Chapter 2116: The Older Brother Who Doesn't Follow the Rules

He Yue was fair-faced as a child. As he grew older, he resembled He Chunhua more, and his eyebrows and eyes also bore a noticeable resemblance to He Xiao.

"He mentioned it. When we were drinking, he told me amusing stories about your past! Your brotherly bond truly makes others envious," Fu Shanyue laughed heartily. "He also told me about a particularly beautiful garden at your old home in Blackwater City, and that green-framed vase gate was your father's masterpiece."

"Green frame?" He Yue frowned. "The vase gate wasn't specifically painted. The surrounding walls were painted white, so the gate frame was also white. The paint was made by grinding white earth stone from near Blackwater City."

Fu Shanyue smiled. "Oh, really? Then I must have remembered incorrectly."

He Yue returned the smile, knowing this was definitely the other party testing him.

He decided to elaborate: "The old plum tree stumps in the garden extended over the wall, looking like branches inserted into a vase, which was originally quite charming. But then, an inexperienced gardener was hired and cut off the old plum branches with two snips, which infuriated my father so much he couldn't eat for days."

Fu Shanyue had naturally heard this story before, but he still nodded in agreement. "What a pity, what a pity. By the way, why are you called He Yue, but your brother is called He Lingchuan?"

"My brother's original name was He Xiao, but the Great Shaman of Mandu told my father that changing his name to 'Lingchuan' would ensure his good fortune for life," He Yue explained. "My father always held the Great Shaman in high regard, so he changed my brother's name."

"I see," Fu Shanyue said, following up with another question. "So, where is this Great Shaman now?"

"He left Blackwater City several years ago to travel, and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since. My father also sent people to look for him, but without success," He Yue shook his head. "The Great Shaman's comings and goings were unpredictable and elusive; when I was a child, I even thought he was an immortal."

He Yue had answered all these details correctly, details that few outsiders would know. Fu Shanyue then turned and raised his hand. "Come, please sit! Taozi, bring tea."

A little girl, delicate as a jade figurine, came over with a teacup and offered He Yue a cup of hot tea.

Fu Shanyue watched him with a smile.

Had the young man answered even one question incorrectly, he wouldn't be sitting there leisurely drinking tea.

"Thank you!" Seeing Fu Shanyue's gentle expression and familiar demeanor, He Yue felt relieved. "Your Highness, how did you come to know my brother?"

Fu Shanyue tapped the table, motioning for Taozi to pour him a cup of tea as well. "Don't you know what your brother did in Beijia?"

"He never mentioned it," He Yue replied. "The last time my brother came home, he didn't say a word about going to Beijia!"

"You could say we became friends after a fight. The first time your brother appeared, he was trying to snatch something from me."

"..." That certainly sounded like something his elder brother would do.

"I failed to take him down several times, so I just decided to shake hands and make peace."

"I see." Birds of a feather flock together. It seemed this Crown Prince of Chiyan wasn't exactly a good person either.

"Later, a major case arose in Chiyan, and I assigned your brother to investigate it thoroughly. The trail led all the way to Lingxu City, and it turned out the mastermind behind it was the National Master of Qingyang, tsk!"

Fu Shanyue's casual remarks made He Yue's heart pound. Having served by He Chunhua's side, He Yue had a grasp of officialdom and immediately understood the underlying danger in those words.

His elder brother's situation back then must have been very dangerous, right?

And did the Crown Prince of Chiyan not have any subordinates of his own? Why would he assign an outsider like his elder brother to investigate the case?

That could only mean it was a difficult task, one that the people of Chiyan couldn't handle.

"The process must have been very dangerous, then?"

"Of course. But something even more dangerous happened later," Fu Shanyue said, resting his head in his hand as he looked at He Yue. "Do you know what else your brother did in the Heavenly Palace?"

He Yue's neck felt a little stiff, but he could only shake his head.

"Are you aware of what he did in Shanjin, then?"

"Shen Country is too far from Shanjin, and news travels slowly. I only know that my brother declared himself the Great Emperor of Nine Hells and seems to have just established a new nation."

"That's right." Fu Shanyue smiled, then changed the subject without elaborating further. "Are you here on behalf of Shen Country this time?"

"Yes. My father was overjoyed upon receiving news from my brother, so he ordered me to lead a delegation here," He Yue inquired. "Your Highness, is my brother in the new capital?"

Since Yangshan Archipelago had been taken by Chiyan, he would have to go to Shanjin Plains to find his brother.

Fu Shanyue took a sip of tea. "He has taken his troops out to war."

"..." He Yue was greatly surprised. "Hasn't Shanjin Plains already been unified?"

His brother had just established the nation; how long had it been stable before he started fighting again?

"The major battles within the plains are finished, but there's still outside the plains." Fu Shanyue stood up, walked to the sand table, and with a sweep of his hand, a map of the western side of Shanjin Plains, including the Yangshan Archipelago, appeared on it.

Fu Shanyue pointed to the Yangshan Archipelago. "We are here."

Then, his finger moved northeast, all the way to the peninsula. "Your brother's army is currently attacking here."

"Yaguo?!" He Yue was startled. "I remember that country has strong military might. How could my brother... Could it be that they took advantage of the weakness to attack the newly established Cangyan Nation?"

Before embarking on his sea journey, he had specifically studied up, gaining a general understanding of Shanjin and the surrounding countries' situations and strengths. Yaguo was a powerful regional nation, famous for its combat prowess; it was said that even Mou Nation dared not treat it lightly.

Cangyan Nation had only been established for a few months. With its unstable foundation, shouldn't the ruler be focusing on consolidating his rule? He found it hard to imagine his brother would actively attack Yaguo.

Fu Shanyue's finger moved up, pointing to another area. "This place is called 'Bailie'. Yaguo frequently plunders surrounding regions. This time, they raided Bailie, and Yaguo's third prince was shot dead by the Bailie people. The King of Yaguo was enraged and sent troops to forcefully attack Bailie. So, your brother led his troops to support Bailie."

"Are his relations with Bailie that good?" Sending troops right after establishing a nation, was his elder brother truly not considering the difficulty?

"Good relations?" Fu Shanyue chuckled. "These islands you're standing on originally belonged to Bailie. At that time, they were sea islands surrounded by malevolent energy, devoid of life. Later, the Bailie lord sold them to your brother for tens of thousands of taels, which led to the thriving Yangshan waterway! However, the Bailie lord grew jealous seeing your brother develop the area so successfully, and has tried repeatedly to tear up the contract and forcibly reclaim them."

"..." He Yue was confused. "Then my brother is still willing to help them fight?"

His elder brother was certainly no fool; there must be a reasonable explanation for his actions, right?

"I'm not entirely sure. But it seems to me that He Xiao went for revenge," Fu Shanyue said, not bothering to keep him in suspense. "When he led his elite forces to encircle and suppress Yao Nation, Yaguo launched a massive invasion of Shanjin's western front. The local military and civilians bravely counterattacked, suffering heavy casualties. Although Yaguo later retreated, they spread propaganda everywhere, claiming that the Dragon God Army was weak and easily bullied, and that one Yaguo soldier could defeat seven Dragon God soldiers."