My Royal Stepbrother's Obsession - Chapter 1 - My Respects, Elder Brother

Wen Xingluo gazed at the towering and resplendent Prince of Zhenbei’s Manor before her.

In her previous life, her parents had separated. Her mother remarried the Prince of Zhenbei, and her sister, greedy for wealth, chose to follow their mother into the Prince’s Manor, acknowledging the Prince of Zhenbei as her father and becoming a richly adorned Young Lady of the manor.

She, on the other hand, and her three brothers stayed with their father, who served as Magistrate.

Later, their father was summoned to the Imperial Capital by the Emperor and promoted to Minister. Wen Xingluo, as the Minister’s Young Lady, was to marry the Crown Prince, while her sister Wen Yueyin was hurriedly married off by the Prince of Zhenbei’s Manor to a lowly petty official, suffering endless torment from her new family.

Unhappy with her marriage, her sister returned home to weep before their father and brothers.

And so, on the day Wen Xingluo was to marry into the Crown Prince’s Palace, her father and brothers actually tied her up and arranged for her sister to take her place as the Crown Prince’s bride.

Father said: “You and your sister are twins, but you stole her nourishment in the womb, leaving her weak and sickly since birth. You owe her a lifetime-let this marriage be your compensation!”

Her eldest brother, the newly appointed Tanhua¹, said: “You’re too ambitious, always forcing me to study-Yueyin is far more likable! Back when Father and I had lowly positions, we couldn’t give Yueyin a good life. Now that our family is prosperous and powerful, we can finally send her to be Crown Princess! From now on, your name and status will belong to your sister!”

Her second brother, now a wealthy merchant, said: “Yueyin is pure and innocent, not scheming and calculating like you. Every time I saw you negotiating for me in public, I felt ashamed! So I’ll double the dowry for Yueyin, ensuring her wealth for a lifetime!”

Her third brother, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, said: “You’re too domineering, persuading Father to send me to the military for training, making me suffer so much-Yueyin is nowhere near as gentle and lovely! I’ll go now and call the Imperial Guard brothers to put on a grand spectacle and send Yueyin off in glory!”

Her sister sobbed: “Although I don’t want to steal little sister’s marriage, I dare not refuse the elders’ decree. Since Father and brothers all say so, there’s nothing I can do. Little sister won’t blame me, will she?”

Wen Xingluo quietly watched them.

All these years, she had knelt and bowed thrice and nine times to invite great scholars out of seclusion to tutor her eldest brother, helping him top the imperial exams as Tanhua.

She had racked her brains in the world of business, negotiating and scheming to help her second brother become a wealthy merchant.

She had persuaded her father to send her third brother to train in the military, making him capable enough to join the Imperial Guard.

She had also offered strategies to her father for suppressing bandits, quelling floods and plagues, enabling him to be summoned to the Imperial Capital by the Emperor.

She had done so much, yet her father and brothers still never liked her.

On the day her sister returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace for a family visit, Wen Xingluo was brought into a secret chamber.

Her father and brothers believed only the dead could keep secrets, so they planned to kill her, letting her sister assume her identity from then on.

On the verge of death, Wen Xingluo used poison concealed on her hairpin to send her entire family to the afterlife.

Yet, when she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the time when her parents had just separated.

Her sister was the first to speak: “I’ll follow Father! I would never recognize a usurper as my father just for the sake of wealth-no matter who the Prince of Zhenbei or Prince of Zhennan are, they’re no match for my own father in my heart!”

Her father and brothers were deeply moved by these words.

Wen Xingluo understood immediately-her sister had also returned to the past.

She calmly said, “Then I’ll follow Mother to the Prince’s Manor.”

Her sister leaned in and whispered by her ear: “Don’t think the Prince of Zhenbei’s Manor is some wonderful place.”

Wen Xingluo gripped her handkerchief.

In her previous life, her sister had come home to complain.

