Chapter 188: Imperial Brother, Could There Be People Without Blood Ties Who Look Exactly Alike…

Chapter 188: Imperial Brother – Can Two People Look Identical Without Being Related?

After the court session, officials were all gossiping about Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping.

The military officers grumbled, “Is Bing Wengu obsessed with Nan Jinping? All he thinks about is his consort. He threw away a golden opportunity—does he even care about his career anymore?”

“Probably has. No sane person would act like this.”

“No matter how crazy Bing Wengu acts, I have to admit I admire him. He’s not like those who preach benevolence and morality while hiding hypocrisy and chaos in their private lives. He supports gender equality and actually practices what he preaches. He’d rather give up promotions than let his husband miss out on the honors he deserves.”

“If you want to soar like an eagle, then build your own wings and fly high—if others can’t keep up, that’s their problem. Bing Wengu dotes on his husband shamelessly, though that statement itself is pretty arrogant. But then again, Bing Wengu has every right to be arrogant.”

The gossip spread fast. Bianjing was a city where secrets didn’t last a night. By morning, everyone knew just how deeply Bing Wengu adored his husband.

Later, after court, Zhan Yu called the Crown Prince aside. The Crown Prince noticed Zhan Yu lost in thought on the throne, clearly deep in contemplation.

“Father, are you thinking about Lord Bing?” the Crown Prince asked cautiously. Truthfully, he wanted to ask if the Emperor was thinking of Bing’s consort—but that wasn’t something he could say aloud.

Zhan Yu had been too obvious when he saw Nan Jinping, showing emotions unbecoming of an emperor, and none of the ministers had failed to notice.

Zhan Yu snapped back to attention and shook his head. “Summon Jiang Jinghuai for an audience.”

Jiang Jinghuai arrived promptly and bowed respectfully.

Zhan Yu asked, “You and Bing Wengu are close friends—you’ve known him since his early days. Do you know much about his husband, Nan Jinping?”

“I know Bing Yuanting… Ah, Your Majesty isn’t asking about Yuanting, but his husband, Master Wuwei?”

“Correct.”

Jiang Jinghuai looked momentarily stunned. Zhan Yu gestured, and the Crown Prince recounted the events from court. As Jiang listened, his expression shifted between disbelief and realization until he blurted out, “That’s exactly the kind of thing Bing the Lapdog would do.”

“Bing the Lapdog?” Zhan Yu raised an eyebrow.

Realizing what he had said, Jiang clapped a hand over his mouth, regretting it instantly. He could’ve kicked himself. His big mouth always got him into trouble, but now here he was, blurting out his inner thoughts in front of the Emperor. He braced himself for punishment.

Zhan Yu’s expression was peculiar—partly disapproving, partly amused. “Explain why you call him that.”

Jiang hesitated, but Zhan Yu encouraged him, “Speak freely. We won’t hold it against you.”

“Then I shall,” Jiang replied. “Your Majesty witnessed today how Bing Yuanting acted like a lovesick fool around Master Wuwei. Doesn’t it remind you of the lapdogs kept by noble families in the capital? They wag their tails and beg for treats whenever they see their masters?”

Zhan Yu paused, then nodded. “The comparison is spot-on.”

It was such a vivid image—comparing a lapdog’s behavior to Bing Wengu around Nan Jinping. The resemblance was uncanny. If Bing Wengu had a tail, it’d be wagging nonstop.

“Ahem…”

“Cough, cough…”

The Crown Prince and Zhan Yu bit back laughter at the mental picture, disguising it with exaggerated coughs and turning red-faced trying to hold it in.

After regaining composure, Zhan Yu continued, “Setting aside how Bing the Lap—” He caught himself and corrected, “Setting aside how Wengu fawns over Nan Jinping, what do you know about Nan Jinping himself? For example, his background.”

Jiang recalled, “I’ve heard Master Wuwei speak of his origins. He was born in a remote village, one of many siblings in a poor family. Life was extremely difficult for him. Though his family treated him decently, their poverty meant ‘decent’ wasn’t much.”

"The villagers often bullied him for being a Shuang Er—a gender-nonconforming person—growing up amidst gossip and slander. When he reached marriageable age, the villagers said no one would marry him. The few who didn’t mind his gender only introduced him to thoroughly unsuitable matches."

Jiang Jinghuai did not know why the Emperor was inquiring about Nan Jinping, so he did not go into too much detail, only giving a general account.

Even so, the Emperor’s expression visibly darkened, and Jiang Jinghuai’s voice grew quieter.

"Continue," Zhan Yu suppressed his anger.

"Later... later, it was Yuan Ting who took a liking to Master Wuwei and pursued him relentlessly. Master Wuwei was moved and finally agreed."

