“Brother?”
Lin Qingge first looked at the grim-faced General Xiao, then at Ye Shengxiao, who was standing at the door, wishing he could flee. She noticed a striking seven to eight tenths resemblance between their features.
So, were the two before her actual full brothers?
Ye Shengxiao, Xiao Shengxiao, Xiao Shengye, Xiao Shengye?
Heh~
Truly fitting for Ye Shengxiao.
No wonder her nominal brother’s teacher, Xu Changling, couldn’t capture the notorious flower thief active in the capital, despite laying a comprehensive net.
Who would have thought that the phantom-like flower thief was hiding within the very General’s Mansion of the esteemed Protector General of the State?
And moreover, the second son of the Protector General?
Even storybooks wouldn't dare write such a plot!
Lin Qingge cursed internally, but maintained a calm demeanor, acting as an uninvolved spectator.
The air froze for a moment.
Just as Ye Shengxiao turned to escape this place of misfortune, Xiao Zhanbei’s thin lips parted, and he said coldly,
“Zhanfang, where are you going?”
Xiao Zhanbei, Xiao Zhanfang?
Zhan Beifang?
Should one say it was fitting for a family of generals who had guarded the country for generations?
Their names were so simple and direct.
However, it was clear that one of the brothers was rather useless.
Compared to his elder brother, Xiao Zhanbei, known as the ‘God of War of Great Xia,’ the second son, Xiao Zhanfang, or Ye Shengxiao, could be described as mud that couldn’t be plastered onto a wall, and even that would be an insult to the mud.
On the other side.
Ye Shengxiao, whose name was called, struggled to pull at the corners of his mouth, forcing a smile more ugly than a cry, and waved a greeting with a forced courage.
“Brother, what a coincidence!”
“Father said you ran away from home after ruining the eighth marriage he arranged for you?”
“Brother, how can you call it running away from home?
It’s clearly that I, your younger brother, unwilling to be a tool for the Xiao family’s lineage, furiously threw myself into the martial world, to write an undefeated legend that belongs only to me!”
“Hmm, a flower thief who isn't accused of molestation is indeed quite legendary.”
Lin Qingge added a subtle, cutting remark that made Ye Shengxiao’s face turn green.
With Lu Mingxuan’s previous experience, he dared not expect that this black-hearted Lord Lin would conceal his crimes for him.
Unfortunately, the sharp-eared Xiao Zhanbei had already frowned and asked,
“Lord Lin, what do you mean by flower thief?”
“My lord!!!”
Ye Shengxiao quickly tried to interject, but Lin Qingge seemed to ignore him and patiently explained:
“General Xiao, you may not know this, but your younger brother, Ye Shengxiao, also known as Xiao Zhanfang, claims to be a flower thief. Every night, he breaks into the chambers of young ladies.
He uses flowery words to deceive innocent young women, making them believe they have met their destined prince charming. As a result, even when their actions are exposed, these women insist that it was all voluntary.
The Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture at the time, Lord Xu Changling, who is also this official’s teacher, was quite troubled by this.
But fortunately, the net of justice is inescapable. Your younger brother was apprehended by this official while assisting kidnappers in abducting Lord Xu’s daughter and this official’s young son.
Although he escaped midway, he was recaptured when he attempted to molest this official’s wife.
According to the law, this official sentenced him to three years of penal servitude, and then kept him by my side, which can be considered a form of atonement.”
With every word Lin Qingge spoke, the expression of the God of War of Great Xia grew gloomier. By the end, his face was darker than the bottom of a pot.
The steady and unmoving General Xiao stood up from his chair and walked step by step towards Ye Shengxiao.
“Xiao Zhanfang, after a few years, you’ve gotten bolder, haven’t you?
A flower thief?
Kidnapping women and children?
Is this something a son of the Xiao family should do, or is capable of doing?!”
Xiao Zhanbei no longer deliberately restrained his aura. Centered on him, an icy chill mixed with boundless fury instantly swept through the entire room.
Overwhelmed by familiar fear, the Khitan Emperor and the Grand General of Cavalry clung to each other, weeping.
Feeling the oppressive atmosphere and the difficulty in breathing, Lin Qingge adjusted herself to a more comfortable sitting posture, grabbed a handful of peanuts from the table, and continued to spectate.
Meanwhile, Ye Shengxiao, who had already been scared to his knees, retracted his neck as much as possible, yet still found himself unable to hide from his elder brother’s sharp, blade-like gaze.
As the saying goes: It is never too late to mend one’s ways.
Ye Shengxiao quickly corrected his attitude and proactively admitted his mistakes:
“Brother, I, I know I was wrong!
I truly know I was wrong!
At first, it was just out of curiosity. After all, our family doesn’t even have a female mosquito, and I was in my prime, full of youthful vigor. Isn’t it normal to yearn for such things?
But later, I realized those girls were nothing special, and some even coveted my looks and actively pursued me!
Thinking back now, it should have been me who was taken advantage of!
As for Lord Xu’s daughter and your son, Your Lordship.
I was tricked by bad friends into helping them kidnap people!
Later, I discovered their wicked scheme and even wanted to release them!
And also, I’ve already quit that line of work a long time ago. If you don’t believe me, Brother, you can ask Your Lordship!”
Lin Qingge continued to pop peanuts into her mouth one after another, crunching them with great enjoyment.
…
Ye Shengxiao, having asked to no avail, rolled his eyes and persistently declared:
“Not only that, Brother, but I’ve also found my soulmate. I’ll marry no one else in this life!
My father doesn’t have to worry about the Xiao family’s lineage anymore!”
Hearing this, Lin Qingge spoke softly:
“This matter, I believe Old General Xiao should indeed worry about. After all, your so-called soulmate is none other than the wife this official legally married.
Let alone this life, she will not be able to continue the Xiao family lineage in the next life or the life after that.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhanbei first cast a cold glance at his incorrigible younger brother, then cupped his fist in salute to the person reaching for another handful of peanuts.
“Lord Lin, my younger brother has been mischievous since childhood, spoiled by my father and me. He has learned none of the Xiao family’s loyalty and righteousness, and his entire being is filled with rebellious defiance.
Fortunately, he met Lord Lin, who helped discipline him from the side, thus preventing great mistakes.
The Xiao family will forever remember Lord Lin’s great kindness!”
Whether it was kidnapping the children of important court officials, or molesting, and even raping respectable women, even if not beheaded, they would at least be banished to the frontier.
But none of that had happened.
And judging by his younger brother’s rosy and well-nourished appearance, he didn’t seem to be undergoing any punishment, so it must have been this Lord Lin who took good care of him.
However, the surprised expression on Lord Lin’s face seemed genuine, indicating that he likely did not know his younger brother’s identity.
But…