Chapter Ten: The Ji Brothers

Lian Sheng walked over slowly, her gaze hostile as she looked at him.

"Young master!" Mo Cai, clutching his swollen face, hurried over in small steps.

Mo Cheng, following behind Lian Sheng, was in a similar state. But the most pitiful was Ji Yuzhe, whose face was mottled with blue and purple bruises.

Yu Hualiang was puzzled—could it be that the three of them had just fought?

Chang Zihao, seeing that it was Lian Sheng, remained defiant, his face full of arrogant confidence. "So, it’s Second Brother after all. Who would have thought the Palace’s Second Brother would attend the Plum Blossom Festival? Truly, this humble plum grove is honored by your presence."

Chang Zihao spoke with a mocking tone, while Mu Qi beside him was much more reserved, not daring to say much before Lian Sheng.

Lian Sheng’s expression darkened. "Third Brother, you flatter me. My official rank in the palace is insignificant. If I had your leisure, I might have already mastered the art of painting..."

"Long achieved... But alas, my rank remains humble," Lian Sheng said, each word striking harder as he watched Chang Zihao’s face grow pale.

Chang Zihao had called him idle, and Lian Sheng wasn’t pleased. Yu Hualiang knew Lian Sheng’s tongue was sharp, but hadn’t expected every word to hit where it hurt.

Chang Zihao belonged to the Chang family of the capital, son of a great merchant, wealthy enough to rival nations, but always lacking power, forced to rely on influential officials.

Half of the Chang family’s fortune was spent on securing connections. Chang Zihao was the third son; the first followed their father into business, the second bought a small official post.

Chang Zihao was neither talented in business nor interested in officialdom, so Old Master Chang simply let him follow his own path and apprentice under Yu Ming to learn the art of ink.

At that time, Yu Hualiang had already abandoned his brush, idle and unstudious, whom Chang Zihao most despised. Lian Sheng seemed born at odds with him, never showing him a pleasant face.

Moreover, Yu Ming was especially fond of Lian Sheng, recommending him for a palace post, yet never mentioning Chang Zihao’s name.

In the end, Chang Zihao only occasionally helped with painting in the palace.

His eyes grew cold. "Second Brother, you truly have a sharp tongue. But today’s matter is between me and First Brother. I advise you not to meddle."

Mo Cheng, seeing him speak to Lian Sheng in this manner, rolled up his sleeves ready to argue, but Lian Sheng stopped him with a smile. "I have other business, so I won’t linger here any longer."

Yu Hualiang looked at Chang Zihao and sneered, "Third Brother, we’ll meet at the pavilion later."

Plum blossoms drifted down the stone steps as Yu Hualiang followed Lian Sheng, saying nothing.

Ji Yuzhe, unable to restrain himself, leaned closer to Yu Hualiang and whispered, "Brother Yu, I heard you couldn’t paint before... How did you get through those days?"

It was clearly a pointless question, just an attempt to make conversation. Yu Hualiang sighed, "It was a long and decaying history."

Lian Sheng interjected, unable to listen any longer. "Tch, how else? Every day was either chasing beauties or drinking oneself into a stupor, coming to me in drunken madness."

Hm? Yu Hualiang hadn’t known this before—the original Yu Hualiang would go to Lian Sheng to act drunk.

Yu Hualiang felt awkward. "Uh... I’ll quit drinking from now on."

Lian Sheng glanced back at him, his gaze ambiguous, then turned forward again, looking toward the carriage road. "Brother, you needn’t see me off. We’ll talk again at your residence later."

Wait, he’s coming to the Yu family today! I’d better tidy up a room for him!

Yu Hualiang nodded. After seeing Lian Sheng off, he followed Ji Yuzhe toward the pavilion where he’d arranged to meet Chang Zihao.

The sunlight had grown cooler, and Yu Hualiang felt a chill. He warmed his hands against his cheeks, then noticed Ji Yuzhe holding a small black ceramic bottle. Seeing him grip it tightly, it must be an ancient hand warmer!

This guy is clever! Yu Hualiang sidled over. "Brother, let me use it."

Ji Yuzhe looked down, hesitated, then handed him the bottle. Yu Hualiang took it happily, only to find it was cold.

And filled with water... What’s this, a water warmer relying on body heat?

"Not warm?" Yu Hualiang muttered.

Ji Yuzhe snatched the bottle back. "Brother Yu, what are you thinking? This is my medicine."

"Huh?" Yu Hualiang was shocked. Ji Yuzhe looked perfectly healthy—could it be some kind of tonic?

Yu Hualiang put on a lewd, knowing smile. "Ah, a man’s medicine!"

Ji Yuzhe laughed, "Brother Yu, what are you thinking! This is for my heart condition."

Page (1/3)

Heart condition? Yu Hualiang realized “condition” meant illness, so it was heart disease...

As soon as Ji Yuzhe finished speaking, Yu Hualiang’s smile vanished. Even in the modern era, heart disease is hard to cure.

Let alone in ancient times, with limited medical care—there’s almost no hope! Who knows how long he’ll live?

Yu Hualiang, his face sorrowful, asked, "How long?"

"Since childhood," Ji Yuzhe replied quietly.

"Ah... then—"

Ji Yuzhe interrupted with a smile, "No need to worry, Brother Yu. You see, I’ve made it ten, twenty years. Surely this illness has healed on its own."

Congenital heart disease... Impossible to heal on its own. But seeing Ji Yuzhe’s optimism, Yu Hualiang felt reassured; Ji Yuzhe was a good friend.

Yu Hualiang patted his shoulder, laughing, "Ha, you look plenty healthy to me!"

