Chapter 0: 50. The Emperor’s Will is Decided
I’ve messed up, something’s happened.
I absolutely cannot stay here tonight, otherwise, my status relative to my little brother could be reversed overnight, and the Marshal’s Mansion would be shamed. This is Xu Shuangshuang’s only thought at the moment.
“Um, little brother, second sister suddenly remembered something urgent, so I’ll be leaving tonight.” Xu Shuangshuang pushed Qin Gou’s chest with her hand, her pretty face flushed, and said in a flustered manner.
A smug smile played on Qin Gou’s lips as he spoke eloquently, “What? Didn’t second sister say earlier? Everyone in the Marshal’s Mansion knows your rules. On the first night back, you must sleep with your dearest third brother? Are you going to break the rule you’ve maintained for so many years?”
As he spoke, Qin Gou gently caressed the soft strands of hair by Xu Shuangshuang’s ear.
“No!”
Xu Shuangshuang was already jumpy, and she shivered, her shoulders trembling.
Qin Gou looked innocent. “What’s wrong? I was just touching second sister’s hair. Is that not allowed either? Second sister, are you that afraid of me?”
Xu Shuangshuang was so anxious she was about to cry, and quickly took two steps back. “Good third brother, second sister was wrong, alright? Please don’t scare me anymore.”
“Scare you? What are you talking about, second sister? Jin’er dotes on second sister, so how could he possibly scare you?” Qin Gou chuckled sinisterly. If he stopped threatening her now, all his efforts would be in vain. There’s no turning back once the arrow is loosed from the bow.
Unexpectedly, Xu Shuangshuang was also an oddity. She immediately clutched her lower abdomen, her face contorted, and cried out, “Oh dear, little brother, second sister’s stomach really hurts. I really can’t stay here any longer. Little brother, you should know what I mean, right?”
Qin Gou raised an eyebrow. “Your period?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Xu Shuangshuang nodded frantically.
“Then there’s no other way…” Qin Gou deliberately showed a look of deep regret, and stepped aside. “However, if second sister still wants to stay, Jin’er doesn’t mind. We can do nothing, just like before. Jin’er guarantees he won’t act out.”
“No, no need. What if I get your brother’s bed dirty then? Second sister would be overcome with shame!” Xu Shuangshuang acted as if she had received a pardon, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes. Clutching her stomach, she put on a sad face and hurried away.
Qin Gou was left alone in the room. He let out a long sigh and chuckled, “The little wench’s cultivation is still too shallow.”
However, this time, Xu Jin’s reputation was completely ruined. When they swapped their identities back, Qin Gou couldn’t even imagine the terrifying embarrassment Xu Jin himself would face… Nevertheless, for Qin Gou, this could be considered a good thing. After all, being shameless only happens the first time and then countless times. He could finally truly let loose as Xu Jin and immediately proceed with his next plan.
After closing the doors and windows, he wasted no more time. Qin Gou summoned the Spirit Tool, “Dream Person,” and entered a phantom dream, bringing Mu Man’er before him. He earnestly confided his series of plans to her.
What Qin Gou didn’t know was that all his actions were being watched from under a pair of eyes.
…
A few more days passed. To Qin Gou’s surprise, even after being thoroughly frightened by him, Xu Shuangshuang showed no intention of distancing herself. She still called him her “little brother” every day and liked to be close to him when she had nothing else to do. However, she never mentioned sleeping in the same bed again.
This greatly disappointed Qin Gou, who had hoped for a permanent solution.
“Second sister, is elder brother really that busy? By my calculations, how long has it been? Not only has he not returned personally, but not even a single servant has come to offer congratulations.” Qin Gou showed a hint of dissatisfaction.
Xu Shuangshuang helplessly smiled. “Little brother, I’ve told you so many times, elder brother is just that kind of person. He was very cold to me when we were together, and you, it seems, were never taken seriously by him.”
“But I, Xu Jin, am no longer the Xu Jin I once was. Even now, he still doesn’t notice me?” Qin Gou clenched his fist, his expression resolute.
Xu Shuangshuang seemed to recall something unpleasant from Qin Gou’s words. Her pretty face instantly flushed, and she glared at him irritably. “Perhaps in his heart, even if you no longer have the congenital crippled meridians, nothing would change.”
“Is that so?” Qin Gou smiled slightly, his eyes filled with determination, and said with a resolute tone, “Then I will prove it to him myself!”
As he spoke, Qin Gou’s aura rapidly ascended. Right before Xu Shuangshuang’s eyes, he leaped from the Artifact Forging Realm to the Hidden Weapon Realm.
“This… little brother, are you kidding me? Your cultivation…” Xu Shuangshuang covered her mouth, astonished. Her mind suddenly recalled the four words the Imperial Preceptor had spoken a few days ago after learning that Xu Jin had broken through to the Artifact Forging Realm in three days.
“Late bloomer.”
But this speed was truly terrifying. Flying on a sword wasn’t even this fast.
“Second sister, come with me to see parents.”
“Okay… but, little brother, what exactly are you planning to do?”
“The best way to prove myself is to compete with elder brother on the same stage.”
“Are you crazy?” Xu Shuangshuang screamed in disbelief. “How could you possibly be elder brother’s match? Little brother, did you talk nonsense in your sleep?”
Qin Gou smiled calmly, his eyes filled with sincere emotion, and his tone was sorrowful yet incredibly firm. “I know that I might be utterly defenseless against elder brother, but so what? I was crippled for twenty years, bedridden like dead wood. Back then, I swore with tears in my eyes that everyone must see me.”
“Xu Jin…” Xu Shuangshuang stopped in her tracks, gazing blankly at Qin Gou’s retreating figure. Her heart was in turmoil, and she even felt an urge to cry.
From his words, Xu Shuangshuang seemed to feel endless sorrow and hardship, and she felt increasingly ashamed. Perhaps her little brother’s abnormality that night was also due to this. He needed love so badly, so much that he even wanted to use such extreme methods, fearing that she, the woman who loved him most after their mother, might one day be snatched away by someone else without mercy.
“Second sister is truly too foolish. To think I didn’t realize how fragile you are until now.” Xu Shuangshuang sobbed silently.
Of course, if Qin Gou had seen this, he would have unhesitatingly slapped himself twice. Why did he have to try to be cool? His plan to completely alienate Xu Shuangshuang had now thoroughly failed.
“What? You also want to participate in the Marriage by Martial Contest for the Sword-bearing Princess?” Xu Chengfeng’s fierce, tiger-like eyes showed surprise, and he immediately declared, “No, I, your father, will not agree.”
On the side, Liu Fuyun nodded in agreement and said gently, “Jin’er, be good and give up this idea, after all… the Emperor’s will is decided.”
