【Oh, little sister.】

【Host, how are you so calm? This revelation is quite exciting! Think about it. You were just recognized as the emperor’s adopted daughter and made a princess. Turns out, you’re his sister. The family hierarchy is in chaos! Isn’t that thrilling?】

Emperor: !!!

Closes his eyes. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have announced her as a princess to the public so early.

【Did my rank just drop? By the way, is there any proof? Like, where are my real parents?】

Wu Yi wished he could cover his face but found himself frozen in place by a glance from the emperor.

The emperor looked away, his ears perked up once again.

【It only says you’re the emperor’s sister. Nothing else. Maybe you’ll need to meet more people to uncover the full story.】

【Forget it. I’d rather not know. Don’t tell me next time.】

Emperor: ???

A royal bloodline lost outside the palace is no trivial matter! He wanted to know!

Was his father still alive? Or was someone bold enough to orchestrate this?

Wu Yi, on the other hand, let out a faint sigh of relief. Thank goodness he didn’t have to hear more. Such secrets were best left unheard.

【Wahhh, Host, don’t abandon me. I promise I’ll evolve to be more useful in the future…】

【No, no, sweetie. It’s not that. Even if I find out who my parents are, so what? In ancient times, there were no DNA tests. They won’t recognize me anyway. Better for me to stay ignorant than to carry this burden alone.】

【Wahhh… hugs for baby! System mommy loves you!】

Yuan Ruan chuckled, amused by the system’s exaggerated, meme-like crying.

She was about to console it when she was unexpectedly pulled into a gentle embrace by the emperor.

【Huh? Big Brother is so kind!】

【Wahhh, look at the emperor’s warm gaze. Truly, the unbreakable bond of blood, a touching sibling relationship!】

Emperor: …

Both exasperated and amused, the emperor gently stroked Yuan Ruan’s little head.

In truth, he had the urge to directly ask the “system” for answers but restrained himself upon further consideration.

After some thought, he decided it wasn’t a bad thing.

As an elder brother, he could act as a father figure too.

With that in mind, the emperor awkwardly rocked Yuan Ruan, clearly mimicking how wet nurses soothe babies.

Wu Yi, puzzled by the emperor’s calm demeanor, had a moment of clarity after a few seconds.

The sins of the elders shouldn’t fall on an infant. Moreover, the little divine girl was already worthy of the emperor’s love. Now that she had a bloodline connection, it was even better.

Just as Wu Yi was about to leave, he noticed the emperor swaying too hard, causing the baby’s shoulder to slip out of her swaddle.

Wu Yi darted forward in alarm.

【Ahhh! She’s going to fall!】

【Ahhh! See, the greatest danger when a father takes care of a child is the father himself! Godfathers are no exception!】

Wu Yi caught Yuan Ruan just in time.

Lying in Wu Yi’s arms, Yuan Ruan noticed his unarmored chest peeking through his clothes. She couldn’t resist rubbing her cheek against it and whispered to the system:

【Phew, lucky to land with the male mommy. His broad chest is soft and sturdy. Amazing!】

【Male mommy! Male mommy! Big chest muscles, so secure and strong!】

Though it wasn’t the first time he’d heard this, Wu Yi’s wheat-colored skin turned visibly red.

He muttered under his breath, “It’s a bit cold,” quickly pulling his collar tightly shut.

At that moment, Wu Yi heard the emperor clear his throat.

Looking up, he saw the emperor extending his hands. Instinctively, Wu Yi passed Yuan Ruan back.

The emperor swiftly took her, cast a cold glance at Wu Yi, and turned away.

Wu Yi: ???

Confused, he watched as the emperor carefully adjusted Yuan Ruan’s clothes and modified his hold based on her subtle reactions.

Not only Wu Yi but also the surrounding palace maids and guards were stunned.

The emperor… comforting a child?

Was this the same stoic ruler who could spark wars with a glance and execute with a mere word, known across five nations as a tyrant?

At that moment, an attendant rushed over and respectfully reported, “Your Majesty, the banquet is ready.”

Wu Yi stepped forward and softly suggested, “Your Majesty, shall I carry her?”

The moment he spoke, he heard the baby’s jubilant thoughts:

【Yay! Back to male mommy’s arms!】

【Male mommy! Big chest muscles!】

“No need,” the emperor interrupted curtly, holding Yuan Ruan tightly as he walked out, muttering, “Ungrateful little thing.”

Hearing this, Wu Yi suddenly realized something.

Could it be… the emperor was jealous?

Suppressing a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Wu Yi bowed his head and refrained from speaking further.

The military banquet went on until dusk.

However, the emperor didn’t stay long.

He left early, taking Yuan Ruan back to the tent. After placing the drooling baby on his bed, he gently covered her with a thin blanket.

Stepping outside, he signaled Wu Yi. “Do you think everything the system says is true?”

Wu Yi’s heart tightened, knowing the emperor referred to Yuan Ruan’s bloodline.

“I do not know,” Wu Yi replied softly.

“Do not know? Is that ignorance, or reluctance to speak?” The emperor’s tone was calm, yet it sent chills down Wu Yi’s spine.

“Your Majesty, I…”

“Wu Yi, you were my study companion as a boy and fought with me to seize the throne,” the emperor said, his gaze steady. “This system, though seemingly omniscient, has admitted it needs to directly interact with individuals to reveal details of their past and present.

“It has never met the late emperor, nor does it know whether he is truly dead. Do you think it might mistakenly consider an illegitimate child of Consort Hu as my sibling? Or perhaps the late emperor is not deceased, but in hiding somewhere? Speak boldly, Wu Yi.”

Faced with this deadly question, Wu Yi’s lips twitched.

If she were the late emperor’s posthumous daughter, it would be a joyous discovery.

But if she were the result of Consort Hu’s infidelity, the situation would be dire.

A thought lingered in Wu Yi’s mind: how did the rebels know to use a blue-eyed baby as bait? Could there truly be a hidden royal descendant?

But Wu Yi dared not voice this aloud.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Yi bowed and said, “Your Majesty, may I ask one thing? Regardless of the divine child’s bloodline, she is Daxia’s divine child and Your Majesty’s. Is that not so?”

The emperor, who had been sipping tea, set the cup down.

After a moment of reflection, he said, “You have a point. No matter what, she is already my publicly declared daughter.”

Wu Yi nodded slightly.

Then the emperor added, “Summon Commander Song. Have him thoroughly investigate the late emperor’s harem.”

Commander Song, head of the imperial intelligence network, was a master of espionage. His operations spanned all five nations, stirring chaos wherever he went.

Wu Yi bowed. “Understood.”

The emperor continued, “You will oversee this investigation. If Song finds evidence proving Yuan Ruan is the late emperor’s posthumous daughter, announce it to the world. It would resolve her regrets without harming her.”

After a pause, he added, “But if it’s evidence of infidelity within the harem, destroy all witnesses and evidence. No wall is impervious to the wind, but the dead keep secrets.”

Wu Yi solemnly replied, “Understood.”

It was clear the emperor intended to protect the little princess from any harm, no matter the cost.