Brother's Woes, Suitor's Concerns

Upon returning home from the Buji'er Residence...

Beiyue came back home, and Dongling already doing her duties. Because she has school now, she has permission to do her homework first before doing her duties as a maid.

'Young miss, second young master is here to see you.' said Dongling as soon as she got home. 'I put him in the warded parlor room.'

It was a precaution they took, against the likes of the Xiao Clan, if your name wasn't Concubine Fang.

'Ohya? What brings Second Brother to see me after all these years?' Beiyue asked Zhonglei who looked like he was going to face the worst day of his life.

'Royal Sister...' said Zhonglei as he shook. 'Is there a way for me to safely disappear?'

That got Beiyue frowning. His words also got Dongling anxious.

'What makes you ask that question?'

'I overheard mother two days ago talking with sister.' Zhonglei shook. 'She said that 'those people' owe her big, the least they can do is help Sister be a powerful cultivator. Yet nary a thought for me, though its been that way for years.' he said bitterly. 'Then Sister found a book in the estate...that to boost elemental affinity of one's spirit foundation, they must take the foundation of the closest relative as a sacrifice and that's me...she didn't hesitate to use me up with such wicked thoughts in her mind!' he cried in tears. 'I was never family to mother and sister, I'm an asset and a resource and nothing more! Yun only remembered she has a brother for that purpose, and so did mother remembering she actually has a son! Up until this point, at least father and servants remembered I was here!' he sobbed.

'I can only talk to you about this as you distanced yourself from the family and father, will sooner listen to mother than to me because status is more important! But I want to live! Please help me!' he begged, stunning the two girls.

'Soon, a sorcerer will come to aid in that crime, I don't know who nor do I care, please help me get away!' Zhonglei begged. 'I have no future from the very beginning in this family, but at least I want to live!'

'...show me your memories of the event, second brother, and I'll think of this matter.' Beiyue took out a glass disk from her Space Ring. 'This is Glancing Memory. Users can focus on their memories and imprint it in here using Ki. A one-time use item, but memories can be viewed anytime, anywhere afterward. After you pour your memory in here, engrave a title of your choice on the surface of the disk to preserve the memory with your ki to end the recording.'

'A-alright...' Zhonglei sniffled as he reached for the disk and began recording with trembling lips and tears still flowing down his cheeks.

Beiyue judged Zhonglei as she watched him in the process of recording.

'A-and royal sister?'

'Hm?'

'You'll know something interesting here too.' he croaked out. 'How on earth am I related to them again?!' he cried in utter dismay.

'Mystery of the universe.' said Beiyue cynically with a cold smile. 'After I see this record, I will think of ways to get you out. Though that will mean from Noble to Commoner. Do you even know how to live the life of one? A typical commoner male knows skills nobles don't know of as there's no servant to do chores for them. Carpentry. House Maintenance. All sorts of Labor Jobs because men must be seen as a figure of reliability.' she warned him. 'Prepare for this as you chose to live longer, than a painful death as a cultivating ingredient.'

'I'll do it I'll do it!' Zhonglei cried insistently and desperately. He clearly didn't want to die. He was also greatly shaken by his family's callousness towards him as well, nevermind their poisonous minds towards Huang Beiyue and Princess Royal. If he was to be betrayed by his own blood, he decided to stab them first through his sister who will definitely help him. Sure he never did her wrong, but its not like he helped her either in their younger years, so he had some guilty conscience. But even at a young age, he learned how cruel...a harem household is. How wives and children are against each other's throats, for the favor of their husband/father!

'For now, I suppose I'll hide you here as we have no way of knowing when that crooked sorcerer will come.' said Beiyue. 'I'll set up an appointment with an acquaintance of mine.'

'Thank you...'

'Well, we'll get dinner ready and I'll put you in a warded Guest Room.'

xxx

'Miss, are you sure he's for real?' Dongling asked Beiyue after they put Zhonglei in a guest room.

'Let's watch the memories he has first.' said Beiyue as she played her disk...and as she and Dongling watched, Zhonglei really had a good reason to disown himself, and run and never look back.

'Miss...this is...' Dongling shook, ashen-faced as she shakily looked at her mistress' stony-faced expression.

'This is to be a trump card.' said Beiyue with a cold look on her face. 'Second brother sure gave us gold. I shall aid him befitting this information, shall I?'

xxx

After dinner...

A servant gave a gold letter to Sai Si a gold letter once everyone left the dining hall as is proper. So upon coming to his office, he read his letter. It was from the princess.

