room to start asking about his brother’s experiences over the years.

The night was deep.

Ji Xiao had already changed and lay down.

Lian Ying stood by the pillar, holding his sword, with no intention of sleeping.

Ji Xiao said helplessly, “Put out the lamp. Come here. Sleep with me.”

“Yes.”

His body was stiff as a board.

Under the silk quilt, Ji Xiao reached out and grasped Lian Ying’s calloused hand, then closed his eyes.

Lian Ying closed his eyes too. Feeling the soft warmth of that hand, his cold, still heart suddenly leaped.

He thought there would be more, and he had mentally prepared himself.

But what came instead was the sound of even, steady breathing.

The next morning.

When Ji Xiao and Lian Ying came downstairs, Xiao Nan and Xiao Bei had already restocked supplies, dried food, wine, everything.

Lian Yu sat at the table, staring at them with a resentful look.

Ji Xiao and Lian Ying sat across from him without changing expression.

Lian Yu stared hard at Lian Ying, opening and closing his mouth several times.

Lian Ying ignored him, drinking his congee with a cold face.

“Sire…”

Ji Xiao turned his head and saw Xiao Nan looking troubled, and behind him, a handsome young man in fine clothes.

The young man snapped open a folding fan, his smile bright. “Brother Yan, what a coincidence.”

His voice was deliberately lowered, giving it a hint of a youth’s charm.

Ji Xiao glanced outside and indeed saw two servants talking with Xiao Bei. He said helplessly, “How did you end up here?”

The handsome young man, none other than Cao Mengyang, sighed lightly and sat down beside him and Lian Yu. “My father arranged a marriage for me. But the person I was betrothed to suddenly fell in love with someone else and broke off the engagement.”

Lian Yu finally tore his gaze away from Lian Ying and looked at Cao Mengyang in surprise. “So you ran away from home in anger?”

“Having just gone through a broken engagement, I really didn’t want to stay home and watch my parents worry about my marriage anymore.” Cao Mengyang gave Ji Xiao a sly smile. “So, little brother has come to seek refuge with Brother Yan.”

Ji Xiao’s head ached. “You should go back right away.”

One after another, they all wanted to tag along.

Was it so hard to have some time alone with Lian Ying?

Cao Mengyang placed her fan on the table, naturally picked up a steamed bun, and said while chewing, “I’m not going back.”

Seeing that he was about to speak again, she mumbled, “Brother Yan, don’t forget you still owe me a huge favor.”

Ji Xiao: “…”

“Just… pretend you didn’t recognize me.”

“…”

After breakfast, they prepared to set off.

Cao Mengyang’s carriage was pulled by two horses, much bigger than theirs.

Before boarding, she said with a smile, “I have fruits and lots of desserts. Would one of you like to ride with me?”

Ji Xiao boarded his own carriage calmly.

Lian Ying followed.

Lian Yu hesitated, then saw Cao Mengyang beckoning to him.

He gritted his teeth and got onto Cao Mengyang’s carriage.

“Lian Yu!”

Cao Mengyang also boarded. “Don’t worry about him. Riding with me won’t hurt him.”

Lian Yu quickly added, “Brother, rest assured. I won’t lose you.”

Lian Ying: “…”

Ji Xiao patted his hand reassuringly. “Let it be. With the two guards there, nothing will happen.”

Lian Ying: “Yes.”

Once inside the carriage, Lian Yu made himself at home and opened a hidden compartment. Seeing the lychees inside, his eyes went wide. “Little brother, you’re something! Living it up!”

Not to mention the couch, even the carriage floor was covered with a rug. Comfortable.

Cao Mengyang reclined on the couch, twirling her fan. “Brother Yan’s shadow guard, is he your brother?”

Lian Yu: “You know my brother?”

“Know him? We’re quite familiar.” She sneered. “Brother Yan was once engaged to the Fifth Princess. He was about to become the imperial son-in-law, and His Majesty had granted him the post of Vice Minister. He was poised for rapid advancement.”

Lian Yu was astonished. “Then why isn’t he in the capital? Visiting his hometown?”

“Not at all. Brother Yan is a hopeless romantic. Originally, your brother was the Fifth Princess’s shadow guard, then he was given to Brother Yan.” Cao Mengyang leaned against the carriage wall and snorted. “After that, Brother Yan fell in love with your brother. He resolutely broke off the engagement, abandoned his prospects. A top scholar, reduced to being a county magistrate in a remote backwater. He’ll probably never get promoted in his lifetime.”

Lian Yu was stunned. “So… he loves my brother that much?”

Cao Mengyang gave him a cold glance. “Indeed. For him, Brother Yan gave up the princess, gave up his future, and risked offending the imperial family just to break off the engagement.”

Lian Yu thought for a moment, then said darkly, “The Fifth Princess should have let him off easy? She should have had him drawn and quartered!”

Even if Yan Xiao loved his brother, so what?

His brother was a shadow guard. He could only obey. Even if he didn’t love Yan Xiao, he had to endure.

Seeing his expression, Cao Mengyang laughed. “The Fifth Princess is a woman of great righteousness. She wouldn’t have someone drawn and quartered over a marriage.”

