Chapter 316: Still Going to the Birthday Banquet?

"Okay, I’m on my way." The little bee flapped its wings, preparing to fly.

Not wanting it to go unrewarded, Ye Qianning tossed it a red fruit.

The little bee deftly caught it in its tiny mouth and flew away, its eyes crinkling in delight.

Ye Qianning glanced at the sky. It looked to be around ten o’clock at night. She yawned. After sitting all afternoon with a constant racket in her ears, she was exhausted.

’I should get some rest. Never mind the bloodline test tomorrow; it’s also the Emperor’s birthday banquet. Even though it’s an evening affair, all the court officials and their families have to enter the palace in the afternoon.’

「The sun rose in the east, full of life and vigor.」

The General’s Residence welcomed a new day. Xiang Minghou had taken the day off and was waiting in the main hall early in the morning.

No one from the Gu, Zhan, or Qian families had slept a wink. They too had arrived at the main hall early.

Madam Zhan looked at the younger generation gathered around and shook her head in disapproval. ’They look too awful to be seen in public.’

The injuries from the fight between Xiang Minghou and the other three yesterday had not been treated. As a result, Zhan Chi’s face was even more swollen today, and tinged a dark purple. Xiang Minghou’s left eye was also puffy, and his face was covered in bruises.

Qian Fanji was in even worse shape. Although his wounds had been hastily tended to yesterday, his complexion was terrible. Not only was his face as pale as a sheet, but the punch he’d taken had left his nose comically swollen.

"None of them are as handsome as my grandson," Old Man Gu said, in a remarkably good mood.

Gu Shuo’s lips twitched. ’What a satisfying sight to behold. Truly satisfying.’

Xiang Minghou snorted.

"Well now, everyone’s here so early," Dean Chen said as he walked in.

"Dean Chen."

Everyone rose to their feet.

"Please, sit. There’s no need for formalities among us," Dean Chen said, taking a seat himself. "My little apprentice has a habit of sleeping in. Why don’t we have a meal first?"

"That won’t be necessary."

"I don’t have much of an appetite."

"Let her sleep a while longer."

No one had the heart to eat at a time like this.

"Well, Young Miss! You’re up bright and early today," the butler’s voice called out.

Hearing this, everyone in the hall stood up in unison and headed for the entrance.

Dean Chen sighed. ’If this matter isn’t sorted out soon,’ he thought, ’this group’s squabbling will become a real headache.’

"Pangtuan, you’re awake," Madam Zhan said, the first to approach her.

"Mm." Ye Qianning merely nodded, walking past her to Xiang Minghou’s side. She looked up and called, "Dad."

"Yes!" Xiang Minghou beamed, bending down to lift her into his arms.

’He didn’t care whose bloodline she carried. In his heart, Pangtuan was his daughter.’

Madam Zhan felt a pang of disappointment. ’It’s all that brat’s fault for hurting the little one’s feelings. Now she won’t acknowledge anyone but Xiang Minghou.’

"Let’s go inside," Zhan Yi said, steadying Madam Zhan.

"Mm." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Qian Fu and Qian Fanji watched in silence as Xiang Minghou carried the child past them, their hearts a maelstrom of emotions.

’It would be a lie to say they weren’t jealous, but who did they have to blame but themselves?’

Gu Shuo remained composed, but Old Man Gu was green with envy, his eyes glued to Ye Qianning as she was carried past.

"Master," Ye Qianning called out once they were inside the hall.

"You’ve never woken up this early for your classes at the academy," Dean Chen chuckled.

"For some reason, I just wasn’t sleepy today."

"Haha, it seems the little girl can’t sleep when she has something on her mind," Dean Chen said, turning to the others. "Everyone, please sit. The sooner we get confirmation, the sooner you can all be at ease."

The members of the Zhan, Qian, and Gu families took their seats, the tension palpable. Of course, each family hoped Ye Qianning was one of their own.

"Dad?" Ye Qianning felt the arms holding her tighten.

Xiang Minghou snapped out of it and looked down at her with a smile. "It’s nothing. By the way, you don’t know why they’ve come to the General’s Residence, do you?"

"I know."

"You know?"

