It had been a beautiful day, the sun high overhead, the sky cloudless for miles, and the spring breeze warm.
In fact, she had been the one to suggest a spring outing. Her second brother had been engrossed in the mortal world's ingenious contraptions and had no intention of going out, so she had dragged her eldest brother away from his studies to join her and their mother.
Their imperial family was not as distant as the royal families of other dynasties. They cultivated the same technique, which created a kind of resonance between them. Specifically, when someone in the preceding generation of their direct bloodline advanced in cultivation, the next generation's cultivation would also improve, and even their comprehension and innate aptitude would improve along with it.
There was no other secret like it in this world. Because of this, they were not merely blood relatives; they shared an indescribably close connection.
To preserve this secret, the Main Family Line kept its offspring few, while the Collateral Bloodline produced as many children as possible. Important servants, confidants, ministers, and guards were all drawn from the Collateral Bloodline's descendants. The technique kept them utterly loyal and united sovereign and subject as one, without any suspicion between them.
In short, they were very close, and her eldest brother treated her very well. He often tested her and her second brother on their lessons. Of course, she always outperformed her second brother, and her eldest brother would mercilessly strike her second brother's palms with the Ruler. Even if he dissolved into tears, her eldest brother would finish administering every remaining stroke without leniency.
He was gentle by nature, but also possessed the authority and imposing presence expected of an heir apparent, and was even sterner and stricter than their father.
He could