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

"Lord Ye?"

"That's the city lord of Fengrong City, the wealthiest city in the land! He once saved the current emperor and was granted a pardon from death! Which noble or royal family wouldn't give him some face? How could they put on such a grand show and send so many gifts to an unfavored young lady?!"

"That's right, everyone knows that the eldest young lady is a jinx who was abandoned in the countryside since she was little, while the second young lady is the lucky star of the Prime Minister's mansion. How could a four-year-old jinx have such great ability to climb such a powerful relationship?"

Exclamations arose from all around, and everyone was discussing the background of this eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion.

For a moment, it seemed no one had remembered that today was also the birthday of the second young lady, Huo Zhiyao...

Meanwhile, at Biyou Courtyard.

Ah Ning changed into a light pink dress, looking somewhat reluctant: "Father Ye? Are you really leaving?"

Ye Linqian squatted down to be at eye level with A Ning, pinched her cheek, and said, "Father Ye is here in the capital by imperial decree. Celebrating A Ning's birthday has delayed me a bit. If I don't go to the palace soon, I will incur the Emperor's wrath."

Ah Ning nodded, seemingly understanding, "Then will Ah Ning be able to see Father again?"

Ye Linqian was both amused and exasperated. He gently flicked her forehead and said, "Father is just going to the palace on business. It's not like I'm never coming out again. When you have some free time in a few days, Aning, you should take Father to see this bustling capital."

"Okay!" Ah Ning nodded emphatically, secretly making up her mind to explore the capital city thoroughly these few days, familiarize herself with the city, and then take Uncle Ye out for a delicious meal!

Qiao Wan's expression was somewhat complicated. She simply couldn't imagine that the world-renowned lord of a city would lower himself down and speak softly to coax a four-year-old child...

After the two finished talking, Qiao Wan instructed Yingxia to see Ye Linqian out of the mansion, and then carried A Ning to the couch and put a hand warmer in the little guy's hand.

"Ah Ning, Mother wants to know how Ah Ning and this godfather met?"

Her mother's voice was gentle and soothing. Ah Ning blinked her bright eyes and obediently explained:

"When Aning was two years old, she was playing by the roadside when she saw Grandpa Ye being chased by a monster, so she helped chase the monster away."

"Then Grandpa Ye stuffed a ton of things into Grandma's house, saying he wanted to adopt Aning as his goddaughter!"

In just a few words, Qiao Wan could imagine how critical the situation was, far more complex than what was described in those few words.

Otherwise, given Ye Linqian's wealth and status, how could he have so easily accepted a goddaughter?

As for spirits and monsters... although she had never heard of them, so many things had happened since Aning returned to the manor yesterday that she had to believe that the world was full of wonders.

Qiao Wan stared at the exquisitely beautiful child in front of her, and her heart trembled slightly.

While other children can learn to walk at two years old, Ah Ning can fight off monsters and save lives...

She finally realized that her daughter was truly extraordinary.

She learned so much at such a young age; how much hardship must she have endured?

Qiao Wan's eyes were slightly red as she gently tidied the stray hairs at Aning's temples. "Who taught Aning all these things?"

Ah Ning held the hand warmer, her hands were warmed by it.

She blinked, about to speak, when a voice came from outside the door—

"lady."

Qiao Wan looked over and asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Madam, Consort Su has sent me to deliver these clothes. They were prepared by the Grand Preceptor and are to be worn at the sacrificial ceremony the day after tomorrow."

Seeing that what she was holding was clearly clothing for a child, Qiao Wan sneered:

"The offering chosen by the Imperial Preceptor is the Third Miss, and the clothes were naturally prepared for her as well. Why send them to my Biyou Courtyard? Send them back to Concubine Su."

Upon hearing this, the maid stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.

Qiao Wan frowned: "What, does my word no longer carry any weight as the matriarch of the household?"

"This servant is terrified!"

