Special 1: Brother's League (Section Begin) 1
It was the seventh of the seventh lunar month again. The Hu Cheng Square in Fan Luo City of Da Shi was packed as usual.
It also boosted the business of the shops around the square.
Especially Xing Teng Teahouse, which was in the best spot in the square. Now, the customers were packing the big lobby and the private rooms on the second floor. To not let the customers who wanted to have tea waste their time waiting, two waiters had to wait at the door and bow to the customers who wanted to enter the teahouse. "Sorry, we're currently full. We thank you for understanding."
Only until some finished enjoying their tea and left, the waiters would guide new customers to the teahouse. Else, they could only continue to deny most of the incoming business.
Sigh, the waiters of the other shops had to stand outside to invite the customers, but their shop was different. They were denying their customers who brought themselves to their door.
"Honored customers, please forgive us, our teahouse doesn't have empty tables..." Manager Li had just left for the restroom when several gentlemen in luxurious clothes and outstanding temperament walked toward the teahouse. Xiao Wen hurried to apologize to them as Manager Li had instructed him before.
"Eh? Are you new?" The young gentleman opened his fan with a swish. He fanned himself and eyed Xiao Wen from top to toe, arching his brow.
"Ah... Yes sir, I've been working here just for five days. Today, we are in a shortage of waiters so they sent me here to welcome the guests. Err... If I've done something you don't like, I'm so sorry." Xiao Wen remembered some phrases he had learned from school, answering politely. Although he still looked calm, he was actually panicking. He hadn't finished his probation. He couldn't afford to be laid off because of this. He needed to take care of his grandfather. He would never want to lose this job at any cost.
Lin Xi observed Xiao Wen for a long time, contemplating. The corners of his lips arose, but Manager Li had got out of the toilet before he could say anything. From a distance, Manager Li saw what was happening in front of the teahouse. He was scared, rushing toward. Panting, he clasped his hands and bowed to the young men. "Young... Young Master, Xiao Wen's new here. He doesn't know much. Please forgive him... Young Master and the others are here already. I... Let me take you upstairs." Then, he kicked Xiao Wen who wasn't able to react yet. "Where are your eyes? This is Young Master Lin Xi, the future Emperor of Da Shi. Hurry and apologize to him!"
"No need. He didn't say anything wrong to this young master." Lin Xi stretched his hand that was holding the fan, waving at Manager Li. Then, gently, he asked Xiao Wen, "What's your name? How old are you?"
"Young Master!" Manager Li was shocked, looking at Xiao Wen, he gingerly asked, "Young, Young Master means?"
"Little Li, there's none of your business here. All right, if you agree, 6 a.m tomorrow, you come and see me in Guang Yan Hall in the Emperor's palace." Lin Xi waved back. "No words? Are you done watching the fun? Let's go. Get upstairs. Otherwise you'll complain that I don't treat you well." Then, he walked into the teahouse.
Three young peers behind Lin Xi exchanged smiles then followed him to the biggest room for important customers on the second floor.
"Manager Li..." Xiao Wen blinked, unknowingly turning his head aside to look at his partner nearby.
"Xiao Wen, kid... Your good day has come... I heard that those whom Young Master Lin Xi has chosen would become the important characters in Da Shi later..."
Special 1: Brother's League (Section Begin) 2
"What's up? Did you just discover some talent again?" As the room opened, the four smiling youths followed each other to get into the biggest room for the important customers, which was the most luxurious room called Xing Teng. The ones who arrived earlier were drinking tea and chatting now turned to look at Lin Xi with interest.
"Right. Having a strong opponent like you, I can't help but discover more talents whenever I can, right? I can't afford the scene that in three years, when I enthrone, my henchmen are all your subordinates!" Lin Xi didn't try to be polite but snapback. He pushed a cold-faced, young lady to her chair, pretending to be understanding and sighing. "Big sis, why don't you scold him for me? You don't know that he's been fiercely against me these years. The only thing he hasn't done is to bring his new twelve Blood Knights to here and level our Da Shi."
"Psst! If we count seniority, you should be calling me uncle. You thick-skinned face dare accuse me first! Ling-er, ignore him! These two years, he's been going too far. When he has free time, he will come to Blood Union to seek and recruit talents. I'm about seventy or even eighty percent sure that the leader of "Sea Soul No.1" is from our Blood Union." The one who was quarreling with Lin Xi was Xue Yuan, who had just inherited the throne of Blood Union not long ago. He was at the same age with Lin Xi, which meant he had just turned sixteen years old this year. Although he was just several days older than Lin Xi, he was Lin Xi and his siblings' uncle. They couldn't do anything about this as the young man was the youngest son of their grandfather, their father's youngest brother!
"All right, all right, just consider I'm scared of you already. Little Uncle! Today's our brotherhood union. Don't keep quarreling over trivial things like this. Am I right?" Lin Xi showed his young and smiling face, making a face to the others in this union while they were laughing until their eyes narrowed watching them quarreling!
"Eh? Didn't he say he'd be punctual this time? Where's my big brother?" Lin Xi checked his siblings and cousins present here: Xue Yuan and his sister, Xue Zhen, Liang Xu Ri and his older sister Liang Yi Yue, Jiang Huai An, Jiang Ying Yu, Si Qing Yang, Si Fang Chen, Jian Xing, Lin Long and him. Only his big brother Lin Xiao, who had devoted himself to his cooking career, was missing.
"I assume brother Xiao has forgotten the date." Si Luo had let both of his children bear Jiang Ying Yun's last name. Jiang Huai An, the oldest son of Jiang Ying Yun and Si Luo, was thirteen years old this year, but he had already shown his handsome features. He shook his head, smiling. However, he didn't forget to tighten Jing Yu's braid, which was loosening. His sister was one year younger than him.
"Possibly. Only brother Xiao doesn't put us in his eyes." Si Fang Chen, Si Tuo's oldest son, was twelve years old this year, but he was as tall as a grown man. With his handsome, smiling-but-not-smiling face, he could make the young girls shriek in excitement when they saw him. He was acknowledged as the most handsome among the Four Great Handsomes of Da Shi. The other three were, of course, Lin Xi, Liang Xu Ri, and Jiang Huai An.
