Chapter 0322 Side Story – Second Prince: Origin of Calamity, Breeding of Resentment

He wasn’t called Xie Chengze. His surname was Zhou, given name Ze, courtesy name Songqian.

Before becoming Xie Chengze, he was the illegitimate son of the second branch of the prestigious Zhou family – a renowned aristocratic clan in Jingcheng of the Zhou Dynasty.

There had always been distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate offspring. In other prominent families, mediocre illegitimate sons were often treated poorly, but in the Zhou family, even illegitimate sons like him who couldn’t create value for the family were well-fed and clothed, never subjected to servants’ harsh treatment or scornful looks.

His father, also an illegitimate son, lived with him in a remote courtyard of the Zhou residence after his mother’s early passing. Their life was quite comfortable, and they remained content with their lot.

Zhou Ze had a gentle and friendly disposition, passionate about reading. Though his academic talent was average, it didn’t stop him from frequenting bookstores. He particularly admired his two legitimate elder brothers from the main branch – one renowned throughout Jingcheng for his exceptional literary talent at a young age, the other possessing profound and unfathomable martial arts achievements.

The Zhou family had invested heavily in cultivating them, and they in turn elevated the Zhou family’s status among aristocratic clans.

He longed to become as outstanding as his brothers, to create more value for the Zhou family in repayment for the stable and peaceful life they had provided him.

To this end, he studied late into the night by lamplight, often forgetting to eat and sleep, deluding himself that one day he might reach the heights his two brothers had achieved.

But…

His two brothers, adored by the women of Jingcheng, who should have married talented daughters of noble families or even royal princesses, had simultaneously fallen in love with the same person.

A man.

This youth named Jiang Luo’er possessed stunning beauty resembling a delicate woman, with a slender and fragile figure. His voice was soft and tender like a kitten’s mewl, while his flawless skin appeared as smooth as creamy jade, making even women feel ashamed of their own complexion.

His appearance had driven his two outstanding brothers to behave as if bewitched – competing for his affection throughout the residence, humiliating proud and talented noblewomen for his sake, and ultimately turning the Zhou family that had painstakingly cultivated them into the laughingstock of all Jingcheng.

Zhou Ze had initially thought that this youth Jiang Luo’er, being male yet so adored and fought over by his exceptional brothers, must possess extraordinary qualities.

But he didn’t.

He wasn’t versed in classics, lacked literary talent, had never done a day’s work in his life, and could even trip over his own feet while walking on level ground, only to fall into his brothers’ arms.

Soft and boneless, constantly weeping.

Without a trace of masculinity.

Zhou Ze didn’t like him, but Jiang Luo’er hadn’t committed any moral or behavioral wrongs – everything resulted from his brothers voluntarily protecting him and fighting for his justice.

To Zhou Ze, the only praiseworthy quality Jiang Luo’er possessed was kindness.

Well… kindness to an excessive degree.

Though an illegitimate son, Zhou Ze had never suffered mistreatment. He had merely been studying too hard when he went to the kitchen to get food, experiencing a nosebleed and momentary dizziness. When Jiang Luo’er happened to pass by and witnessed this, he assumed Zhou Ze was being mistreated by the family and took it upon himself to plead Zhou Ze’s case before his two brothers.

Thanks to him, Zhou Ze received his first direct attention from his highly-positioned brothers.

Though their eyes concealed visible displeasure and wariness, as if warning him to know his place and not covet someone beyond his reach.

Zhou Ze had never entertained such fantasies – he didn’t even like men.

He deliberately kept his distance from Jiang Luo’er, never expecting that she would cling to him from then on. Jiang Luo’er often claimed she was good for nothing, unworthy of the Esteemed Daughters of Jingcheng, and undeserving of the domineering favor and possessiveness of her two elder brothers. She said only by his side could she catch her breath.

Though Jiang Luo’er’s tone held no malice, Zhou Ze sensed nothing but ill intent.

Her attitude seemed to imply, “It’s precisely because you’re mediocre that I can relax around you.”

