Chapter 292: Identity

“Then go ahead.”

Hua Bailin’s head shot up, a surge of joy lighting up his face. “Eldest Sister!”

Hua Zhi calmly adjusted her collar, her expression composed yet resolute. “If you want to go, then go. Just remember, your eldest sister will be waiting for you to come back stronger.”

He nodded furiously, his eagerness practically radiating off him.

Ah, the reckless impatience of youth, Hua Zhi thought to herself, suppressing a sigh. But her voice was steady, almost stern, as she spoke with conviction. “Out there, it’s nothing like being at home. You’ll face challenges, situations that test you, and the last thing you should do is act on impulse. Rash decisions are dangerous—they lead to regrets. If you ever feel unsure or overwhelmed, think of me. Think of mother. Think of our family, all of them waiting back there in the north, still longing to come home.”

She leaned in, her hand gently brushing against his slightly rounded cheek. Her smile was warm, yet her words cut deep with sharp, deliberate intent. “This path you’ve chosen? It’s yours. No one else can walk it for you—not me, not anyone. Whether you rise high or stumble and fall, the consequences belong solely to you.”

Her tone softened, but her resolve remained unshaken. “I would prefer to see you grow slowly, steadily, even if it takes longer. It would be safer, more secure, here at home. But if your heart is set on leaving, I won’t stand in your way. I won’t stop you, I won’t hold you back, and I won’t make decisions on your behalf. Your journey is your responsibility. Whether you succeed or fail, it’s all on you.”

Tears brimmed in Hua Bailin’s eyes, threatening to spill over. He couldn’t speak, could only nod vigorously, his emotions overwhelming him.

Hua Zhi silently reflected for a moment, a fleeting thought crossing her mind: I should never have children. It’s too much. The worry never ends—it consumes you.

“When you’ve finalized your departure plans, discuss them amongst yourselves. I won’t interfere. But take a few guards with you, and bring Xu Ying along—he’s proving himself capable. Liu Huai could learn a thing or two from him.”

“Yes, Eldest Sister. I’ll do exactly as you’ve said.”

“Good.” Hua Zhi lightly tapped his forehead, her gesture affectionate but firm. “Now go. Eat dinner with mother and sort this out with her yourself. Don’t think I’m going to handle that for you.”

“Understood.”

Hua Bailin practically bounded out of the room, his steps light with determination.

From the adjoining room, Xiao Liu and Yang Sui’an quietly emerged. They exchanged a quick glance, their expressions unreadable. Without a word, one headed toward the courtyard, while the other disappeared into the study, each lost in their own thoughts.

Hua Zhi's lips curled into a knowing smile as she looked at them. Her voice carried a quiet authority as she said, "Seems like you both have something you want to share with me today."

Xiao Liu met her gaze and smiled faintly before speaking. "I'm going with them."

There wasn’t even a flicker of surprise on Hua Zhi’s face. She had already figured it out the moment Xiao Liu walked in alone. But given who he was, Hua Zhi chose her words carefully, more deliberate than she would be with Bailin. "Xiao Liu, it’s not my place to approve or oppose your decision."

His expression betrayed his disappointment, but Hua Zhi didn’t soften her tone. She wasn’t the type to offer shallow reassurances. Instead, she laid it out clearly, her voice cutting like steel.

"Nor is it anyone else’s. As you grow older and take on roles beyond that of a mere prince, you’ll find fewer and fewer people who can dictate what you do. With your status, every choice you make will ripple outward, affecting countless lives. I suggest you develop the discipline to think twice before making any decision."

Her blunt honesty clearly hit a nerve.

Xiao Liu looked pained as he muttered, "Does my identity mean I can do whatever I want? Should I just go if I feel like it? Will I ever have the freedom to act on my own desires, or to refuse what I don’t want?"

Hua Zhi didn’t miss a beat. Her tone was sharp but steady, delivering her words like a blade slicing through doubt. "No one gets to choose their starting point in life. What matters is what they do within the constraints of their identity. Some officials become corrupt, while others uphold justice. Some scholars waste their lives in debauchery, their scandals overshadowing their talents, while others leave behind timeless works. Some carpenters stick to the mundane, while others create wonders that redefine the craft. Some princes squander their birthright, while others fight on the frontlines to protect their people and nation."