"It's not that he doesn't put us in his eyes. Brother Xiao has only cooking in his heart." Si Qi Yang was the youngest among the young people here. He pouted his lips, relaxingly seated. With his cracked voice during his puberty, he sounded so strange. People just ignored it. He was the only son of Si Chong, the future Master of Guangci House. He had just turned eleven years old this year, but he had experienced the whole of Jianghu with his dad for several years already. His train of thought wouldn't be less mature than his brothers and sisters who were several years older than him.
"Well, my brother won't forget. He's cooking your dinner." Besides Lin Xiao, only his sister Lin Long – the Master of Feng Yao Court, had the right to speak. Her hair cascaded gently on her sides as she indifferently explained.
"Cooking? Xiao is personally cooking for us?" Si Feng Chen whistled, his young face full of vigor.
"Haha... We have the great fortune to eat." Jiang Huai An also smiled brightly.
Hot-tempered Si Qi Yang had already stood up, pushing his chair aside. Raising his sword-like brows, he lifted his chin, and looked at the others. "Then what are we waiting for?!"
"Let's go to Cui Yu Zhai Restaurant." Lin Xi sniggered, wrapping his arm around Jiang Ying Yu's shoulders, who had just stood up naively. "Yu-er, long time no see. Did you miss brother Xi?"
"Psst! Don't put your hands on our precious treasure. Yu-er, come with brother Chen. Just ignore that flowery peacock!" Si Fang Chen grinned, pushing the arm on Jiang Ying Yu's shoulder away
Lin Xi rolled his eyes. Has he ever put his hands on anyone? He was one of the great four handsome and the future almighty Emperor. He was very serious in terms of relationships!
"Jian Xing, let's go." Jiang Huai An laughed, shaking his head and waved at Jian Xing, who was silently walking at the end of the line.
Jian Xing was Jian Heng and Xin Lan's only son. While having him in her womb, Xin Lan tripped once, which had troubled her giving birth. So, Jian Heng followed Lin Si Yao and had a ligation himself. They didn't have any more kids. Fourteen-year-old Jian Xing had learned from his father Jian Heng. He had excellent skills and a calm manner. Since last year, he had begun to take care of He Yuan's sauce shop in the imperial city. He came home twice a year. Once was during New Year's Eve and the other was the reunion day when his brothers and sisters gathered.
Special 2: Brother's League (Section Middle) 1
Ten years ago, if someone asked which restaurant was the best in Da Shi, the answer would be Wu Yi Zhai. However, these years, it was the Cui Yu Zhai whose reputation had been spread around Da Shi. There were even customers from thousands of miles away coming to Cui Yu Zhai just to taste the foods they would never find anywhere else.
Thus, in the last three years, Cui Yu Zhai had opened branches in Feng Cheng imperial city, Shui Yue City whose population was the largest in Da Hui, and Huang Cheng – the imperial city of Blood Union. Their profit came like flows of water.
The owner of Cui Yu Zhai, also the new leader of He Yuan, Master Lin Xiao, was eighteen years old this year. Honorably, he had become the nominee for the title of the most favorite man in Da Shi. Although Lin Xiao was really nice and he wasn't one of the great Four Handsomes, his excellent appearance, his gentle manner, his super cooking achievement, and his noble identity had helped him surpass the Four Handsomes of Da Shi and attracted the looks of people, both young and old. Even Lin Xi, the future Emperor and the Third Young Master of the Lins - Lin Xiao's blood brother, couldn't defeat his outworldly charms.
This attractiveness didn't relate to wisdom but feeling.
Lin Xiao always brought people his tenderness and warmth like the spring wind. Whosoever had ever talked to him for a while or tasted his foods would feel so touched and then grow their fondness toward this gentle and handsome youth with his great cooking skills.
Night fell on the main street in Fan Luo City, bustling and hustling people were waiting for the Fairy Festival on the seventh of the seventh lunar month. However, these years, the Fairy Festival has changed. The beautiful young ladies walking on the stilts weren't the talented beauties from the noble families in Da Shi anymore. Instead, they were chosen from the performing competition on dragon boats during that year's Dragon Boat Festival, which happened before the Fairy Festival. The talent competition was also changed: it allowed ordinary people to join freely. The fairies to be chosen were no longer only the noble ladies but all the unwed maidens over the age of thirteen.
That was also why the Fairy Festival, or Qixi Festival, had become more exciting. The excellent young men in the areas around came to see the beauties. Also, the maidens' families came to cheer them on. Indeed, people came to the street and congregated at Hu Cheng Square. After walking down the main street, they needed to take the boat. Performers were singing and dancing on the boats, pushing the Qixi Festival's night to its pinnacle of light.
"Tch, tch! I couldn't imagine so many people were here. Later on, could they be dismissed safely?" Si Fang Chen grinned, shaking his head.
People quickly noticed the group of beautiful young people strolling on the Square, heading to Cui Yu Zhai in the middle of the main road.
Some recognized them so they waved and cheered. The young misses covered their faces, shyly peeping because of the handsome young men. While the young men felt their hearts beat faster looking at the four young ladies, of which one was icy-cold, one was tender and mild, one was generous and noble, and the last was quiet but elegant...
"A Chen, save your cheap smile. Don't you think it's chaotic enough? How much do you want to stir it further?" Xue Yuan walked next to Si Fang Chen, smiled and shook his head. He had seen the same bustling scene every year, and besides reluctance, he didn't feel anything else these days.
"I didn't smile." Si Fang Chen couldn't help but frown, protesting. He had just flashed his bright teeth, which stunned two ladies at their spots. Fortunately, he knew that he was the one that topped the Great Four Handsomes, and with his moves, nobody could resist or deny him. Otherwise, he would have thought that his face was too ugly and scared the two girls and made them faint as soon as they saw his face.
