The Crown Prince's residence, the Eastern Palace's Tianyu Hall, remained brightly lit despite the late hour.
Unlike the grandeur of the Emperor's main palace, Tianyu Hall carried a quieter elegance. Dark wooden pillars lined the vast chambers while silver lanterns illuminated the corridors softly. Everything within the residence reflected Xu Chen himself—
Orderly.
Calm.
Untouchable.
At least usually.
Tonight, however, the atmosphere inside Tianyu Hall felt unusually lively.
Xu Yue sat curled comfortably beside Xu Chen on the long couch near the study table, hugging an embroidered cushion while swinging her little legs lazily.
At seven years old, the youngest princess was still young enough to behave freely around her brothers.
Especially around Xu Chen.
"Imperial Brother," she asked curiously, "will Sister Yue Ning really move into Tianyu Hall after the marriage?"
"Yes."
Xu Yue instantly brightened. "Then I can visit every day!"
Xu Chen calmly turned another page of the memorial in his hand. "You already visit every day."
"That's different."
Han Wei, standing quietly nearby, silently agreed.
The little princess practically treated Tianyu Hall as her second home already.
At that moment, footsteps approached from outside the hall.
Then—
Two figures entered together.
"This younger brother greets Imperial Brother."
Xu Zeyan and Xu Zelin stepped into Tianyu Hall side by side.
Though both would turn fourteen next month, their personalities contrasted sharply even in the way they carried themselves.
Xu Zeyan, the second prince, moved with calm steadiness. His expression remained composed and mature beyond his age, giving him a reliable presence despite occasional moments of teasing.
Xu Zelin, however, looked entirely too relaxed.
The third prince walked in with faint amusement already visible in his eyes, the exact expression that usually meant he had either caused trouble recently—or planned to soon.
Xu Yue immediately sat up straighter.
"Second Brother! Third Brother!"
Xu Zeyan smiled faintly at her before glancing toward Xu Chen. "We heard Xu Yue ran through half the palace announcing your marriage again."
Xu Yue puffed her cheeks immediately. "I was spreading important news."
Xu Zelin sat lazily across from them. "You also told Father's ministers during evening court."
Xu Yue looked completely unapologetic. "They looked happy."
Han Wei quietly looked away.
The ministers had, in fact, looked terrified.
Xu Chen finally placed the memorial aside calmly. "Why are you both here?"
Xu Zeyan answered honestly, "We wanted to see if the rumors were true."
"What rumors?"
Xu Zelin rested one arm against the table casually. "That Imperial Brother smiles now."
The hall fell silent briefly.
Xu Yue immediately pointed proudly at Xu Chen. "It's true!"
Xu Chen looked entirely calm. "I always smiled."
All three younger siblings stared at him together.
Xu Zeyan spoke first.
"No, you didn't."
Xu Zelin nodded seriously. "You frightened court officials instead."
Xu Yue added confidently, "You still frighten them."
Han Wei nearly laughed aloud.
Xu Chen remained unmoved despite being attacked from every direction.
Xu Yue suddenly leaned against Xu Chen's arm comfortably again.
Seeing this, Xu Zeyan sighed dramatically. "You spoil her too much."
Xu Chen glanced down slightly at the little princess. "She's young."
Xu Zelin smirked faintly. "And because she's young, she still runs into my chambers carrying blankets at midnight."
Xu Zeyan immediately laughed.
Xu Yue looked offended. "Third Brother!"
Xu Chen looked toward Xu Zelin calmly. "Again?"
Xu Zelin shrugged lightly. "There was thunder yesterday."
Xu Yue immediately defended herself. "The palace maids told ghost stories before!"
Months ago, several palace maids had accidentally frightened the little princess during a stormy evening by telling supernatural tales. Since then, whenever heavy rain or thunder appeared, Xu Yue sometimes became too frightened to sleep alone.
And because imperial etiquette separated men and women carefully after childhood, palace servants initially panicked when Xu Yue kept sneaking into her brothers' residences.
Even siblings in noble families rarely shared sleeping quarters once they grew older.
But Xu Yue was still only seven.
And Xu Zelin—
Spoiled her endlessly.
Rather than letting frightened servants struggle every stormy night, the third prince simply allowed his little sister to stay in his outer chambers until she fell asleep.
The Emperor and Empress both knew already.
Neither stopped it.
Because despite palace rules—
Xu Yue was still a child.
Xu Zeyan crossed his arms calmly now. "Third Brother practically raises her at this point."
Xu Zelin looked completely unconcerned. "Someone has to."
Xu Yue immediately hugged his arm proudly from across the table. "Third Brother is the best."
Xu Zeyan looked betrayed. "What about me?"
"You're too strict."
"I'm literally calmer than him!"
"That's true," Xu Chen said quietly.
Xu Zeyan froze.
Xu Zelin burst into laughter immediately.
The second prince looked horrified. "Imperial Brother, even you—"
"You lecture Xu Yue more than Father does."
Xu Yue nodded vigorously. "Exactly!"
Xu Zeyan looked deeply wronged while everyone else laughed softly around him.
For perhaps the first time in many days, Tianyu Hall no longer felt like the residence of the empire's cold Crown Prince.
Instead—
It felt like an ordinary home filled with siblings arguing beneath warm lantern light.
Xu Zelin suddenly leaned back slightly while studying Xu Chen carefully.
"You really are different lately."
Xu Chen looked at him calmly. "How?"
Xu Zeyan answered before Xu Zelin could.
"You seem lighter."
The hall quieted slightly again.
Xu Yue hugged Xu Chen's arm softly while smiling.
"Sister Yue Ning makes Imperial Brother happy."
Xu Zelin nodded once. "Even Han Wei looks less stressed lately."
Han Wei almost choked.
Xu Chen's gaze lowered slightly toward the little princess leaning against him before shifting toward his younger brothers sitting nearby.
For years, Tianyu Hall had remained quiet.
Too quiet.
Because everyone feared disturbing the Crown Prince.
But now—
Laughter had started appearing here more often.
Warmth too.
And though Xu Chen himself rarely noticed such changes—
The people around him did.
Xu Yue tilted her head upward toward him sleepily.
"Imperial Brother."
"Mm?"
"You should smile more after marrying Sister Yue Ning."
Xu Chen looked at her for a moment.
Then very quietly—
"Yes."