An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

The atmosphere of the New Year is getting stronger and stronger. Red lanterns are hung in the streets and alleys, and the shouts of vendors selling New Year's goods can be heard one after another.

Jing Chunxi stood in front of the window in the front yard looking at the bustling street. The heater in his hand had gone cold, but he still hadn't received any news of Xu Zize's return.

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, civil and military officials attended court for the last time. The last bit of snow in front of the palace gate had been swept clean by the palace servants. Unmelted snow accumulated on the vermilion palace walls, gleaming coldly in the morning light.

The ministers rubbed their hands and exhaled white air, saying "Happy New Year" to each other, but when they exchanged glances, there was a hint of deep meaning in their reluctance to speak.

After leaving the imperial court, Prince Jing hurried to the Imperial Censorate to look for his youngest son. The hem of his court robe was stained with unmelted snow, and the ginger-yellow robe embroidered with a four-clawed golden python stood out against the snow.

Although Xu Dingchun was a third-rank official, the inspector was not required to attend court meetings. At this moment, he was sorting out the post reports submitted by various states and counties during the New Year holidays.

The officials of the Censorate were in no mood to go on duty on the last day, and many of them were packing up to go home.

"Dingchun!"

Prince Jing ignored the many people bowing to him and pulled his youngest son out of the duty room. The old prince's hands were shaking slightly with excitement, and his fingertips were red from the cold.

Xu Dingchun had never seen his father so anxious before, and he stumbled as he was dragged along, documents scattering all over the floor. He had no idea what was going on with his father's nonsensical words, but he was keenly aware of the bloodshot eyes and the tense jawline.

Fearing that he would fall, Xu Dingchun quickly supported him with his back hand, and the two of them walked to the corridor outside the door.

A thin layer of snow covered the white marble railings, while the glazed tiles of the distant palace shimmered in the winter sun. Seeing no one was around, Prince Jing paused, his tone still urgent, "What do you think is going on? What does he think of our Xi'er?"

Xu Zize asked gently, "What's wrong with Xier? What did father say? Who offended her? I will definitely stand up for him." His voice was as gentle as ever, but the hand on his father's back tightened quietly.

"Who? Who else? It's a good thing their affair hasn't been made public. Now everyone in the court is talking about it, saying that he brought back a beautiful woman from Lingnan and is keeping her in a luxurious house in the west of the city!"

Prince Jing's voice was urgent and angry, the white breath he exhaled scattered violently in the cold air, and his gray beard was covered with tiny water droplets.

"Xiaokang? Impossible! Your Highness is not that kind of person." Xu Dingchun said firmly, but his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Over the past few years, Xu Zize knew better than anyone how he treated Jing Chunxi. He was not a treacherous person.

Not to mention that Xu Zize would have a woman by his side now, he didn't even believe that he would take a concubine three to five years after getting married. He remembered the serious look in Xu Zize's eyes when he promised them, the elders, that he would be with Jing Chunxi "for the rest of his life". That look was unfaithful.

"I don't believe it, why shouldn't I believe it! He even said that he personally sent it over there because he didn't return to the palace last night. I'm afraid he was still staying there last night." The old prince stomped his feet in anger, and his official boots made a creaking sound.

Xu Dingchun: "Those officials and the old guard from the Imperial Clan Court urged him to move into the Eastern Palace and marry an imperial concubine, but he stubbornly resisted. My father thought: How is that possible?"

Prince Jing's voice suddenly lowered, with a hint of fatigue, "Don't you understand men yet?" After Prince Jing said this, he thought about his son who was nearly thirty years old and was still a virgin before getting married, so he didn't continue the topic.

Then his tone softened, and he continued, "Men are fickle. I'm afraid the girl's sincerity has been thrown away. Don't take it lightly. He even hid when he would return to Kyoto from Xi'er. What else is impossible?"

As he spoke, he became more excited and sat down on the bench next to him with his legs spread out, looking very angry. His chest rose and fell, and the Dongzhu on his crown swayed gently with his movements. "Xi girl is in the dark now. If she hears anything, I will find him and kill him if anything happens."

"If Xi'er knew how protective father was of her, she would definitely call him 'dear grandfather' three times." She wanted to persuade her father, but Prince Jing only rolled his eyes. He then added, "Who dares to say he's not a relative?"

As the old prince spoke, his eyes turned red. Thinking of the girl's life experience and how good she was to them, he felt a little sad and helpless.

"Speak now! The truth will eventually come to light. Should we keep it a secret when we go back or..." The father and son stared at each other. Xu Dingchun looked at his father's gray temples, and thought of his daughter's anticipation during this period, as well as those bright eyes. His heart tightened.

Finally, Xu Dingchun said, "Where is Cangjiao in the west of the city? I'll ask Kuaijiao to go and check it out first, and it won't be too late to decide when he comes back." His voice was steady, but his hands in his sleeves were already clenched into fists.

After thinking for a while, he said with determination in his voice, "If that's the case, I will find another good husband for Xier." He said this with difficulty, as if every word was full of thorns.

"What an ungrateful person! People from the royal family are unreliable after all. It's better for him not to enter the palace." Prince Jing cursed and hammered the railing hard, not caring about the ginger court robe he was still wearing.

The snow on the white marble railing fell down, leaving faint water marks on the back of the old prince's hand.

Because of this incident, Xu Dingchun was even less interested in going on duty. He went back to pack up, said goodbye, and returned home with his father early.

The father and son sat in silence in the carriage, with only the creaking of the wheels rolling over the snow and the occasional sound of firecrackers from the street.

Unexpectedly, he saw the palace carriage at the gate. The familiar golden-roofed, green-draped carriage was parked quietly beside the stone lions in front of Prince Jing's mansion. A light layer of snow had accumulated on the shafts, indicating that it had been here for a long time.

"Hmph, you still dare to come? Even if he has to ask for forgiveness, I will kick him out." Prince Jing got out of the car, lifted his clothes and strode inside. Xu Dingchun was worried that he was too impulsive, so he hurriedly followed him.

The two of them planned to enter the mansion and walk straight towards the Moon Gate. Naturally, they thought that the eldest prince must be looking for Jing Chunxi.

Their footsteps made a hurried sound on the bluestone slabs, and the red lanterns under their feet swayed gently in the cold wind.

"Grandpa Wang, Third Uncle, here." Just as he was about to pass through the second door, Xu Zize's voice sounded from behind.

His voice was clear with a hint of urgency, coming from the corner of the corridor, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

"You still dare to come?"

Prince Jing turned and rushed towards him, gritting his teeth. His graying beard trembled slightly with anger, the rage in his eyes threatened to burst, and his fists were clenched tightly.

If Xu Dingchun hadn't rushed ahead of him and reached out to block his father's arm, Prince Jing's fist would have already landed. Xu Dingchun's hand held his father firmly, but his eyes swept sharply towards Xu Zize.

"Grandpa Wang, don't be angry. What's being said is completely false. I deliberately had someone spread it. Xiaokang came here today specifically to explain it to you."

Xu Zize stood in place, his figure as straight as a pine tree, his eyes calmly meeting the scrutiny of the two men, with a sincere look on his face.