The soft, smooth silk material brushed across the mirror-like black jade tiles, creating a faint rustling sound.

“Kneel.”

Ji Weiqiu knelt down nimbly, preparing for a lecture—he had been raised by his elder brother since he was young. From eating and drinking to studying and handling affairs, his brother had taught him everything. There was a twelve-year age gap between them; if it had been any larger, his brother could have been his father!

Ji Su lowered his eyes to look at the young man who wasn't kneeling very properly. His casually tied ponytail had come loose, revealing a small section of his slender neck, nestled between black silk and red robes, so white it was almost glaring.

From childhood to adulthood, Ji Weiqiu was the type who remembered the treats but not the beatings. The palace rules were strict and the etiquette severe, and Ji Weiqiu had been disciplined countless times, yet he still couldn't kneel or stand properly.

Sensing his brother's gaze, Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but shrink his neck and lower his head a little more.

How on earth does my brother make his gaze feel so cold? Seriously, my neck is freezing! The hairs are standing on end!

Ji Su said lightly, “Why did you beat up Zhou Er? Causing a person to become disabled, do you know what crime that is? If not for...”

Before Ji Su could finish, he saw Ji Weiqiu abruptly raise his head, his face full of anger as he said, “Just as I thought, that scoundrel Zhou Er snitched!”

In this life, not many people who dared to interrupt Ji Su were still alive and well.

As Ji Su thought this, before he could utter a word of reprimand, he heard Ji Weiqiu start to shout, “Brother! I did nothing wrong! If this happened a hundred more times, I'd do the same thing! What kind of person is that scoundrel Zhou Er! A young lady was walking properly on the street, and he dragged her into his carriage. If I hadn't gotten there quickly, the young lady would have bitten her tongue to commit suicide! I broke one of his legs, which is letting him off easy!”

“This matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Yin, what has it to do with you?” Ji Su retorted.

Ji Weiqiu raised one leg, halfway to standing, and declared righteously, “I saw an injustice and offered a helping hand!”

Ji Su said calmly, “Insolent.”

Ji Weiqiu silently went back to kneeling on both legs. Ji Su raised his right hand slightly. Eunuch Qingxi sucked in a cold breath, shot Ji Weiqiu a sympathetic look, and retrieved a discipline ruler from the side, presenting it. Ji Su took it in his hand and said mildly, “Hands.”

Ji Weiqiu instantly snatched his hands back into his sleeves. “Imperial Elder Brother, I won't! Why are you punishing me! Was it wrong for me to see an injustice and save an innocent woman's life! I refuse to accept this! I won't hold out my hands!”

In truth, he knew full well that this ruler was to punish his lax discipline, not his act of righteousness, but he had to play dumb! If he didn't, he would get a beating!

Ji Weiqiu sighed internally at his bad luck. He had gotten used to being lax outside. Usually, when he entered the palace, he rarely ran into his brother. Mother Empress doted on him endlessly, so how could she possibly find fault with him and intentionally hit him? At those grand banquets where everyone had to kneel, they all knelt together in a vast sea of people. It was hard to see clearly, and even if his brother did see, could he really drag him out for a lecture?

Ji Su had never been one to waste words with him. With a slight shift in his gaze, two Qingxuan Guards appeared. The moment Ji Weiqiu saw the Qingxuan Guards, he knew this was bad. An idea flashed in his mind, and he suddenly lunged toward Ji Su. The two Qingxuan Guards' expressions changed drastically, but Ji Weiqiu was too close to Ji Su. They had no time to stop him and could only watch helplessly as Ji Weiqiu hugged Ji Su's thigh.

Having successfully latched onto Ji Su's thigh, Ji Weiqiu stopped kneeling and just sat there on the floor. After giving the Qingxuan Guards a subtle, provocative glance, he looked up at Ji Su and said pitifully, “Imperial Elder Brother~ I was wrong, I'll never dare to do it again... I'm almost twenty, and Imperial Elder Brother is still disciplining me with a ruler. If word gets out, where will I put my face?”

“What if everyone thinks Imperial Elder Brother despises me and starts bullying me mercilessly? What dignity would I have left?” After speaking, Ji Weiqiu even sighed and added gloomily, “By then, who knows how many people will submit memorials to curse my absurdity. When the historian's brush falls, won't I be stuck with a bad reputation for a thousand years?”

