CHAPTER 488: CHAPTER 488: BABY STAYS UP LATE PRACTICING CALLIGRAPHY? NO WAY!

You can see the little child sitting by the stone table, with an array of pastries and tea on display.

Her little hands are supporting her chin, swinging her small feet, looking utterly content.

Meanwhile, not far away, Su Yinling was running herself breathless, with sweat streaming down her face.

Butterflies fluttered all around, and Su Yinling stopped to catch her breath.

With a soft, sweet voice, Bai Zhi’er said: "Aunt Yinling, you can’t rest yet. You haven’t caught that pink butterfly for Zhi’er. You need to try harder!"

Su Yinling wiped the sweat from her forehead and said breathlessly: "Zhi’er, why don’t we ask some Palace Attendants to help me? I’m really a bit tired."

"Where’s Miss Qingmei? Ask her to come, that way we can catch the butterfly for you sooner."

Bai Zhi’er immediately pouted, blinking her big eyes in grievance.

"No, Aunt Yinling is the one I favor most. The first butterfly of summer, Zhi’er wants it to be caught by Aunt Yinling."

Su Yinling looked at the child’s increasingly dependant gaze.

No matter how tired she was, she could only grit her teeth and persist in chasing the butterfly!

Bai Zhi’er’s soft voice kept directing: "Left, it’s flying to the left! Oh, Aunt Yinling, you’re too slow. It’s gone right again; go catch it!"

Feng Fuce watched, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Chu Ping looked at him: "Marquis, aren’t we going over to reprimand that Su Yinling?"

Feng Fuce turned his gaze, coolly looking at him: "What for? Isn’t she already being put through the wringer?"

Having said this, he turned and left with the Xiu Luo Envoy.

Chu Ping was stunned for a moment and quickly caught up: "Marquis, you’re not going to intervene?"

Feng Fuce was quite composed: "I thought Bai Zhi’er was truly being bullied, but from the look of things, it’s someone else being bullied. Since she’s aware, we don’t need to interfere."

Chu Ping glanced back toward Bai Zhi’er’s direction.

The little one with her round black eyes was watching Su Yinling darting about, seemingly amused.

She directed left, then right, as if orchestrating a playful spectacle.

Chu Ping too had a moment of doubt.

Does Princess understand everything?

At night.

Bai Xilie finished handling affairs, and it was already late.

He guessed that by this hour, his precious daughter would already be asleep.

So, he gently entered Ruizhu Palace, planning to take a look at his daughter’s sleeping face and cover her with a blanket before leaving.

However, upon entering the grand hall, Bai Xilie saw the little one’s figure asleep at the table.

Bai Xilie was greatly surprised.

He hurried over and saw the table covered with practice sheets.

The little one had fallen asleep with a pen in hand, exhausted.

"Zhi’er." Bai Xilie picked up the little girl, his heart aching.

"Papa?" Bai Zhi’er slowly awoke, rubbing her eyes and murmuring sleepily: "Huh? Wasn’t I practicing calligraphy? How did I fall asleep? Papa, put me down, Zhi’er hasn’t finished writing yet."

Bai Xilie immediately frowned: "That’s enough writing. It must be Mo Yanchi’s assignments tiring you out."

He turned toward the door, speaking with some ire: "Where is Sister Qingmei? The Princess is this tired, yet she’s not here to attend to her. Go find her!"

Bai Zhi’er tugged on Bai Xilie’s sleeve: "Papa, don’t blame Sister Qingmei. It’s because Zhi’er was writing and got hungry, so I asked Sister Qingmei to get me something to eat."

Bai Xilie furrowed his brows in distress: "Zhi’er, you can practice calligraphy tomorrow after you’re rested. There’s no need to stay up late. Let papa soothe you to sleep."

But Bai Zhi’er shook her head determinedly: "No, papa, I must finish writing. Tomorrow the instructor will come to the palace."

"These past days, Aunt Yinling has been taking Zhi’er out to play, delaying my practice. If the instructor knew I’m not practicing, he would be disappointed, and Zhi’er doesn’t want that."

Bai Xilie’s brows furrowed deeply, his tone suddenly becoming solemn: "Su Yinling? She comes every day to take you to play?"