Chapter 015: The Return of the Adoptive Brother

The next day, early morning.

After rising, the third young master of the Houfu, Zhou Wenshan, began to dress himself.

The maid brought over a dark blue Warrior’s Robe, adorned with a silver hairpin at the top, a jade pendant hanging at the waist, and Fine Iron Vambraces to be fastened on his arms. Once everything was done, Zhou Wenshan looked at his face in the full-length bronze mirror.

Quite handsome.

He had an appointment to attend today—ever since he returned to the Houfu and regained his status, he had made a large group of wealthy friends who had invited him to play polo.

Zhou Wenshan had never had so many friends before. He was eager to integrate into this circle of noble young masters, so even though his father was seriously ill and bedridden, he still insisted on going out to have fun.

When he left the Houfu, he passed by his eldest brother’s residence—oh, eldest brother, that was Zhou Yuanting.

Zhou Wenshan let out a low, mocking laugh.

A man he had defeated!

The title of the Houfu, the boundless wealth—all were his now! Zhou Yuanting couldn’t take them from him!

Once his father died, he would be the sole master of the Houfu!

As he passed by the Shangyue Garden, he thought again, what a foolish woman, so easily deceived.

Whatever he said, that Lady Qin believed it, even believing that he would support her in her old age!

Once he inherited the title—

Just thinking about it made Zhou Wenshan feel immensely pleased, and his steps grew even lighter.

Head held high, filled with anticipation for the future, he proudly walked out of the Houfu to join his new friends for fun.

But he had no idea what he was about to face.

This young man, who knew nothing about the noble circles of Chang’an, plunged headfirst into it, thinking he could easily gain many, many treasures, just as in the Houfu, where all sorts of glittering treasures flowed like water into his courtyard.

This was only right, because Concubine Fang had said it was all compensation from his father.

His father was good to him, and everyone else should treat him well out of respect for his father. After all, he was the future Marquis!

His newly made friends smilingly took him to play polo, ride horses, and go hunting. He threw himself into it all, enjoying himself immensely.

Until an accident struck.

While riding during a hunt, his horse went wild, galloping uncontrollably. He fell from the horse and crashed heavily to the ground. It felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen in that moment, with only pain spreading through him.

He saw his newly made friends riding toward him from a distance. He wanted to call for help, but not a single word could escape his lips.

Until those distant figures slowly approached, riding their horses and looking down at him.

They all thought he was unconscious, so they spoke carelessly.

“Is he dead?”

“Probably not, but he looks close.”

“Crippled, right?”

“Definitely crippled. His legs are broken.”

“That’s enough. A cripple can’t inherit the title. He won’t be able to take Yuanting’s title.”

The group laughed and joked around him.

“An outside son, really thought he could turn the world upside down?”

“Lady Qin was blinded by the Zhongyi Marquis, but Yuanting isn’t one to be trifled with.”

“Exactly. Without the fate for it, even if you get it, you can’t hold onto it.”

Zhou Wenshan lay on the ground, wanting to open his eyes, wanting to roar, wanting to shout out loud, “I am the Marquis!” But he could do nothing, only lie there helplessly.

The guards watching over him were negligent, and it wasn’t until his personal attendant rushed over that they realized something was wrong. In a panic, they called for help and carried him back to the Houfu.

By the time he reached the Houfu, he had already lost consciousness, completely unaware of the immense shockwaves this incident would send through the household.

It was midday when a group of people returned to the Houfu in mourning. As soon as Fang Qingqing heard the news, she was so startled that she even forgot about Zhou Ziheng and hurried to the main gate to see him. When she saw her son return covered in blood, she nearly fainted from weeping.

Zhou Ziheng’s health had improved slightly over the past few days. Upon hearing the news, he forced himself to stand and went to see his beloved son.

His son must not come to harm! He and Fang Qingqing had only this one cherished child!

After the Houfu’s physicians did their utmost to save him, Zhou Wenshan’s life was barely preserved, preventing his immediate death. However, he was left with a permanent disability.

His spine had been crushed, and broken bones are difficult to regenerate. At such a young age, he could no longer stand!

Fang Qingqing looked at her unconscious son and burst into loud sobs, wishing she could dash herself against a pillar and die. Zhou Ziheng, frowning deeply, questioned the private soldiers who had accompanied him. Each of them claimed it was an accident that occurred during a hunting trip with a group of young nobles.

