Beauty Feng Vol. 2

Chapter 104: Mask for Survival

"Brother will give you everything you want."

Feng Yanyan was plunged into the world of memories.

When he was 8 years old, his brother was already 15. Yanyan was charming and cute while Yanggu was outwardly mature but mischievous inside.

The fifth young master would always be punished for not doing well in the training. During those times, he was depressed and felt that the family didn't like him very much because of his concubine-born identity. It didn't help that the memories in his head of a past life also taught him the life of how an illegitimate son was.

But Yanggu broke through his gloomy world.

Eldest young master would take the fifth young master out into the streets of the capital. Running around hooting at ladies, fooling around with gangs. Every time, all of the ideas would come from Yanyan.

His brother would just go along with him. But in the eyes of the adults, it was Yanggu who was dragging his younger brother to cause trouble.

Everytime the eldest brother would be beaten by Grandfather, he would smile wildly at him. As if telling that this was nothing.

There was one day that the beating was particularly severe for both of them. Feng Yanyan couldn't help but cry and say that he hated Grandfather. He couldn't even remember what they did that day anymore.

But what he could recall was Yanggu with his thin noodle arms wrapped around him. His words were, "Don't say that. It's alright. Brother will give you everything you want."

He didn't comfort his brother by saying that Grandfather was doing this for their sake. He didn't say that the family didn't care about legitimate and illegitimate children. What he guaranteed was that no matter what he wanted, the word 'brother' should be the first thing he said.

When Feng Yanyan heard these words again 16 years later at the darkest time of his life, an overwhelming emotion welled up in his heart.

"Brother!" He cried like a child in front of him again.

A 24 year old man crying in front of his 31 year old brother in front of the same pond they played in during childhood. Somehow, his tears couldn't stop.

This was the brother who helped him sneak out of the Feng family, helped him countless times in the Tanglin palace, and finally helped him be sent to Suliang.

His words were true. Brother really gave him everything he wanted.

But right now, what he wanted most...

"I want her back, brother... H-how, she's gone! I want her... I only want her."

Sobs broke his words. The sorrow from leaving Suliang up to knowing about her death was endless.

Feng Yanggu slowly looked up at the top of the trees into the sky. There was a soft smile on his lips. "It's alright."

That was all he said.

---

Three months prior...

The retinue from the Tanglin hadn't left Suliang after a month of in-depth investigation, confiscation and arrests.

During these days, they discovered that the cold iron mine that the Empress coveted was already destroyed before Long Xu Le went to war with the Hu Ren Kings. It was like King Wan Li knew the depths of the Empress' and Prime Minister's hearts and would rather destroy the mine than let it be exploited by others.

But this didn't deter the official from Tanglin. There might still be a chance so he ordered for it to be excavated but this wouldn't yield results anytime soon.