Kou Xingyan and his elder brother, Kou Qiwen, shared the same mother. For that very reason, although he was not the eldest son, he had never suffered any unfair treatment at home.
Unfortunately, his elder brother was simply far more outstanding than he was.
Kou Qiwen excelled in both civil and military affairs, forever giving Kou Yu'an something to boast about with a smile. Even when Kou Xingyan gave it his all, the most he earned was his tutor's assessment of "mediocre talent."
As time passed, discontent began to fester in Kou Xingyan's heart.
[Th-then he deliberately copied his elder brother's expressions and bearing, just to get a word or two of praise from his father.]
[After a while, he set his sights further afield and managed to fool plenty of people who didn't see Kou Qiwen often!]
The little girl's inner voice seethed with indignation.
She was so angry her teeth itched. Reaching for a little biscuit, she took a vicious bite.
[What kind of talent is it to pick on women to swindle?!]
Finishing one biscuit did nothing to soothe her anger. Jiang Yingcheng reached toward the little plate of biscuits again, grabbed one, and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth, chewing furiously.
The ministers who could hear her thoughts also hissed as though their teeth ached.
Impersonating Kou Qiwen and deceiving women-put those two things together, and several possibilities instantly sprang to mind, every last one too sordid to say aloud.
Kou Xingyan and Kou Qiwen looked extremely alike. Though their bearing and behavior were worlds apart, if they stood there without speaking, even these ministers would have trouble telling them apart for a while.
All the more so when Kou Xingyan deliberately imitated Kou Qiwen.
*[This Kou Xingyan is so awful! Kou Qiwen is devoted