Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 131 Brothers

Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Brothers

Zhang Boxin rolled his eyes, envious of Zhou Liyu’s carefree nature.

Lin Xiao surfaced from the water, "Do you think there are Beiman people at the ranch?"

"The Forbidden Army turned the place upside down and didn’t find any Beiman people. Besides, how could Beiman people appear in the Capital City?" Zhou Liyu said. "Not to mention how they’d even get through the checkpoints—what would they come to the Capital City for? Are they planning to assassinate the Emperor?"

Zhang Boxin said, "Lin Xiao, don’t worry. Your brother is the Prince Consort and is about to get married. As a member of the royal family, his prospects are boundless. Even if the Princely Heir submits a complaint against him, it won’t harm his foundation. However, he did go too far this time—mobilizing the Forbidden Army to the ranch. If a fight really breaks out, the Capital City will be turned upside down."

"There’s no smoke without fire. Stirring up matters to search the ranch and coming back empty-handed isn’t his style. I know him—my brother is part of the Emperor’s Guard and is always careful. Without evidence, he wouldn’t act so impulsively." Lin Xiao recalled seeing Feng Shu leading a group away from the ranch earlier, accompanied by a carriage.

Yet, when Feng Shu saw them, she greeted them calmly without any hint of panic. If there were Beiman people in her carriage, could she be that composed?

Zhang Boxin sneered, "The Forbidden Army has committed plenty of wrongful cases with their borrowed authority. Don’t paint your brother as spotless."

"What grievance do you have against my brother? You’re always sarcastic and passive-aggressive," Lin Xiao frowned. "If you have something to say, speak plainly. Don’t insinuate and beat around the bush. Your brother is part of the Forbidden Army too."

Zhang Boxin slapped the water, splashing everywhere. "Fine, I’ll say it—on the day Feng Wan fell into the water, Lin Cheng was among the crowd. As part of the Emperor’s Guard, he wasn’t escorting the dragon boat but showed up where Feng Wan’s accident happened. Is that just a coincidence?"

"You suspect my brother of causing Miss Feng to fall into the water. What evidence do you have?" Lin Xiao’s temper flared, "Just being in the crowd makes him the culprit?"

"Feng Wan fell into the water, and it was Prince Duan who saved her. Prince Duan was originally interested in marrying Fang Lingjun. This marriage was called off—who benefitted the most? Even a blind man can see. For the sake of power and status, disregarding others’ lives and relationships... disgraceful!" Zhang Boxin, filled with grievances, tried his best to hold back, but as he spoke, his anger inevitably surfaced.

Lin Xiao closed his eyes, feeling weary. "If you have evidence, confront him directly."

Confront him?

What’s the point? The matter is already settled; saying anything now is futile.

Even knowing who was responsible, he could only swallow his frustration.

To mediate, Zhou Liyu said, "Lin Xiao, Boxin, don’t argue. These are baseless suspicions. Lin Xiao, Boxin’s engagement fell through, and he’s upset. Don’t take it to heart."

"His engagement fell through. What does that have to do with me? Must I endure his temper?" Lin Xiao retorted unhappily, "Zhang Boxin, if you truly like Miss Feng, then take her away from the Capital City. Renounce your family name, flee far, and live well together. If you can’t do that, don’t blame the heavens and others."

"Shut up! What gives you the right to say that to me?" Zhang Boxin, struck deeply by his words, boiled over. Renounce the family name and leave everything behind? How could it be so easy? His kin, his parents, his siblings—could he abandon them all? "Lin Cheng is the Emperor’s blade, committing vile acts without reservation! Lin Yu Yan, out of spite against Fengyu, even seduced Jiang Yang and broke off their engagement, creating a scandal. Your family’s morals... I truly cannot compliment them."

"Zhang Boxin, you’re asking for it!" Having grown up as childhood friends, they knew exactly how to wound each other. Lin Xiao, enraged, threw a punch, and the two began wrestling in the hot spring pool.

