《I Became the Heroine of Abusive Novel and Her Elder Brother》


 CH 1

    Notes:


    Yongning Gong: Duke of Yongning


    Yunnan Wang: King of Yunnan


    Qin Wang: King of Qin


    Wangfei: Official wife of a wang


    Yongning Gong shizi: The heir of Duke of Yongning


    Tanhua: Number three in imperial examination


    Heibai Wuchang: A pair of gods in Han culture, they often capture the soul of the dead and assist various underworld deity like Yama, etc.


    Qisha star: The sixth star of the Seven Killing Star. I don''t know if I''m wrong or not. But I think this words refer to the male lead.


    ___


    On the day Jun Huailang died, it rained all night in Chang''an.


    By noon, deep puddles had accumulated on the bluestone ground, but the rain still didn''t stop.


    The cold rain was wrapped in the autumn wind, it left a particularly chilling sensation.


    The three hundred and fifty-six people of Jun family was kneeling outside the Xuanwu gate, forming a dense crowd, wanting to ask for help on this day.


    Jun Huailang''s clothes were all wet, his lips turned white as he knelt at the top of the execution ground. The cold rain fell on his face, and his ears were filled with the cries of female family members combined with the comments of onlookers around him.


    He knew what they were talking about without having to hear it clearly.


    The Jun family was the founding father of Dayong. The ancestors of the Jun family fought the Western War with the Dayong ancestor two hundred years ago. After the founding, they were awarded with a title of Yongning Gong and inherited it from generation to generation.


    The royal ancestor was suspicious. Most of the founding heroes concealed their bows and had no good end, but the monarch¡¯s family was still so powerful for more than two hundred years until today.


    It was impossible for the Jun family to prosper in all dynasties and generations. So, it''s not surprising that this happened today.


    After all, Dayong had been completely disturbed by one person since the rebellion of Yunnan Wang and the arrival of troops under Chang''an city a month ago.


    This person was not actually a rebel, but Qin Wang, Xue Yan, who killed the rebel.


    When Yunnan Wang raised his troops, Xue Yan was facing the invading Turks in the north. In just over a month, he easily defeated over 200,000 Turkic army and recaptured the Yan Land that had been occupied for many years.


    After defeating the Turks, he immediately moved south and arrived just as Yunnan Wang''s army surrounded Chang''an. Yunnan Wang, who had been invincible for months, was easily killed by his iron cavalry. In the end, the king who almost stepped on the throne, was also cut off by his sword and hung in front of the Xuanwu gate.


    Yunnan Wang''s blood dyed the green bricks of the Xuanwu Gate red. Everyone thought that Chang''an would restore peace, but they didn''t expect that there would be no peaceful day in Chang''an from this day onwards.


    Qin Wang, Xue Yan killed Yunnan Wangfei then went straight into the Imperial City, stabbed the emperor to death on the Dragon chair with a sword.


    Immediately afterwards, he killed all his brothers, except for the eighth prince who was only three years old, who was wrapped in a dragon robe and pushed him to the throne. Xue Yan became the regent who took power on the new emperor''s behalf.


    The government and the public were shocked. Naturally, this included many officials, either because he killed his father and killed his siblings, or because their interests were damaged. They stood up against him one after another, trying to drive down this dishonest ruler with the ancestral rites and system.


    They obviously didn''t know much about Xue Yan.


    So, he pointed his sword from the palace towards the court. The former emperor was killed, and the new emperor was young. With just one look and word from him, countless court officials were caught out of their homes by the guards. They were pushed to Xuanwu gate for execution without even concluding a crime.


    For a month, the court was washed in blood. No one dared to speak out against him anymore.


    However, the tyrannical regent suddenly ordered that the Jun family who did not provoke him at all should be executed except for one person.


    That person was also the one who Jun Huailang worried about the most.


    His father was convicted and killed a few years ago, a few days later his mother followed. His younger brother, Jun Xiaowu died a month ago to defend against the invasion of Yunnan Wang, leading the guard of Capital City. The only one left was Jun Huailang''s closest relative.


    His sister Jun Linghuan.


    When Yunnan Wang rebelled, it coincided with the invasion of the northern Turks. At that time, the former Emperor fell ill again, causing internal and external troubles for the imperial court. A Taoist from nowhere was invited to the imperial palace to calculate a divination for the imperial court, saying that Dayong was in danger and that only the daughter of the Jun family could help the country.


    At that time, Jun Huailang''s aunt, who had been in the palace as a concubine, had passed away a year ago. In the entire Jun family, the only woman waiting to be married was Jun Linghuan.


    She was only fourteen at the time, and had not yet reached the age of maturity.


    Jun Huailang naturally tried his best to resist the decree, admonishing the first emperor. He was not only Yongning Gong shizi, but also a Tanhua. A new official who the first emperor relied heavily on. The first emperor had to promise him that he would let Jun Linghuan sit in the empty seat of the empress and never touch her. When the court was stable, he would let her go home and marry.


    Even though he said that, who would dare to marry a woman who had married the emperor?


    But Jun Huailang knew that this was the best result. He hated that he couldn''t protect his sister and couldn''t sleep day and night for three months. Unexpectedly, it was the ridiculous will of the former emperor that ultimately saved his sister''s life.


    But when he thought about the regent who wanted to destroy his family, Jun Huailang felt cold.


    He met the regent once.


    It was when he knelt in front of Yonghe palace to receive the imperial decree regarding his sister. At that time, Xue Yan was about to lead the army to bid farewell to the former Emperor. Wearing thick black armor, he walked in the solemn and gorgeous palace with a tall and sturdy figure. His scarlet cloak was spotless, walking past Jun Huailang, bringing a gust of wind.


    Jun Huailang raised his head and looked up.


    Also at this moment, Xue Yan randomly glanced and looked down at the kneeling Jun Huailang.


    Xue Yan was born very well.


    His biological mother was a beauty who was sent by the Turks to make peace, and he also had half barbarian blood. His eyebrows and eyes were a bit deeper than those of ordinary Han people. His straight nose was like a sharp blade out of its sheath. His face was sharp and profound, with light amber eyes under thick eyelashes.


    His gloomy and cold eyes seemed to be stained with a bit of blood.


