Bonus Chapter: The Xin Family of Beiyang (Part 1)

The day Xin Jing finally tamed his pony, he fell face-first into the dirt on the grassland. Ji Baiyue and Meng Chen couldn't bear to watch, feeling a throbbing ache in their own bones as they saw him fall from the horse. Only that little ruffian, Wu Yu, leaned against the fence, laughing heartily, wishing the entire military camp could come and see the young master make a fool of himself.

When Xin Jing finally rode on horseback and began to circle, he couldn't help but straighten his back. Even though he had a bruised lump on his forehead, his tightly pressed lips appeared calm, but his heart was already soaring, eager for his father to see him.

Unfortunately, his father wasn't there that day, and his heroic posture on horseback couldn't overcome Wu Yu's unbridled mockery.

Xin Jing felt wronged, but he had to maintain a mature demeanor. When no one was around, he beat Wu Yu until he was also black and blue.

When he returned home, his mother's personal attendant, Aunt Ying, was already waiting for him by the manor gate. Seeing him walking back with his head down from afar, she quickly ran a few steps towards him and said with a smile, "Young master is late today. Hurry up, this servant will walk with you. The Prince and Princess Consort have been waiting for a long time."

Xin Jing didn't know what she meant and ran back with her. A screen was set up inside, and he heard his father's soft whispers from within. His mother, however, didn't reply much.

Seeing him about to go inside, Aunt Ying quickly stopped him and said, "The young master is back!"

The Prince of Yan only emerged after a while. Xin Jing was sitting on a chair outside, eating snacks to settle his stomach. Hearing his father approach, he immediately swallowed his snack and blurted out, "Dad, today I—" The boy's voice suddenly rose sharply, "What is this?"

There was more surprise in his voice.

Because his father was cradling a wrinkled little monkey in his arm, it looked utterly unrelated to himself, not at all like someone from their family.

"Your younger brother," the Prince of Yan leaned down to show him, the man said proudly and boastfully, "Isn't he handsome? Your younger brother!"

Even though he said "your younger brother" twice, Xin Jing selectively didn't hear it. His shocked face contrasted sharply with his father's triumphant raised eyebrows.

"Isn't he handsome?" The Prince of Yan reached out and lightly patted the back of his head, then rubbed it. "He's your younger brother." He then added, "He looks very much like you when you were little."

'Looks like a monkey.'

'Was he also like a monkey when he was little?'

Xin Jing refused to accept this reality. Perhaps his emotions were too obvious, and his father saw right through him. Xin Jing's scalp tingled from being watched. He hesitantly stretched out his hand and gave a few dry laughs: "Then, this, alright. Can I hold, hold him?"

The little monkey felt light as air in his arms. His arms, which had always followed his father in wielding swords and lifting spears, had never held anything so light, as if a little force could crumple it into a cloud. The little monkey hadn't opened its eyes yet, but the swaddling cloth carried his mother's woody scent. Xin Jing couldn't resist leaning closer, seeing its tiny hands, truly tiny.

'Such a small younger brother.'

Xin Jing inexplicably lowered his voice and quietly asked his father, "Can he grow up? Grow as tall as me?"

"Of course," the Prince of Yan leaned in from the other side, father and son staring at the little monkey, heads together. The Prince of Yan's expression was gentle. He said, "But he might not grow taller than you." He hugged his eldest son's shoulder, "After all, you are the elder brother; you will be his pillar of support."

Xin Jing nodded reservedly, but a sense of joy sprouted in his heart because of this. Perhaps he was just the kind of person born to be an elder brother. Becoming his younger brother's pillar of support filled him with happiness and, in an instant, seemed to fill him with a strength that would allow him to forge ahead fearlessly, yet also possess tenderness in his heart.

His mother named the little monkey "Jing," meaning 'reverence' or 'solemnity'. She hoped this child would be cautious from beginning to end, respectful, and dignified in character. Xin Jing's name, also "Jing," was chosen by the Prince of Yan and Princess Consort of Yan together. Its first meaning was 'to pacify rebellion,' with his father hoping he would quell unrest and serve the country with his life. The second meaning was 'peace and thoughtfulness,' with his mother hoping he would live a tranquil life and be remembered even when far away.

The two children had names with the same pronunciation. It was their parents' wish that when the time came for them to pass away and be separated by death, the brothers would remain united in heart and body, supporting each other from beginning to end.

From then on, there was "Ah Jing" and "Xiao Jing" in the Prince of Yan's Manor.

But before Xin Jing had a chance to hug this little monkey more, the little monkey grew into a soft, pinkish-white little bundle who was soon able to read and write, growing too old to be carried by him.

