Bai Xilie couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
He pulled Bai Zhi’er to sit beside him.
"Father didn’t intend to hide from Zhi’er, but it’s late at night, and only then do I get some time to myself."
After speaking, he peeled the sweet potato, blew on it, and then fed Bai Zhi’er a bite.
The little one blinked her long lashes in confusion.
"Why does Father hide to eat? Are the uncles in the Imperial Kitchen trying to starve you?"
Bai Xilie couldn’t help but laugh: "Of course not. Father just occasionally thinks about the days when we barely had any money and lived together with your mother,"
Bai Zhi’er lowered her head and looked at the fragrant sweet potato.
Back then, when she went to find Father, Mother said to bring this over, and Father would surely recognize it.
The little one nodded, her voice soft and sweet: "Zhi’er heard, Mother once said, there was a time when Father was recruiting soldiers and spent all of your money!"
"So, Mother just followed you and ate sweet potatoes for three months, every meal, every day."
"Mother said, during that time, she almost turned into sweet potato flavor!"
At the mention of Jing Jia, Bai Xilie’s resolute handsome face couldn’t help but smile.
"Indeed, the path to overthrow the tyrant was not easy. Your mother accompanied Father, endured many hardships, and never complained."
Bai Zhi’er blinked: "Then why doesn’t Father ask the uncles in the Imperial Kitchen to roast sweet potatoes for you but sneaks over here at night?"
Bai Xilie looked up at the starry sky and sighed with emotion.
"I have asked them to do it, but for some reason, it just doesn’t have that original taste."
"During the day, there’s always a crowd around Father. Even if I want to roast sweet potatoes, they would come over to help."
"But only at night, at this very moment, do I get some time that belongs solely to Father."
Bai Zhi’er seemed to understand imperfectly: "So that’s why Father found a place without people, to recall hardships and sweetness~"
Bai Xilie smiled softly: "Sort of."
The little one ate another piece of sweet potato, her voice soft: "Father, you must be thinking of Mother!"
Bai Xilie’s expression paused, and in front of his daughter, he remained restrained.
"Really? But sometimes when Father dreams, you keep calling ’Jia’er~ Jing’er~ don’t go’!"
Bai Zhi’er imitated vividly.
She blinked her bright black eyes, mimicking Bai Xilie.
"Sometimes Father also does this, pouting his lips. Is he talking to Mother?" The little one puckered her rosy lips and curiously asked.
Bai Xilie’s face turned dark.
Did he really act so shamelessly once asleep?!
Bai Xilie felt a surge of shame.
His daughter sometimes slept with him, and he was so shameless. How could he set an example for his good daughter!
Bai Xilie pressed his large palm to his brow.
He cleared his throat: "Zhi’er, it’s been years. Father hasn’t seen your mother again. Sometimes when I think of her, it feels like I’ve just had a beautiful dream."
Bai Zhi’er snuggled her little head into his embrace.
"Father, look at Zhi’er. I am the baby, which means you’re not dreaming. You and Mother did truly meet."
Bai Xilie lowered his head and used his hand to pick off the sweet potato skin from her lips.
Thinking of his wife and then looking at his daughter, his gaze was filled with indulgence and warmth for his family.
"Yes, Zhi’er is the best gift your mother gave to Father." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by noveⅼfire.net
Bai Zhi’er sat up and patted Bai Xilie’s shoulder with her little hand.
She soothed him like a little grown-up.
"Rest assured, Father. When Mother finishes, she’ll come back. She’s busy helping others reunite now!"