"Brother Yu, let’s go. I’m eager to see your legendary painting!"

"Ha, it doesn’t exist."

"Huh?"

Ji Yuzhe was bewildered, then suddenly shuddered and stopped walking.

Yu Hualiang was puzzled. "Brother, what’s wrong?"

"Brother Yu, don’t you feel a chill behind you?"

"Brother!"

No sooner had Ji Yuzhe spoken than a cold, commanding voice sounded from behind.

Yu Hualiang turned with difficulty, and saw, beneath the plum tree, a handsome, spirited young man.

Tall, dressed in black, his long hair tied, features refined yet still somewhat boyish—Yu Hualiang guessed he was seventeen or eighteen.

Ji Yuzhe turned, embarrassed. "Yuyun, why are you here?"

"Why did Brother sneak out again?" Ji Yuyun strode forward and seized his wrist.

Yu Hualiang felt as though it were a mother calling her child home for dinner, who refused, so she came storming out to fetch him.

Although Ji Yuzhe was older, he was a head shorter than Ji Yuyun, looking like a chick caught by its mother.

"Brother, how did you get those injuries?" Ji Yuyun’s gaze swept over Yu Hualiang like a steel blade.

Yu Hualiang wore a look of innocence; Mo Cai hung his head, not daring to speak.

Ji Yuzhe shook off his grip. "Ah, I fell. The road was slippery."

His gaze softened as he looked at his worrying brother and sighed, "Brother, in the future, if you go out, at least tell Mother and Father. I’ll go with you, so no one worries."

"No need. Last time you went out, wasn’t it because someone was fighting? I’m worried enough for you!"

Yu Hualiang couldn’t help but laugh at the brothers. Ji Yuyun’s gaze turned icy, fixing on him and making his skin crawl.

Knowing his place, Yu Hualiang quickly retreated a few steps. "I won’t disturb you brothers. I’ll go ahead!"

Ji Yuzhe called after him, reluctant, "Hey! Brother Yu, wait for me!"

"Brother, where are you going now?" Ji Yuyun looked at him with plaintive eyes.

Ji Yuzhe raised his head, placed both hands on his brother’s shoulders. "Yuyun! I have but one request in this life! There’s a contest at the pavilion—I must see it."

"Sigh..." Ji Yuyun sighed. "Brother, every time you ask me, it’s always this request."

Ji Yuzhe grinned foolishly, dragging him along. "Come on, come on, next time I’ll definitely bring you!"

The Yu family’s painting competition was well-known in the capital. Those who attended had some understanding of it, and all knew the eldest Yu son was idle and unstudious.

They also knew Chang Zihao and Yu Hualiang did not get along, and were eager to see Yu Hualiang shine at the painting competition.

Page (2/3)

The curious crowd packed the small pavilion tightly.

Yu Hualiang called out, "What’s all this? Are things being given away for free up ahead?"

Mo Cai peeked around. "Most likely, they’re here for the young master."

"The eldest Yu son is challenging the third Chang son?"

"I was there at noon—they’d fight even if there weren’t so many people!"

"That serious? I heard the Yu family’s painting competition made the eldest Yu son seem like a different person."

"Ah! Qing Yi was there that day." As he pointed, Yu Hualiang’s gaze settled on the slender figure in yellow ahead.

Delighted, Yu Hualiang squeezed into the crowd and tapped him on the shoulder. "Long time no see, Wang Ji!"

Wang Ji turned, startled to see him, and moved aside. "Greetings, Young Master Yu."

"No need for formality. I’ll need to learn much from you in the future!"

Wang Ji turned pale with fright. "I wouldn’t dare!"

"You left early that day. Why not come to my house for a chat today?" Yu Hualiang looked at him expectantly.

Wang Ji trembled all over and refused quickly, "Thank you for the invitation, Young Master Yu, but Qing Yi really isn’t convenient."

The others chuckled, and Yu Hualiang understood—perhaps Wang Ji thought he was... that way, and deliberately kept his distance. Yu Hualiang felt uncomfortable.

He felt the need to clarify, "Actually, I really am not... of that inclination."

Wang Ji’s expression turned incredulous, as if to say, "Are you kidding me?"

Someone tugged at Yu Hualiang’s sleeve and asked, "Young Master Yu, what scenery do you plan to paint?"

What scenery? They must mean what subject he would paint. Yu Hualiang pondered—it was a scene that lingered in his mind.

He teased, "You’ll see soon enough."

The man scoffed at his mysteriousness. After waiting awhile, Chang Zihao and Mu Qi arrived, the outcome yet unknown, but Chang Zihao put on the air of a victor.

Yu Hualiang sneered—it was time he learned what it meant to be humiliated!

"Brother, you’re early," Chang Zihao said, polite in public.

"Enough with the chatter, I have things to do. Let’s begin."

Chang Zihao ignored him and went straight to the stone table, commanding, "Mu Qi, prepare the brushes and ink."

"Wait!"

Yu Hualiang eyed him coldly; Chang Zihao did likewise. "Brother, you really are troublesome."

"Why do you get the stone table?" Yu Hualiang protested. He wasn’t usually petty, but this man was too presumptuous.

"Exactly! If both are painting, why does he get the stone table? What about Brother Yu?"

In the crowd, Yu Hualiang caught sight of the distinguished Ji Yuyun, and Ji Yuzhe pushing through.

His brother looked like a bodyguard—stern and unapproachable, no one dared provoke him.

Yu Hualiang smiled at him, then turned to Chang Zihao.

Chang Zihao, realizing he was in the wrong, softened his tone. "Brother, how should we decide?"

"Rock-paper-scissors. Winner uses the table first!"

Page (3/3)