Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 201 Brothers

Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Brothers

"Second Brother and Dugu Jing are heading to Xiyanshan to hunt, and it’s a life-and-death battle. Anyone who dares to compete with him for a hunting spot, he will attack indiscriminately—it’s not targeted at me."

"Why?"

Fengyu couldn’t understand. Dugu Jing was at the peak of his strength, and everyone avoided provoking him. The Second Young Master was stepping into a hunting duel with him at Xiyanshan, surrounded by military generals for protection. Why would Chu Ning rush to join them? He was Marshal Fang’s only son—what if something went wrong?

Xie Xun’s lips curved into a mocking smile. "He genuinely believes my brother is a sensitive and fragile beauty, and that only he can protect Second Brother."

Once, Xie Xun thought so too!

Fengyu was at a loss for words. "This... foolish?"

Xie Xun was amused by Third Miss’s remark. "Yes, he is indeed foolish!"

Seeing him laugh, Fengyu’s suspended heart settled. Feiying and Nuanyang exchanged glances—it truly was Third Miss’s unique ability. When their master was mired in emotional gloom, which could last a long time, only Third Miss could make him laugh openly so quickly.

Fengyu had also heard Fang Lingjun mention that Chu Ning and Second Young Master had been inseparable since childhood, their relationship extraordinarily close. If Second Young Master were a girl from the Marquis Mansion, Chu Ning would defy both imperial orders and parental decrees to marry him.

Fengyu thought to herself, perhaps it was similar to how she felt about her elder sister—she would risk her own life to protect her. Chu Ning must also see Second Young Master as akin to a true brother; their feelings must run profoundly deep.

"Then why are you feeling down?" Fengyu’s curiosity was unbearable, and she ultimately crossed the line.

Having turned down the Little Marquis’s affections, she shouldn’t intrude on his joys and sorrows. Yet, she blurred the boundary despite herself. She could tell Xie Xun was in pain, and couldn’t help but wish to share his burden.

Xie Xun’s smile faded slightly, silence proving golden. Fengyu regretted her impulsive and clumsy intrusion. Fireflies flitted around them, the stream murmured softly. Fengyu looked at his profile, at the shadow beneath his fluttering eyelashes, and felt an unbearable ache.

"In noble families, lineage is given great importance, but in the Marquis Mansion, ability and character matter more. They don’t care much about lineage ranking. From Father, Mother, to Grandfather’s family, everyone knows Father values Big Brother most. Big Brother is the ideal candidate in Father’s eyes to inherit the Iron Cavalry. As for Second Brother and me, our future lies in assisting Big Brother and looking out for each other. Big Brother is the eldest son in whom Father has high hopes. I’ve known this since I was old enough to understand, which is why I never compete with Big Brother. Father raised me to be a carefree son as his best method of nurturing me. For a capable elder son and a virtuous younger legitimate son, sharp disputes in the household must be avoided. My parents initially aimed to raise me as an indolent nobleman. Big Brother and Second Brother were tutored in studies and strategy from the age of three, with Father hiring the best educators: every lesson was conducted with utmost care. By the time Big Brother was four, Father personally instructed him, while Second Brother was taught by our grandfather. As for me... no one paid much attention. I was mischievous and playful as a child, never able to sit still, prone to skipping class to enjoy myself. Father and Mother never punished me; even the tutors turned a blind eye. However, one time, I convinced Big Brother and Second Brother to skip class with me; Father was furious, punishing them so severely their skin broke from the beating—but I remained untouched. The maids said it was because I was young and doted on, spared physical punishment, but I faintly understood—I was different from them."

