Chapter 13: Settling the Score Part 2

He gave a bitter laugh, the picture of a hero marching to his execution. “Fine, then. Since my brother and I have fallen into your hands, we may as well die together.”

Lu Yan: “…”

In that moment, he finally, faintly understood why Old Master Jiang had thrown Jiang Feng out of the house.

The man really did appear to be missing a few screws.

He was desperate to get back to his Wife, so he forced his patience. “I won’t kill you. On the strength of your being Jiang Sheng’s brother alone—on the strength of your caring for him—I won’t touch you. Things between me and Jiang Sheng are not what the rumors say… When he wakes, I’ll let the two of you talk.”

It was rare to hear anything so nearly sincere from the North-Guarding Prince’s mouth.

Jiang Feng paused, and finally quieted down.

But who could have known…

He waited. And waited. And waited…

He didn’t lay eyes on his brother until the third day.

When Cheng Jing led him over, Jiang Feng was nearly running.

In his imagination, his brother must have been ravaged beyond recognition, face streaked with tears, waiting for him pitifully.

But when he actually pushed the door open and walked in, reality was… somewhat different from his imaginings.

The North-Guarding Prince was sitting on a small stool beside the bed, holding a bowl of congee, lifting a spoonful to Jiang Sheng’s lips. Jiang Sheng’s little face was set in a sulk, clearly mid-tantrum, turning his head away and refusing to eat. Lu Yan coaxed him in soft, warm tones for a while before Jiang Sheng grudgingly opened his mouth and swallowed.

Then he looked up, saw Jiang Feng, and his eyes lit up. “Gege!” he cried, delighted.

Whatever memories this Jiang Feng did or didn’t have, the fact that he’d dared storm the North-Guarding Prince’s Manor to “rescue” him proved he was different from the rest of the Jiang Family.

He truly loved Jiang Sheng as a brother.

So this “Gege” was called with complete sincerity.

Jiang Feng’s eyes went hot. “Little brother… you’ve suffered.”

He staggered forward to throw himself at Jiang Sheng—and was intercepted halfway by Lu Yan. “Talking is fine. Don’t get that close.”

The words had barely landed when a pillow came flying. “I’m talking to my gege—none of your business! Get out!”

Jiang Sheng’s temper was enormous today. In truth, he’d been thoroughly worked over by Lu Yan the past two days, and this was a small-scale rebellion.

Lu Yan was happy to indulge him.

He coaxed in a low voice, “All right, I’m going. I’ll wait right outside. Call me when you’re done—and don’t talk too long, your throat hasn’t healed. The pear water is right by your hand; drink whenever it feels dry…”

“Ugh, you’re SO annoying.” Jiang Sheng waved him off impatiently. “Go, go, go!”

Jiang Feng stood rooted to the spot, jaw hanging, watching the North-Guarding Prince get “evicted” just like that.

Then Jiang Sheng beamed at him and patted the edge of the bed. “Gege, come sit.”

Jiang Feng took a moment to unfreeze before walking over.

He looked at Jiang Sheng, opened his mouth, and asked hesitantly, “You and the North-Guarding Prince… what exactly is going on?”

Jiang Sheng’s eyes curved into a smile. “Stop worrying about me. He’s never been unkind to me. You can see it yourself—in this manor, I’m the biggest. What I say goes. And besides, we’re mutually in love. I’ve liked the North-Guarding Prince for ages.”

Jiang Feng’s face went red with suppressed feeling.

He’d had a whole bellyful of things to say—but then his eyes landed on the very visible mark on his brother’s neck, clearly left by some dog’s suckling mouth.

The words went right back down his throat.

Never mind…

The little cabbage had already been rooted up by the pig.

Jiang Feng sighed and took his brother’s hand. “Don’t worry. Gege has some real power now. The moment you want to leave, Gege can take you away at any time.”

Jiang Sheng nodded hard. “Gege, you’re so amazing.”