Had it been about anything else, Ji Su would have had him held down and beaten right away. But since Ji Weiqiu mentioned dignity, it was indeed difficult for him to proceed. With a breath stuck in his chest, he said with a faint smile, “Is His Highness, the Prince of Rui, accusing all the civil and military officials of the court of being sycophants?”

Ji Weiqiu said, “I didn't say that. But Imperial Elder Brother is the Son of Heaven. As the saying goes, 'having mastered both literature and martial arts, one sells them to the house of an emperor.' Being considerate of the Emperor's will is the duty of a subject.”

For a moment, Ji Su's gaze sharpened, then it was quickly hidden away. He said, “This is the last time. Let go.”

Ji Weiqiu didn't dare to pluck the tiger's whiskers again. Seeing that this ordeal was over, he released his grip, scrambled up, and bowed. “Thank you, Imperial Elder Brother.”

Seeing that there was nothing else, Ji Weiqiu was about to slip away when Ji Su said placidly, “You are approaching the age of capping, it's time you were married. Prime Minister Wang's youngest legitimate daughter is gentle, kind, modest, and frugal, with both beauty and wisdom. She is a good match for you. If you have no objection, we shall choose an auspicious day for the wedding.”

Ji Weiqiu wanted to jump up and protest as soon as he heard the second sentence, but having just been taught a lesson, he didn't dare to act rashly again. He forced himself to wait until the Emperor had finished speaking before he said, “I object! I don't want to get married!”

“Why?” Ji Su asked.

For no reason, other than Prime Minister Wang being a minor villain, the first powerful minister my brother killed after ascending the throne!

Could he say that out loud?

It's a long story, so to make it short—he had unfortunately transmigrated into a book, where he was a villain... well, calling him a villain was an overstatement. Strictly speaking, he was a minor mob NPC whose main purpose was to be bait. In the original novel, his specific use was to be thrown out by his brother to catch fish. After all the big fish were caught, for the Empress Dowager's sake, he wasn't killed, but his legs were broken, and he was imprisoned until his death.

His brother had been so ruthless, partly because the original ‘Prince of Rui’ had improper thoughts, but also because they weren't related by blood.

The Late Emperor had three thousand concubines. The rear palace seemed calm, with a virtuous wife and beautiful concubines, but in reality, the undercurrents were turbulent. Their mother, Empress Zhang, had endured countless harem schemes during her twenty years as Empress. The birth of Ji Su solidified her position; as the legitimate and eldest son, it was only natural for him to be named Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, twelve years later, Empress Zhang became pregnant again in her later years and gave birth to a second son... At this point, the harem was naturally in turmoil. If the Empress gave birth to a leopard cat, it could justifiably threaten the Crown Prince's position. So his brother played a hand of "swapping a leopard cat for the prince," and then swapping the fake prince for another leopard cat.

And he was that 'fake prince'.

Ji Weiqiu said with a pained expression, “I haven't had enough fun yet, why would I marry a princess consort? Everyone knows that Prime Minister Wang is the most rigid person there is. If he becomes my father-in-law, my life will be over!”

Ji Su's expression was as calm and waveless as ever, carrying a transcendent, worldly detachment. If not for the nine-dragon medallions embroidered on his robes, some would believe he was an immortal Daoist.

He said, “Prime Minister Wang's power covers the court, and his youngest daughter is the number one beauty in the capital. Are you truly unwilling?”

A jolt went through Ji Weiqiu, and he suddenly realized something—his brother was testing him!

This was too malicious!

One must know that a marriage alliance between an imperial prince and a high-ranking court official usually only occurred under one circumstance—that this prince was an imperial son and the successor to the throne. According to the traditions of their Nanzhu imperial family, this situation only ever happened to the Crown Prince. If there was already a Crown Prince, why arrange a marriage alliance between another imperial son and a high-ranking official? Was the court too peaceful? Did they have to find something to do?

Especially since Prime Minister Wang was a Grand Secretary. To enter the Grand Secretariat was to be a prime minister. Although there were currently three Grand Secretaries, it was not an exaggeration to call him the head of all officials! Why form a marriage alliance with a leisurely prince like him? He didn't want to rebel!

