Chapter 557: Brother

The change of events was truly too swift.

Just moments ago they were still in the midst of a banquet; Jiang Yuan was pressing Jiang Gao layer upon layer, wanting to use such an overwhelming momentum to force Jiang Gao to drink poisoned wine and take his own life — but these past few years of Jiang Yuan's high-spiritedness, under which all beneath heaven dared not disobey, and Jiang Gao's long-standing temperament —

All of this combined together caused Jiang Yuan to overlook one possibility.

He overlooked the option of Jiang Gao suddenly rising up.

The wine in the cup splashed onto the ground; the originally clear wine scattered in an instant, giving off a pungent smell as it evaporated. The people nearby only had to smell this scent and their limbs already went weak, unable to stand steady.

Jiang Gao caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of where the wine had spilled.

That place was a carpet woven with extremely luxurious methods, reputed to be unwettable by water and unburnable by fire, yet within this extremely brief span of time it gradually became like wood, stone, or glazed crystal — translucent and sparkling.

It was Feidu!

Jiang Gao seized a weapon from a guard. This sword was three chi and three cun long, forged from superior refined iron — a quite handy and decent sharp weapon — but to rely solely on such a weapon to confront the people ahead...

Even Jiang Gao could not help but feel a helpless unwillingness.

What is to be done, what is to be done?!

He Ruo Qinhu had already gripped his weapon and stepped in front of Jiang Yuan. Blades and swords hummed and whistled all around; the guards and the Imperial Forest Army had long since formed ranks. He Ruo Qinhu's movement was almost instinctive, and in his heart there was a helplessness of being unable to choose his own course.

He only looked at the Jiang Gao before him, gripping his sword and facing down these soldiers and horses, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. In a daze, he seemed to see the Jiang Wanxiang of those years — the same youth, the same features, with a blazing fire in his eyes.

Only the Jiang Wanxiang of those days had a heroic spirit like one who could swallow up the ten thousand miles.

And the Jiang Gao of today had a blazing fury.

In chaotic times, a leopard transforms.

Even Jiang Gao, who was as mild and gentle as a virtuous and benevolent lord —

Had finally undergone a transformation under such circumstances?

But it was a pity — too late.

Far too late, Your Highness...

If you had possessed such spirit long ago, then who could have contested the world and the throne of Daying with you? The entire civil and military officials of the State of Ying would have recognized you without reservation as the next heir.

But if it were not for the events of these four years of the Great Enterprise —

Would you have undergone such a change?

Jiang Yuan was first startled and retreated in great terror, but upon discovering that the divine general beneath heaven, the Nine Heavens Great General He Ruo Qinhu, stood before him, and the surrounding guards had also formed ranks, he finally set his heart at ease. Still holding the wine in one hand, he pointed at Jiang Gao and burst into loud laughter.

He laughed until tears were about to come out.

Utterly delighted, utterly free and unrestrained, utterly carefree and at ease.

"Hahahaha, I knew it, I knew it!"

"I knew it — you are this kind of person. You've finally shown your true colors, haven't you?! Jiang Gao, a gentleman? Hahahaha."

"Nothing but a hypocrite!!"

Jiang Yuan's laughter gradually faded. He stared at his elder brother, venomous hatred in his eyes, and said:

"Guards! Seize this wretch who deceives the sovereign and defies his betters!"

He Ruo Qinhu sighed and gripped his weapon. Jiang Gao was undaunted; although he knew that today he would likely find it nearly impossible to escape with his life, he still resembled a fierce tiger or a coiling dragon. A true man may let his body die, but he may not allow himself to be humiliated by others.

Only in his heart there was finally still regret and unwillingness.

Resentful of why he had not awakened sooner.

Among those around, close ministers loyal to Jiang Yuan struck out, lunging at Jiang Gao, but they also dared not draw their swords. Jiang Gao's Wu Gong was not poor; gripping his sharp blade, his killing intent had already risen. He merely dodged, then with a sudden thrust of his sword pierced straight through the heart of that minister who had urged Jiang Yuan to indulge in pleasure and Mu Zi Yi.

