Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

When Qi'er slowly woke up, her eyes still held a hint of confusion and drowsiness.

When he saw Ling Yan and Xiao Muyao clearly, he was slightly taken aback.

A complex expression flashed across his eyes for a moment.

There was surprise, as if they hadn't expected them to appear here.

There was also a hint of undisguised joy.

It was as if I had met the person I was closest to and relied on in this unfamiliar or unsettling situation.

Qi'er's lips unconsciously turned up, wanting to speak, but she coughed a few times because her throat was dry.

After catching her breath, her voice was a little hoarse and weak: "Sixth Uncle, Sixth Aunt, what are you doing here?"

His words were full of affection and trust for them, and his eyes remained fixed on the two of them.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Muyao stood quietly by the bed, his gaze fixed on Qi'er's small, tear-streaked face.

His lips were pressed tightly together, and his throat felt like it was choked by something, preventing him from uttering a single word.

Lingyan then gently sat down beside Qi'er's bed.

Her eyes were gentle as water, as if they could soothe all the pain in the world.

She raised her hand and gently smoothed the messy strands of hair on Qi'er's forehead, her movements as tender as if she were handling a rare treasure: "Of course, it's because Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt are worried about Qi'er. Would Qi'er like to go back to the palace with Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt? How about Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt take care of Qi'er from now on?"

Her voice was soft and loving, like the warmest breeze in spring.

It gently caressed Qi'er's heart, carrying endless care and expectations.

Upon hearing this, Qi'er's thoughts were as if pulled back by a biting cold wind to the warm times she spent with her father and mother.

Her eyes instantly turned red, as if two small flames were burning inside, but they could not extinguish the immense sorrow that surged like a tidal wave.

The sorrow, like a thick, dark cloud, quickly spread through his heart, enveloping him entirely.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and tried to force back the tears that were about to burst forth.

With a voice trembling with tears yet feigning strength, he answered Lingyan, "Qi'er is willing."

Then Qi'er lowered his head slightly, the strands of hair on his forehead covering his eyes, which were full of sorrow and understanding: "Qi'er understands. Now that Father and Mother are gone, we should not trouble Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt."

His voice was choked with emotion. He paused for a moment and then continued, "But in Qi'er's heart, Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt are the people closest to Qi'er in this world right now, so Qi'er wants to stay by your side."

After he finished speaking, he blinked, as if trying to come back to his senses from a distant, sorrowful dream.

Although he was only eight years old, his face showed a calmness and maturity beyond his years.

Because he knew perfectly well that the loss of both his parents was a terrible tragedy.

But logically speaking, it seems unreasonable for an emperor and empress to personally raise him.

The thought flashed through his young mind.

This was followed by a sense of doubt and confusion about why they did this.

But so what?

Although he didn't understand the matter, he felt a deep longing for his sixth uncle and sixth aunt.

They are now his closest and most reliable haven.

It was the last glimmer of hope and warmth he grasped in this desolate world.

Therefore, he longed for and was attached to them.

Therefore, when his sixth aunt's gentle voice rang in his ears, asking if he was willing to return to the palace...

He hesitated only briefly before agreeing.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of emotion and pity.

She gently leaned forward and tenderly embraced Qi'er's trembling body.

It was as if they wanted to use their embrace to build a fortress to protect this poor child from sorrow.

Her hand gently stroked Qi'er's back, again and again, the movements soft and soothing.

He murmured, "Qi'er, be good, don't be afraid anymore, your sixth uncle and sixth aunt are here."

Xiao Muyao's tense expression eased slightly.

Looking at Qi'er's thin yet feigned strength, he felt a mix of emotions.

His deep eyes were filled with tenderness and determination.

So he slowly walked to the bedside, squatted down with his tall body, and made his line of sight level with Qi'er's.

He stretched out his broad, kind hand and gently patted Qi'er's head, the gesture filled with boundless love and tenderness: "Qi'er, your sixth uncle will never let you suffer any more injustice."

His voice was deep and powerful, every word filled with a solemn promise to Qi'er.

Upon hearing this promise, Qi'er slightly raised her head in Lingyan's arms.

Her little face still bore traces of tears, but her eyes looked at them with clear and unwavering determination.

He nodded slightly and said with a nasal tone, "Sixth Uncle, Sixth Aunt, Qi'er knows that you are truly good to Qi'er. Qi'er will try to be obedient and not cause you any trouble."

After saying that, he reached out his small hand and tightly grasped Lingyan's clothes, as if that was his source of comfort at that moment.

Upon hearing this, Lingyan gently wiped away the remaining tear stains on Qi'er's cheeks with a handkerchief, her movements extremely tender.

She smiled slightly, forcing a smile of relief, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze whispering in her ear: "Qi'er, you are our precious darling, how can you say it's troublesome? This palace may be large, but it will be your home from now on, so that you will no longer suffer the bitterness and loneliness of this world."

Xiao Muyao's eyes also revealed both determination and compassion.

His large hand gently covered Qi'er's head, his broad palm conveying endless warmth: "Qi'er, your sixth uncle assures you that from now on, with your sixth uncle by your side, you will have nothing to fear from the wind and rain. Anyone who tries to harm you will have to get past your sixth uncle first."

Qi'er's eyes had been shimmering with unease and sorrow.

Hearing Ling Yan and Xiao Muyao's responses, the unease in his eyes was gradually replaced by a sense of warmth.

After a long while, he finally released his small hand that was tightly gripping Ling Yan's clothes.

Instead, she wrapped her small arms around Lingyan's waist and gently pressed her face against her abdomen, like a fledgling seeking shelter.

Then, he raised his head and looked at Xiao Muyao.

Although her eyes were brimming with tears, she forced out a smile that conveyed trust and reassurance.

...............

By the time the three returned to the palace, it was already night.

The two arranged for Qi'er to stay in Ruihe Palace, the palace closest to their Qianning Palace.

And he dispatched loyal and reliable palace maids and eunuchs to serve him.

Of course, there were also secret guards arranged to protect them.

There was a reason why they brought Qi'er back to the palace today.

The reason was that they chose Qi'er so that they could carefully teach him to inherit the throne in the future.

After the Fourth Prince and Zeng Qi both passed away today, this was the first time they saw Qi'er.

The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood what the other was thinking.

That's why the matter of bringing Qi'er back to the palace came about.

Because Qi'er is the most suitable in every respect.

First of all, the age is suitable.

Secondly, their qualifications are also very good.

In addition, he was truly taught excellent character by Zeng Qi and the Fourth Prince.

Of course, the most important point is that both his parents died.

After all, she didn't want the person who inherited the throne to have parents who would become a source of trouble for him in the future.

People naturally side with their loved ones.

What will he do if his parents make demands of him?

They might even make a big mistake in a moment of confusion.

So, to solve the problem once and for all, they found someone who had no relatives.

And Qi'er now perfectly fits this description.

Of course, there is another point, namely that Qi'er's maternal grandparents' family, the Zeng family, were also law-abiding citizens.

They certainly won't get cocky and act recklessly in the future.

Therefore, Qi'er is truly the most suitable.

In fact, Lingyan and Xiao Muyao had been keeping an eye on these members of the imperial clan for years.

But until today, a suitable one had not been selected.

They had never actually considered Qi'er before.

Since his parents are still alive, they naturally wouldn't think of him.

But now, fate has its own arrangements.

Since this is the will of Heaven, then let us go with the flow.