“Then you can choose to leave,” Zhou Ze retorted. He knew full well how enraged his brothers would be if they heard such words and what punishment it might incur, but he couldn’t bear to see them constantly brawling over Jiang Luo’er. Nor did he wish for the renowned Zhou family of Jingcheng to become a laughingstock because of one Jiang Luo’er.

The Zhou family did not deserve such treatment.

“But I have nowhere to seek shelter,” Jiang Luo’er lamented.

Indeed, she was good for nothing and had just lost her parents. If she left her two brothers, she would likely starve to death on the streets.

“Then start studying from now on,” Zhou Ze said, handing her a book. He opened it to a specific page and continued, “At the very least, when others say you lack learning, you can use this poem to retort and mock them for being arrogant with just a bit of knowledge—suggesting that their reading has done them no more good than if a dog had eaten the book.”

After a moment’s thought, he added, “Actually, that’s an insult to dogs.”

“Pfft.” Jiang Luo’er laughed, her eyes curving into crescents. “Zhou Ze, you’re so kind. Thank you.”

Whether Jiang Luo’er ever memorized that poem, Zhou Ze never knew.

He only hoped she could become a little more accomplished, enough to silence the gossip in Jingcheng and prevent people from saying the Zhou sons were ruining their futures over a man’s charms.

But Zhou Ze never imagined that book of poetry would become his death warrant.

He never realized a man’s jealousy could be so terrifying.

His second brother’s sword plunged into his abdomen without question or reason, blood pooling on the floor. He saw Jiang Luo’er’s pale face explaining something, watched as his eldest brother—who always preached fraternal harmony—held Jiang Luo’er’s trembling, delicate body and gleefully spoke ill of their second brother. Then his second brother shot him a look reserved for the dead before viciously retorting to the eldest.

No one called for a physician.

Jiang Luo’er seemed petrified, her legs giving way as she nestled in the eldest brother’s arms, not daring to glance his way.

“What should we do…?”

He heard Jiang Luo’er say.

“He’s just a concubine-born son. The household has plenty of those.”

He heard his second brother say.

“Don’t be afraid, Luo’er. His death has nothing to do with you. It’s not your fault.”

He heard his eldest brother say.

Then where had he gone wrong?

Was it wrong to give Jiang Luo’er a book? To be misunderstood as having an affair with her?

Jiang Luo’er, Jiang Luo’er, save me…

Zhou Ze waited in vain for a physician until his last breath.

He seemed dead, yet not quite. His spirit drifted in the air, witnessing his father’s heartbreak over his death, his furious appeal to the family head, and then his second brother’s humiliated rage after being disciplined—plotting their father’s unjust death outside the city walls.

He watched his two brothers descend into madness, repeatedly brawling over Jiang Luo’er. He saw the Zhou family, once the foremost noble house, plummet from peak prosperity to decline, ultimately collapsing because two brothers had fallen for a man.

What pained him most was Jiang Luo’er eventually forgiving his second brother.

When he was engaged in Fanyunfuyu with his eldest and second brothers, had he ever thought of the innocent self who had been killed by him?

Disgusting.

So disgusting.

Boundless rage and loathing surged in Zhou Ze’s heart. He wished he could strangle these despicable men and drag all three of them down to hell together.

Why should he become the stumbling block to prove their true love?

The Zhou family had exhausted all efforts to raise them. How could they, for their own selfish desires—merely because the Zhou family did not accept their Long Yang’s Preference—personally bring about the family’s destruction?

Why? Why! Why—!

Why, in the end, could they achieve a happy and fulfilling ending for themselves? Jiang Luo’er was even noticed by the Crown Prince. The dignified heir to the throne actually abandoned his crown princess and was willing to share a man with the two Zhou brothers?!

The Zhou Dynasty was also doomed!

From then on, Zhou Ze began to walk the path of equally discriminating against anyone with Long Yang’s Preference.

Especially those who were paranoid and pathological.

Before Zhou Ze could witness the end of the Zhou Dynasty, an unknown divine force thrust him into a new body.