The mysterious milk group, hands on hips, is being fought over by five dads who are going crazy over

When the surrounding guests saw Qiao Wan and Huo Ting appear, they spontaneously formed a small circle and began to discuss.

"Didn't the Prime Minister's wife sever ties with the Prince? Why is she here?"

"Have I lost my memory? I remember that on the day the Prime Minister's wife got married, the Prince announced at the gate of this mansion that he was severing his father-daughter relationship with her and that she was never allowed to set foot in the mansion again! I wonder if it was because she insisted on marrying the Prime Minister?"

"Perhaps...the father and daughter have reconciled? After all, they are related by blood; it's impossible to just sever ties like that, right?"

"I don't know, let's just wait and see. What if she goes up there and gets kicked out by the prince?"

"And another thing, weren't Lord Huo and his wife at odds? How come they're suddenly attending the birthday banquet hand in hand?"

Various different sounds entered her ears, but Qiao Wan ignored them.

Now, no one and no voice can affect her anymore.

As a prince, Xie Jiyuan held an extremely noble status. Logically, he should not have needed to stand at the entrance of the palace to greet guests.

However, he gave his guests ample face and personally greeted them at the gate of his residence.

A-Ning was led by her mother to queue up, and soon they arrived in front of Xie Jiyuan.

She opened her mouth, about to call out "Grandpa," but noticed that the way he looked at her mother was a little strange...

It was exactly the same look in the eyes of a bad wolf staring intently at a little rabbit when he was about to eat it in a country farm.

Aning tilted her head in confusion and looked up at her mother.

Qiao Wan was slightly reserved. Her gaze swept over the distinct butterfly scar on his wrist. The word "father" lingered on her tongue for a few moments, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. Instead, she addressed him with utmost politeness:

"Your Highness."

Huo Ting was somewhat surprised and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Father-in-law."

"I have prepared a small gift to wish my father-in-law a long and healthy life."

After saying that, Yingxia presented the gift she had prepared in advance.

Xie Jiyuan glanced at it, waved his hand to let the servant take it, stroked his beard, and smiled, "I appreciate your kind gesture. Please come in and take your seats. The banquet will begin soon."

Qiao Wan is Xie Jiyuan's eldest daughter, and like his other children, she was given a very prominent position.

After sitting down, Aning leaned close to her mother's ear and whispered, "Mom, don't you think Grandpa's acting a little strange?"

Qiao Wan paused, then asked, "What's strange?"

She hadn't spoken to her father for far too long.

I've almost forgotten what my father is like...

Ah Ning stroked her chin with her little hand and said somewhat uncertainly, "Ah Ning doesn't know either, it's just a feeling. Last time we met, when I helped Grandpa subdue the little wolf, Grandpa was super kind and seemed to like Ah Ning a lot."

"But today, he didn't even glance at Aning."

"Mother, isn't that strange?"

Qiao Wan chuckled and pinched her cheek. "So that's how it is."

"Today is Grandpa's birthday banquet, and there are many guests. Grandpa has to be on his best to greet the guests, so he neglected Aning for a moment."

"If Aning wants to talk to Grandpa, Mommy will take you to see him alone after the birthday banquet, okay?"

Hearing her mother's words, the image of her grandfather's gaze upon her mother resurfaced in her mind. Ah Ning still felt something was amiss, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She could only nod in agreement.

Huo Ting sat down next to A Ning. Upon hearing this, he raised his hand, intending to pat her head like Ye Linqian had done to comfort her.

But the moment his hand touched her head, without even touching a single strand of hair, she dodged it.

Huo Ting's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air: "..."

Glancing at the few pairs of eyes that were cast at him from the surrounding area, Huo Ting flicked his sleeves and poured himself a cup of tea with a cold face.

Before long, everyone was seated in the courtyard.

Xie Jiyuan sat in the main seat, raised his wine glass, and smiled.

"Today is my fiftieth birthday, and it is an honor for me that you all could come."

"This first toast is for everyone!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the guests stood up, raised their glasses, and toasted him in unison.

"May Your Highness enjoy boundless happiness and longevity!"

Ah Ning also stood up, taking small sips of pomegranate juice, smacking her lips in delight at its sweetness.

The dishes at the Prince's Mansion were diverse and extremely delicious. Aning ignored the adults and focused on eating her own food.

After eating, he would sit to the side and play by himself.

Aning propped her head up and wondered what Qiaoqiao was doing at this moment.

During this time, the bad father didn't make Qiaoqiao practice calligraphy or memorize texts, so Qiaoqiao had plenty of time to play.

I really want to fold origami cranes with Qiaoqiao...

The banquet finally ended as the sun set.

Aning thought she could finally return to the manor, but the manor steward came to deliver another message.

"Miss, His Highness sent me to tell you not to rush off, but to wait in the backyard. He has something to say to you."

Ah Ning immediately became alert and stared intently at the butler.

If I remember correctly, the forbidden area where the little wolf was kept was in the backyard!

What did Grandpa ask Mom to do in the backyard?

"A-Ning is going too."

But the butler stopped him, saying, "His Highness says he wants to talk to the young lady about what happened five years ago, and he wants to talk to her alone."

The refusal was quite obvious.

Aning clung tightly to her mother's sleeve, stubbornly insisting, "No, Aning wants to go with you! Aning doesn't want to leave her mother!"

Upon hearing this, the butler looked at Huo Ting with a helpless expression.

"Young master, look at this..."

Huo Ting understood, picked up A Ning in his arms, and said to Qiao Wan, "I'll wait for you outside the mansion with the child."

Aning struggled to get down, but saw her mother gently shake her head.

"It's alright, Aning. Go outside and wait. Your mother will be out in a little while."

Aning had promised to listen to her mother, but she had a feeling that her grandfather was acting strangely!

It could be dangerous to let Mother go alone!

My master once said that when nothing is certain, you should trust your intuition!

But Aning didn't want her mother to think she was a disobedient child, so she obediently said:

"Alright, Mother, be careful. Aning will wait for you outside."

Seeing the child's alarmed expression, Qiao Wan chuckled and squeezed her little hand, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

After watching her mother follow the steward to the backyard, A-Ning struggled to jump down from Huo Ting's arms and ran out of the mansion without saying a word.

The little guy has short legs, but he runs extremely fast.

Huo Ting reacted for a moment, then hurriedly followed.

There were too many guests still lingering at the gate of the mansion. By the time he chased after her, he only caught a glimpse of Ah Ning disappearing into the crowd before vanishing completely...

Huo Ting frowned deeply, his sharp eyes carefully searching his surroundings for A Ning's figure.

He clearly saw Ah Ning run into the crowd, how could she have disappeared?

At the same time, Aning put an invisibility talisman on her chest and swaggered into the palace.

She even made a face at Huo Ting as she passed by!

Then, Xiao Aning stuck a Thousand Mile Talisman on her leg, and in the next instant, she was running as fast as lightning, even faster than an adult!