After a bath, Xie Xun was having medicine applied by the doctor when Feiying reported that Zhang Boxin and Lin Xiao were brawling in the hot spring pool. Xie Xun frowned, "As long as they’re not dead, leave them be."

Nuanyang chuckled, "They’re fine, but Zhou Liyu got caught in the middle trying to break them up and was pushed under the water, nearly drowned. Now, he’s soaked like a chicken, glaring at them from opposite corners of the pool in a cold war."

Xie Xun, "..."

Utter chaos. That hot spring pool was something the Second Young Master spent an exorbitant sum to build, hoping the mansion’s ladies could relax there leisurely during visits to the mountains. Good thing this was a bare-handed brawl; if weapons had been involved, any damage incurred would have led the Second Young Master to demand staggering repair costs without batting an eye.

"Why did they start fighting?"

Nuanyang, still munching on sunflower seeds on the roof, recounted the entire story with animation. Xie Xun snorted, "They make catching shadows their reason to duke it out. What would happen if they had actual proof—would they start using blades?"

The truth behind Feng Wan’s fall was clear enough already. The real culprit wasn’t what mattered anymore. Feiying added, "Zhang Boxin has been in a sour mood lately. Before Miss Feng was given her engagement, he petitioned his parents to propose but was rejected. He was scolded, especially since Zhang Bolan thrives in the Forbidden Army. Mr. Zhang already favors the capable eldest son born from his concubine, so Zhang Boxin’s feelings are undoubtedly hurt."

Despite being the legitimate heir, Zhang Boxin lacked achievements due to his youthful recklessness. Meanwhile, his capable elder half-brother had already proven himself, even giving Mr. Zhang his first grandson. Faced with rejection by his father and setbacks in love, Zhang Boxin’s resentment built up. In large families, distinctions between legitimate heirs and concubines’ children were sensitive topics. Normally, the legitimate heir led the family, while a capable concubine’s son avoided overshadowing the main heir.

But the Zhang family was different. The elder concubine-born brother was talented and ambitious, always competing with Zhang Boxin. It was thanks to Mrs. Zhang’s formidable management of the rear household that Zhang Boxin wasn’t completely crushed under his brother’s brilliance.

Xie Xun’s thoughts drifted to the Marquis Mansion. He grew up in an environment without the concept of dividing heirs from concubines. From Marquis Zhenbei himself down to the maids, no one dared to gossip in front of their siblings. The mansion was filled with watchful eyes, and anyone stirring trouble behind the scenes was promptly ousted by the Marchioness.

His two elder brothers were also virtuous and capable. Were it not for being raised in the Marquis Mansion, he might have ended up like Zhang Boxin—a reckless heir overshadowed by his gifted elder siblings. Luckily, the Marquis Zhenbei was unconventional, and the Marchioness was broad-minded. Back when she accepted the Marquis’ concubines, she ensured all the children, regardless of birth, were treated as legitimate heirs. Even after bearing Xie Xun, she maintained this principle. Lady Lan’s and Lady Mudan’s children were also nurtured as successors.

Her open-mindedness paid off, and she received what she wished for. After Xie Xun’s birth, her gentle parenting extended to all the children without discrimination.

Had it not been for the palace’s schemes to provoke discord among the Marquis Mansion siblings, Xie Zhang should have been the rightful Princely Heir. Marquis Zhenbei’s initial petitions for the title had always been for Xie Zhang, not Xie Xun.

He never experienced Zhang Boxin’s plight. His brothers never competed with him but instead protected and guided him through life. He was never overshadowed by their brilliance or consumed by envy and inferiority. To him, he shone just as brightly.

"Keep an eye on them; don’t let it escalate."

"Yes!" Feiying and Nuanyang bowed and left.

The doctor advised Xie Xun to rest for a few days, forbidding him from wielding a sword with his left arm or training with the Kyoto Capital Guard. Luckily, aside from the injury to his arm, he had no other wounds.

Xie Xun thought of Fengyu... Her frail body—was it truly destined not to survive past eighteen...? Could it be true?

Nuanyang rushed in, "Master, the Second Miss and Third Miss have returned to the manor."