"Right, you just flashed your wolf teeth and scared two charming sisters." Lin Xi wrapped his arm around Si Fang Chen's shoulder, sniggering in his ear. "I heard that some girl gave you a scented sachet at the Boat Dragon Festival?"
Special 2: Brother's League (Section Middle) 2
"I don't believe you didn't receive any." Si Fang Chen arched his brows. Of course, he knew what Lin Xi was playing at.
"Of course, but I don't bring those scented sachets with me." Lin Xi beamed a flashy smile, flipping his palm. A small, embroidered scented sachet appeared in his hand, it was beautifully and meticulously made.
"Lin Xi! Give it back to me!" Si Fang Chen hissed through his gritted teeth. Unfortunately, his martial skills weren't as good as the genius Lin Xi. He could only glare at the other angrily.
"Haha, brothers! A Chen has a sweetheart!" Lin Xi ignored his threat and turned around to spread the news to the members of the Brother's League. Si Feng Chen was always picky. Which girl had sparked his fancy?
Everybody just smiled and did not comment. It seemed it wasn't a secret and the others had gotten the news earlier.
"A Xi, you also know who is in A Chen's heart." Jiang Huai An slowly answered. As soon as Lin Xi heard that, he threw the scented sachet back to Si Fang Cheng. He then proceeded to pull Jiang Huai An and demand for an answer. The girls he knew could be counted with the fingers of his hands. She shouldn't be one of the four here. Was she among the girls that often visited He Yuan? If not, who was it?
"Who? Who could tie A Chen, the best of our Handsomes here?"
"You'll know tomorrow." Jiang Huai An smiled, winking at him.
"What's there to say? How boring!" Si Fang Chen carefully put the scented sachet in his chest, glaring at Lin Xi. "You shouldn't brag about it everywhere. Or else, I'm not afraid to tell Aunt Lian what you've done in Shui Yue City."
Lin Xi rolled his eyes but he shut his mouth. He didn't dare let mother know what happened in Shui Yue City, else she would revoke his permission to leave Da Shi.
"Speaking of which, A Xi, how do you want to deal with Shui Yue City's affairs? Do you need me to go with you?" Jian Xing frowned, interfering.
"Right, A Xi, you got hurt despite your excellent skills. Your opponent is not one with an ordinary background. After tomorrow, I'll go with you." Si Qi Yang said with furrowed brows.
Their faces all turned serious. How dare they touch a member of their Brother's League... Simply courting death!
"I'm leaving for Shui Yue City tomorrow." Lin Long said casually, "A Xi, don't tell big brother." Among the peers, Lin Xiao was fond of Lin Xi the most. If Lin Xiao knew his brother was ambushed, he would just throw Cui Yu Zhai behind and rush to Shui Yue City. It wasn't that they were worried about Cui Yu Zhai's business. They were worried because their parents could get hints from the restaurant's change in business. This would cause their fragile mother to be worried. And then, their father would scold them for being irresponsible adults.
"Sister, I'm going with you." Jiang Huai An smiled.
"Count me in." Si Qi Yang raised his brows. His broken voice made people laugh.
"Hey, I say, if you don't have any urgent missions to do, we should all go together. I have never been to Shui Yue City. A Zhen, would you mind if we went sightseeing in Shui Yue City?" Xue Yuan flicked his hand to open his fan. He smiled and asked his twin sister, who was walking silently by his side.
Xue Zhen shook her head, worriedly looking at Lin Xi. "Xi-er, don't you want to tell sister-in-law and big brother?" Although her second brother spoke in a light tone, it wasn't a small matter: The life of Da Shi's Crown Prince was no trivial matter.
"At any cost, no!" Lin Long and Lin Xi said in unison. "Haha, little aunt, it's not that you don't know our old man's terrifying methods. As long as it saddens my mother, he will never forgive us. Before this matter is completely investigated, I don't want to be grounded in Da Shi by my mother or receive my father's attacks." Lin Xi waved his hands hastily to decline Xue Zhen's suggestion.
"Then we will go to Shui Yue City to investigate first." Jiang Huai An smiled and nodded. He had been enlightened by the formidable strength of the Head of the Lin family. Unless absolutely necessary, they shouldn't disturb the world of Uncle Lin and Auntie Lian.
Special 3: Brother's League (Section End) 1
"Big Brother Xiao!" In the past four years, Cui Yu Zhai had kept a special room for the brothers when they had meals together. As soon as they got into the room, they were happy to see their big brother Lin Xiao, who they had been yearning for, standing with his back facing them as the young man was making the dining table.
"You've arrived." Hearing the commotion, Lin Xiao turned around, the corners of his lips arose and a warm smile appeared on his calm, everlasting gentle face.
"As soon as we heard big sister say that you were cooking dinner for us, we hated that we didn't have wings to fly here faster." Jiang Huai An picked up a crunchy pancake that was freshly cooked, smiling.
"Don't need to be so exaggerating? Oh right, Long-er, Xiang Ning is looking for you with some urgent matter. I think she's in her room. Do you want to see her now?" Lin Xiao saw his twin sister in the group, raising his voice to call her.
"Mhm, let me see. You guys start without me." Lin Long slightly frowned, walking out of the room and heading to another room.
"Big brother Xiao, that blockhead Xiang is still chasing after her?" Si Qi Yang rudely shoved a piece of jujube soft cupcake into his mouth, and rudely spoke while chewing.
Lin Long was the oldest sister in their family. Although she was eighteen this year, they hadn't talked about her marriage. First, it was her cold character that she didn't like the immature guys from noble families. Second, Feng Yao Court's issues had always kept her busy. She didn't even have time to marry someone. At least, she couldn't wait for some husband to come to her house and use the sedan chair to bring her home like the other ordinary women. Only a rare man, who would understand and tolerate her busyness could be her suitable match. That man shouldn't use common ethics to bind her freedom. That blockhead Xiang Sheng, the first-born son of the Xiang family couldn't be such a rare man. He was serious and stubborn, bored, and strict. If Lin Long married a man like him, she would be bound to death by Confucius's code of ethics, wouldn't she? Although the Xiangs showed that they agreed to let her continue to manage Feng Yao Court, they wouldn't be so sure they could be as supportive as they had stated.