“Oh, right—those subordinates of mine yesterday. Can you get Lu Yan to release them first?”

Jiang Sheng: “…”

Gege. Didn’t you say you had “some real power”?

The brothers chatted on delightedly. What could one say—certain things ran in the blood. The two of them were competitive even in bragging.

Jiang Feng claimed his influence spanned the whole realm, that at a single word of command, the imperial throne itself would be his.

Jiang Sheng’s eyes shone. “That’s wonderful, Gege! Then give the order! My Husband… Lu Yan wants to be Emperor.”

Jiang Feng: “…”

He scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. “Ha, ha. That’s… not appropriate, is it? Usurping the throne would shame the family name.”

“There IS no family, Gege. It’s just the two of us left.”

What a sentence from the depths of hell.

Jiang Feng’s laughter cut off abruptly.

He and Jiang Sheng stared at each other.

Jiang Sheng puffed his chest and bragged right back—that at home, if he said one, Lu Yan wouldn’t dare say two; that Lu Yan obeyed his every word!

Jiang Feng slapped Jiang Sheng’s thigh in delight. “Awesome, little bro!”

Jiang Sheng’s face twisted slightly.

Leg… hurts…

Lu Yan had bent his legs every which way and gnawed on them two days ago. A bit cramped.

The two of them flattered each other shamelessly—birds of a feather… fragrant feather, rather—and were soon so chummy they nearly fused into one.

Lu Yan had been pacing outside the door for ages. Finally losing patience, he pushed the door open and came in. Watching the two of them holding forth, he couldn’t help asking, “What’s so interesting? You’re both so happy.”

He walked over, ruffled Jiang Sheng’s hair, and held a cup of water to his lips. “Baby, drink some water.”

Watching Lu Yan wait on his brother hand and foot, Jiang Feng nodded in satisfaction and called out grandly, “Say, Little Lu. Go pour Brother a cup of water too. All this talking has dried my throat.”

The room went silent for an instant.

Lu Yan nearly thought he’d hallucinated. He stared at Jiang Feng with something close to disbelief. Beside him, Jiang Sheng was equally stunned, blinking furiously at Jiang Feng—squeezing his eyes nearly into spasms.

Jiang Feng tilted his chin up, the picture of loftiness.

His little brother was the boss. Which made him the boss’s gege.

After a long moment, Lu Yan smiled faintly, turned, and actually poured a cup of water. Jiang Feng smirked smugly and accepted it—took one sip and hurled the cup away. “Hot hot HOT…”

Lu Yan gave a cold snort. But then, quickly, he turned once more, poured a fresh cup of tea, and offered it to Jiang Feng again—this time with genuine gravity. “Gege. Have some tea.”

Jiang Feng froze.

He’d assumed Lu Yan was messing with him again, but the man’s expression seemed sincere. In the end, he accepted it.

This time, it was a normal cup of tea.

“Thank you for coming to Shengsheng’s and my wedding yesterday.” Lu Yan said. “Rest assured—I will be good to him. I swear it on my life: this life and the next, I will love him and protect him.”

Jiang Sheng sat to the side, a little dazed—then suddenly remembered with a jolt that at his and Lu Yan’s wedding in the modern world, Lu Yan really had said almost exactly this to Jiang Feng, with the same gravity.

A promise. A guarantee.

Jiang Feng was silent a moment, then nodded. “You’d best keep your word. My power is lesser than yours now. But remember this—if you ever dare bully my brother, I’ll spend this life dragging you down with me.”

Lu Yan nodded. “That day will never come.”

The two locked eyes, undercurrents churning.

Suddenly, Jiang Sheng patted the bed. “Okay, okay! Shake hands, and that means you’ve made up!”

And just like that, Kitty interrupted the spellcasting.

The two men turned their heads away in perfect unison and resumed separate conversations.

Lu Yan asked Jiang Sheng if he was hungry and had the kitchen prepare his favorite dishes.