The sharp sword tore through flesh and heart; fresh blood flowed and slid down without cease.

Within Jiang Gao's brow, the air of valor grew heavier and heavier.

The surrounding ministers smelled the scent of blood and shrank back, not daring to advance. He Ruo Qinhu gripped his weapon but also did not act. This scent of blood not only caused those ministers to retreat, it also stimulated Jiang Yuan.

His brows rose, his eyes flared wide in fury, and he said: "Go on, all of you!"

"Attack!"

"Kill him, and I shall reward you, grant you the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households — the Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

"Kill — kill him!"

The scent of blood only makes fierce beasts shake out their spirits, while it drives the weak to madness.

Jiang Gao reached out, pressed his hand atop that treacherous minister's head, and shoved his corpse to the ground. He straightened his body, stood there, raised his hand; the sword in his grip was held at an angle, its edge resting against the ground, and fresh blood slid down drop by drop.

Jiang Gao stood tall and upright like a green pine. He wore the everyday robes of a Prince of the Blood, yet already possessed an indescribable air of nobility and wealth. Around him, the Imperial Forest Army held their long spears level, pointing them forward, but for the moment none of them dared to advance.

Jiang Gao gripped his sword and walked forward slowly.

The ministers and guards ahead actually retreated instinctively.

Even though they clustered in front of Jiang Yuan, who wore the imperial dragon robe, it was the same — for a moment they could not tell who was the true sovereign.

The long sword rested against the ground, yet the heart of the one gripping it seemed to be twitching in pain.

The sword's edge reflected the panicked eyes of the man ahead in the bright yellow dragon robe. Jiang Gao walked forward step by step, yet in his mind there was a vague blankness; all the events of days past surged up at this moment.

"Brother, brother, wuu wuu wuu..."

Five-year-old Jiang Yuan sat atop a tree, looking down at the ground and wailing.

At that time the Empress's health had become very poor. Jiang Wanxiang's temperament also did not yet possess the grandeur and magnificence of later years; instead, because he was about to lose the love of his life, he had become flustered, and within that fluster there was a trace of unwillingness and fear.

He had already seized the realm, his bearing fierce and mighty — far beyond what the Emperor of Chen, who at that same period only knew to pray to gods and worship Buddha, could compare to. Unifying the realm did not seem like a distant dream.

But this Great Emperor, who had risen from a concubine-born background to such an imperial throne, still could not defy life and death, could not stop the vitality of his most beloved from leaving bit by bit.

Such a heart-rending matter.

Jiang Wanxiang naturally had neither the heart nor the time to attend to a child's most delicate feelings at that moment. Jiang Yuan sulkily went off to play by himself; when flying a kite, the kite got tangled in a tree. Being proud by nature, he refused to let go and insisted on getting it himself, only to end up trapped.

When others came to rescue him, he still refused to let go.

He could only call for his brother.

At that time Jiang Gao had already begun his studies — a truly earnest child, diligent every day, hoping only to give his parents less to worry about. Yet such a hardworking and attentive boy, upon hearing of his younger brother's predicament, still came running.

"Don't be afraid, this tree isn't tall."

"Yuan'er, just jump down."

The young child lowered his head. Perhaps it wasn't a very tall tree, but for a young child, a tree more than ten times his own height was truly a colossal creature.

He absolutely refused to come down.

Not only did he refuse to come down, he began to wail even louder.

Whether it was out of fear, or simply a child's nature, was unclear.

They couldn't understand why the adults suddenly stopped paying attention to them for a stretch of time; they only hoped that by making some big commotion, they could draw their parents' attention back to them.

The young Crown Prince of that time stretched out his arm, a gentle smile on his face: "Don't worry, A-Yuan, just jump down. Big Brother will catch you."

After coaxing him like this many times, Jiang Yuan finally seemed to make up his mind and jumped down. In truth, the young Crown Prince of that time was prepared, but unfortunately this child of only five couldn't control his body well.

He had leapt off at an angle.

