5. Unexpected Encounter

Gold Award

Liu Bingyi, although unclear about why that elder brother was helping him, was accustomed to not sweating the small stuff. This thought merely flashed through his mind and did not prompt him to delve deeper. He continued to wear a smug smile, while voraciously picking at the roasted meat, dried meat, and other food on the table, occasionally glancing over to make faces at the other party.

Zhang He, alert, quickly sent someone away and exchanged a glance with Xu Guanghan. The two of them carried the child back into the room. After closing the door, Zhang He finally asked: "Where did you go? Did you encounter anyone? How did you come back?"

Liu Bingyi continued to wave towards the curtain of rain until the sound of the wheels could no longer be heard, and only then did he suddenly exclaim: "Ah, I forgot to ask when we would meet again"

Liu Bingyi thought he understood and smiled while shaking his hand, "Jinling, Jinshang, then I will come to play with you again next time"

Liu Bingyi chuckled and, without a hint of doubt, tossed the fruit into his mouth

Liu Bingyi did not understand, "What is marriage?"

Zhang He made a gesture for silence, his expression serious as he slightly shook his head at him Xu Guanghan awkwardly swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue again

Hmph. With a sound from his nasal cavity, Jin Jian lazily gestured with his hand.

Jin Shang stammered, her expression filled with despair, her eyes involuntarily reddening, "My late father... my late father..."

Jin Shang nodded helplessly, saying, "Yes." After a pause, he hurriedly explained, "My late father once said that this was in accordance with the edict of the late emperor, which is why it was taken into the palace for care and nurturing."

Liu Bingyi was momentarily taken aback, but he did not dwell on it. The two youths before him were of similar age, so he paid no mind to anything else. Still grinning, he asked, "Is it something to eat?" The object in his hand was about the size of a honeycomb pill, glistening and round, with a greenish-purple skin that shimmered with a jade-like translucence, faintly revealing the intricate threads within.

He was originally a member of the royal family, and it is only natural for him to acknowledge his ancestry and return to his roots. Your father was right to do so. However... now, trapped in this Weiyang Palace, with no one to rely on, can he truly be more carefree and at ease than living as an ordinary person among the common folk

Jin Jian is still just a ten-year-old child, and Liu Bingyi has long mastered this set of flattery. How could he possibly resist? With a few kind words, he immediately fell into defeat, not only casting aside the previous grievances but also genuinely adopting the demeanor of an older brother. Having long been under Jin's favor, he rarely had the chance to indulge in the role of an older brother. Liu Bingyi continuously showed weakness towards him, making him feel even more that he needed to take care of this younger brother.

Just wait a moment

You are unwell, you are tired, go rest early

Liu Bingyi chuckled and sat down next to Jin Jian, pulling at his arm and continuously speaking kind words: "Third Brother, both you and Second Brother Jin are good people. I know that Third Brother actually cares the most about Bingyi. I have many shortcomings and need Third Brother to teach me..." Unconsciously, he employed the same tactics he usually used to deal with Zhang He and Xu Guanghan—whenever he got into trouble, as long as he pleaded in such soft and pitiful terms, it had never failed him.

That's great! He was so excited that he almost jumped up.

The young man looked down from a height, his gaze shifting, and a hint of gentle smile finally appeared on his pale, handsome face. Liu Bingyi felt that his smile was as brilliant and dazzling as the light of the sun and moon, too radiant to be gazed upon or desecrated. He felt a sense of respect in his heart, and naturally, the playful expression on his face diminished. He stood up and said, "You are truly fortunate to have two younger brothers to eat and play with you."

In less than a moment, Liu Bingyi had already grasped the ages and preferences of him and Jin Shang clearly, but whenever the topic of Jinling came up, Jin Jian always preferred to speak ambiguously, leaving his words vague

Zhang He saw that he was unscathed, and the shock in his heart immediately diminished by seventy to eighty percent, his expression slightly clearing. Xu Guanghan took the child from the hands of the yellow gatekeeper, holding him tightly in his arms, "You rascal..." he thought, feeling angry, and pretended to slap him on the bottom twice.

