At that moment, a little maid carrying freshly baked cream cookies stepped forward lightly and bowed her head slightly.
“Madam, Your Highness, these are freshly baked cream cookies. Please have a taste.”
“Thank you~”
Ziya picked one up and stuffed it directly into Bai Li’s hand.
“Mother, you eat!”
“You eat, too.”
Bai Li smiled and handed one back to her.
Nibbling on the cookie, Ziya suddenly leaned toward Bai Li’s ear, shielding her mouth with a small hand while chirping in a low voice.
“Mother, do you know? They spent all day preparing for tonight’s Evening Party.”
“Is that so? Then everyone has worked hard,” Bai Li replied softly.
Ziya immediately raised her head and gave the maids a brilliant smile, saying loudly, “Everyone worked hard! Today was super great!”
The maids quickly bowed again, their faces filled with emotion.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Ziya leaned back against Bai Li’s shoulder, her little feet dangling playfully, her face full of contentment.
“Mother, can we have a little Evening Party like this every day?”
“If we did it every day, the maids would be exhausted.”
Bai Li could not help but laugh.
“Um… then once a week?”
Ziya immediately changed her tune, her eyes full of expectation.
Bai Li burst into laughter at her antics and reached out to rub her head.
“Alright, whatever you say.”
Ziya was instantly overjoyed, hugging Bai Li’s arm and rubbing against it like a spoiled kitten.
“Mother is the best!”
‘You really are a little clinger.’
To be relied on, trusted, and loved so wholeheartedly…
Bai Li closed her eyes and took a soft breath.
Her once hard and cold heart had long since melted away, bit by bit.
Ziya picked up another small cake and stubbornly held it to Bai Li’s lips, her eyes unblinking.
“Mother, have another one!”
“I just ate.”
“No, no, just one more bite~”
Ziya gently shook her arm, refusing to give up.
Bai Li truly could not win against her, so she had no choice but to open her mouth and take another bite.
The sweetness spread through her mouth.
This time, there was not a hint of resistance.
Instead, she felt the sweetness reach the depths of her heart.
Ziya ate until her little belly was round, then let out a long sigh of happiness.
“So delicious… today is the happiest day.”
“Why?”
Bai Li looked down at her tenderly.
“Because… Mother promised to be my mother.”
Ziya looked up, her eyes curving into crescent moons, pure and bright.
Looking at her untainted, happy expression, Bai Li’s heart instantly softened into a pool of spring water.
That title, which was originally meant only to coax Ziya…
Hearing it now, she found it to be… extraordinarily pleasant.
“Mother, Mother,” Ziya’s eyes suddenly lit up as she sat up straight.
“Let’s play Guessing Stars, okay? Whoever describes them the most accurately wins!”
“Guessing Stars?”
“Mhm! You describe that brightest one, and I’ll describe the one next to it!”
“Alright, then the loser has to eat a cookie.”
“Deal! It’s a promise!”
The two of them immediately began pointing at the stars in the sky with great interest, arguing back and forth, sometimes nodding and sometimes laughing.
It was noisy yet warm.
Bai Li laughed with her, played with her, and gestured along with her.
She never thought she would one day be this patient, sit in the garden counting stars with her daughter, lean against her daughter’s arm so naturally, and be so… much like a real mother.
What was even more terrifying was —
She did not hate it.
On the contrary… she was already enjoying it.
The night breeze blew gently, the lights flickered slightly, and the entire garden was wrapped in a sweet, warm atmosphere.
After playing for a long while, Ziya finally grew tired.
Leaning into Bai Li’s arms, her small mouth let out a tiny yawn, and her eyelids began to droop.
“Mother… I’m a bit sleepy…”
Bai Li reached out to touch her warm head, her voice growing even softer.
“If you are sleepy, we will go back to sleep.”
“Mhm… I want Mother to carry me back,” Ziya mumbled softly.
“Alright, I’ll carry you back.”
Bai Li leaned down slightly and carefully picked her up.
Ziya obediently wrapped her arms around the neck of Bai Li, who had a slightly smaller stature than herself.
She rested her small head on Bai Li’s shoulder, her eyes nearly closed, and rubbed her face against her neck.
“Mother… today… I’m the happiest…”
“Me too,” Bai Li responded softly, her steps light and steady.
She held the warm, soft little body in her arms, feeling her steady breathing.
In this moment, Bai Li realized clearly —
She probably… could never go back to her old, cold, and solitary self.
Rongrong quickly stepped forward to lead the way toward the Sleeping Palace.
“Madam, let me help you turn on the lights.”
“I’ll have to trouble you, then.”
“It is no trouble; it is my duty.”
The maids watched the two departing figures with gentle smiles, quietly tidying up the table for fear of breaking the peaceful tenderness.
In Bai Li’s arms, Ziya mumbled drowzily, her voice soft and reassured.
“Mother… tomorrow we have to eat snacks together… and take a Petal Bath together…”
“Alright, I will stay with you tomorrow,” Bai Li promised softly.
There was no hesitation, no awkwardness, only a heart full of gentleness.
“Mother is the best…”
“Mhm, go to sleep.”
Ziya leaned happily in Bai Li’s arms and slowly closed her eyes.
But from an angle Bai Li could not see, she smirked mischievously…
It was as if certain plans… were proceeding smoothly.