The young Crown Prince panicked, stumbled forward in a lunge, and caught his younger brother.

But his Wu Gong wasn't good back then either; he didn't plant his footing properly, so the two brothers tumbled down together. The child saw his brother's head knock against the ground, seemingly split open, blood flowing out, and was terrified.

The young Crown Prince lay there holding his little brother, smiling gently:

"It's all right."

"It's all right."

He stroked his younger brother's head: "From now on, Big Brother will always be here. No matter what happens, Big Brother will protect you. We are truly of the same blood."

The young Crown Prince already understood matters of life and death, and of his mother. He said softly:

"I will protect you."

The wind of youth was gentle, the sunlight warm, but that five-year-old child's footwork was poor—when he jumped down he stumbled badly, just as he did now.

Jiang Yuan staggered backward.

It seemed as if he had stepped on empty air, retreating backward, but his Wu Gong was already good enough—good enough to let him steady himself instantly, unlike that five-year-old child of years past. He stared fixedly at the Jiang Gao before him.

Jiang Gao raised his sword's edge, and the Imperial Guards before him surged forward.

Jiang Gao advanced step by step as if strolling through a leisurely courtyard, raising his sword to parry. He forced Jiang Yuan to retreat step by step. Jiang Yuan's expression was ugly; suddenly, no one knew what he did, and from behind came the whistling of swords as two afterimages pounced out.

It was a Jianghu Sect master.

A man Jiang Yuan had bought and recruited over the years, pouncing to kill Jiang Gao. Jiang Gao was utterly unafraid—even knowing he was no match for a sect master, as the son of Jiang Wanxiang, if he must die then die; how could he cower and beg for mercy?!

This sect master revealed his dharma aspect—a leopard—which pounced down at Jiang Gao, but at this critical moment, a series of muffled sounds suddenly exploded in the air, sounds like Lei Ting.

In an instant, the body of the sect master Jiang Yuan had bought to protect himself lurched violently to a halt, blood spraying onto the ground, the stench of blood rushing at his face. Jiang Gao's expression, however, did not change in the slightest.

Clatter-clatter.

A series of crisp sounds, and among the plaques of this great hall, an extra copper coin appeared.

An arrow precisely shot and killed this sect master, pinning this copper coin onto the emperor's plaque that swallowed ten thousand li in its grandeur, blood reeking.

And at this moment, He Ruo Qinhu's expression changed drastically. In an instant, he shifted his form and shadow, still placing himself before Jiang Yuan, the condensed inner Qi in his hand transforming into a heavy cavalry spear, which he suddenly chopped down toward the front, shattering a streak of flowing light.

Only at this moment did the sound of killing intent arrive.

That voice was extremely piercing, like a Bai Hu's roar, like Lei Ting's low growl.

The arrow shattered and fell to the ground; the gusting wind that swept through in an instant was vast and mighty. He Ruo Qinhu gripped his heavy cavalry spear, looking into the distance, his pupils contracting:

"!!!"

Jiang Gao heard the Bai Hu's roar. Within this imperial palace, all were Imperial Guards loyal to the Emperor and the imperial clan; what had happened here, the Imperial Guards had long since formed up. But from behind these formed-up Imperial Guards, a sound came.

The vermilion great doors of the imperial palace, studded with copper nails, were slowly pushed open from outside.

In the gap between the two palace doors stood a cold, indifferent eye. As the doors slowly opened, ink-black armor, a white cloak and battle robe fluttered in the wind. A handsome, divine general stood here, gripping One Heavy Weapon war spear.

The Divine Might Great General!

Yuwen Lie!

Before him stood the Imperial Guards.

And at Yuwen Lie's left and right were a young man just past thirty and a man of over forty, behind whom were several thousand Imperial Army soldiers in ink-black armor—a combined tactic of heavy shields, bladesmen, and crossbowmen.

Formally, one of the twenty-seven Divine Generals of the realm today—the Immovable Wisdom King, Yuwen Tianxian.

Yuwen Lie gripped his divine weapon and walked forward slowly. The Imperial Guards before him instinctively aimed their weapons at him, but Yuwen Lie was utterly unafraid.

