The little one was very cooperative, trying a bit of everything.
Eventually, she couldn't eat anymore.
Being small, her stomach wasn't big either.
With her little round belly sticking out, Bai Zhi'er leaned back in her chair and exhaled.
"Hmm, Zhi'er's little watermelon is ripe, can't eat anymore." She gently patted her own belly.
Her action made everyone in the hall laugh.
Qingmei couldn't help but cover her lips and smile, waving her hand: "Take these away."
Bai Zhi'er's grape-like big eyes blinked: "Sister Qingmei, if I can't finish these, what will you do with them?"
"Naturally, we will throw them away. Otherwise, if kept until evening, I'm afraid the Princess's delicate health might suffer, getting a stomachache." Qingmei replied.
Bai Zhi'er immediately raised her little eyebrows: "Can't throw them away, food is so precious!"
She waved her little hand: "Sister Qingmei, you and the other pretty sisters should share it, and also the little eunuchs outside, give it to them to eat!"
Qingmei hesitated: "But Princess, these are meant for you to eat, how can we servants think to indulge?"
The precious ingredients used for making the Princess's pastries were not something they could normally have.
But Bai Zhi'er didn't care.
She said in her milky voice: "It's nothing, follow Zhi Bao and there will be plenty of good food and drink in the future!"
Saying this, Bai Zhi'er waved her little hand like a grown-up: "Go on, go on, take and share them to eat!"
Only then did Qingmei, with all the palace attendants, bow in thanks: "Thank you, Princess, for your generosity."
At this moment, a young Chief Palace Servant dressed in more ornate and complex attire entered with six palace attendants.
Seeing this, Qingmei and the others turned and bowed: "Greetings to the Chief."
Bai Zhi'er blinked her sparkling eyes, looking at the newcomer.
This Chief Palace Servant, around twenty years old, had a very serious expression.
She ignored Qingmei and instead walked up to Bai Zhi'er first, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Princess, I am Si Zheng, the Chief Palace Servant from the Imperial Affairs Bureau. This time, under orders, I bring a personal palace maid to attend to the Princess."
As soon as Si Zheng's words fell, a palace maid with lowered eyes and an obedient demeanor stepped out from behind her.
Bai Zhi'er's delicate eyelashes fluttered, her voice soft and sweet: "But Daddy has already sent Sister Qingmei."
Qingmei also looked puzzled, frowning at Si Zheng.
Si Zheng turned her head, her gaze sharp as she looked at Qingmei: "Qingmei has made mistakes in meals before, how can someone like that stay by the Princess's side to serve."
She turned back to Bai Zhi'er: "I will report this matter to Your Majesty, so I brought someone today to replace Qingmei, also considering the Princess's safety."
Qingmei clenched her fists, restraining her anger: "Chief, I urge you not to slander, you know very well why there were issues with the meals last year! Things are clear now, why throw mud on me again."
Si Zheng clasped her hands at her abdomen, looking stern and hard to talk to.
Without even looking at Qingmei, she waved her hand: "Such defiance, with no manners, take her away and slap her!"
Immediately, palace attendants stepped forward to hold Qingmei's arms.
Just then, a tender voice suddenly sounded: "Stop!"
Si Zheng looked towards Bai Zhi'er, who had stopped them.
The little one's eyes were lively, with a clear light, and her milk-white little face filled with cleverness and wit.
"Si Zheng, how can you not ask if I agree and just want to take Sister Qingmei away?"
She tilted her little head, her tone innocent but with undeniable authority.
"I haven't nodded, so Sister Qingmei is still mine. You really don't regard Zhi'er, do you?"