The three-year-old host decides to raise an emperor father for himself.

Huo Wubing was both happy and unhappy.

Although his mother had explained the seriousness of the matter to him after he returned home that day, for Huo Wubing, who was still young and somewhat naive and spoiled by his family, the fact that his mother and father did not strongly object meant that there was no major problem.

Yes, Huo Wubing was quite intelligent; he wasn't a foolish, self-centered brat.

He also judges whether his actions are right or wrong based on his parents' attitudes.

Since his parents only told him to think it through himself, rather than trying to stop him, Huo Wubing understood subconsciously, even if he couldn't figure it out in his mind.

What made him happy was that he now had a proper master. Although he had only known Xiao Lanxing for a short time, Huo Wubing had already been completely won over by Xiao Lanxing.

There's no way around it, this auntie is just too amazing!

After Xiao Lanxing officially accepted Pei Wanling as his disciple, he showed Pei Wanling his lightness skill on the very first day—and in a flash, he darted to the rooftop!

Huo Wubing was also present at the time.

If Huo Wubing hadn't witnessed how amazing Xiao Lanxing's kung fu was, he wouldn't have been so devoted to her, even if he couldn't become the senior disciple, he would still follow her to learn!

And my aunt also knows acupressure!

So awesome!

Not to mention the other skills that Xiao Lanxing unintentionally revealed!

Even Xiao Lanxing's father, Prince Jing, became one of the reasons why Huo Wubing admired her—Xuanyuan Lanxing herself was already very powerful, and she also had an incredibly powerful father!

In a way, Huo Wubing's thinking was also infected by Xiao Lanxing - my cousin and my uncle are so good-looking, it's all thanks to my dad being good-looking!

No problem!

Moreover, Aunt Lanxing is younger than me, so isn't that another advantage?

He's had a master protecting him his whole life!

Huo Wubing: Me! I'm super smart, okay!

As for his unhappiness... it's quite obvious. The matter of becoming an apprentice is not to be taken lightly. As Xuan Yuan Lan Jia's only son, Xuan Yuan Lan Jia and Huo Qing Shan also have their own political considerations in dealing with this matter.

The decisions that Xiao Lanxing and Huo Wubing made simply by speaking up would require careful consideration and discussion among the adults before a decision could be made, which would take up a lot of time.

Pei Qingzhu was able to make a decision so quickly because he had had a similar idea for a long time. The only difference was that he used to want his daughter to be a playmate for the young master, but now he wanted her to be his apprentice.

Secondly, Pei Qingzhu's identity is different from Xuan Yuan Lanjia's, and the interests involved are also very different. In addition, Pei Qingzhu herself belongs to Xuan Yuan Jing's camp, which makes things much simpler.

The apprenticeship ceremony was over, and Xiao Lanxing jumped off the chair and hugged his little apprentice: "It's okay, you're still the senior brother."

Huo Wubing: "Waaaaah, I'm not."

Xiao Lanxing said confidently, "You are, Nannan is the senior sister, and you are the senior brother."

Xiao Lanxing patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll take on more disciples in the future, and they'll call you Senior Brother every day, so you can have a glorious life!"

Pei Nannan blinked and asked, "Then, will we have many, many junior brothers and sisters?"

Xiao Lanxing's big eyes darted around as she nodded: "Yes! We can establish a sect, think of a nice name, and when you've finished your training, you can go out and say 'I am the senior sister/brother of such-and-such sect,' doesn't that sound amazing?"

Huo Wubing blinked, thought for a moment, and said, "Yeah, that seems to be true."

While the youngsters were envisioning the future prosperity of their sect, Xuan Yuan Lan Jia and Xuan Yuan Jing were discussing recent developments in the imperial court.

"Yesterday, someone impeached the Duke of Zhenguo's family for failing to properly educate their son, allowing Yuchi Lexi to run rampant in the capital and disregard human life. The memorial was suppressed by that person."

Leaving a memorial at this time was not a good intention. Xuan Yuan Lan Jia only told him this because she knew that Yu Chi Le Xi had gone on a trip with Xuan Yuan Jing on the Lantern Festival.

Although Xuan Yuan Lan Jia speculated that her royal uncle probably had already received the news, since she had already expressed her intention to join Prince Jing's group, she had to make her stance clear.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanjing looked at the few little ones chattering away and said with a relatively gentle gaze, "I am already aware of this matter."

Xuanyuan Lanjia asked, "Do you have any plans?"

Xuanyuan Jing smiled and said, "This is a matter for the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. I am now just a prince in retirement, suffering from an illness and only able to recuperate. How can I care about matters outside?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Lan Jia's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she exchanged a glance with Huo Qing Shan beside her.

She was somewhat puzzled, because before bringing this up, Xuan Yuan Lan Jia thought that even if Xuan Yuan Jing hadn't reached a cooperation agreement with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he should still have some intention.

Since they are allies, the right thing to do at this time would be to appropriately demonstrate the strength of the Jing Prince's Mansion. Why is the Jing Prince acting like...?

As if knowing her doubts, Xuan Yuanjing glanced at her at this moment, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly: "The current Duke of Zhenguo is no simple person, and my royal brother wants both substance and face, but he can't beat him."

If the Empress Dowager were still alive, Xuanyuan Lin's chances of winning would be even greater.

But judging from the series of things that Xuanyuan Lin caused not long after the Empress Dowager's passing, his elder brother... has brains, but not many.

After the late emperor ascended the throne, he was diligent in his duties, working tirelessly day and night; he recruited many talented people and trusted them implicitly; he listened to all sides and readily accepted good advice.

Although a succession struggle erupted in his later years, the situation was brought under control, and the chosen successor... at least at the time, seemed quite good.

Although the late Empress Dowager was a woman, her ability was evident in how Xuanyuan Lin managed to create chaos in the court in just two years—at least her political acumen far surpassed that of her son.

After all, she was a woman who had fought her way out of palace intrigues; without some skill, she wouldn't have survived to the end.

However, the son born to these two women, without the Empress Dowager's restraint, became unrestrained and indulged himself.

If this emperor hadn't been so fond of fame and hadn't had so many concerns about his actions, the situation might have been a true reflection of "those who obey me prosper, those who oppose me perish."

The late emperor and empress dowager left Xuanyuan Lin with many capable and virtuous ministers. If Xuanyuan Lin hadn't acted recklessly, he could have lived off his past achievements for decades, leaving behind a good reputation and abdicating smoothly.

But he didn't.

He has his own ideas.

Xuanyuan Jing lowered his eyes: "My brother and the Empress Dowager do not seem like a biological mother and son."

Xuanyuan Lanjia didn't think her royal uncle was questioning Xuanyuan Lin's bloodline, but...

Xuanyuan Lanjia sighed: "If the Empress Dowager were still alive, things wouldn't have developed to this point..."

At least, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to deal with Xuanyuan Jing, she wouldn't do it this way...

"Daddy, Daddy." Little Lanxing ran over, hugged Xuanyuan Jing's leg, tilted her head up, and looked at him with her clear and pure eyes: "Can I take Uncle as my apprentice?"

Xuanyuan Jing and Xuanyuan Lanjia both stopped in their tracks.

Xuan Yuan Lan Jia: "...Lan Xing, who is the uncle you're talking about?"

Could it be Yuchi Lexi?