Zhou Lin was very familiar with this flute piece. He sat up and listened carefully, becoming more and more excited as he listened.

Wang Shuyi was already asleep, so Zhou Lin didn't disturb her. He quietly got out of bed, put on a coat, and went out.

Zhou Lin originally intended to leave through the door, but for some reason, he suddenly changed direction and quietly climbed out the window.

Following the sound of the flute, Zhou Lin left the Prince's Mansion and arrived at a secluded courtyard in a small alley behind the mansion.

The door was ajar. Zhou Lin reached out and pushed it open, and the flute music stopped abruptly. A young man stood under the eaves, and their eyes met.

Zhou Lin trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Is this... his younger brother Zhou Chen?

Many years have passed, and Zhou Lin has long forgotten what his younger brother looks like in that faraway southern country. But how familiar his eyebrows and features are! They bear the shadow of Zhou Lin himself, as well as the shadow of their mother.

"Ah Chen, how could it be you?"

Zhou Lin's memory was still stuck on that afternoon when Zhou Chen rushed to him crying and vehemently accused the Empress and the Crown Prince, which angered him so much that he kicked Zhou Chen to the ground.

Zhou Lin couldn't understand why Zhou Chen, who was also raised by the Empress, had grown up to be such a repulsive person. He beat and killed people, stole and lied, and even dared to smear the Empress, who was the mistress who raised him!

Unexpectedly, Zhou Chen was completely different after many years. He stood tall and elegant, his gaze was reserved, revealing no emotion and showing no sign of panic.

The composure in his eyes and brows suggests that he is a mature adult.

Zhou Lin felt a sense of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by another thought.

"Shouldn't you be in the Southern Kingdom? Why are you here? Do you know that a hostage's escape can trigger a war between two countries!"

"Our country is beset by internal troubles, and we absolutely cannot afford any further changes. What exactly are you doing here?"

A barrage of questions followed.

Zhou Chen's brows furrowed slightly, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face.

After not seeing each other for many years, the first thing he said wasn't concern, but accusation.

Sure enough, in his brother's eyes, he was just that despicable, only good at causing trouble and bringing humiliation to the country.

Zhou Chen looked at the flute in his hand and said softly, "This piece was taught to me when we first met. I was just old enough to understand things then, so naturally I couldn't learn to play it. But I always remembered you saying that it was taught to you by your mother. So when I grew up a little, I secretly practiced it for a long time with the sheet music, hoping to play it for you the next time we met."

"It's a pity that when we met again, it was under such circumstances. I haven't played this tune since then... I've become rusty, and I played it poorly. I hope I haven't offended your ears, brother."

As Zhou Lin listened to Zhou Chen's calm statement, his heart clenched with anxiety.

Zhou Chen gently raised his eyes and looked at Zhou Lin, "In my brother's heart, I must still be that fourteenth prince who does all sorts of evil, never learns from his mistakes, and brings shame to the royal family."

Zhou Lin felt a heavy weight in his heart; there seemed to be blame in Zhou Chen's words.

Zhou Lin and Zhou Chen are separated by only one courtyard, yet it seems as if a deep chasm lies between them.

The two stood, one under the eaves and the other by the door, neither daring to approach.

Zhou Lin took a deep breath. "Ah Chen, you didn't come here today to reminisce about the past, did you?"

If Zhou Chen appeared before Zhou Lin in a disheveled state, Zhou Lin might care, feel sorry for him, and ask him what had happened.

But Zhou Chen seemed to be doing very well, so the concern seemed superfluous.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Chen suddenly became excited, "That's right, I came here to reminisce about the past with you!"

Zhou Lin...

"Achen, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" Zhou Chen licked his slightly dry lips, suppressing a sob in his throat. "When I was six years old, the Crown Prince killed a maid. The Empress said I did it. I screamed to everyone that it wasn't me, but no one believed me. They just thought I was a naughty child full of lies. How could I know that the Empress had already spread rumors about how cruel and bloodthirsty I was, and how evil I was by nature?"

"More and more charges were inexplicably brought upon me, and I didn't know what was going on until I heard the Crown Prince arrogantly say that I could take the blame for him forever. Only then did I realize that I was nothing more than a tool to take the blame."

"I became silent, no longer arguing, no longer resisting, letting them hurl insults and bully me, even passing dogs would bark at me."

Zhou Chen's eyes reddened, filled with hatred and grievance.

Zhou Chen had never been so emotional when he told Su Jin these things, but facing Zhou Lin, his heart ached terribly!

“Even so, I did not give up. I thought that I still had a loving brother who often wrote to me, and every word was full of concern and longing for me. I thought that my brother was a great general, brave and extraordinary. If he came back, he would believe me and clear my name.”

"I waited for the person, but I didn't get trust. It turns out that you are not only my brother, but also the Crown Prince's brother and the Empress's son. You and I are not even in the same world."

"My existence is meaningless, I should go with my mother..."

Zhou Lin's hands trembled uncontrollably inside his large robe. He was dressed in thin clothes, and the cold wind made him feel like he couldn't stop shaking.

He didn't believe it, he didn't believe a single word Zhou Chen said!

His own younger brother, twelve years his junior, how could he not love him and not believe it! So back then, he abandoned everything and disregarded the emperor's orders, rushing back to the capital. But when he returned to the palace, everyone was spreading rumors about every crime Zhou Chen had committed. There were so many that the entire palace believed them. How could he not believe it!

If what Zhou Chen said is true, then what is he? Is he the last straw that broke that young heart?

"You say the Empress did all this, but do you have any evidence? The Empress treated my mother like a sister and me like her own son. I've received the same treatment as the Crown Prince since I was a child. How can I believe you when you say this?"

"Heh..." Zhou Chen chuckled lightly, "I just wanted to tell you that I didn't take that kick you gave me back then! As for whether you believe me or not, it doesn't matter to me anymore. I already have new family, and I don't need your belief."

As Zhou Lin watched Zhou Chen's eyes grow colder, a dull ache gripped his heart. He took a deep breath, sensing that something was amiss.

"You still haven't told me why you're here? How did you leave the Southern Kingdom's palace?" Zhou Lin couldn't ignore these crucial questions.

"Ah Chen." A clear, cold female voice came from inside the house. "It's cold outside, please come in and sit down, General."

Zhou Chen composed himself, gestured for Zhou Lin to proceed, and became utterly unfamiliar with him.

Zhou Lin frowned. It seemed that Zhou Chen's arrival here was orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.