“Sigh. What a pity.”

Lian Yu finally pulled the lychees out of the hidden compartment. Cursing Yan Xiao under his breath, he carefully peeled one.

Just as he finished peeling and was about to eat it, a hand snatched it away.

“?”

Cao Mengyang ate the lychee without changing expression and said matter-of-factly, “These are my lychees. If you want to eat, you have to peel ten for me first.”

“…” Fine.

…

They made no further stops along the way and arrived at Changhe County half a month later.

The former county magistrate, already past middle age, welcomed Ji Xiao and the others with a big belly and a hearty laugh, preparing a welcome banquet.

Originally, he had thought he’d never get promoted in this lifetime.

But unexpectedly, their county had produced Ji Xiao, who had topped the imperial examinations three times in a row and then won the top honors in the palace exam. And now Ji Xiao was returning to benefit the people. As a result, the former magistrate was being transferred to the prefectural city.

Former magistrate: He saw hope.

He had already packed his bags. His son had taken his wife, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren to settle in the prefectural city.

Delightedly, he hosted a welcome banquet for the new county magistrate, completed the handover, and then left with his adviser.

Ji Xiao: “…” Great. Now he needed to find an adviser.

Changhe County was not wealthy, but neither was it poor.

Apart from a few households, none of the common people lacked food or clothing.

Beggars were hard to find on the county streets.

After ordering the constables to put up notices recruiting an adviser, Ji Xiao left Lian Yu and Cao Mengyang behind and took Lian Ying to the Chen residence.

At the Chen residence.

Upon learning that her brother had returned, Yan Wan thrust the swaddled baby into Chen Fang’s arms and hurried out to greet him.

Chen Fang: “…”

He helplessly touched his forehead to his daughter’s. “The two of us, father and daughter, are less important to your mother than your uncle.”

“Chen Fang, hurry up!”

“Coming…”

Yan Wan had just left the courtyard when she saw Yan Xiao approaching. Her eyes reddened as she took his hand. “Xiao’er, you’ve lost weight.”

Ji Xiao smiled helplessly. “I haven’t.”

He let go of her hand and looked softly at Chen Fang, who was carrying the child. “I couldn’t make it in time for the birth. Is it a boy or a girl?”

Chen Fang stepped forward with the baby. “A girl. Her formal name is Chen Xian, and her pet name is Jingjing. My wife hopes she’ll grow up quiet and gentle, not as naughty as her older brother.”

“A good name.”

Ji Xiao took a jade pendant from his bosom, walked over, and placed it in Chen Xian’s hand.

Chen Xian’s tiny hand immediately gripped the pendant tightly, and she giggled.

Chen Fang laughed too. “Jingjing really likes her uncle’s gift. Say thank you to your uncle.”

Chen Xian kept giggling, clutching the pendant and waving it around.

Yan Wan walked over to them. “What are you doing standing at the gate? Let’s go inside.”

Yan Wan led them into the courtyard. Noticing Lian Ying, who had been following Ji Xiao silently, she asked softly, “Is this young master a good friend of Xiao’er’s?”

Ji Xiao took Lian Ying’s hand and said gently, “Sister, this is the person I love.”

Chen Fang, walking in front, stumbled.

He didn’t drop his daughter, but the jade pendant in her hand flew out.

Chen Xian was dazed for a moment, then burst into loud crying.

Chen Fang quickly picked up the pendant.

Fortunately, it had fallen into a pot of flowers beside them, wedged in the middle, and didn’t break.

Yan Wan stopped, and her face visibly darkened.

Ji Xiao clutched his chest and began to cough.

Yan Wan’s dark expression turned to worry. Seeing him cough until his face was red, she hurriedly said, “Chen Fang, go call the physician!”

Chen Fang hastily wiped the pendant and put it back in his daughter’s hand, then hurried out with the child. “Right away, right away.”

This showed Yan Wan’s status in the household.

Lian Ying silently withdrew the hand Ji Xiao had been holding and rubbed his back.

Ji Xiao leaned into his embrace, gradually calming down, and said softly to Yan Wan, “Sister knows my condition. I cannot marry and ruin some innocent girl’s life. Now that I’ve finally found someone who moves my heart, even if it’s a man, can you really not accept it?”

Yan Wan’s heart ached.

How could she accept it?

The once-great Yan family had only this one seedling left, and now he…

“Sister, do you think my body can still have children?”

Seeing Ji Xiao’s faint, self-deprecating smile, Yan Wan sniffled. “If you like him, then like him. I didn’t say anything.”

As long as her brother was well.

What did it matter if he liked a man?

If she forced them apart, it would only make her brother’s health worse.

Red-eyed, she glanced at Lian Ying. “Take my brother into the hall and have him sit. Why are you standing around?”

Lian Ying: “Yes.”

He helped Ji Xiao into the hall.

Yan Wan wiped the corners of her eyes, waited until her emotions settled, then followed.

That man looked cold and incapable of taking care of anyone. She’d have to keep an eye on things as his sister.

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