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

Just as the banquet in the palace was about to begin, a mysterious guest arrived at a villa in the suburbs of Beijing.

"They seem to have forgotten that, as a general, I can also remain inactive."

With a soft click, the chess piece landed on the chessboard. After saying this, Xuan Yuanjing looked up at the person sitting opposite him.

The person playing chess with Xuanyuan Jing at this moment was neither Pei Qingzhu nor Chen Li, but a middle-aged man whom Xiao Lanxing had never seen before.

He was dressed rather simply, his blue robe making him look somewhat thin. Even in the warm indoors, he still wore a heavy cloak and coughed lightly from time to time, appearing sickly and frail.

Upon hearing Xuan Yuanjing's words, the other party chuckled softly, picked up a white chess piece with his slender, well-defined hand, and gently placed it on the chessboard, saying in a calm tone, "Isn't this a good thing?"

Xuanyuan Jing: "Perhaps."

The middle-aged man laughed: "Back then, the prince was full of vigor and success, and his reputation was formidable. Over time, they naturally forgot that the prince also had his share of adversity."

The middle-aged man said, "Your Highness is certainly not a man of courage but lacking in strategy."

After they finished speaking, the two fell silent, and for a moment the only sound in the room was the faint sound of chess pieces falling.

As night deepened, the lights in the room swayed in the breeze blowing through the slightly open window. The middle-aged man spoke again: "The prince's secret letter summoning me to the capital this time must not be just for reminiscing."

"nature."

"A banquet was held in the palace today, but the prince, who is unharmed, did not attend. It is unlikely that he was tired of palace banquets."

"Sir, you could be more direct."

The middle-aged man coughed twice, covered his face, picked up the teacup beside him, took a slow sip to suppress the itch in his throat, and then slowly said, "Then, if I may be so bold as to ask, Your Highness... have you had a falling out with that person in the palace?"

"Or perhaps you've discovered that someone in the palace has done something detrimental to you?"

Xuanyuan Jing smiled enigmatically: "What do you think, sir?"

The middle-aged man coughed twice more: "Does Your Highness now intend to contend for it?"

Xuanyuan Jing's smile faded, and he lowered his eyes, remaining silent as he stared at the chessboard, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps daydreaming.

A moment later, he picked up the chess piece and made his move.

"Sir, you foresaw this day back then, so why say more?"

——————————————————————————————

Even before the palace banquet began, the Linde Hall was already bustling with activity.

This is a social venue, and for ambitious people, such a venue is undoubtedly a good opportunity to expand their network.

For those who don't have much ambition, attending the palace banquet is more like passing the time.

For example, the family that Xiao Lanxing encountered.

The little boy who cried because he couldn't reason with Xiao Lanxing was named Huo Wubing, nicknamed Kang Kang, and was a premature baby.

Xiao Lanxing noticed that Huo Wubing was premature. Huo Wubing looked to be in good health, but his physical condition was obviously worse than others, and the measures taken to keep him warm were obviously more rigorous than those taken for others.

Huo Wubing is the kind of boy who you can tell at a glance has grown up in love. His joys, sorrows and anger are all very straightforward, and he is also very carefree. He can cry one minute and then sob the next, saying that he wants to play with Xiao Lanxing.

Mrs. Huo bent down, wiping the little boy's tears with a handkerchief, and looked at Xiao Lanxing with a mixture of laughter and tears: "Little girl, whose child are you? What are you doing in this corner?"

“Your parents will be worried if they can’t find you.”

Xiao Lanxing felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing this woman. In addition, she was usually well-behaved when she wasn't causing trouble, so she answered whatever the woman asked: "I am from my father's family."

"It's quiet here."

“Father is at home, he won’t be unable to find me.”

Mrs. Huo asked in surprise, "Who is your father?"

Xiao Lanxing blinked, tilted her head and thought for a moment, then decided that the title of Prince Jing was easier to recognize, so she said, "Father's name is Prince Jing."

In Xiao Lanxing's eyes right now, Xuanyuan Jing, Prince, and Prince Jing are all equivalent to her father; the concept of names is still rather vague for her.

Just like herself, Xuanyuan Lanxing, Lanxing, Xingxing, Little Princess, Miss, are all the names that call her; they are all her names.

Upon hearing Xiao Lanxing's words, the still-young lady looked surprised and subconsciously sized up Xiao Lanxing.

She had only taken a cursory look before, because most of the people attending the banquet today were dressed up, and many had brought out their most treasured possessions to decorate their homes in order to make a good impression.

The few children brought to the banquet were all members of the imperial family. Even those who had fallen on hard times would not dress shabbily for the banquet, but would grit their teeth and try to save face.

Therefore, when she first saw the obviously unusual fabric on Xiao Lanxing's body and the pearls adorning her head, Huo's mother didn't really think much of it.

But now, upon hearing Xiao Lanxing's words, Huo's mother truly began to examine him closely.

Pearls and satin clothing were tribute items, which were not something ordinary people could have.

Especially the satin surface; a closer look reveals the trickery.

As far as she knew, besides the Empress and that favored concubine in the palace, only the Cheng'en Duke's Mansion and the Jing Prince's Mansion received some of this material, with the Jing Prince's Mansion receiving more than the Cheng'en Duke's Mansion, since the Emperor always expressed his high regard for the Jing Prince in this way.

Looking at the little girl's face again, Madam Huo suddenly realized, thinking to herself: "No wonder this little girl looked somewhat familiar when I first saw her; she does resemble Prince Jing quite a bit."

Huo Wubing then pointed to the little girl's waist and said, "Mother, there are words on her jade pendant!"

Mother Huo: "Little girl, may I take a look at your jade pendant?"

Xiao Lanxing was still hiding the jade pendant from the little boy, fearing he might snatch it from her, but when it came to this lady, Xiao Lanxing only hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and indicating that she could look at it.

But she didn't want to take it off.

Seeing this, Huo's mother smiled. She had given birth before, and although her son had servants to take care of him, she had spent a lot of time with him because he was weak from a young age. She had some understanding of the thinking of children of this age.

Children's ideas can be quite strange sometimes, but as long as they're not being unreasonable, they can be understood.

Then, Mother Huo confirmed that the jade pendant on Xiao Lanxing's waist was indeed made of the finest material, and...

"Who did this?"

Little Lanxing proudly exclaimed, "Daddy!"

Huo's mother: "..."

Although seeing the craftsmanship gave her some idea, hearing it in person still made Huo's mother feel like a certain image in her mind had been shattered.

but……

Mrs. Huo smiled and tentatively patted the little girl on the shoulder: "What a coincidence, the whole family has run into each other. Little girl, I'm your older sister."

Xiao Lanxing was stunned.

Huo Wubing was also stunned.

Huo Wubing: "Huh?"

It turns out that Huo's mother's name is Xuanyuan Lanjia. In terms of relationship, she is Xuanyuan Jing's cousin, and they are quite close.

Suddenly realizing that I seem to have picked up an elder's Huo Wubing: ?