The Eldest Brother is Handsome but Sick. - Chapter 30.1

The “Coaxing” Method

“It’s a good thing I brought medicine with me.”

Beside the wreckage of the carriage, Yan Jin meticulously bandaged Su Huai’s wound. “And a good thing it isn’t deep.”

He stared at the white cloth over the injury, his brow furrowed tightly. “I told you to stay out of it, why won’t you ever listen? If you had damaged your tendons or bones, how would you hold a needle or take a pulse in the future?”

He rambled incessantly, but Su Huai wasn’t really listening. He propped his head up nonchalantly, his eyes filled entirely with the image of Yan Jin’s anxious face.

This was likely the “coaxing” method of a conflicted Yan Jin one who wanted to be close after learning of Su Huai’s feelings but was still full of reservations.

It wasn’t as infuriating as he was on the carriage; instead, he was unusually cute.

Su Huai’s eyes curled with pleasure, and unable to help himself, he let out a soft laugh.

Yan Jin glared at him. “What are you laughing at? I never saw you smile so much before. Now that you’re injured, you’re laughing like this? Did a sheep kick you in the head during your three years in the Northwest?”

Su Huai quickly withdrew his smile, putting on a pitiful expression. “Senior Brother, it hurts. Please blow on it.”

This single cry of pain successfully shut Yan Jin’s mouth. He knew perfectly well that Su Huai was playing the “feeble grandson,” but even if it was an act, his heart still ached for the boy.

Three years of wind and snow in the Northwest hadn’t left a scratch on him, yet within days of their reunion, he had shed blood. To make matters worse, this blood-shedder was a “wooden club” who loved to take a mile when given an inch, alternating between overstepping boundaries and piercing right through Yan Jin’s heart all because he knew Yan Jin couldn’t bear to scold him.

It was vexing, truly vexing.

Was my cute Junior Brother possessed?

Yan Jin’s face was crumpled like a used rag, but he still cradled Su Huai’s hand to his mouth and blew gently. After blowing once, he worried it still hurt and leaned in to blow a few more times.

“Is that enough?” Yan Jin asked.

Su Huai nodded slightly. “It’s eased for now. I might need more of Senior Brother’s help later.”

“Keep acting. Just keep on acting,” Yan Jin muttered. For some reason, ever since Su Huai returned, Yan Jin always found himself on the back foot when facing him.

He was practically being led by the nose!

The noble and pampered Master Yan had never suffered such “humiliation.” His temper flared up; he flicked his sleeves and quit.

He thought he walked away with great spirit, but in reality, he walked with his same arm and leg forward for a long stretch. From the back, he looked like a panicked mess even more guilty-looking than Little White Plum after she stole a chicken leg.

The mirth in Su Huai’s eyes was about to overflow. He cupped his chin with both hands and didn’t move, simply watching as Yan Jin wandered over to the guards and then let out an earth-shattering gasp of wonder at something that caught his eye.

Su Huai: “…” I suddenly feel like Senior Brother is like a squirrel. What should I do?

The Shadow of the Imperial Court

Whatever Su Huai was thinking, Yan Jin no longer had much interest in knowing, because he was currently quite excited.

“System! I actually witnessed an assassin strike from a real political intrigue novel!”

The System shared his excitement: “You’ve made it, Little Yan! Moving up in social class is just around the corner!”

Yan Jin stood beside the guards, watching them search the assassins’ bodies. Soon, a medallion was found, bearing the character “Zhu.”

The guard’s expression stiffened. He took the medallion and reported immediately to Wen Luopu.

“Zhu…” Wen Luopu tucked the medallion away. “Brother has only been ill for these few days, and already he cannot sit still.”

Currently, at court, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were in a stalemate, with no shortage of spies planted in each other’s camps. Censor Zhu was, on the surface, the Emperor’s man, but in reality, like the House of the Marquis of Dingyuan, he belonged to the Empress Dowager’s faction. However, the forces on the Empress Dowager’s side were only united in appearance; they each wanted to eliminate the others to become her sole favored subordinate.

The Wen family had always been the dominant power, but from the inside out, everything relied on Wen Wu for support. Now that Wen Wu was down, all sorts of “snakes, ghosts, and ox-spirits” were emerging, wanting to carve up the Marquis Estate for a share of the spoils.

Wen Luopu ordered her men to clear the traces of the fight before saying to Yan Jin: “This place is not far from the Capital. I intend to abandon the carriage and ride horses to return as quickly as possible. I wonder if Doctor Yan’s body can withstand it?”

In a matter involving a human life, Yan Jin naturally couldn’t refuse. He said quickly, “Everything is at Miss Wen’s arrangement. You needn’t worry about me.”

As she was about to say more, Yan Jin added: “If anything happens, my Junior Brother will naturally take care of me.”

Wen Luopu looked at Su Huai once more before ordering the guards: “Resupply for a moment, then set off.”

The Falling Star of the Capital

Thin snow fell silently. From a distance, the mountains were no longer visible, shrouded in a hazy gray-white.

During the gallop, the wind whipped the snow into their faces, bringing a bone-chilling cold. Yan Jin was held in Su Huai’s embrace, his vision limited. He could only see a small stretch of road ahead. The entire world seemed reduced to the monotonous rhythm of hooves, the whistling wind, and the heartbeat in Su Huai’s chest.

It was the morning of the second day when the horses entered the Capital.

Yan Jin supported himself on Su Huai’s hand, testing the ground with his toe before jumping down. When he looked up, the four characters “House of the Marquis of Dingyuan” filled his vision.

“It truly is a Marquis Estate. Magnificent,” Yan Jin sighed. Suddenly he paused, looking around in confusion.

