Xiao Xizhi had never empathized with or faced such a shadow, so she utterly despised her brother's actions.
Although he was somewhat intimidated by Xiao Ji because of the massacre, he still dared to get close to him, so he asked whatever he wanted:
"Brother, everyone outside is saying that you and the princess are deeply in love and have a very good relationship. Is that true?"
Besides their mutual affection and good relationship, the people privately said that the God of Slaughter, Yama, and the wicked woman were a match made in heaven.
Xiao Xizhi was a gossip-loving person. Her family did business and had many contacts, so she knew and heard a lot of things.
But she would never dare to say these things aloud; she was alive and well and didn't want to die.
Xiao Ji: "It's not mutual affection."
Xiao Ji felt a headache coming on just thinking about the four big characters "reciprocity" pasted on the box. He put down his teacup.
Under Xiao Xi's curious yet hesitant gaze, he spoke up to clarify:
"I love the princess, but she has no feelings for me."
Xiao Xizhi: "Ah—??!"
Xiao Xi found it unbelievable; she had thought it was because her eldest cousin didn't like the princess.
The marriage to the princess was merely a product of the chaotic power struggles at court; now her elder brother was actually telling her this himself.
He is in love with the princess, but the princess has no feelings for him? No, Xiao Xi doesn't understand.
Big brother, Princess Xinyue, what's Princess Xinyue?
Princess Xinyue's fiery temper?
Does he still look down on people? Or does he resort to beating and killing his servants to vent his anger whenever he's unhappy?
Xiao Yanzhen was equally incredulous, but not as bewildered as Xiao Xizhi.
Men understand men better; he figured his older brother was attracted to the princess's beauty.
The princess was born with unparalleled beauty, and was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in Qingyan.
She was proficient in poetry, prose, horseback riding, and archery, excelling in none of these areas compared to other princesses and noble ladies. Although her words and actions were not particularly pleasing...
However, the eldest princess of a powerful dynasty is inherently noble and unapproachable, so it is understandable that she might be a little arrogant and rude.
Moreover, I've recently heard that the princess knows martial arts and is quite skilled.
Based on his superficial understanding of his elder brother's character, and considering his brother's status as a general who had fought on the battlefield for many years,
He wasn't surprised that his older brother would fall for such a beautiful, dazzling, and proud princess.
Although the things people said in private were unpleasant, they were right about one thing: the two were a perfect match.
Xiao Xi knew she was a woman, and women and men think differently, especially when it comes to emotions.
He was utterly bewildered and shocked that his elder brother liked the princess, yet dared not voice his opinion.
She didn't dare ask Xiao Ji what he liked about Shang Changge, so she could only ask about other things.
Xiao Xizhi: "Then, brother, why doesn't the princess like you? Is it because of what you did to the city?"
Xiao Xizhi felt there was only one reason: in her heart, her eldest brother was excellent in every way except for being scary.
Xiao Ji: "No."
This topic pleased Xiao Ji greatly; his previously furrowed brows relaxed as if melting snow, and his voice softened.
"She's not afraid of me."
Such a change is too obvious and made of no attempt to conceal it; it even carries a sense of ostentation.
Xiao Ji himself didn't think anything of it, but Xiao Yanzhen and Xiao Xizhi were stunned, holding their teacups and not knowing how to react.
Shock and disbelief were not enough to describe their feelings. In the end, it was Xiao Xizhi, who loved gossip, who came to her senses.
Then, after asking a series of questions, they learned that Xiao Ji had taken Shang Changge out to play and Shang Changge had returned the favor with a gift.
Then Xiao Xizhi began to offer advice to Xiao Ji, sharing her insights from reading storybooks over the years.
He wanted to do this and that, and he was practically writing a book of thirty-six love strategies for Xiao Ji to help his older cousin win over his wife.
Xiao Yanzhen sat to the side, sipping tea and listening. Although he already had a wife and children, he didn't utter a single word from beginning to end.
