Chaoge Arc: "Brothers"

Ji Kao ducked into the carriage, his expression somewhat unnatural.

After the two brothers entered Chaoge City, their contact gradually dwindled. Ji Kao studied in the area where the hostage princes lived, and they had only met a few times during the first year or two.

Later, something rather awkward happened.

Emperor Yi passed away, and the hostage princes attended the funeral ceremony on behalf of their respective lords.

Within half a day, Ji Kao received four consecutive notices: he was to attend, then not attend, then attend again, then was forbidden from attending.

In the end, Li Ping'an remembered that detail and controlled Ji Dan to speak with Eastern Emperor Taiyi, allowing Ji Kao to finally appear at the ceremony as the representative of the Western Marquis's Mansion.

At the time, Eastern Emperor Taiyi was still dutifully playing King Zhou. He wanted to elevate Ji Dan directly, rather than support Ji Kao, who was destined to become a sacrifice in political struggles.

After that incident, Ji Kao stopped seeking out Ji Dan.

Li Ping'an was usually busy as well, and the pressure he had faced before had been immense. Naturally, he had not paid much attention to something as minor as the brotherly bond between the Ji brothers.

Now that so many matters had been settled, seeing Ji Kao again through Ji Dan left Li Ping'an unable to suppress a few sighs.

After several years in Chaoge City, Ji Kao had become far more mature. Even his smile now carried a trace of falseness, and his eyes deliberately avoided Ji Dan's gaze.

"Fourth brother, why did the king suddenly send you home?"

Li Ping'an pondered for a moment before answering slowly, "The king's thoughts are difficult to fathom. Perhaps I overstepped myself and became too close to the ministers."