It has come to my notice that an Inner Family Crime will
soon take place. Thus I ask of your permission to send a
family member under the protection of the Buji'er Family.

This endangered person is willing to do and learn anything
in exchange for jobs and residency outside of Linhua City
to stay away from his own mother and sister who will gladly
kill him just to boost his sister's Spiritual Elemental Foundation
as this sister found a spell in the Xiao Family Archives.

This brother came to me for help and safety even if it meant
losing his noble status, horrified by how far his mother and
sister will go. He cannot even go to his father for help with
well-justified fears as in any family, sacrifices must be made
to rise in status and prominence, even if it meant cold-blooded
heinous means. I have no idea why the family has a spell like
this in their archives, but it clearly doesn't mean anything good.

I will investigate further, but I ask of your aid to protect this
person. He cannot be around me as my place will be among
the first places searched for. If you agree to this, young master
Luoluo will meet me at lunch break with your approval. But if I
didn't see him tomorrow, I will have to ask someone else for
this brother's safety.

- Huang Beiyue

Sai Si got thinking.

In the Xiao Clan, Master Xiao has four wives, though one dead. The royal legal wife. His remaining wives are all concubines. In order of seniority, it's Fang, Qin and Xue. But in terms of power through their children, it's Princess Royal posthumously, then equal between Qin and Xue, and Fang the weakest. Because all along, Princess Beiyue was secretly the strongest and played the fool, just so she'd know who to associate with and who not to! Her cultivation base according to his son during Admissions Exams day? She was equal to Crown Prince's level! At just age twelve...justified as she was insanely wealthy.

She was a business genius who enabled two fiefs under her care to gain more annual taxes. Her people are strong and healthy. Being a massive business magnate, the Buji'er Clan is aware what's going on in Qinghe and Miyang as Beiyue hires them for various building services as well as supplying services BEFORE she built restaurants.

It was why she was kind to his son Luoluo and willing to aid him, while cold and contemptuous at everyone else. She even delivered the ultimate insult, by sponsoring Dongling, her personal maid who is certain to have a bright future as a Pharmacist, being a young genius at her age! She sponsored her MAID, and not her own siblings, as revenge for how she was treated during her years of playing stupid to test character, no doubt. And gained information on who she should associate with, and not.

And in Xiao Family, there are three Summoners. Senior Master, Xiao Yun and Huang Beiyue, though nobody knows what her Summon is. She shocked everyone that day as when her cultivation was tested, it revealed two things...that she has War God Cultivation as a Warrior, and a 9-star Class B Summoner.

And to think the year before, Dongling was the shocker, that she has War God cultivation, yet chose to be Pharmacist due to her element.

Xiao Yun, is the daughter of Xiao Yuancheng through Concubine Xue. However, the girl is barely into a star due to lack of money as one, Xiao Yuancheng doesn't earn that much. By angering his royal brother in-law on his sister's wedding day, he took back the Fief he granted him. It was a rich fief just so he could give his sister a good life...until idiot flirted with Chief Counselor's younger daughter! So the family only got a cheap fief instead, barely enough to support a Warrior's growth to Gold Class and forbade his sister from sharing her wealth, a fact he reinforced by keeping an eye on the clan and his sister's coffers!

That amount of money cannot support Summoners past 2-stars.

Naturally, Master Xiao, in order to save face, prioritized his Childe's cultivation first. Xiao Zhongqi is a Warrior of Silver Class with known Military Merits. He was sure the boy was gaining merits just to improve his family image as it was mucked by his own family's reputation. It was only recently that he began spending on Summoner Goods. However, Xiao Yun made little progress as of last year that this year, cultivation focused on Xiao Rou and Xiao Zhonglei who were also Warriors. But naturally, sons are prioritized, that Xiao Zhonglei is a Bronze-Class B, and his youngest sister at 9th Dan Spirit level, two levels away from Bronze. Incase anything happens to current Childe, spare son then inherits. This was because for all that money, it gave Xiao Yun little progress.

Too little than normal.

For a normal person, that money can help a Summoner reach 2-stars based on talent levels. However, Xiao Yun has barely-there progress even with that money, evident by her Admission's Exams results as of last year, and this year. She just has little talent. Didn't even bother cultivating as a Warrior. She was a known joke and a hopeless case that she and her mother resorted to cruel means, that got her brother begging princess for help against that level of treachery.

