Chapter 107: Big Brother Has Changed

Yun Fengyun was also eating peanuts.

But his actions were very different.

He picked up a peanut with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, first chewed slowly, then spoke.

"Unchanged? But the world now is completely different; there are things we need to change."

"A dynasty and a family are entirely different; as the saying goes, there are things to do and things not to do..."

"Big brother, don't tell me these things; I only know how to fight, I don't understand anything else, I just need to follow everyone, defend the home and country, that's enough."

Yun Fengyun kept speaking, but Yang Ye interrupted him, looking even more disapproving, and said repeatedly.

"The emperor is right; conquering the world and governing it are different; some things need to change, but the brotherhood between you will not change."

The empress then lifted the wine gourd again, filled their cups, and while speaking wore a gentle and elegant expression.

Listening to the empress's words, Yang Ye raised his head, glanced at the empress, then at Yun Fengyun, and then drained the cup in one gulp.

"Yes, the empress is right."

However, while speaking, Yang Ye's expression and posture showed a clear frown.

"Speaking truly, the most correct thing I have done in my life is to become sworn brothers with you."

Yun Fengyun also finished the wine in his cup, looked toward Yang Ye, and began to speak.

Hearing Yun Fengyun's words, Yang Ye was slightly startled.

"You are good, value feelings; the most important is that our spirits match; over these many years you have never changed, but today you seem to have a low tolerance for alcohol."

Yun Fengyun drew out his voice, asking Yang Ye.

"Because I am overjoyed; to see my elder brother and sister-in-law, my son also got married, my worries are settled, a few sips and I'm drunk."

Yang Ye's words made the empress, who was pouring wine, involuntarily tremble slightly, but she quickly kept her composure, continued pouring, still gentle.

"Even if you two could drink a lot, you would still get drunk."

The empress laughed, and Yun Fengyun laughed along.

But he then turned his head to look at Yang Ye, with a solemn expression: "Brother-in-arms, I have matters to discuss with you!"

Deng Jian was very familiar with every plant and tree in the Prince Pingxi's mansion.

But tonight, when he followed the Prince to the small hill outside the city, he felt everything was somewhat hazy.

At this moment, the two were before a lone grave, with fragments of firecrackers scattered around the mound.

Today Yang Jun's wedding; this is how the living convey this joyous event to the deceased.

Yang Ye's burly figure, under the moonlight, was stretched extremely long.

Stepping on yellow mud and shredded paper, he made a slight sound.

He walked toward the tombstone before the grave; Deng Jian stood still, motionless, quietly watching his master's actions.

Yang Ye's hand reached out, lightly touching the name carved on the stele.

The person in the grave is none other than Yang Jun's mother, Yang Ye's deceased wife!

"Princess, I have returned; from now on I will stay and keep you company..."

Yang Ye took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

On his face, that stern killing intent, the iron-blooded majesty forged in the border passes, all turned into tenderness at this moment.

"Jun'er has taken a wife; it's a joyous day; come, let's drink together."

Yang Ye raised his hand; Deng Jian immediately took out the wine pot and poured two cups.

"As a side dish."

Following Yang Jun's another remark, the steward handed over a package containing several heads.

On those faces were surprise, fear, pleading, and some were expressionless.

These were brought back by Yang Ye; after he and Yun Fengyun's couple finished drinking, he went out and casually brought them back.

Deng Jian looked at these heads; he recognized them, they were people who had targeted Yang Jun and done things they shouldn't have.

Some had seized the Yang family's property, some had spread rumors about Yang Jun, some had led officials to avoid congratulating him today, and the most serious had organized an assassination attempt on Yang Jun.

Looking at these heads, Deng Jian understood that it was the Prince's own way of giving the heir a propitious start.

Such things are the result of the Old Prince's thunderous methods; they are meant to tell everyone: whoever dares to move against Yang Jun will be killed by him!

However, Deng Jian felt some worry in his heart, facing this, he always felt somewhat uneasy.

Yang Ye merely lifted the wine bowl, swallowed one bowl, and poured the other onto the grave.

"Princess, you are not by my side; some things have changed, are no longer the same..."

Yang Ye exhaled a breath of alcohol; while speaking, Deng Jian slowly stepped back, for some of the Prince's words were things he could not hear.

"Twenty years have passed; I once gave it my all, but since that battle, I have lost you."

"Now I dare not; I dare not; I am afraid, afraid that Jun'er will be like you and leave me."

Yang Ye muttered to himself, confiding to the tombstone.

Of course the person in the grave would not respond; only his voice in the wind kept scattering.

As he spoke, amidst sighs and words, the expression revealed in Yang Ye was entirely reluctance and helplessness.

Some things, once decided, cannot be changed.

But deep inside, there always remains a trace that is hard to let go.

"Jun'er in the capital has many people scheming against him."

"It's just a pity, my Yang family..."

"Otherwise, I would lead troops into the capital and slaughter those shameless scoundrels!"

Yang Ye's wine entered his sorrowful intestines; his words echoed; his hair on top turned frost-white, swaying lightly, as if conveying his longing for the departed underground.

Some things, no matter how much time passes, cannot be changed.

Those worries and beliefs in the heart will only persist.

"You say, really? I and Jun'er can only have one survive? Is this the Yang family's fate? Is this an inescapable curse?"

Yang Ye seemed even more drunk, his body unable to support itself; at this moment he muttered to the tombstone, slowly leaning forward against it.

His words were slurred, but the longing in his heart grew stronger, and the pain that came with it also grew stronger.

Born as twin flowers, how could only one branch survive?

The one that remains is probably the most painful.

After all, in the world, all those sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy experiences cannot be avoided; moreover, I have nowhere to confide, and no one can share my burden.

Yang Ye's body pressed tightly against the tombstone; in a daze, it was as if he were embracing his beloved wife.

In the blink of an eye, he returned to that past time.

She, who applied flower-yellow makeup before the mirror, remained so pretty and lovely, still making him enamored and intoxicated.

Unfortunately, with a sway of his body, everything before his eyes had already vanished.

Before him was only that cold tombstone, only that chill that made him unable to embrace, pressing upon him.

It turns out, everything is predestined, everything is beyond our power to change!