    With just one glance, Jun Huailang felt cold all over his body.


    Jun Huailang was not surprised that such a dangerous and tyrannical person would take life and death according to his own mood. He also knew that the more noble the Jun family was, the more they stood on the cusp of storm. It is common for a new person in power to kill such an aristocratic family to establish his position.


    But then he died, and Jun Linghuan''s last family member was gone. She was now alone in the palace, the new emperor was young, and she had become the empress dowager. Inevitably facing the new regent dynasty.


    Jun Huailang raised his head. Thousands of cold rain fell in the gray sky.


    She was not yet fifteen years old, Jun Huailang thought.


    At this moment, the beheading officer ordered the execution. The sound of the rain was unclear, but the executioner¡¯s knife had been raised high. Raindrops splashed on the sharp blade, and a bright white silver light struck down as if it had cut a gap in an endless mask of gray.


    The hot blood fell into the cold rain.


    ___


    The sound of rain seemed to be covered with a layer of fog, far in the sky, as if there was nothing.


    Jun Huailang opened his eyes, but saw that he was in an endless void. There was nothing around him, except the rain water on his body, dripping embarrassingly.


    Could this be the world after people die?


    Jun Huailang looked around.


    At this moment, there was a slight noise at his feet.


    He lowered his head and saw a book with a peculiar binding falling at his feet. The cold water dripped from his robe and landed on the cover of the book.


    "The Seven Nights Abuse of the Evil Regent".


    The handwriting on this cover was a bit strange, it was clearly Chinese characters, but it lacked many strokes. Jun Huailang barely discerned the content of the cover, then he leaned down and picked up the book.


    He turned the first page of the book.


    Immediately afterwards, his pupils shrank and his fingers tightened unconsciously.


    From the third-person perspective of this book, the protagonist was called Jun Linghuan.


    The beginning of this book was the day when the Jun family was beheaded. He struggled to read the strange words lacking strokes, and looked at Jun Linghuan in the book. She was under house arrest alone in the magnificent empress dowager''s bedroom, sobbing while the autumn rain poured outside the window, crying and trembling all over.


    Although separated by the text, it evoked the familiarity between Jun Huailang and his sister.


    The blue veins on the back of Jun Huailang''s hand appeared.


    His family only has one daughter, Jun Linghuan, who was held in the palm of her family since she was a child and grew up. Even after the Jun family was defeated, Jun Linghuan was also very well protected by him. The biggest grievance she suffered was to become a nameless empress.


    Just thinking that no one would be able to protect her from now on, Jun Huailang felt pain.


    The imperial palace was a place surrounded by wolves. How could she, a little girl who was just about to reach adulthood, survive?


    His hands were shaking a little, and he couldn''t help turning the book back.


    He thought to himself that it must be the immortal''s favor. Knowing that he was the only person in the world who couldn''t stop worrying about it, they gave him this strange book to let him see his sister''s future fate, so that he could feel at ease.


    But then, Jun Huailang''s expression stiffened.


    He saw a name that was unfamiliar, but deeply burned in his mind.


    Xue Yan.


    On the second page, he saw Xue Yan stepping into his sister''s bedroom, his eyes were like a thousand-year-old demon. He gripped his sister''s chin without mercy, and forced her to look outside.


    "Xuanwu gate is over there." Xue Yan''s lips curled up in a cold arc. "Just after noon, your brother must have died."


    In the rain, Jun Linghuan could only saw the palaces with red walls and blue tiles.


    Her eyes were filled with despair and tears couldn''t stop falling.


    Jun Huailang''s cold fingertips trembled with anger, he crumpled the pages of the book.


    Regardless of how powerful he was, the fact that his sister was now the empress dowager was valid. Xue Yan should have called her empress dowager. Her family had already died. Even if Xue Yan had any deep hatred with the Jun family, it be written off at this point. Why did he still bully her like this? A little girl who didn''t have a power to bind chicken!


    This Xue Yan was not human at all!


    Jun Huailang was educated to be gentle and courteous since he was a child. At this time, he couldn''t help but gnash his teeth and scold Xue Yan upside down with every cursing words he knew.


    Not human, not human!


    Immediately afterwards, he couldn''t even scold him.


    He watched with a complex emotion.


    This Xue Yan! He simply did not care about etiquette at all! He pressed his sister on the couch and aggressively assaulted her then force her to look towards the direction of Xuanwu gate.


    While assaulting her, he coldly called her empress dowager.


    Jun Huailang''s flat nails were abruptly embedded in the pages of the book.


    In the book, Xue Yan seemed to have some unclear personal grievances with his sister. He only said that his sister shouldn''t pity him like a stray dog, and then betrayed him.


    He flipped this thick book. Most of the pages were filled with that beast Xue Yan humiliated his sister. Jun Huailang''s eyes were red. He wished to immediately reincarnate as a ghost and kill the beast. What made him even more desperate was when he reached two thirds of the book. His sister actually became attached to the beast. She hated him and feared him, but couldn''t live without him.


    Finally, Xue Yan married her as an empress and let the world talk and laugh, so that his sister had a bad reputation in the history books for thousands of years.


    Jun Huailang''s hands and jaw trembled


    Jun Huailang couldn''t control his hands. He smashed the heavy down with a bang.


    That beast... that beast!


    When I saw him in the corridor of Yonghe Palace, I should take out a sword and stab him to death!


    At this moment, a voice came into the void.


    "Huh? What sound?"


    Then the voice of an immortal sounded above Jun Huailang''s head.


    "Heibai Wuchang, why are you so careless? Why did the dead souls that should be taken away at noon appear here?"


    Immediately afterwards, there were messy and anxious footsteps, and two people rushed to explain.


    "Fu Jun, calm your anger! It is true that the Qisha Star came into the world. There are too many dead souls this time, we two are really too busy, and accidentally missed one..."


    Suddenly, an irresistible force dragged Jun Huailang''s soul outside.


    He didn''t care about it, he just stared at the book on the ground.


    Xue Yan¡­ Xue Yan! As long as this Jun Huailang breathes, I will repay you a hundredfold for what you have done!


    Jun Huailang was pulled by that force and disappeared into the void.


    Then, the immortal known as Fu Jun slowly walked out and checked around.


