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

To explain how Xiao Lanxing managed to sneak into the Linde Hall...

simple.

Because she is a child.

There are guards both inside and outside the gate, but these guards mainly keep an eye on the adults who are active inside and outside the main hall. Even children, generally no one would bring a child under ten years old to a palace banquet.

A small number of people, namely the young princes and princesses in the palace or those from the imperial clan.

The Xuanyuan family was not large, and there was no rule in the Xuanyuan family to unconditionally raise "Zhu" (a type of male offspring), nor was there a founding ancestor who set the rule that "ancestral rules cannot be changed".

The prince who inherits the throne is called the emperor, and the prince who does not inherit the throne is called a member of the imperial clan.

Within the imperial clan, those who were members of the imperial clan one or two generations earlier, and even distant relatives could barely be considered members of the imperial clan later on. Beyond that, they were just ordinary people.

If someone with real talent emerges from this group, whether through battlefield achievements or winning the imperial examinations, their lineage alone would be a celebrated story.

If you lack ability, you're just one of the masses, nothing special.

Xiao Lanxing watched from behind the pillar as the number of people in the main hall gradually increased. She also saw some people enter the side hall next to it. She looked at them curiously for a long time and recognized a few familiar faces.

The little guy has a very good memory. Even though he had only met those people once before, he still recognized them after they changed their clothes.

They were the same people who went to Prince Jing's residence to visit him when he was ill.

Xiao Lanxing: [It's so lively here, it's a pity Daddy didn't come.]

The system stated bluntly: "With Xuanyuan Jing here, things might not be so lively anymore."

Xiao Lanxing had always lived by Xuan Yuanjing's side, and coupled with her inexplicable insensitivity, even though Xuan Yuanjing was initially somewhat cold towards her, it didn't stop the little girl from taking the initiative to get close to him.

Because she had always been by Xuanyuan Jing's side, Xiao Lanxing had little contact with the outside world and naturally did not know Xuanyuan Jing's reputation among outsiders.

Xuanyuan Jing is the God of War of the Great Yan Dynasty, and countless people are proud of him. However, at the same time, the God of War, who is invincible on the battlefield, is also unknowingly elevated to the top, high above everyone else.

Even if it wasn't something he did intentionally.

Moreover, behind the title of God of War are countless lives lost.

Has Xuanyuan Jing ever killed anyone?

Certainly, which general doesn't kill people?

How can we wage war without killing people? How can we win people over with virtue?

What a joke.

One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers; among these bones are both enemy and friendly forces.

The common people had no chance to get close to the God of War; they only knew that this was the source of their confidence to face foreign enemies without fear.

However, those who can attend palace banquets will have more ways to learn about the situation.

Regardless of whether what you're learning is a rumor or the truth.

In addition, Xuanyuan Jing always had a cold face in front of people. He had just returned to the capital from the battlefield and was full of murderous aura, which directly led to Xuanyuan Jing being demonized in the minds of many people.

To this day, many people still believe that Xuanyuan Jing is the kind of killing god who will kill someone at the slightest provocation.

No one thought Xuan Yuanjing would be an easy person to get along with, just as no one thought he would resort to any underhanded tactics.

Perhaps it is because of these two impressions that many people fear Xuanyuan Jing, but also feel that he is quite easy to deal with?

As for Xuanyuan Jing's reputation, whether someone is deliberately misleading him behind the scenes, that's a matter of opinion.

Xiao Lanxing didn't understand the system's meaning and tilted her head: "Why? Don't they like Daddy?"

Are all these people here bad people who would bully Daddy?!

Her eyes widened in surprise, and suddenly the bustling scene of people coming and going seemed less appealing.

System: [No, not at all.]

Xiao Lanxing: [Awoo?]

System: [Xuanyuan Jing's aura is too overwhelming; most people wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in his presence.]

As for "bullying"... actually, there's no one who dares to confront Xuan Yuanjing head-on.

Yes, no.

Just look at Xuan Yuanlin to see this.

Xuanyuan Lin is the emperor of this empire, a being above all others. With a single, casual remark, he can decide the life or death of countless people. Being in this position, there are bound to be many who are willing to go through fire and water for him...

However, he didn't dare to confront Xuanyuan Jing head-on.

Even when Xuanyuan Jing was unconscious, he didn't dare to kill him openly and honestly. Instead, he secretly tried to poison Xuanyuan Jing, failing countless times while worrying about being exposed.

Just as Xiao Lanxing was about to ask another question, she suddenly realized something and turned around sharply to look behind her.

Behind her, a little boy dressed in jeweled clothes was raising his hand as if to pat her. Startled by the girl's sudden movement, he unconsciously took two steps back before meeting her clear and questioning eyes.

"Uh... um, whose child are you?" The little boy looked significantly older than Xiao Lanxing, more than a head taller.

He wore a mutton-fat jade hair crown, a gold-inlaid jade necklace, and a mutton-fat jade pendant of good quality hanging from his waist. His clothes, belt, and shoes were all decorated with gold thread.

As he moved, his body changed with the light and shadow, appearing physically radiant with precious stones.

Xiao Lanxing felt as if something had blinded her. She raised her hand to touch the corner of her eye and looked at him in confusion: "Who are you?"

"I asked you first." The little boy said, looking the girl up and down. His gaze lingered on the small jade pendant hanging from her waist, and he bent down to examine it closely: "Jing?"

Following his gesture, Xiao Lanxing looked at her jade pendant and covered it with her hand: "Don't you dare take it."

She looked worried that the little boy would steal her things.

The little boy was speechless. He twitched his lips, picked up his jade pendant, and said, "I don't want yours. I just wanted to see whose child you are. I have a jade pendant."

Xiao Lanxing looked at his jade pendant, then at her own, and snorted, "Mine is nicer."

This was carved by Xuanyuan Jing himself. It was the one that Xiao Lanxing had taken out to prove her identity, but Xuanyuan Jing later hid it in a box.

The little boy thought that Xiao Lanxing was just a child who didn't know any better. His jade pendant was made by a master craftsman, and compared to Xiao Lanxing's obviously amateurish work, how could hers be more beautiful?

The little boy said, "Yours isn't pretty, but mine is. Mine was made by Master Qiu, and many people outside would kill for it."

At this moment, his attention was completely diverted, and he had completely forgotten that he had just been trying to confirm the little girl's identity.

But his words made Xiao Lanxing very unhappy: "Yours isn't pretty!"

"Mine is beautiful!"

Daddy's is the best!

Little boy: "Yours isn't pretty!"

Xiao Lanxing shook her head: "No, yours isn't pretty!"

Little boy: "You don't understand, mine is pretty, yours isn't!"

The two children started arguing, which attracted the attention of the little boy's parents.

Then, Xiao Lanxing was fine, but the little boy, unable to reason with the little girl, burst into tears.

Xiao Lanxing: ?

The boy's parents: ...

How embarrassing!