Xu Yinhè’s hawk-like eyes flashed with a hint of amusement:
"Changge and Xinyao are always so respectful toward me, yet you don’t seem to bother with etiquette at all."
Xu Yuan spread his hands:
"Don’t you know what I’m like, Father?"
As he spoke, Xu Yuan glanced at the bookshelf where his father’s calligraphy and paintings were kept.
"There are benefits to be had from not taking life too seriously."
Xu Yinhè put down the scroll he was holding and gently tapped the desk with his finger, "Your elder brother is too confined by etiquette. If he takes over the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the future, he’ll just follow in my footsteps, but the path I’ve taken might not suit him.
"As for Xinyao... those Sects probably all hope she can take over the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
"If your second brother..."
Xu Yinhè’s words abruptly stopped, his eyes dimming. His slightly wrinkled face suddenly seemed to age a lot.
"So, it’s just me then."
Xu Yuan shook his head, half-jokingly laughed, "I think I understand what you want to do, Father, and I’m willing to continue on your path, but I need some time to adapt."
Xu Yinhè’s expression became restrained quickly, but the sadness in his eyes remained. He spoke softly:
"I should be able to finish most of this path, but I fear you’ll have to take care of the final stretches."
Suddenly, Xu Yuan felt that his father had started setting up a flag. He quickly changed the subject:
"Father, how much longer does Li Yaoxuan have to live?"
Xu Yinhè raised his eyebrows slightly at this, looking at Xu Yuan with a bit of helplessness.
He knew this third son was blunt, but such matters still needed to be approached more subtly.
With a light sigh, Xu Yinhè asked in a low voice:
"Why do you want to know that?"
"To make some preparations in advance."
No sooner had Xu Yuan spoken than the gentleness in his father’s eyes disappeared, replaced by a grim and overwhelming presence that instantly pressed down on him.
Xu Yinhè’s voice was soft, but unquestionable:
"Do not meddle in matters of the Imperial Family."
Xu Yuan, facing the pressure like a mountain bearing down on him, managed a smile, though with some difficulty:
"Father, you know, I am... a Prince Consort of the Imperial Family, so this is a family matter."
Xu Yinhè, faced with his stubborn words, sighed lightly and retracted his imposing manner:
"Fine, are you worried that Li Yaoxuan will try something against me before he dies?"
Xu Yuan opened his mouth to deny it, but seeing that look in his father’s eyes, he eventually nodded slightly.
Xu Yinhè smiled faintly and looked toward the direction of the Palace City, his gaze penetrating everything:
"Changtian, Li Yaoxuan is still not capable of killing me."
Xu Yinhè interrupted Xu Yuan’s words, shifting his gaze slightly, and a pile of neatly wrapped envelopes flew toward him:
"You’ve finished with the scrolls. These are letters from that girl Li Junwu from the Northern Frontier, sent to you. Go back to your room and read them."
Xu Yuan knew his father was hinting for him to leave, quietly took the envelopes, and was about to leave the study.
However, after a few steps, he was called back. As he turned around, he saw a brocade box floating toward him.
Xu Yinhè looked at his third son, his eyes filled with laughter:
"I know you can’t sit still, so this is the latest Human Skin Mask that Jiang He made, with a new identity for you inside. If you want to go out, take it with you, but remember not to leave the Capital City."
Xu Yuan took the brocade box, hesitating slightly:
"I remember this thing..."
"Rest assured, no one below the Saint can see through it."