    "Huh?" He made a puzzled voice.


    He picked up the book.


    "What''s the matter, why did you leave the story book written by Ge Xingjun freely?"


    On the other end, Heibai Wuchang made another frantic sound.


    "Hey! Wrong! You moved the soul in the wrong direction!"

 CH 2

    Notes:


    Ruyao brush washer: One of the five famous porcelain in the Song Dynasty.


    Huimo: A type of ink stick produced fron Huangshan City and Xuancheng City , Anhui Province.


    Yongning houfu: Marquis Yongning residence. His family probably was demoted from gongfu to houfu.


    Jin Yiwei: Royal guards.


    Zhuang Sheng: A character in a story. Zhuang Sheng dreamed of becoming a butterfly. He was very happy and content. He didn''t know that he was Zhuang Sheng anymore. After waking up after a while, he was surprised that he turned out to be Zhuang Sheng. He really didn''t understand whether he was Zhuang Sheng that dreamed of becoming a butterfly, or was he a butterfly that dreamed of becoming Zhuang Sheng?


    __


    The autumn wind carrying the sound of pattering rain blew several fluttering yellowish bamboo leaves through the window and fell on top of a pinewood desk.


    The fine drop of cold rain fell on Jun Huailang''s face, and he woke up.


    What he saw before his eyes was the most familiar place for more than two decades. The carved wooden window in front of him was open, facing the lotus pond in his courtyard. Dozens of bamboo poles stood by the window, which were thick enough to form a scenery of its own.


    He was sitting at his desk with his arms propped up and sleeping. There were many books stacked on the table. In front of him was a copy of "Shangsu". At the corner of the table, there was a Ruyao brush washer that was bought by his father from Huzhou a few years ago. A guqin which he had used since he was a child on the table laying alone.


    There was also an unsolved jade chessboard game on the couch under the window.


    It was the study he had used for more than 20 years, which was familiar and peaceful, but it showed an unreal feeling.


    Jun Huailang was stunned for a while, the room was quiet, only the rustle of rain hitting the surface of the lotus pond outside.


    I¡­ am I not dead?


    His parents died, his second brother was martyred for the city, his family was destroyed, the cold rain and the butcher knife of Xuanwu gate, and his sister was humiliated...


    In this silence, it seemed that nothing happened.


    He couldn''t help looking down at his hand.


    It was a pair of slender but immature hands, with thin white skin and weak bone joints. They looked as if they belonged to a ten years old child.


    And in his hand, he held a crumpled piece of paper.


    Jun Huailang''s pupils shrank suddenly and hurriedly unfolded the piece of paper.


    It was a corner of a certain book page. The characters on it were very strange. It was clearly Chinese characters, but there were a lot of missing strokes. The piece of paper was obviously torn from its place because he unconsciously grabbed it with a great force. With it, Jun Huailang could feel the cold and dampness caused by rain.


    The paper said: Xue Yan''s lips formed a cold arc, and he reached out and pinched her chin...


    Jun Huailang''s eyes were cold.


    Not a dream.


    Those in his memory all happened in reality. He just didn''t know if he was in the underworld or...


    At this moment, someone opened the door and walked in.


    Jun Huailang moved his finger and hid the piece of paper in his palm again. When he looked up, he saw a 14-year-old boy in short combat dress coming in with a smile.


    "Master, here is the Huimo you want!" he said.


    "...Fuyi?" Jun Huailang was taken aback.


    Fuyi was his book boy. He was only one year younger than him and grew up with him since childhood. On the day when Yongning houfu was raided and Jun huailang was taken away. Fuyi was killed by Jin Yiwei in the mansion in order to protect him.


    Why is Fuyi still alive, and still looks like a young boy?


    Fuyi did not see the shock and doubt in his eyes at all. He was holding the piece of ink stick to the table and skillfully ground it for him.


    "The ink in the yard has already been used up. This minion went to the master''s study to fetch it for you. It''s different from what you usually use. I don''t know if you can get used to it¡­"


    A light flashed in Jun Huailang''s mind.


    When he finished reading the book, a few immortals came in the void and took him away from there. Listening to the immortal''s words, it must be a coincidence that he went to the place he shouldn''t go.


    But before his consciousness disappeared, he vaguely heard one of the immortals say that the soul was in the wrong place.


    Could it be that... I had already reached the end of my life, and I was going to reincarnate in the underworld, but was sent back by mistake a few years ago?


    Jun Huailang looked at his hand that was holding the torn corner of the page, and became more sure of his guess.


    So, nothing had happened yet. I am still young, my parents are still alive, and my sister is not...


    Thinking of this, his eyes went cold.


    Xue Yan.


    That beast was still a little beast at this time.


    Fortunately, a few immortals favored him and gave him a chance to clean up his old enemies.


    Thinking of this, Jun Huailang tightened his fingers and clamped the page tightly.


    Fuyi on the table is still unaware. He talked a lot, grinding and grinding. His mouth didn''t stop.


    "Just now, this minion met a servant from the lady''s room! The servant said that the bird raised by the lady was bitten to death by a wild cat and cried for a long time! She is still worried because the lady will go to the palace for the Mid Autumn Festival banquet in the evening. What to do if the lady''s eyes are swollen¡­"


    Bird.


    Jun Huailang paused.


    In his previous life, Jun Linghuan raised a little yellow bird for more than a year. It''s very precious. In this year, the bird was bitten to death by a wild cat. Jun Linghuan was very sad and he coaxed her for a long time.


    From then on, Jun Linghuan never raised birds anymore.


    If I remember correctly, this year is the 18th year of Qingping, and I am just 16 years old. Today in his previous life, he fell asleep in front of the window while the cold wind blew. It caused him to develop a high fever and did not go to the Palace Banquet.


    Jun Huailang''s eyes darkened.


    He remembered that in the book, Xue Yan had sent a bird to Jun Linghuan. The bird was locked in a gold cage studded with jewels, with a gold chain on its feet. Jun Linghuan refused in every way possible and annoyed Xue Yan. That beast suddenly had a perverted hobby out of nowhere and locked his sister''s ankle up with the same identical chain.


    Thinking of this, Jun Huailang began to itch with anger.