"You might not believe it, but at just five years old, I could perceive Father’s intentions. Later, I don’t know how Big Brother persuaded Father and Mother. He kept me by his side to teach me himself. After half a year, Father and Mother suddenly became strict with me, treating me the same as everyone else. Were it not for this, with my aggressive temper in those years, I would’ve undoubtedly become the overlord of the Capital City. When I got older, I asked Big Brother how he convinced Father back then, and he said his prestige, reputation, and abilities didn’t need to sacrifice his younger brother to achieve greatness. If I surpassed him, he’d entrust the Iron Cavalry to me, granting me a fair chance at competition. I’ve never felt inferior because Big Brother and Second Brother were too exceptional; instead, their excellence sharpened my resolve to surpass them. I strived to exceed them, not to prove myself better, but merely to become the dependable younger brother they could lean on. Yet, this negotiation has made me realize I seem to harbor foolhardy hopes—this lifetime, I truly might only be their protected younger brother, unable to become their pillar of support."

Xie Xun’s chest simmered with despondency. His eyes were faintly red. "The negotiations and reforms were led entirely by Second Brother. When Dugu Jing sought to tarnish the reputation of the Iron Cavalry, it was Big Brother who pulled off an incredible turnaround, betting everything and risking his life to preserve their honor. Dugu Jing wants to challenge Second Brother in the hunting grounds. Big Brother, gravely injured, can’t join him—and I can’t even secure the spot to protect Second Brother. I’m powerless. I can only watch as Big Brother fights for survival in the arena, and I can only watch as Second Brother goes to Xiyanshan for his duel with Dugu Jing. I want to help them, but I am utterly useless."

Gazing at his forlorn, dispirited face, Fengyu vaguely understood the reasons behind his melancholy, distress, and sorrow. Her heart tightened. Not adept at comforting others, all she could do was offer silent companionship, wanting to say something, only to find it redundant.

What logic wouldn’t the Little Marquis understand?

All he sought was someone to listen, not necessarily solutions or wisdom.

"In my youth, I endured much provocation. Though confused at times, I have never been disrespectful to Big Brother or Second Brother. After sustaining heavy injuries and returning to the Capital City, I became almost incapacitated. Gossip swirled, and schemers worked even harder to sow discord among us brothers. I understood that the noble families wished to see the Marquis Mansion plagued with familial strife and brotherly rivalry. During that period, I was highly irritable and low in spirits, even tempted to fulfill their hopes and live uselessly as a cripple in the Capital City. After all, the Marquis Mansion had Big Brother to uphold its reputation, Second Brother to command with ease. Whether I existed or not didn’t matter. But I was unwilling. Why should I? So I secretly organized grain supplies for Ningzhou, monitored military logistics in the rear, aided with disaster relief during the snowstorms, and entered the Kyoto Capital Guard. Still, in the depths of my dreams, I would often find myself back at the battlefield’s command platform, hearing the Iron Cavalry’s clashes and cries. The defeat of Beiman was a victory achieved across generations of effort. Now that this day has arrived, amid my surprise, I feel an inexplicable regret." Xie Xun smiled bitterly, shrouded in an air of coldness. "As the nation celebrates, I feel regret, Fengyu—I even despise myself. Whether it’s Beiman’s subjugation, the negotiations, political reforms, or Dugu Jing’s attempts to trouble the Marquis Mansion, I’ve contributed nothing."

"You were the one who spearheaded the negotiations. Without you, Dugu Jing would have seized the upper hand long ago, and the negotiations wouldn’t have gone as smoothly," Fengyu remarked fairly. "Otherwise, why would the Marquis send you to lead the talks?"

"The negotiations were entirely directed by Second Brother—what to discuss, how to negotiate, all finalized by him." Xie Xun’s gaze grew shadowy, his heart as clear as a mirror. "We’ve all discussed it privately."

"All I know is, if it hadn’t been you leading the talks, and instead the Crown Prince or a civilian official, they might not have achieved the outcome Second Young Master envisioned," Fengyu said. "You shouldn’t undervalue yourself—for every talent born into this world, there is purpose."

"Sometimes I truly envy Lin Xiao. Occasionally, I toy with the idea that being a carefree overlord isn’t so bad. With such capable brothers running the household, why shouldn’t I live recklessly, doing whatever I please? It’s its own kind of happiness."