Chapter 302: Chapter 294: Second Brother
After Xie Jue mentioned having a hidden ailment, the banquet fell silent for a moment. He stood up, toasted the generals with a cup, and then left. The veteran generals watched the tall and graceful figure of the Second Young Master Xie Jue as he walked away, and they couldn’t help but glance toward a particular spot.
The man casually spoke of his hidden ailment, so calm and composed—truly a Second Young Master, fearless and indifferent. Was there really nothing left in this world that he cared about?
The awkward silence left by Xie Jue was soon warmed back by Xie Xun. None of the generals could best him in drinking, even with rounds of challenges. He drank one after another under the table. This Mid-Autumn banquet was organized with a clear understanding—there were no songs or dances, making it feel more like an ordinary family feast. People drank freely, ate large chunks of meat, and after a few rounds, the atmosphere became quite lively.
Supported by some liquid courage, General Cui asked boldly, "Prince, does the Second Young Master truly... have ailments?"
Xie Xun replied, "...Perhaps he got injured during the Beiman campaign."
He couldn’t undermine his Second Brother and even had to find him an excuse.
"Beiman really is brutal!"
Xie Xun: "..."
I don’t think that’s what I meant!!!
General Zhou, possibly drunk, shed tears and lamented the Marquis Zhenbei’s name. Then, with heartfelt sincerity, he turned to Xie Xun and said, "The burden of carrying on the bloodline falls to you, Prince. Within a year, marry the Third Miss, and then have two kids in another year."
Xie Xun, expressionless, thought to himself, "Completely drunk."
As the wine flowed further, people began to ramble and spout nonsense as expected. Xie Xun had an unusual constitution that seemed immune to inebriation—he could drink endlessly without falling drunk, and even if he felt a little tipsy, the cool wind would soon dispel it. After the banquet dispersed and it was nearing midnight, he asked Feiying, "Where’s my Second Brother?"
"The Second Young Master seems to have gone mountain climbing."
Xie Xun frowned slightly. The first year he spent Mid-Autumn in the army, the border was at peace, and the holiday atmosphere in Ningzhou City was vibrant. It’s also when Feng Shu delivered provisions to Ningzhou, and Xie Zhang had gone to Ningzhou City to celebrate Mid-Autumn with her. The Marquis had to celebrate with a bunch of military veterans, and the 14-year-old young marquis, rebellious and wild, didn’t want to play along with the elder generals. Since his elder brother wasn’t around, he went searching for his Second Brother, but despite scouring the entire camp, Xie Jue was nowhere to be found.
He thought that Xie Jue had also gone to Ningzhou City to have fun, so he happily went looking for him, searching the entire night, only to hear later that Xie Jue and Fang Chuning had gone mountain climbing.
"Second Brother, from now on for Mid-Autumn, I’ll climb mountains with you. I like climbing too."
"Alright!"
His Second Brother had promised to climb mountains with him on Mid-Autumn but never once fulfilled it. Truly a liar!!
The tallest mountain in Ningzhou lies to the north of the city. It’s called Lianhua Peak, a cluster of peaks. The summit features naturally formed rocks resembling a lotus flower from afar, hence the name. Lianhua Peak faced the distant Sha Ling Tian Mountain, and from its summit, one could see Beiman’s strategic town, Qianling Town. It was agreed that Yanyang would build a fortress town at the forefront of Qianling Town.
After escorting Princess Huazhen for marriage, Prince Kang returned to the Capital City, and now he was held captive in Ningzhou City. The Beiman had not yet received news of the Yanyang mutiny. General Cui searched every corner of Ningzhou City and eventually discovered an underwater passageway through the moat. Once it was completely sealed off, they laid a trap to capture lingering Beiman in Ningzhou.
The Beiman Royal Court had yet to hear any news from within Yanyang. A few days ago, they sent a message that 30,000 units of red sand ore would be delivered to the battlefield after Mid-Autumn. Xie Xun personally planned to manage the handover. Though Yanyang had promised to construct a trade town, after consulting with Xie Jue, Xie Xun decided to uphold the commitment. Building a town would take two years at best, five years at most, but Xie Xun planned to stall it as long as possible. Except for the areas designated for the town, entry and exit to the northern city were strictly prohibited. The Beiman Royal Court, while focusing on domestic recovery and production, now paid much less attention to Yanyang compared to wartime.
Xie Xun rode up the mountain. Upon reaching the summit, he saw Xie Jue’s shadow guards.
"Where’s my Second Brother?"
"The master has fallen asleep!"
Xie Jue leaned against a rock, fast asleep, with a wine flask clutched in his hand.
The black flask, translucent as jade, contrasted with his pale, dry, and steady hand.