This news quickly spread throughout the Houfu, though most paid it little mind.

Liu Yandai closed her eyes so tightly they could not be closed any further, and simply shut her ears as well, refusing to listen—she had come to understand that there was not a single kind soul in this Houfu. It was better for her to keep to herself quietly.

Bai Yuning and Zhou Chiye were deeply immersed in their passion, spending intimate nights together in the Ancestral Hall, having already crossed boundaries. They paid no attention to outside affairs, shutting themselves away to act like a pair of wild lovebirds. If Zhou Yuanting were to kick open the door, he would see lovebird-patterned undergarments flying everywhere.

The only one who cared about this matter and rejoiced upon hearing it was Zhou Yuanting.

The Shiziye, dressed in white robes, sat weakly by the window, occasionally lowering his head to cough. His noble and jade-like face appeared calm, but when no one was looking, a trace of hidden satisfaction flickered in his sharp phoenix eyes.

Zhou Yuanting possessed the same cunning and ruthlessness as his father. To protect what was his, he was capable of anything.

—

By the time the news reached Shangyue Garden, Qin Chanyue was leaning by the window, reviewing account books.

The side chamber was quiet. On the low table by the window, a branch of peonies swayed gently in the breeze from outside. The bright afternoon sunlight streamed in, illuminating the peonies in vibrant, dewy hues. In the corner, an ice vat emitted waves of coolness. Occasionally, the sounds of an abacus clicking and pages turning could be heard in the chamber, while birdsong often drifted in from outside.

It was a peaceful afternoon, perfect for hearing some good news.

The Houfu was about to descend into chaos—she had to seize the opportunity to take advantage of it while it was still hot.

Qin Chanyue was halfway through balancing the accounts when she heard someone rushing in from outside. Reaching the corridor outside, the person forgot even to announce themselves and shouted toward the side chamber at the top of their voice, “It’s terrible! Madam, it’s terrible!”

As the person outside rushed over, the maids in the outer room immediately scolded, “What is all this noise? How dare you be so disrespectful in Madam’s presence? Where are your manners?”

Qin Chanyue was in a good mood, so she didn’t bother with the disrespect from the people outside. She simply said, “Let them in. Tell me what’s going on.”

The old maidservant outside hurried in, her face glistening with fine beads of sweat. Upon seeing Qin Chanyue, she dropped to her knees with a thud, her expression mournful as she cried, “It’s terrible, Madam. Something terrible has happened.”

Qin Chanyue raised an eyebrow in surprise, thinking to herself, Is it really worth such a fuss over that illegitimate son getting into some trouble?

“What is it?” she asked.

The maidservant lowered her head, choking back sobs as she said, “The Prince has been assassinated at the border. His life hangs by a thread. An urgent message has been sent day and night, and he has just been brought back to Chang’an City! He’s now at the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion!”

The account book in Qin Chanyue’s hand trembled, falling to the ground with a clatter.

All the plans she had been carefully devising in her mind were thrown into disarray by this sudden news. For the first time, the poised and elegant Madam lost her composure. She stood frozen for a moment, then stumbled toward the edge of the bed, her legs giving way so that she nearly collapsed on the spot.

The luxurious silk fabric spread across the floor like a flower in full, extravagant bloom, trembling faintly with her movements.

The maidservant scrambled over to support her and saw Qin Chanyue’s pale face as she said urgently, “Quick, take me there at once.”

Why had her Adoptive Brother been injured?

She had already sent her letter!

What had gone wrong?

Qin Chanyue didn’t even have time to watch the commotion involving Fang Qingqing and Zhou Wenshan, nor did she send a single word to Qiufeng Hall. She hurried straight to the carriage and rushed toward the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion.

It was the hour of the Sheep.

The Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion in Chang’an City was located in Qingtian Ward. This ward was less than a hundred zhang from the imperial palace, carrying the meaning of “good winds lifting me to the blue sky.” The residents of this ward were all titled Imperial Nobility, with marquises and heirs apparent at every turn—a common sight.

The Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion had long been without its master, as the Prince of Southern Pacification had been stationed at the border. The mansion’s gates remained closed, guarded year-round by only a dozen or so private soldiers and overseen by an old servant.

