The next morning, a little past eight. The roof tiles drank in pale sun, and the courtyard breathed cool shade as we stepped through the gate—then a rush of footsteps, like sparrows taking wing.

“Wow! Brother, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!!” Her voice bounced like a bell in spring wind.

“Boss!!” Hill’s shout hit like a drum.

Two tiny girls tackled me, soft as clouds and warm as fresh bread; I laughed as we tumbled, the earth cool beneath us. Hill I’d seen off and on; Littlesky, not for ages.

“Sorry. I never got the chance to visit you two.” Guilt pricked like rain on skin.

I smoothed Littlesky’s silky silver hair, moonlight woven into strands. Had she grown? There was a faint, shy swell where once it was flat, like buds after frost.

“It’s fine~ Seeing you is already the best!” She tipped her face up, cheeks rosy as peaches. “Eh? Brother, you cut your hair? Looks sharp, like a blade in morning light!”

She nuzzled in again, a kitten seeking warmth, and Hill mirrored her, both of them sweet enough to melt sugar.

“Hey! Little one, did you forget us?” The words came with a playful snap, like a bamboo fan flicking open.

“Monopolizing Big Brother—forbidden.” Dry as autumn leaves, Lingxiao declared it.

Squatting, Lingxiao and Lingsaki pinched Littlesky’s plum-soft cheeks, twin moonbows arcing in mischief.

“Eh? Lingxiao, and Lingsaki! You’re back too?!” Littlesky popped up, eyes sparkling like dew.

“Emperor… feels like he’s about to be overwhelmed.” Lixue murmured, her gaze cool as snowlight. She wasn’t wrong—every cuddle-hungry sister had gathered like swallows before rain. If Qianji Sister and Serenemoon were home too… the storm would swell.

“Eh? Who’s this pretty older sister?” Littlesky’s curiosity tilted toward Lixue, like a flower turning to sun.

“I’m Tianyu Lixue,” she said, voice clear as ice over a stream, “I met Emperor at the last floor of the Nine Cold Labyrinth—the Palace of Ice Crystal.”

I’d meant to introduce her, but Lixue’s calm always arrived like falling snow—quiet, complete.

“So, what’s your relationship with Brother now? It’s the first time he’s brought a girl from outside home!” Littlesky’s eyes shone, lantern-bright.

“Mm, friends? I’m not really sure…” Lixue’s lashes dipped, doubt drifting like mist.

“Lixue and dear Big Brother are close enough to often sleep together. That’s not just simple friends,” Lingsaki chimed in, voice like a silver bell. “More than friends, not yet lovers?”

“No, no—by any look, they’re like normal lovers already,” Lingxiao added, sharp as a falcon’s eye. “A de facto thing, name pending.”

“Mm-hmm! I got it!” Littlesky clapped, the sound like sparrows in a fig tree. “If Brother gets married, Lixue will definitely be one of the brides!”

“…”

“…”

Hey now, my adorable little sister—so blunt it cut like a clean blade. My face warmed like tea on a cold day.

“Emperor’s bride… sounds nice.” Lixue’s words fell soft, like petals on water.

Eh? Lixue, what do you mean by that?!

“I’m gonna be the Boss’s bride too!!” Hill burst in, sparks flying like firecrackers.

My shoulders sagged; if Lingxiao and Lingsaki piled on, I was doomed. They looked ready to pounce, eyes bright as wolves at dusk. Thank the heavens—Serenemoon and Qianji Sister came out, drawn by the noise.

“It’s been lively out here for a while—who arrived… Little Emperor, you finally came home!” Serenemoon ran over, laughter bubbling like a brook, then squatted beside me. “Littlesky, Hill, don’t knock him flat. Sister wants a hug too!”

“Emperor, you brat. So long without visiting us, honestly.” Qianji Sister’s voice warmed like sun through leaves. “Also, short hair suits you.”

She leaned in and gently pinched my cheek—playful as a breeze—and I noticed she was wearing a skirt. Rare as a red camellia in snow…and twice as dangerous.

“Lingxiao, Lingsaki, welcome home,” Qianji Sister said, smile bright as a crescent moon.

“Mm, we’re back!” the twins chimed in unison, two reeds swaying in the same wind.

How long had it been since all six of us gathered under one roof? We’d go see our parents later and flood them with joy, like rain after drought.

I let Lixue and Qianji Sister exchange greetings, then gently shifted Littlesky and Hill aside. Time to stand; lying there while everyone watched felt like a carp stranded on shore.

I’d barely risen when—“Hee~ Finally, I can hug Little Emperor~” Serenemoon wrapped me up, soft and sweet, like cotton soaked in spring sun. Qianji Sister looked ready to swoop too.

I accepted my fate with a sigh and a smile. “Qianji Sister, want a turn?”

“Of course. After Serenemoon’s done,” she said, cool as jade.

A sudden, serious realization struck like thunder behind the hills: we usually bathe together. With everyone gathered… tonight the hot water would hold us for a long, loooong soak. Still, the house thrummed with life like a festival street—and that joy was new as dawn to me.

“Um, Qianji Sister, there’s something I’m curious about…” My words came gentle, like mist over rice fields.

“What is it?” Her eyes lifted, calm as a lake.

“Why the sudden skirt? It’s stunning, truly—but you always said a knight’s outfit moved better.”

“Wear the same thing long enough, and you want a different wind.” She smiled, a flower opening at noon. “Also, thanks for the compliment, Emperor. Skirts aren’t bad.”

“Brother, there’s another reason!” Littlesky hopped into the thread, lively as a robin.

“Eh? What else?”

“In the Elven Realm, the First Princess, Feliya, told Qianji Sister, ‘It’s a shame to hide such beauty in boyish clothes. I bet Emperor wants to see more of your feminine shine.’ After that, she started wearing skirts.”

“I see. Who’s Feliya? And how does she know me?” Curiosity rippled, a fish under clear water.

“Feliya is the First Princess of the Elven Realm,” Qianji Sister said, lips curving like a crescent. “The world hails her as the number-one beauty. She is truly rare… but compared to Xinuo Miss, she still falls short. As for knowing you, it’s simply because Littlesky keeps talking about you.”

World’s first beauty? I wondered, a moth circling a lantern. No matter how bright, I doubted anyone could outshine Xinuo.

The Elven Realm was a must-visit later anyway. Meeting Feliya should be no problem; another page in the wind.

“Serenemoon, have you hugged enough? My turn.” Qianji Sister’s tone sparkled, playful lightning in a summer cloud.

We lingered in the courtyard for almost an hour before going inside. Leihua and the others were in; seeing the crowd, they lit up like cooks before a feast and rushed to tidy our rooms. There wasn’t much to fix—my room looked the same as when I left, except for stacks of comics and novels blooming like little pagodas. Definitely the work of Littlesky and Serenemoon napping here.

By the time we settled and went to find our parents, the sun had climbed near noon, warm as rice in a bamboo steamer.