It was already after the New Year, yet before the Lantern Festival. Logically, there were no festivals to celebrate, but the streets of the Capital were bustling with activity. Everyone he saw was saying “Congratulations!” and preparing to celebrate.

In particular, after seeing Wen Luopu, the cheers and celebrations grew even louder. This situation seemed to be directly related to the Marquis Estate.

Yan Jin grabbed an old man and asked, “What are you all celebrating?”

“You’re from out of town, aren’t you?” The old man scanned him from head to toe. Seeing that he looked kind, he replied, “I heard that son-of-a-bitch Wen Wu is about to die. We’re all busy celebrating.”

People are often more willing to share when they are happy. The old man immediately opened his “chatter-box,” as if he intended to spread Wen Wu’s evil deeds across the world.

“You have no idea! Wen Wu is devoid of conscience! An ungrateful wretch! He even bullies the biological daughter of the benefactor who adopted him poor Old Marquis Wen must be unable to rest in peace! If that were all, it might be fine, but he is a ‘Living King of Hell’ who kills without blinking!” The old man stopped there, intentionally leaving a cliffhanger.

Yan Jin quickly put on a face of extreme curiosity and prompted, “How so?”

“You’re a clever young lad.” The old man stroked his beard with satisfaction before continuing, “Two years ago, two children were playing and accidentally bumped into him. He actually decapitated them on the spot and hung their heads on the city wall as a public display! Tell me, shouldn’t he have died long ago and gone to the eighteenth level of hell?”

Yan Jin was shocked. “Is this truly the case? Did you see it yourself?”

“Of course… of course it’s true!” the old man said. “As for whether I saw it—everyone says so. If you don’t believe me, ask anyone else.”

At this, he pulled Yan Jin aside and whispered, “Since you’ve just arrived in the Capital, I’ll give you a piece of advice. If you see anyone from the Wen family, run as fast as you can. Don’t you dare get close.”

Yan Jin asked, “The Young Marquis is so ill is no one calling a doctor?”

“What ordinary doctor would dare to go?”

“What about the Imperial Physicians? They surely can’t just watch the Marquis die.”

“Who knows? Go ask the Emperor or the Empress Dowager. Isn’t he loyal to the Empress Dowager and trying to overturn the court? In my opinion, it’s likely he’s met with retribution and been discarded as a pawn by those above. No one dares go, and no one cares. Otherwise, how would we ordinary folk know the Marquis is dying?”

Yan Jin raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when Su Huai’s voice came from behind him: “Senior Brother, it’s time to go in.”

The old man looked at Su Huai, who was clutching a bundle and clearly following Wen Luopu into the Marquis Estate, and then at Yan Jin. He was so angry he nearly jumped up to hit someone. “You brat! You’re with the Wen family! Go, go, go! Stay away from me, you’re bad luck!”

“Don’t be like that, Grandpa! We were having such a nice chat.” Yan Jin wanted to say more, but Su Huai hooked him by the neck and dragged him away.

The “Incubus” and the Marquis

Wen Wu was a famous “villainous official.” Logically, he should be fabulously wealthy and have used his favor to build a Marquis Estate of excessive luxury. However, reality was the complete opposite. Only the main gates and the front courtyard for receiving guests at the Marquis of Dingyuan’s estate could be called “magnificent.”

By the time they followed Wen Luopu into the inner quarters, it was a completely different scene. There were no exaggerated decorations or overbearing displays of wealth; instead, the place possessed a refined, settled elegance.

The master of this Marquis Estate was clearly not as simple as the rumors outside suggested.

Yan Jin pondered for a moment and asked, “Miss Wen, regarding what the commoners said about the Marquis being discarded as a pawn by the Empress Dowager…”

“It’s true,” Wen Luopu said. Her voice remained gentle and calm. “Brother was inadvertently trapped and his life hung by a thread. The doctors in the Capital might well be spies or assassins. Fortunately, I have a slight understanding of medicine, which preserved his life and gave us the chance to ask the Hall of Three Lives for aid.”

“However, you two need not worry. I have arranged for this to be handled so it will not implicate the Hall of Three Lives. Once Brother recovers, I will have you escorted back safely.”

Having said that, she thought of something and gave a helpless smile. “We were one move behind this time. Now that Brother is awake, I’m afraid he will flip the entire chessboard.”

Yan Jin smiled faintly and slowed his pace to whisper to Su Huai, “This mission is a bit exciting.”

“Just stay well-behaved,” Su Huai replied.

Who isn’t well-behaved? I’m the most reliable Eldest Senior Brother of the Hall of Three Lives! Yan Jin shot him another glare and huffily quickened his pace.

Between Yin Zhushuang’s disdain and the rumors among the commoners combined with him being the adopted son of the legendary General Wen Yan Jin had already sketched an image of a brawny, formidable man in his mind. He never expected that when he truly saw Wen Wu, he would look like this.

In a small courtyard, two children of about ten years old were playing. Judging by their clothes, they were likely of significant status within the estate.

They were crouching beneath a corridor, scraping snow together to build a snowman. Not far from the snowman, a person reclined lazily on a corridor bench.

Even without the person standing up, one could see he was tall and possessed excellent poise. It was still snowing outside, yet he acted as if he didn’t feel the cold; he wore only a white under-robe, with a large crimson robe draped loosely over it as a winter garment.

“Master, look! This snowman is so pretty,” one of the children said.

“It’s just missing something on its head,” the other added.

Wen Wu let out a laugh. His voice was exceptionally pleasant trailing upward at the end with a unique, lazy lilt. “What is it missing?”

The two children circled the snowman and said in unison, “A hat!”

“I don’t have a hat, but I have something else.” With that, Wen Wu removed the jade crown from his head and gently placed it atop the snowman. “Look, this is much prettier than a hat.”