Chapter 5, Brothers

Concubine Yu no longer wished to engage in any further conversation with this son, and without any attempt to retain him, she signaled to Rou Ping to lead him away. Rou Ping only accompanied him to the palace gate before finding an excuse to return. Feng Wuhen did not notice that Hong Ru and Lu Yin had disappeared; in his mind, his mother's words were swirling incessantly. It was still the same path he had taken, but Feng Wuhen's state of mind was entirely different. He loathed this place, despised the brother who had taken away his happiness, and resented everyone. Why had heaven granted him wealth yet taken away familial affection? Could it be that one cannot possess both simultaneously? It was still the same path he had taken, but Feng Wuhen's state of mind was entirely different. He loathed this place, despised the brother who had taken away his happiness, and resented everyone. Why had heaven granted him wealth yet taken away familial affection? Could it be that one cannot possess both simultaneously?

As they gazed at the figure of Feng Wuhen, the palace maids discovered for the first time that this frail youth possessed an innate pride deep within his bones. His desolate appearance seemed to invite closeness. The misfortunes of Hongru and Lvyin had initially led all of them to deliberately distance themselves from Feng Wuhen, yet at this moment, they found themselves envying the two injured individuals lying in bed. At least that noble youth still knew how to show concern for the two of them.

As Feng Wuhen stepped through the door, he immediately saw a scene he longed to possess: Concubine Yu was lovingly stroking Feng Wuxi's hair, her eyes unmistakably filled with maternal affection. In that moment, Feng Wuhen even felt entirely superfluous. After a brief silence, Concubine Yu finally noticed her son, and her gaze instantly turned cold. "Wuhen, Wuxi, you two brothers haven't seen each other for a long time; why don't you ask how each other is doing?" she said with some difficulty.

Although he did not receive an answer, he still saw the fearful gazes of the crowd. It seemed that he was indeed correct; that woman, that unparalleled beauty, even the two palace maids were not spared. Was he truly destined to accept such a fate of being at the mercy of others? Without even glancing at the people on the ground, Feng Wuhen pushed open the door directly, causing everyone to feel as if their breath had stopped. At that moment, Feng Wuhen suddenly halted his steps: "I will discuss today’s events with my mother, so you need not worry. If there is to be blame, let it be shared with me as well!" Without even glancing at the people on the ground, Feng Wuhen pushed open the door directly, causing everyone to feel as if their breath had stopped. At that moment, Feng Wuhen suddenly halted his steps: "I will discuss today’s events with my mother, so you need not worry. If there is to be blame, let it be shared with me as well!"

Several palace maids exchanged glances and suddenly knelt down in unison: "Your Highness, if we allow you to enter, not only Hongru and Lvyin, but even all the servants of Fenghua Palace would only have one fate—death. We implore Your Highness to show mercy!"

The conversation in the room continued, but Feng Wuhen stumbled out in a daze. When Consort Yu and Rouping were talking, no one dared to be present, and the vigilance instilled in him by his father since childhood played a significant role, allowing no one to notice that he had eavesdropped on a conversation that shook the heavens. Bathed once more in sunlight, Feng Wuhen felt not a trace of warmth; instead, a slow chill seeped into his heart, making this place unbearably cold. Just moments ago, the sky had appeared a clear blue, but now it was overcast; the grand palace that had seemed magnificent before now felt cold and unfeeling; the once humble eunuchs and palace maids now appeared so indifferent, their gazes and actions exuding a sense of disdain. At thirteen, the boy felt helpless for the first time. What should he do? It was already impossible to go back; what should he do?

Feng Wuhen felt a tremendous roar in his mind, leaving him unable to speak, and he rushed directly toward the side room. It was an inconspicuous chamber, with several palace maids standing by the door, quietly wiping their tears. Upon seeing their master arrive without a word, everyone panicked; one maid even blocked the entrance with her body, saying, "Your Highness, you cannot enter!"

"Eleven younger brother." With great reluctance, he managed to greet, but Feng Wuhen could no longer stay. Gritting his teeth, he proposed to leave, "Mother, I suddenly feel unwell. May I take my leave first?"

The thirteen-year-old Feng Wuhen gazed at his ten-year-old brother Feng Wuxi, his eyes betraying an unmistakable jealousy. Confronted with this brother, who was the center of countless affections, he found himself overwhelmed by a violent impulse. This was a child as delicate as a finely crafted jade, with the royal arrogance shining brightly in his eyes, and the slight upward curve of his lips revealing his pride. "Seventh Brother," Feng Wuxi uttered these two words, yet he refused to say anything more. This child, as delicate as a finely crafted jade, bore the royal arrogance in his eyes, and the slight upward curve of his lips revealed his pride. "Seventh Brother," Feng Wuxi uttered these two words, yet he refused to say anything more. At the age of ten, he was more aware of the ways of the world than his bedridden older brother, his eyes filled with both pride and cunning, and naturally, he did not regard this superfluous brother with any importance.

