The Employed Empress 92 Chapter 92: Fruits of our Environmen

Throwing tantrums after another. If crying doesn't work then hanging himself.
But Jiang Liu's elder brother still wouldn't look.
If being complicated does work, then try clinging and then distracting. Maybe, just maybe, if you show enough of yourself, they turn to look at you too. Maybe they'll allow you in if you're lucky enough.
Ah, but his brother still wouldn't.
Jiang Liu was born after his brother and so has been following his back for all he remembered. He watched that back all the time, unable to catch up and a sense of lost growing each passing time.
Books that were enough to bury his tiny self.
Endless lessons that are enough to bleed the ears.
Posture not allowed to slack, shoulders must remain upright, the plate cannot make any sound, logic before feelings.
Knowing how to be a good emperor before knowing how to be human.
Having a path before even having your dreams.
And their mother consort claiming it was out of love.
Right before his eyes, his brother became harsher and harsher. Towards himself, and towards others.
The scholars once wrote an article about how a filial son should be.
And they said: Able and talented; powerful yet obedient; respectful to the elders, abiding towards the customs.
Jiang Liu witness as his brother grew up exactly what was written up to the dot.
His big sister-in-law; getting whatever she wanted; acting the way she wanted; looking so free as she chased after what she wanted... His Royal Brother probably felt insulted all this time.
"...But the late Imperial Consort Xia died in grief when the previous emperor died, right?" Wei Yi Yi said.
Wei Yi Yi believed, for someone who mourned their love one, so much that they end up dying to follow, surely, in the end, they found out that their ambition amount to gain of sands compared to their feelings.
Jiang Liu smiled but didn't assure her of anything. He picked up a hair ribbon with his other hand and held it out for Wei Yi Yi. "Big Sister is not disturbed that this brother called his consort mother ugly and rotten? You know, they said not to associate with unfilial people."
"What disturbing is you talking bad about other people in front of a child. If Ah Chen picked that trait up from you, be ready to be hunted by me," Wei Yi Yi said, entirely dismissing the fact that she told the child to beat the minister's son just the other day. "Also, are you sure you're supposed to tell me those things? Don't you think I, as part of the species called women, will get mad too? Calling us ugly directly in my face."
Suddenly, Jiang Liu laughed hysterically. Wei Yi Yi was itching to push him down and let him roll to the ground. Wiping the tears away, Jiang Liu said, "It because it's hard to count Big Sister as a woman."
Fighting with a guy, climbing a wall, running away, and then getting caught looking at other women, Wei Yi Yi lacked even the grace she was supposed to be born with.
"Hey!" Wei Yi Yi snatched the hair ribbon in annoyance.
"Also, Big Sister is entirely different from the others," Jiang Liu pointed out. Wei Yi Yi rolled her eyes thinking, if they have such concept, she was then mistaken as a lesbian once again.
"This brother plan to rely on Big Sister's support. You must hurry up, show me some affection, and finally let this younger brother be an idle prince," Jiang Liu happily tug at the hem Wei Yi Yi's sleeves and wouldn't let go. "Royal Brother is so harsh, always making me work. Thankfully, Big Sister is there for me and will let me do whatever I want in the future."
With Wei Yi Yi growing tolerance to Jiang Liu's presence, he found an inch and wanted a mile more. Believing he could act as cute as a palace concubine, he heightened his voice and said, "Ah Liu truly adore Big Sister! So don't just pay attention to Ah Chen! I can be as cute or maybe you could adopt me instead----"
Wei Yi Yi pulled his cheek. "We're in the same generation."
"I mean adopt me as a brother!"
"I have enough brothers to mess with me."
"I'm cuter with all of them combined!"
"No. Also, I'm busy enough dodging my own responsibilities."
"Big Sister teach me your ways!"
"I said no. Let go already. We're both still holding Ah Chen's hair. Don't accidentally pull on it." Wei Yi Yi reached for the snacks and put them into Jiang Liu's mouth. She was told before, if a child is crying, feed him to shut him up. "Don't talk for a while!"
Having hand-feed by his favorite sister, Jiang Liu indeed shut up for a while and happily munched on the snack. "So sweet. Hehe. Big Sister is so sweet too."
Back then, in order to save himself, he tried to be the opposite of his brother.
A talentless son. A prodigal one. The reason for their consort mother's disappointments.
'Where did I go wrong to have you! How could you support your elder brother if you're so incompetent!'
Jiang Liu never knew that you could bleed with words alone. It cuts and it stabbed. To rob someone's innocence, there actually a lot of ways, including breaking their yet to mature heart.
He too, wanted to make his mother happy and for her to smile at him. But knowing he might not be loved for who he really is, Jiang Liu pursed his lips and remained stubborn.
'If only you're a girl,' he was told often.
One good son is enough, another one would just add competition to the throne. At least a daughter could be sold off to marriage for support.
Even after their mother died, her perfect son assumed her role. Although his Royal Brother was more helpless in making him a better prince, Jiang Liu was still afraid.
'Brother, don't copy mother. At least listen to me and ask what I wanted.'
He smiled bitterly at the thought that this time, the one who he needs to escape from is his beloved brother.
Wei Yi Yi, as she said that there's nothing in being selfish, was deeply ingrained in his soul. Remembering those words filled him with warmth.
It was a sin, he was told so all his life, but suddenly, he felt at that moment, he was not wrong in protecting himself all this time.
"Big Sister, feed me another one." Jiang Liu tagged once again on Wei Yi Yi's sleeves. Easily distracted, she turned to look at him only to see already feeding himself. "Oh, look, Ah Chen is almost dozing off."
With his dirty hands, he poked Jiang Chen's cheeks. The child turned to open his eyes wild in shock.
Jiang Chen jumped in fright, his head accidentally hit Wei Yi Yi's chin in the process.
Suddenly, blood drip down from her lips.
Her mouth's numb and her brain idiotically shouting in pain, Wei Yi Yi has no idea if she bitten her tongue or hit her gum.

Chapter end