The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

They were Guo Jia's classmates, and it was neither morally nor logically acceptable to let an infant be left to wander outside.

The smile on Xun Hao's face hadn't completely faded before it froze at the corner of his mouth.

"Sister-in-law, you must be joking, right?" he said dryly.

Tang did not answer, but instead took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it over. "The old servant said this jade pendant is a token."

Xun Hao's gaze fell on the jade pendant.

It was a piece of fine Hetian jade, exquisitely carved, with a clear "Guo" character engraved on it in ancient seal script.

He reached out and took the jade pendant.

The jade pendant felt icy cold to the touch; the chill seemed to travel from my fingertips all the way into my heart.

When Guo Jia arrived, this was the scene he saw.

The Xun family members, along with the newly arrived Chen Qun and Zhao Yan, all gathered at the city gate.

His beloved Yanruo was standing in the center of the crowd.

"What are you all standing here for? We're welcoming a distinguished guest, why are you all making such faces?" Guo Jia walked forward with a smile, wanting to pat Xun Hao on the shoulder, but Xun Hao stepped aside.

The person involved has arrived!

Guo Jia's smile froze. He looked at Xun Hao's unusually somber expression and his heart sank.

"What's wrong?" he asked tentatively, lowering his voice. "Who upset Yanruo?"

Xun Hao didn't look at him. His gaze was lowered, his long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes, obscuring all his emotions. He simply reached out and forcefully shoved the cold jade pendant into Guo Jia's palm.

"Your things."

The voice was cold and indifferent, devoid of any warmth.

Guo Jia looked down at the jade pendant with the character "Guo" engraved on it, which Xun Hao handed him, and was completely dumbfounded.

"This isn't..." He was about to say that it wasn't his when he was interrupted.

Xun Yu's wife, Tang, gave a troubled look to the wet nurse behind her. The wet nurse, carrying a swaddled baby, carefully came forward and placed the still-sleeping infant in Guo Jia's arms.

A beautifully sculpted infant, with features that bore a striking resemblance to Guo Jia.

"Wow--"

Perhaps because someone else was holding the baby, the infant suddenly opened its eyes, pouted, and burst into tears.

Guo Jia was flustered and stiff, as if he were holding a hot potato.

The city gate was hardly a place to talk, so Xun Yu stepped forward, landing squarely between Xun Hao and Guo Jia.

He didn't even glance at Guo Jia, but instead instructed the servants behind him, "Yanruo is weak and cannot withstand the wind. Help him into the carriage and return to the manor immediately."

"Yes."

"Wait, Yanruo, let me explain!" Guo Jia, holding the child, tried to catch up with the carriage, but was stopped by Xun You.

"Fengxiao!" He walked to Guo Jia's side, pressed his shoulder hard, and said in a warning tone, "This place is too crowded and noisy. If you have something to say, we can talk about it back at the manor."

No matter what explanation you give, is this something you can shout in public?

Guo Jia was restrained by Xun You and could only watch helplessly as Xun Hao was "invited" into the carriage by Xun Yu. He wanted to chase after them, but Xun You's hand remained as firm as an iron clamp.

"Gongda, let me go!"

"Fengxiao, calm down," Xun You said in a low voice.

Chen Qun and Zhao Yan stood aside, looking at Xun Hao who was being forcibly shoved into the carriage, and then at Guo Jia who was holding a child and being forcibly held down.

They looked at each other, both seeing a deep sense of bewilderment in each other's eyes. Regardless of whether the child was Fengxiao's or not, what did they need to explain to Yanruo?

After a cup of tea, in the living room of Xun Yu's residence.

Xun Yu sat upright in the main seat, looking serious. Xun You sat to his left, holding a teacup in one hand and rubbing his forehead with the other, clearly also feeling a headache.

Chen Qun and Zhao Yan, the two new guests, were seated in the guest area. They kept their eyes down, trying to look like background figures, but their slightly trembling eyes betrayed their excitement at watching the drama unfold.

Xi Zhicai was even more direct. He not only poured himself some tea, but also took out a small packet of fennel beans from his pocket and started popping them into his mouth one by one, which made Guo Jia's eyes twitch.

At the center of this storm, Xun Hao was placed on a soft couch closest to Xun Yu, his face pale and silent.

Guo Jia paced back and forth beside him. He had pieced together the events from the cacophony of accounts from Tang Shi and his two friends, and found it utterly absurd.

Blood and bone marrow?

Where did he get any blood or bones? He's practically turned to ashes himself!

"Yanruo, listen to me, this is absolutely a misunderstanding!" Guo Jia leaned down, trying to hold Xun Hao's hand. "How could I possibly have a child? I... haven't I been with you every single day these past few days?"

"Is that so?" Xun Hao interrupted him. "This child looks no more than seven or eight months old. Going back ten months of pregnancy, we were all in Yingchuan then." "Brother Fengxiao, do you dare say that during those days and nights in Yingchuan you truly remained chaste and never went to any places of pleasure?"

"I didn't! Although I enjoyed drinking back then, I never had any improper relations with anyone!" Guo Jia replied firmly. "Besides, I went to Xun's residence to see you every day; I didn't have time for that!"

Xun Hao gave a cold laugh, a laugh that carried a bitterness and grievance that he himself was unaware of.

Even if you come to see me every day, you don't stay in my room every night!

He was just so angry that he spoke without thinking, but when others heard his words, they took on a completely different meaning.

"Bang!"

Xun You accidentally dropped the teacup from his hand onto the table.

"Cough cough cough!"

Xi Zhicai choked on a fennel bean, coughing until his face turned red.

Chen Qun and Zhao Yan were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped. They exchanged a glance: Did we hear something we shouldn't have?

Xun Yu's face had turned from ashen to completely black.

However, Guo Jia's thought process was clearly different from others.

Far from feeling embarrassed, his eyes lit up as if he had grasped a lifeline.

"Of course I have!" he retorted without hesitation. "My whole heart and soul are devoted to you, how could I possibly have time to seek out other women! Yanruo, I swear to God, since I met you, I have never had eyes for anyone else!"

"If you are innocent, then how do you explain this jade pendant engraved with the character 'Guo'?" Xun Hao's voice held an undeniable force. "This child bears a resemblance to you in some ways. If he's not yours, then whose is he?"

Xun Yu finally lost his temper, slammed his hand on the table, and stood up abruptly.

"That's enough!"

A furious shout shook the dust off the roof beams.

"What kind of behavior is this! It's simply... utterly shameless!" Xun Yu was so angry that he trembled all over. He pointed at Guo Jia, then at his own brother who spoke without thinking. He felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, and his vision went black.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punish the family, and instructed Tang Shi, who was standing beside him, "Take the child away and settle him properly. Don't disturb him."