Chapter 8.1: The Truth Is Always Cruel

Qing Bei was clearly rather greatly shocked by this elder brother he was meeting for the first time, and it was a good long while before he snapped back to his senses. “Big Brother, I am alright…..”

“Is it because you do not dare to say it?” Yan Xi Cheng knitted up his brows. “No worries, the affairs of the household have always been handled by Mother. As she has not been well, the servants must have overlooked the matter. I’ll go ask Mother about it right now.”

Upon saying that, he immediately turned and wanted to walk out.

Qing Yu suddenly laughed lightly and said: “Actually, there are some matters one need not know too clearly about.”

Yan Xi Cheng’s footsteps halted, and he then heard the voice tinged with laughter continue to say.

“The truth is often what you will not like to know about, and once the paper covering the window is poked open, one might be very disappointed!”

“What do you mean by that?”

Qing Yu laughed, and did not say anything more. The youth in the wheelchair hesitated for a long while before he opened his mouth slowly. “Regarding this matter, the Duchess is aware of it. Or should it be said….. that she instigated it! My legs, became like this because she did not allow the manor’s physicians to treat me, thereby missing the most critical period for treatment, causing me to be crippled!”

“What did you say?” Yan Xi Cheng’s eyes were wide as he stared, his face filled with rage and incredulity. “How could you say such seditious and treasonous words! ?”

In his eyes, Mother was such a gentle and kind woman. Although Father had reneged on his promise to marry only one woman, in her hurt, she had only made herself move to live in a tranquil and quiet courtyard as she continued to manage the manor’s internal affairs. Hence, how could she be capable of committing such a vicious and cruel deed! ?

“Within this manor, if without the Duchess’ consent, who does Big Brother think will be so bold and daring to plot to harm the only other male descendant besides Big Brother?” Qing Bei said, the corners of his mouth curled up in a mocking smile, before turning his head away and refusing to say anymore.

Yan Xi Cheng’s hands clenched up into fists and then relaxed, his face dark as he looked at the twins, before he went striding out with long wide steps.

“I had not thought that the Eternal Peace Duke’s Manor’s heir would possess such a clean and simple personality.” Qing Yu said teasingly with her lips curled up at the ends. “But, if he really goes to question the Duchess right now and gets to know the truth, I think his state of mind might change quite a bit!”

“Big Brother is usually not here in the manor most of the time and had not encountered the evil scheming minds of people much. It’s only to be expected that he would be a little naive and simple.” QIng Bei commented softly as he watched the departing back.

“And this little brat here is so wise.” Qing Yu said with a laugh as she ruffled his hair. “I can see that you seem to like him a lot?”

“Mm, in the Duke’s Manor, Big Brother can be considered to be the only person that’s flesh and blood. I….. admire him very much.” Qing Bei said, feeling a little embarrassed.

From a very young age, Yan Xi Cheng had gone on to follow at the side of a wandering expert to practice cultivation and it was thought that his level of cultivation must surely have reached unfathomable levels. And now he had gone on to do what all men strove to do, defending the country and killing their enemies on the battlefield. He was even made the youngest general in the entire Blue Wave Kingdom.

Qing Yu could not help but laugh and then sighed lightly. “Although soldiers are greatly respected, but they will be called in to face impending death anytime. I do not want you to have to face that and would rather you just live normally in peace.”

The peerlessly beautiful girl before him revealed a faint arc at the edges of her lips, her gaze filled with a rare moment of gentleness as she looked at him silently, which caused his heart that was calm to suddenly thump vigorously.

They were clearly two people of the same age, but she was always acting a lot more mature and wise, making him feel like she had lived a for long long time, who was able to see through people and things that happens, and there was nothing that could make her care all that much about anymore.

Chapter 8.2: The Truth Is Always Cruel

That moment’s gentleness in her gaze made Qing Bei feel that she did care for him, though he feared that that could very well just be his own illusion.

Unconsciously, his hand stretched out to embrace her, his head leaning against her waist. “I’m sorry Big Sister. I just blurted it out without thinking. Don’t worry. I will live my life well. I will….. protect you.”

This was also his first time throughout the past six years he had called her Big Sister.

From being initially suspicious, till she had faithfully protected him time and time again from the verge of death, it had already made Qing Bei accept her wholeheartedly.

Just like he had said before. No matter who she was and where she had come from, once she became his elder sister for one day, she would forever be his elder sister.

“Good.” The smile hanging from Qing Yu’s lips deepened, as her slender fingers gently ruffled the young boy’s hair.

The only source of warmth she felt in this strange world. She would carefully protect him as he grew up.

“Big Brother, what’s wrong?” The soft and clear voice of a girl rang out to call back Yan Xi Cheng’s consciousness that had drifted off somewhere.

He smiled weakly and replied: “I’m sorry Little Ning. What were you just saying?”

A mesmerizing little beauty in a jade green dress was seated opposite him, the pink flower on her forehead striking upon the cold and beautiful countenance, adding to its enchantment. This person, was the top beauty of the Green Wave Kingdom, Yan Ning Luo.

Yan Ning Luo’s brows knitted up slightly. “Big Brother has just come back from a victorious battle. Why do you still look like you have something on your mind? I have seen you looking rather distracted recently. Have you encountered some difficult problem? Can’t you tell Little Ning about it?”

Yan Xi Cheng had not expected that his mood would come to affect his younger sister and he was rather apologetic. “I had wanted to have a good chat with Little Ning, Big Brother is at fault here.”

This pair of siblings had also been apart more than being together from young.

One was killing enemies on the battlefield, and the other was cultivating in seclusion in the Faint Mist Clan.

The time Yan Ning Luo spent in the Duke’s Manor every year was always very short as there were many talented people in the Faint Mist Clan. If she did not work hard, she would be squeezed out from the inner circle of direct disciples by others who were coveting a position in there. Being gifted was one thing, but diligence and hard work after that was important as well.

Although the two of them were often not together, but as siblings from the same mother, their relationship was naturally very close.

“Big Brother has never shown your emotions so outwardly before. What has actually happened?”

Yan Xi Cheng froze for a while, his thoughts drifting back to that particular day.

He had not believed the words of Qing Yu and Qing Bei and he had gone to see the Duchess of Eternal Peace, to ask for the truth of the entire matter.

He had always felt that no matter how dark and scheming other manors of nobility were, he thought that the Eternal Peace Duke’s Manor was at least clean.

But his mother’s words that day had instead…..

“Little Cheng, it’s just a bastard child who isn’t fit to be seen outside. Is it anything even worthy of you to come question me about?”

“But that is my younger brother!”

“You only have Little Ning as a younger sister. Since when did you have a younger brother?”

He could still remember his mother’s eyes at that time. They had been so cold, like they were totally devoid of feelings.

“His legs….. Did Mother really silently consent to the women in the household to harm him…..”

He no longer knew what kind of state of mind he had been in when he asked that question.

But after that, his mother has smiled, her tone of voice chilly as she answered: “So what if I did?”

“I do not care how many women your father wants to marry, but I care about how he could have really fallen in love with that woman back then! A woman that he had merely known for just a few short days! Where does that put me? ! I have been married to him for so many years and he could actually forget his promise to me back then so easily!”