"Oh, Your Highness, so you're here! Quickly, come with me to change your clothes and go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

When Xiao Dengzi saw Xiao Xi'er, he only thought she was a little girl Qin Jingyi had brought back from outside the palace, and had no idea that the little girl in front of him was a princess.

Qin Jingyi, seeing that he had finally managed to coax Xiao Xi'er back, refused to change clothes with Xiao Dengzi and headed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xiao Dengzi grew anxious and said directly, "Your Highness, His Majesty has passed away. All the empresses, princes, and princesses are kneeling before the Hall of Mental Cultivation. It was the Empress who sent this servant to find Your Highness."

"What did you say? Father is dead?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Qin Jingyao was still pondering the credibility of those words. After all, he didn't believe Qin Jue could die for no reason. Before he could think any further, Xiao Xi'er tugged at his hand, tilted her head back, and innocently asked, "Brother, what does 'dead' mean?"

The little stool spoke first, "Miss, 'dead' means 'no longer breathing,' meaning you'll never see them again."

Xiao Xi'er turned her head to Qin Jingyao and said, "Brother, is it possible that I'll never see Daddy again?"

Qin Jingyi squatted down without saying a word, which made Xiao Xi'er burst into tears.

"Waaaaah... I don't want to never see my father again... Waaaaah!"

Qin Jingyao was about to comfort Xiao Xi'er and take her to the Hall of Mental Cultivation when he heard Xiao Xi'er crying out, "Kitty!!!"

Sha Ting, who had been lying on the other side of the bamboo grove, immediately ran over. Reaching Xiao Xi'er, he lay down again without her saying a word, and ran off after she came up to him.

"Go back, find Daddy, waaaaah..."

Xiao Dengzi was startled by Sha Ting's sudden appearance and froze on the spot. When he came to his senses, he saw Qin Jingyi chasing after the white tiger.