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

The spring sunshine gently sprinkled on the courtyard of the Duke's Mansion, and the tender green branches and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, as if dancing happily. After Chen Jia and Chen Jue finished their breakfast, they came to the courtyard together, ready to enjoy this leisure time.

Chen Jia was wearing a light green silk dress with delicate flowers embroidered on the hem and a ribbon tied around her waist, which made her look even more graceful. She had a jade hairpin in her hair, and a few strands of hair fell on both sides of her cheeks, which made her look gentle and charming. Chen Jue was wearing a white long gown, which was neat and tidy, and her sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes showed the vigor of youth.

Chen Jia looked at the beautiful scenery in the courtyard, her heart filled with joy. She turned to Chen Jue and said, "Xiao Jue, the weather is very good today. Let's not waste this beautiful spring time. Why don't we play in this courtyard for a while?" Chen Jue smiled and nodded, "Sister, you are right. I will leave it to you."

Chen Jia's eyes lit up, and she thought of an interesting idea: "Xiao Jue, how about we play pitching pot?" Chen Jue readily agreed. The maids quickly brought the pitching pot and arrows. Chen Jia stood at the prescribed distance, holding the arrow, squinting slightly, aiming at the mouth of the pot, and gently throwing the arrow, and the arrow fell steadily into the pot. "Hit!" Chen Jia shouted excitedly. Chen Jue was not to be outdone. He took the arrow, stood upright, and shook his wrist. The arrow flew out like an arrow from a string and fell accurately into the pot. "Haha, sister, I'm not bad either."

The two of them played back and forth, neither of them giving in, and their laughter echoed in the courtyard. After playing for a while, Chen Jia felt a little tired, so she walked to a stone bench and sat down. Seeing this, Chen Jue hurried over and asked with concern: "Sister, are you tired? I'll ask the maids to bring some snacks and tea." Chen Jia smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Xiaojue."

After a while, the maids came over with exquisite snacks and fragrant tea. The snacks included soft and sticky osmanthus cake, crispy lotus cake, and sweet rose cake. Chen Jia picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and put it in her mouth. The soft, sticky and sweet taste spread in her mouth instantly: "This osmanthus cake tastes really good, Xiaojue, you should try it too." Chen Jue picked up a piece of rose cake and took a bite: "Well, it's really delicious."

The two were eating snacks when Chen Jia's friends Lin Wan and Su Yao came to visit. Lin Wan was wearing a pink dress, while Su Yao was wearing a light blue dress. They walked into the courtyard and saw Chen Jia and Chen Jue. They smiled and saluted: "Sister Chen, Master Chen, I am sorry to bother you by coming here today." Chen Jia hurriedly stood up to greet them: "Wan Wan, Yao Yao, it's great that you are here. We were just worried that we would have no one to play with."

Chen Jue also stood up and saluted: "Miss Lin, Miss Su."

Lin Wan looked at the pitching pot equipment in the courtyard and asked curiously, "Sister Chen, are you playing pitching pot?" Chen Jia nodded, "We just played for a while and are taking a break. You came at the right time, let's play something else together."

Su Yao's eyes lit up: "Sister Chen, I heard that you are very good at painting. Can you show us today?" Chen Jia smiled a little embarrassedly: "I only know a little bit, but since Yaoyao wants to see it, then I will show my ugliness."

Chen Jue hurriedly told the maids to prepare the painting tools. Rice paper, brushes, and paints were neatly laid out. Chen Jia stood in front of the painting table, thought for a moment, picked up the brush, dipped it in paint, and began to paint on the rice paper. She first sketched the mountains in the distance, which were rolling and flowing. Then, she sketched the stream in the mountains, which was gurgling, and it seemed as if she could hear the clear sound of flowing water. Then, she painted the peach blossom forest by the stream, with peach blossoms in full bloom and petals falling in the wind.

Lin Wan and Su Yao stood aside, watching intently, their eyes full of amazement: "Sister Chen, your painting skills are really amazing. This painting seems to bring us into the mountains and forests in spring." Chen Jue also praised: "Sister's paintings are becoming more and more charming."

After Chen Jia finished painting, she put down her brush and said shyly, "I haven't painted for a long time, so my hands are a little unfamiliar. I'm sorry to make you laugh." Lin Wan hurriedly said, "Sister Chen, if your hands are unfamiliar, then we won't dare to pick up the brush."

Su Yao suddenly thought of an idea: "Sister Chen, Mr. Chen, why don't we work together on a painting? It will be more interesting this way." Everyone nodded in agreement.

So, Chen Jue stood in front of the drawing table, thought for a moment, and began to draw the characters in the painting. The characters in his paintings were either standing by the stream to enjoy the scenery or walking in the peach forest. They were in different shapes and lifelike. Lin Wan picked up the brush and added colors to the characters' clothes. She carefully selected the colors to make the characters' clothes more colorful and eye-catching. Su Yao helped to draw some flowers, birds, fish and insects. The birds she drew seemed to fly out of the painting, lively and cute.

With the joint efforts of everyone, a spring landscape painting was gradually completed. In the painting, the mountains are green, the streams are clear, the peach blossoms are in full bloom, the characters are contented, and the flowers, birds, fish and insects add vitality to the picture. Everyone looked at this collaborative painting with satisfied smiles.

At this time, it was almost noon, and Chen Jue suggested: "Sister, Miss Lin, Miss Su, the painting is finished, why don't we have lunch together. I have asked the kitchen to prepare sumptuous dishes." Everyone readily agreed.

When we arrived at the restaurant, the table was filled with delicious dishes. There were steamed sea bass, braised lion's head, Kung Pao chicken, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, etc. Chen Jue poured wine for everyone: "It's a rare opportunity to get together with my sister and the two girls today, everyone must enjoy themselves."

Everyone enjoyed the food and chatted freely, from poetry and songs to life philosophy, from palace anecdotes to folk legends, with laughter and joy.

After lunch, everyone took a short break and went to the courtyard again. Chen Jue took out his treasured zither and said to Chen Jia, "Sister, you haven't played the zither for a long time. How about playing a song for us today?" Chen Jia nodded, sat in front of the zither, and gently plucked the strings. The melodious sound of the zither sounded, as if telling an ancient story. Lin Wan and Su Yao sat quietly by the side, listening, immersed in this beautiful zither sound. Chen Jue closed his eyes and rested, feeling the emotions in the zither sound.

After the song ended, everyone was still immersed in the aftertaste. Lin Wan exclaimed: "Sister Chen's piano skills are really extraordinary. The sound of the piano seems to be able to cleanse the dust of the soul."

Afterwards, everyone played some small games, such as shuttlecock kicking, rope skipping, etc. Chen Jia and Lin Wan were in one group, while Chen Jue and Su Yao were in another group. Everyone had a great time.

The sun gradually set, and the sky was dyed orange-red. Lin Wan and Su Yao stood up to say goodbye: "Sister Chen, Master Chen, we had a lot of fun today. It's getting late, so we'll go back first." Chen Jia and Chen Jue stood up to see them off: "Wan Wan, Yao Yao, come and play often when you have time."

Chen Jia felt a little reluctant to see her friend leave, but the happy time she spent with Chen Jue and her friends today made her feel extremely happy. Chen Jue looked at her sister's expression and said with a smile: "Sister, we will have many such opportunities in the future, so don't be sad." Chen Jia nodded and returned to the mansion with Chen Jue, looking forward to the next gathering.