I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 43: A Vase for All Gifts

"Six is the age for playing with toys," Xiang Minghou said matter-of-factly, turning his head and buying the small animal whistle in his hand.

...

Ye Qianning found it hard to explain. After all, being too mature at only six years old would arouse suspicion.

As they went down the street, Xiang Minghou bought her anything he found cute. Before long, Ye Qianning was holding a small pile of things in her arms.

"Dad, look, it’s almost noon, and you still haven’t picked out a birthday gift," Ye Qianning couldn’t help but remind him.

Xiang Minghou, however, was unconcerned. "We can just pick any old vase and send it over," he said while picking out a hair ribbon.

"A vase?"

"Yeah. Your dad is a military man; I don’t know anything about fine things." Xiang Minghou was terrible at preparing gifts, so whether he was on the frontier or in the Capital City, whenever an occasion arose, he would just give a vase.

Ye Qianning thought for a moment, then reached out and tugged his beard.

Xiang Minghou grinned and lowered his head. "What is it, my girl?"

"Dad, let’s stop looking at these. Why don’t you let me pick out the birthday gift for the Helian Royal Mansion for you?"

Xiang Minghou’s eyes lit up. "Great, great, great."

"In that case, can we have someone take these things back to the mansion first? I can barely hold them all," Ye Qianning said, nudging the pile of items in her arms with her chin.

"Someone!" The moment Xiang Minghou’s voice fell, a young man in practical attire appeared beside them.

"General."

"Take these things to the General’s Mansion."

"Yes, sir." The young man in practical attire reached out and took the items from Ye Qianning’s arms.

"Dad, he’s incredibly skilled."

Ye Qianning had long since sensed that Xiang Minghou had people around him. It seemed there were about four, all of them highly skilled.

"That’s nothing. Another day, I’ll assign you a few guards who are even more skilled than him."

"Thank you, Dad!" Ye Qianning acted extremely excited.

Xiang Minghou met her small, flower-like smiling face, and his heart melted. He was overcome with the thought: ’How could there be such an adorable little girl in the world—and she’s my daughter!’

There were many jade and antique shops on the street. Ye Qianning was very knowledgeable about antiques; she could tell whether an item was good or not with a single glance, and a single touch would tell her its quality.

After visiting several shops in a row, she still hadn’t found a single item that satisfied her. ’Are there really so few good things in a place as large as the Capital City?’

The Shopkeeper explained that some of the best items had been reserved a month ago by various nobles, precisely to be used as birthday gifts for Prince Helian.

Many of the owners behind these shops were court officials. If they had anything good, they would have kept it for themselves long ago; it would never be left in the shop for sale.

"Why don’t we just buy any old vase?" Xiang Minghou suggested, unable to resist after seeing her frown.

Speaking of vases, Ye Qianning did happen to spot a suitable one. It was a blue-and-white porcelain vase with a unique pattern around the rim. It was old, the craftsmanship was exquisite, and it would make a fine birthday gift.

"Alright then, that one," she said after a moment’s thought, pointing to the vase on the shelf.

The Shopkeeper’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. "I never would have guessed! The young miss has a truly discerning eye. That is the finest piece of blue-and-white porcelain in our entire shop."

Xiang Minghou didn’t understand any of it, but he was delighted to hear his daughter being praised. With a grand wave of his hand, he was ready to pay any price.

The Shopkeeper packaged the vase, and Xiang Minghou walked out of the shop, holding his daughter in one arm and the gift in the other.

The moment they left, the curtain at the back of the shop was pulled aside. Gu Shuo emerged from behind it, a complex look in his eyes as he gazed out the door.

"Young Master, wasn’t that the vase you were saving to give to Princess Consort De?" his attendant asked.

Hearing this, the Shopkeeper was stunned. "Proprietor, that vase..."

"Never mind." Gu Shuo withdrew his gaze.

’How could a six-year-old girl possibly recognize its value? It was just a fluke. Besides, when has Xiang Minghou ever given a gift that wasn’t a vase!’