Bai Xilie repeatedly reminded himself in his heart that he’s still a child, don’t be too harsh on him.
But as soon as he thought about it, the daughter he had managed to find again was in close contact with danger because of his negligence!
Bai Xilie couldn’t help but be thunderously angry.
"I ask you, when the Princess sneaked out, where were you, what were you doing, and why didn’t you stop her!"
Only then did Feng Fuce calmly speak, with just three words: "I was asleep."
"You!" Bai Xilie was both shocked and furious.
All along, he thought Feng Fuce was young but a very reliable person.
Yet he didn’t expect such an absurd reason!
Bai Xilie was about to lose his temper on the spot, but suddenly he remembered Bai Zhi’er was in the inner hall.
He took a deep breath, his thick brows and bright eyes surging with overwhelming anger.
After a while, Bai Xilie’s eyes turned icy cold: "Marquis Wan, you’ve disappointed me greatly, you can’t even handle such a small matter."
"According to the Xiuluo Guard’s rules, you are to receive thirty lashes, not to stop until blood is drawn!"
Feng Fuce wasn’t angry either, his expression remained calm: "Understood."
His response was as calm as if he was agreeing to go for a meal.
Bai Xilie felt even more stifled by his attitude.
"Fifty lashes!" Bai Xilie increased the penalty.
Before Feng Fuce could answer, a worried little voice was heard—
"Daddy, don’t hit, don’t hit!" Bai Zhi’er trotted over with her small steps.
She didn’t hug her father’s leg like usual.
Instead, she spread her small arms, standing in front of Feng Fuce like a chick guarding an eagle, facing Bai Xilie.
Bai Zhi’er’s watery eyes were as dark as ink, her delicate little face full of pitiful expressions.
"Daddy, don’t punish Brother Ce, it was me who sneaked out, he didn’t know."
Feng Fuce had been entranced by her spell and, if he was punished because of it, the little one would feel guilty!
The anger on Bai Xilie’s face vanished instantly.
He bent down, softly communicating with his daughter: "Good girl, but Marquis Wan didn’t accomplish the task daddy gave him."
Only then did Bai Zhi’er leap into Bai Xilie’s embrace.
She tilted her little face up, long eyelashes fluttering, and said in a soft voice: "He did accomplish it! Today, when Si Zheng pounced over and almost caught me, it was Brother Ce who protected Zhi’er."
"Daddy, please don’t blame him this time!"
Bai Xilie was not aware of this incident.
Feng Fuce never boasted about his achievements.
He was silent for a moment, then looked up at the cold and calm young man.
Seeing her father’s attitude soften, Bai Zhi’er immediately began to act coy, shaking his large hand with her small hands.
"Next time, Zhi Bao won’t sneak out again, otherwise, Daddy can spank Brother Ce, and I won’t plead for him anymore, okay?"
Feng Fuce suddenly raised his eyebrows, looking at the little one’s back.
Bai Xilie, amused by his daughter’s antics, no longer held onto his anger, and started to laugh brightly.
"Alright, since Zhi’er is pleading for him, Daddy will let him off the hook this time."
Bai Xilie looked toward Feng Fuce, coldly admonishing: "There cannot be a next time."
Just then, Eunuch Quan Xi announced from outside: "Emperor, the two Grand Scholars of the cabinet have an urgent matter and request to see you! They are waiting outside the hall!"
Bai Xilie paused and said to Bai Zhi’er: "Daddy will be right back. If Zhi’er is sleepy, go ahead and sleep."
With that, because Qingmei was not there, Bai Xilie arranged for four palace Servants to guard the night.
Seeing her daddy’s hurried departure.
Bai Zhi’er looked at Feng Fuce.
She pouted, her round white tender face glowing with a rosy hue.
Her dark eyes were bright and shiny: "I’ll just call you Big Dummy from now on! Daddy wanted to hit you, why didn’t you explain yourself!"