In the warm August heat, Xie Jue was wrapped in a cloak. His complexion was pallid. His thick, straight eyelashes rested quietly on his eyelids like delicate fans, casting a faint shadow. Xie Xun tilted his head to look at the sky. The full moon hid behind the clouds, with fragments of light suddenly piercing through. Dawn was near!
Xie Xun brushed his robes and sat next to Xie Jue. On this Mid-Autumn night, a festival often marked by long, sleepless aches of longing, nostalgia became a tumor embedded into the marrow of their bones, silently throbbing with pain.
"Elder Brother!" Xie Jue suddenly twitched as if caught in a dream, shouting "Elder Brother." The wine flask slipped from his fingers and tumbled over the edge of the cliff. Xie Xun leaned forward, attempting to steady him, but Xie Jue, too drunk, remained locked in a deep slumber.
The nightmare seemed to pass lightly but stirred a storm within Xie Xun’s heart, dragging him back to the rainy night in the Capital City when Xie Zhang was pierced by countless arrows.
That night, he had spat harsh words at his Second Brother.
His Second Brother had said, "You are not the only one who lost family."
The massacre had planted itself within their hearts, nurturing poisonous dreams that refused to fade, entwining endlessly—painful but paradoxically sweet.
From now on, during Mid-Autumn, they could only reunite with their family in fleeting dreams.
"Anning..." Xie Jue suddenly gasped, calling out Fang Chuning’s name as if startled awake by a bloody dream, his body lunging forward instinctively. Xie Xun grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Second Brother!"
With a splitting headache, Xie Jue looked pale, unsure if it was due to the hangover or the dream. Xie Xun asked, "Second Brother, what did you dream of?"
"I dreamed of that night back in the Capital City, facing off against Fang Chuning across the battlefield..." Xie Jue paused. "I drove a sword straight through his chest."
Xie Xun hadn’t expected his Second Brother to answer. Xie Jue rarely shared personal thoughts, not even with their elder brother. The fact that he spoke of his dream was surprising and explained his visible panic.
"You wouldn’t be able to beat him!" Xie Xun consoled, "Don’t worry, it’s impossible."
Xie Jue frowned, giving Xie Xun a subtle yet unreadable look, unsure if he was being comforted or mocked.
Frustrated, he pinched his brow. Revisiting old places always brought back memories of old faces. The endless night felt suffocating—suffocating to despair.
"Second Brother, the sun is rising!"
Xie Jue followed Xie Xun’s gaze and saw a round crimson sun leap out from behind the mountains.
The human world’s fleeting warmth danced in the light, while love and hatred drowned in the dark of night.
It wasn’t the first time Xie Jue had watched the sunrise from this spot. In past years, Fang Chuning had been by his side. The Mid-Autumn festival gave their troops time to rest, allowing them a rare carefree moment to lie on the mountains, pillow their heads on the vast landscape, admire the moon, and watch the sunrise—carefree and joyful.
Those days would never come again.
"Next Mid-Autumn, let’s climb this mountain together," Xie Xun said.
"Alright!"
Xie Xun, satisfied, didn’t ask who appeared in Xie Jue’s dreams or what he dreamt of. After watching the sunrise, the two descended the mountain together. Inevitably, Xie Xun brought up defenses for Zhongzhou.
"What is the Grand Marshal’s intent? Assigning Fang Chuning to guard Zhongzhou—does he plan to move against us?" Xie Xun asked. After Fang Chuning took post, he spent days in Salt City, yet Zhongzhou showed no signs of mobilization.
"You’re worried you can’t beat him?"
"What kind of joke is this? If I act, Zhongzhou will crumble instantly."
Xie Jue couldn’t hold back a laugh. "Stop boasting."
"Second Brother, do you think I can’t beat him?" Xie Xun asked, clearly displeased, feeling his Second Brother always favored Fang Chuning.
"With me by your side, you could beat anyone!"
Xie Xun inexplicably felt reassured. Xie Jue continued, "The Third Miss wrote the other day, saying that the situation in the West Continent is stabilizing. Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin should return soon. Tell them to focus on repairing Liangma Road, and finish it before winter."
"Got it!"
Xie Xun, now responsible for city defense, training soldiers, and overseeing the construction of Liangma Road, was reminded of Xie Jue’s earlier remarks at the banquet. His Second Brother had never shown interest in women, so could it be...? Xie Xun wasn’t one to hold back. "Second Brother, do you really have an ailment?"
Xie Jue paused momentarily, his deep gaze locked on Xie Xun.
Xie Xun felt a chill under his Second Brother’s cold and detached eyes. With a deep breath, Xie Jue earnestly patted him on the shoulder and said, "Yes. Continuing the family line rests on you."
Xie Xun: "..."