Second half of the night.
Bai Xilie was still waiting for Feng Fuce’s report.
He stayed outside his daughter’s hall, reviewing memorials.
The Hidden Guard reported in secret that in the Capital, there were a few cases of smallpox infections.
Bai Xilie furrowed his cold brows.
At this moment, Eunuch Quan Xi quietly announced Feng Fuce’s arrival.
"Emperor, the Marquis is back."
The door was pushed open, letting the cold wind swirl inside.
"Well, did you burn it all?" Bai Xilie lowered his voice to avoid waking his daughter, asking.
The young boy’s face was icy pale, he whispered in a deep voice, "No."
Bai Xilie’s expression turned ugly all of a sudden.
He squinted at Feng Fuce, "Why did you not follow the Imperial Decree? Are you defying me?"
Feng Fuce lifted his head and looked straight into the Emperor’s eyes.
He calmly said, "Just as the fire began, it rained. If the Emperor doesn’t believe me, you can check for yourself."
He had been buried in the documents outside the hall and was unaware.
He quickly walked to the window, and the moment he pushed it open, winter rain fell like needles, dripping tightly onto the ground.
He felt dazed for a moment.
Tonight, it could not be burned after all.
Feng Fuce continued calmly behind him, "I’ve already had the Clothes Cleaning Bureau sealed off, the Emperor can consider the timing for burning after the rain stops."
Now that the matter had come to this, it could only be so.
Bai Xilie waved his hand, letting him withdraw.
As Feng Fuce reached the door, he glanced back slightly.
The inner hall was separated by a vast and magnificent screen.
A small figure could be seen curled up on the bed.
Feng Fuce raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and left.
In the dream, Bai Zhi’er found herself in the ethereal fog of the Heavenly Palace Book Pavilion.
Four fairies with exquisite snow-white skins draped in silk surrounded the child.
Bai Zhi’er walked with small steps among the hundreds of towering bookshelves reaching into the clouds.
"Strange, I remember, there’s a book that records the location of the Wuxiang Pearl, which book was it?"
The little one lightly tapped her own head with a pink fist.
Couldn’t recall at such a crucial moment!
A fairy carried over a cup of Jade Dew to the side.
"Emperor, have a sip of Immortal Dew," she said, raising the radiant transparent cup with her slender hand.
Bai Zhi’er, having tasted gourmet food before, was indifferent to Immortal Dew.
She shook her little head and dodged the cup, moving towards the bookshelf: "Sister Qingluan, I’m not thirsty."
Another fairy approached, "Then how about eating a Jade Flower?"
She picked a radiantly glowing flower from the bamboo basket on her arm.
While in the mortal world, it was something that could make one ascend to immortality; in the nine layered heaven, it was just a snack Bai Zhi’er used to nibble on.
The little one still refused to eat.
Jade Flower is tasteless, not as delicious as the meatballs made by Sister Qingmei!
Bai Zhi’er continued shaking her head, "Sister Hongluan, keep it, I’m not eating."
The remaining two fairies gathered around, laughing coquettishly, "What’s happened to the Emperor, gone to the mortal world and lost her appetite? In the past, these were your favorite things."
Bai Zhi’er waved her finger, and a book flew from the shelf, slowly landing in her hand.
As she turned the pages, she mumbled, "Four beautiful sisters, if you’re free, help Zhi Bao find where the Wuxiang Pearl grows, will you?"
Upon hearing this, the fairies couldn’t help but change their expressions.
"Wuxiang Pearl? It is most abundant in that one’s territory... Why does the Emperor ask about this?" They didn’t dare even mention the name.
Bai Zhi’er was about to speak when suddenly, she felt a gentle tickling beside her cheek.
The little one woke up from the dream.