I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the streets and alleys of the capital like a golden veil, dyeing the ancient city walls and roof tiles into a warm orange color. In the Duke's Mansion, Chen Jue and Chen Jia had just recovered from the tense situation of the fall of King Jin. The two smiled at each other, their eyes full of relief and joy of victory after surviving the disaster.

"Sister, we should celebrate today." Chen Jue suggested excitedly, his face slightly flushed with excitement, that was the blood still boiling after the battle.

Chen Jia nodded slightly, with a gleam in her eyes, "Yes, Xiaojue, we have been on edge these days, and now we can finally relax."

The two dressed up carefully. Chen Jue wore a moon-white brocade robe with a black jade belt around his waist, which made him look taller and more majestic. Chen Jia wore a light pink silk skirt with delicate crabapple flowers embroidered on the hem and a jade hairpin in her hair, which made her look gentle and charming.

They walked out of the Duke's Mansion and strolled on the streets of the capital. The streets were bustling at this time, with vendors hawking all kinds of delicacies and gadgets, children running and laughing in the crowd, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods.

"Sister, you see, the capital is still as bustling as ever, but our mood is very different now." Chen Jue said with emotion, his eyes sweeping across every corner of the street, as if he was re-examining this familiar yet unfamiliar city.

"Yes, Xiaojue, after experiencing all this, we understand more about the preciousness of this ordinary and lively life." Chen Jia responded softly. There was always a smile on her lips, but a tear welled up in her eyes, which was an emotion for the difficult days in the past.

After a while, they came to a pub called "Zui Xiang Ju". The pub's signboard shone golden in the sunset, and the red lanterns hanging at the door were lit, giving people a warm and lively feeling. The pub was crowded with people, and the laughter of diners and the shouting of the bartender intertwined to form a unique symphony. The air was filled with the rich aroma of wine and dishes, which made people salivate.

Chen Jue and Chen Jia found a quiet place in the corner and sat down. The table was made of thick sandalwood, polished to a bright shine, and was placed with exquisite blue and white porcelain tableware.

"Dear guests, what would you like to eat?" A young waiter came over with a smile on his face, a clean white towel draped over his shoulders.

"Serve all your signature dishes and bring a jar of your best wine." Chen Jue said generously.

"Okay! Please wait a moment, sir." The waiter responded and turned and walked quickly towards the kitchen.

"Xiao Jue, you are really generous today." Chen Jia joked.

"Sister, today is different from the past. We deserve the best celebration." Chen Jue responded with a smile.

Soon, the food and wine were served. The exquisite dishes exuded an alluring aroma. There was braised pig's trotters, bright red, soft and tasty; steamed sea bass, the fresh fish was sprinkled with chopped green onions and shredded ginger, like a fine work of art; and braised lion's head, round and plump, melting in the mouth. The wine was a jar of twenty-year-old girl's red wine. When the mud seal was opened, the aroma of the wine overflowed, and the mellow taste instantly filled the whole corner.

Chen Jue first poured a glass of wine for Chen Jia, and then filled his own glass. "Sister, this first glass is for us to get through this difficult time safely." He raised his glass and looked at Chen Jia sincerely.

Chen Jia also raised her glass and gently touched Chen Jue's glass, "May we never have such difficulties again in the future." After that, the two drank it all. The wine slid down the throat, and the warm feeling spread in the stomach, bringing a sense of relaxation and pleasure.

"Xiao Jue, do you remember when we first decided to fight against King Jin? I was really scared at that time, afraid that we would fail and afraid that we would lose you." Chen Jia put down the wine glass, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

"Sister, I am afraid too, but I know that we cannot allow Prince Jin to continue to do evil. His existence is like a dark cloud, hanging over the capital, making the people uneasy." Chen Jue looked at Chen Jia, his eyes full of determination.

"Yes, his power is so huge. We are like people groping in the dark. We have to take every step carefully." Chen Jia picked up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of pig's trotter, but did not eat it. He just played with it in his hands, as if he was lost in thought.

"But we did it, sister. With our wisdom and courage, and the support of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we finally brought him down." Chen Jue picked up the wine jar and filled it for both of them.

"That's right. Only we ourselves know the hardships involved. Every detail of the planning day and night cannot go wrong." Chen Jia said, putting the pig's trotter into her mouth and chewing slowly, "Just like this dish, every process must be just right to be so delicious."

"Sister, you are right. Our plan is just like cooking, linked together. The performance of Chief Censor Zhang in the court and the news released in the teahouse, every step led the King of Jin into the trap we set." Chen Jue picked up a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and savored the delicious taste.

"And the battle at the Taoist temple on the outskirts of the city, Xiaojue, you don't know how worried I was about you. When you came back covered in blood, my heart almost jumped out." Chen Jia's eyes were full of heartache.

