CHAPTER 391: CHAPTER 391: SECOND SENIOR BROTHER’S ORIGINS

Tuanzi had already greeted Gu Cheng, so when he came home from school that day and saw a stranger, he wasn’t surprised.

He looked at the baby-faced young man and inexplicably thought of a phrase his sister had said.

Their world had become a sieve.

Because of his sister’s unique experiences, he was quite interested in other worlds.

Unlike novels, TV shows, and movies, those are real and vivid worlds, yet they are also unfamiliar.

In dramas, there might be plots about power struggles, palace intrigue, and family feuds, but they all knew that was made up. Even when flipping through history books, all they saw were words that couldn’t come to life.

The words are recorded this way, but different people see different perspectives and have different biases. Even if a piece of writing is written down, it’s hard to guarantee the truth and fairness of the content.

If you truly want to understand a particular historical period, you actually need to read works from people of different stances.

What if there was someone nearby who had similar experiences?

Through the other’s description, it’s as if you were there in person, allowing you to better understand the system of that world and the interests of different classes.

Gu Cheng himself is a director, hoping to convey certain ideas and emotions through the lens. Creation requires the accumulation of inspiration and material.

Since Duan Xiayou arrived, the usually serious and taciturn Gu Cheng would find opportunities to chat with him, learning about the customs and culture of his world.

Gu Cheng, who was absorbing creative inspiration, was enthusiastic and full of energy. Meanwhile, the laid-back and lazy Duan Xiayou had been hoping for someone to come and rescue him.

Seeing that Gu Cheng was interested in Ji Zhangzhuo’s world, he thought, this second junior brother was still slightly useful.

Ji Zhangzhuo didn’t mind being used as creative inspiration.

At the moment, he was eating the sweet and sour ribs made by Gu Cheng himself.

Because of the delicious sweet and sour ribs, he was happy to give an introduction.

"In our world, there are many factions, and the situation is quite chaotic; wars happen frequently."

Tuanzi was nibbling on sweet and sour ribs while attentively listening to the second senior brother’s introduction of his world.

But most of his attention was still on the ribs.

Big brother’s ribs are the best.

However, listening, she suddenly couldn’t eat anymore. She looked up with her small head, staring straight at Ji Zhangzhuo.

In the world where Duan Xiayou is, the country he is in has formidable strength, with few external threats, mainly small countries, but the internal problems are quite serious.

Meanwhile, in Ji Zhangzhuo’s world, there are many countries, each with similar strengths. Many kings have intentions to expand their territories, so countries are taking turns fighting.

Today, you and I join forces to fight another country; tomorrow, I stab you in the back and seize your territory.

With continuous wars and rapid changes in dynasties, the people suffer the most. Today’s citizens of one country become the people of another tomorrow. To them, it makes no difference; they are still exploited, with strong men in the family being recruited for war, leaving the old, weak, and sickly to struggle to survive.

Seeing the little junior sister stop, Ji Zhangzhuo laughed and said, "Why did you stop eating?"

Tuanzi puckered her lips and patted her chest, "I feel a bit uncomfortable."

"It’s okay, that’s all in the past. The days will get better for the people."

Tuanzi tilted her head, not fully understanding.

Duan Xiayou, who had been quietly eating, glanced at him, "Despite different worlds developing differently, many things are connected. You wear simple clothes, looking ordinary, but the Jade Pendant you took out when changing clothes is of top quality, with very few produced, generally only obtainable by royalty or nobles."

Moreover, Ji Zhangzhuo’s accent is similar to his, indicating that the culture of the country Ji Zhangzhuo is from is similar to his, too. Such countries are generally referred to as Zhongyuan by outsiders. Yet Ji Zhangzhuo’s attire tends towards different ethnic groups.

Growing up in Zhongyuan, dressing like an outsider, with mixed features, Ji Zhangzhuo’s identity is actually quite clear.

"Wow," Ji Zhangzhuo exaggeratedly slapped the table with one hand, "Big brother, you may look lazy, but your observation is sharp!"

Duan Xiayou: "..."

Tuanzi’s little head still hadn’t caught on.

She eagerly tugged Ji Zhangzhuo’s sleeve, voice sweet and soft, "Second senior brother, quickly tell us your identity. Miaomiao is so curious she can’t eat."

Ji Zhangzhuo didn’t keep them guessing, calmly taking a bite of the rib before speaking, "It’s nothing much, barely considered a Prince."

Tuanzi: (○o○)

"However," Tuanzi tilted her head again, scrutinizing him, whispering, "You don’t really look like a Prince."

Lacking that noble aura, and his hands were full of calluses, not only from practicing martial arts but also those formed from hard labor.

Her voice was very soft, but Ji Zhangzhuo still heard it.

"Yes, an unfavored Prince. My mother was just a dancer and an outsider, not welcomed in Great Zhou, which is quite normal."

Ji Zhangzhuo didn’t hide anything, simply explaining his mother’s identity.

His mother was a dancer in a Prince’s residence in a neighboring country of Great Zhou, with two outstanding qualities: beautiful looks and excellent dancing.

At that point, his father was merely a Prince, representing Great Zhou at a birthday celebration, took a fancy to his mother, and brought her back to Great Zhou.

Of course, only after he grew up did he suspect that taking a fancy to his mother was false; using it as a chance to connect with the neighboring country’s Prince was true.

"With the help of that Prince, he ascended the throne."

Given there was still a child present, Ji Zhangzhuo didn’t mention how many people had died on that road to the throne.

"Due to that connection and having given birth to a son, my mother gained the position of a concubine."

Not as a consort, as his mother was an outsider with a lowly background.

His mother thought it was the beginning of good days for them, mother and son, but shortly after, a natural disaster occurred, followed by a border collapse. Then someone reported it was the disaster brought by his mother, the outsider, and she was thrown into the cold palace.

Later, his mother was harmed by a particular consort and died.

If the Emperor hadn’t consented to this within, he wouldn’t believe it. Yet that Emperor, his biological father, feigned sympathy, holding his hand with an expression of painful regret, only to turn around and send him to the neighboring country as a hostage.

On the surface, he was a hostage, while secretly tasked with assisting the Emperor in stealing intelligence.

Intelligence was the most crucial, regardless of whether he was alive or dead. This was the order those Hidden Guards received.

Similarly, Ji Zhangzhuo omitted this part, cheekily saying, "I completed the mission perfectly, obtained the intelligence, and later Great Zhou turned the tide and annexed that country. Impressive, right?"

"It is quite impressive."

Tuanzi thoughtfully observed this second senior brother.

"Then you’re a great hero, why didn’t you get rewarded? Also, why did you suddenly go to the master, was it because you were being pursued like the big brother? You are a great hero; why would they pursue you?"

Ji Zhangzhuo’s smile was fading.

Little junior sister, easy to coax but really clever!

"Second senior brother, why aren’t you talking?"

Tuanzi shoved her small head closer, with a face full of suspicion, "Are you thinking about how to fool Miaomiao?"

Ji Zhangzhuo: "..."