But today, the gates were hastily opened, with elite soldiers stationed outside. The rhythmic stomping of iron boots shook the entire ward, and curious onlookers emerged to see the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion opening its gates wide to welcome a Four-Horse Carriage.

The Son of Heaven’s Six-Horse Carriage, Princes’ Four-Horse Carriages—a four-horse carriage meant the Prince of Southern Pacification had returned!

In an instant, the news stirred Chang’an City.

Everyone knew that the Prince of Southern Pacification had guarded the border for many years, serving as the strongest line of defense between Dachen and the Southern Gu. He hadn’t returned to Chang’an for over a decade, so his sudden return now—could it mean something had gone wrong in the Nanjiang war?

Just the thought of it stirred unease in many hearts.

Not only were the court officials unsettled, but the palace also immediately sent someone to offer condolences. And it was none other than the Crown Prince, Chen Feng.

Chen Feng was only twenty-two, an age brimming with ambition. He left the imperial palace and headed straight for the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion.

The Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion was a six-courtyard estate, as large as a Houfu but of even higher status. After ascending seventeen and a half steps, one entered the mansion gates.

The Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion was grand in scale, its courtyards clean and orderly. However, the Prince of Southern Pacification disliked flowers and plants, so there were no lush, overgrown blossoms in the courtyards—only rows of silent trees. Beneath the trees stood rows of silent elite soldiers, their hands gripping sharp-edged steel blades. These blades, one after another, formed the solemn and imposing aura of the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion.

The Crown Prince passed through the crowd, his mood growing increasingly heavy.

Zhennan Wang was the foremost military commander of the dynasty and also his strongest supporter. Only with Zhennan Wang by his side could he contend with the Second Prince. For Zhennan Wang to return so abruptly now surely meant something major had occurred—but what could it be?

As he approached the corridor, his steps quickened.

The moment he reached the corridor, he caught the strong scent of blood, and his heart sank further.

After the elite guards at the door saluted, the Crown Prince hurried into the side chamber. There, he saw Zhennan Wang lying on the bed, his upper body bare and wrapped in several layers of gauze, eyes tightly shut, unconscious—seemingly hovering between life and death.

Zhennan Wang’s personal military physician was examining his wounds but was at a loss, unable to apply any herbal remedies.

To guard against Gu Poison, the Qin Family Army consumed many highly toxic substances. These toxins blended within their bodies, turning them into walking poisons. While this allowed them to counteract Gu Poison through toxicity, it also rendered certain herbal medicines ineffective on them. Once injured, they could only endure on their own, which was why the Qin Family Army suffered extremely high casualty rates.

Seeing Zhennan Wang in such a state, the Crown Prince grew anxious and hurriedly asked the deputy general beside him, “What exactly happened here?”

The deputy general standing nearby quickly bowed his head and replied, “Your Highness, there was a traitor in our ranks who attempted to assassinate Zhennan Wang.”

The Crown Prince pressed, “Who was it?”

The deputy general leaned closer and whispered two names.

The Crown Prince frowned deeply upon hearing them. “These are both native-born people of Dachen, not outsiders like the Nan Gu People. Could it be that someone from our own dynasty wants to harm Zhennan Wang?”

The topic was too dangerous, subtly touching upon court factionalism, causing the deputy general to tighten his lips.

Factional strife… sometimes, it was even more detestable than external enemies like the Nan Gu People.

When family members turned against each other, they knew exactly where it hurt most. Using and betraying one another, victories gained through deception—no matter the era, such acts were…

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. Someone, without announcement, rushed into the room like a gust of wind.

The Crown Prince turned and saw a stunningly beautiful woman, vibrant and unrestrained.

The woman appeared to be around thirty years old, with enchanting features, a full and voluptuous figure, and an air of subtle arrogance. Adorned with gold, jade, and emerald hairpieces, she exuded a flamboyant presence, like a ripe, heavy fruit hanging from a branch, radiating mature allure. Yet, this perfect beauty seemed anything but composed, her steps unsteady and her eyes filled with panic and unease, as if she might faint at any moment.

This was Zhennan Wang’s younger sister, Qin Chanyue, Lady Qin.

Qin Chanyue’s heart and mind were entirely focused on her adoptive brother. She paid no attention to who else was in the room, completely overlooking the Crown Prince despite his prominent presence. As soon as she rushed in, she threw herself onto the bedside and began to sob softly.