The Ageless Dream

15.3 Qin's New Prince (60)

Inside the city jail, Ying Zheng alone entered the cell deep underground. The cold stone corridor gave off a freezing temperature and dim lit torches waved with shadows caused by the tongue of flames. The whole place looked ominous, his monotonous steps kept resounded within. He finally reached the only cell in that place where a man is chained.

"Yi Ge [1]." Ying Zheng called out after entering the cell. His dark eyes flickered with the warm torch. Unexpectedly, mixed emotions of anger, disappointment, grief and mockery emerged from his gaze. The man chained on the wall lifted his head with an expressionless face. "Yi Ge, its been five years. We met again."

"Yi Ge? You still have the guts to call me your brother?!" Ying Chengjiao fiercely glared at Ying Zheng; his gaze full of hatred. "You executed my family! You killed your sister-in-law! Your nephews and nieces died! Is that how a real brother treats his sibling's family?!"

"Listen well, Yi Ge." Ying Zheng lowered his tone and knelt with one knee in front of Ying Chengjiao. "You left your family in Qin and surrendered to Zhao, who is the one responsible for their death? Was it me who was forced to follow Lü Buwei's administrations? Or you who abandoned them for a small land like Rao? If you hadn't left, things would have been different. Lü Buwei wouldn't be the one I should follow. Sister-in-law wouldn't have died. We could have saved them, Yi Ge! You never knew how lonely I was and lived a life without anyone to count on! You left me, your family and Chang'an just for a mere county like Rao? Ridiculous!"

"Heh." Ying Chengjiao mocked. "Rao is not even half Chang'an."

"Prince, wait!" cries of servants can be heard nearby the open hallway where Dong Li Hua is strolling at. She stopped her steps to see a young boy dashing onwards.

"Get out of my way!" the young boy arrogantly shouted but Dong Li Hua remained still. He snorted and continued running away from his servants when suddenly, a white tiger showed up behind Dong Li Hua. This made the young boy stop.

"Prince?" Dong Li Hua frowned and stared at him for a long time. The young boy is probably nine-years-old, somehow familiar to her. That is when she realized he have some similarities with Ying Zheng!

"Zi'er!" a woman dressed in pink hanfu came. She knelt in front of the boy and embraced him. "Please don't hurt my son." she pleaded, her gaze setting on Lan Hu. Whoever the young lady is, she must be someone of high status to be able to raise a tiger as a pet. They can't possibly provoke the young lady.

"Then why?" Ying Zheng frowned. Realization struck him and he cant help but cast a scornful look to Ying Chengjiao. "You gave up Chang'an for that slave? Really... Yi Ge, I often idolize you but I never knew you are poor in decision making. You are no different from fools."

"Ying Zheng, being smart sometimes held you back from being human." his words made Ying Zheng furious. Ying Chengjiao can see a ruthless light flashing across his young brother's eyes.

"I heard what I have to hear. Ever since young, you told me I wont understand why you chose her than a good life. Still, I cant understand your principle. Let us not meet in the next lifetime, Brother." Ying Zheng slowly said and stood up. The guard opened the door for him.

"Ying Zheng! Don't you dare lay a hand on them!" Ying Chengjiao desperately moved but the chains restrained him. "You are no different from a bastard like the other Zhao ren said! One day, retribution will fall over you! You will suffer the loss I had and everyone around you will betray you! Only in that way can you realize your selfishness and ambition harms you back! A devil for those who asks for a devil!"

Ying Zheng continued to walk forward, no longer looking back to Ying Chengjiao. He took something out of his pocket which is a tiger tally. Ying Zheng lifted his gaze and went dazed from seeing the vast clear sky. It was also like this, that day Ying Chengjiao started to get distant to their family.

"Ah Zheng!" the teenage Ying Chengjiao waved his hand to Ying Zheng upon arriving in the training ground.

"At last, Yi Ge is here. Sir Meng, can I rest?" Ying Zheng let go of the wooden sword. He is tired from practicing swordsmanship the whole summer. Fortunately, he can rest when Ying Chengjiao comes to visit him.

"Hey, Princess Zheng, come here." Ying Chengjiao gestured but he received an instant glare from his younger brother.

"Its good you didn't forget to visit me." he greeted with a scoff.

"Why should I? Anyway, I got something here. Keep quiet." Ying Chengjiao mischievously smiled and took out a tiger tally from his sleeve pocket.

"That- how did you get it? Won't Lord Father be angry?" Ying Zheng was stunned to see the commanding badge. An uneasy feeling roused in him.

"He won't be angry." shrugging a little, Ying Chengjiao's carefree movements relaxed Ying Zheng. "He'll kill us for sure."

"What?! Are you out of your mind? Yi Ge, of all stupid things you did, this is the most alarming one! Give it back to Lord Father or we'll-"

"Chill. Princess Zheng, don't be such a worrywart." Ying Chengjiao simply poked his ear. "He won't know unless you spill. So, keep your mouth shut or we will have an early grave prepared. We can use this to enter the military camp. I heard there are beauties out there. You and I will surely enjoy it."

"But, Im only twelve!"

"Afraid of women? Huh, what sort of Zhou descendant are you? Or, do you want to stay here with that strict Meng Wu instead? Now choose, beauties or boredom?" a devious smile formed on Ying Chengjiao's face. In the end, Ying Zheng followed his older brother. They used the commanding badge to enter the camp when a group of slave passed through them. That day, the womanizer Prince Chengjiao got enchanted by a captive...

"Your Majesty, what shall be done to Ying Chengjiao?" a general asked once Ying Zheng came out of the city jail. "Should we execute him?"

"No." Ying Zheng shook his head. He placed the tiger tally back to his sleeve pocket and turned to the general. "Give this to him."

The general entered the cell and unchained Ying Chengjiao's wrists. He handed Ying Chengjiao the imperial sword that Ying Zheng ordered him to give. "King Zheng is quite merciful to you. Despite all the betrayal, King Zheng doesn't wish to execute you."

"Heh." Ying Chengjiao traced his hand on the scabbard. He had once yielded it and it was Ying Zheng who let him use it. That day, Ying Zheng was crowned king and Ying Chengjiao was furious of their father's decision. In order to appease Ying Chengjiao, Ying Zheng himself gave the sword to him so that he can use it to kill his younger brother and replace him.

He nearly lashed the sword on Ying Zheng but he stopped when he saw how vulnerable and what a crybaby his younger brother is. Who knew that the second time Ying Zheng let him use the sword is for this moment? Without another word, Ying Chengjiao brought the sword on his neck.

"Hopefully, you will take care of Zi'er."

With a quick s***h, crimson red blood splattered the frozen cold stone wall.

[1] yi (first/one) ge (brother)