The Eastern Chu Imperial Palace.
Su Xuening looked at the child who was about the same age as her son, her eyes filled with heartache.
She looked at her daughter nestled in her arms, feeling utterly helpless.
Xuanyuan Zhan walked over, put his arm around Su Xuening's shoulder, and followed her gaze to Huangfu Jue not far away: "What? That child has caused trouble again?"
"Father, hug me!" Upon seeing Xuan Yuanzhan approach, Little Star immediately reached out to him for a hug.
The moment Xuan Yuanzhan heard the word "Father Emperor," his heart melted. He reached out and hugged Xiao Xingxing, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Little Star nestled against Xuan Yuanzhan's chest, its adorable appearance making Xuan Yuanzhan swoon.
Luckily, Ning'er gave him a daughter, otherwise he wouldn't have such a sweet and caring daughter!
Su Xuening glared at him: "What trouble could such an obedient child possibly cause?"
That child has been here for three years and has never caused any trouble. He is so well-behaved and sensible that it makes her feel sorry for him.
Xuan Yuanzhan looked puzzled: "Then what are you worrying about here?"
Even Xuan Yuanzhan had to admit that the boy was indeed quite well-behaved and sensible.
Doesn't this leave him with no reason to even send him back to Southern Qi?
On the very first day this kid was sent here, he was already thinking about sending him back to Southern Qi.
They've been thinking about it for three years, but the kid still hasn't sent it back!
Su Xuening frowned with a hint of heartache: "It seems like he's been bullied again?"
When she saw the child in the morning, he still had injuries on his face.
Xuanyuan Zhan frowned suddenly and said angrily, "It was those brats again? I'll go teach them a lesson."
Xuanyuan Zhan was often bullied when he was a child, so he hates this kind of bullying behavior the most.
"Forget it." Su Xuening quickly pulled him back: "He's studying at the Imperial Academy, there are so many children there, how can you possibly manage them all!"
The child was bullied, but he never mentioned it when he came back, and he wouldn't say anything even if you asked him.
Those studying at the Imperial Academy were all relatives of the emperor or sons of important officials. With so many children, how could he possibly take care of any of them? Besides, if the child didn't say anything, they wouldn't even know what was going on, so how could he possibly take care of them?
Xuanyuan Zhan was somewhat annoyed. As the emperor, it was indeed inappropriate for him to get involved in his child's affairs, but he really couldn't let such a thing go unchecked.
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at the little star in his arms.
Little Star blinked its big eyes at Xuan Yuanzhan.
The moment the parents looked at each other, Xuan Yuanzhan's heart melted.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, that kid was very likely to be his son-in-law in the future, so how could he let that kid be bullied?
Xuanyuan Zhan felt increasingly uneasy, so he picked up Xiaoxing and went to find Huangfu Jue.
When Xuanyuan Zhan and Su Xuening arrived, Huangfu Jue was doing something in the Imperial Garden.
"Come here." Xuanyuan Zhan beckoned to Huangfu Jue.
Upon seeing Xuan Yuanzhan and Su Xuening, Huangfu Jue immediately ran over and bowed to them, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty, Empress, and Princess."
Su Xuening helped him up, then lifted his small face and asked with concern, "What happened to your face?"
Huangfu Jue immediately lowered his head: "Nothing?"
Su Xuening was helpless. This child was always like this. No matter how much he was bullied outside, he never said anything or complained when he came back!
Since the child was unwilling to talk, Su Xuening didn't press him for details.
Moreover, she wasn't his biological mother, so he might be wary of her.
Xuan Yuanzhan didn't have as many thoughts as Su Xuening. He patted Huangfu Jue's head and asked directly, "What are you doing?"
Huangfu Jue raised the small jade bottle in his hand: "Yesterday I heard my sister coughing. The imperial physician said that dew is the best medicine, so I collected dew for my sister."
Xuanyuan Zhan: "..."
Su Xuening: "..."
The two exchanged a look of shame.
Even they hadn't thought of using dew as a medicinal ingredient.
This child is so thoughtful!
Most importantly, no one could match his love for Little Star.
In the three years since he came to Dongchu, everyone has seen how good he is to Xiaoxing.
This child is so tiny, still a baby himself, yet he is so sensible, sometimes so sensible that it breaks your heart.
"Brother Jue, hug me!" As soon as Little Star saw Huangfu Jue, she reached out to him for a hug, refusing to let Xuan Yuanzhan hug her either.
When Xiaoxing asked him to hold her, Huangfu Jue instinctively reached out and took Xiaoxing from him.
Little Star was afraid that Huangfu Jue couldn't carry him, so he hugged his neck directly.
The sight of the two being so intimate made Xuan Yuanzhan feel a pang of sadness.
Well, his daughter is so young, and someone is already trying to take her away from him.
The most despicable one is Emperor Huangfu Shenglin of Southern Qi. His daughter was only a month old when he sent his son to snatch her away!
Most importantly, his son is still so young. He was sent to Eastern Chu when he was only three years old, and it has been more than three years now, and that dog emperor has never come to see him once.
He's so heartless! Doesn't he miss his son?
When his mother takes him out to play, he misses them terribly!
Looking at the affectionate little pair before him, Xuan Yuanzhan seemed to have made up his mind, and asked Huangfu Jue, "Huangfu Jue, do you want to learn martial arts?"
Huangfu Jue nodded without hesitation: "Yes, I want to learn martial arts to protect Xing'er."
Xuanyuan Zhan: "..."
This answer was so unexpected!
"Ahem~" Xuan Yuanzhan coughed lightly, forcing himself to be serious: "I've decided to personally teach you martial arts. Would you like to become my disciple?"
Huangfu Jue was stunned.
He thought that if he asked him about martial arts, he would find him a master.
After all, he is already over six years old, and it's time for him to learn martial arts.
Xing'er's older brother, Xiao Bao, seems to have started learning martial arts when he was five years old.
To his surprise, the man was willing to personally teach him martial arts.
"Of course I'm willing." Huangfu Jue snapped out of his daze and nodded immediately.
Xuanyuan Zhan was satisfied and waved his hand, "Very well, from today onwards, I will be your master and officially begin teaching you martial arts."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Jue handed the little star to Su Xuening and knelt down before Xuan Yuanzhan, saying, "Disciple Huangfu Jue greets Master."
"Good boy." Xuan Yuanzhan helped Huangfu Jue up. "Come on, let's go to the main hall and formally hold the apprenticeship ceremony!"
Xuanyuan Zhan led Huangfu Jue towards the main hall of Dongchu.
He wanted to see which brat would dare to bully his disciple now that he had officially accepted Huangfu Jue as his apprentice!
Besides, once he starts teaching him martial arts, he doesn't believe any brat will have the ability to bully him!
Although Xuanyuan Zhan didn't say anything, Huangfu Jue understood his full intention in taking him as a disciple, and said softly with emotion, "Thank you, Master."
Xuan Yuanzhan snorted: "I'm counting on you to protect my precious daughter in the future. If you can't even protect yourself, how can you talk about protecting her?"
Xuan Yuanzhan's words were tantamount to acknowledging Huangfu Jue's status as his son-in-law.
Huangfu Jue's gaze was resolute: "I will protect Xing'er!"
Xuan Yuanzhan looked at the determined little boy and couldn't help but smile.
There's nothing wrong with training a son-in-law from a young age.
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