"Your Highness the Seventh." A familiar yet terrifying voice suddenly came from behind. Feng Wuhen couldn't help but take two steps back before turning around. Indeed, it was the woman he referred to as Aunt Ping, the one who discussed the most dreadful matters with his mother.

Having dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs, Feng Wuhen sat alone by the window in a daze. Everything he had dreamed of had now become reality, yet for the first time, he felt regret for his choices. He had obtained the essentials of life—clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—that he once valued immensely; however, he had lost something far more precious: love. Father, Mother, how are you now? I truly miss you... Feng Wuhen silently gazed at the bright moon in the sky, realizing that his face was already streaked with tears. He had obtained the essentials of life that he once valued immensely; however, he had lost something far more precious: love. Father, Mother, how are you now? I truly miss you... Feng Wuhen silently gazed at the bright moon in the sky, realizing that his face was already streaked with tears.

"Your Highness, do you have any instructions?" This was a timid young girl, her brows seemingly marked by a hint of panic and sorrow. Upon seeing this, Feng Wuhen instinctively felt a tightening in his heart

Rouping was stunned by the words of Consort Yu. Although the master and servant shared everything, it was the first time her master had revealed such a shocking matter. With a thud, she knelt on the ground and stammered, "Your Highness, please do not speak of this. Such matters are best kept to yourself."

"Why not?" Feng Wuhen felt a surge of anger rising in his heart, "All of you, get out of my way!"

"Did the Empress say something to you?" Feng Wuhen said with great effort, "Only she, only she can make you so afraid. Did she do something to Hongru and Lvyin?"

Yugui Fei did not respond, but in the dark room, Feng Wuxin fell into deep despair. Nothing is more heartbreaking than the sudden shattering of beautiful hopes. He could not imagine how a woman so noble and elegant in public could meticulously plot against her own son for some benefit. The words "waste" and "good-for-nothing" pierced his heart like knives, leaving him bleeding profusely. Is this truly the wealth and glory that the common people envy? ... He could not imagine how a woman so noble and elegant in public could meticulously plot against her own son for some benefit. The words "waste" and "good-for-nothing" pierced his heart like knives, leaving him bleeding profusely. Is this truly the wealth and glory that the common people envy? ... He did not know, truly did not know ...

The girl was so frightened that she was almost in tears, stammering as she said: "They, they are recuperating in the side room"

"Where has Hong gone? Right, and what about Lvyin?" His voice involuntarily rose a little, "Where on earth are the two of them? Tell me!" Having already lost his mother, Feng Wuhen could not conceal his fear. Could it be that the charming girl in red had also abandoned him?

"Sister Hongru and Sister Lvyin are ill," the young girl said in panic, having never seen the gentle Seventh Prince so enraged, filling her heart with fear. As a mere palace maid, how could she dare to defy the orders of Noble Consort Yu? Although she sympathized with the plight of Hongru and Lvyin, she did not dare to reveal the truth.

"It’s impossible, they were just fine yesterday!" Feng Wuhen did not believe such nonsense at all. "Tell me! Where exactly are the two of them?"

The Eleventh Prince? Feng Wuhen's heart suddenly skipped a beat; it was that prince who had monopolized their mother's affections, his nominal brother. Although reason urged him to never want to see that woman's face again, his emotions still compelled him to want to see this son whom their mother cherished like a treasure. He vaguely agreed to it.

Rou Ping looked at the fear on Feng Wuhen's face in astonishment. She did not know what had just happened, but the Empress's heartfelt sincerity left her no room for pity. If there was anyone to blame, it was your fate to be born into the imperial family, Rou Ping silently thought. "Seventh Prince, the Eleventh Prince has come to pay his respects to the Empress. You two brothers have not seen each other for a long time; the Empress requests your presence in the main hall."

In the main hall, Concubine Yu looked at the child who embodied all her hopes with great joy, her affection evident. Although only ten years old, the Eleventh Prince, Feng Wuxi, possessed the very qualities that Feng Wuchen lacked the most: charisma and health. As the favored child of the Emperor's beloved concubine, he was undoubtedly the darling of the harem. To compensate for Concubine Yu's shortcomings, the Emperor even granted him permission to reside in the Listening Wind Pavilion of Lingbo Palace, which caused dissatisfaction among many concubines with children, as they could only catch a glimpse of their own offspring after several months.

When Feng Wuhen, with eyes full of red, woke up, it was already the morning of the second day. The area by the bed was already soaked, presumably from the tears shed in the dream. Habitually uttering the phrase "red as...", what appeared before him was a strange shadow.