Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Gu Yan Qing’s Brain-Dead Fan

Not being able to practice martial arts still stung. Jiang Jiang regretted it, but she also understood she couldn’t have everything. The fact that she could live—healthy and breathing—was already a blessing.

“Brother Er Shan,” Jiang Jiang called, smiling sweetly up at the bald head on the wall. “You finished clearing your snow already?”

“Not even close.” Li Er Shan rubbed his head. Snowflakes clung to the smooth skin like tiny white petals.

“Hey, don’t you know? Today Young General Liu’s troops are returning! Tons of people are waiting outside the capital at the ten-li pavilion to see the Little War God!” His eyes shone. “I—I want to go. Are you going?”

Li Er Shan had trained since he was little, following his escort guard father around. He had talent, and in their escort bureau, he was already a capable hand. But deep down, he still carried the dream of a general.

What hot-blooded young man didn’t want to ride into battle, kill enemies, and defend home and country?

And Liu Cheng An—one of the brightest stars among the capital’s younger generation—was a hero to countless boys and girls.

“Young General Liu?” Jiang Jiang blinked.

In the capital, only one person fit that title. Only one person was called the Little War God.

The male lead… Liu Cheng An.

Jiang Jiang glanced at Li Er Shan. Sure, he’d burned off all his hair a few days ago playing with fire, but that wasn’t the point. The point was his values were correct.

Look at his idol.

Liu Cheng An.

The male lead.

A man destined to defeat the villain, marry the female lead, and stroll straight into a glorious ending.

Then Jiang Jiang turned and looked at her own brother.

All day, it was Chancellor Gu, Chancellor Gu, the rise of the poor, the humiliation of the old clans.

That was the villain.

The villain who was fated to die badly.

Jiang Jiang felt tired all the way down to her bones.

Thankfully, people like them—background nobodies—would never touch the world of someone like Gu Yan Qing. Otherwise, she honestly worried her brother would become Chancellor Gu’s dog and end up dead in a ditch.

“What’s so special about the Little War God?” Jiang Chao Sheng refused without even pausing.

“Our Qing Yun Kingdom is strong and wealthy. Soldiers are well-fed, horses are well-bred. Why?” He spoke like he was delivering a lecture. “Because His Majesty is wise, and because Chancellor Gu reformed the court. Commoners can live good lives, the treasury grows fuller every year. Otherwise, what would they use to fight wars?”

He snorted at the title.

“A war god? Please. Just a warrior.”

He lifted his chin like the future belonged to him.

“I, Jiang Chao Sheng, am going to be a top scholar.”

“Uh…” Li Er Shan choked. As an uneducated man, he never won arguments against Brother Sheng Zi. He opened his mouth, then gave up and turned his hopeful gaze to Jiang Jiang instead—eyes bright as lanterns.

Sister Jiang Jiang was prettier by the day. After her coming-of-age ceremony…

Li Er Shan was mid-dream when a burst of noise rolled down the long street outside. He pushed himself higher on the wall and looked—and a line of carriages came racing through the wind and snow. One stood out immediately, marked with a distinctive red-and-gold emblem.

“That looks like the Chancellor’s Residence carriage!” Li Er Shan yelped. “Brother Sheng Zi, it’s Chancellor Gu’s carriage! He’s going to welcome the Little War God too, right? I told you, that Liu—”

He didn’t get to finish.

Jiang Chao Sheng dropped his shovel like it had offended him, vaulted forward, and sprinted out the gate in three long strides—moving like a man possessed.

He looked exactly like a star-chasing, brain-dead fan.

Jiang Jiang pressed a hand to her forehead.

Hopeless.

Her brother was completely hopeless.