"Perhaps, A Yang, check the chicken broth..." Lin Xiao gently changed the topic as he didn't want people to discuss Long-er's marriage. It wasn't something Long-er would be happy to hear. As he was her twin brother, he could still feel her moods.
"Oh right, Xiao, after tomorrow, we're going to Shui Yue City." Xue Yuan didn't care about Lin Xi who was constantly blinking at him. He smiled and advised the other.
"You guys are all going?" Lin Xiao arched his brows, lifting his head and checking all the people seated at the round table. Seeing no one objecting, his heart twisted. "Who? What happened? Elaborate." His brows slammed together as he remembered the time the entire group came to imperial city. It was when Jian Xing was chased by the infamous assassin organization called Wu Sha Temple. All of the brothers and sisters had come to uproot the entire organization. Then, they donated all the dirty money to Yang Xin House to give aid to refugees, orphans, and single moms. If he carefully thought about it, this was two years ago.
Could it be, one of them provoked another difficult organization?
"Big... Big Brother, please don't get mad when you know the story. Also, please don't tell mom." Lin Xi saw Lin Xiao show his stern face, which was completely different from his normal face. He knew he couldn't get out of this safe. Sending Xue Yuan a fierce glare, he obediently told his brother how he got hurt last month.
"You actually got hurt?" Lin Xiao raised his voice, his face indifferently staring at Lin Xi until his outstanding brother, who got it easy to attract the strong opponent, dejectedly lowered his head. Then, he warned the other in a low voice. "Lin Xi, I remember you promised me that you would never put yourself in a dangerous situation. What do you have to say?"
"Brother!" Lin Xi rubbed his face, explaining in aggrievance. "I didn't know who I had provoked. This time, I just simply went to the palace and discussed the border cooperation that mutually benefits the two nations with Da Hui's Emperor. I didn't know that some hotshots wanted my life."
Special 3: Brother's League (Section End) 2
"Where were your guards? Your loyal, dedicated guards? You ignored our advice and went to Da Hui's Emperor alone?" Lin Xiao frankly pointed out the reason why Lin Xi got hurt: Two arms couldn't resist one hundred arms. Although Lin Xi's skills were really good, it was not easy to escape the constant pursuit of assassins from a professional organization.
"Sorry, I was negligent.. Brother, please don't telI mom I got hurt. If she knows, she will lecture me nonstop..."
"Gather at Cui Yu Zhai at 6 a.m the day after tomorrow. We'll depart together." Lin Xiao didn't mind Lin Xi's begging. He resolutely set a time to go to Shui Yue.
"No problem." Xue Yuan replied immediately. The others also nodded in agreement.
"Ying Yu, you're not going to go this time." Lin Xiao's look swept through Jiang Ying Yu who looked so excited. With a frown, he advised.
"Why? Big brother Xiao, I'm not weak. I won't hold you guys backward." Jiang Ying Yu winced, trying to seize a chance for herself to go out and take a trip around. Among the brothers and sisters, her attainment wasn't the weakest. Yi Yue was the weakest here. Why didn't he allow her to go with them?
"Yi Yue, you're not going, either." Lin Xiao of course could guess what she thought. He spoke before she could have time to protest.
"Eh? Brother Xiao?" Liang Yi Yue looked at Lin Xiao, puzzled. Seeing his resolute eyes, she turned to her brother Liang Xu Ri, expecting a satisfactory answer.
"Sigh," Liang Xu Ri sighed then patted his sister's slim shoulder. "You guys are about to reach your marriageable age soon. It's better to have less contact with the sparing and killing type of things."
"How about big sister? And Xue Zhen? Don't tell me they're not girls." Jiang Ying Yu furrowed her graceful brows, muttering her protest.
"Big sister can not be compared with an ordinary girl a long time ago. And about Xue Zhen, later on, she will receive her ordained territory in Blood Union. Of course, she doesn't need to be afraid of anything." Si Fang Chen replied then glanced over the two flower-like young maidens. He also sighed inwardly like Liang Xu Ri. It was really not suitable for these two to see those bloody scenes. Their best future was to get married to a good guy, have kids, become a noble madam.
When Liang Yi Yue heard that, she just frowned and said nothing. She just eyed Lin Xiao who was wearing a serious face. Could it be that the elders in the family put pressure on the Brother's League? Were they forbidden to add the girls into the brother's League? But Heaven knew that it was her and Jiang Ying Yu's idea to establish this brotherhood league. And now they wanted to ditch the two founders out? All right, today was the seventh of the seventh, a celebratory day, so she wouldn't make a fuss. However, it was up to the girls' decision whether they agreed to be thrown aside. If it didn't work out, Liang Yi Yue calculated in her head, if she could found the brotherhood league that year, she could also establish the girl's league. Don't forget, their mother was Yang Jing Zhi, who could make any impossible idea possible. The clear facts could be seen from the reform policies of Da Shi.
"Alright," Liang Yi Yue nodded. "If you guys all agree like that, then Ying Yu and I really didn't have clear eyes, we were too naive."
"Yi Yue?" Jiang Ying Yu lifted her head, puzzled. Liang Yi Yue wasn't someone who would give up that fast. How could she be persuaded after several sentences like this? Then, she saw Liang Yi Yue give her a sneak wink, which calmed her down.
The other members of the Brother League felt shivers going down their spins. They were unknowingly scared. Would these two girls do something funny behind their back?
A year later, the Sister's League appeared in public in Da Shi. After the league's reputation had been spread out around Da Shi, the young men that were present in that meeting had finally awakened.
Liang Yi Yue founded a Sister's League.
They had taken Lin Long and Xue Zhen as their core members. They then started to attack the Brother's League of the capable and handsome young men. All because of the refusal the boys had made today...
