Night had already settled over the imperial palace.
After leaving the Phoenix Hall, Crown Prince Xu Chen returned to the Eastern Palace, the residence reserved for the heir of the Great Xu Empire. The servants quickly prepared warm water and clean robes for him.
After eighteen months on the battlefield, the quiet comfort of the palace felt almost unfamiliar.
When Xu Chen finished bathing and changed into a simple dark robe, the attendants withdrew respectfully. The prince preferred silence in the evenings.
He sat alone in the courtyard pavilion.
Moonlight reflected softly on the small lotus pond nearby. The gentle sound of water flowing from the stone fountain made the night peaceful.
For the first time in many months, there were no war maps before him.
No generals waiting for orders.
No reports of casualties.
Only quiet.
Xu Chen poured himself a cup of tea and leaned back slightly in the chair.
But the peace did not last long.
Suddenly—
"Big Brother!"
A cheerful childish voice echoed through the courtyard.
Before Xu Chen could even react, a tiny figure rushed through the gate.
A little girl with bright eyes and two small hair buns ran toward him as fast as her short legs allowed.
"Big Brother! Big Brother!"
Xu Chen immediately stood up.
"Yue'er."
The six-year-old princess threw herself straight into his arms.
Xu Chen caught her easily.
The girl hugged his neck tightly.
"You finally came back!"
Her voice sounded half happy and half accusing.
"You said the war would end quickly, but you stayed away for so long!"
Xu Chen smiled faintly.
"I had important matters to finish."
The little girl pouted.
"That is what you always say."
Behind her, two taller boys walked into the courtyard.
They looked almost identical.
The only difference was the small expression of calm confidence on the elder twin's face.
The twins were the Second Prince Xu Zeyan and the Third Prince Xu Zelin.
Both were almost thirteen years old.
Zeyan crossed his arms and shook his head slightly.
"Yue'er ran here the moment she heard you returned."
Zelin laughed.
"She nearly knocked over two palace servants on the way."
Xu Chen looked at the twins.
"You two should have stopped her."
Zeyan shrugged.
"Who could stop her?"
Zelin grinned.
"Besides, we wanted to see you too."
The three younger siblings were the only ones in the imperial family who behaved naturally around the Crown Prince.
In court, Xu Chen was a famous commander.
In the palace, he was the future emperor.
But to these three—
He was simply their elder brother.
Yue'er suddenly pulled back and stared at him carefully.
"You look different."
Xu Chen raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"You look… stronger."
She reached out and touched the sleeve of his robe.
"And you smell like medicine."
Zelin laughed.
"Of course he does."
"Battlefields are full of injuries."
Yue'er immediately looked worried.
"You are hurt?"
Xu Chen gently patted her head.
"No."
"I am fine."
Zeyan stepped closer and studied him carefully.
There were faint scars on Xu Chen's hands now.
Things the twins had never seen before.
"You really fought a lot of battles," Zeyan said quietly.
Xu Chen nodded.
"But they are finished now."
Zelin suddenly smiled.
"Good."
"Then you can teach us sword practice again."
Xu Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You still remember that?"
"Of course," Zelin replied proudly.
"You promised before you left."
Yue'er tugged his sleeve again.
"Big Brother, did you defeat all the enemies?"
Xu Chen looked down at her.
"Yes."
"The northern kingdom has surrendered."
The little princess clapped happily.
"That means Big Brother won!"
Zelin grinned.
"Of course he won."
"Our brother is the strongest general in the empire."
Zeyan nodded.
"The soldiers in the palace guard talk about you every day."
Xu Chen sighed lightly.
"You two should focus on your studies instead of listening to gossip."
Zelin laughed.
"Even our teachers talk about you."
Yue'er suddenly leaned closer and whispered dramatically,
"Grandmother says you are the pride of the empire."
Xu Chen chuckled softly.
"Grandmother says many things."
The little princess climbed onto the chair beside him.
"Did you miss us?"
Xu Chen looked at the three of them.
For a moment, the fierce general who commanded armies disappeared.
His voice became gentle.
"Yes."
Yue'er immediately hugged his arm.
"I knew it!"
Zelin leaned against the table casually.
"Did you bring gifts from the battlefield?"
Xu Chen glanced at him.
"You think war is a marketplace?"
Zelin scratched his head.
"Well… maybe a small souvenir?"
Zeyan sighed.
"You are embarrassing."
Xu Chen stood up.
"Wait here."
He walked inside the room briefly.
When he returned, he carried a small wooden box.
Yue'er's eyes immediately sparkled.
"Gifts!"
Xu Chen opened the box.
Inside were three small items.
A delicate jade bracelet.
A miniature carved dagger.
And a pair of wooden practice swords.
He handed the jade bracelet to Yue'er.
"For you."
The little girl gasped happily.
"It's beautiful!"
She immediately tried to wear it.
Xu Chen then gave the small dagger to Zeyan.
"For protection."
Zeyan accepted it seriously.
"Thank you, Big Brother."
Finally, he handed the wooden swords to Zelin.
"For practice."
Zelin looked slightly disappointed.
"A wooden sword?"
Xu Chen glanced at him calmly.
"If you can defeat Zeyan using that, I will give you a real one."
Zelin's eyes lit up instantly.
"Deal!"
Yue'er giggled.
"You will never win."
The twins began arguing immediately.
Xu Chen watched them quietly.
This was the side of life he had missed during the war.
Simple.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Yue'er suddenly looked up at him again.
"Big Brother."
"Yes?"
"Will you go to war again?"
The courtyard became quiet.
Xu Chen looked at the moon for a moment.
"Not for a while."
Yue'er smiled happily.
"Good."
Then she asked innocently,
"Will you visit Sister Yue Ning tomorrow?"
The question caught him slightly off guard.
Zelin laughed.
"See? Even Yue'er knows."
Zeyan nodded.
"The palace maids talk about her a lot."
Xu Chen sighed.
"You three listen to too many rumors."
Yue'er grinned mischievously.
"But you didn't say no."
Xu Chen looked at his youngest sister and flicked her forehead gently.
"You are becoming too clever."
She laughed loudly.
The peaceful sound filled the quiet courtyard.
For the first time since returning from war, Crown Prince Xu Chen truly relaxed.
Not as a general.
Not as the heir to the throne.
But simply as an elder brother spending time with the three people in the palace who treated him like family.
And somewhere beyond the palace walls—
The girl he loved was waiting in the capital as well.