The young man did not respond, but his focused expression was clearly telling Liu Bingyi that he was listening attentively. As Liu Bingyi's topic expanded, he began to reveal the tricks he usually played and mischief he engaged in. Occasionally, when he spoke of something interesting, the young man leaned against the jade table, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, and a look of excitement passed over his face.

The two brothers standing beside were visibly shaken by the words, exchanging a glance filled with fear in their eyes

The younger brother wanted to rush over and fight, but was immediately held back tightly by his elder brother. He was so angry that his face turned pale, and he kept shouting, "Second brother, let me go! I must kill this arrogant and reckless scoundrel!"

Impudent wretch! The younger brother, seeing him stepping onto the mat with his muddy cloth shoes, could no longer contain his anger and jumped up, swinging his fist to strike him.

The young boy remained silent, and the second brother had no choice but to brace himself and introduce himself first: "Jin Shang."

Indeed, everyone has returned to the waiting room, with the nearest ones outside the corridor

Of course

Jin Shang nodded helplessly, "Yes." After a pause, he hurriedly explained, "My late father respected General Wei Qing and could not bear to see the only descendant of the Wei family fall into the hands of the common people, which is why..."

While indulging in food and drink, the surrounding noise suddenly quieted down. Liu Bingyi felt somewhat surprised and instinctively turned his head. He saw a young man standing by the built-in curtain of the partition, his hair styled in a topknot, with a golden belt hanging down. Although he was taller than the three of them, his youthful features still showed a hint of immaturity. With narrow shoulders and a slim waist, he exuded a delicate fragility. However, he was exceptionally handsome, even more so than the fairy he had seen earlier in the Yeting, surpassing her beauty by three points.

Is it him? The young man turned his head and looked at Jin Shang, Is it him, isn't it?

The carriage stopped in front of the steps of the Yeting Shaofu official residence. After the yellow gatekeeper outside the carriage reported in a low voice, Jin Jian said, "Just send it here." Liu Bingyi reluctantly got off the carriage, and Jin Jian ordered someone to hand him a bronze lamp.

Hmm? Liu Bingyi noticed his serious gaze fixed on the jeweled mirror on his wrist and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Do you like it? I can give it to you!" As he spoke, he began to untie the strings.

"You are older than me, you are my elder brother." Liu Bingyi staggered and crawled up inside the carriage, stood up straight and bowed, "Brother Jin San."

Cangchi. He silently repeated it in his mind, although he did not quite understand what kind of place it was, he was clever enough to realize that Jin Jian clearly displayed a condescending attitude towards him. Continuing to ask would not necessarily yield a better answer. He rolled his eyes, put on a smiling face, and countered with a question: "How old are you?"

Zhang He unceremoniously dragged him onto the bed, swiftly stripped him of his clothes, and tossed them to Xu Guanghan, saying, "Hurry up and sleep, I will take you out of the palace tomorrow"

The little yellow gatekeepers walked for about a quarter of an hour before stopping in front of a large room. The maid opened the door, and the yellow gatekeepers entered. Liu Bingyi hid in the shadows and waited for a while, noticing that the yellow gatekeepers gradually came out of the door in reverse, their hands empty. After the people left, he approached the door, just as he was about to push it open, he heard a clear and youthful voice from inside: "Second brother, have they all left?"

Oh dear! Why is it so sour? Ugh, ugh, ugh! The grape entered my mouth, and after just two chews, he spat it out along with the flesh and skin onto the spotless green brick floor. My mouth is so astringent! Is there any water? Without waiting for a response, he walked straight to the dining table, picked up a gold-inlaid jade cup, and drank it all in one go.

But my story is not yet finished, later ... ...

Jin Jian, the youngest boy, although he wore a face full of reluctance, seemed to dare not go against the wishes of the youth. He responded with a stiff tone, calling out to Liu Bingyi: "Come with me!"

At this moment, he was feeling hungry, and he saw those attendants being led by a group of maidservants holding lanterns. Each of them was carrying at least one bamboo basket. His sense of smell was sharper than that of a dog, and from a distance, he caught the aroma of the food wafting through the air, making him swallow his saliva in anticipation. Unconsciously, he followed behind them, trailing along the way.