Special 4: Flower Marriage (1)
She was injured.
This was the first time in 18 years. But the injury was worth it; in one swoop, she destroyed the Wusha Palace, the assassin organization that intended to take Lin Xi's life.
However, a minor injury for her: a slash on her back by a long sword, had her tied to boudoir bed at Feng Yao Court headquarters to recuperate. It was not a life threatening injury, but she's already been in bed for three days. As soon as she felt it was ok to get up and go on with her business, there was a nagging in her ears that forced her to lie down on her stomach and continue to rest.
"You say, as a young girl, how could you rush into danger like this? Lin Xi was in trouble, but where were all of the members in the brother's league? Were they just eating elsewhere and needed you to block the sword?"
"When did the Master of Feng Yao Court become the head of the assassins?"
"A Xiao and the others can also block the sword, okay? You dare to use your own back! Do you think your back is indestructible?!"
"You think just a couple days of rest, you can just get up and go?! Feng Yao Court will be fine even if it remains closed for a few days, not to mention that you have such a large number of capable subordinates who can cover for you. Just obediently rest for a few days, it won't kill you, okay?"
"Woman, don't be stubborn! Rest on your stomach and take care of your injuries, otherwise, I'll force you to cooperate."
...
With such talk, Lin Long had no choice but to lie down on the bed and recover from her injuries.
The person who was talking was not someone from the Brother's League, but Xiang Sheng, the eldest son of the Xiang family. He had been like a ghost possessing her, not leaving her side since she was ten years old.
The Xiang family moved from the imperial capital to Da Hui eight years ago. Head of the Xiang family, Xiang Ziyun had a good relationship with her uncle. He arrived with a pair of children under his knees. His son, Xiang Sheng, was older than Lin Long by four years, and his daughter, Xiang Ning, is one year younger than her. After getting to know each other, she began to treat the two like an extra elder brother and younger sister. And eight years passed in a flash.
At the beginning, she was cold and unwilling to speak out, and she didn't say anything to refute his parent-like nagging. It caused him to become more and more familiar with her. Later, when she wanted to refute, she was already used to his care, she could no longer refuse his kindness and enthusiasm. Unexpectedly, Xiang Sheng had figured her out: she was only outwardly cold, but extremely warm on the inside.
What confused her was that with Xiang Sheng's aptitude and wealth, there should be countless ladies and little girls who approached Xiang's family and requested for his hand in marriage. But Xiang Sheng, who is twenty-two this year, didn't have any women accompanying him. Well there was one: she was Lin Long.
It should be said that in the past eight years, the person he would constantly pester was her.
What does that mean? Lin Long laid on the bed, frowning and thinking hard. In fact, he had never hid the fact that the person he wanted to marry was her. Instead of other women who were several times more demure and gentle than her...
But doesn't he think her temperament is too difficult to get along with? Cold and arrogant, not good at words... And the biggest matter was she's already eighteen years old; she's already passed her youth.
Ai... she sighed softly. She never thought that a woman with a temperament like her would be wanted by someone. Shouldn't normal men like a gentle and graceful woman like her mother? Otherwise, lovely and beautiful girls like Jingyu and Yiyue. Unlike her, who was always busy planning official business, a rough woman who's traveled through Jianghu? It's hard to imagine that one day she will be hidden in the backyard, embroidering and drawing pictures all day, with a husband and children... She shook her head sharply. That was not the life she wanted. Since she has taken over the position of the master of Feng Yao Court, she will lead the brothers in the Court to open up a vast world...
"Why are you sighing? Your Feng Yao Court is still doing well! It has neither failed nor closed down." Xiang Sheng hummed angrily.
He stepped forward to tuck the quilt for her, swept the meal on the low cabinet beside the bed, and couldn't help but growling angrily, "I'll just walk away for half a day, and you still didn't have lunch?!"
Lin Long raised her eyes and glanced at him, what was he angry about? She skipped her meal because she was still full from this morning and she didn't feel hungry at all.
Since she's been bedridden, her three meals were all personally cooked by Lin Xiao and delivered by a maid. They were all dishes that she could not get tired of eating. All she had been doing these past few days was just eating and sleeping. She found that her always-thin waist was full of flesh. It turned out that there was really no difference between recouping injuries and raising pigs.
How can a person who lies on the bed all day, without any energy, eat so much food? Could it be that he thought he was raising pigs and not her wounds?
Recovering from her thoughts, Lin Long glanced at Xiang Sheng's frowning expression before turning away. She awkwardly explained, "I'm not hungry yet." Her voice, which hadn't spoken for a long time, was a little hoarse.
"It'll be too late when you're hungry." Xiang Sheng muttered, then carefully lifted her and made her sit up, "Eat something to fill your stomach, the weather is good today. I'll go out with you later... Don't think about it. I won't allow you to go to the Court to deal with official business." He glared at her, blocking what she was about to say.
"Xiang Sheng, with you like this... won't your family say something?" Lin Long took a few bites in coordination. The Xiang Family had a lot of property. He had spent almost all day in the backyard of Feng Yao Court to accompany her to recover from her injuries. Wasn't he afraid of gossip?
"What are you saying?" Xiang Sheng glanced at her strangely. He and Lin Long had already obtained the consent from their two parents as early as the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago. As long as she agreed, they would carry a large sedan chair to welcome her through the door*.
(Pure: To be married as the main wife)
"Xiang Sheng, I'm not worth it." After she took her last bite, Lin Long wiped the corners of her mouth, and stated lightly.
"I know if it's worth it or not." Xiang Sheng suppressed the anger in his heart. He was angry at her for devaluing herself so much, but he still packed the food box and helped her get up.
Lin Long sighed helplessly; her persuasion failed again.
He was always able to make her unable to continue talking like this.
Perhaps, subconsciously, she also hoped that he would always walk by her side like this. However, this wasn't realistic, right? Sooner or later, he will marry a wife... and she... was not suitable for him...