"Sister, I'm fine. Most of the blood is from the enemy. I just suffered some superficial injuries. Moreover, for our family and the people of the capital, these injuries are nothing." Chen Jue patted Chen Jia's hand and comforted her.

"You are always so strong. But, Xiaojue, you are really brave. In the Taoist temple, facing the confidants of King Jin, you did not show any fear and moved forward bravely." Chen Jia's eyes were full of pride.

"That's because I know that I am not fighting alone. I have brothers from the Dali Temple and those martial arts masters fighting alongside me. Moreover, I have always been thinking about protecting my sister and our home." Chen Jue's eyes softened.

"By the way, Xiaojue, those martial arts masters also made great contributions. Have you thanked them properly?" Chen Jia asked.

"Sister, I have already made arrangements. They are all loyal people, and they came to help us this time because of our service to the country and the people. I have asked people to send them generous rewards and thank-you gifts." Chen Jue replied.

"That's good. Their help greatly increases our chances of winning. And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, without his arrangements in the court, it would be difficult for us to wipe out the Prince of Jin's forces in one fell swoop." Chen Jia picked up the wine glass and took a sip.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is indeed wise. He has long been aware of Prince Jin's ambition and has been secretly collecting evidence, waiting for the right opportunity. Our operation this time was able to go so smoothly because of his leadership." Chen Jue nodded.

"I hope that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can continue to work for the welfare of the people and keep the peace in the capital." Chen Jia looked out the window of the tavern, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Sister, I believe in His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He cares about the world, and it is a blessing for the people to have such a monarch." Chen Jue also followed Chen Jia's gaze and looked out the window. At this time, night had fallen, but there were still many pedestrians on the street, and the lights were bright.

The two of them ate and talked, recalling every detail of the fight against King Jin, sometimes laughing, sometimes sighing. After three rounds of drinking, Chen Jue's face flushed, his eyes became a little blurry, but still full of excitement.

"Sister, do you know? The moment I saw Prince Jin being captured alive, the heavy weight in my heart finally fell to the ground. It felt like... like we had finally saved the capital from the darkness." Chen Jue's voice was a little loud, and the diners around him cast curious glances at him, but he didn't care.

"Xiao Jue, keep your voice down." Chen Jia smiled and scolded, "But I can understand your feelings. The fall of King Jin is a rebirth for us."

"Haha, sister, I'm so happy." Chen Jue scratched his head and lowered his voice.

"Me too, Xiaojue. This victory makes me cherish our current life even more. From now on, we don't have to live in fear anymore." Chen Jia's eyes sparkled with happiness.

"Yes, sister. We can enjoy this hard-earned peace. In the future, I will accompany you to plant your favorite flowers in the garden of the Duke's Mansion, and we can drink tea and chat in the garden every day." Chen Jue said with anticipation.

"That's great, Xiaojue. I've always hoped to have a life like this, without disputes, without conspiracies, just peace and safety for our family." Chen Jia's face was filled with a happy smile.

Before they knew it, it was already late at night. The guests in the tavern gradually left, leaving only Chen Jue and Chen Jia in the corner. The food and wine on the table had been almost finished, and the wine jar was empty.

"Xiao Jue, it's time for us to go back." Chen Jia stood up, swaying slightly. She couldn't drink much to begin with, and she was happy today, so she drank a few more glasses.

"Okay, sister, let's go home." Chen Jue supported Chen Jia, and the two walked out of the tavern.

The capital was much quieter at night, with only the lanterns on the street still emitting soft light. Chen Jue and Chen Jia were walking on their way home, their figures were stretched out under the lights, as if telling their story. That night, they walked slowly towards the Duke's Mansion, towards their new life, with the joy of victory and longing for the future.

When they returned to the Duke's Mansion, the servants had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Chen Jue and Chen Jia return safely, they all smiled with relief.

"You all should go and have a rest. Everyone has worked hard today." Chen Jue said to the servants.

The servants bowed and left. Chen Jue helped Chen Jia to sit in the pavilion in the garden. The garden was particularly quiet at night, and the fragrance of flowers drifted gently in the breeze.

"Sister, look at this garden, it's so beautiful. In the future, our days will be as full of vitality as this garden." Chen Jue said softly.

"Well, Xiaojue, it all seems like a dream. However, it is a beautiful dream, and we have finally realized our wish." Chen Jia leaned on Chen Jue's shoulder, closed her eyes, and enjoyed this peaceful moment.

"Sister, we must protect this tranquility and not let anyone destroy it." Chen Jue held Chen Jia's hand and said firmly.

"We will, Xiaojue. We have been through so much, and we now have enough strength to protect our home." Chen Jia opened her eyes and looked at Chen Jue with trust in her eyes.

The two sat in the garden for a long time until they felt sleepy, then they slowly got up and returned to their respective rooms. That night, they both slept very soundly. In their dreams, there was no threat from the King of Jin, only the laughter in the Duke's Mansion and the flowers blooming in the garden.