Liu Bing had taken a piece of sesame cake from the plate and casually handed it to the young man. The young man slightly shook his head, and Liu Bing made a sound of acknowledgment, just as he was about to withdraw his hand. Unexpectedly, the young man reached out. Liu Bing thought he was coming to take the cake, but to his surprise, that fair hand bypassed the sesame cake and firmly grasped his wrist.

"Have you found it? Where?" From the alley emerged many palace maids of the Yellow Gate, holding high resin torches. Upon seeing them, everyone was overwhelmed with joy and wept.

Inside the room, two boys were whispering to each other when suddenly the front door was pushed open with a bang. A boisterous boy, around eight or nine years old, jumped in from outside, hands on his hips, and with a proud smile on his face exclaimed: "Haha! Great, I've caught you! You actually stole a bite!"

The interior was brightly lit by candlelight, with four corners adorned by shining gilded copper crane lamps. A breeze blew in from outside, and the orange flames licked at the white candle drippings, shattering the shadows throughout the room. The floor was covered with a brocade mat, on which two young boys, around eleven or twelve years old, knelt. They were handsome, with prominent noses and deep-set eyes, their facial features as sharply defined as if carved by a knife. The two boys bore a striking resemblance to each other. The slightly younger one picked up a grape from the plate and was about to put it in his mouth when Liu Bingyi suddenly startled him. His hand trembled, causing the grape to roll away, clattering down the front of his robe and coming to rest by the door.

The young man walked slowly, making not a sound as he stepped, his long robe trailing gracefully on the green tiles. Liu Bingyi suddenly found the grape skins on the ground particularly glaring, and as he saw the figure approaching, he could not help but shout loudly: "Stop!"

Liu Bingyi immediately recounted the extraordinary experiences of that night with great enthusiasm, especially when he spoke of his new friends, becoming even more animated and eloquent, completely unaware that Zhang He and Xu Guanghan had already turned pale with shock.

Jin Shang put his knees on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and prostrated himself, saying: "The rank and title are not the most important things for my brother and me..."

With a pause in his steps, Liu Bingyi pounced forward, carefully picking up the fruit peels and bits of flesh from the ground. Finally, he used his sleeve to wipe the tiles clean, and only then did he raise his head with a smile, saying, "All done, it's clean now"

Finally found it, if we can't find the person again, the Minister of the Interior will surely expose us!

He crouched down, using the twilight to evade the guards, and successfully slipped into a side hall on the east side of the rear palace. Holding his breath, he quietly looked around, and only after confirming that no one was present did he dare to pat his chest and let out a sigh of relief. The first sensation after lowering his guard was hunger; hearing the rumbling sounds from his stomach, he stuck out his tongue and stealthily made his way westward from the side hall.

The boy's gaze flickered for a moment, and he appeared momentarily dimmed, but in an instant, he returned to his usual demeanor, "You are not bad either, being able to find this place."

"It is a type of fruit produced in the Western Regions." The elder brother forcibly held the younger brother, responding calmly, with no discernible expression of joy or anger on his face

The little yellow gatekeeper lifted the umbrella and escorted him up the steps before leaving. Liu Bing stood under the eaves, waving downwards, but unfortunately, the rain-soaked night was dim, making it difficult to distinguish where the carriage was and where the people were. Amidst the pattering sound of the rain, the sound of the wheels on the road clattered, gradually fading away.

Zhang Ling ... ... '' Xu Guanghan, shivering from the cold, turned his gaze towards Zhang He

Really, staring all day long, is there no peace left? Even going to a changing room requires such a big fuss... Second brother, are you eating? If you’re not eating, I will eat...

Taking advantage of the gap in the conversation between Zhang He and Liu Bingyi, Xu Guanghan quietly left the house with that piece of clothing in hand

"Are you their big brother?" Liu Bing asked curiously

The young man did not say anything good or bad; after watching Jin Jian lead him out, his expression suddenly darkened.

Liu Bingyi was reluctant to leave, yet he could not bear to dismiss the young man's kindness. Thus, he hesitated and stood up slowly. Before departing, he waved his hand and did not forget to ask, "You still haven't told me, what is your name?" Pointing to the boy beside him, he said, "His name is Jin Jian, and what about you two?"