Special 4: Flower Marriage (2)
Since that day, she no longer mentioned if it was appropriate or not. And he still came over to feed her three meals a day, and she quietly cooperated with recuperating the sword wound on her back.
When her injury healed, he would have less reason to come here, she thought.
Fortunately, she didn't let her parents know about her injury, otherwise, it would be hard for her to keep this peacefulness. This man's mouth was enough for her to endure. She wasn't stupid to recruit a few more elders to nagg at her. Except for Aunt Yue, the others, including her mother, will definitely make her drown in distressed tears and gentle exhortations.
But what's with the situation now?
Lin Long was stunned to see herself being held in front of the dressing table by a bunch of enthusiastic married women. They were holding her face, putting on makeup, doing her hair, changing into a wedding dress... Wait... a wedding dress?
When was she going to get married?
"Mother?" She turned to her mother, who was smiling as she smoothing out the folds of her wedding dress. She suspiciously inquired: "What's going on?" She had thought they were celebrating her recovery, but she never thought about this type of celebration.
"Of course it's a marriage." Su Shuilin didn't have time to answer, so Jiang Yingyun replied with a hearty smile: "Long'er, don't be nervous, that kid, Xiang Sheng, has taken care of everything; we were all idle. Just need to accompany you."
"Xiang Sheng?" So, he wanted to marry her on his own accord? What should she say? That she was unwilling?
In the end, she married him. She married a man who knew her better than his own sister. The reason was simple: she needed a man who could take care of her when she was injured without any regrets. Although this reason is not the most important in her heart, what does it matter? Just consider it as if that the expected plan she set had turned a corner. Although there was a twist in events, the direction was still moving towards her established goal.
Correct. She, Lin Long, the master of Feng Yao Court, will not use this unreasonable excuse to abandon the organization she had been fighting for the past five years. She believed that the man will not restrain her like this, otherwise, he will not marry her.
So, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, at age eighteen, she married into the Xiang family.
The lingering taste at night made her start to look forward to this unexpected marriage.
"Morning." Xiang Sheng's deep voice resounded in her ears. Turning around, she was pulled into his bare chest.
"Was last night okay?" He glanced at her body, which was also unclothed. On her fair skin were red marks that he had worked so hard for all night. This discovery made him extremely happy.
Lin Long's ears instantly became hot. She didn't mind being swept all over by his fiery eyes, but she couldn't open her mouth to describe last night's record.
"Take a day's rest. Tomorrow, I will go to the imperial capital to visit my uncle and aunt." He lightly chuckled, got up, and put on his robe, hugged her lazily, and walked to the bathroom in the back of the bedroom.
"Imperial city?" She frowned. It will take at least six days to come and go. "The Court... can't go." She could imagine his next expression. Perhaps, he will start to intervene in her business and persuade her to give up Feng Yao Court from now on. Just reside in his backyard, embroidering clothes and making soup for him...
"I know. Fangchen will reassure you. During the few days you're away, he will take over for you. I promise you will return to an intact Feng Yao Court." Xiang Sheng grinned lightly.
Although it was difficult to understand why Situo did not pass Feng Yao Court to his own eldest son, Si Fangchen, but instead to Lin Long, who was a woman. However, this was the decision of the elders, and Lin Long really did take care of the Court well, so he will not interfere.
Lin Long raised her head in surprise and looked at Xiang Sheng. He did not take advantage of the situation to persuade her to give up Feng Yao Court, nor did he blame her for disregarding the rules of her in-law's family and only focusing on the affairs of the Court... He... was this him showing his support for her to continue her role in Feng Yao Court?
"Silly, that is your hard work. I won't be so ignorant. Besides, with it keeping your attention, I won't worry about leaving you alone when I'm busy." Arriving at the bathroom, Xiang Sheng put her down, tapped the tip of her delicate nose, and explained softly: "I knew from five years ago that if I want to marry you, then I have to marry Feng Yao Court, too. Woman, I have been preparing for so many years, just so that you can marry me without any worries. To be my wife: my wife who could stand side by side with me. You can't deprive me of my intentions."
"Xiang Sheng..." She murmured his name. She really didn't know that he would attach so much importance to her and the affairs she loved. This discovery made her a little overwhelmed.
"Perhaps, we can just rest on the bed without going out today..." He hugged her tightly, not letting her have any room to refuse.
Heavens knows how long he prepared and endured in order to let her only have him in her heart, in order to let her marry him as his wife without protest... even at the expense of being laughed at by her Borther's League members, whom privately joked that he was dumb**. Although he didn't expect her to fall in love with him, he didn't want her to marry him because she had to bear the responsibility of being eaten by him.
Now that she was his rightful wife, he can eat her openly. Not to mention seven times a night, even if he was lying on the bed with her everyday, he was not afraid of her wanting to stray... He was actually a very ** man... Of course, the target must be her—the bride who he had fallen in love with at first sight eight years ago...
Special 5: Sister's League (1)
"Liang Yiyue!" A roar that reached the sky, resounded through the Liang residence.
"Ai! Another one came to settle accounts with me! Jingyu, could it be that setting up a Sister's League was unacceptable for those big men?" Liang Yiyue couldn't help but complain with a wrinkled face. The lotus seed soup she was holding in her hand almost fell and rolled to the ground.
To put it nicely, she and Jingyu decided to come out from under their big brothers' wings. To put it bluntly, it means they would stand on their own. She didn't believe that women in their blooming age would not be able to shine without a man's help.
"I think what they can't accept is that you also brought over Eldest Sister and Xue Zhen. If it was just the two of us, they would be more than eager." Jiang Jingyu's small and sweet face lifted from a large stack of thick account books. Once she is of age, the Yueyun Embroidery Floor would be handed over to her. For now, she was to begin dabbling in these complicated account books.
"You didn't have to explain it so clearly." Liang Yiyue's face collapsed and she pouted. She and Jingyu were the offbeats who were about to be expelled from the Brother's League. The reason was very simple. They are about to get married, and they are not suitable to continue mingling with other men.
But why could Eldest Sister and Xue Zhen do it? They were also women. Just because their identities were different?
