"Ouch? That hurts!"

Jin Jianzhong slowly opened his eyes, rubbing his slightly swollen cheeks, moaning softly.

As his gaze shifted, sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a brilliant glow. At that moment, he lay on the bed.

Jin Jianzhong touched the blanket on his body, frowning tightly.

I don't remember when I got back to bed last night. What happened?

He muttered to himself, the hangover making his head swim. He could only vaguely remember last night—he seemed to have been chasing Qing'er, but after that, everything was a blur.

"Here comes!" He rose to his feet, shook his head and shouted.

Soon, a maidservant pushed open the door:

"Your Highness, you're awake. I'm here to change your clothes."

Jin Jianzhong lifted the quilt and sat on the edge of the bed, asking, "When did I return to my room?"

It was late at night, and one of the Third Prince's maidservants was helping him change his clothes while saying:

Jin Jianzhong pinched the bridge of his nose, frowning and letting out an "oh".

"Oh, Third Highness, the guests are waiting for you in the side hall. The maid saw that you were sleeping late and did not wake you up."

"Oh dear! I overslept! You little rascal, how could you be so rude!"

"They are friends I made abroad, people of high standing. You should have woken me up earlier! How could you have caused such a mess!"

Jin Jianzhong's face darkened with anger. He pushed the maidservant away with one hand and hurriedly put on his clothes.

The maid stood nervously and helplessly on the side, afraid to speak.

“You idiot! What are you still doing standing here? Go and inform them first! I’ll be there shortly!” Kim Jianzhong roared.

As soon as these words left her mouth, the maidservant let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly left the room, as if she had been pardoned.

Moments later, Jin Jiande left the room and strode towards the side hall.

These friends came to Dayan, he didn't want to be impolite, so as not to let them have a grudge, there are still many things that need their help in the future.

As he passed through the garden path, his footsteps came to a halt, his gaze drawn to the gazebo.

There, a lone figure leaned against the railing, a pair of bright eyes fixed on the fish swimming in the shallow pond. His slender face was devoid of any expression, as if lost in thought.

It is my long-lost younger sister, Jin Changge.

Jin Jianzhong smirked, slowed his pace, and tiptoed slowly away.

As he neared the pavilion, he suddenly quickened his pace, dashed forward, and grabbed at Jin Changge's slender waist.

But just at that moment, Jin Changge suddenly turned around. His delicate face was expressionless, and he kicked him in the knee with one foot.

With a deafening "bang," Jin Jianzhong's eyes widened in shock as he was sent sprawling to the ground.

That handsome face smashed solidly against the cold wooden board, and even his hat flew off.

"Hiss—"

"Ouch! What are you doing!"

Jin Jianzhong lay on the ground, his face flushed with anger as he shouted.

"Hmph, what am I doing? What are you up to?"

Jin Changge's face was cold and stern, his eyes beneath his willow brows were as cold as ice. He seemed to be looking not at his own brother, but at livestock.

Jin Jianzhong's face flushed red. He rubbed his face and stood up angrily, rebuking:

"I'm your brother, and I'm saying hello to you!"

"What do you mean, just kicking me? Do you even see me as a person?! What do you think I am?!"

As he spoke, he bent down and rubbed his aching knee. He then picked up the hat.

Jin Changge slanted him a glance and said coldly:

If you want me to treat you as a person, then do fewer bad things. After leaving Dayan for two years, haven't you learned any manners?

Jin Jianzhong was patting the dust off his hat when he heard this. His eyebrows shot up, and his thin lips parted, revealing a mouthful of chipped teeth. He roared out in anger:

"What nonsense are you talking about? What have I done wrong?!"

"Can I go overseas easily? I made friends abroad for the sake of our great country, Dagan! Shame on me, I even brought you several exotic garments."

"The moment they saw each other, there wasn't a single kind word spoken. They started fighting right away! What kind of sister are you?"

Jin Changge frowned, her willow brows furrowed, and retorted, “Are you still trying to justify yourself? You committed a crime in the capital, inciting public anger, which is why you fled abroad. Do you think I’ve forgotten?”

"Last night you still attacked Qinger, truly without a shred of shame!"

When his true colors were revealed, and coupled with Jin Changge's following words, Jin Jianzhong also remembered what happened last night. His face flushed red, and he immediately shouted:

Nonsense!

"You dare slander my reputation!"

"I committed a crime? What crime? If I committed a crime, how am I still standing here? Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as commoners if he commits a crime!"

This sentence enraged Jin Changge, her face growing even colder. She walked towards Jin Jianzhong while shouting:

"Humph, can't remember? Then let me help you jog your memory!"

Seeing her get ready to make a move again, Jin Jianzhong's face changed.

Although he had studied martial arts, he couldn't even defeat his second brother, let alone Yongning who could easily overpower the second brother.

He immediately retreated, but his mouth was still calling out:

"Don't say that kind of thing!"

"No matter what, I'm your older brother! We are family!"

"Since we're all from the Jin family, what crime have I committed that makes you so proud?"

"Aren't you one of our own! We sink or swim together, rise or fall, don't you understand!"

When Jin Jianzhong saw Jin Changge's face turn dark, as if he were about to kill someone, his heart pounded. He didn't dare say another word and ran away.

Looking at Jin Jianzhong fleeing in defeat, Jin Changge clenched her teeth, her hands balled into fists. She stared angrily at him as he disappeared, but didn't pursue him.

After a long time, she finally relaxed her fists, but her face had turned pale.

Her bitten lip had already started to bleed, but she was oblivious to it. At this moment, a single sentence kept echoing in her mind.

"Aren't you one of our own? We rise and fall together!"

This sentence drained her of all strength, and the fist she had clenched so tightly could no longer be raised.

Yes, I am from the Jin family too.

Qin Ze led his army southward, achieving victory after victory along the way. It wouldn't be long before he reached Jinling.

A few days ago, I snuck out and went to the northern part of Jinling City. Even there, many common people were secretly cheering them on. They had already begun to wait for this "traitorous rebel army" to enter the capital city.

How ironic.

Originally, those called "rebellious traitors" have now become "righteous heroes" in the hearts of the people.

Now, Your Majesty, what has become of the court, of the Qingwangfu?

The sharp fingertips pierced into the palm, that slight pain started from the palm and gradually spread to the chest, rushing into the heart.

Jin Changge lowered his head and stared blankly at the fish swimming in the pool of water.

The answer may have been there all along, it's just that over the years, like a fish in a pond or a bird in a cage, I've been completely limited by my own perceptions.

She lifted her face, looking at the warm and gentle sunshine, and then turned around, walking step by step toward the path paved with pebbles.

------

"Your Highness! The humble official, Ma Tianqi, has been awaiting your arrival for quite some time!"

Outside the heavily fortified city, Ma Tianqi led his guards, eagerly awaiting along the road.

Before his eyes, a mighty army was advancing slowly.

Qin Ze raised his head, looked at the blazing sunlight, and said to Li Jing beside him:

It was still early, so I didn't rest in the city of Taicheng but continued on through the gates.

Li Jing nodded and said in a low voice, “Yes, my lord.”

However, we've been so smooth sailing this whole trip. The current imperial court didn't even send troops to stop us. Looks like they're planning a big attack.

Qin Ze smiled faintly and said, "Just as I wished."

Upon hearing this, all the generals behind him twitched their lips. Lü Bu narrowed his eyes and looked at Fang Tianhua halberd in his hand, then patted the red rabbit horse under his crotch:

"These days, I haven't been able to run, have I kept you waiting?"

Chitu let out a loud snort.

(Editor in charge:novel harry potter 1)