The bright moon hung high in the night sky, its pure light spilling onto the palace, enveloping the brightly lit palace in a hazy moonlight.

Inside the banquet hall, officials and their families had gradually arrived, some in small groups exchanging pleasantries and compliments, others sitting quietly alone.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

As the people inside the hall exchanged pleasantries, a long voice from a eunuch suddenly rang out from outside, announcing that the hall had fallen silent and everyone was looking towards the entrance.

Helian Yi stepped in, his black hair tied with a jade crown, and he was wearing the same black-white robe that Helian Nie had bestowed upon him and sent out of the palace that day.

"Your Highness, we pay our respects!"

Inside the palace, ministers and their families bowed and paid their respects to Helian Yi.

"No need for formalities, please rise."

Helian Yi's gentle and refined face was filled with a warm expression, and his voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, soothing to the ears.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The officials rose and looked at the tall, amiable young man in white, and all sighed inwardly.

The Emperor's mind and methods have always been ruthless and cruel, and he is extremely tyrannical. It is truly remarkable that the eldest prince, who is the Emperor's son, is so gentle in his dealings with others today.

Sitting next to Wen's maternal grandfather, Helian You was also wearing a brocade robe bestowed upon him by Helian Nie, but it was sky blue.

This only made his fair face appear even fairer. Helian You was eating a peach shortbread, and his dark, bright eyes...

However, she was looking at Helian Yi, who was sitting in front of her in a long black and white robe, as if she were curiously examining him.

Helian Yi sat upright in his seat, his dark eyes, sharp as autumn water, sweeping over a seat below him, where the little girl was still nowhere to be seen.

He gently shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. He figured the girl must have been delayed by getting ready. He was about to look away...

But she felt a pair of eyes staring at her. Following that gaze, she met Helian You's dark, bright eyes.

Helian Yi was slightly taken aback. To be honest, of his three younger siblings, he had the least contact with this third prince.

The main reason was that the third prince's mother died in childbirth, so he was kept in the prime minister's residence to be cared for. He had only seen him a few times, and only briefly.

For a moment, Helian Yi was unsure how to interact with Helian You. He simply smiled warmly at Helian You, nodded slightly, and then looked away.

Helian You blinked his dark, bright eyes, then looked away, lowered his head, picked up the peach shortbread in his hand, took a bite, his curled eyelashes fluttering slightly, and he mentally made a note:

My eldest brother is a smiling tiger, with a deep and cunning mind, just like my uncle.

Wenren Yu's light blue robe was casually draped over her shoulders, her fair, slender fingers lightly twirling a wine cup, her upturned phoenix eyes sweeping over Helian Yi, who sat upright in white.

His handsome face, like a painting, had a slight upturn of thin lips, which also made the beauty mark under his phoenix eyes stand out. He took a sip of sake and swallowed it.

Turning her head, Wenren Yu glanced at Helian You, who was quietly eating peach shortbread with his head down beside her, and sighed helplessly.

The little princess was lively and adorable, winning the emperor's favor; the second prince, though unable to stand, was exceptionally intelligent.

Needless to say, the eldest prince, at only ten years old, already possesses a wealth of cunning and strategic thinking.

Then look at my own little rascal, besides being a bit clever, all he does is eat, eat, and eat!

Fortunately, he never expected this brat to amount to much when he grew up; he just wanted him to live a peaceful and leisurely life as a prince.

Sigh, I'm so worried!