Qiqi reminded Hu Xiaotian quietly, "Be careful how you speak to my Elder Brother." Ever since Hu Xiaotian had opposed returning the Prince's Residence to Long Tingzhen, she had suspected he might stir up trouble. Seeing Long Tingzhen approach, she greeted him first. "Third Brother!"
"Imperial Younger Sister!" Long Tingzhen said warmly. His gaze settled on Hu Xiaotian's face. By every measure of propriety, Hu Xiaotian ought to have greeted him first.
Hu Xiaotian merely gave him a slight nod. His expression was arrogant and cold; he clearly thought nothing of this washed-up Third Prince.
Long Tingzhen sneered. "Well, if it isn't my future brother-in-law?"
Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "I wondered who it was. So it's Your Third Highness. You're not dead!"
Those words turned Long Tingzhen's face livid with rage. Ever since he had begun following Hong Beimo's regimen of tempering his body with drugs, his disposition had grown increasingly violent. His smile vanished in an instant, and he stared coldly at Hu Xiaotian. "Since you're still alive, how could I bear to go ahead of you?"
Although Qiqi had anticipated some unpleasantness when the two met, she had never expected sparks to fly from the very first exchange. Hu Xiaotian had discarded even the most basic etiquette. Long Tingzhen was not merely the reigning emperor's grandson, but her third brother as well. At least in public, the distinctions of rank had to be observed. Hu Xiaotian was being far too insolent.
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "They say good people die young while scourges live a thousand years. Some people really do have a knack for staying alive!"
Hearing himself insulted to his face, Long Tingzhen could no longer contain his fury. "Hu Xiaotian, who the hell do you think you are? How dare you disrespect me!" He took a step