I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 17: Come, This Is Your Father
Of course, she now knew who the Jade Pendant’s owner was. ’Looks like there’s an eighty-percent chance my deadbeat dad is from the royal family.’
Lord Song stood obediently to the side, his head bowed as he looked at the small, chubby child before him. She was certainly chubby, and quite small for her age. At six, she was only the height of a four-year-old. ’All her food must be turning into fat,’ he thought.
"Lord Song, I heard someone from your yamen retrieved a memento left by Pangtuan’s mother. Is that true?" Princess Changyang inquired.
"Ah... yes, yes." Hearing his name, Lord Song quickly averted his gaze.
"And the Jade Pendant?"
Lord Song looked toward Prince Changyang.
"I have it here," Prince Changyang said.
The Princess Consort turned to him, confused. "Why did you take Pangtuan’s Jade Pendant?"
"Take a good look at this Jade Pendant first. We can discuss the rest later." Prince Changyang handed it to her.
"This..."
A single glance was all it took for the Princess Consort to be astonished.
She had seen this Jade Pendant before. It was a gift from the Emperor to the Empress years ago—the only one of its kind in the world. Later, when the Empress was targeted in an assassination attempt, Consort Chen risked her life to save her. As a token of gratitude, the Empress gifted the pendant to Consort Chen. She had been present at the time.
After Consort Chen passed away, the Jade Pendant went to the Third Prince. How could it now be in Pangtuan’s possession?
"Is it true what you said? That this was a memento from your mother before she died?" Prince Changyang walked over to Ye Qianning and asked, looking down at her.
Ye Qianning nodded.
"Did your mother ever mention anything about your father?"
Ye Qianning shook her head. "Before my mother passed, she only told me that my father was a nobleman from the Capital City of Beili, and that he was the one who left her the Jade Pendant."
Her words sent the three adults in the hall into silence once more.
The Third Prince had indeed traveled to Nanyuan back then. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for a young man to act on a whim.
"My Prince, could Pangtuan be...?" The Princess Consort could never have imagined the Jade Pendant was connected to the Third Prince.
"I’ve already sent for the Third Prince. He should be arriving any moment."
"Royal Uncle."
Just as Prince Changyang finished speaking, the Third Prince, Sang Yan, walked in with Sang Zhi.
Ye Qianning turned to look. The man was dressed in ink-black robes. He had sharp, elegant eyebrows, a high-bridged nose, and a chiseled face with fair skin. His bearing was stately, his gentle demeanor revealing an inherent nobility.
’Could this be my deadbeat dad?’
’But he isn’t the person I saw in the attic last time.’
Sang Zhi spotted Ye Qianning immediately. A spark lit up his eyes, but he looked away in an instant.
"This humble official greets the Third Prince and the Eighth Prince." Lord Song stepped forward and bowed.
"Rise," Sang Yan said before turning his gaze to Prince Changyang. "Royal Uncle, for what important matter did you summon me?"
"Here. See if this is your Jade Pendant." Prince Changyang got straight to the point, handing it over.
When Sang Yan’s gaze fell upon the Jade Pendant, he froze for a moment. He took it and examined it repeatedly before a look of delight spread across his face. "How did this Jade Pendant end up in your hands, Royal Uncle?"
"Are you sure this is your Jade Pendant?" Prince Changyang asked.
"Of course." Sang Yan was overjoyed to have it back.
"Then there’s no mistake," Prince Changyang said, then beckoned to Ye Qianning. "Come here. This is your father."
"Father!"
Ye Qianning was surprisingly direct in front of everyone, tilting her small face up and calling out obediently.
...
Sang Yan was completely stunned. "What... What is going on?"
Sang Zhi was also shocked by the sudden turn of events. ’This girl is my niece?’
"Don’t you remember what you did when you went to Nanyuan seven years ago?" Prince Changyang chided, pointing at him. "Now this child has traveled thousands of miles with the Jade Pendant, all the way to the Capital City to find her family. Tell me, what have you done?"