Zhan Yu frowned. "Though I, too, find much to disdain in Bing Wengu’s behavior, one cannot deny his academic achievements and military skills. Even in that impoverished village, let alone Bianjing, he was a rare talent among young men. Why would the Nan family refuse his proposal? You just said they treated Nan Jinping decently—if they truly cared, why reject such an outstanding match?"

Jiang Jinghuai inwardly wondered what the Emperor meant by this. Earlier, he had referred to Bing Wengu as “Minister Bing” and even called him a “Marshal incarnate.” How had a single morning court session turned him into someone Zhan Yu now spoke of with such disdain?

Unable to untangle these thoughts, Jiang Jinghuai decided not to dwell on it and resolved to ask Elder Marquis Jiang about it later.

He answered honestly, "Your Majesty, according to Yuan Ting himself, before marrying Master Wuwei, he was lackluster in both studies and character, never showing promise. He even failed the Tongsheng exam multiple times. The tutor in his town once said that if Bing could pass, a sow could climb a tree."

Zhan Yu and the Crown Prince were stunned. The Crown Prince asked, "Is the Yuan Ting you speak of the same Lord Bing who stands in court today?"

Zhan Yu added, "Bing Wengu’s academic achievements are undeniable—he topped the examinations at every level, surpassing countless outstanding young nobles in Bianjing. How could he have repeatedly failed a mere entry-level imperial exam?"

"This is absolutely true, not something I made up. Yuan Ting himself admitted it."

"One wonders how many noble youths in Bianjing would fall ill if this got out. To think they lost to someone who couldn’t even pass the Tongsheng exam—I wouldn’t be surprised if the young master of the Shen family was the first to be devastated."

The Crown Prince finished speaking before remembering that the Shen family’s young master was Jiang Jinghuai’s cousin. He gave Jiang Jinghuai an awkward smile.

Jiang Jinghuai looked at him mournfully. "My cousin already fell ill over it."

"Oh... really?" The Crown Prince shifted uncomfortably.

Zhan Yu snorted in realization. "No wonder the Nan family was unwilling to marry off their Shuang Er. I wouldn’t have either. That said, Bing Wengu is passably handsome and physically robust—surely he’d be good at farming. Rural families value that. Shouldn’t that alone have made them agree?"

Jiang Jinghuai felt embarrassed for Bing Wengu. "Well... I only found out later. The truth is, Yuan Ting never worked the fields or did household chores in all those years at home."

"So he had no farming skills whatsoever?" Zhan Yu forgot to control his voice, exclaiming loudly, "And yet he had the audacity to declare confidently in court about his farming background, claiming no one could match him?"

"I wouldn’t know about that." Who would’ve thought Bing Wengu would dare to lie so brazenly?

Zhan Yu and the Crown Prince exchanged glances. The Crown Prince said, "Lord Bing is bold. But I suppose it’s the boldness of the exceptionally talented. If he hadn’t dared to take up the post of district magistrate, there would’ve been no hybrid crop strains. All in all, Lord Bing has real ability."

Zhan Yu said, "If not for that, hah..."

"If Bing Wengu was as useless as you say, how did he suddenly become the learned and capable man he is now?"

"That’s largely thanks to Master Wuwei. They say he carries an auspicious destiny—the kind where the better you treat him, the more fortune he brings in return."

Zhan Yu asked, "If that’s true, why was the Nan family still so poor? Did they not truly care for Nan Jinping, only pretending?"

"Not exactly. Your Majesty may not know this, but among humble families, treating a Shuang Er well simply means treating them the same as the sons. And the sons of poor families don’t live much better—frankly, their lives are worse than those of favored pets in noble households. So even if they were 'good' to him, it wasn’t much. It’s said that because their kindness wasn’t enough, they didn’t gain great wealth, only ensured the family's well-being."

Zhan Yu nodded. Though he was the ruler of a nation, he was not ignorant of hardship. In his days when he was out of favor, he too had known struggle.

"Despite his flaws, Yuan Ting’s devotion to Master Wuwei is undeniable—absolute. After marriage, he declared that Master Wuwei would never have to do housework or farm labor."

Hearing this, Zhan Yu was somewhat satisfied.

"Yuan Ting then cultivated Master Wuwei in reading, writing, and understanding propriety, shaping him into the remarkable scholar he is today. It was then that Master Wuwei’s fortune reciprocated to Yuan Ting. As he put it, it was like a sudden enlightenment—knowledge he once struggled with came effortlessly. And thus, the Lord Bing we know today was born."

Jiang Jinghuai had expected the Emperor to be skeptical about Nan Jinping’s status as an auspicious star. Instead, His Majesty’s eyes burned with unsettling conviction, as if he wholeheartedly believed in Nan Jinping’s fortune.

“An auspicious star—excellent!” Zhan Yu exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“I have no further questions for you. You may go now. You’ve done well this time, and your reward will arrive shortly—you need only wait.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” With the Emperor’s promise, Jiang Jinghuai’s worries eased.