    Jun Linghuan hadn''t been to the palace much before, and Jun Huailang didn''t know when she had become enemies with that beast. In this life, he must take good care of his sister and never make any mistakes again.


    Thinking of this, Jun Huailang put away the piece of paper, raised his eyes and said to Fuyi: "You don''t need to grind it. How long until we enter the palace? Pack it up first, I''ll go and see Linghuan."


    Fuyi brushed his clothes and hurriedly asked the servant girl to prepare.


    Sitting at the desk alone, Jun Huailang gradually digested the current facts and cleared his thoughts.


    The Jun family was a century-old clan and very close to the emperor. He couldn''t count the number of large and small banquets he attended in the palace in a year. Therefore, the servant girl in Jun Huailang''s courtyard was very proficient and soon prepared the clothes that he would wear to enter the palace.


    In the cold autumn morning in Chang''an, Jun Huailang changed into a dark blue silk robe with a shu brocade under the service of two servant girls, and added a dark blue tied up cloak.


    He stood in the bronze mirror and glanced. The boy in the mirror had dark hair. He was still thin and hadn''t yet grown up. He looked so green and tender. He felt a little strange.


    Another sense of unreality flooded Jun Huailang''s heart, like Zhuang Sheng who couldn''t distinguish dream and reality.


    The maid next to me also smiled and said: "The young master looks handsome. Although the slaves see the young master every day, they still can''t help but let the young master shake their minds!"


    The servant girl around all laughed softly.


    She was not exaggerating. The young master of Jun family was well-known in Chang''an. His face was like a crown of jade, his eyebrows were bright and picturesque, and his peach blossom eyes appeared to be romantic and affectionate, but he is particularly cold because of his noble and elegant temperament, which makes his elegant demeanor and exquisite appearance not incompatible.


    At this time, he was reborn. The childishness in his eyes had long disappeared. His eyes were quiet and cold. He stood there like an inviolable banished immortal.


    Jun Huailang was used to his appearance. He glanced at the bronze mirror and smiled indifferently.


    "It''s just a skin bag. It''s nothing more than a foreign object."


    The more important thing was the soul under the skin that had changed.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Without much delay, Jun Huailang went to Jun Linghuan''s courtyard. The yard was small and exquisite. Many flowers and trees were planted, and flowers bloom all the year round. A small bell hung from the eaves of her main house. When the wind blew, it rang softly.


    Fuyi held an umbrella for Jun Huailang, and followed him all the way into Jun Linghuan''s room.


    There was a maid guarding the door, and she quickly greeted him with a smile: "Miss, the eldest master is here!" The maid in the room talked with a smile on her face, and invited Jun Huailang in.


    Jun Huailang walked in and saw Jun Linghuan sitting in front of the dressing table, surrounded by several maids.


    A little girl carved with pink and jade, with red eyes and choked in a low voice. She was still sad when he saw her. Although she was spoiled by her family since childhood, she was very well-behaved. At this time, although she couldn''t help but to cry, she didn''t make trouble, and obediently let the servant girl comb her hair.


    Hearing Jun Huailang coming, the little girl''s eyes finally lit up by two points. She raised her head, her eyes were red, and she looked at him timidly like a deer.


    "Big brother, you here?" She sobbed with a soft and cute voice.


    This was Jun Linghuan eight years ago.


    At a glance, Jun Huailang''s heart melted.


    Such a pitiful little girl. How could that beast Xue Yan did it!


    Over there, the servant girl who combed Jun Linghuan''s hair straightened the hairpin for her. She stopped her hand and said, "The young master is finally here. We can''t help it when the young lady cries. We have to count on the young master."


    Seeing that she had combed her hair, Jun Linghuan jumped off the chair and ran to Jun Huailang.


    Jun Huailang bent over and hugged her.


    Very nice. He thought to himself. Nothing had happened yet, and his sister had not yet been attacked by that beast.


    Jun Linghuan put her arms around Jun Huailang''s neck and whispered in a complaint: "Brother, my little bird was killed by a cat."


    Jun Huailang stroked her back and coaxed warmly: "Brother knows. The little bird flew back to the sky. When you come back, brother will find another little animal for you and let it accompany you, okay?"


    His voice was as clear as a spring in the mountain. It was good to hear. At this time, he put a soft tone, which made people want to indulge in it.


    Jun Linghuan raised her hand. She wiped her eyes, and nodded obediently.


    "So the cat won''t bite it to death." She added.


    Jun Huailang nodded with a smile and asked her if she had eaten. The etiquette at the Palace Banquet was cumbersome. He was afraid that she would be hungry.


    Jun Linghuan then went to eat obediently. She generously stuffed Jun Huailang with the sweet-scented osmanthus cake that she was reluctant to eat at noon.


    Jun Huailang looked at the little girl who looked at him expectantly and waited for him to taste her favorite pastry. His heart felt a little tight.


    In my past life...how could I let her suffer such a crime.


    Jun Linghuan lied down in front of him and saw that he held the cake but didn''t eat it. For a moment, she even forgot her sadness.


    "Brother, why don''t you eat?" She asked.


    Jun Huailang came back to his senses.


    He paused, smiled soothingly at Jun Linghuan. He raised his hand and wiped her soft hair. In a clear voice, there was firmness and seriousness that others could not detect.


    "Brother will protect you." He said.


    Xue Yan would never have another chance to succeed.


    ___


    Author''s note:


    Jun Linghuan read the question: What kind of experience was it when my brother was forced to bend in order to protect me?


    Jun Linghuan: Thank you for your invitation. I''m in Chang''an and just got off the carriage. At first, my brother said he would protect me. I was very happy. But then I watched the "animal", "beast" and "not human" in my brother''s mouth become my brother-in-law. Maybe this is my brother''s spirit of selfless dedication. I''m really moved!

 CH 3

    Shi: In Shen-shi, the ¡®shi¡¯ indicates that Jun Huailang¡¯s mother came from Shen Family.


    Everyone¡¯s child: A child which many parents wish their own child to be. I don¡¯t know its English equivalent, basically a golden child. He is so good, that many parents wants their child to be like him. Something like that.


    Zhuque gate: A big gate that was built as an entrance to a palace.


