Marquis Yong'an's first wife, from the Cui Family, passed away from illness not long after giving birth to Ming Yan.
After his stepmother from the Ji Family married in, she soon became pregnant and gave birth to Ming Hong.
The women of the Ji Family were renowned for their beauty, and Ji Fangmin bewitched Marquis Yong'an with her good looks alone, making him lose his senses.
The siblings' position in the Marquis Yong'an Mansion was precarious. As children of the first wife, they naturally received less care and attention than the legitimate son of the new mistress, who now ran the household.
But they were never bullied, because as a child, Ming Yan had an unruly and overbearing temperament.
Anyone who dared to slight him would have it returned to them twofold.
Even though Ming Yan knew his father doted on his younger son to no end, if Ming Hong dared to provoke him or touch his things, he would find the little brat, pin him down, and beat him half to death.
