Hu Bai’s gaze slid to him, unhurried. "Oh?"
That one word alone was enough to make the air in the room grow heavier.
"I have reached the ninth level of Martial Qi."Huixin straightened his back, lifting his chin just a fraction higher than usual. He tried to keep his voice even, but the pride leaked through anyway.
Hu Bai’s brows lifted slightly. For a brief moment, something like approval flickered in those dark eyes. "That is quite good."
It was simple praise. And coming from him it felt like gold.
Huixin’s chest puffed out. A grin spread across his face before he could stop it. "I knew you would say that."
The warmth in Hu Bai’s expression disappeared in an instant. "Do not become arrogant."
His voice wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.
And just like that, Huixin deflated. The light drained from his eyes and his shoulders slumped. "I—I’m not arrogant," he mumbled, suddenly very interested in the floor.
"But you were smiling as though you had already conquered the continent..."
"I was not! I was just...flaunting a little bit..." Hiuxin’s ears reddened; he always felt bare whenever his third older brother was around.
Hu Bai chuckled. The sound was quiet, but genuine.
Huixin stared at him for a moment; the surprise in his eyes was evident.
"What?"
"I just haven’t heard you laugh in a long time..."
Hu Bai’s smile faded slightly. He picked up his teacup, taking a slow sip to calm his nerves.
"Then you should make sure I have a reason to laugh more often."
Huixin nodded seriously. "I will."
For a while, they talked. Huixin told him about his cultivation, his teachers, the other princes and princesses, and the small changes that had occurred in the palace while Hu Bai was away.
Hu Bai listened quietly, occasionally offering advice whenever his younger brother mentioned something that concerned him.
It was the closest thing to peace he had ever found within these walls.
Eventually, Huixin hesitated before asking, "Third Brother."
"Hm?"
"Are you really going to become Crown Prince when you turn twenty?"
Hu Bai’s hand paused around his teacup. The warmth in his expression disappearing. "No."
Huixin blinked. "But Mother said—"
"I know what Mother said." Hu Bai’s voice remained calm. "But I have no intention of becoming Emperor."
Huixin looked at him carefully. "Then what will you do?"
A faint smile touched Hu Bai’s lips. "Whatever I want."
Huixin stared at him for a moment before smiling. "That sounds like you."
Hu Bai looked at his younger brother. For once, he did not feel the need to correct him.
Outside, the night wind moved through the trees, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers into the quiet courtyard.
For now, he could forget the throne.
Forget his mother...
Forget the debt she believed he owed her....
Tomorrow, he would leave this place. Though he would be a little sad to leave his brother behind, he knew he must.
His mind drifted to Li Yan; he must have been gone for hours now.
Would he miss him? He doubted that; he was sure Li Yan was somewhere in the manor cultivating or eating.
The feisty little rabbit only cared about itself right now.
After all, why would it lick another’s wound when its wounds are still fresh?
"Third brother..." Hiuxin called out, leaning slightly on the table. Compared to the other siblings, Hiuxin most closely resembled Hu Bai in features.
Hu Bai felt as though he was staring at his younger self each time.
"What is it..."
"What if I become crown prince? I will work hard on my cultivation and become crown prince..."
Hu Bai’s half-lidded gaze was dark and unnervingly cold, carrying a quiet menace that made it clear he was anything but harmless.
Hiuxin felt his body freeze, he had never seen such a terrifying expression on his brother before.
"I—i..."
"Why would you want to take on such an horrendous task? Do you think it is a job where you can play around?"
"Brother...I..."
"Never speak of this again..."
Hiuxin quickly bowed, he did not know how he had offended his third brother but he needed to apologize.
"I only wished to aid you, if I get our mother’s attention, she will leave you alone."
Hu Bai sighed, he was not happy with what he was hearing, not by the long shot.
"Mother’s attention is the one thing you must never crave for. If you wish to remain sane, avoid our mother. Bai Hiuxin, never speak of this again, not to me or to anyone else."
Huixin lowered his head. "I understand."
The room fell silent. Hu Bai looked at the boy sitting across from him, and some of the severity in his expression finally eased.
Huixin had meant well; that much was obvious. He had looked at the Crown Prince position and seen a way to shield his older brother from their mother’s demands.
But he was yet to learn that their mother did not give freedom willingly. She gave people privileges and waited until they had become dependent on them before collecting her price.
Huixin was young enough to believe that taking on a burden could free someone else from carrying it. In reality they would both be in her trap,
Hu Bai reached across the table and placed a hand on his head, gently ruffling his hair. "You do not need to protect me from Mother."
Huixin looked up. "I am your older brother. It is my responsibility to protect you, not the other way around."
"But Third Brother..."
"No." Hu Bai’s voice softened, but his answer remained firm. "You have no reason to carry a burden that was never meant for you."
Huixin stared at him, his eyes slowly turning red. "I only wanted you to be free."
"I know. But it is not something you can do."Hu Bai withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair. His gaze drifted toward the dark courtyard beyond the open doors, where the night breeze stirred the branches of the trees.
That was precisely why he could not allow Huixin to involve himself.
If their mother noticed that Huixin was willing to stand between her and Hu Bai, she would not praise him for his loyalty.
She would use it.
"Listen carefully, Xinxin. You do not need to become Crown Prince for me. You do not need to prove yourself to Mother for me, and you certainly do not need to sacrifice your freedom because of me."
Huixin’s fingers curled against his robes. "But what if she forces you?"
A faint smile appeared on Hu Bai’s lips, though there was nothing warm about it.
"Then I will deal with her."
He said it so simply that Huixin could not help staring. His third brother had never sounded afraid of their mother.
Huixin finally lowered his eyes. "I understand."
"Good." Hu Bai picked up his teacup again, but before he could take another sip, Huixin quietly spoke. "Third Brother."
"Hm?"
"If you really do not want the throne, what will you do when Mother refuses to let you go?"
Hu Bai’s fingers paused around the cup. For a moment, he said nothing.
Then his gaze shifted toward the darkness outside. "I will find a way."