When the world is about to collapse, there will always be those who can rise with bold spirit. Yuwen Lie stood within the imperial palace and suddenly said: "Does Your Highness understand now?"

Jiang Gao said softly: "A gentleman does not contend, but…"

"Not contending means not fighting for one's own desires, but things are different now."

Jiang Gao looked at Jiang Yuan and said softly:

"When the world is in peril, to remain a gentleman who does not contend is merely weakness and evasion. A person should have things he pursues, but also things he must do. To neglect those things one ought to do for the sake of what one desires—"

"Is not only weak, but willful and childish."

"It should not be so."

Jiang Gao's eyes lowered, and a wistful, faint smile appeared on his face:

"Before speaking of the self, one must first shoulder the responsibilities one ought to shoulder."

"To entrust the world to those who do not take responsibility is, in essence, irresponsibility toward the world—a betrayal and murder of the common people of this great Ying Kingdom."

He exhaled a breath and answered in the voice of a gentleman:

"The world is vast; when it is time to act, one must not yield to others."

"If not me, then who?"

Yuwen Lie's eyes held a trace of approval as he said: "Yes."

Jiang Gao said: "It's a pity, it's too late." He looked at Jiang Yuan and He Ruo Qinhu before him. Around them, the great army outside had gathered, the baleful aura of the military surging. This time, right here, Yuwen Lie said:

"Today, Your Highness may fight alongside me."

Jiang Gao's chest finally swelled with boundless heroic spirit: "If I fail, I shall die with you!"

Yuwen Lie smiled faintly and raised the long spear in his hand.

That cold, proud divine general gripped his war-spear; ripples trembled through the void, transforming into a roaring Bai Hu. Yuwen Lie twirled the long spear in his hand, gazing calmly at the Imperial Guards ahead—or rather, the gaze of this mighty Grand General simply passed through those Imperial Guards and landed on He Ruo Qinhu.

Yuwen Lie said coldly: "He Ruo Qinhu, between the realm and family, can you still not see clearly?!"

He Ruo Qinhu sighed woodenly: "How could I see it clearly?!"

Yuwen Lie advanced with his spear. He Ruo Qinhu said to Jiang Yuan: "Your Majesty, I go forth to meet Yuwen Lie."

Jiang Yuan said: "If you leave, what am I to do!"

He Ruo Qinhu said angrily: "Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven of our Great Ying Kingdom, bearing the Son of Heaven's mandate. With so many guards still here, have you truly no courage to fight?!"

"If so, how can you contest the realm against that Qin Huang!"

"If I do not go out, and Yuwen Lie comes—what of it?!"

He lifted his cavalry halberd and charged out in great strides. Wind rose between heaven and earth. Beneath the Star-Plucking Tower hung the bell that Jiang Wanxiang had made for his wife; it had remained there all along. After his wife passed, he would watch the bell tremble, as though he could still hear her laughter.

Now even Jiang Wanxiang had been dead for several years.

The Star-Plucking Tower was sealed; no one climbed it anymore to pluck stars or admire the moon.

Two divine weapons slammed into each other violently; the trembling ripples shot skyward, churning wind and clouds. The bell beneath the Star-Plucking Tower swayed violently. At the same moment, Jiang Gao had already darted forward. The guards ahead struck out, but each was cut down by Jiang Gao.

The civil and military officials wanted to help, but for the moment they were seized by fear and did not know what to do.

Jiang Yuan's voice had already cracked, and he shouted angrily: "Whoever kills Jiang Gao shall be made a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households! A Marquis of Ten Thousand Households! No—a Duke of the Pillar of State! A Duke of the Pillar of State!"

Under such lavish reward there must be brave men, but just at this moment, Wei Yiwen suddenly said:

"Have you all forgotten the old affair of Qin Yulong?"

Thus the hearts of those generals that had just begun to warm with fervor were chilled in an instant. The civil officials, seeing Wei Yiwen's reaction, also understood something, and one by one said no more.