However, Xin Jing felt that "Jing, solemnity" wasn't a good description, because by the time his Xiao Jing was seven or eight, he had already displayed "solemnity," meaning he was very serious, and smiles were rare. It wasn't that he was unhappy, but rather that he consciously maintained a dignified demeanor, unwilling to laugh openly like an ordinary child, as it would go against his scholarly refinement.

That's right, even at such a young age, Xiao Jing already considered himself a scholar, needing to carry himself with dignity and be frugal with his smiles. So whenever he saw that little ruffian Wu Yu, his brows would furrow so much they left an impression.

By this time, the third child, Xin Li, had also grown to the age where even dogs would dislike him. Before he was born, Princess Consort of Yan had worried that he wouldn't be a little poker face like his second brother. Who knew that within a few years of his birth, he would already be the mischievous imp that everyone in the manor couldn't avoid.

The Prince of Yan privately told Xin Jing: "Although your second brother's name has gone astray in its meaning, it still has some effect. Look at your third brother, named 'Li,' hoping he would be more restrained and self-controlled, clever and spirited, and not find joy in playing tricks on people."

As his father was speaking, the two saw Xin Li climb out from under the corridor window. When he looked back and saw them, he quickly scrambled back inside as if his feet were greased.

The Prince of Yan angrily shouted: "...I saw you, come out, through the main door!"

Xin Jing at this time already had the physique of a young man, growing rapidly, unable to gain weight no matter how much he ate. Thus, when he stood there in his dark combat attire, he faintly exuded some of the Prince of Yan's imposing authority. He watched his father go to deal with Xin Li, feeling that he couldn't intervene with that kid himself. Turning to go down the steps, he saw his second brother squatting by the pond in the courtyard, completely still.

"What is Xiao Jing doing?" Xin Jing leaned down from behind Xin Jing to look with him, seeing him holding a flower branch, dipping it into the pond to tease the fish. Seeing Xin Jing's reflection, Xiao Jing slowly fumbled in his embrace for a while, then took out a crumpled flower and handed it up towards Xin Jing's head.

"Mother gave it to me," Xin Jing looked up at him, saying expressionlessly, "It smells good."

Xin Jing smiled very gently at his second brother, not taking the flower, but pinching his cheek instead. "You keep it. All of your elder brother's are for you."

Xin Jing, his words muffled from being pinched, said, "Mine, also for Ah Jing."

Having learned from his parents, Xin Jing only called him Ah Jing, not 'Elder Brother' or 'Brother'.

Xin Jing lowered his head and met Xiao Jing's gaze, both pairs of eyes reflecting the other. Xin Jing kept smiling, picked him up in a bundle, and swung him onto his back.

"Come on, Elder Brother will take you horse riding."

"No horse riding," Xin Jing, lying on his back shoulder, grew nervous at the mention of horses and quickly suggested, "Ride Ah Jing."

Xin Jing bounced him a few times and carried him out the door. "Alright, then ride Ah Jing. How about riding Ah Jing to catch rabbits? The little rabbits from the eastern grassland, we'll catch them for Xiao Jing to raise."

"No raising," Xin Jing, afraid he wouldn't hear, leaned into his ear and repeated, "No raising."

Soft and gentle, it melted Xin Jing's heart. Could that little rascal Ah Li compare? Xiao Jing was as well-behaved as a rabbit he had raised, fragrant and soft, and even his seriousness was adorable.

However, the adorable Xiao Jing gradually revealed another side of his talent within a few years: a sharp tongue. He usually didn't talk much, just leaned against a side, appearing handsome and refined, upright and proper, like a true gentleman. But as soon as he opened his mouth, three sentences could scare off the little scoundrel Xin Li, and a single glance could make his usually composed elder brother Xin Jing stiffen his back. His talent in literature was also undeniable; in elegant discussions and written works, he could sweep away a thousand armies. Xin Jing had never believed in the idea of 'tongue-lashing a group of scholars' before, but after having Xiao Jing, he was utterly impressed by whoever coined that phrase.

By this time, the Prince of Yan had already delegated various military affairs to Xin Jing, keeping him busy. He often left home for several days, sometimes going to Rouhui, staying out for ten days to half a month. He followed the army, at first unable to even get food because he had no military achievements, just a raw recruit. The Beiyang Army only recognized the Prince of Yan; if the Prince of Yan threw him in and didn't treat him as a son, then no one would treat him as the Prince of Yan's eldest son. When he was extremely hungry, he would make himself stand facing the wall, thinking about all the battles and generals, big and small, throughout history, using the idea of a great responsibility descending upon him to convince himself.

A year passed, and he had grown tall and become severely thin. His arrogance had vanished, replaced by a sharper, more profound calmness.

But no matter when he returned home, someone would always be standing under the Mimosa tree in front of the manor, waiting for him.