While he cannot harm his own relatives, his family hasn't such hesitation, even though he is stronger than his older sister. It implies that his personality fell far from the toxic tree he came from.

However, why does Concubine Xue so willing to kill her own son who had better talent than her daughter?

Oh right, stupid question.

Summoners, are the cream of the crop. In cultivation, prestige and wealth. Warriors cannot command such respect! To that woman, her son is useless. It also speaks well of her character as a person and as a mother. Xiao Yun is her asset whom she groomed to be her favored asset. The girl is as black-bellied as she, but her mother has her ear, and controls all her actions. A puppet in her mother's thirst for prestige.

Concubine Fang gave up on prestige in the martial arts world and focused on Eldest Miss' beauty and quality as a bride as Xiao Ling fell drastically behind in favor of Childe that she can never catch up. She has jade skin, a tall and swell bosom and a thin, but curved waist, excelling in feminine and wifely arts. Given the expenses in Master Xiao's records, Concubine Fang's backer was no doubt, Princess Beiyue. Unable to go to Lingyang School lest even the children in Imperial College eat the poor girl alive. Due to her quality as bride, she would get married soon!

Because to be a martial artist, one's body must be treated well with herbs and elixirs...from a young age starting at age four to withstand spiritual awakening at age six. Miss that crucial age, your future as martial artist is as good as dead. Xiao Ling, was sacrificed in favor of her younger brother by two years, Xiao Zhongqi. All resources, went to him and saved up future pills that she cannot cultivate any more past age six, that her cultivation base was only up to Spirit Foundation Base, she can't even be a 1st Dan Spirit Level and she stagnated since, though kept up her body training at least. That Fourth Miss, she cannot even offend, powerless against even a twelve year old Xiao Rou, nevermind Huang Beiyue who's way too powerful.

He will have Luo'er talk to princess tomorrow. A meeting at home, is a must.

'Go get me Luo'er.'

xxx

'You called for me, father?' Luoluo asked his father. He began the princess' powerful, but delicious diet he felt he can eat FOREVER, he just doesn't wanna get fat ling Anguo Gong!

'Yes.' said Sai Si. 'I want you to get to know Princess Beiyue. She is kind to you and would make a good friend. She also has tight business relations with us as you already know, so its best to cultivate a good relationship.' he told him. 'And also, I want to talk to her in our home tomorrow.'

'Oh! What about?' Luoluo asked excitedly.

'Treachery among blood.' his son's face quickly went pale with horror. 'She hopes that we hide her second brother.'

'Oh my god, just what is wrong with that family that Princess clearly played them for fools and distanced herself, and now this?!' Luoluo's eyebrows went all the way up in shock, as Sai Si shook his head.

'I'll know tomorrow. So go seek her at lunch break tomorrow.'

'Yes, father!' Luoluo really wanted to know what is WRONG with that family! Its such that princess grew up cold hearted out of necessity!

xxx

Xiao Yuancheng found himself looking at a long list of suitors for his eldest daughter with Concubine Fang.

They were all sons of men of notable repute in the military with good merits. Normally, any girl would marry up but in this case, Ling'er is marrying DOWN but at least she still has good marriage. No noble son would marry her. She wasn't lucky like Qin's older sister though their situation was similar after all. But Ling wasn't as beautiful as she that she didn't appeal to any noble son. But this was better than nothing. Only Rou'er who has cultivation and superior beauty, can afford to marry up.

His royal daughter had painted all her sisters on request though request clearly annoyed her, but it doesn't deny the fact that everyone needs to get married, and what better way than her painting technique? She painted lifelike paintings of her sisters in canvas frames according to their real life height, put on display in the Matchmaking Office in Buji'er Bazaar. With her ability to paint, being two landlords aside, she was asked by Lingyang School to be a Painting Teacher, though it was a job she turned down because she was too swamped with work. She merely paints as a hobby...or if asked to. But she charges!

(he knows that she didn't charge the Emperor, but nobody knew she didn't charge Prince Xiaoyao either)

Normally, noble families engage their daughters and sons since birth as Huiwen had done with Beiyue to Anguo Gongzi...whom she later repudiated for who-knows-what reasons.

Even Xiao Ling appealed to a lot of people! Xiao Yun, his summoner daughter, was a national joke due to her scarce talent. The family annual income is enough to raise at least, a 2-star summoner yet for all that money, she made little progress! She was a waste, people say, she should have chosen to be Warrior instead if she didn't want to lose face, but Xiao Yun and his concubine wanted her to pursue Summoning no matter what. There was no such list of suitors for Xiao Yun when even Xiao Rou has suitors!