Her words hung heavy in the air, and though she addressed Xiao Liu directly, her gaze didn’t pierce or intimidate. Her eyes were something else entirely—not soft or warm, but vast and steady, like the expanse of a mountain or the depth of the sea. They carried a quiet power that seemed to dissolve any bitterness or frustration in whoever met them.

Xiao Liu stared at her, caught off guard, almost lost in thought. Seeing his stunned expression, a rare flicker of compassion crossed Hua Zhi’s face. She gestured for him to step closer.

As he approached, she straightened his clothes with the same care she had shown Bailin earlier. Her hands, cool and steady, closed around his. She didn’t flinch at the impropriety of the gesture, even in a world where men and women were expected to keep their distance from an early age.

Hua Zhi knew she was crossing boundaries, but she didn’t shy away.

"Xiao Liu, listen closely. You’re a prince—born into the legacy of the Daqing Dynasty, where every prince shoulders the burden of politics. You're eleven now, no longer a child who can live without purpose. If your mother were alive, she would have molded you—trained you to distinguish right from wrong, sharpened your instincts, and built your skills so you could hold your ground in court. She would have drilled into you that relying on others, even me, is a dangerous crutch. You trust me, and for that reason, I can never fail you. But don’t mistake trust for dependence. You, like Yan Xi, like me, were not born with the luxury of being careless.

Hua Zhi’s voice softened but carried the weight of years of struggle. A faint smile flickered across her face as she said, "Sometimes, Xiao Liu, we can't lean on anyone. And worse, no one can lean on us."

Her words cut through Xiao Liu’s heart like a blade. Sadness welled up in him—not just for Sister Hua, but for himself. He had spent so much time pretending to be a naïve, obedient boy, desperate for the scraps of warmth and care Sister Hua offered—a fragile echo of family.

But now, she was stripping that façade away. Sister Hua wouldn’t let him hide behind the mask of innocence any longer. From this moment forward, he wasn’t just Xiao Liu. He was the Sixth Prince, and he had to act like it.

Without missing a beat, Hua Zhi opened a drawer. It wasn’t filled with important documents, but instead a small, square brown object. She picked up a piece and placed it directly into Xiao Liu’s mouth. He flinched slightly as the flavor hit his tongue.

"Is it bitter?" she asked, her tone almost teasing.

Xiao Liu nodded, hesitant. "A little sweet, too."

"This," Hua Zhi said, "is a special candy Fu Dong crafted just for me. Not many people enjoy this flavor."

But Xiao Liu, without hesitation, shook his head. "I like it."

She smiled, her gaze softening as she handed him a few more. "Take some with you when you leave."

For a moment, Xiao Liu faltered. The candy in his mouth suddenly seemed sweeter, richer. Hua Zhi picked up another piece, held it to her nose, savoring the faint aroma of caramel, but she didn’t eat it. She set it back in the drawer.

Her voice shifted, now measured but firm. "I’m not telling you this to push you away or sever you from our family. I want you to know who you are and what you’re capable of. The Hua family will always have a place for you—a room, a table set, a warm meal. But more than anything, we want you to be strong enough to protect yourself. To make sure no one can take advantage of you."

Xiao Liu looked her in the eye, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions within him. "I understand."

And for the first time, he truly did.

Sister Hua wasn’t trying to kick him out of the Hua family or sever ties. She simply wanted him to recognize his place and stand on his own two feet. She feared that if he leaned on her too much, he’d lose his sense of independence and be crushed when facing his brothers in the future.

He got it—loud and clear.

“Since you understand, let me ask you this: why are you so determined to go with them? Are you worried for them?”

“That’s part of it. But more than that, I’ve realized something. What I’ve seen and learned outside already surpasses anything the teachers drilled into us. I want to see the world beyond the capital while I still have the chance.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Once a prince of the Daqing Dynasty hit adulthood, they were chained to the capital for life, never allowed to step outside its walls. The founding emperor’s rule forced them to rot in the city, cut off from the reality of the empire they were supposed to understand.

Hua Zhi couldn’t help but shake her head in disbelief at such shortsightedness. If these princes never ventured out, they’d live under the illusion that the Nine Provinces were just as glittering and prosperous as the capital.

“Fine,” she said sharply. “Take all your guards with you. Keep yourself alive. That’s an order.”

“Yes,” he replied firmly.