Bai Xilie was silent for a while.
He gradually laughed and said, "Minister Wang, how many children do you have?"
Historian Wang paused and nervously replied, "Your Majesty, three."
"If your children were spoken of this way, what would you do?" Bai Xilie retorted.
Historian Wang couldn’t say a word.
He hesitated for a moment, "Emperor, I am only thinking of the stability of Great Chu, even though I anticipated that such advice might provoke your displeasure."
"But the saintly books I read taught me not to retreat out of fear and that as an official, I must share the ruler’s burdens! Even if the Emperor is angry and wishes to execute me, I accept that."
Bai Xilie’s fist tightened.
A minister nearby could no longer remain silent.
"Lord Wang, these words are groundless. The Princess is merely a three-year-old child. How could she have the ability to spread disease?"
"Moreover, it takes three to four days to contract smallpox, and there were already cases in the city before any appeared in the palace. How do you explain this?"
An elder minister stood up to refute.
Historian Wang was at a loss for words.
He only thought that though the rumor seemed absurd, upon careful consideration, there seemed to be some credibility to it.
The words had been spoken, leaving no room for regret.
Now it depended on what decision Bai Xilie would make.
Feng Fuce raised his gaze, looking at the small figure in the Emperor’s arms.
She blinked her clear, dark eyes, glancing at Historian Wang with an innocent and pure expression.
The little one had no trace of blame.
Instead, she examined the other with bright black eyes.
Listening to Historian Wang saying she might bring disaster.
Feng Fuce couldn’t help but think of that day when the little one in the dungeon healed Qingmei’s injury with just a piece of clothing.
While Bai Xilie was pondering how to sentence Historian Wang to death.
A confidant guard from Prince Kang’s Mansion hurriedly entered the palace.
He held Prince Kang’s token, kneeling outside Chenyuan Hall and cried out—
"Emperor, something terrible has happened! Prince Kang has contracted smallpox, and the Princess Consort ordered me to use the mansion’s token to request the Imperial Physician to come to the mansion to save him!"
The ministers were in an uproar, shocked.
Even Prince Kang had caught the disease!
Bai Xilie instantly furrowed his brows.
Someone said in a whisper, "I remember the princess just visited Prince Kang’s Mansion, how is it that now the Prince has fallen ill?"
This statement caused many to look horrified.
They looked at Bai Zhi’er in Bai Xilie’s arms; though they didn’t speak, their faces showed varying degrees of doubt.
The rumors mentioned by Historian Wang seemed to solidify at this moment.
Could Princess Cui Cuo really be inauspicious?
Bai Xilie, unable to hold back, slammed the table with a gloomy face, about to erupt.
Suddenly, a small hand covered the back of her father’s hand.
Bai Zhi’er shook her little head, her eyes clear and full of understanding, her voice soft and tender, "Daddy, don’t get angry, the ministers will be afraid, and I understand."
She hopped down from Bai Xilie’s knee and walked up the White Jade steps towards the Civil and Military Officials with her little feet.
Bai Zhi’er was petite, yet the aura she exuded was quite extraordinary.
Especially with her lively beauty, her features were exquisitely crafted as if she were a treasure meticulously designed by heaven.
The officials watched her, waiting to hear what the little princess had to say.
"Smallpox is rampant, and I do not wish to see innocent people die from it either."
"So, if I develop a cure, are the ministers willing to clear Zhi Bao’s name?"
She lifted her small chin, looking at everyone with great confidence.