"We share the same mother yet you are the first to disrespect me, it seems like I have been too lax!" he yelled in anger, the three of them quickly dropped to their knees and bowed slightly.

"Your highness, please do not be angry," they chorused.

The other princes sighed, they know the first prince has a bad temper especially since the arrival of the fourth prince yet they just had to infuriate him, he might not have any real power but he still has the empress, prime minister and the hierarchy of the royal family behind him.

"Seventh Prince, since you are close with the fourth prince then can you tell me why the fourth prince is not here despite my invitation," the first prince queried.

Li Changlin rolled his eyes as his head is lowered, the others might fear the first prince but he has never paid him any regard, if not for his mother's warning then he wouldn't bother kneeling to apologise.

"Li Changlin, the first prince just asked you a question," the third prince urged, he might not be on the same side as the first prince but Li Ruansong, the fourth prince is a common enemy.

"I have not even paid him a visit yet, how am I supposed to know," he retorted rudely.

"How dare you!" the third prince rebuked yet the seventh prince remained unfazed.

"Third Prince, please ease your anger," they heard someone say, they all turned only to see the fourth prince in the hall, the first prince smirked at his sight, he is happy and yet displeased seeing the fourth prince.

"I am late," he cupped his hands and bowed slightly.

"Brother," Changlin called as he sprung up to his feet with a bright smile on his face.

The princes were dazed as they stared at him from his head to his toe, on the emperor's birthday, they didn't get a good look at him but now they can't help but wonder if he is really the fourth prince they use to gang up against when they were little.

His looks, mannerism, aura...everything has changed.

His usual plain back robe, gold hair ring and pin make him look serene yet imposing, and the other two beside him, one seems like a stoic bodyguard and the other small in stature but the threatening glare in her eyes...

"Then take your seat, fourth prince," the first prince said, gesturing towards a seat next to the seventh prince while the others on their kneels returned to their seat.

The sixth prince was ecstatic at the sight of the fourth prince, he really wanted to hug him as soon as he saw him but he feared the fourth prince might reject him like he always did when they were little, he downheartedly took his seat at the left side of the fourth prince.

"Brother, here," the seventh prince said as he poured the fourth prince wine.

Everyone might not have seen it but the fourth prince knew the sixth prince was going to do the same.

{You haven't changed after all these years}

The fourth prince raised the wine to the first prince with a faint smile on his lips.

"First prince, I will drink this cup to apologise for my lateness," he bowed lightly then chugged down the wine.

Xiaodi leaned towards his ear after he drank the wine.

"Master, you haven't fully recovered yet, you shouldn't be drinking," she whispered while they all stared at them with their eyes narrowed to hear what they are saying but they couldn't.

"Fourth prince, you just returned to the palace not long ago yet you got injured for the flame sect witch, making father worried so are you alright now?" the first prince asked, squinting his eyes at him, the fact that the fourth prince was inactive for a while then suddenly flew into the ring didn't escape his suspicion, even the princes were shocked after the incident.

"First prince, do you know what I learnt all these years outside the palace?"

"What?"

"All humans are equal both royals, cultivators and the common people," he responded still smiling faintly and fixing his eyes on the first prince whose lips twitched at his response, the princes were appalled by such saying but they waited for the first prince to speak first.

"Does the fourth prince mean that even imperial father is equal to a lowly commoner?" the first prince asked, anticipating a slip of tongue from the fourth prince then it will naturally reach the emperor's ears, this coupled with the incident at the martial heroes contest, he can tell the emperor will be angry.

"Father is also a human but he is responsible for the wellbeing of the people, the lives of millions of people depend on the imperial father so what does the first prince think the answer is?" he poured himself a cup of wine and sipped it gently.

{He is saying the imperial father is equal and greater at the same time, what a wise answer to avoid a trap,}

The second prince remarked in his mind.

"Even the second young mistress of the flame sect couldn't withstand a hit from Huo Yi Lang, it is really surprising how the fourth prince is all healthy already," the second prince commented, indeed the court already thought the fourth prince was surely going to die from the hit but after they heard the news that he is awake, they were astounded.

"I heard father prayed for my health on empty stomach every day while I was unconscious, I have imperial father to thank for this,"

"Brother, I look forward to playing chess with you someday," the sixth prince said after much hesitation for fear of being rejected, the third and fifth prince glared at him but he didn't even spare their warning a glance.

The fourth prince turned to him with a receiving smile on his face, he has never ever seen his fourth brother smile at him thus his heart skipped a beat.

"If the sixth prince wants to play chess with me then you are welcome to my manor every day," he glanced at Xiaodi and Feng Shui by the corner of his eyes.

"You two listen, not only the seventh prince but as long as the sixth prince visits my manor, he must be welcomed hospitably at all times," he ordered.

"Yes, your highness," both chorused

Li Qingzhao was stunned by the fourth prince warmness towards him especially when the fourth prince placed his hands on his head and patted his head gently.

"Seems like we need to ask your maid and guard for permission before we are allowed to visit your manor," the third prince said seeing as Xiaodi is not holding a sword but Feng Shui is.

"Who are you calling a maid!" Xiaodi retorted.

"How dare you lowly maid speak rudely! is this how the fourth prince trained his people," the third prince rebuked

"You-"

"Xiaodi, won't you quickly apologise to the third prince,"

"But Master, he called me a maid first,"

"Behave,"

She humped then reluctantly bowed her head to apologise.

"I hope your highness doesn't take it to heart, Xiaodi has been with me for many years outside the palace so she isn't used to it yet but I will make sure I teach her proper manners,"

"You seem to be very close with your maid,"

"Third Prince is mistaken, Xiaodi is not my maid and Feng Shui is not my bodyguard, they are both my loyal companions, they eat the same thing I eat and drink the same thing I drink, they wear the same fabric I wear and live in the same place I live in, right now they are only standing behind me because this is a feast arranged by the first prince...this has always been how it is," he stressed the latter for it to sink into their skull, they passed each other confused glances at the words they would consider arrant nonsense but this only increased the admiration the seventh and sixth prince has for him.

Feng Shui and Xiaodi were once again grateful for his kindness towards them.

He stood up from his seat.

"It is almost time for my medicine thus I must take my leave now, please excuse me," he bowed slightly, giving the first prince a last look then he started leaving with Xiaodi and Feng Shui following behind him but just as she passed by the third prince, she smirked at him then walked past.