After Being Coveted by Two Powerful Minister Brothers

Qing Luan, a woman of humble origins who was sold into servitude and trained as a Shouma, enters the household of General Qi Zheng as his favored mistress. She resides in the Feiyunxuan courtyard, where she maintains a composed and detached demeanor despite the internal politics of the estate. The General’s niece, Liu Xirou, has seized control of the household management under the guise of caring for Qi Zheng’s two sons, Qi Zhaoye and Qi Yuchen. Qing Luan deliberately avoids conflict with Liu Xirou, choosing instead to focus on her own security and financial stability. Her relationship with Qi Zheng is one of mutual convenience; he finds comfort in her presence, while she relies on his protection and wealth. However, Qi Zheng is ordered to lead a military campaign against the Xiongnu, and before departing, he gifts Qing Luan a property deed and promises to return within six months to legitimize her status.

Shortly after Qi Zheng’s departure, Qing Luan moves out of the main mansion into her own residence, rejecting the opportunity to manage the household affairs. This decision isolates her from the family’s internal struggles but also leaves her vulnerable. Meanwhile, Qi Zhaoye, the nine-year-old eldest son, harbors deep resentment toward Qing Luan, viewing her as a seductress who has bewitched his father and displaced his late mother’s memory. He witnesses intimate moments between Qing Luan and his father, which only fuels his hostility. When Liu Xirou attempts to summon Qing Luan to meet the family elders, Qing Luan refuses and successfully repels the intrusion, demonstrating her independence and sharp wit.

The narrative takes a tragic turn when news arrives that General Qi Zheng has died in battle. The family descends into chaos, and Liu Xirou returns to her natal home, abandoning the children. Qi Zheng’s relatives, led by his uncles, step in under the pretense of guardianship but quickly reveal their true intentions: to seize the family’s wealth and property. They install Qi Dayong, a distant cousin, as the manager of the estate, along with his wife, who mistreat the young masters and divert household resources to their own son. Qi Zhaoye, despite his youth, attempts to assert his authority but is physically abused by Qi Dayong after discovering the couple’s misconduct in his father’s private quarters.

The situation deteriorates further when the government launches an investigation into Qi Zheng’s military service, accusing him of corruption and accepting bribes. The family’s assets are confiscated, and Qi Dayong is arrested. Qi Zhaoye and his younger brother Qi Yuchen are cast out onto the streets, stripped of their status, home, and security. They wander the city, seeking refuge with relatives who all reject them due to their tainted lineage. Their loyal servant, Zhegui, betrays them by stealing their remaining savings and abandoning them. Starving and homeless, the brothers sleep in the streets, and Qi Zhaoye dreams of his mother and Qing Luan, recalling a moment of unexpected kindness from the mistress.

Desperate for survival, Qi Zhaoye seeks out Qing Luan, hoping she might offer them shelter. However, he learns that she left the capital over two weeks prior, returning to her hometown of Yunxi. The rejection deepens Qi Zhaoye’s despair, leaving him and his brother with no allies and no future. The story highlights the fragility of social standing and the ruthless nature of familial and societal relationships when power and wealth are lost.