One was the master of Feng Yao Court, and the other was the future emperor of the Blood Union. They were to lead countless subordinates, so they were important for the Brother's League. But she and Jingyu were different. Once they came of age, what awaited them was marriage. Maybe by a certain official or eunuch, who had a good personal relationship with her unscrupulous father... Once they made an agreement, she was carried into the backyard of a certain high gate by a sedan chair that popped out of nowhere. In name, she would be the main wife of the head of the house, but really, she was trapped in that narrow world until she died of old age...
As for her capable old mom, if she were to help and state her position to refute her father's marriage proposal, she would end up burying her in the general clinic all day as cheap labor...
"No way? Uncle Zai and Aunt Jing are not that kind of people." Jiang Jingyu looked at a little woman who had no idea what she was thinking. She couldn't help protesting for the innocent elders.
"Ai, you wouldn't understand." Liang Yiyue returned to her senses and waved her hand weakly. "If it wasn't for me threatening to end my life, my mother would really force me to study medicine. My father would also really make me study politics. But these are not what I want." As for the future medical god of the Liang family, her brother was enough. The future king.... On the other hand, Lin Xidai, and the brother and sister pair can work tirelessly. She wasn't a fool to jump into that circle, not even if it would kill her.
"Then what do you want to do? Oh, and what exactly is the Sister's League going to do?" Jiang Jingyu asked in confusion.
Sister's League has been established, but that was a month ago. All the things that should be recruited, notified, and shown off... have been done... Now it was just the matter of the operation of the Sister's League. However, now it felt like this proposal was only brought up by an extremely bored little woman to fight back against the few members who kept the two of them from joining the Brother's League.
"Oh right. What should we do next? Let me think about it, what did the brothers plan before..."
Sure enough! Jiang Jingyu sighed softly and shook her head. She ignored Liang Yiyue, who was thinking hard to come up with an idea, and buried herself in the complicated data.
She couldn't join the Brother's League, but it was nice to have a Sister's League, where she could chat with in her spare time. She just hoped that Yiyue won't want to find something that makes her scalp numb and come to challenge them together.
—
It seemed she was too good at guessing. What she hoped would not happen really happened.
Jiang Jingyu looked at Liang Yiyu.e who was wearing a man's attire in front of her, and then looked at the blue man's attire in her hand, "Really have to change?"
"Of course. How come women can't go into Hualou (brothels)?" Liang Yiyue continued with fascination, "The world praised brothels in Huansha City as the most attractive to men. Don't you want to experience it once?"
To be honest, she didn't want to. Jiang Jingyu swallowed, but who made her younger than Yiyue? Without the right to speak, she could only be Liang Yiyue's sidekick and obediently put on men's clothes, get on the carriage, and walk to Dahui's Huansha City.
She hoped that it wouldn't be too long before big brother and the others would find out and stop them before they entered a brothel.
Jiang Jingyu secretly prayed while she was changing her clothes. She took the time to write a note and leave it on the desk. She hoped her big brother would come find her note in her room because she did not go to the restaurant for a meal today. Heavens, she really didn't want to be trapped in a brothel with Liang Yiyue, surrounded by a group of gorgeously dressed and heavily fragrant women.
—
It was unsure when, but Hualou Brothel had been leading Dahui's Huansha City. The one who paid taxes for the whole city was a brothel. The Madam of Hualou Brothel in Huansha City has become the symbol of Huansha City. The Madam of Hualou became a character that Huansha City talked about with great relish.
As a result, the areas near Huansha City were cleaned up of anything in the country that were inappropriate. It is said that this is the only renovation that Yang Jingzhi, the mother of the country and director of the medical center, insisted on. She never intervened in the rest of the restructuring measures, except for the brothel, which she strongly opposed. Perhaps, this was what aided in the prosperity of Huansha City.
If she found out that her daughter dared to disguise herself as a man and go to a brothel to spend money to buy smiles (prostitutes), would she be so angry that she vomited blood?
Until she was pulled by Liang Yiyue and got off the carriage in front of the largest brothel in Huansha City, Jiang Jingyu was still struggling.
"Yiyue..." She held Liang Yiyue's hand tightly, why didn't big brother arrived yet? Didn't he see the note she left? Or did he not return home at all, busy with school affairs?
"Jingyu? What are you afraid of? We're just going in to have a look!" Liang Yiyue blinked in confusion, not understanding why Jiang Jingyu was so afraid.
"Look? Then what?" She didn't think that the prostitutes of brothels were all friendly. Half a year ago, she came to Huansha City with her aunt to discuss business. During the banquet, the flower girls from "Zuixi Hall" were arranged to pour tea and wine for the merchants. She had seen the methods of those flower girls. Within an hour, the pockets of those merchants were emptied by those flower girls. In the end, it was her aunt who paid for the meal.
Heavens, when she thought of these flower girls, who are addicted to money, she can't help shaking her legs. She would rather bury her head in the boring account books than deal with those flower girls.
Special 5: Sister's League (2)
"Jingyu, what are you exactly afraid of? Don't worry, we won't be seen through by others since we're dressed like this." The corner of Liang Yiyue's lips curved up as she took Jiang Jingyu to the "Zuixi Hall" in front of her...
"If I didn't know beforehand that this was a brothel, I would have thought it was just an ordinary restaurant." Liang Yiyue recited the name of the brothel. "Drunkenly Happy? How is this not a restaurant? But Fang Chen said that this was a brothel."
"Fang Chen? He asked you to come?" Jiang Jingyu finally caught two key words from Liang Yiyue's mumbling.
"Of course not, I heard him mention it when he was chatting with Xue Yuan." Liang Yiyue wrinkled her nose. It would be weird if the members of the Brother's League would let their two underage girls come to a place like this.
No wonder! Jiang Jingyu rolled her eyes secretly. Otherwise, with her ignorant and naive character, who only knows poetry, songs, chess, chess, calligraphy and painting, there was no way Liang Yiyue would know the name of any brothels in Huansha City.
