Eighth Brother, Feng Xuanzhen, had grown up with me in the princes’ quarters. Compared with Eldest Brother, who was actually related to me by blood, he felt far more like a true brother.
I had heard that Eighth Brother’s mother was of humble birth, merely a palace maid serving before Father Emperor. She became pregnant after Father Emperor took her while drunk. Though bearing an imperial child might not have brought her riches and honor, it should at least have lifted her from servitude. Instead, she died in childbirth. And so, according to custom, the Eighth Prince, still an infant who had not even opened his eyes to see his own mother, was adopted and raised under the empress.
Eighth Brother was mischievous and had never given anyone peace. He was always getting into scrapes, falling, bruising himself, and causing trouble. Mother Empress never cared. Or rather, if even I, her own biological son, barely existed in her eyes compared with Eldest Brother, why would she waste her attention worrying about a son who belonged to her in name only? By a strange twist of fate, I became his guardian instead, following after him day after day, cleaning up his disasters and wiping his backside. At first, I only did it because I had no choice and could not shirk the responsibility. Looking back now, however, all these years of “brotherly affection” might someday save me a great deal of effort.
As our horses raced forward, there were still things I could see clearly and even guess at, yet could not understand. Second Brother’s position as Crown Prince could hardly be called entirely legitimate. Father Emperor had insisted on naming him heir simply because he favored Second Brother’s mother. Fortunately, Second Brother himself had proved capable. His learning and courage might not have been the finest among us, but both were excellent. If no one coveted the throne, then should he ascend one day, he might not expand the borders or make Hua dominate the four directions, but he would at least be a good emperor who brought peace and prosperity to his people. Unfortunately, Eldest Brother was fiercely ambitious and had Mother Empress behind him. So even though Second Brother currently occupied the position of Crown Prince, his footing was hardly secure. If he truly succeeded to the throne, the turmoil that followed would certainly not be small.
What puzzled me was what had happened at court these past few days. When Father Emperor brought up the western expedition, Eldest Brother and Second Brother both strongly recommended their own men to serve as deputy commander. The two factions were evenly matched at court. Second Brother had the Eastern Palace guards, but that was little better than having none at all, while Eldest Brother was hardly better off. The Minister of War was his man, but the Ministry of War possessed the title of military authority more than the thing itself. Neither faction truly controlled the troops. Naturally, military command had become ground both sides had to fight for. Father Emperor had always favored Second Brother, yet today, for some reason, he rejected Second Brother’s request outright. No matter how Second Brother tried to persuade him, Father Emperor seemed unwilling to listen. In the end, he even became impatient, decisively handed the assignment to Eighth Brother, who had only just come of age, and left court without looking back.
Eldest Brother was naturally delighted. At least on the surface, both Eighth Brother and I belonged to the legitimate eldest son’s faction. What surprised me instead was Second Brother. He showed neither shock nor resentment at Father Emperor’s decision, not even the slightest trace of displeasure, as though he had long grown accustomed to being overruled, long grown accustomed to being refused. Yet that realization only left me more confused, unable to see the truth beneath it.
“I hear Fifth Brother has recently acquired a new beauty and has been doting on him terribly. I thought the rumors must have been exaggerated, but now that I see you, perhaps they weren’t lying at all.” I had no idea when Eighth Brother had ridden up beside me. On horseback, he gave me a grin loaded with meaning. “Hmm, what was his name again?”
A beauty? There were honestly not many people in my memory worthy of that word. Or perhaps there were simply too many for me to choose among them. “If you’re interested, you can have him.”
Then, almost idly, I remembered the ink-smeared face I had unexpectedly seen when passing the library earlier, looking exactly like a little tabby cat. I had seen so many beauties that I was used to them and therefore quick to forget them. Even now, though I had considered that encounter breathtaking only a short while ago, I could no longer clearly remember his features. Only those eyes remained, clear and bright, utterly free of impurity, as though they had been carved directly into my heart and refused to fade.
I could not stop the corner of my mouth from lifting. To everyone else, it might have looked like my usual half-smile, but only I knew how much genuine interest it held, how much indulgence, and how much of a yearning I had once believed I would never possess in this life.
“Better not. As the saying goes, a gentleman does not steal another man’s beloved. How could I take someone Fifth Brother likes? Besides, when it comes to an interest in men, this younger brother truly has no talent for it. I’m afraid I could never appreciate the pleasure, never appreciate it.”
“Tsk, tsk. Look at that physique. What a waste.” Eighth Brother really was a strange one. Though he had no real connection to the throne, his status was still noble. What young nobleman kept himself as clean and abstinent as he did? Rather than a prince born amid luxury and indulgence, he would have seemed more at home as a monk meditating in a Buddhist hall. “Besides, you won’t know what it’s like until you try it yourself. It’s certainly no worse than soft jade and fragrant warmth. In some ways, it’s even more exciting.”
I could not resist teasing him and, as expected, watched embarrassment spread across his face. “Fifth Brother, stop making fun of me. I… I only just turned sixteen and left the palace to receive my princely title. Those kinds of things…”
“Oh? So you’re allowed to tease me, but I’m not allowed to tease you?”
Sometimes I did not know whether I should consider it fortunate or unfortunate. He was the only brother I truly acknowledged, yet even with him I had to remain cautious. There could be no mistakes on the road to the throne. Even if it were Eighth Brother, should he truly stand in my way one day, I knew I would not be softhearted.
But at least for now, he regarded me as his elder brother, and I regarded him as my younger brother. So long as he never changed that original intention, I would ensure that he enjoyed honor and rank for the rest of his life and lacked for nothing he desired.
“Father Emperor is sending you west with Marquis Dingbei, General Nalan. What do you intend to do?” Perhaps I had spent so many years speaking in circles that I no longer knew how to speak frankly, even with the brother I had chosen to trust. The question was a test, while my mind calculated one possible outcome after another.
“What else would I do? Fight bravely, kill the enemy, and pacify the western frontier.” He answered with the same careless cheerfulness as always, as though he had not noticed my purpose at all. Or perhaps he had understood it from the very beginning and merely pretended otherwise to put me at ease.
Eighth Brother had been troublesome since childhood and treated every tutor’s instruction as wind passing his ears. Poetry, prose, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he understood a little of everything and mastered almost none of it. Yet he took military law, strategy, weapons, and martial training with astonishing seriousness. Even when he came away battered and bruised from head to toe, he returned to it with endless enthusiasm.
“You are the only one among us brothers who was granted a princely title upon coming of age and immediately permitted to lead troops into battle. You may only be the deputy commander, but you should understand what Father Emperor expects of you.”
“Exactly because I understand, I have to perform well and live up to Father Emperor’s expectations…” For once I was taking the matter seriously, yet he still lounged there with his usual careless lack of formality.
“Exactly because you understand, you need to know when to stop!” I rebuked him in a low voice. Looking at Eighth Brother’s half-comprehending expression, I knew he did not understand what the name Marquis Dingbei truly represented. “Marquis Dingbei, Nalan Jian, has accumulated extraordinary military achievements and naturally has his own methods of commanding troops. All you need to do is follow him, learn, and watch carefully. Strategy on paper can only take you so far. You need real experience. Since Father Emperor chose you as his deputy, Father Emperor naturally has his own intentions. The bird that sticks its head out is the first to be shot. This is only your first campaign. Do not overreach in anything.”