Chapter 15

Yu Zhiyao and Nanny Lin both paled. Yu Jingnian’s face darkened. "Just what is wrong with that Pei Seventeen? Tell me every single detail, without omitting a word!"

Yun Xi said, "That Pei Seventeen has a frail constitution; his complexion is pale, and he is gaunt in both form and spirit. He relies on a sedan chair to go out, and once he steps down, he must be supported by others to walk... He has never ridden a horse in his entire life. Once, a servant brought a horse to his side; the horse let out a neigh, and this Seventeenth Young Master was so terrified that he clutched his head and screamed: 'This is clearly a tiger, why are you telling me it is a horse?' Because of that sentence, Pei Seventeen became a laughingstock among the crowds. The servants only learned of this master by hearing others recount the joke. I heard... I heard..."

"Heard what?"

"I heard he has suffered from consumption since childhood, and he simply won't live long!"

Yu Jingnian’s handsome face twisted into a grim, dark mask, as black as the bottom of a pot. *Slap!* He struck the rosewood side table in front of him violently, causing the cups and plates atop it to jump. "Good! Very good! I knew it! Since when did they become so kind-hearted? To actually be willing to find such a good marriage for my sister!" Ever since his mother died, he had no place to stand in this household. He had relied on his sister for survival, regarding her as more important than his own life. How could he stand by and watch his father and Lady Yuan treat her like an object, tossing her away to a consumptive invalid!

He stood up abruptly, his eyes flashing with a terrifying gaze. "I am going to go argue with Father right now and ask him what his true intentions are!"

"Second Brother!" Yu Zhiyao knew his temperament best. When Yu Jingnian went mad, he dared to defy even the Emperor, let alone a father with whom he had always been at odds. She suddenly knelt on the ground, reaching out to grab Yu Jingnian’s legs. "Second Brother, the asthma I was born with has never fully healed; it flares up from time to time during the transition between spring and summer. In my condition, there is nothing wrong with Father arranging a marriage between me and the Seventeenth Young Master of the Pei family! You must not go and anger Father, only to take the sin of filial impiety upon yourself for my sake!"

"You!" Yu Jingnian extended a finger, trembling as he pointed at his sister, feeling both grief for her misfortune and rage at her lack of resolve! "Do you truly intend to let those ungrateful wolves and dogs destroy your life in the name of family?"

Yu Zhiyao’s tears fell like rain as she sobbed, unable to speak clearly. "Second Brother, I am Father's daughter. My marriage was originally meant to be decided by Father and my stepmother. Besides, in my condition, what kind of good family could I possibly marry into? If word spreads one day that you and Father have become enemies because of me, how will my sister be able to face herself!"

Seeing his sister crying like a pear blossom in the rain, Yu Jingnian felt as if his heart were being sliced by a knife. "Get up quickly, the floor is cold. Your body is weak; you cannot endure this."

Yet Yu Zhiyao stubbornly held onto his legs, refusing to let go. "If you don't promise me that you won't cause trouble for Father, I won't let go!"

Yu Jingnian gritted his teeth. "Fine, I promise you. I won't argue with Father, and I won't go looking for trouble with him!"

"Do you mean it?"

"Have I ever broken my word?" Yu Jingnian replied, signaling Nanny Lin to help Yu Zhiyao up.

Yu Jingnian personally helped his sister up and seated her in the large pearwood chair. "Stay here for a moment. I'm going out!"

Yu Zhiyao asked anxiously, "What are you going to do?"

"I am going to talk to Father." Yu Jingnian stroked her hair affectionately.

"You just promised me!"

"Rest assured, once I have given my word, I will never go back on it! I won't fight with Father. Even if I am calm and composed, I will have a way to persuade him to abandon this marriage!"

"Brother!" Yu Zhiyao stood up, trying to grab his arm, but Yu Jingnian had already walked away with Yun Xi, moving as fast as the wind.

On the way to the main courtyard, Ronghua Hall, Yu Jingnian’s expression was so grim it looked as if it might drip water. Yun Xi followed cautiously behind him, having to almost run to keep up with his pace.

"Young Master, we have arrived at Ronghua Hall!" Yun Xi reminded him cautiously. Under normal circumstances, Yu Jingnian only visited his sister when he came to the Prince's mansion and was unwilling to meet his father. He could feel that his father, Yu Wentai, detested him immensely. This realization had tormented him for ten whole years. They say even a fierce tiger does not eat its cub, yet he could not understand why, despite being clearly excellent, his father treated him this way.

