Peace Order

Chapter 1879: Chapter 8: Brothers

When he was five or six years old, he saw his younger brother, very small, lying there, soft, with not much strength in his hands. At that time, when he put his hand over, the little child reached out and grabbed his finger.

Through the skin, it was as if he could feel the child’s heartbeat at that time.

Their heartbeats seemed to be in sync.

It was when their mother passed away, tearfully telling him that he was the elder brother, and he must protect his younger brother.

It was at that time, their mother was a bit unwell, but in good spirits. Their father went to take care of her, and the younger brother caused some trouble, climbed onto a tree, and when jumping down, the two brothers tumbled and rolled, covered in leaves.

Jiang Yuan choked out, "You are my brother, brother, I know I’ve made mistakes, I really know I’ve made mistakes, can’t you forgive your younger brother? I really..."

Yet at this moment, the outcome outside was already determined.

He Ruoqinhu had no will to fight, caught between his family affections and his guilt towards the late Emperor, he was consumed with thoughts of seeking death. Yuwen Lie’s heavy spear almost split He Ruoqinhu’s forehead but suddenly halted.

Only Jin Qi burst out, almost tearing the palace ground behind He Ruoqinhu apart. The aftermath slowly rolled to both sides, dissipating. He Ruoqinhu looked at him woodenly and said, "Why?!"

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

"Now, we are even."

He picked up the spear, turned, and strode away, his back straight.

He walked all the way into the grand hall, saw Jiang Yuan pinned to the ground, dropped the long spear, took up a bow, walked in front of Jiang Gao, pulled the bowstring, and aimed it at Jiang Yuan, clearly intending to kill him outright.

At this moment, Jiang Gao pushed the bow aside.

The arrow veered off, Yuwen Lie did not fire it, and did not, under everyone’s watchful eyes, publicly execute Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan was simply streaming with tears, "Brother, big brother..."

Jiang Gao exhaled, he had red-rimmed eyes, pulled out the sword that pinned Jiang Yuan there, and said in a low voice, "Brother will always forgive you."

Jiang Yuan’s face showed a hint of relief and a trace of eased tension.

Yuwen Lie’s expression remained icy.

Wei Yiwen, however, felt a shudder in his heart.

Jiang Gao stood up, holding the sword with both hands, and said softly:

"But, the people of the world, it’s not just Jiang Gao alone. I forgive you, so what? Jiang Gao forgives you, a brother will not resent his younger brother, but Jiang Gao cannot forgive you on behalf of the people of the world!"

"The people of the world, is there only I who have brothers, parents!"

The long sword lifted high, like when he was young, reaching out his arm towards that tree, with warm sunlight, gentle wind, the young Crown Prince smiling while hugging his younger brother, even if he couldn’t hold him steady, he held tightly.

This is his brother, after all.

His own flesh and blood, with their skin fair, and even their breath seemed sweet.

So cute.

The one most closely related to him by blood in this world.

The young Crown Prince hugged his younger brother, the sword pierced through, stabbing into flesh.

Jiang Yuan let out a short, shrill scream, a strange glint erupted in Yuwen Lie’s eyes, Wei Yiwen jerked his head up, incredulous, moved, Empress He Ruo gasped, but had already fainted.

Jiang Gao’s sword had pierced through Emperor Jiang Yuan.

His eyes were blood-red, propping himself on the sword, watching Jiang Yuan struggle, unwilling, blood flowing, just like the memories and dreams of youth, completely shattered, blood streaming on the ground, the allure of chaotic times.

Jiang Gao propped himself on the sword.

It was just those two sentences just now.

The determination of a gentleman, the poise of a king, all within him.

Inwardly sage, outwardly king.

Such poise, impossible to be nurtured, emerged only from drastic mental transformations, like splitting with an axe or chisel, evolving through a hundredfold tribulations.

Jiang Gao propped himself on the sword, his back to everyone, not allowing them to see his tear-stained face, his back still straight, and then said, "Everyone."

The crowd looked at him, Jiang Gao with his back to them, was quiet for a moment, then softly said:

"Daying Kingdom."

"I entrust it to you all."

Wei Yiwen and Yuwen Lie both bowed in acknowledgment, they all retreated, and Jiang Cai, who orchestrated and planned the entry of Yuwen Lie’s armored troops, resolved everything as Jiang Gao required, settling the citizens.

Upon rushing to the palace, she was stunned.

The palace still carried a bloody scent, on the throne of Ying Country, Jiang Gao, in a white robe, sat there, his hands resting on the chair, the sword leaning against the side, his body and the sword were stained with spots of fresh blood.

Jiang Gao lowered his head, Jiang Cai worried about him, took a few steps forward, and said:

"Gao’er..."

Jiang Gao looked up, gazed at Jiang Cai, and suddenly said:

"Sister Cai, you are the spy of Grandmaster Jiang Su, aren’t you."

Jiang Cai paused, instinctively withdrew her hand, but Jiang Gao didn’t mind this, Jiang Cai saw in the sunset’s glow, the young man looked up, his face carrying a look of having cried, yet silent, with a sense of distance, he softly said:

"Sister Cai."

"I have no brother anymore."

This is how Jiang Gao spoke.

Like the way Jiang Yuan once bitterly muttered, ’I don’t want a brother anymore.’

The one who didn’t want a brother, died under the elder brother’s sword; the one yearning for family affection, ended up solitary, how absurd and laughable is fate in this world.

Thus, sitting there, was a king bathed in blood, who had cut down traitors and a muddle-headed king.

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

What survived.

Was the Azure Dragon of turbulent times.

The Great Emperor of Ying.