He was originally a member of the royal family, and it is only natural for him to acknowledge his ancestry and return to his roots, especially with the edict of the late emperor. However... now, trapped in this Weiyang Palace, with no one to rely on, can he truly be more carefree than living as an ordinary person among the common folk

At.

It is unknown how many houses he has bypassed, each empty room is adorned beautifully, with gold, silver, and jade artifacts visible everywhere. At first, Liu Bingyi found it novel, but as the hunger in his stomach intensified, those beautiful and entertaining things could no longer capture his attention. What he desires most now is to obtain a steamed bun to satisfy his hunger

Marriage is... marriage... Hey, how can you be so foolish, not even knowing what marriage is?" Jin Jianyang tapped him on the head, "You really are ignorant, not understanding even this!" At this point, feeling somewhat pleased with himself, he explained in a rather adult-like manner, "Marriage means living together with a woman, sleeping on the same bed... Previously, the three of us used to sleep together in the Xuan room, but Abao said, Your Majesty..." Marriage means living together with a woman, sleeping on the same bed... Previously, the three of us used to sleep together in the Xuan room, but Abao said, Your Majesty... Hmm, that person, after getting married, can no longer rest in the Xuan room all the time; at night, he must return to the Yeting to sleep with the woman...

Jin Jianduan sat in the car, rolling his eyes in annoyance, "Cangchi."

The young man remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he let out a hum from his nostrils, and his entire being regained vitality from the dead silence. He spoke gently to Liu Bingyi: "It is getting late; you should head back soon." Liu Bingyi was reluctant to leave and was about to politely decline, but he had already drawn an undeniable conclusion: "Jin Jian, your stature is about the same as his; go fetch a clean set of your clothes for him to change into, and then take him back."

"Who in the world can bully him?" Jin Jian retorted with a sneer, but soon stopped, turned his head to ponder, and sighed deeply, "However... perhaps... alas, he is about to... get married, so he is a bit..."

There were no guards at the corridor, yet there were three or four young eunuchs present. These young eunuchs wore clever hats and were dressed in deep robes made of silk, a stark contrast to the attire of the middle-ranking eunuchs serving in the inner court. Liu Bing had never seen young eunuchs before, so he easily categorized them as ordinary palace attendants in his mind. He was accustomed to joking and laughing with the yellow-robed eunuchs, and if he encountered a palace maid, he might even flatter her with endearing terms. However, he had always been reckless in his dealings with the middle-ranking eunuchs.

Liu Bingyi had long forgotten the sound of smacking lips, gazing back in a daze. The young man stood silently by the curtain, his gaze calm as water, undisturbed by waves. The two brothers appeared to be frightened, awkwardly lowering their heads as they approached him. Just as they were about to speak, the young man raised his hand to stop them. The brothers looked up in surprise, their gazes locking with his. After a moment, the two of them understood each other and walked straight through the young man, entering the rear compartment.

A large crowd of people rushed over one by one to embrace him, and someone had already reported to Zhang He. Before long, on the way back to the residence, they encountered the hurriedly arriving Zhang He, Xu Guanghan, and others.

"Leave the palace? Really? Can I leave the palace?"

Who is your third brother? In the dim light, it was difficult to discern Jin Jian's expression; although his tone remained as arrogant as ever, his momentum had diminished significantly.

Liu Bingyi grinned and said, "You haven't spoken all this time; I thought you were mute." The young boy curled his lips, noncommittal. Liu Bingyi was not bothered by the other's silence and continued to speak to himself: "How old are you? How many years have you lived in Weiyang Palace? What do you three usually play? Let me tell you, I love climbing trees to find bird nests; boiled bird eggs are really delicious..." During his two years in the palace, he had never interacted with children of his age, let alone played with them. Today, having encountered someone rare, he was momentarily excited, and once he started talking, he could not stop.

The expectant gaze turned towards the youth, who was momentarily taken aback, then slowly exhaled: "... ... Ling."

