Yixin looked up as he heard a knock on the door.
"Enter," he said.
Chaoyang and Xiaoshu entered and bowed, saying in unison, "Emperor father."
Yixin asked sharply, "What do you want?"
Sensing their father's anger, they knew better than to play games. Xiaoshu said, "We went to elder brother's cold palace, but he refused to see us. We were wondering if you knew his condition. We are worried."
Yixin replied as he wrote, "I don't."
Xiaoshu looked at Chaoyang and asked, "Why would he refuse to see his brothers? We just wanted to check on him since he missed court this morning."
Yixin looked up and ordered, his eyes cold, "If he doesn't want to take court seriously after asking us to attend, let him be. Do not set foot in the cold palace again and focus on your studies. Did we make ourselves clear?"
They replied in unison, "Yes, Emperor father," and bowed respectfully before leaving. As they departed, they were both satisfied with their father's anger toward Atlas.
