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

Ah Ning held up an exquisitely crafted rabbit lantern, pointed to the identical one in Qiao Qiao's hand, and smiled:

"Qiaoqiao, shall we put the rabbit lantern by our bedside when we get back? That way we can see it every morning when we wake up and remember the day!"

Qiaoqiao had no objections: "Okay, okay."

"But Aning, remember to turn off the lights inside."

Ah Ning smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Okay!"

Behind her, Aning's three fathers walked in a row, while Qiao Wan walked on the innermost side of the three.

Huo Ting spoke as if casually: "I didn't expect City Lord Ye to know so many riddles. I admire you."

Ye Linqian waved his folding fan: "Not at all, Lord Huo, you flatter me."

Huo Ting's eyes darkened. "If I remember correctly, Lord Fengrong is in the grain and cloth business. Spring is just around the corner, and now that the rain and snow have melted, it's time to sow seeds everywhere. Doesn't Lord Ye need to return to Fengrong City to take a look?"

Ye Linqian raised an eyebrow: "These matters can be handled by the subordinates; why would I need to go back personally?"

"But Lord Huo, as the Grand Secretary, you are naturally very busy with official duties. How could you possibly have the leisure to come out and stroll through the lantern festival? Perhaps you shouldn't delay us."

Ji Yan listened to the conversation between the two and thought it was extremely childish.

It's all about guessing riddles and scrambling for the rabbit lantern, and it's all about speaking with barbs. Both sides are trying to get rid of the other so they can spend more time with Aning, right?

Little did they know that when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.

Ji Yan's lips curved slightly, and he took two light steps forward, saying gently:

"Little Aning, when did your hair grow all black? You didn't even tell your father."

"Huh?" A-Ning looked up. "Didn't Father say he would be leaving the capital soon?"

Ji Yan raised an eyebrow: "Really?"

Ah Ning blinked: "No?"

"Indeed, I won't be staying for more than a few days; I'll be leaving soon." Ji Yan bowed slightly and said with a hint of mystery, "Your father is going to do something big with your father, Ye."

"Something big?" Ah Ning immediately perked up. "What's so big? Ah Ning, can we come together?"

Ji Yan smiled and said, "That's a secret."

"When Father comes back, bring A-Ning lots of good food."

Ah Ning: "Yay!"

Ji Yan: "By the way, Aning, how is your grandmother feeling these days?"

grandmother?

Ah Ning blinked, feeling a little guilty.

She has been in a coma for ten days and hasn't had a chance to visit her grandmother yet.

But Grandmother should be alright, otherwise Mother would have told her immediately.

Not wanting her father to worry, Ah Ning casually said, "Father is so amazing, there's no one in the world he can't cure, so of course Grandmother will be fine too!"

After she finished speaking, Qiaoqiao asked in surprise, "Is A-Ning's godfather a doctor?"

Ji Yan chuckled softly, his voice incredibly gentle. "Of course. You can call me Uncle Yan."

Qiaoqiao, carrying the rabbit lantern, greeted sweetly, "Hello, Uncle Yan!"

"Uncle Yan..." Qiaoqiao pursed her lips, scratching her head a little shyly, "I heard from Aning that you are very skilled, so could you please treat Qiaoqiao's mother?"

After saying that, fearing he might refuse, Qiaoqiao hurriedly added, "Qiaoqiao has saved up quite a bit of money; Qiaoqiao can pay the consultation fee!"

Meeting the little girl's hopeful yet cautious gaze, Ji Yan lowered his eyelids and asked softly, "Your mother is ill. What are her symptoms?"

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Qiaoqiao's eyes. She thought carefully, "Mother has diarrhea and dizziness. I don't know anything else. I only know that Mother has seen many doctors, but none of them can cure her."

"Mother has locked herself in the yard for a long time, and she won't let Yao Yao and me into the house, nor will she talk to us..."

She sniffed, fighting back tears welling in her eyes, and asked cautiously, afraid of hearing a bad answer.

"Uncle Yan, what exactly is wrong with Qiaoqiao's mother?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan fell silent.

Diarrhea and dizziness.

The little girl's mother in front of him was probably the one he had drugged.

But that Aunt Su...

The funeral was secretly held seven days ago...

Although his medicine is potent and ordinary doctors cannot cure it, it will become ineffective the next day, and the person taking the medicine will recover to normal without harming their life.

I don't know how Consort Su died, but it's clear that the entire Prime Minister's residence was keeping it a secret from the child...

Ji Yan's expression was complicated; looking at that face filled with worry, he couldn't utter a single word.

"Daddy?" Ah Ning held up the rabbit lantern in her hand to attract his attention. "What's wrong?"

Ji Yan's Adam's apple bobbed as he hesitated, unsure how to answer.

Just then, Ye Linqian put away his folding fan and took two steps forward. "Little fellow, a doctor's diagnosis requires observation, listening, questioning, and palpation—all three are indispensable. How can Physician Ji diagnose your illness without even seeing your mother's face?"

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Huo Ting.

"However, your father is the prime minister of the court. He can find any kind of doctor he wants. Whether your mother can be cured depends entirely on how much effort your father puts into it."

"Lord Huo, what do you say?"

"..." Huo Ting frowned slightly.

Ye Linqian's trap was too obvious.

Su Xiaoyin has already been buried. How can he cure her?

If he doesn't respond now, he'll appear heartless.

If he agrees, and they later discover that Su Xiaoyin is dead, both Aning and Qiaoqiao will think he is useless and doesn't keep his word.

Children may not know right from wrong, but they are very clear about their joy and anger.

In more serious cases, they might even distance themselves from him and come to dislike him because of this...

The reason for keeping Su Xiaoyin's death a secret from the child was originally to avoid upsetting the child, but now...

Huo Ting clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to kick Ye Linqian away, and said in a deep voice:

"I will do my best regarding this matter; there is no need for Lord Ye to worry about it."

Seeing this, Aning happily pulled Qiaoqiao forward, saying, "Don't worry, Qiaoqiao, your mother will be alright. Let's continue shopping!"

Along the way, A Ning glanced at the candied hawthorns, and Ye Linqian took out his money, "Buy! One skewer each for the two kids."

Ah Ning touched the fox mask, while Ye Linqian continued to take out money, "Buy!"

Ah Ning praised the street magician repeatedly, and Ye Linqian immediately threw a heavy money bag at her, saying, "A reward is in store!"

Throughout the journey, Ah Ning exclaimed countless times, "Father Ye is so kind!"

"Grandpa Ye is the best!"

"Uncle Ye is amazing!"

Hearing this, Huo Ting's forehead twitched.

Another cry rang out, "Father Ye, I want this!" Huo Ting could no longer restrain himself. He pulled out a gold ingot, placed it in front of the stall, and gritted his teeth, saying:

"Huo Zhining, with your own father right here, why should anyone else have to foot the bill?!"