If one were to say his father had a violent temper, he was clearly very kind and doting toward his eldest brother and his other siblings. Why was there such differential treatment toward only him and his sixth sister? It truly left him baffled!

Whenever he thought of his father's cold words and disdain since childhood, his heart filled with uncontrollable rage. Thus, he had been rebellious and unruly since he was young. Only Yu Zhiyao knew that he used this method to mask the pain of lacking paternal love!

Recalling his sister's desperate pleas, Yu Jingnian finally halted his steps and said to the maid guarding the door, "Go in and announce that I have returned and wish to pay my respects to Father!"

The maid was already trembling at the dark aura on his face; upon hearing his command, she immediately ran into the main room as if fleeing. A moment later, she returned and said fearfully, "The Master says he is not free at the moment. Please wait here for a while!"

Yu Jingnian felt a surge of fury rising in his chest. After suppressing it repeatedly, he squeezed out a single word through his teeth: "Fine!" He waited for a full hour. Faint sounds of laughter and joking drifted from the room, yet Yu Wentai never summoned him inside.

Yu Jingnian understood immediately; his father was simply humiliating him. He was the type of person whose temper, once flared, could not be pulled back by nine oxen. With a cold snort, he barged inside. The maid behind him called out repeatedly, "Second Young Master, Second Young Master, you cannot go in!" He turned a deaf ear.

Yu Jingnian kicked the door open and strode straight into the room. In Yu Wentai's spacious bedroom, expensive honey-scented incense was burning. He was reclining half-naked on a three-paneled screen-adorned couch inlaid with gems and pearls. His favored Thirteenth and Fifteenth concubines were currently feeding him fresh mandarins that had just been sent from Jiangzhou.

As the Emperor's biological brother, he actually bore a strong resemblance to the Emperor, though their temperaments were vastly different. One was a brilliant and ambitious monarch ruling the world, while the other was like a bloated, unlearned local magnate.

Yu Wentai had actually been monitoring the commotion outside. Seeing that his second son indeed could not take the provocation and had forced his way into the bedroom, he flew into a rage. "You beast! You barge into your father's bedchamber without permission! Do you have no sense of human ethics? Are you trying to commit an act of rebellion?"

As if he hadn't heard a word, Yu Jingnian's gaze, fierce as a cold sword, fixed upon the two concubines who were still in their twenties. He squeezed three words through his teeth: "Get out!"

Struck by his murderous aura, the two concubines felt their limbs turn cold. They didn't dare stay a moment longer and scrambled out of Yu Wentai's bedroom. Yu Wentai wanted to stop them, but for a moment, he was intimidated by his son's momentum and found himself unable to speak.

"Good! Good! You truly are acting out! Are you not afraid I will charge you with the crime of rebellion and have you cursed by everyone in the world?" Though he spoke such words, he was ultimately showing a facade of strength to hide his inner weakness. If it truly came to physical violence, ten Yu Wentais would be no match for one Yu Jingnian.

Yu Jingnian pulled a chair over and sat opposite his father, saying sarcastically, "Your son is your own flesh and blood; how would I dare to rebel against you?"

Yu Wentai sneered, "So you do know you are my son?"

Yu Jingnian replied with irony, "Your son shall never forget Father's kindness!"

Yu Wentai trembled with rage. "Are you coming here specifically to provoke me?"

Yu Jingnian gave him a faint look and said, "How would I dare? Would I not fear the judgment of the world? I am here to discuss a business matter with Father!"

"What business could you possibly have with me?"

By this time, Yu Jingnian had gradually calmed down, and his speech became measured. "The Emperor has recently been reorganizing the Imperial Guard, the Yulin Guard, and has sent three Yulin Generals to serve as prefects in various commanderies. I assume Father has heard of this. If I am not mistaken, Eldest Brother has already held the position of Sima in the Upper Protectorate of Shangdu, a rank just below the fifth grade, for a year. Although the position of Yulin General is only a fifth-grade post, because it is part of the Emperor's personal guard, it carries high prestige and is a shortcut to promotion!" At this point, Yu Jingnian deliberately stopped speaking.

