The incident was sudden, and the Ritual Officer responsible for the rites was stunned.
The officials standing outside the palace doors were also quite astonished.
The Emperor and the little princess hadn’t knelt yet when the immortal’s plaques fell down.
Could this be a hint?
Bai Xilie was the first to regain his composure.
With a stern face, he solemnly said to the Ritual Officer: "If they fall again, I’ll make sure your head rolls along with them."
The Ritual Officer’s face turned pale, and he quickly responded: "I will address this immediately, please calm your anger, Emperor!"
A few stepped forward swiftly, picked up the immortal plaques from the ground, and placed them back reverently.
Only then did Bai Xilie relent, showing a hint of a cold displeasure leaving his eyes.
He lowered his head, looking at his obedient daughter, and a loving smile spread across his lips.
"Zhi’er, follow your father and pay respects to the immortal lords, alright?" Bai Xilie finished speaking and knelt on the cushion to set an example.
However, Bai Zhi’er blinked her large eyes, her soft voice lowered as she told Bai Xilie.
"Father, they dare not let me kneel~ Mother would be displeased!"
Bai Xilie paused, an expression of doubt appearing in his eyes.
Bai Zhi’er, seeing his bewildered look, spread her tiny hands and sighed helplessly.
"Alright, if you don’t believe it, watch, father."
She slightly bent her knees, and just as she was about to kneel on the cushion, the immortal plaques again fell!
What could have been chalked up to coincidence earlier, this time, was clearly a divine interpretation!
All the officials present were slightly alarmed.
The Emperor could kneel, but when the little princess knelt, it seemed to provoke the immortals.
Could it be that the little princess was a person of ill omen, and the heavens were warning them?
The Ritual Officer was afraid that Bai Xilie might truly decapitate him.
He hurriedly knelt, hands joined in fear, and said, "Emperor, this time I personally inspected it, the plaques were placed very steadily, and suddenly they fell again, I truly do not know what happened!"
Bai Xilie had already stood up from the cushion.
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze revealing a leonine disdain and danger.
The officials behind him were watching, and if he allowed this situation to pass unaddressed, then surely some rumors targeting Zhi’er would emerge.
Bai Xilie immediately waved his hand: "In that case, I’ve paid my respects. Perhaps the mercy of the heavens cannot bear to see my young daughter kneel, which is why this reminder came."
"Quanxi, offer a thousand taels’ worth of gold and silver incense as an offering from me to thank the immortals for Zhi’er!"
Eunuch Quan Xi quickly nodded: "Yes!"
However, Bai Zhi’er’s soft and adorable voice sounded: "Father, wait~"
Bai Xilie glanced down: "Zhi Bao, what’s the matter?"
The little one blinked her moist dark eyes, her tender white face radiating a natural blush, her cheeks as adorable as peaches.
Bai Zhi’er covered her mouth with her small hand: "If we just leave , some uncles will surely murmur to themselves, thinking that it’s because immortal uncle doesn’t like Zhi’er, thus refusing my worship."
"So, we can’t just leave, otherwise it gives others a chance to spread rumors!"
Bai Xilie’s gaze darkened, his eyes bearing a trace of heartache.
His daughter was so young yet already understood how terrifying words can be.
Bai Xilie’s large hand gently ruffled the little one’s head.
"Zhi’er, with your father present, no one will be able to harm you with words, otherwise, your father will see to it that their entire family pays!"
Bai Zhi’er blinked her spirited black eyes and shook her head: "Father, I have a way!"
She turned to the Ritual Officer: "Uncle, you must help me change the position."