    Guogong-ye: Lord Duke.


    Yan Wang: King of Yan.


    ____


    The carriage of Yongning Gongfu was waiting at the door.


    When Jun Linghuan finished eating the cakes, a servant girl from Jun Huailang''s mother, Shen-shi, came and said that it was almost time to enter the palace. When Jun Huailang led Jun Linghuan to the front of the mansion, the servant at the door said with a smile that the Duke and his wife were already in the carriage.


    The servant placed the footstool for them and raised the brocade curtain. Jun Huailang first carried Jun Linghuan into the carriage, and then entered the carriage himself.


    "Huailang came out with Huan''er?" Seeing him coming in, Shen-shi in the carriage laughed.


    Jun Huailang raised his head and saw his father and mother sitting in the carriage. His mother was smiling, and his father, Jun Chengyuan, was still indifferent and taciturn, overlapping with the image of his parents he remembered.


    It''s been three years since his father was convicted when he was 21 years old, both of his parents died, and he since then, he never saw them again.


    His father had always been an honest official and never engaged in corruption or joined any party. In his previous life, his father was inexplicably detained for a huge amount of money for embezzlement and beheaded according to the law.


    Jun Huailang knew that there must be a secret.


    The clues he didn''t find in the previous life... This life, he would definitely find it out.


    When he came back to his senses, Jun Huailang smiled and nodded to Shen-shi: "This child just went to Linghuan''s place and have a look. Linghuan''s little bird died, and she was sad."


    Then, he turned his gaze to the boy sitting beside him and nodded at him as a greeting.


    That young man was Jun Enze, he was of the same age as Jun Huailang, the child of his uncle. His uncle was banished to Lingnan. Unwilling to let his legitimate son suffer, he fostered Jun Enze in Yongning Gongfu.


    The relationship between Jun Huailang and Jun Enze in the previous life was also quite indifferent. Jun Enze was the companion of the second prince in the palace. Only the second prince followed the lead and never paid attention to the other children of Yongning Gongfu.


    Jun Huailang couldn''t help but sneer in his heart.


    He tried to curry favor with the second prince. The fact was¡­ He did this to integrate into the circle of the princes and to create a superficial relationship. But when the dynasty change, if you follow the wrong prince, you are on the wrong team. The prince you follow not only cannot protect you, but you will also be regarded as an accomplice.


    Jun Enze couldn''t see it clearly, and Jun Huailang was not interested talking to him.


    As soon as Jun Linghuan got in the carriage, she dived into Jun Chengyuan''s arms. Jun Chengyuan had always been serious and reserved, Jun Linghuan was the only one in the family who continue to pester him.


    With a rare smile on Jun Chengyuan''s face, he hugged Jun Linghuan in his arms and raised his hand awkwardly to tidy up her sideburn hairs.


    The carriage moved towards the Imperial City.


    Jun Huailang didn''t notice that Jun Enze in the corner was silently looking at him.


    The horse-drawn carriage of a duke mansion was spacious and beautiful, with several tables and chairs inlaid with gold and jade, and a plate full of beautifully decorated sorghum cakes. Jun Huailang sat in the middle of it, his eyebrows were bright, which different from ordinary people.


    With the noble demeanor of everyone''s child, he (Jun Huailang) was an object every parents compared their children with, making himself (Jun Enze) look like a fake placed on the side. He (Jun Enze) was ashamed when he sat beside him (Jun Hualiang).


    Jun Enze turned his eyes away.


    ... What''s so great? The second prince said that such people are just putting on airs.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Zhuque gate on the west side of the palace.


    In front of the Zhuque gate, there were carriages and horses owned by various officials and honorable people who came to the palace for the banquet. A few people got out of the carriage, and someone drove the carriage down for them. A servant ran over diligently and led them to the Yongle hall where the banquet was held.


    As soon as he entered the second palace gate, Jun Huailang heard someone calling him.


    "Huailang! Huailang!"


    Jun Huailang looked up and saw a group of eunuchs surrounding a young boy dressed in luxurious clothes. The young boy''s brocade robe was woven with gold. A red gold collar placed around his neck and a line of gold was carved into a white jade longevity lock.


    That was the sixth prince, Xue Yunhuan.


    He was the only legitimate son of the empress. Jun Huailang and the sixth prince were very close in age. The Empress and the Shen-shi were also a close friends in the boudoir. Shen-shi often went into the palace, so Jun Huailang and Xue Yunhuan had been playing together since childhood.


    The empress had a gentle temperament. The palace servants regarded Xue Yunhuan as a little bully, and no one dared to provoke him. However, Jun Huailang knew that this kid was very stupid. He was one track minded and especially loyal.


    When the emperor ordered Linghuan to enter the palace, Xue Yunhuan swore to him that he would definitely protect his sister. But within a month, Jun Huailang heard the news that he was killed by Xue Yan in the palace.


    ... The grievances between Xue Yan and him couldn¡¯t be calculated.


    After a while, Xue Yunhuan had already run to them. He smiled and bowed his hands to Jun Chengyuan and Shen-shi first and said hello. When the two of them hurriedly greeted him, he quickly reached out his hand and messed up Jun Linghuan''s bun.


    "Sister Huan''er, do you miss me?"


    Jun Linghuan''s hair was tugged by the complicated headdress and she groaned in pain. She was so aggrieved that she pursed her mouth and stretched out her hand to hit him.


    Xue Yunhuan grinned at Jun Huailang while avoiding her small attack.


    "I''ve been waiting for you here for a long time! I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll miss it. My eyes are about to fall off!"


    Jun Huailang smiled helplessly and tidied up Jun Linghuan''s hair bun. He said, "I''ll see you at the banquet in a while, why come here to wait for me?"


    "Hey, it''s too late if I see you at the banquet!" Xue Yunhuan said. "I got a Dawan horse a few days ago. It''s the No. 1 in the heaven! I''m just waiting to take you to see it!"


    Jun Huailang originally wanted to refuse, but when he met his bright eyes, thinking that he had never seen him before his death in his previous life, his heart softened.


    Xue Yunhuan was overjoyed when he saw that Jun Huailang didn''t refuse. He tugged Jun Huailang''s sleeve and greeted his parents: "Aunt Shen, Guogong-ye, you can rest assured and leave Huailang to me. We¡¯ll be back soon!"


