Si Zheng took the opportunity to walk over to Bai Xilie.
She made casual conversation, "Your Majesty, this servant has brought two palace Servants today to serve the Princess with ink."
Bai Xilie didn’t even glance at her and just responded with a grunt.
He then embraced his daughter, smiled warmly, and directly walked over to sit by the table.
"Zhi’er, Daddy will paint a picture with you."
Bai Zhi’er happily waved her small hand, "Okay! Daddy, can you draw a big cat too?"
Bai Xilie raised his eyebrows and agreed readily.
The father and daughter each held a brush and began to paint on the Xuan paper.
After a while, Bai Xilie’s brushwork revealed a striding majestic lion, leaping onto the paper.
The lion’s eyes stared ahead, its mane seemed to flutter in the wind, exuding mightiness.
Its mouth slightly opened, revealing some fangs, its demeanor stern and fierce, more like a warning to the enemy.
It seemed that anyone who stepped into its territory would be torn apart.
Bai Zhi’er’s little lion was painted more like a chubby catball.
It stretched its plump round front paws, its two ears pointed, and it opened its mouth wide facing forward.
As if it were yawning, radiating an entirely adorable aura.
Bai Xilie saw it and couldn’t help but laugh heartily, his chest vibrating.
"Zhi’er, oh Zhi’er, why is your little kitty yawning so much?"
Bai Zhi’er pointed at the cat with her chubby hand.
"Because it’s next to Father, it feels very safe, so it can sleep soundly. Just like snuggling up beside Daddy!"
These words were very endearing to Bai Xilie.
He enveloped his daughter’s small body with his large hand, "Quite right, as long as Daddy is here, Zhi’er can always be a lazy, napping little kitty."
Eunuch Quan Xi nearby laughed and flattered, "As the saying goes, ’A tiger father has no weak daughter,’ the Princess is just a young lion yet to grow. But in this servant’s view, the Emperor is a true dragon, and the Princess, Your Highness, is the dragon’s daughter!"
Bai Xilie looked up and glanced at him, his emotions unreadable.
Only then did he smile and say one word, "Reward."
Eunuch Quan Xi thanked continuously.
Si Zheng watched and discreetly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, since you and the Princess are in high spirits, why not paint another picture of a dragon soaring in the sky? I can help..."
She hadn’t even finished her sentence.
The little one in Bai Xilie’s arms blinked her long lashes and said, "Daddy’s painting skills are just like Mom’s."
Bai Xilie’s brush strokes were unrestrained, seemingly without any order, yet they could form a complete picture.
In ruggedness, there was detail hidden, the essence always appeared in the unintentional strokes.
With his daughter speaking, Bai Xilie didn’t listen to Si Zheng at all.
He nodded gently, thought of his beloved wife, and even his eyes grew softer.
"Your mother taught me."
Bai Zhi’er’s eyes sparkled even brighter, "Mom is amazing, she knows everything."
Watching this father and daughter, they began to reminisce about the woman who had yet to appear.
No one paid attention to her earlier suggestion.
Si Zheng was so angry she ground her teeth.
From then on, Bai Xilie devoted all his attention to Bai Zhi’er.
It seemed that with his daughter present, the Emperor couldn’t see anyone else.
Si Zheng couldn’t find an opportunity to interact and had to endure.
Finally, when Bai Xilie finished lunch with Bai Zhi’er and was about to rush to the Imperial Study Room to review memorials,
Before leaving, Bai Xilie kissed his daughter’s small cheek, "Daddy has to deal with state affairs, be patient and wait for Daddy, tonight Daddy will come to play with you."
The little one sat on the bed, her hair loose, getting ready for a nap.
Her palm-sized face was round, her dark eyes obedient, "Daddy, don’t worry, Zhi’er will sleep once, and Daddy will be done, if you’re not done, Zhi’er will sleep twice!"
Bai Xilie laughed as he reached out to pinch his daughter’s tiny nose.
When leaving Ruizhu Palace, he instructed Qingmei, "Take good care of the Princess, do not leave her side."