After Jiang Jinghuai left, the Crown Prince finally realized that the Emperor’s concern for Nan Jinping was not romantic, but rather a parent’s doting protectiveness.

“Father,” the Crown Prince asked cautiously, “you truly have no doubts about Nan Jinping being an auspicious star?”

“Crown Prince, come here. I have something to show you.” Zhan Yu rose and approached a wall where hung a calligraphy scroll bearing his own hand-written characters: *Virtue Governs All Under Heaven*.

He slid the scroll aside, revealing a hidden mechanism. With a few deft twists, the wall rotated open, exposing a passage barely wide enough for one person.

“Follow me,” Zhan Yu beckoned, stepping inside. The Crown Prince followed closely behind.

Striking a flint, the Emperor lit the candles on the table, revealing a secret chamber.

At the center stood offerings of incense and tributes, but what truly startled the Crown Prince was the portrait on the wall. It depicted a gaunt, lifeless-eyed boy of about six or seven—perhaps even younger. Most strikingly, if that child were to grow up, he would look exactly like the Nan Jinping the Crown Prince had seen.

Except Nan Jinping, compared to the boy in the painting, brimmed with energy and vigor.

“This… this…” the Crown Prince stammered, stunned beyond words. Why did the Emperor keep a portrait of someone who looked identical to Nan Jinping in a hidden room?

“Crown Prince, offer incense to your imperial uncle,” Zhan Yu said softly, his gaze heavy with nostalgia as he looked at the portrait.

The Crown Prince steadied himself, lit the incense, and bowed respectfully before the painting.

“Father,” he finally spoke, “why does Nan Jinping resemble my imperial uncle as a child? Didn’t my imperial uncle drown saving you when he was seven?”

Zhan Yu’s expression darkened. “Indeed. I wonder too—why would a *shuang’er* youth from a remote village bear such an uncanny resemblance to my elder brother?”

A cold dread settled over the Crown Prince. Some things were better left unexplored.

“Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this.”

As they emerged from the chamber, the Crown Prince remained puzzled. “Father, if Nan Jinping looks just like my imperial uncle, how is it that no one at court has noticed?”

Zhan Yu sneered. “When Mother gave birth to my brother, the late Emperor, upon learning he was a *shuang’er*, branded her and the child cursed. She was neglected, then merely a minor consort. Who would take notice of an ill-omened *shuang’er* born to an out-of-favor consort?

“Mother knew the late Emperor despised my brother and feared he might provoke the Emperor’s wrath. So she shut him away in their quarters, never allowing him to meet outsiders. Until his death, my brother never once stepped outside those walls. Scarcely anyone knew his likeness. Over the years, apart from Mother and me, there must be no one else alive who remembers what he looked like.”

As for Mei Chengwen and others, they entered the political scene much later, after Zhan Yu had secured his ascendancy. Thus, they knew nothing of his elder brother’s appearance—only that he had once had a *shuang’er* brother. They didn’t even know that this brother had died saving Zhan Yu.

This scar upon the Emperor’s heart was rarely spoken of. He had only ever shared it with the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was well aware of this history. That the Empress Dowager later bore Zhan Yu could only be described as a whim of providence.

Once, the late Emperor, drunk, wandered drunkenly into her chambers and, in a moment of happenstance, conceived Zhan Yu.

It seemed Fate wove its own tapestry.

At the mention of this, Zhan Yu’s gaze frosted over.

“Crown Prince,” he murmured, more to himself than to his son, “do you believe two people with no blood ties can look exactly alike?”

The Crown Prince knew the Emperor did not seek an answer. He’d dispatch his agents to investigate.

Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping returned to the courier station only to be immediately surrounded.

"Da Lang, did the Emperor punish you?" asked Liang Shi.

"Da Lang, Si Lang helped organize a petition of ten thousand citizens—did it work?" inquired Father Bing.

"Jin Geer, does the Emperor believe you killed the Kunmi?" Miao Shi asked.

"Jin Geer..."

"Father, Mother, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, there's no need to worry. The Emperor has no intention of blaming me," Bing Wengu interrupted the barrage of questions from his family.

Nan Jinping glanced at Bing Wengu but didn't expose him—the Emperor hadn't said anything about not pursuing Bing Wengu's disobedience of the imperial edict. But now wasn't the time to bring it up; mentioning it would only cause unnecessary worry without helping the situation.

"Endless Heavenly Lord, that's good, that's good," Liang Shi muttered, bowing randomly. "When can we return to Fengzhou?"

"Not yet. After all, I did disobey the imperial edict. Though there were merits, there were also faults—it's hard to judge the balance. The Emperor said my official appointment needs further deliberation, so I must remain in Bianjing to await the decree."

"Stay in Bianjing?"