    Jun Chengyuan and Shen-shi naturally couldn''t refute what he want, so they only told them to be careful on the way.


    Xue Yunhuan dragged Jun Huailang away.


    In the palace, except for the emperor and the empress, no sedans were allowed. They had to walk all the way. The Royal stable was quite remote. The further the two of them walked, the quieter the surroundings.


    The imperial city occupied an extremely vast area, filled with tens of thousands of palaces. Many of them were remote and uninhabited, they had been in a state of disrepair since a long time. However, Xue Yunhuan praised his horse all the way, which made the atmosphere quite lively.


    Just then, a voice of argument came from the path in front of them.


    "What do you have in your hand? Hand it over and let brothers check it!"


    "I¡¯m talking to you, don¡¯t you hear me?"


    Listening to the voice, there were several young eunuchs. The noise was also mixed with the voice of a little eunuch begging for mercy. Jun Huailang vaguely heard what he said, about the royal gift, and said that he couldn¡¯t let them move it. He begged them to let him go.


    Jun Huailang couldn''t help but stop and look over there.


    "What''s the matter?" Xue Yunhuan, who only had his own luxurious horse in his heart, didn''t notice the movement at all. Seeing Jun Huailang stop, he also followed.


    Through the lush trees, he saw a few people surrounding a little eunuch, pulling and grabbing the thing in his hand. The little eunuch was so scared that he almost cried and hid it in his arms.


    "The royal gift? Your master, can he get the royal gift? Don''t you know it in your heart?"


    Several people laughed and pulled the thing out.


    The little couldn''t keep his hold on it, and the thing suddenly fell to the ground with a clanging sound. A sound of a breaking piece of jade.


    Immediately, several people couldn''t laugh anymore and they all froze in place. The little eunuch stared at the jade arrow, shivering, and his lips were white.


    After a while, the leader said loudly, "It has nothing to do with us! You broke the jade arrow bestowed by the emperor and you are the one who will lost your head!"


    Then, other eunuchs seemed to come back to life and responded with an agreement.


    Jun Huailang frowned.


    These people clearly knew what the little eunuch was holding in his arms, and they were deliberately trying to find fault. Destroying the royal gift is a serious crime of beheading. If no one else sees it today, this little eunuch''s head will not be preserved.


    Jun Huailang had never seen such a thing. He raised his hand to push aside the branches blocking the path and walked straight forward.


    Without the shelter of the trees, Jun Huailang was about to speak when he suddenly saw another person.


    He stood beside the little eunuch, staring coldly at everything in front of him. He was clearly wearing fancy clothes, but even the eunuchs didn''t take him seriously. When they pushed the little eunuch, they deliberately hit him with their elbows.


    Jun Huailang met those eyes.


    Amber, like a deep pool.


    Xue Yan.


    Jun Huailang''s eyes narrowed, and his expression suddenly turned cold. But amid the vigilance and hatred, he actually had a strange emotion.


    He didn''t expect to suddenly meet Xue Yan here, and what he didn''t expect was that Xue Yan at this time was completely different from the tyrannical villain he remembered.


    His facial features already had the sharp and profound feature that Jun Huailang knew he (Xue Yan) would have in the future. The barbarian blood made his eyelashes especially thick and long, which makes his young appearance even more gorgeous.


    He stood there alone with his eyes down and was being pushed around by several eunuchs without saying a word. When he raised his eyes to look at himself (Jun Huailang), his amber eyes were like a pair of ice-bound deep pools. They had no vitality that a young man his age should have, like a wolf cub who had lost his parents.


    It made him look a little pitiful.


    But just a moment later, Jun Huailang came back to his senses.


    Since ancient times, injustice had its head and debt had its owner. Even though he was pitiful, his family and Jun Linghuan didn¡¯t provoke him. The enemy was still the enemy. He was pitiful (right at this moment), but why should he humiliate the innocents (his family) like that?


    Jun Huailang thought of his past life and clenched his teeth.


    Next to him, Xue Yunhuan had long been accustomed to Jun Huailang''s meddling. Seeing that Jun Huailang didn''t say a word, he thought there was someone that he (Jun Huailang) couldn''t afford to offend, so he (Xue Yunhuan) walked out with his hands behind his back to support him (Jun Huailang).


    "Who is making a fuss over there? This prince has seen what happened just now. Don''t think to lie about it..."


    Unexpectedly, just as the eunuchs were so frightened that they knelt down and kowtowed, Jun Huailang suddenly interrupted him.


    "Let''s go," he said.


    "...Ah?" Xue Yunhuan didn''t react.


    However, Jun Huailang glanced coldly towards a particular direction. His voice was unusually cold: "Don''t mind other people business, let''s go."


    After saying that, he turned around and left.


    Only then did Xue Yunhuan notice the person he was looking at.


    "Xue Yan?" Xue Yunhuan quickly followed him. "You also know about this evil star? You really shouldn''t worry about it. I heard people say that he killed his mother and killed Yan Wang, and even Yan County was lost because of him. If you mind his business, maybe the Gods will punish you too... hey! Wait for me!"


    Xue Yunhuan''s voice gradually disappeared.


    The eunuchs who knelt down and begged for mercy did not expect this development. They looked at Xue Yan and the sixth prince was leaving.


    Sure enough, the master was right. This kind of noble person who was disliked by all the noble people in the palace, even if he is the son of the emperor, can be trampled by the servants at will.


    Several eunuchs stood up, they looked at Xue Yan and smiled contemptuously. They left one after another.


    Before leaving, one of the eunuchs did not forget to bump into Xue Yan heavily.


    After a while, the place returned to silence, except for the sobbing sound of the little eunuch who was slumped on the ground.


    "Say something! The thing bestowed by the emperor was broken in the hands of this servant. Even ten heads of this servant are not enough to compensate for this! What kind of sins did this servants do..."


    "So noisy." Xue Yan suddenly said.


    His voice was cold and hoarse, his tone was gentle, but it was inexplicably intimidating.


    The little eunuch was shocked and stopped crying for a while. He looked up at Xue Yan.