"Yiyue. I think..." Seeing that they were about to be discovered by the two flower girls at the entrance of the "Zuixi Hall", who were wooing guests enthusiastically, Jiang Jingyu stood firmly in place. "Let's go back. If our family finds out..." She shuddered, she could already predict what would happen.
"We're already here, it's a pity not to go in..." Liang Yiyue pulled her with a sweet smile, still refusing to turn back and walked towards the "Zuixi Hall". To turn back home before attracting the monks of the Brother's League? What a joke! She, Liang Yiyue, was not a person who gave up halfway.
Jiang Jingyu was dragged into the "Zuixi Hall" by Liang Yiyue with her eyes half closed. As for how they walked up the stairs and when she entered the room, she lost all consciousness. She only knew that when she regained her senses, she and Yiyue were already sitting in a fairly quiet room, drinking tea.
"Look, it's not as dangerous as you thought, right?" Liang Yiyue squinted her eyes. She met eyes with Jiang Jingyu: it seems the show was on, and they both heard familiar voices from downstairs.
"Come out! Liang Yiyue!" It was Si Fang Chen's powerful roar.
"Jingyu! Obediently come out!" It was Jiang Huaian's gentle voice.
"Just burn the place down and be done with." It was Si Qiyang's suggestion.
"Yiyue, don't force your big brother to search the building!" It was Liang Xuri's elegant but extremely bold threat.
"Ai. They were too fast. I didn't even have a cup of tea." Liang Yiyue held her forehead and spread her hand towards Jiang Jingyu, "Did you leave a message?" Otherwise, they would not have found them so quickly. Although she did have the intention to lead them here, she didn't expect to be caught so soon.
"Yiyue..." Jiang Jingyu nodded in embarrassment, but it was because the location she chose to explore was too sensational.
"Forget it. Let's go. We can't really let them set fire to the building or search from room to room." Liang Yiyue lowered her face, "Jingyu. In a bit, make an act to let our brothers know that we exited "Zuixi Brothel". I don't want to be picked up and beaten by them so soon."
"You want to escape?" Jiang Jingyu covered her mouth, when did Yiyue have this idea? Was she really too leisurely? Unlike her Eldest Sister and Sister Zhen, none of them would have such shocking proposals. They were as busy as can be, when would they have the time to think about these things?
"I just want to go around the world with a sword. I've finally slipped out of the house, why not take the opportunity to take a good look at Jianghu." Liang Yiyue tugged at her clothes in disapproval, and picked up the simple bag, which contained a specially made short sword.
Jiang Jingyu sighed helplessly, "I..."
"Good sister can't say no!" Liang Yiyue sealed off her proposal. Woowoowoo, she was very busy... She really didn't have time to accompany her sister to travel around Jianghu!
—
"It's confirmed, they have gone east."
"That direction should be Shahe City."
"Are you really not going to chase them?"
"Didn't the Eldest Sister say it already? She's just complaining about us kicking them out of the Brother's League."
"It's good to let her express her anger. Maybe if she hits a nail on this trip, she will learn to be good."
"But little Jingyu is very innocent."
"Jingyu's martial arts are not weak, it'll be okay with her around."
"Three months. Give her three months to run loose. Qi Yang, keep an eye on them with Qing He's men."
"Understood. Then... does the Sister's League still exist?"
"Is there a difference in its existence or not?"
"I want to borrow Eldest Sister...."
"I also want to borrow Zhen Er...."
"What's the matter? The Siste's League doesn't stipulate that all members can't be loaned out." Liang Yiyue never imagined that they would still have a backup.
"So......"
"Eldest Sister and Xuezhen are still members of the Brotherhood!" This sentence was almost unanimous.
The two little girls who thought they had escaped with ease, only after a long time did they realize that the so-called Sister's League was only the two of them. However, to say they were traveling around Jianghu, it only can be considered a cover.
—
"I said it before! To let the two of them wander Jianghu, and there's no guarantee they would want to go home." Three months later, the Brother's League met again. Not for anything else, just for the two little girls who sneaked out the door to Jianghu, and so far there is no sign of wanting to go home.
"Qiyang, what news do you have?" Jiang Huai'an frowned and looked at Si Qiyang with squinting eyes. Now that the eldest sister was busy acting as an imperial escort, the responsibility for the guardianship of the two little girls had fallen on the "Guangci House".
"Twenty days ago, they were in Fengcheng. Ten days ago, they were in Shuiyue City, and three days ago, they arrived at the Imperial Capital. Now... I'm not sure. During this period, they began to spread the name of the Sister's League, and many people from Jianghu were aware of the emergence of the new organization." Si Qiyang spread his palms helplessly.
Guangci House were all over the five continents and ten countries. In order to protect the two little girls, half of the people were dispatched to wander in the streets and alleys. Occasionally, they have to help these two nice girls to deal with the aftermath.
"What did the letter from Jing Yu say?" Liang Xuri sighed and asked Jiang Huaian instead. Fortunately, Jingyu was there, and she knew that he would pass a letter to them every other month.
"Yiyue still wants to continue to go north. She will probably enter the Blood Union." Jiang Huaian frowned and sighed. Although Blood Union was the territory of Xueyuan, it does not mean that all the people of Blood Union were familiar with them.
"Inform Xueyuan and ask him to send some guards down to protect them along the way." Lin Xiao said in a deep voice after being silent for a long time.
"But..." Liang Xuri twitched the corners of his mouth. According to his father's wishes, it would be better to let that girl touch the nails. If the guards were continuously protecting them, what nails were there for them to touch? If not done well, that girl, Yiyue, would think they were lucky because of their good character. As a result, they might even be more reluctant to stop traveling.
"I'll go and bring them back." Jian Xing said slowly. Both of them are sisters to him. Although he was not good at words, it doesn't mean that he does not care about them.
"That's fine, too. Be careful along the way. If there are any changes, remember to notify Guangci House or Xueyuan." Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.
And so, the Brother's League started the operation to catch their sisters...