That person had grown to his shoulder, and then stopped growing. He liked to loosely tie his hair with a ribbon, wearing a pale blue-white shirt. His long, fair hands were exposed as he walked in circles under the tree, picking up fallen leaves or scattered petals. Circle after circle, perhaps in the early morning, perhaps late at night, circle after circle.

Waiting for him.

The first few times Xin Jing didn't notice, but later, whenever he was around Lijin, no matter how tired he was, he would crawl home if he had to. Wu Yu initially didn't know about this. After hearing about it, he even mocked Xin Jing for being "unweaned" and "sticking to his mother." It wasn't until one return journey, already deep into the night, when Xin Jing hadn't slept for a day and a night, swaying drowsily even on horseback, yet still insisted on rushing home, that Wu Yu finally shut up and never joked about it again.

The Mimosa tree grew tall and large, its blossoms a pink misty cloud when in bloom. He felt that Xiao Jing standing beneath it was the most beautiful painting in the world. To see this painting, he once fell off his horse, and didn't get up for half a day, startling Ji Baiyue and the others. When they dismounted to check, they realized he had simply fallen asleep. They wanted to stop, carry him, and pitch a tent, but he suddenly woke up, flopped onto his horse, and continued rushing back.

He was like this: his heart ached for his second brother waiting for him, yet he was unwilling to say, 'Don't wait.'

Because he liked it.

As long as he remembered Xiao Jing waiting for him under the tree, he could drink muddy water and run happily for thousands of miles. But he never deeply considered it; he took it as brotherly affection. He just liked his Xiao Jing that much, ever since Xiao Jing was a little monkey.

Yet he never thought, if this person were Xin Li instead, would he give him a good beating and throw him back?

Xin Jing was not yet twenty years old; he was young. Although he had once displayed his steady and introverted nature, he also possessed some unconscious wildness and recklessness. At this time, he began to make his mark in the Beiyang Army, rising very rapidly, leading his trusted followers, ambitiously embarking on his own glorious career on the battlefield.

Great Yuan would occasionally have skirmishes with the Beiyang border. When the cavalry of the thirty-two tribes were triumphant, they would blow whistles, break through Rouhui's defenses, and audaciously gallop ahead, ignoring curses. Xin Jing dealt with such scoundrels, training himself to be outwardly respectable but inwardly even more of a scoundrel.

One winter, he returned home for the New Year.

After the meal, Xin Li clamored to bring his infant brother Xin Yi, who couldn't yet speak clearly, to stay up for New Year's Eve. Princess Consort of Yan's health was already not very good, and since the Prince of Yan had rarely returned, he naturally wanted to accompany his wife. He simply picked up the four brothers, kicked them out the door, and told them to go have fun by themselves.

Before the family meal, Xin Jing had also attended the Beiyang Army's New Year banquet, drinking a bit too much, but he didn't feel drunk. In the snowy, icy landscape, beautiful lanterns hung from the eaves of his manor. He took his younger brothers to his own courtyard, brought out the fireworks he had prepared earlier, and set them off for his brothers to play with. Xin Li loved to play, dragging the tiny bundle that was Xin Yi to have a snowball fight in the light, while Xiao Jing stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a pillar in the corridor, watching.

As he watched, his gaze fell upon a section of fair nape not far away.

Xin Jing didn't know how it happened, but he found himself gazing with a noticeable fascination. Leaning there, he called out, "Xiao Jing."

Hearing his name, Xin Jing turned his head. Amidst the bursts of sound, his features flickered between light and shadow, sparking a desire in Xin Jing to keep looking.

Xin Jing raised a hand and beckoned.

Xin Jing turned back to look at the fireworks again, then gathered his sleeves and slowly walked over. Standing at the bottom of the steps, he had to look up at Xin Jing, only reaching his chest. He said, "Speak."

Xin Jing smiled slightly, "You haven't wished me good fortune this year."

Xin Jing didn't even think, "Happy New Year."

Xin Jing swallowed, then reached out and playfully ruffled his hair. "Too perfunctory." The sensation was incredibly pleasant, so much so that his hand inadvertently moved to the back, his cool fingertips sliding across Xin Jing's nape.

Both were startled.

Xiao Jing was startled by the coldness, and Xin Jing's chest also jolted, startling even himself.

"Cold."

Xin Jing turned his head away, and Xin Jing's hand was left empty. He moved the corners of his lips, but no words came out. But the next moment, Xin Jing took his hand, tucked it into his own sleeve, and pressed it against the back of his hand, saying, "Warm it up."

His elder brother didn't know what was happening, standing there stiffly, staring at him as if he had lost his soul. Xin Jing also didn't ask, simply staring back just as blankly. The two stared at each other like a pair of idiots.