The maidservant suddenly knelt down, trembling all over. "Madam, Consort Su instructed me to deliver clothes. If I... if I go back like this, I don't know how I'll explain it..."

As she moved, she pulled her sleeves up, revealing her wrists covered in bruises.

Qiao Wan frowned even more deeply. "How did you get the injury on your hand?"

The maid dared not raise her head, her body trembling even more violently. "This...this is..."

"lady!"

With an anxious shout, Yingxia, who had gone to see Ye Linqian off, returned.

She had left with a smile on her face, but now she walked quickly and hurriedly to Qiao Wan with a flustered expression.

Seeing that one of Aunt Su's people was still kneeling in the room, he lowered his voice and said:

"Madam, something terrible has happened."

"The manager is dead!"

Qiao Wan didn't immediately realize who she was talking about, but A Ning tilted her head back and asked crisply:

"Sister Yingxia, is the steward the one who wrongly accused Aning earlier?"

Yingxia nodded quickly, "Yes, Miss, it's him!"

A thought struck Qiao Wan, and she took A Ning's hand, asking softly, "Does little A Ning know something?"

"As Ah Ning just said, she ran there following a cloud of black mist. The mist was clinging to the steward's back, and he would die if it wasn't removed."

Ah Ning, with her clear, bright eyes, spoke the most horrifying words in the most innocent tone:

"Sister Yingxia, is he bleeding from all seven orifices, and his hands, feet, and head are all cleanly severed?"

Upon hearing this, Yingxia was startled and almost forgot to speak, "Miss... how did you know?"

Ah Ning shook her head and sighed, "If he had believed in Ah Ning, he wouldn't have died."

As she spoke, she tilted her head back, took her mother's hand, and asked in a soft, sweet voice:

"Mother, can Aning go and take a look?"

Qiao Wan finally figured out what was going on, but hesitated.

Firstly, the steward's death was gruesome, and she was afraid it would frighten Aning.

Secondly, Huo Ting already harbored a great deal of resentment towards A Ning. If he were to believe that the manager's death was related to A Ning, I'm afraid...

But when she met her daughter's bright, expectant eyes, she couldn't bring herself to refuse, and could only say:

"Then Aning must promise Mother that once we get there, she won't say anything out of line and will only stay by Mother's side, okay?"

Ah Ning nodded emphatically: "Ah Ning has remembered!"

The steward died behind the artificial hill in the garden. When they arrived, Huo Ting was ordering people to track down the murderer.

The body lay on the snow, covered with a white sheet, and only the hands and feet of the deceased could be vaguely seen to be separated from the body.

Ah Ning closed her eyes and then opened them again, only to see a faint wisp of black mist swirling under the white cloth, as if it were lying on the corpse, sucking something!

Sure enough, when Aning saw the black mist clinging to the steward's back, she noticed that it had no head, hands, or feet.

This black mist is a ghost formed from the resentment of the dead. It will kill people in the same way it died, which is why the manager had his head and limbs cut off.

Aning opened her mouth as if to say something, but then remembered her mother's words about not speaking carelessly. So she grabbed her mother's sleeve and shook it, "Mother..."

Qiao Wan looked down. "What's wrong, Aning?"

Ah Ning's little face scrunched up, and she whispered:

"He was indeed harmed by the black mist!"

"That black mist is now clinging to the corpse; we must get rid of it quickly, or something terrible will happen!"

Despite her attempts to speak softly, she was still overheard.

Huo Ting flicked his long sleeves, his sharp gaze sweeping over, his dark eyes revealing his deep dislike for A Ning.

"The manor was attacked by assassins. He was killed by assassins. This black mist is utter nonsense!"

Aning loosened her grip on her mother's sleeve, looking somewhat displeased.

He's always so mean to Aning, and he even claims to be Aning's father?

Ah Ning put her hands on her hips, tilted her head back defiantly, and threatened in a childish voice:

"Don't you trust Aning?"

"If you don't deal with it now, it'll come after you tonight!"