On the one hand, they feel that matters of the heart between men and women cannot be resolved by outsiders giving advice; on the other hand, they are afraid to do so.
Don't ask.
When asked, the answer is always the same: I dare not.
At 26, he relied on Xiao Jiarong, his parents, and his elder brother to succeed in business.
My eldest brother went to the battlefield to fight when he was 18. In just one year, he was promoted again and again, leading troops to wipe out this place and that place.
At the age of 20, he was appointed as the General Who Stabilizes the Nation. At the age of 22, he massacred a city, defeating it so badly that no invincible nation dares to offend Qingyan again.
Him? Him?
He even gave his elder brother advice! He even taught his elder brother?
Ha, ha, what right does he have?!
Xiao Yanzhen dared not, Xiao Xi knew not.
Xiao Yanzhen didn't think much of his younger sister, who was naive and ignorant of the world. What made him think something was wrong was that his older brother was listening very attentively.
Xiao Yanzhen swished his teacup, his mind racing.
It seems that this marriage is not just about court interests, princes vying for the throne, and officials taking sides; the eldest brother truly loves the eldest princess.
Xiao Yanzhen took another sip of tea, feeling much more relaxed and genuinely happy for Xiao Ji.
After all these years, finally someone has entered my brother's heart. That's wonderful.
My elder brother used to frequently go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and then personally order the massacre of a city. Over the years, he has been burdened with a bad reputation, and no one dares to truly get close to him.
He and his parents were always worried that if his older brother continued to live a solitary life for ten years, he would eventually break down.
Sunset came in the blink of an eye, at the Princess's residence.
Shang Changge had just returned from the training ground; the fight she had with Xiao Ji at the military camp had been a huge setback for her.
She needs to strengthen her daily exercise routine so that she won't embarrass herself like that next time.
Moreover, Xiao Ji is truly amazing; she has already made up her mind to use him as a sparring partner.
If I ever feel like I'm invincible again, I'll go to the Third Prince's residence and challenge Emperor Ying.
"Princess." It was Qingyao.
Shang Changge stopped in her tracks, and Qingyao, who was extremely fast with her light-footed skills, came over to report on what Shang Changge had asked her to inquire about.
With other maids present, Qingyao had them step back a short distance before speaking:
"Princess, as you predicted. Indeed, someone went to the Drunken Flower Pavilion to inquire about Manniang."
However, the person was in disguise, so it cannot be confirmed whether they were working for the Third Prince.
Shang Changge narrowed her eyes and instructed Qingyao to lead the retreating maids to the bath.
She went ahead, walking while recalling the things about Shang Rui that she found strange.
After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea,
Shang Changge, who was soaking in a large bath filled with flower petals and enjoying a massage from her maid, opened her eyes. Her face was still breathtakingly beautiful.
However, the expression on his face wasn't very pleasant, faintly revealing the contortions of someone suffering from constipation.
She suspected that Shang Rui was reborn, yes, the kind of rebirth found in revenge novels.
Of course, so far this is just her suspicion and speculation, and there is no concrete evidence.
After all, she can transmigrate into a book.
Why can't other people be reborn?
But she didn't quite understand; in other people's stories of rebirth, the protagonists always suffer immense hardship and are betrayed by their closest relatives.
Shang Rui is a protagonist in a wish-fulfillment novel, with the protagonist's halo and a smooth ride all the way. What's so special about him being reborn?
Is this reasonable? Shang Changge thought it was not.
Suddenly, Shang Changge had a flash of inspiration.
Thinking about how the author stopped writing halfway through the original book, a bold guess immediately came to mind:
Could it be that Shang Rui, without the protagonist's halo provided by the author, is forced to abdicate by his brothers or suffers the destruction of his country and family?
Then reborn.
Like other protagonists in rebirth novels, he vows to reclaim everything that belongs to him.
Shang Changge was amazed by her own idea; the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and the inner voice of hers began to grumble:
Is the male lead's halo really that strong? *******Bad luck!!
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