"I'm not going tonight." Yin Renshu said without breaking his gaze outside the hall through the window.

"Me either." Yin Wenyan replied with a tone of indifference. The gentleness that is always on his face is untraceable this time. His expression's blank. His face is cold.

"Wha--- are you not done yet?" Yin Xiulan lost count of the times she rolled her eyes just this morning.

The two completely ignored their sister.

Yin Wenyan's forehead wrinkled. "Do you have plans for tonight? Why do you keep on insisting not to come?"

"I don't. Do you?" Yin Renshu finally looks at him straight in the eyes.

"..."

Yin Renshu originally thought that his brother should go to let him have a chance to interact with people and socialize more since he's hiding inside the Lotus Hall most of the time. And besides, the event tonight should be lively and he would most probably have some fun there. But why does his brother declines to attend the banquet he decided to open himself?

Yin Xiulan noticed that his brother is acting somehow strange today. Yin Wenyan is usually reserved, collected, has long patience, and most of all, he usually doesn't refuse anyone-especially his siblings.

While she and Yin Renshu argue almost every hour of every day, she honestly couldn't remember when Yin Wenyan got into an argument with any of them. She thought, maybe he really has something to do later.

She asks him in a calm manner. "Wenyan? Do you really have plans tonight? Where are you going?"

"Nothing really." Yin Wenyan averted his eyes. "I just feel like having time for myself tonight, that's all. However, I've changed my mind. Renshu doesn't have to attend anymore. I'll go."

"Hah! There is no need for Wenyan to go. I'll welcome the guest myself. Why would I force him to do something he doesn't like." Yin Renshu sneers.

Deep inside him, he really doesn't want to act ill-mannered to his brother. Yin Wenyan has always been kind and considerate to his siblings after all. It's just that Yin Renshu feels like it's not like him to act that way. Ever since their childhood, Yin Renshu has always been prideful and stubborn. Acting all thoughtfully will make him go out of character.

"Good thing you know." Yin Wenyan expressionlessly said.

Unconsciously, his thoughts got filled with 'unnecessary' thoughts. Thoughts like, "Does anyone even cares about what I want?', 'Does anyone tried to see through me?', 'How come, no one asks me if I'm fine?', and 'Why do I have to do things I don't want to for others?' 

But what hurts him the most is the thought that he doesn't even have his own identity. He's just a shadow of his brother. If his brother lives in glory, so did he but only in the dark. If he dies, there's no need for him to stay alive.

What is his is also his brother's.

"You!..." Yin Renshu's disbelief is written all over his face. "What's wrong with you?"

Even Yin Xiulan got surprised. He's never been rude before.

"Nothing. Maybe I just need some fresh air. I'll go secretly investigate further regarding the case in the town square." Yin Wenyan answered.

Princess Yin Xiulan breathes in deeply and slowly exhales. "I think you need rest. Why don't you stay here for today? Renshu can manage to sneak out of the palace. Right, Renshu?"

Yin Xiulan glared at Yin Renshu, passing the message through a sharp gaze.

Yin Renshu looks away at the other two. "Yeah. Yeah. You need to cool your head off, Wenyan."

Yin Renshu also has the same thing in mind as his sister. His brother doesn't usually behave this way after all. Also, he really doesn't mind hosting a banquet so he didn't argue further. Maybe Yin Wenyan has something in mind, and if he doesn't want to share it with them yet, he and their sister won't force him.

"..." Yin Wenyan was quiet for a few moments. He realized that he's not in his usual self. He suddenly felt guilty and wants to make up with his siblings as soon as possible. But for some reason, there's this little pride sprouting inside of him that he wants to protect. Instead of compensating for his strange actions, he only said a single word.

"Fine."

The whole Lotus Hall got enveloped by a thick layer of silence. Everyone present has something to say but ended up saying nothing in the end. Maybe they are just confused, stressed, and tired.

They grew up in the mountains under the care of Sect Leader Zhao Yangguang after all, the head of Wan MoliHua Palace. A sect that is barely even considered as a sect. After the downfall of once the greatest sect in the lower cultivation world, their Wan MoliHua Palace was known to the public that they got annihilated and became a part of history. Little did everyone knows, they just kept their profile low and stayed hidden in the mountains to avoid trouble. The three of them are the only disciples left, and together with the elders, they lived a peaceful life, away from the troubles of the cultivation world. For several years, they lived as free-spirited cultivators. Laughter and adventures are shared with each other.

That is why Yin Xiulan and Yin Renshu are being careful towards Yin Wenyan now that it seems there's something in his mind that he is not ready to tell them yet. As for Yin Wenyan, he's not used to his siblings being careful around him too. They just don't know how to act in front of each other anymore.

Yin Xiulan is the first one to break the coldness in the atmosphere.

"My Department of Security is going to be busy today. I just can't let Liu Chen handle it himself so I better go. Even it's just a small branch, it's still part of my Ministry of War and Defense after all." She tries to laugh the awkwardness out.

Yin Renshu reasoned out as well, "Me too, I have to go. This case should not get delayed any further."

"Mn. Thank you for the hard work."

"Nah, it's not a big deal. You've worked hard these past few days too. Just rest here and leave everything to us." For the first time in this novel, Princess Yin Xiulan, the Princess General, smiled sweetly.

Both Princess Yin Xiulan and Emperor Yin Renshu exits the Lotus Hall and went on their ways.

On the other hand, Prince Yin Wenyan is left alone inside this spacious hall all by himself as he heard the sound of the footsteps slowly fade away. The truth is, Yin Wenyan isn't new to this kind of scenario. It happens almost every day. However, the state of being alone and loneliness don't feel the same.

Right now, unlike any other day, the prince feels lonely.

Why did he even think those kinds of things? It's not that he's not used to it.

Why is he being selfish this time?

What is there to be mad?

He believes that this is his fate. One cannot possibly change one's destiny. So he should not feel upset for life's inequality, right?