A snowball flew over. Xin Jing raised his other hand to block it for Xin Jing, then finally averted his gaze, glancing at Xin Li, who was peeking around, "Take good care of Xiao Yi, don't let him get burned by the fireworks. If he gets burned, I'll make you soak in the pond for a night."

Xin Li stuck out his tongue. Though he was clearly a young man, he still laughed like a big boy, bright and innocent. He said, "Xin Yi is timid, he won't get burned. Big brother, what are you two doing? Staring at each other like you've fallen for each other, just standing there like wooden posts?"

"Yes," the sharp-tongued Xin Jing suddenly "woke up," turning to look at his third brother. "Fallen for each other, just like when you see Xiao Yan and almost drool."

Xin Li's face didn't even redden; he smiled even more adorably and sincerely. "Well, Marquis of Huiyang and we are friends, so of course I have to look after his daughter. When you see a beautiful woman, not only must you praise her, but revealing an expression of astonishment is the finishing touch."

"Then you're quite impressive," Xin Jing said expressionlessly, "your 'finishing touch' makes you look like a pug."

Xin Li, the pug, "...Woof woof!" He turned away in shame and indignation to find his infant brother to vent his pent-up sorrow and anger. However, Xin Yi, who couldn't even speak clearly, learned quickly this time. As soon as he saw Xin Li walking towards him, he immediately obediently barked loudly, "Woof woof!"

Xin Li: "..." What are brothers? I want to find Mother.

"Like a pug," Xin Jing whispered with a smile to Xin Jing. The hand that was tucked in his sleeve suddenly wrapped completely around Xin Jing's hand. "May the coming year be peaceful, Xiao Jing."

Xin Jing originally only needed to nod, but this time, after he nodded, his earlobes burned. He lowered his gaze to the snow beneath his feet, feeling the hand holding his own was scalding hot, so hot that he knew something was amiss, yet he couldn't bear to push it away.

After this year, Xiao Jing's writings became increasingly famous. In Shanyin, there was a Nansui Mountain, and on that mountain lived a great scholar named Elder Nansui. Elder Nansui came to Beiyang three times, all to request Xiao Jing as his disciple. However, that year, Princess Consort of Yan's health was poor, the Prince of Yan and Xin Jing were stressed outside, and there were two younger brothers below them, so Xiao Jing refused.

Xin Jing didn't know about this matter until he heard about it upon returning from an "outer hunt" in Rouhui. The so-called "outer hunt" was hunting outside, and the prey were Great Yuan's reconnaissance cavalry. When he returned, he was cleaning the dirt off himself when he heard Ji Baiyue, who was practicing archery, say, "The second young master is amazing."

"Hmm?" Xin Jing wiped the back of his neck, and remembering the similar slide on his nape that night, couldn't help but smile first. "Isn't that obvious? Marquis of Huiyang came to the manor earlier and said he had taken the He Family's young master as a student in the capital, who was handsome and learned well." He threw the handkerchief into the basin and, wearing his outer robe, said, "Who can compare to my Xin Jing in these two aspects?"

Ji Baiyue's finger slipped on the bowstring. He endured it for a moment, then still showed a look of being unable to bear hearing it, helplessly saying, "Young master, can't we be a bit more modest? Oh dear, the second young master is indeed number one in the world."

Xin Jing reached over and picked up his bow, weighed it in his hand, drew an arrow from the side, and drew the bowstring back, aiming at the distant target. "The weight is suitable this time; your arm strength is extraordinary, this one won't break." As he spoke, he instantly released his fingers. The arrow whizzed straight to the bullseye, hitting the target and making it sway back and forth. "That's what I mean. My second young master truly is number one in the world in my heart." Xin Jing smiled and returned the bow to Ji Baiyue, "I'll give this bow a name, otherwise it would be too disrespectful to General Ji Baiyue. 'One cannot reach the bright moon,' so let's call it the 'Moon-Climbing Bow' and the 'Wind-Breaking Arrow'."

"Good," Ji Baiyue said, fondly stroking the bow. "I heard from someone earlier that Elder Nansui went to the manor to invite the second young master, and the second young master refused, but he went again." He gestured with his fingers, "A full three times. My second young master's reputation is growing even more."

"Nansui?" Xin Jing paused. "From Shanyin?"

"Nansui Mountain in Shanyin," Ji Baiyue said. "A great sage whom even the Emperor cannot invite."

Xin Jing smiled, then turned back to his own affairs. He was attending to the military documents on his desk, but his mood was not as good as it had been. Xin Jing couldn't quite describe the feeling. He leaned back in his chair, realizing he had never imagined Xiao Jing leaving him to go elsewhere.

Even for studies, he had never thought of it.

'...Or perhaps he dared not think.'