Bai Zhi’er looked up at the dark sky with her fair little face.
The cold wind blew, and Qingmei was afraid the little princess would get cold, so she quickly draped a large cloak over her.
Bai Zhi’er said in a soft, sticky voice, "Oh, it’s still early, I’ll go keep Daddy company!"
Qingmei hurriedly dressed the little one and wrapped her in fox fur.
Inside the Imperial Study Room, the lights were bright.
Bai Xilie rubbed his brow, staring at the financial income and expenditure details reported by the Ministry of Revenue, a sea of red seals declaring an emergency.
The national treasury was short on silver, and everything was restricted...
At this moment, an Imperial Guard at the door reported, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Quan Xi has returned."
Bai Xilie didn’t even respond.
He kept his head down, calculating the expenditures and expenses of the past two years.
The Imperial Guard added, "Your Majesty, the little princess has accompanied him."
Simultaneously, a childish voice called from the doorway, "Daddy, open the door quickly, don’t hide inside without making a sound, I know you’re there!"
Bai Xilie was suddenly startled, quickly standing up and striding towards the door.
When he opened it, there stood his petite and lovable daughter outside.
Bai Zhi’er stretched out her soft little arms, and in the next second, she was cuddled by her father.
She was wearing quite a few layers, with the fox fur wrapped around her neck, highlighting her porcelain white and delicate little face.
Bai Xilie rubbed her little fingers, "It’s so late, Zhi’er should be resting first, why did you come looking for Daddy, are you scared?"
Bai Zhi’er shook her little head.
She blinked her long, thick lashes, "I’m here to keep Daddy company, anyway Zhi Bao can’t fall asleep now!"
Hearing this, Bai Xilie let out a deep laugh.
"But Daddy still has a lot of government affairs to read."
The little one tilted her fair, rosy face, "Zhi’er is not afraid, I’ll keep Daddy company!"
Bai Xilie felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.
Holding Bai Zhi’er in his arms, he sat back down on the Dragon Chair.
The father and daughter began to look at the Ministry of Revenue’s reports together.
Bai Zhi’er blinked her thick, long lashes, her bright, dark eyes like two black grapes.
She pointed her little finger at a spot, "Daddy, circle this place, ask Uncle Minister face to face tomorrow where this money went."
Bai Xilie nodded and did as she said.
Soon, Bai Zhi’er had scanned through roughly all of it.
There weren’t many questionable spots, it seemed that Great Chu was indeed facing the difficulty of an empty treasury, just as Mother had said.
The little one stretched out her soft white fingers, massaging her father’s brow.
"Daddy, don’t worry, money is on the way, it’ll be here soon!"
Before coming, Mother had said that whatever Zhi’er wanted, what she wished for, wouldn’t take long to come true.
She now wanted money, and she was sure it would come!
When exactly, the little one didn’t know.
But what Mother said, surely wasn’t wrong!
Bai Xilie was moved by how his daughter, at such a young age, already knew how to comfort people.
He hugged Bai Zhi’er’s little body, his large hand gently patting her back.
"Zhi’er is so good, Daddy is not in a hurry."
The little one lay on her father’s belly, her small hand resting on Bai Xilie’s shoulder.
At first, her big eyes were still blinking with a glossy dark sheen.
But soon, with the rhythmic patting of Bai Xilie’s hand,
and the sense of security felt in her father’s embrace,
Bai Zhi’er’s soft little face soon showed signs of drowsiness.
Before long, Bai Zhi’er was asleep in Bai Xilie’s arms.
Bai Xilie held her with his left hand, and with his right hand, he picked up the red seal and continued reading by the light.
Perhaps the little one in his arms was sleeping too soundly, Bai Xilie didn’t know when, but he too lowered his head and fell asleep.
At this moment, in his dreams, he heard the voice he longed for day and night—
"A Lie, you’re so busy sleeping, aren’t you going to care for your daughter?"