Before, it was Beiyue who was the joke, giving Yun'er some face somehow, but SHE played a joke on the whole country, even to her own family by concealing her true strength and now everyone knows who the real joke is! In this year's Admissions Exams, everyone was shocked.

Concubine Qin enjoyed wicked laughter on what a loser she was, that at least, his eldest daughter knew her standing and pursued avenues that she didn't suffer national disgrace.

Well, he has to choose among these men, and prepare a dowry. Its best to marry Ling off as soon as possible!

'Whom do you want for Ling'er, Fang?' Yuancheng asked Fang who retained her youthful beauty. How was he to know, that Beiyue tested them all for years and failed her character test that she 'rewarded' Fang well through Ling, while she held everyone else in contempt, thus no backing from her as a result?

Ling stagnated so bad that she cannot progress any further in cultivation which was a sacrifice they all made to save the family's reputation through his Childe. Thus her education was based on how she appeals as a bride and wife instead. That Beiyue paid for her necessities...in a known brothel in the city, given top-class Courtesan Education. Ling excelled in literacy, arithmetic, 'womanly charms' arts, literature, poetry, social skills, music and singing, and dance. From her mother she learned motherhood 101 with a servant's help who has a newborn baby thus must endure handling stinky diapers and from Beiyue personally, Household Management and Cooking. She also gave Ling vanity elixirs that made Ling the best beauty her blood can afford her. That was as far as Beiyue will go in aiding Fang.

Fang also enjoyed same benefits that she is very educated, though she shied away from the 'womanly arts' part. She is also younger than she seems, retaining her youth, firm, jade skin and didn't look like she birthed a child. Qin and Xue on the other hand, looked their age in terms of body. Those vanity pills are best used on their daughters instead to appeal for marriage as well than on them right now anyway.

'I asked Bei'er to investigate all these men for me and we have yet to gather results.' said Fang. 'I want the best man for her who won't hurt her behind closed doors.' suppose, Yuancheng can respect her wish as upon marriage, a girl is no longer part of her family. She is now her new family's member thus answers to them now. She answers to her new family's elders and husband.

xxx

Lingyang School, the next day...

Xing Jue was sitting nervously before Princess Beiyue and her companions, her maid, Luoluo and Prince Lianyi. Luoluo was there first to tell Beiyue that his father wants to talk to her about transactions when Xing Jue nervously approached their area because Beiyue called him over through a letter last night.

He was the third son of General Xing Junzhan. A man who earned enough merits that his salary, was 90000 gold taels a month. Big money by military standards. In the Imperial Army, your salary is based on your rank -plus- merits. Those two factors. He could keep a mansion, but not an estate with large gardens and only has ten servants at home. He also can afford cultivation but only up to Spirit Foundation Growth only for all his children. It was why his children take up quests just to afford cultivation. However, they all cannot be in Warrior Course. They were all in Imperial College, studying Military Strategy and Mount Archery in their early years, before moving onto East College after four years.

For age 22, he was merely a Bronze Class C. He was a good example that some families just cannot go far because of money. Right now, he focused on his money in building his own mansion. In his past as a mercenary every school holidays, he was obliged to amass enough money for his own home as upon graduation, any son must move out if you're a commoner after all. Only noble sons can afford to remain in their family estates with wives moving in! He already has his own mansion prepared as well as amassing his own personal fortune for the future of his family.

By record, he has a good nest egg of over ten million taels and has six manservants at home. Not bad. Xiao Ling can live her first few years in marriage with that kinda luxury. Because come graduation, he can no longer be a Mercenary upon joining the Imperial Army for good.

Beiyue has investigated all of Ling's suitors and he was by far, the best one in terms of character, but out of fortune, ranked 45/100.

'Young Master Xing...out of eldest sister's suitors, you are the most promising regards to Aunt Fang's criteria as a husband for eldest sister. Soon, she's of age to marry, that you will soon meet...under chaperoned meetings, of course.' said Beiyue. 'By end of the year, you will be marrying her.'

'So I have gained Miss Xiao's hand in marriage...but what made me the lucky groom, princess?' Xing Jue asked curiously, though he was delighted to have Miss Xiao Ling. 'And what to expect from her other than her qualities in the Matchmaking Office?'

