Night had fallen over the Pleasure House of Red Lanterns.
Laughter spilled like wine. Silk curtains swayed as courtesans lounged around Jian Wushuang, one perched against his shoulder, another kneeling to refill his cup, a third tracing idle circles on the table with a lacquered nail.
"Your Highness visits so often, one might think you miss us more than your new bride," one courtesan laughed softly.
Wushuang leaned back lazily, an arm draped over the cushion, eyes half-lidded and amused. "Miss you?" He tilted his head, pretending to consider it. "That would imply I ever left you."
The women giggled.
Another courtesan leaned closer, her voice low and teasing. "Careful. If the Princess Consort hears that, she might freeze us solid."
Wushuang laughed, rich and shameless. "Then I'll simply warm you back up."
A chorus of mock protests followed.
From the corner of the room, Lianju cleared his throat loudly. The courtesans froze for half a breath before retreating with knowing smiles, sleeves fluttering as they slipped behind the screens.
Lianju approached, his expression flat but eyes sharp, and handed over a sealed letter. "Invitation."
Wushuang broke the seal casually, scanning the contents. His smile did not fade.
"A banquet," he read. He scoffed softly. "Hosted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince… for his dear brothers."
He folded the letter once, tapping it against his palm. "Reconnect. Get closer."
A low chuckle escaped him. "How touching."
Lianju crossed his arms. "Sounds like poison in a gold cup."
Wushuang rose to his feet, shrugging on his outer robe, the facade sliding neatly back into place, carefree, indulgent, unguarded.
"Of course it is."
He glanced back at the curtained room, smirking. "Which is why refusing would be rude."
His eyes darkened. "Tell the shadows to listen closely."
He stepped toward the exit, his voice light, dangerous.
"If my brother wishes to play family…. Then I'll attend, with a smile."
************************************
The hour bells tolled softly.
Dong.
Dong.
Dong.
Lanterns bathed the banquet hall in gold and crimson, their light reflecting off jade cups and polished tables carved with coiling dragons. Music drifted low and languid, meant to soothe, but no one truly relaxed.
Princes occupied their seats in careful formation. Laughter came easily, but never reached the eyes. Servants moved like ghosts, refilling wine, retreating, listening.
At the head of the hall sat Crown Prince Tian Li, dressed in white and gold, posture regal, expression composed.
Tian Li raised his cup.
"Brothers," he said. The word sounded almost sincere.
"It has been far too long since we gathered without blades drawn."
A ripple of polite laughter followed.
Then, the doors opened. Footsteps echoed as Jian Wushuang entered. His robes were dark, understated; his hair loosely tied. A faint scent of wine clung to him just enough to sell the illusion. His smile was lazy, careless, almost indecent for such a setting.
Some princes glanced away. Others watched him closely.
"Ah," Wushuang said, as if pleasantly surprised. "Am I late?"
"Just in time, Seventh Brother," Tian Li said, gesturing to an empty seat, strategically placed. Neither too close, nor too far.
Wushuang sauntered over, bowed just enough to be polite, then dropped into his seat like he belonged there.
"You honor me," he said lightly.
Wine was poured. Cups were raised. Music swelled slightly, masking the subtle shifts of tension.
"To family," Tian Li said.
"To family," the princes echoed in unison.
Wushuang drank. So did Tian Li.
Wushuang's fingers tapped once against his cup. The banquet had only just begun.
As tension loosened, just a little. Wine flowed more freely, cups clinking as some princes leaned back, voices growing louder, more casual. Laughter, carefully measured, threaded through the music.
The Fourth Prince shifted closer to Wushuang, lifting a jade wine pot.
"Seventh Brother, let me pour for you," he said. Without waiting for permission, he filled Wushuang's cup to the brim and raised his own.
"You've suffered enough," he said, drinking first, deliberately.
"Ten years in the Cold Palace… that sort of hardship would break most men."
The Sixth Prince nodded solemnly.
"What's past is past," he said.
Another prince added, tone almost benevolent, "We're brothers, after all. Old grievances should be buried. The empire needs stability. Holding onto hatred only hurts oneself. You're free now. You have a wife. A future."
All eyes drifted toward Wushuang. He stared at the wine in his cup for a moment. Then he laughed, soft, slightly slurred, as if the wine had truly gone to his head.
"Grievances?" Wushuang said, lifting his cup. "I wouldn't dare. You are all my brothers. How could I possibly resent my own family?"
Laughter followed,relieved, approving. Cups were raised again.
"Well said! To brotherhood!"
Wushuang drank deeply this time.
Across the hall, Tian Li watched silently, fingers resting against his cup. His eyes were calm. Calculating. Smiles were easy. And the most dangerous lies were the ones spoken while drunk.
The music softened. Servants shifted aside as Tian Li rose from his seat. Eyes tracked the Crown Prince as he walked closer to Wushuang's table.
A servant hurried ahead, kneeling to pour fresh wine into Tian Li's cup.
Tian Li stopped beside Wushuang too close. Close enough that the warmth of another presence could be felt.
"Seventh Brother," he said, smiling faintly.
Wushuang tilted his head lazily, eyes half-lidded, the picture of a man pleasantly deep in his cups.
"Your highness" he replied.
Tian Li lifted his cup. "You've endured what few could. Ten years of silence. Ten years of restraint. And yet here you are. Free. Married. To new beginnings."
For a heartbeat, the hall seemed to hold its breath. Then he added softly, only those closest could hear:
"And to brothers who know when to let go."
He drank slowly, deliberately. All eyes turned to Wushuang. Lanterns flickered.
Wushuang laughed, as if nothing in the world weighed upon him.
"Flatter?" he asked, lifting his own cup, swaying just enough to sell the drunkenness. "Crown Brother honors me too much. I am but a man who survived by luck."
He clinked his cup lightly against Tian Li's. "To new beginnings."
The surrounding princes exhaled in relief. Laughter rose again.
"Well said! The past truly is buried!"
Tian Li lowered his cup, watching Wushuang closely. For a split second, something cold passed between their gazes. Then it was gone. Music swelled again. Cups were refilled.
Beneath the celebration, two brothers measured each other not by words, but by who dared drink first and who survived.