Bai Xilie smiled dotingly.
He gently placed his daughter’s small hand back under the quilt.
Before leaving, he blew out the lamps in the room.
But the four Luminous Pearls placed in the corners emitted a soft glow.
So as not to make the room too dark, lest Bai Zhi’er wake up at night afraid.
Bai Xilie gently closed the door.
He spent all his evenings with his daughter, so now, he needed to hurry back to the Imperial Study Room to review memorials.
Before leaving, he instructed Qingmei who was guarding the door: "Send two more palace Servants for the night, and if Zhi’er is afraid, come to the Imperial Study Room at once to inform me."
Bai Zhi’er had just arrived in a new environment, and Bai Xilie feared she might not adapt well.
Qingmei bowed her head and said: "Yes, I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty."
Bai Xilie’s Chief Eunuch, Eunuch Quan Xi, had already led two rows of Palace Attendants, holding lanterns, waiting at the steps below.
The cold wind blew from time to time, making Eunuch Quan Xi’s nose red with cold, but he dared not complain even a bit.
Seeing the tall and solid figure of Bai Xilie appear, the eunuch quickly raised the lantern to greet him.
The person next to him draped the prepared large cloak over the Emperor’s shoulders.
"Your Majesty, it’s deep into the night now; I have arranged for some warm tea in the Imperial Study Room. You can have a drink to ward off the cold in a while."
Bai Xilie replied with a cold "hmm."
Normally, in front of outsiders, he rarely smiled, and to many, the Emperor seemed somewhat capricious, his mood unpredictable.
Quan Xi had served Bai Xilie for almost three years and still couldn’t grasp his personality.
The sound of footsteps on the snow made a "swooshing" noise.
Bai Xilie took big strides, and the Palace Attendants followed closely, not daring to slacken.
Just then, at the bridgehead ahead, a slender figure stood there.
In the dim light of two palace lanterns on the bridgehead, the person appeared very fragile in the cold wind.
Quan Xi was at the front, raised the lantern to illuminate, and reported back to Bai Xilie: "Your Majesty, it seems to be Si Zheng from the Imperial Affairs Bureau."
As he spoke, Bai Xilie had already walked near Si Zheng in just a few steps.
Si Zheng quickly stepped forward, curtsying: "Your servant Si Zheng, pays respects to Your Majesty."
Bai Xilie merely nodded slightly, intending to brush past her.
Si Zheng seized the opportunity and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I have selected two well-behaved and proper Serve ink palace Servants from the Imperial Affairs Bureau. Tomorrow, may I bring these two to see the Princess?"
"If the Princess likes them, I can have them frequently accompany her to practice calligraphy."
Bai Xilie paused, frowning as he thought for a moment.
His handwriting was indeed cursive; though grand and vigorous, it would be best to find a teacher to guide the little one if she were to practice writing.
Thus, Bai Xilie nodded his approval.
"Take them to see her. If the Princess doesn’t like them, have them return; everything is based on the Princess’s mood."
Si Zheng bowed her head in agreement.
She felt a surge of secret joy within.
She thought to herself that she had bet correctly.
The Emperor had just brought his daughter back and cherished her greatly at this time.
As long as it involved the little princess, the Emperor couldn’t refuse.
Bai Xilie spoke no more to her, leading the Palace Attendants straight away.
Si Zheng raised her head, her obsessed gaze following the tall, strong figure.
Bai Xilie was the man she dreamed of having.
The Emperor was decisive and powerful, his appearance so handsome that ordinary fair-skinned scholars couldn’t match his charm.
His entire being exuded a wild, mature masculine allure.
Currently, the harem hung empty, without a concubine in sight.
Every man has his needs.
Yet Bai Xilie remained pure and proper, never abusing his status as Emperor to indulge in beauties.
His extreme restraint left Si Zheng with no opportunity.
However, since Bai Zhi’er appeared, Si Zheng seemed to see a glimmer of hope again...