'Although we managed to tame it over time, while honesty is a valuable trait, in politics, too much honesty and if done wrong, will get anyone killed in a society like ours.' Beiyue told him. 'She's very honest and speaks her mind that she really needed a heavy-hand approach to tone that down in public and social settings, and must instead direct her honesty towards her family instead. She can't lie nor flatter to save her life before, but given household and social politics, Aunt Fang and I have to be heavy-handed in that brand of education so when she socializes with some ladies, she won't be hated by your family or blacklisted from social events after her first day.'

'Well I suppose that's a good thing.' said Xing Jue with a nervous chuckle. 'Like mother like daughter perhaps?'

'Partially.' said Beiyue. 'Aunt Fang is from a commoner background. Virtuous woman, kind, gentle and doting she may be. But when she married my father(that made her inwardly cringe), she got a taste of luxury. But unlike most wives who went amok with coming into money through a rich husband, she did just that to eldest sister instead that she grew up spoiled...because Aunt Fang wanted her to have what she never could as a child. But she spoiled Ling too much that disciplining came after so she calmed down for the sake of her future as a bride. Rest assured that eldest sister will be a good wife and good mother after her very-thorough education and training.'

'As for why we chose you as her husband...Aunt Fang's criteria, is personality.' Beiyue continued. 'Having grown up in a stressful household that naturally comes in a harem-type household where competition and backstabbing is rife, she asked me for my help to investigate all 60 men so eldest sister will have an ideal marriage.' she told Xing Jue who went slack-jawed at the admission. Behind her, Lianyi raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

'You are least likely to have a concubine, least likely to ahem, 'look elsewhere', least likely to commit adultery as well as not the type into domestic abuse either. But you are a firm person with a strong personality and will incase eldest sister regresses, with no vices and no bad habits. You are also reliable as a man in many ways as well and very responsible, judging that at a young age you already got yourself a fully-furnished mansion, even did family planning that your mansion has four rooms for your children.' she definitely approves. 'You're very prudent...something...7/10 men grossly hilariously fail in and given societal roles, its expected of men to fulfill that simple, but crucial role in life.' she sneered. 'Aunt Fang thus has great confidence that you will do well with eldest sister who can at least, have a good married life...unlike her.'

'...so Miss Xiao didn't grow up peaceful?' Xing Jue frowned in concern.

'Well, she grew up safe as in my estate, pardon my language, its mostly Concubines Qin and Xue at bitch-fits against each other(Dongling snorted, Lianyi and Xing Jue did a double-take), in constant competition that became all-out full-blown brand of crazy when mother died that Aunt Fang really backed away by a mile given her peaceful, pacifistic mindset, but both are witness to those vicious cat fights and our other siblings sniping at each other...and she would tell me she rues the day father can't keep it in his pants after marrying mother.' said Beiyue wryly. 'Thinking he got Nanyi's most beautiful woman he can have any woman he wanted...boy, that was a fatal mistake on his part.' she giggled darkly.

Its clear to the boys she has zero respect for her father by how she talks.

'Aunt Fang was OK with mother as they were similar in personality. They were also great friends in life. Their only shared problem, was father that for Ling's husband, she wants a man who's nothing like him. I thought its impossible to find a man with her specifications in Linhua City,' she said cynically before shrugging, '-but hey, miracles do happen...since there's you.'

'Urk...' Xing Jue sweatdropped at how cynical of people she sounded. Out of all suitors he was the winner because of mother-in-law's criteria?

'Well, I know that father will give you the Bridal Dowry equivalent to Ling's worth as a wife by the end of this year. However, given what I taught sister about cooking...' said Beiyue, taking out her space ring and giving him a Silver and Gold cookbook and giving it to him, as well as a large lacquered box. 'This is yours to keep to sustain such a lifestyle so you need to get promoted while your children are still young. Keep that secret if you don't want that stolen~'

'O-of course, princess.' said Xing Jue nervously, taking the items into his space ring. 'How soon will the meetings begin?'

'Well, it can be as early as tomorrow after school, with the meeting place being your residence. I will make arrangements with Aunt Fang tonight.' said Beiyue. 'And send you a letter though it'll come a bit late, as I have an appointment with Sai Si after school.'

'Very well. I look forward to meeting Miss Xiao tomorrow after school.' Xing Jue bowed before leaving.

'...' Luoluo gleaned a lot in that meeting.

How Beiyue grew up and a glance into her home life which was good enough reason to distance herself. To be fair, her father brought in trouble himself and invited his own ruin!