Xiong Ying stared at Huo Xiaolong with a serious expression on his face. He couldn't blame anyone, not even his daughter; he could only blame himself. His anger stemmed from the fact that, despite the family trouble, his daughter hadn't contacted him immediately, but instead went to her godmother.

The little dumpling ignored Huo Shuwen's gaze and lay in her mother's arms, smelling sweet after her bath!

“The one who died was a palace eunuch,” Cen Ang said.

"I know, so I..." He Yi was still wiping her hands with the handkerchief; the sticky feeling was truly disgusting.

Her hands were a little red from rubbing them herself, and Huo Shuwen pulled her hand to stop her, holding her slender hand in his own.

Huo Xiaolong grimaced in disbelief. "Me?!"

I should be under the bed, right? There aren't any beds under the bed in Biancheng. Come on, open the kang (heated brick bed) and let me crawl in! Now, immediately!

The little dumpling didn't even get up, she went straight from He Yi to Cen Ang. The woman looked at her unruly daughter, straightened her posture, and continued speaking.

"Good riddance, it saves us a lot of trouble."

"How did others find out that Tingche is here?" He Yi asked.

Logically speaking, apart from the people inside the brothel, no one should know that Lan Tingche is here. The lie has already been made up. Once Tingche's hair grows out, he will be allowed to play with Huo Xiaolong. At that time, we will tell everyone that he is weak and is a cousin of Cen Ang's family. He was previously raised in the brothel disguised as a girl. Anyway, there are many maids in the brothel, so it is impossible for anyone to investigate them one by one.

"Luan'er and I have sent a message to the Prince of Zhennan's residence."

The news could only leak out here. Even if someone in the Fengyue Tower wanted to send a message to the palace, they couldn't reach that level, unless it was Wang Zheng and Xiao Lanyi.

One was completely under Hua Luan's control, while the other was just short of going to war with the one in the palace.

"No wonder Tingche ran away from home. It turns out there was a spy in the Prince's mansion." Cen Ang took a deep breath, his heart filled with self-reproach.

If she had known this would happen, she would never have handed Tingche over to the Prince of Zhennan, even if it meant risking her life.

"Mom, don't be upset," the girl said, smoothing her brow.

"Okay, Mom won't be unhappy."

The woman buried her head in Huo Xiaolong's shoulder, just leaning on him was enough.

The Huo family has long been tied to the brothel, and from a self-interested perspective, He Yi needs someone to protect her daughter.

Huo Xiaolong possesses supernatural abilities; the Huo family alone cannot protect her. Even though Huo Shuwen is highly skilled in martial arts, Fengyue Tower has several people with similar skills.

And then there's Cen Ang, who dotes on his daughter to the core—that's enough.

“This is just the first one; more people will likely come later,” He Yi said to Cen Ang.

"In a few days, let Tingche come out and meet people openly. If he comes, he shouldn't go back." Cen Ang's voice was muffled as he buried his face in his daughter's shoulder, not wanting to get up.

The baby smells so good, like milk.

The Emperor will find out sooner or later that he is not dead; it's just a matter of time. If he's willing to send a secret guard or a high-ranking official who knows him, that's fine too.

The outcome is the same anyway.

This brothel of mine is practically turning into a branch of Zhanchenlou.

"I'm not going back!"

Huo Xiaolong mumbled these words with his eyes closed, almost falling asleep, before settling into Cen Ang's arms and snoring away.

The two women looked at the sleeping baby with deep eyes, their gazes filled with maternal love.

"I'll take her out to sleep for a while. My little sister can rest. She'll come back by herself tonight," Cen Ang said in a low voice.

"good."

Sleeping at home isn't a bad idea, but Huo Shuwen's eyes are practically glued to He Yi, and he's afraid his wife might suffer any injustice.

"Ayi, are you hurt?" the man asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"No, Brother Wen, I'm fine, nothing's wrong."

Huo Shuwen pulled He Yi into his arms and carefully examined her for any wounds.

“Once this happens, it’ll happen again. Besides, he didn’t even have time to react. Brother Wen, I’m amazing.”

The man looked a little aggrieved and said with his head down.

"I don't want you to be amazing."

"I hope to protect you for the rest of my life, I just want you to be by my side."

It's hard to tell who's more twisted between the two. How to put it? One wants to control him, as long as he's by her side, she's content. When Huo Shuwen was seriously injured and couldn't wake up, He Yi felt that she could accept him lying in bed for the rest of his life.

A man who wants to keep his woman in a protective circle for life, even if it means locking her up.

Anyway, any parents with a sane brain wouldn't have given birth to Huo Xiaolong.

As for Huo Xiaocheng...

There has to be at least one normal person in a family.

"Aunt Hua, have I caused you any trouble?"

Hua Luan came to Fengyue Tower to tell Lan Tingche about their arrangements. The main thing was that the child had to accept it. Living here was not like living in the royal palace, where everyone would wait on him/her.

Aren't there maids in that building? Why not have them serve Lan Tingche?

If this kid can take a beating...

It's not impossible.

Even if Cen Ang agrees to this, Huo Xiaolong will not.

"So you expect my sister to serve you?"

—Slap! In an instant, a huge thing swept over her.

Of course, Long'er would give herself and Cen Ang some face, at most not hitting them in front of them, but they couldn't keep an eye on Ting Che all day long.

"No, that's not true. You can stay here and rest well, but..." The woman thought for a moment and continued.

"There might be no one to serve you anymore. Of course, Che'er's food, clothing, and daily necessities will remain the same as before. You know, your sister really likes those girls at the brothel. If we really let them serve you..."

You might get beaten up.

The crisp, resounding slap from that day still echoed in the little boy's ears.

He pursed his lips and said

"It's alright, Aunt Hua, I don't need anyone to serve me. I can manage on my own."

You can refuse, but that slap really hurt.

After saying that, Lan Tingche added...

"Sister Long'er is very good, she did the right thing!"

If I say nice things about her, will I be spared from being beaten in the future?

"Tingche is so good."

Hua Luan was still happy that the Crown Princess's child was so understanding, while Lan Tingche just wanted to avoid being hit by the big beating from now on.