"Mm. I may be young, but I’m not clueless. After what was left unfinished at Immortal’s Drunkenness, I knew they wouldn’t let the matter drop," Ye Qianning said, her expression serene.

Xiang Minghou’s arms tightened again. Seeing the child so calm made his heart ache for her.

Zhan Chi was filled with regret.

Qian Fanji stared at the little girl. ’She was just as calm when she saw our blood fuse. One wrong step, and trying to make things right is harder than ascending to the heavens.’

Upon hearing this, Old Man Gu’s explosive temper got the better of him. He raised his hand and thumped Gu Shuo on the back twice. ’If he had just told me earlier, things wouldn’t have gotten to this point!’

The two thumps were so sudden that Gu Shuo let out a grunt.

...

An awkward silence filled the room. Gu Shuo was resigned. ’The old man really doesn’t spare me an ounce of dignity.’

"Since everyone is here, I will act as a witness. Let’s begin," said Dean Chen.

Xiang Minghou ordered the Hidden Guards to bring four bowls of water. "I’ll go first."

He put Ye Qianning down, held out his hand, and made a cut on his finger with a knife, letting a drop of crimson blood fall into the bowl.

Ye Qianning, who already knew what the result would be, sighed to herself. She held out her small hand, pricked it with a silver needle, and let a single drop of crimson fall into the water.

The two crimson drops swirled slowly before dispersing.

Everyone crowded around, their eyes fixed on the two drops of blood.

Only Qian Fu and Qian Fanji remained where they were.

"It... It fused! It fused!" Xiang Minghou’s eyes went wide, his face contorting with sheer ecstasy. "Hahaha! She’s my daughter! She’s really my daughter!"

Qian Fanji shot to his feet, startled. His eyes fell on the blood in the bowl, filled with disbelief. ’How can this be?’

’The little girl’s blood fused with his, so how could it also fuse with Xiang Minghou’s?’

Madam Zhan, Zhan Yi, and Zhan Chi were all utterly stunned. ’She looks so much like a member of the Zhan family, so why did her blood fuse with Xiang Minghou’s?’

Old Man Gu was utterly heartbroken.

Gu Shuo was also extremely surprised. ’How could it be Xiang Minghou?’

Ye Qianning was dumbfounded too. ’It fused?’

’As long as there was nothing wrong with the water, this kind of mix-up shouldn’t be possible. What’s more, these four bowls contained water from my dimension’s Spiritual Spring—it was even less likely for there to be a mistake.’

’The water at the inn in Four Directions Town was just ordinary well water, but there was nothing wrong with it, either.’

’So where did things go wrong?’

"Hahaha! She’s my daughter! None of the rest of you need to test now!" Xiang Minghou exclaimed, excitedly hugging Ye Qianning and refusing to let go.

Qian Fanji raised his hand and let his blood drip into another bowl.

"Dad," Ye Qianning gestured for him to put her down. She also found this bizarre and wanted to test it again.

"My daughter is my daughter. It won’t fuse even if you try," Xiang Minghou declared, though he set the little one down.

Ye Qianning walked over and let a drop of her blood fall into the bowl. Everyone leaned in again, their eyes fixed on the water.

And yet, under the watchful eyes of the entire room, the two drops of blood fused together once more—

Utter shock—

"How... How is that possible?" Zhan Chi stammered, dumbfounded.

’It fused again?’

’This was an unprecedented situation. How could one child’s blood fuse with two different people’s?’

...

Even Ye Qianning couldn’t explain it.

The elders were even more dumbstruck. In all their years, they had never witnessed a scene more bizarre than this.

Dean Chen stroked his beard, staring at the two bowls of water, equally at a loss for words.

"My turn," Zhan Chi said, cutting his finger as well.

Ye Qianning was now curious herself, so she didn’t hesitate to add her blood.

The result was the same: it fused.

Gu Shuo, refusing to give up and finding the situation astounding, also dripped his blood into a bowl.

After so many in a row, Ye Qianning didn’t mind one more test. She added her blood, and the result was the same as the previous three.

This...

Everyone fell silent. Her blood had fused with that of all four families. It was too bizarre.

A rare, twisted expression appeared on Ye Qianning’s little face. This was completely unnatural. ’Don’t tell me I actually have four fathers?’