Chapter 21: Brothers

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Although Qi Haoran had always looked down on the cowardice of the royal family, he was still very loyal to the emperor. Since he was young, he had heard from his father how kind the emperor was. Now that he heard Mu Yangling say this, it was inevitable that he could not accept it.

Fan Zijin’s eyes widened as well. He stared at Mu Yangling in disbelief and said, “This is just your side of the story. Perhaps this is the doing of the corrupt officials here?”

“He’s the emperor. Be it the doing of a corrupt official or his intention, isn’t it his responsibility nonetheless?”

Although it was a shameless argument, the two youths still could not refute her.

Frowning, Qi Haoran felt conflicted at the realization that his emperor was not the good person he thought he was.

Fan Zijin was also in low spirits, but he quickly caught the main point and asked, “You just said that the grains in the countryside are cheap now, and the rice in the city is expensive?”

Mu Yangling nodded. “I don’t know if it’s the doing of the local squires, the officials, or if they’re colluding with each other. In any case, they’re all involved. Anyway, the civilians are leading a hard life now. Fortunately, we can pay grains for the soldiers’ salary. If this needs to be paid in silver as well, the commoners really won’t be able to survive.”

After the four of them finished eating, Mu Yangling said very gratefully to them, “Thank you for today. If you come to Nearhill Village again, I’ll treat you to mountain delicacies.”

Qi Haoran laughed heartily. “You said it yourself. Don’t deny it when I come to look for you.”

Mu Yangling patted her chest and said, “Don’t worry. We may not have much else, but we definitely don’t lack mountain delicacies.”

Mu Yangling was not boasting. Mountain delicacies were nothing in the Mu family. Unfortunately, mountain delicacies were not rare here, for this was near to the mountains.

Seeing that the father and daughter had walked far away, Fan Zijin asked Qi Haoran, “Why are you so good to her?”

Qi Haoran looked at Fan Zijin strangely. “We’re friends.”

Fan Zijin’s lips twitched. “We’ve only met her twice. How did we become friends?”

Qi Haoran frowned slightly and said disapprovingly, “Zijin, you’re too paranoid. She helped us yesterday and we helped her today. Doesn’t that make us friends now?”

“Her ancestors have Hu blood, and she’s quite skilled in martial arts. I think we should be careful.”

Qi Haoran pouted in disagreement and felt something smack his head from behind. Feeling the wind, Qi Haoran tilted his head to dodge the slap. His eyes sharpened and he pulled Fan Zijin behind him with his left hand. Grabbing that hand with his right hand, he glared towards the owner of that hand. Only then did he see his big brother standing behind him.

Stunned, Qi Haoran quickly let go of his brother’s hand. “Brother, why is it you?”

Surprised at his brother’s vigilance, Qi Xiuyuan’s heart ached when he saw his brother’s series of actions. He could only imagine how much hardship this child had gone through coming here from Lin’an Prefecture, to become so vigilant and sensitive.

Suppressing the pain in his eyes, Qi Haoran asked, “Who did you think it was?”

Smiling, the servant behind Qi Xiuyuan said, “Fourth Young Master, Eldest Young Master arrived upstairs long ago. He ordered the dishes and was waiting for you. He merely didn’t make an appearance seeing that Fourth Young Master and Young Master Zijin were with guests.”

“Have you finished all the dishes you ordered?”

Shi Jian was stunned, not quite understanding why the Fourth Young Master asked about this. Still, he shook his head and said, “No, we ordered a lot of dishes. How can Eldest Young Master finish them all by himself?”

“Have you paid the bill?”

“I haven’t had time…”

Qi Haoran heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “That’s good. I’m not full yet. Let’s go eat again. If we can’t finish it, we’ll pack it back.”

Shi Jian and Fei Bai were dumbfounded. This was the first time they had seen the Fourth Young Master like this.

Fan Zijin frowned, but when he saw Qi Haoran full of smiles, he knew that he had yet to return to his normal state, having been starved previously. This made him feel even more guilty. If he had not been a burden, they would not have suffered so much along the way.

Seeing that his usually lawless and tyrannical brother now knew to pack food, Qi Xiuyuan’s heart instantly shattered into a few pieces. His heart ached as if his entire body was soaked in bitter juice.

He reached out to stroke Qi Haoran’s head, suppressing the tears in his eyes. He nodded and said, “Alright, let’s go eat. Order whatever you want. After we’re done, we’ll order your favorite food and pack it back.”

Qi Haoran looked at his eldest brother in confusion, feeling that something was wrong. However, he was indeed not full from eating with the Mu father and daughter just now.

He had no idea that Mu Yangling had such a hearty appetite. Seeing that she was eating so happily, he figured she was extremely hungry. Considering that her family wasn’t well off, he didn’t eat much then. After running around for half a day today, he was famished, and right now, eating was his top priority.

Qi Xiuyuan’s heart ached for his brother. As soon as he sat down at the dining table, he asked the waiter to add two more meat dishes. He said to his brother, who was wolfing down his food, “Eat slowly. If it’s not enough, we’ll order more.”

Qi Haoran nodded as he ate. He glanced at the dishes on the table and said, “I think it’s enough.”

Fan Zijin rolled his eyes as he picked up his chopsticks to eat. He said, “You’re nearly becoming a rice bucket¹.”

“I’ll grow faster if I eat more. I’m taller and stronger than you now,” Qi Haoran said proudly.

Fan Zijin choked and retorted, “That’s right. Only the limbs grew though. You have well-developed limbs indeed.” Though, his brain didn’t develop much.

Unfortunately, Qi Haoran did not understand the hidden meaning behind his words and stuffed a mouthful of food into his mouth smugly.

On the other hand, Fan Zijin, who was mocking him, choked.

Seated at the side, Qi Xiuyuan watched the two of them bicker with a smile. He was already used to it.

When they were almost done eating, Qi Xiuyuan said, “Let’s rest for a while before going back to the camp later. The horses are ready.”

Fan Zijin said seriously, “Eldest Cousin, can we enter the military camp like this?”

Qi Xiuyuan snorted and said, “The West Camp is my territory. Who dares to say anything? Just stay in the military camp. I’ll hire a teacher for you and arrange for you to study in the camp.”

Qi Haoran opened his mouth wide and wailed, “I still have to study? No, Big Brother, I want to join the army and train. I don’t want to study anymore.”

Qi Xiuyuan snorted. “How old are you? What’s that talk about joining the army? Be good and focus on studying. If I find out that you disobey the teacher, I’ll beat you up.”

Qi Haoran straightened his neck and said, “I’m not cut out for studying. What’s wrong with me wanting to practice martial arts? In short, I just don’t want to study.”

Qi Xiuyuan’s hands itched, but he remembered that he was outside and had just reunited with his brother. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Let’s talk when we get back to the military camp.”

Looking as if he had lost his parents, Qi Haoran stuffed something into his mouth as if he was venting his anger. His cheeks were puffed up, and his eyes were still wide open as he stared at his brother.

Not to mention Qi Xiuyuan, even Fan Zijin’s heart softened. He couldn’t help but put in a good word for him. “Eldest Cousin, Haoran is indeed not cut out for studying. I think it’s better to let him study for half a day and practice martial arts for the other half. Otherwise, even if he’s detained in the study room, I’m afraid he won’t be in the mood.”

Qi Haoran puffed up his cheeks and nodded repeatedly, gazing at his brother expectantly with round eyes. He regretted stuffing his mouth full, making himself unable to speak now. He could only nod.

Fan Zijin held his forehead and could not bear to look at him.

A smile flashed across Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes, but he maintained a straight face. “I’ll consider it.”