“I'm unwilling.” Ji Weiqiu shook his head so fast it was a blur.

Ji Su nodded. “Then go to Jiangnan.”

“I'm just unwilling...” Ji Weiqiu paused. “Go to Jiangnan?”

Wait, what would he do in Jiangnan?!

Jiangnan was no good place! No, no, what he meant was, Jiangnan was not a peaceful place. The original novel explained why his brother had to kill Prime Minister Wang—it was because the Prime Minister's reach was too long, extending to grasp the entire Jiangnan region in his hands. This was according to the novel, because in the original story, the Prince of Rui married Prime Minister Wang's daughter and never went to Jiangnan. The prime minister's crimes were only mentioned in passing at the very end, and because of this, the Prince of Rui lost the trust of the palace.

Ji Su said nonchalantly, “Didn't you say you haven't had enough fun?”

How was this any different from marrying Prime Minister Wang's daughter?!

Ji Weiqiu said hesitantly, “Can I not go... If you're letting me out of the capital to have fun, I'd like to go to Tiandu Prefecture... Or Yuntai Prefecture is fine too. The scenery there is beautiful, and it's a sacred place for Daoism. I can go pray to the Dao Lord for the good health of Mother Empress and Imperial Elder Brother...”

Ji Su said playfully, “You cannot.”

The implication was clear: it was either go to Jiangnan or marry Prime Minister Wang's daughter.

A dead silence fell over Qingning Hall. The breathing of the servants standing by was nearly inaudible. Ji Weiqiu looked up and met Ji Su's deep black eyes. He suddenly felt that this brother was a complete stranger.

Not a brother, but Imperial Elder Brother, Your Majesty, His Majesty.

“I will go to Jiangnan,” Ji Weiqiu said through gritted teeth.

“Good.” Ji Su turned around and said, “Go on, then. The Imperial Edict will be bestowed tomorrow. Go to Ci'an Palace to bid farewell to Mother Empress. Depart as soon as you receive the Imperial Edict tomorrow.”

Ji Weiqiu: “Yes.”

He looked at Ji Su's tall back and replied again, “Yes... Your subject bids his leave.”

He first went to Ci'an Palace to see his mother and told her about his trip to Jiangnan. The Empress Dowager only said that Jiangnan was a wonderful place, that his Imperial Elder Brother doted on him, and told him to be careful on the road, to bring enough money and guards, and not to be taken advantage of when he was away from home. As she spoke, she grew worried and began to shed tears. Ji Weiqiu could only act cheerfully and playfully to amuse his mother, spending a great deal of effort to comfort his old mother before leaving the palace and returning to his manor.

“Your Highness...” The servants came forward to greet him.

Ji Weiqiu waved his hand, and the servants fell silent, standing with their hands clasped. Ji Weiqiu shut himself in his study and lay down on the long couch beneath the window.

He loved this spot. He had put a lot of effort into this location. The long couch faced the window, and he had planted flowers and trees outside, providing different scenery for each season, a unique and leisurely pleasure.

It was autumn now, and the magnolia tree outside the window was just a withered branch, standing there lonesomely.

The main reason he could be the Prince of Rui was his good fortune. First, the little prince had been stillborn. Second, he happened to have just been born. Third, he happened to have been discovered by his brother. In such a critical situation, it would have been too difficult to find another newborn baby that could be obtained immediately.

...But people are not plants; how can they be without feelings? Even if it was raising a cat or a dog, or tending to a plant, after twelve years of companionship, there should be some affection.

He used to think that his brother had thrown out the original ‘Prince of Rui’ as bait without any hesitation because the latter had improper thoughts and plotted to usurp the throne, being in the wrong first. But he had already been very careful to avoid that. He was a leisurely prince who spent his days in cockfighting and dog racing, a wastrel... and yet Ji Su still wanted to throw him out as bait.

Ji Weiqiu covered his eyes with one hand, the ornate sleeve concealing most of his face.

He had feigned grievance today, but he never expected that when he was truly aggrieved, it would be such a bittersweet feeling.

Author's Note:

Little Theater OOC Version:

Ji Su: That brat is such a lecherous womanizer, I offer him the number one beauty in the capital and he doesn't want her? Does he want to ascend to the heavens?

Ji Weiqiu: Yes, I want to ascend to the heavens!