"Yes. As it happens, my term of office has ended, and the Emperor has recalled me to Bianjing."

"Wonderful! My son will be an official in the capital now!" Liang Shi cheered joyfully.

"Si Lang isn't here. Later, contact him and arrange for the people to return to Fengzhou. I'll cover the travel expenses. Also, ask Si Lang to find us a place to stay."

"Can we leave the courier station now?"

"Yes, as long as we don't leave Bianjing."

"That's truly wonderful."

"There's some wonderful news to share," Bing Wengu said, looking at Nan Jinping with pride and admiration.

"What wonderful news?" Miao Shi, noticing Bing Wengu's expression, instinctively felt it was related to her Jin Geer.

"Because of his merit in slaying the Wusun Kunmi, the Emperor has granted my lord husband the special privilege of participating in this year's imperial examinations," Bing Wengu declared loudly, prouder than when he himself had earned the title of *Zhuangyuan*.

"What? Jin Geer can take the imperial exams?" Miao Shi gasped in shock.

Not just Miao Shi—Nan's father, Nan Dalang, Gu Shi, and everyone else thought they misheard. But seeing the disbelief on each other's faces, they realized they hadn't misheard after all.

Nan Jinping explained, "Actually, this is owed chiefly to Wen Gu."

"From time immemorial, when a husband or wife achieves great merit, it's always credited to their spouse. The individuals themselves receive only vain honors or treasures."

"But Wen Gu refused to take credit for my achievement and petitioned the Emperor to grant me fairness. Normally, such merit would merit an official promotion, but how could the officials ever agree to let a *Shuang Er* hold office?"

Hearing this, Miao Shi and the Nan family nervously glanced at Liang Shi and the Bing family, fearing they might object.

Whether the Bing family had objections, no one knew—they dared not show any on their faces.

But since they heard this was Bing Wengu's idea, with no involvement from Nan Jinping, and given Bing Wengu's contrary nature—the more opposed he was, the more he'd resist—they truly wouldn't dream of opposing him. Moreover, Bing Wengu now held high authority and was accustomed to having absolute authority. The Bing family was his to command, and they wouldn't dare oppose him.

Miao Shi, realizing she'd worried needlessly, relaxed.

Nan Jinping continued, "Wen Gu declared outright that the officials' knowledge could not match mine..."

"That’s way too cocky!" said Miao Shi. "Those are all big shots, after all."

"My man’s just as good," Bing Wengu declared confidently. "You’ll see, Ma."

Nan Jinping let out a tired sigh. "I don’t even have that much confidence in myself. In the end, Wen Gu suggested I sit for the exams to prove my real abilities."

"Did the officials agree?" Nan’s dad pressed.

"The Emperor agreed," Nan Jinping dodged the question. Naturally, the officials hadn’t consented, but the Emperor’s word was all that counted.

Jiang Jinghuai stepped out of the palace, where his Shen uncle had been waiting outside. The two climbed into the carriage of Shen, the Secretariat Drafter.

"Today I met Master Wuwei. He’s truly stunning—enough to make even the Emperor stumble over himself. No wonder you…"

Uncle Shen hedged slightly. "In any case, he’s too damn good-looking. At such a critical time, that’s not necessarily a good thing. As his friend, you should give Lord Bing a heads-up. Someone as sharp as him will know what’s best for both of them."

Jiang Jinghuai recalled how the Emperor had asked about Nan Jinping repeatedly, and how his attitude toward Bing Wengu had gone from liking him to side-eyeing him.

"Is the Emperor into Jin Geer?"

"Keep it down!" Uncle Shen shook his head. "Jinghuai, let me tell you a story."

"Back then, there was a general known for his bravery and skill in battle. But he was a soldier through and through—blunt and clueless when it came to court politics. He ended up offending a powerful eunuch who was the Emperor’s right-hand man. The eunuch had it out with the general and plotted with foreign enemies to get him killed on the battlefield."

"Luckily, the general had once saved the brother of the eunuch’s right-hand man. Out of gratitude, that aide secretly warned him."

"To avoid disaster, the general faked an accident on purpose, letting his warhorse crush his own leg. After that, he couldn't fight anymore—and escaped death."

"Uncle, are you saying…" Jiang Jinghuai’s face darkened. "That Jin Geer should disfigure himself?"

"Only then would the Emperor lose interest."

"But…!"

"Jinghuai, sometimes you have to cut off a finger to save the hand."

"But the Emperor has never been a tyrant before. Surely he wouldn’t stoop to stealing another man’s husband?"

"Throughout history, how many rulers have taken their subjects’ spouses? You must be careful. Even if the Emperor wasn’t a fool before, no ruler starts out corrupt. Beauty is unpredictable—it's not about wisdom or stupidity, it's about basic male desire. Jinghuai, never underestimate desire itself, especially not an emperor’s."