Jiang Gao killed those close ministers one by one.

Palace coups on bluestone are often swift; often the participants and troops are not so many as in a siege, the battlefield not so bloody—often just several hundred people, and within a single hour the dust has settled.

Yet it is only because one side, wielding power and position, believes it holds the great momentum, believes it controls everything, never imagining that the one who could be bullied with ease harbors within a courage to tear apart all so-called rules.

Sword after sword, the blades stained with blood, and his robes too were stained with blood.

On either side of him lay the corpses of those sycophantic ministers.

The civil and military officials watched the two sons of Jiang Wanxiang duel with swords here, none daring to step forward. Only old Lord Wei, who had somehow produced a Juan Sect scroll from somewhere—records of Jiang Yuan's cruel slaughter of the people—rolled it up like a bamboo slip and hurled it viciously at Jiang Yuan.

To hell with your Wenzheng!

But with this one strike, Jiang Yuan was caught off guard and had already staggered back. Then his thigh ached—he had already been pierced through by Jiang Gao's sword. This sword, after the recent fighting, had long since chipped its edge, but the tip used for thrusting was still sharp as ever.

This sword pinned Jiang Yuan's leg to the ground.

Jiang Gao gripped the sword hilt with both hands, his eyes reddened, yet he pressed downward with force.

Jiang Yuan was finally afraid: "Brother, brother, what are you doing?! Big brother, have you forgotten?! Mother is dead, father is dead too—under heaven, only you and I remain!"

"What are you doing? Are you going to kill me?"

"This is the place where father and mother once brought us for family feasts. Are you going to kill me here, in the place where father and mother stayed?" Jiang Yuan wept bitterly. Jiang Gao gripped his sword, his eye sockets flushed red.

Memories of youth churned in his mind.

When he was five or six, he saw his brother—very small, lying there, soft, his little hands without much strength. When he reached out, that tiny child stretched out a hand and grasped his finger.

Through the skin, it seemed he could feel that child's heartbeat from back then.

Their heartbeats seemed to beat as one.

It was when mother passed away, tears streaming, she told him he was the elder brother, that he must protect his younger brother.

It was then that mother's health was somewhat unwell, but her spirits were still good. Father went to look after her, and his younger brother grew restless, climbed a tree, and when he jumped down, the two brothers tumbled together like gourds on the ground, covered in leaves.

Jiang Yuan choked out: "You are my brother, brother. I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Can you not forgive your younger brother? I really…"

But at this moment, outside the victor had also been decided.

He Ruo Qinhu had no will to fight. This old general, caught between his family ties and his guilt toward the late emperor, had developed the thought of seeking death. Yuwen Lie's heavy spear was about to cleave into He Ruo Qinhu's forehead when it suddenly stopped.

Only the burst of force scattered, nearly tearing open the palace ground behind He Ruo Qinhu. The aftershocks slowly rolled to both sides and dispersed. He Ruo Qinhu stared at him woodenly: "Why?!"

Yuwen Lie withdrew his heavy spear and said lightly: "On the battlefield, you saved me once."

"Now, we are even."

He lifted his spear, turned, and strode away, his back ramrod straight.

Walking all the way into the great hall, he saw Jiang Yuan pinned to the ground. He tossed down his long spear, picked up a bow, walked before Jiang Gao, drew the bow, and aimed at Jiang Yuan—plainly intending to kill the man outright.

Just at this moment, Jiang Gao pushed the bow aside.

The arrow veered off; Yuwen Lie had not loosed it, and did not slay Jiang Yuan before the eyes of all.

Jiang Yuan merely wept: "Brother, big brother…"

Jiang Gao exhaled. With reddened eye sockets, he pulled out the sword pinning Jiang Yuan here and said softly: "Big brother will always forgive you."

On Jiang Yuan's face was a trace of relief, and the look of one who had let out a breath.

Yuwen Lie's expression remained cold and aloof.

Wei Yiwen's heart, however, gave a sudden lurch.