    He saw Xue Yan indifferently looking at the direction where the two nobles disappeared. After a while, he lowered his eyes, looking at the broken jade on the ground, his eyes were cold and contemptuous.


    "When His Majesty asked, just said that I accidentally broke it, and it has nothing to do with you." He said.


    After that, he stepped on the broken jade and walked straight ahead.


    His back was straight, his steps were steady, and there was no embarrassment of being humiliated. Instead, people subconsciously wanted to surrender to his feet.


    Passing through that intersection, Xue Yan raised his hand and mercilessly broke a branch that was as thick as an arm in the way and threw it at his feet.


    The move was easy, but there was a deep killing intent.


    Like he was wringing off a head.


    That branches was the one that Jun Huailang pushed aside before.

 CH 4

    Xue Yunhuan trotted along with Jun Huailang, and told the gossip and anecdotes of Xue Yan in the palace.


    He said that Xue Yan''s mother died just after he was born. The death was very strange, but there was no clue. After that, the imperial supervisor made a divination and said that the problem was Xue Yan.


    He had a seven-killer character.


    It was said that although the Seven Killing Fate was an extremely ferocious evil, it had a great value. However, the imperial supervisor¡¯s approval document said that he came to the world as a murderer, and his pressure was difficult to suppress. He would defeat his parents and hinder the Emperor¡¯s fate. So the emperor defied all opinions and sent him to the northernmost county of Yan, where he was raised by King Yan.


    Because of this, Xue Yan didn''t even use the word "Yun" for this generation of princes, and the word "Yan" was used to save his life.


    As a result, just this year, the Turks invaded aggressively and Yan County fell. The Yanyun iron cavalry guarding the border was mostly lost at that time, and even the King of Yan died. Only Xue Yan survived, he ran alone for more than a thousand miles and actually returned to the capital.


    This dynasty placed a great emphasis on Confucianism and despised Buddhism and Taoism. Originally, the emperor sent the prince to the border because of a divination, which had violated the ethics and was criticized by the courtiers. This time, Xue Yan ran back to the capital alone, and the emperor had no excuse to send him to other place.


    So Xue Yan was forced to stay in the palace.


    When he first came back, it happened that the emperor was testing the prince, and the reward for the winner was a set of jade arrows. Originally, the four princes were familiar with both civil and military affairs, and the victory was in their hands, but then Xue Yan came. This Xue Yan used military book as an ordinary everyday book at the border. He went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen. At the beginning of the year, he brought hundreds of cavalry to deal with the Turk army for more than a month. Naturally, he easily won the test and got the jade arrow.


    At that time, from the emperor to all the concubines and princes, their faces were not good-looking.


    A few days later, the second prince provoked Xue Yan and was beaten by Xue Yan until his nose was blue and his face was swollen. Although it was the second prince who started it, only Xue Yan was punished. He was punished by the emperor to kneel on his concubine mother''s tablet.


    After that, everyone in the palace knew that Xue Yan was a broom star who could be bullied casually, and His Majesty would never stand on his side.


    Having said this, Xue Yunhuan sighed and said half enviously, "It''s a pity that he is so good at martial arts."


    After speaking, Xue Yunhuan''s attention returned to his horse and Xue Yan was left behind.


    He didn''t notice that Jun Huailang was a little silent.


    When Jun Huailang returned to Yongle Hall and sat in the banquet, the thoughts that he had just generated were still lingering in his mind.


    He thought, Xue Yan is a very fierce evil spirit, which is understandable. But this is clearly not destiny, but man-made.


    Fate decides him to be an evil star, and everyone treats him as the evil star. Over time, he really becomes his so called fate.


    And now he... obviously hasn''t grown into that real evil star.


    Jun Huailang was taken aback by his own thoughts and quickly came back to his senses.


    How could he show mercy to his enemy just because of a few words? I pity him, who will pity Jun''s family?


    Jun Huailang reluctantly took a sip of tea and reminded himself solemnly: what Xue Yan did has nothing to do with him, what he had to take care of was the Jun family and his sister.


    But Jun Huailang didn''t even realize that his harmonious family and his good education caused him to be quite empathetic. Xue Yan''s experience was only someone else''s story to him, but it gave him a dark picture of betrayal.


    Even if he didn''t want to admit it, this was the first time he had seen someone who was born in a quagmire and betrayed by the whole world.


    At this moment, a eunuch came and saluted him with a smile. This eunuch was born prosperous, smiling with joy, like a Maitreya Buddha.


    Jun Huailang recognized that this was Ling Fu, the eunuch beside the emperor.


    "Eunuch Fu." Jun Huailang raised his head and greeted him.


    Ling Fu smiled and said, "This son is lucky. Your Majesty is drinking tea with a few concubines at the back. Miss Jun is also there. Your Majesty asks you to sit down too."


    Jun Huailang answered and got up to follow him.


    They walk and passed through the gate to reach the apse of Yongle Hall. This apse had always been a place for the emperor and concubines to rest during the banquets. Ordinary courtiers were not allowed to enter without an edict.


    Bypassing the huge gold-painted screen of sixteen fans, Jun Huailang saw a group of people sitting in the apse surrounded by gauze curtains.


    Emperor Qingping was sitting in the hall, drinking tea. He was less than fifty now, his body was still strong and his face was thin. It could be seen that he was handsome in his youth. Empress Jiang beside him was a friend of Shen-shi. She was elegant, dignified and gentle. When she saw Jun Huailang, she smiled and nodded at him.


    There were several concubines sitting on both sides, all dressed up and full of flowers. Jun Linghuan was sitting in Concubine Shu''s arms, holding a fruit to eat.


    Seeing Jun Huailang coming in, Emperor Qingping smiled and said, "Huailang is here? Come closer, let''s see how much taller you have grown?


    Empress Jiang said softly, "It seems that he has grown a lot taller, a few inches taller than Huan¡¯er."


    On Qingping Emperor, Jun Huailang had a mixed feelings in his heart.


    There is no doubt that Jun Huailang grew up under his watch. Emperor Qingping had always been kind to him and his respected elder. But in his previous life, he insisted on marrying Jun Linghuan into the palace because of a ridiculous divinatory. Jun Huailang was heartbroken no matter what.


