Bai Zhi’er hooked her left arm around Princess Rui’s neck, and grasped Prince Rui’s hand with her right.
Prince Rui laughed heartily, "Not tired at all, having a daughter like Zhi’er is great, Zhi’er, just call me Big Daddy from now on!"
Bai Xilie’s expression darkened, "Big brother?"
Prince Rui unintentionally met his gaze and suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
He hurriedly handed Bai Zhi’er back to his second brother Bai Xilie.
Princess Rui pursed her lips, smiling to ease the situation, "It’s really because Zhi’er is too adorable. With such a daughter, second brother’s fortune is enviable to others."
Prince Rui rubbed his hands a bit belatedly, "Indeed..."
Since Bai Xilie became the Emperor, his authority has increased daily.
The sense of oppression belonging to a ruler made even his brothers feel timid under his sharp gaze.
Only after Bai Zhi’er returned to Bai Xilie’s arms did he show a smile as he looked at his daughter.
"Zhi’er, are you hungry? Shall I have someone start the feast early?"
The little one was seeing so many people together for the first time and was quite excited.
She shook her head, her big eyes filled with bright liveliness.
"Daddy, Zhi Bao wants to play outside the hall!"
Bai Xilie, with a doting smile, placed his daughter on the ground, "Go ahead."
Afterward, he looked at Qingmei not far away, indicating for her to follow the Princess.
Bai Zhi’er, being very obedient, waved her little hand at Prince Rui and his wife before leaving.
"Big Uncle, Big Aunt, I’m going to play now!"
Saying this, she dashed off like a little butterfly set free.
After his daughter left, Bai Xilie’s expression returned to his usual solemn and cold demeanor.
He picked up a teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Fourth brother hasn’t come?"
Prince Rui quickly replied, "I took your invitation to his residence immediately, but he said he’s been busy lately and might not be able to come."
Bai Xilie swallowed the tea, letting out a cold laugh.
"I didn’t hold a grudge against him, yet he seems to be the one bearing a grudge against me first!"
After saying this, he placed the teacup heavily on the table, with a light clinking sound of porcelain.
Prince Rui cast a beseeching glance at his Princess Consort.
Princess Rui pursed her lips and, with a dignified and steady air, said, "Emperor, please calm down."
She wasn’t a direct relative of Bai Xilie, so naturally, she couldn’t address him as second brother like Prince Rui.
Princess Rui slowly said, "If fourth brother hadn’t been kidnapped back then and the Emperor hadn’t been distracted by the rescue, second brother’s wife wouldn’t have gone missing with the child amidst the chaos."
"After fourth brother was rescued, the Emperor beat him with ten lashes under the pretext of carelessness. Surely this fourth brother blames himself in his heart."
"So in recent years, he has tried to minimize contact with the Emperor to avoid recalling the events of that year and his immense self-blame."
Bai Xilie sneered, his eyes cold, "Is it truly self-blame, or is it because of the ten lashes I gave him?"
"Enough, I’m too lazy to deal with him. He’s in his twenties but hasn’t started a family, busy with who knows what every day, let him be!"
Seeing Bai Xilie seemingly unwilling to pursue the matter, Prince Rui and his wife secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Jing Jia and Bai Zhi’er had gone missing back then because their fourth brother, Bai Beirang, led an army in pursuit and fell into a trap, being captured.
Bai Xilie went to rescue him, only to find the enemy was diverting attention to launch a war, so Jing Jia immediately took the child to a safe place.
This departure led to Jing Jia still not returning to this day.
Whether Bai Xilie bore any resentment toward Bai Beirang at the time, only he knows in his heart.
At this moment, Prince Kang’s laughter echoed, "Sorry, sorry, I’m late!"
Prince Rui seemed to see a savior, quickly waving, "Third brother, come quickly, we’ve been waiting for you."