Dean Chen had never been more bewildered. "Everyone, please calm your tempers. Let’s all sit down and talk this through."

Xiang Minghou wiped the corner of his mouth and snorted. Just as he was about to sit down, his eyes landed on his daughter, and his joyful expression instantly stiffened. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Father." Seeing she had been noticed, Ye Qianning called out and walked toward him.

"What are you doing here? Go back to Yuehua Small Building." Xiang Minghou stood to meet her, intending to lead the little girl outside.

Madame Zhan noticed Ye Qianning, rose, and rushed over. "Granddaughter, I’m your grandmother."

Not to be outdone, Qian Fu added, "Little one, I’m your grandfather."

Madame Zhan: "..."

Zhan Yi: "..."

"Little girl, come here, come here! We don’t need to be sworn relatives anymore. I’m your real great-grandfather!" Old Master Gu pushed the others aside, shoved Xiang Minghou away, and grabbed Ye Qianning, his excitement palpable.

’...’ Ye Qianning felt an urge to leave.

’Dealing with these family squabbles was her weakest point.’

"Old Master Gu, nothing is confirmed yet. You can’t just grab the child and refuse to let go," Madame Zhan said, displeased.

"The fact that this little girl and I hit it off instantly is proof enough that she’s destined to be with the Gu family."

"This is a matter for us adults to resolve. Pangtuan is still young; she doesn’t need to know about this." Xiang Minghou didn’t want Pangtuan to hear about the past. No matter how clever she was, she was only six.

’Anyone who found out about what happened between them and Ye Qian would be shocked, which was why he didn’t want the child to know.’

"Why can’t she know?" Old Master Gu was perplexed.

Madame Zhan, however, was the first to understand. "General Xiang is right."

"Steward, please take the young miss away." Xiang Minghou retrieved her from Old Master Gu’s grasp and handed her to the steward.

"Yes, sir."

"Father, I’ll head back now." Ye Qianning already regretted coming to the front hall.

’It would be better to wait until they all calmed down and each family understood the whole story.’

Madame Zhan watched her granddaughter leave with longing eyes, secretly making a vow. ’No matter what, I have to bring my granddaughter home and raise her with all the love and care in the world.’

Old Master Gu watched until Ye Qianning’s silhouette disappeared around the corridor before retracting his gaze. "Xiang Minghou, what was that all about? What is it that the little girl can’t hear?"

"I presume Old Master Gu is not yet aware of the reasons behind this," Xiang Minghou said, shooting him a look before walking back into the main hall.

"What reasons could there be?" Old Master Gu flicked his sleeves and followed him in. ’No matter the reason, I’m not letting this go.’

"Dean Chen," Xiang Minghou began, "you are the most senior among us and also Pangtuan’s master. Since all four families are now aware of this matter, let’s lay out all the facts today. We ask that you listen and offer a fair judgment."

Dean Chen nodded. "As this concerns my disciple, I will certainly listen."

Madame Zhan helped Zhan Yi take a seat. "It’s for the best that you’re mediating, Dean Chen."

’They were genuinely afraid of that troublemaker, Old Master Gu.’

Qian Fu remained composed. ’The blood test was the best confirmation.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhan Chi, Qian Fanji, and Gu Shuo also sat down beside their respective elders. ’Since the truth can no longer be hidden, they might as well lay everything out on the table.’

"Pangtuan’s parentage... this story begins in Nanyuan..." Xiang Minghou began to recount the events of that year in Nanyuan, and how the four of them had grown distant after returning to the Capital.

He spoke of how Fourth Granny had brought Ye Qianning to the Capital City to find her family, and of everything that had transpired at Xianren Zui.

Dean Chen listened, his heart growing tense. A single woman had saved all four of them but had also dealt them a heavy blow. He knew that among some noble and powerful families, it was not unheard of for a woman to serve multiple men.

However, they were new to the world back then, so it was only natural they couldn’t accept it.

He had personally seen these young men off from Lou Mountain; their character had been outstanding among all their peers.