I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 42: Xiang Minghou Takes Her to a Banquet

"Don’t go to sleep just yet. After we eat, Dad will take you to a banquet," Xiang Minghou said, holding her as he sat down at the table.

"A banquet?"

"That’s right. The old Prince of the Helian Royal Mansion had an invitation sent over this morning for his seventieth birthday. I haven’t been back to the Capital in years, and I’ve been roped into this as soon as I returned." Xiang Minghou despised having to deal with the sycophantic flattery of official circles.

"You’re taking me?" Ye Qianning thought it was a bit inappropriate for her to go.

"Of course! Why should I hide my own daughter away? I want everyone to see just how adorable she is." At that moment, Xiang Minghou wanted to show her off to every single person he met.

"..."

’So this is what they call a doting dad...’

"Come on, eat up. We’ll go pick out a gift when we’re done," Xiang Minghou said.

Liu Shi picked out all of Ye Qianning’s favorite foods and placed them on her plate, creating a small mound.

Ye Qianning nodded, reached out, and tugged on Xiang Minghou’s beard. "Dad, that’s Fourth Granny."

Only then did Xiang Minghou notice the others. He looked toward Fourth Granny.

"My respects, General." Startled by his sudden attention, Fourth Granny immediately knelt.

Xiang Minghou quickly stood, placed Ye Qianning on her chair, and bent over to help Fourth Granny up. "Please, get up. Get up."

"Thank you, General." Fourth Granny was overwhelmed by the honor.

"We’re all family here, there’s no need for such formalities. Thank you for all your hard work raising Pangtuan all these years." Xiang Minghou was sincerely grateful. For an old woman of her age to travel so far with a child...

’If it weren’t for her, how could he have such an adorable daughter?’

"It was no trouble. As long as Pangtuan is well, nothing is too much trouble." Fourth Granny genuinely thought of Pangtuan as her own granddaughter.

"Here, Fourth Granny, please take a seat." Xiang Minghou guided the old woman to a chair. "From now on, you can live here in the mansion comfortably. If you need anything at all, just let us know."

Fourth Granny sat down. ’Pangtuan’s father doesn’t seem like a bad person after all,’ she thought. ’He just looks a bit fierce.’ But then it occurred to her that he was a Great General who fought on battlefields. A pretty boy wouldn’t be able to intimidate the enemy. It was better for him to look fearsome.

By the end of the meal, Fourth Granny saw Xiang Minghou in a new light, and her worries from the previous day were completely gone.

Liu Shi also saw Xiang Minghou in a new light. It was said that generals were ruthless killers, devoid of emotion, but the adoration on this General’s face was practically overflowing.

Ye Qianning also found the atmosphere quite harmonious. Recalling what happened with Liu Shi the day before, she glanced over at her.

Liu Shi sensed her gaze and offered a small smile.

’What a pitiful woman,’ Ye Qianning sighed to herself. ’No wonder she’s so cautious in everything she says and does. She was born into poverty, sold into marriage to ward off bad luck, and even had to complete the wedding ceremony with a rooster standing in for the groom.’

She had cared for Xiang Minghou tirelessly while he was severely injured. It was only after he recovered that Xiang Minghou learned of the warding-off-bad-luck marriage.

Xiang Minghou had been away at war for all these years and had never returned to the mansion. As a result, Liu Shi held the empty title of "Madam" in the household, and anyone felt they could walk all over her.

’Judging by Liu Shi’s expression, she genuinely likes Xiang Minghou,’ Ye Qianning thought. ’Maybe I can help bring them together in the future.’

After breakfast, Xiang Minghou left the mansion with Ye Qianning in his arms. A group from the second household branch arrived bearing congratulatory gifts, only to find them gone. They ended up having to carry all the gifts back with them.

Fourth Granny, a woman from the countryside, could only shake her head at the sight. ’So petty!’

The streets of the Capital City were as bustling as ever. Xiang Minghou had originally planned to stop by a jade shop and pick out a few respectable birthday gifts. But the moment he hit the streets, he completely forgot about his task, getting happily lost in browsing the roadside stalls.

"Sweetheart, how about this one? It makes a noise when you blow on it." As he spoke, Xiang Minghou picked it up and gave it a toot.

Ye Qianning shook her head. "Dad, those are for little kids. I’m already six years old."