Xiao Yuanqi had assumed something terrible had happened, but after hearing his brother’s description, he couldn’t help bursting out laughing. “Hahaha, and I thought it was something serious! Turns out my dear little brother’s heart has simply been stirred. That’s perfectly normal, it’s not an illness.
At your age, it’s about time you had someone you like. So, who is this person who’s got you so distracted you even suspected you were sick? Do I know them?
Anyone who could move the heart of the cold God of War must be no ordinary person. But I’ve been in the capital all these years, and I’ve never heard of any minister’s daughter being so remarkable.
Could it be a woman you met at the frontier? Did she come to the capital with you this time?”
Xiao Yuanqi, delighted that his little brother had finally fallen prey to worldly desires, fired off questions and answers to himself in his excitement, though he quickly noticed something was wrong.
When Xiao Jinyi had returned to the capital earlier, there hadn’t been any woman trailing after him, had there?
Just as Xiao Yuanqi was about to keep questioning him, he realized his brother seemed to have turned to stone. He reached out and pushed Xiao Jinyi twice before the latter snapped back to his senses.
Ever since Xiao Jinyi’s first time on the battlefield, he had developed a habit of extreme vigilance, few people could ever get close to him. This was the first time Xiao Yuanqi had touched him without getting his wrist seized!
Xiao Jinyi was still reeling from what Xiao Yuanqi had just said. He had never imagined that this was what was going on in his heart. He was in a panic now, he both wanted to see Shen Shixu again and didn’t dare to.
Once Xiao Yuanqi brought him back to his senses, he noticed that his brother was completely flustered, as if afraid of something.
He found it rather curious. “What’s with that expression? Weren’t we talking about the person you like? Why do you look so frightened? Could it be that the person you like is terrifying?”
Xiao Yuanqi couldn’t help feeling frightened along with him. If a woman could scare even his invincible younger brother, how fierce must she be!
Before he could press further, Xiao Jinyi confessed on his own. He looked at Xiao Yuanqi in a panic at this moment, the only person who could give him any sense of security was this older brother who had always stood on the same side as him.
“Brother, I’ve fallen for someone. Someone I shouldn’t fall for.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yuanqi assumed Xiao Jinyi had fallen for a married woman, and was just thinking that if it was his brother’s choice, then he’d throw away all shame and break up the couple for him.
But Xiao Jinyi’s next sentence nearly choked him to death on his own saliva.
“I think I’ve fallen for Shen Shixu!”
At those words, Xiao Yuanqi coughed violently, then reached out to feel Xiao Jinyi’s forehead to check whether he had a fever, whether he was talking nonsense.
Xiao Jinyi instinctively slapped his hand away. “Brother, I don’t have a fever. I’m perfectly clear-headed, and everything I said is true.”
Xiao Yuanqi picked up the tea Xiao Jinyi had left unfinished and drained it in one gulp. He needed a moment to collect himself.
He wasn’t repelled by the fact that Xiao Jinyi had fallen for Shen Shixu only shocked.
Nor did he think that Shen Shixu had seduced his younger brother, and so he bore him no ill will.
What kind of person Shen Shixu was had become clear enough from these past few days of observation. His temperament was gentle and modest, yet not without a sharp edge; his mind was quick, cautious and perceptive. Smoothness and decisiveness, two somewhat contradictory qualities, blended in him with remarkable aptness.
“Honestly, if you told me today you’d fallen for some other man, I might fly into a rage, thinking he’d seduced you, and have him seized and killed.”
At those words, Xiao Jinyi couldn’t help clenching his fists, his eyes fixed warily on Xiao Yuanqi. The moment his brother gave the order to seize Shen Shixu, he would throw a punch.
Xiao Yuanqi noticed his clenched fists and felt a pang of sadness. They had only just fallen in love and weren’t even together yet, and already his little brother valued Shen Shixu this much, enough to want to hit his own flesh-and-blood brother over it.
Once the two of them got together, he probably wouldn’t have any standing left in his brother’s heart. All those years of raising him, wasted!
“But if it’s Shen Shixu, then I wouldn’t suspect him of seducing you. I haven’t interacted with him much, but I know he’s a clever man. He would never do something that could cost him his life.
Besides, with his talent and looks, he’s more than a match for a princess. And Father has three princesses. Rather than seducing you, a prince who would absolutely be put to death, seducing a princess would bring him the same benefits without any danger to his life.
As long as Shen Shixu isn’t a fool, he knows what to do.”
By the time Xiao Yuanqi finished, Xiao Jinyi’s expression had visibly improved.
Xiao Yuanqi pretended not to notice the change and continued, “But, Jinyi, are you sure? Your feelings for him aren’t deep right now, just a bit of fondness. If you simply stop seeing him, this hazy affection will quickly fade, and someday you’ll fall for someone else.
But if you keep going down this path, given who the two of you are, you’re bound to face obstacle after obstacle. With your status and the favor of Father and Mother, you won’t come to any bad end, but the same can’t be said for him.
It’s true Father values him now, but compared to you, he’s still far from enough. If Father found out, Shen Shixu most likely wouldn’t survive.”
Xiao Jinyi knew Xiao Yuanqi was making perfect sense. Rationally, he knew he should choose the first option, but his heart ached at the thought.
“Brother, I don’t want to give up. Will you help me?”
This was the first time Xiao Jinyi had ever shown weakness in front of Xiao Yuanqi, and Xiao Yuanqi, a devoted brother-doting fool to begin with simply couldn’t refuse. He sighed helplessly and waved his sleeve. “Ah, since you’re begging me like this, how could I possibly say no?
Don’t worry, I’ll keep this hidden for you for now. From here on, we brothers will split up and work both fronts. You go win over the man of your heart, and while you’re busy pursuing him, I’ll put in a good word for you with Father and Mother.
In the meantime, we also need to raise Shen Shixu’s standing in their eyes. As it happens, there’s an opportunity: in ten days, Mother will be selecting a new crown princess for me.
I’ll bring up Shen Shixu to Mother and have him enter the palace to advise her, so he can leave a good impression.”
The reason Xiao Jinyi had come to Xiao Yuanqi first, the moment he realized something was wrong with himself, was that he knew this brother loved him most of all, even more than Father and Mother and would always, no matter when or where, stand on his side.
“Thank you, Brother!”
Hearing these somewhat sappy words, Xiao Yuanqi deliberately shuddered and shot Xiao Jinyi a disdainful glance. “Spare me the mush. I bet you came to me only after doing your calculations, knowing I’d protect you no matter what. You really know how to take advantage of your big brother.”
“If you ever need anything, big brother, you can come to me too. I’ll help you with anything, even if it means braving mountains of knives and seas of fire, I’d gladly do it.”