She said the grandmother of the manor (the Imperial Consort) was a mean and difficult old hag, impossible to please, who gave her nothing but charity on holidays.

She said her stepbrothers were cold and indifferent, lacking the slightest warmth.

She said the most hateful of all was the Heir Apparent of the Prince’s Manor-the one known as Xie Guanlan-deep, vicious, and cruel, two-faced before others, ignoring all her efforts to please him, treating her as if she were filth!

Wen Xingluo feigned confusion: “How could such a splendid and wealthy place not be good?”

“You’ll know when you get there,” her sister said meaningfully. “Silly sister, don’t be fooled by our family’s current downfall, all of us squeezed into the County Yamen², unable to afford even decent cosmetics. But three years from now, our family will soar to great heights! I, after all, am destined to be the Crown Princess!”

Soar to great heights?

Wen Xingluo lowered her gaze.

In this life, without her help, she would like to see how her father would achieve distinguished service, and how her three brothers would rise above the rest.

“Lady Wen.” The leading maidservant of the Prince’s Manor called softly, “What are you daydreaming about? The Imperial Consort is waiting to see you.”

Wen Xingluo snapped out of her thoughts.

Her mother had been married here for two days already.

This was the first time her grandmother had summoned her.

Arriving at Pinecrest Courtyard, the maidservant reminded her: “Lady Wen, please wait a moment in the corridor. Allow this servant to announce your arrival.”

Wen Xingluo had excellent hearing.

A short while after the maidservant entered, she heard an aged voice from within: “I was born into a military family, with a son and four grandsons, but I’ve never raised a dainty little girl before. Tell me, how should a young girl be raised? I suppose she must be pampered!”

Wen Xingluo clutched her handkerchief.

The one speaking was likely her grandmother.

Judging from her tone, she clearly valued Wen Xingluo.

Completely different from the “mean and difficult” matron her sister had described.

A clear, low voice of a young man followed: “Grandmother, the meeting gift you’ve prepared is too generous. She’s just a young girl, newly arrived at the manor. If you give her so much, it might make her feel uneasy, unsure how to conduct herself.”

“Ziheng, you have a point. Then I’ll put away this box of silver notes for now.”

The Heir Apparent of the Prince’s Manor, Xie Guanlan-styled Ziheng-was exactly the person her sister had found most hateful.

Perhaps the maidservant had just reported Wen Xingluo’s arrival, for the voices inside fell silent.

After a moment, the elderly woman instructed again: “Ziheng, from now on, that young girl is part of our family. Since she’s now your younger sister, you must treat her well.”

“Grandmother jests. As the eldest brother, I will naturally look after my younger sister. There are still matters to attend to at the Yamen, so I will take my leave.”

As approaching footsteps drew near, a maid lifted the felt curtain.

Wen Xingluo kept her gaze lowered and saw a pair of black boots with swirling cloud patterns step forward.

The young man who emerged was elegant and upright in brocade and leather, his scarlet robe making him appear noble and radiant. Though his features were striking and deep-set, his brows and eyes carried a chill and indifference, like withered mountains and cold waters in spring.

As he crossed the threshold, a rich sandalwood fragrance washed over her.

And with his gaze, a heavy, almost tangible pressure settled on Wen Xingluo’s shoulders.

It was the natural authority of one born to power.

Wen Xingluo guessed that he must be the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Zhenbei’s Manor, Xie Guanlan.

She bent her knees in salute. “My Respects, Elder Brother.”

The young man replied slowly, “Lady Wen, you are too polite. Your surname is Wen, mine is Xie. How could I possibly be your elder brother?”

His noble and distant manner was utterly unlike the gentle respectfulness he had just shown before the Matron.

Footnote:

1. Tanhua(探花): The candidate who achieved third place in the palace examination.
2. Yamen(衙门): “Yamen” refers to the government offices or the place where officials worked in ancient China. It was responsible for handling various administrative duties as well as civil and criminal cases.