Jiang Feng wandered aimlessly around the room—people get very busy-looking when they’re awkward.

Jiang Sheng glanced at Jiang Feng and tilted his head. “How about the three of us eat together!”

Then, deciding this was actually a splendid idea, he nodded hard. “Yes! One family—we should always eat together.”

When Jiang Sheng spoke, Lu Yan never refused. Soon a table was laid in the front hall, and the three of them sat down to the meal in a state of bizarre harmony.

Jiang Sheng made a point of keeping the atmosphere lively, chattering away—until he very quickly had no breath left for talking.

The two men competed, heaping food into Jiang Sheng’s bowl.

One picked fish bones; the other peeled shrimp.

As though falling behind by a single step meant losing.

Jiang Sheng’s rice bowl stacked up like a small mountain.

Forget talking—he didn’t even have time to lift his head, just buried his face in the food, cheeks stuffed full.

One meal later, the world where only the Kitty suffered was achieved.

Jiang Sheng, belly round, was supported back to their rooms by Lu Yan.

Burp.

By the customs of Great Gan, newlyweds were entitled to five days’ leave. Lu Yan didn’t step out the door once, spending every day at home with Jiang Sheng.

Which drove Jiang Sheng half mad with boredom. Restless by nature, he itched to be out playing every single day.

Fortunately, Jiang Feng now lived at the manor too, and the two of them could always sneak off and whisper together whenever Lu Yan was out.

Jiang Feng told Jiang Sheng stories of all the strange customs and far-off places he’d seen in his years of wandering, and Jiang Sheng’s eyes shone so brightly he seemed ready to shoulder a little bundle and leave the next morning.

The day Lu Yan finally returned to court, the man had barely walked out the front gate before Jiang Feng came sneaking over. “Little brother. Today, Gege is taking you somewhere fun.”

Jiang Sheng’s face lit up. “Where?”

“The Male Brothel.”

Jiang Feng waggled his eyebrows. “Don’t you like men? In there—every style, everything you could want. Dancing, pipa-playing, those boys can do it all.”

Jiang Sheng: “…”

If this had been before, he’d have gone skipping off without a second thought.

But he’d been thoroughly dealt with by Lu Yan just days ago, and he was feeling a bit gun-shy now.

Jiang Sheng huffed. “That’s… not really appropriate. I’m a married man now.”

“So what! We’re just LOOKING. We’re not doing anything!”

Jiang Feng clapped him on the shoulder. “Besides, you’re the boss at home. What are you afraid of him for?”

Jiang Sheng: “…” This is why you shouldn’t brag, people.

Things had gone too far to back out now. A man has to have his pride!

Gritting his teeth, Jiang Sheng followed Jiang Feng out the door. Cheng Jing made to come along, but Jiang Feng waved a grand hand. “What are YOU coming for? I’m taking your Master out for fun. How inconvenient, you tagging along.”

Jiang Sheng was dumbstruck.

He yanked frantically at Jiang Feng’s sleeve. “What are you SAYING… you’re supposed to sneak! Lower your voice! Is this something to be proud of?!”

Cheng Jing had turned to stone.

He looked at Jiang Feng in disbelief, then at Jiang Sheng beside him, lips trembling—and could not produce a single word.

Watching the carriage pull away, Cheng Jing spun on his heel and bolted. “Quick—saddle a horse! I’m going to the palace for His Highness!”

Meanwhile, in the carriage, Jiang Feng was still in high spirits, expounding on the specialties of the Capital’s newest Male Brothel and which top courtesan was the most beautiful.

Across from him, Jiang Sheng’s face was ashen. He reached back and felt around.

Jiang Feng said, “What’s wrong, little bro? Sitting uncomfortably? Take my cushion.”

Jiang Sheng closed his eyes.

“You don’t understand. I’m saying goodbye to it.”

Goodbye, bottom. Tonight I set sail~