Yu Wentai could not help but be startled. He sat up straight abruptly. "Are you saying you can make a recommendation to the Emperor on behalf of your brother, to have him promoted to the position of fifth-grade Yulin General?" These three Yulin General positions were not only eyed by the imperial clan, but the great aristocratic families were also using every trick in the book to plant their own kin. The competition was fierce. As soon as Yu Wentai received the news, he had gone to plead with the Empress Dowager, thinking it was a sure thing, only to have an eunuch inform him that the three positions were already promised to others!

Since then, no matter how much money he spent or whose connections he used, the Emperor refused to budge. He knew well that the Emperor doted on his second son; if the second son were willing to say a few words for his eldest brother in front of the Emperor, perhaps the Emperor would change his mind. But to ask his own son to plead for him—he truly could not bring himself to do it!

At this moment, Yu Jingnian nodded. "I can petition the Emperor for Eldest Brother, but I have one condition: the marriage between Sixth Sister and Pei Seventeen must be stopped immediately!"

Yu Wentai's face darkened. "How do you know about this?"

Yu Jingnian said, "I have my own sources of information; there is no need to ask. Just tell me whether you agree or not!"

Yu Wentai sneered, "Does your sister possess the beauty of a celestial maiden or unparalleled talent? She is a half-dead invalid and the eldest daughter of a widow. Aside from the Pei family, what other good family could she find? Do you not know the principle that the eldest daughter of a widow is not a desirable bride? If you ruin this perfectly good marriage, who will ever dare to marry your sister in the future? And where will you find another fine husband like Pei Seventeen?"

Yu Jingnian sneered repeatedly. "A good family? A fine husband? Sixth Sister has thin luck; she cannot afford such a good family or a fine husband! I truly do not understand—Sister is also your biological daughter; how can you be so heartless toward her!" Feeling that speaking was a waste of breath, he struck the back of the chair hard. "I only ask you: is this business deal on or off?"

Over the years, Yu Wentai had been suppressed by his brother, the Emperor, and had lived in frustration! He had originally intended to marry his daughter into the Pei family to gain a powerful in-law to support the Prince's mansion; his daughter's happiness was not even a consideration. But compared to his eldest son's future, such an alliance became insignificant. "Fine! I will tell Lady Yuan to reject this marriage tomorrow. But you must keep your promise and help your brother petition the Emperor!"

Yu Jingnian gave a cold smile. "Your son may be arrogant and overbearing, but he has never told a lie!"

Yu Wentai looked him in the eye and said, "I must warn you! If we reject the Pei family and your sister's marriage prospects are wasted because of it, do not blame me or your mother then!"

Yu Jingnian glanced at his father and said, word by word, "Father, I do not wish for such a thing to happen, and I believe you do not wish it either! Because, if Sister cannot marry into a good family, I will use every means at my disposal to ensure that all your sons, including Eldest Brother, will never be able to rise above the third rank! If you don't believe me, just try me!"

He spoke nonchalantly, but Yu Wentai knew his son; the more he acted this way, the more it showed his mind was made up. As he grew older, he had become increasingly calculating and unfathomable. Yu Wentai believed that with the Emperor's favor, he absolutely had the ability to suppress all his sons and ensure none of them ever rose!

Yu Wentai's eyes turned red with rage. "You... you... you unfilial brat! Do you even consider me your father?"

Yu Jingnian gave a cold laugh. "And when did you ever consider me and my sister your children?" He then suddenly added as if remembering something, "By the way, there is one more thing I might as well tell you. I have already transferred your wife's two nephews to the Yulin Guard; from now on, they will be serving under my command. Please convey a message to Madam: if she dares to play any more tricks regarding Sixth Sister's marriage, I will send her two nephews to the Great Yan to assassinate their Crown Prince Minwen!" The Crown Prince Minwen was famous throughout the world, surrounded by a cloud of attendants, and legend had it that the former number one expert in the world was currently in his service. Attempting to assassinate Crown Prince Minwen was no different from committing suicide.

Yu Wentai looked at his son in utter shock, as if he did not recognize him. "When... when did you do this?" He had been completely unaware of this. He then said resentfully, "How can you treat me like this!"

A trace of imperceptible sorrow flashed across Yu Jingnian's peerless handsome face. "Father, I am afraid I must disappoint you! To deal with my own kin, I have had to learn to use my brain a bit more!"

Looking at his son's sharp, increasingly resolute and decisive face, Yu Wentai felt a sense of trance. When had his son ceased to be that boy who wore everything on his face and only knew how to charge headlong into things? And was it perhaps too foolish of him to choose to oppose such an ambitious, forceful son who would use any means to achieve his goals?