Jiang Gao rose, gripping his sword with both hands, and said softly:

"But the people of this realm are not only Jiang Gao alone. What use is my forgiving you? Jiang Gao forgives you—a brother will not resent his younger brother. But Jiang Gao cannot forgive you on behalf of the people of this realm!"

"Do the people of this realm have only me who have brothers, parents!"

The long sword was raised high, as in those youthful days, reaching an arm toward that tree. The sunlight was warm, the wind gentle too. The young Crown Prince smiled as he held his younger brother—even if he did not hold him steady, he held him tight.

This was his younger brother.

Blood brother, bound by blood, skin fair, his breath seeming to carry a sweetness.

How lovely.

He is the person in this world whose blood is closest to his own.

The young Crown Prince held his younger brother, the blade thrust through, piercing into flesh and blood.

Jiang Yuan let out a short, piercing shriek. A strange glint flashed in Yuwen Lie's eyes. Wei Yiwen jerked his head up, disbelief written across his face, visibly moved. Empress He Ruo cried out in alarm and then fainted dead away.

Jiang Gao's sword pierced Emperor Jiang Yuan.

His eyes were blood-red, both hands leaning on the sword, watching Jiang Yuan struggle, unwilling, fresh blood flowing, like the memories and dreams of youth, shattering completely. The blood pooled on the ground — that was the splendor of a chaotic age.

Jiang Gao stood with both hands on the sword.

Just those two sentences from earlier.

The resolve of a gentleman, the bearing of a sovereign — he possessed them all.

Sage within, kingly without.

Such bearing could not be cultivated; it could only come from a violent transformation of the spirit — like being hewn by blade and axe — a metamorphosis forged through a hundred trials and tribulations.

Jiang Gao stood with both hands on the sword, his back to everyone, not letting anyone see his tear-streaked face. His spine was still ramrod straight, and then he said: "Everyone."

The crowd looked at him. Jiang Gao had his back to them. For a moment all was quiet, and he said softly:

"The Great Ying Kingdom."

"I leave it to all of you."

Wei Yiwen and Yuwen Lie both bowed and pledged their assent, then withdrew. Jiang Cai, who had overseen and arranged all the matters concerning the armored soldiers under Yuwen Lie entering the city, finished handling everything and, in accordance with Jiang Gao's request, went to settle the common folk.

When she hurried to the imperial palace, she froze.

The palace still carried the smell of blood. In the seat of Ying's sovereign sat Jiang Gao in a white robe. His hands rested on the armrests, his sword leaning beside him, his body and the blade both spattered with fresh blood.

Jiang Gao's head hung low. Jiang Cai, worried about him, stepped forward a few paces and said:

"Gao'er…"

Jiang Gao raised his head, looked at Jiang Cai, and suddenly said:

"Cai-jie, you're Grand Preceptor Jiang Su's planted agent, aren't you."

Jiang Cai froze, instinctively drawing her hand back, but Jiang Gao paid no heed to that. Jiang Cai saw, in the slanting rays of the setting sun, the young man raise his head, his face bearing an expression that had wept yet was calm, with a sense of distance, and he said softly:

"Cai-jie."

"I don't have a younger brother anymore."

Jiang Gao said this.

Just like Jiang Yuan back then, who had said bitterly to himself, "I don't want a brother anymore."

The one who didn't want a brother died by his elder brother's sword; the one who longed for family was fated to stand alone — the ways of the world, absurd and laughable.

And so, sitting there, was a sovereign bathed in blood, who had slain the treacherous minister and the foolish tyrant with his own blade.

Jiang Cai suddenly felt that both Jiang Gao and Jiang Yuan had died on this day.

The one who survived —

was the Azure Dragon of a chaotic age.

The Great Emperor of Ying.

?? Begging for monthly tickets, friends~

? And votes on the Divine Works ranking

? Jiang Gao, Jiang Yuan — the final two characters' closed loop and turning point are complete.

? One's spirit soars to the clouds; the other's dreams drift far away

? Jiang Yuan said he didn't want a brother anymore, in Volume Two, Chapter 109, "The Deer Hunt."