The young man nodded slightly, his eyelids drooping, and his long, curled eyelashes trembled gently, like a pair of wings fluttering. A large shadow was cast upon his pale, jade-like face, creating a sense of fragile heart palpitations. After a considerable pause, just as Liu Bing was about to suffocate from the inexplicable silence that had settled in, the young man smiled faintly and said with a sneer, "You seem to be doing better than I am..." His voice was low and muffled, and by the time he reached the last word, it seemed to be caught in his throat, barely audible. After a considerable pause, just as Liu Bing was about to suffocate from the inexplicable silence that had settled in, the young man smiled faintly and said with a sneer, "You seem to be doing better than I am..." His voice was low and muffled, and by the time he reached the last word, it seemed to be caught in his throat, barely audible.

It should be. "Another boy's voice."

The stone steps leading to the sky stretch endlessly, and the palace maids in the inner courtyard refer to this inaccessible high platform as the Grand Morning Hall. On the high platform, there are four main halls arranged from south to north: the Front Hall for handling important state affairs, the Middle Hall for the imperial bedchamber, the Hall of Declaration, and the Rear Pavilion. Liu Bingyi exerted great effort to climb the hundreds of stone steps, standing at the eastern end of the Rear Pavilion, panting heavily. Unlike the inner courtyard, there are rarely any palace maids here; the halls stand tall, and the imperial guards stand in formation, holding their halberds with a solemn order. Liu Bingyi exerted great effort to climb the hundreds of stone steps, standing at the eastern end of the Rear Pavilion, panting heavily. Unlike the inner courtyard, there are rarely any palace maids here; the halls stand tall, and the imperial guards stand in formation, holding their halberds with a solemn order.

Is it really not important? It may not be important to you, but for the Jin family, it is of utmost significance!" He smiled wryly, "I hope... he can remain as happy as he is today forever! That he can continue to do what he loves..."

What are we waiting for? Anyway, there are so many things here, it doesn't matter if we eat one or two items first

Liu Bing was neither annoyed nor afraid, still smiling as he said: "It doesn't hurt, not at all." He put his arm around Xu Guanghan's neck and whispered in his ear, "I had a lot of delicious food today, things you definitely haven't even seen before."

What is there? He could not ascertain what was behind him; he could only inquire with curiosity.

Liu Bingyi was speaking passionately, when the two brothers quietly emerged from behind the curtain and stood respectfully in front of the young man. The young man, seated at the table, slowly reined in his smile and asked lightly, "Is it settled?"

As soon as he spoke, someone behind him immediately shouted, "We found it! We found it!" Without waiting to turn around, he felt his body lighten as someone lifted him off the ground, "Oh, my little ancestor, you have truly put us through a lot!"

Liu Bingyi picked it up by chance, holding it in his hand and playing with it, filled with curiosity, "What is this thing?"

Who are you? Impudent! With a stern tone, the younger brother of the two has already stood up from his seat in indignation

Liu Bingyi nimbly jumped to the side, avoiding the fist

The boy seemed to be suddenly scalded by fire, retracting his hand abruptly, "No! I don't want it!" His voice was clear, with precise enunciation.

Brother Jin does not seem very happy today, but who has bullied him

The young man spread his hands, gazing blankly at his palms. "With the power of General Jin, he might be able to ensure your food and clothing are worry-free, but now... even I am powerless, unable to act on my own. I... cannot even secure the titles that you two brothers deserve..."

The clothes on his body gradually dried out from the heat of his body after getting wet, only to be dampened again by sweat. Liu Bingyi stood hesitantly in the corridor, the long passageway seeming to stretch on endlessly. For the first time since entering the palace, he realized that beyond the small courtyard he was accustomed to, there was such a vast expanse of space. The numerous pavilions and beautiful women he had encountered before had left him dazzled. After leaving the Yeting, he walked a long distance, and then, under the drizzling twilight, he was once again presented with a magnificent scene.

The carriage moved at a very slow pace, and Liu Bing occasionally curiously lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside. A fine drizzle fell from the dark night sky, while a small yellow gatekeeper held a lantern to light the way in front of the carriage. As the carriage swayed rhythmically, the flickering candlelight appeared hazy and intoxicating like the moonlight. The air was filled with the fresh scent of damp earth, and even from a distance, the sound of water waves crashing could be heard.