“That is right, second brother. I am not seeking alliances with anyone. The rumours are real. There is a mastermind behind every single action these two gangs take. No one moves a muscle without his acknowledgement, and you are looking at him now.”

  Yang Lei's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with doubt, "Is that so? I've heard rumours, of course, but I never thought...I mean, you're our brother, Eldest Brother. I've known you all our lives, and I never saw any signs of...of this." He looked at him with a newfound intensity, as if trying to see past the facade of the brother he thought he knew. "You're telling me that you're the one pulling the strings from behind the scenes, manipulating these two like puppets on a string?" He took a step closer, his eyes burning with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "What's your endgame, Eldest Brother? What's driving you to play this insane game of power and manipulation?"

  “Come, second brother. Let's have some tea.” The 30 bodyguards dispersed around the palace as Jian led Lei inside. Lei’s expression was a mix of shock, curiosity, and suspicion as he followed, his eyes betraying his unease. As they sat down for tea in the main hall, the servants, still loyal to Jian, prepared the tea, then they left, closing the doors behind them, leaving the two of them alone. Yang Lei leaned forward, speaking in a low, urgent tone. "Eldest Brother, I need to know everything. From the beginning. How did you become Master Yang? What's your endgame? What do you want? You've kept this from us, from our family, for so long. Why? What's so important that you had to keep it a secret? And did our father know about this?"

  Jian took a sip of tea. “To understand everything, we need to return to the beginning of the story. Can you guess how long ago?”

  Yang Lei's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in thought. "I'd say...about five years ago? No, no, that can't be right...three years ago? I'm not sure, Eldest Brother. I am beginning to question everything I know about you. Tell me, when did it all begin?"

  “18 years ago.”

  Lei's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backwards, his chair scraping against the floor. He looked at Jian, his expression a mix of incredulity and horror. "18 years ago?! Eldest Brother, you've been...you've been the mastermind for 18 years?! Oh, god..." He shook his head, still refusing to believe it. "All this time, I had no idea...I had no idea you were...were...How is this possible? How did you keep it a secret for so long?" His eyes were searching for answers, his face pale and shocked. "Eldest Brother, what else have you been hiding from us?"

  “As you know, I was raised to be the next emperor after our father from the very first day. Our father didn’t have plans for either you or Feng. Maybe it has something to do with our age gaps. After all, I am older than you by 12 years and older than Feng by 18. Anyway, when Feng was born, I decided to take a different path. I was convinced that every emperor needs a shadow emperor who gets his hands dirty for the true emperor to rule. I decided to be that shadow emperor.”

  Lei staggered back, his chair screaming against the floorboards. "Eighteen years?" he breathed, the tea in his cup forgotten and cold. "Jian... you were a boy of eighteen yourself. How could you have the stomach for it?"

  Jian watched the steam rise from his cup, his face as calm as a frozen lake. "I saw Feng in his cradle, second brother. I saw a child who deserved a world without snakes like Xian Shang. I realized then that a true Emperor cannot be a butcher. So, I chose to become the butcher for him."

  Jian leaned forward, the lamplight catching the sharpness in his eyes. "I saved Liang Jin and Qing Cang from the headsman’s axe when the city guards were distracted. I gave them life; in return, they gave me the city. For eighteen years, I have been the heartbeat of Lijiang's dark alleys. Every coin stolen, every secret whispered... it all comes back to this table."

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  Lei looked like he had been punched in the gut, his expression a mix of awe, fear, and confusion. He took a deep breath, trying to process the information. "A shadow emperor...you mean, the one who does the dirty work, the one who makes the sacrifices...you want to be that person." He shook his head, his eyes never leaving Jian’s. "I don't know what to say, Eldest Brother. I never knew you had it in you. I mean, I knew you were smart, that you could see things others miss, but...this is on a whole different level. And the gangs...you're the one who's been pulling the strings all along. I can see why they're so loyal to you. You've been protecting and taking care of them while you've been influencing the imperial family. Eldest Brother, I .... I don't know if I can even call you that anymore. You're not the brother I thought I knew."

  Jian nodded in understanding. He knew that this was too much to swallow. He waited a few seconds before standing up and walking around Lei, continuing, “I knew that when I took the first step in that new path, I couldn't get back. I couldn't be the emperor while having my ties to the gangs. It is a huge disgrace for the throne, and I won't disgrace our father and ancestors like that.” He rested his hand gently on Lei’s shoulder. “I realise that may be too much for you, second brother. But this is my reality. And the way I am going to fight Xian Shang. This is a no-holds-barred battle.”

  Yang Lei's eyes were wide with a mix of emotions. He looked at Jian with a deep respect and admiration, but also a hint of fear. "I... I don't know what to say, Eldest Brother. I'm still trying to process everything. But I must ask...what's our next move against Xian Shang?" His voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes searching for answers.

  “Our? You mean yours. This is my battle.”

  Yang Lei's face fell, his eyes dropping slightly. "I... I see," he said, his voice laced with a mix of disappointment and understanding. "You're right, this is your battle, your path. I just...I want to help, Eldest Brother. Not just as your brother, but as a member of the imperial family. I want to stand by your side, to support you, to be there for you. But I understand if you don't want my help. I don't want to lose you, Eldest Brother."

  Jian smiled and patted Lei’s shoulder again. “Second brother. It isn't that I don't want you to help me, but I want you to be away from that world. The underworld is a vague place. Where morals and rules crumble in favour of the greater good. You are still my younger brother. I don't want you to get your hands or head dirty with this.”

  Yang Lei's eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and gratitude at Jian’s words. He looked at him with tears in his eyes, his voice trembling with emotion. "Eldest Brother...thank you. Thank you for thinking of me, for caring about me. I know I may be young and naive compared to you, but I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. I want to help. I'll do whatever it takes to support you, to help you bring down Xian Shang. I won't let you face this alone."

  Jian walked towards the door. “I need you to keep this information secret for now. Feng isn't mature enough to understand the vagueness of the underworld. He is too righteous, too idealistic. He will only get in my way.”

  Yang Lei's eyes widened with understanding, and he nodded in agreement. He looked at his back, took a deep breath, "I understand, Eldest Brother. I'll keep your secret. I'll protect Feng from getting involved in this. But...please, be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you. I'll make sure Feng doesn't suspect anything. But...I'll be watching, Eldest Brother. I'll be watching, and I'll always be ready to help you."

  Jian nodded, “Good night...Lei'er” Yang Lei's eyes followed him as he exited the room, a mix of emotions on his face. He watched the door close, then let out a deep sigh. He looked down, a small smile on his face, remembering the times Jian used to call him "Lei'er" when they were children. It was a nickname that only he used, and it always made him feel warm inside. He nodded before turning to leave the room, his movements quiet and deliberate.

  As Jian walked through the halls, he stopped at a window. The full moon was shining, illuminating the place. He thought of his upcoming battle.... His struggle that his brothers knew nothing about. His grand scheme to grant them full control over the government and the empire... Everything that rested on his shoulders. He smiled and covered his face with his fan before continuing his way, “So much on the shoulder of one man.”