    Although Jun Linghuan was saved by this, she undoubtedly jumped into another fire pit after Jun family was exterminated.


    However, Jun Huailang lived a new life and was no longer a young boy who could not hide his joy and anger. He stepped forward uprightly and greeted several people politely.


    After he finished the ceremony, Concubine Shu laughed beside him, her voice soft and sweet: "Come on Lang''er, I haven''t seen you in this palace for several months. Come and let bengong have a look."


    Concubine Shu was Jun Huailang''s aunt and his father''s sister, Jun Yaohua. Concubine Shu was only twenty-six years old, she was born bright and beautiful. At this time, she was dressed in a soft red palace dress, with a silk peony on her hairpin.


    Jun Huailang stepped forward and sat down beside Concubine Shu.


    Emperor Qingping and Concubine Shu praised him, and with every words the queen also echoed. Concubine Shu was favored, and her temperament was sweet, which made the emperor laugh frequently.


    The concubine sitting opposite of Concubine Shu was dressed in a plain-colored palace dress and was beautifully dressed. She was Yi Jieyu, the biological mother of the fourth prince. She also came from an aristocratic family. Her family had been an official for generations but never influential. It was not until these years that her father rose to a high position and her brother fought a few battles that their Xu family became an upstart in the court. Yi Jieyu''s position also rose, and she was quite favored these years.


    During the chat, Yi Jieyu stepped in and said with a gentle smile, "Huailang is a symbol of young men¡¯s good conduct. Concubine Shu is also from Jun family. If she give birth to a child for the emperor, he would certainly be like this and handsome."


    Concubine Shu had no scruples. She was smiling at first, but when she heard her words, her smile faded.


    She had been in the palace for ten years and always in a favor, but she never pregnant with the dragon seed.


    Yi Jieyu intentionally hit her sore spot. Concubine Shu knew that this woman''s yin and yang speech was intentional. She looked at her with a knife but she saw this woman''s gentle and harmless appearance, which made her angry.


    The queen took good care of her friend''s sister-in-law. She smiled and said, "Children and grandchildren are all up to fate, no need to force it."


    Yi Jieyu made Concubine Shu suffocated and couldn''t help but said sourly, "I don''t have this fate. Naturally, I won''t be able to enjoy the blessings of children and grandchildren."


    Jun Linghuan in her arms couldn''t understand the open and hidden arrows of women. She only knew that her beautiful aunt was unhappy. She had always been generous and hurriedly picked up the best dessert she had just tasted and handed it to Concubine Shu.


    "Auntie eat this." She said softly.


    Emperor Qingping always favored Concubine Shu. Seeing that she was unhappy he casually said, "Why can''t you enjoy happiness? If you like children, it is not impossible to bring Linghuan and Huailang to live in the palace."


    Concubine Shu''s eyes lit up: "Is your majesty serious?"


    Emperor Qingping smiled and said, "Naturally." After speaking, he looked at the queen again. "What does the empress think?"


    The empress smiled and said, "This concubine is naturally happy. Huan''er likes to be with Huailang, but he doesn''t like reading. This concubine hopes that Huailang can take him to study."


    Sitting on the side of Concubine Shu, Jun huailang''s eyes paused.


    He seemed to know something.


    In his previous life, he had a high fever and did not attend this banquet. After this banquet, Jun Linghuan did live in the palace for a while, but he didn''t take it to heart.


    Could it be that my sister provoked Xue Yan during this time?


    Jun Huailang secretly tightened his fist.


    At this moment, Concubine Shu asked him, "Lang''er, do you want to spend some time with your aunt in the palace?"


    Jun Huailang nodded immediately.


    No matter whether his guess was true or not, he couldn¡¯t take any risk and give Jun Linghuan a chance to encounter Xue Yan.


    Yi Jieyu laughed again: "Yes, having children can be make atmosphere livelier. Even if it''s not your own, it doesn¡¯t matter."


    There was something in her words. Princess Shu didn''t catch the meaning but she also heard the woman''s Yin and Yang words and hidden needles.


    At this moment, a little eunuch came and said that the fifth prince was coming.


    The fifth prince, Xue Yan.


    Suddenly, the originally warm and peaceful atmosphere cooled down and became a little strange. The emperor smiled, the queen drank tea with her eyes down, and several concubines looked at each other without saying anything.


    As if they did not hear anything.


    Jun Huailang suddenly felt an unreal strangeness. They were all gentle and loving elders, but when they heard Xue Yan''s name, they all changed into an unfamiliar person.


    This was exactly what Xue Yan faced.


    The more senior people were, the more they believe in destiny. This thing was mysterious. Although it couldn¡¯t be seen or touched, everyone was afraid that this thing would really come and bring changes.


    "Come." Emperor Qingping spoke lightly.


    Then, Jun Huailang saw Xue Yan led in by a eunuch. Empty-handed, he walked straight forward and bowed to Emperor Qingping.


    Emperor Qingping did not let him up and asked directly, "Where''s the arrow?"


    In the Mid-Autumn Festival every year, the children of the official family were taught to use this set of jade arrows to test at the Palace Banquet. At the beginning, Emperor Qingping used this arrow as a reward to express his importance to the princes'' studies, so that they could work harder.


    Jun Huailang knew that the arrow had been broken.


    For some reason, he suddenly looked at the little eunuch behind Xue Yan. He was pale and his legs were trembling. He was also considered unlucky. He was sent to serve Xue Yan and those who bullied Xue Yan would also bully him.


    Xue Yan was at least a prince, but he was different. His life was like a grass.


    Jun Huailang suddenly thought that he had seen this scene. But at this time, it was about Xue Yan. He didn''t speak. It was natural for him to do so, but now he was going to kill this innocent life.


    He clenched his fist impatiently, his nails sinking into the palm of his hand.


    If he helped, it was kindness and benevolence. He felt ashamed when he thought of all family members who suffered because of Xue Yan in the previous life; if he didn¡¯t help, he would watch an innocent person die.


    And at this moment, he suddenly heard Xue Yan''s voice.


    Gentle and quiet, the juvenile voice was clear and smooth. Unexpectedly pleasant.


    "This son accidentally damaged the arrow. It has nothing to do with others. Ask the emperor to punish him." He said.