My brother entrusted his child to me, and I livestreamed raising the baby, making the Empress cry wi

Lin Ye sighed softly, placed the little girl in the middle of the bed, and pulled the blanket over her.

The warmth from the underfloor heating rose from the soles of my feet, carrying the faint scent of laundry detergent, and cozyly filled the entire room.

The curtains weren't fully drawn, leaving a narrow gap through which the orange nightlight of the first-tier city quietly seeped in, leaving a thin trail of light on the wooden floor.

Lin Ye also took off his shoes and got into bed.

He leaned against the headboard, put his arm around the little girl's shoulder and patted her gently twice, then said:

"Don't be afraid, little one, your godfather will sleep with you tonight."

Little Douzi turned to the side, stretched out his two little hands from under the blanket, and grabbed the fabric of his pajamas at his waist.

He held it tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, he would disappear.

Lin Ye patted her back casually, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The warm light from the nightlight cast a soft halo on the ceiling, also revealing his shadow.

After a while, Lin Ye lowered his eyes, looked at the small figure in his arms, and suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"Little Pocket".

"Hmm?" The little girl's voice was muffled.

Lin Ye hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question.

"Little Douzi, do you... miss your mother?"

Xiao Douzi looked up from beside him, the light from the night lamp casting a slanted glow on her face, half-light and half-dark. A hint of confusion lingered in her large eyes.

"My mother?" she repeated.

Lin Ye thought for a moment, and realized that it didn't seem to be common for royalty to call someone "mother."

He changed his wording: "Your mother, the Queen."

Little Douzi blinked and understood.

She lowered her eyes, buried her face back against his side, and said softly, "Sometimes... just a little bit."

"But..." The little girl pursed her lips and hugged the rabbit in her arms even tighter, "She didn't want Xiaodouzi and Daddy. Xiaodouzi will make herself stop thinking about her."

When she said this, her tone revealed a determination beyond her years.

Hearing her sensible yet heartbreaking tone, Lin Ye felt a pang in his heart.

He curled his fingers slightly, took a deep breath, and gently patted the back of Xiaodouzi's head.

When he placed his palm on her, the soft tuft of hair gently brushed against his hand, as if in response.

Lin Ye remained silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Then... if your godfather makes sure you never see her again, will Xiaodouzi be sad?"

Xiao Douzi looked up at him again, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Never to see him again?" She thought for a moment, her voice trailing off. "Like...like Father?"

Lin Ye's Adam's apple bobbed.

"More or less."

Little Douzi didn't answer immediately, but tilted his head and thought about it seriously for a while.

"Why?" she asked, her voice filled with simple curiosity.

Lin Ye leaned against the headboard, his mind racing, coming up with several embellished explanations.

But in the end, he chose to tell the truth.

"Because she harmed your father. And she treated you badly too."

He lowered his head and stared intently into Xiao Douzi's eyes.

His face was reflected in those eyes, as clean as a spring.

"So her godfather doesn't want her to have an easy time."

Xiao Douzi's eyes widened suddenly, filled with shock.

After the shock came sadness and overwhelming anger.

Her lips trembled several times, her voice shaking so much she could barely form a sentence: "She...harmed Father?"

The next second, she suddenly sat up and asked Lin Ye urgently:

"Why? Why did she want to hurt Daddy?!" Little Douzi almost shouted.

Looking into those sorrowful eyes, Lin Ye felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Without avoiding her gaze, he placed his hand on her shoulder again, the touch light, yet conveying strength the instant his palm touched her shoulder.

"Because she's a terrible person who loves to harm others!" His voice was filled with sorrow and anger. "She can't stand to see you all doing well!"

Little Douzi stared at him blankly, and the tears she had finally managed to stop started flowing again.

After a while, she seemed to have figured something out, took a deep sniff, and then vigorously wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"That little dumpling doesn't want her either!"

Her voice was still trembling, but she emphasized every word.

"Godfather." She looked up, her still-watery eyes sparkling under the night light, burning with two stubborn flames.

"Little Douzi won't think about her anymore! And he won't be sad for her."

Her eyes were red, and she spoke slowly and deliberately.

"She doesn't deserve to be Xiaodouzi's mother!"

Looking at the tiny child before him, Lin Ye felt a surge of indescribable emotions. There was heartache, but also relief.

He raised his hand again and touched the top of Xiaodouzi's head, his fingertips gently stroking her soft hair, and nodded.

"Don't worry, little one, your godfather won't let her die." He said, a slight smile playing on his lips, but his eyes held a deep, unfathomable darkness.

Sometimes, living is more painful than dying!

Little Douzi had no idea what Lin Ye was thinking. When he heard Lin Ye's words, his mouth moved, but he hesitated to speak.

She lay back down, hugged the little rabbit tightly, and this time her two small hands grasped Lin Ye's large, drooping palms.

Godfather... isn't he thinking too kind of her?

Xiao Douzi lowered her eyes.

In fact, she didn't have much of an impression of that nominal empress.

She never saw that person again after she and her father were banished to the Cold Palace.

She couldn't remember what that face looked like or what his voice sounded like.

But in the cold palace, when the winter wind blew in through the broken window, her father wrapped the only quilt around her, his own lips turning purple from the cold...

Later, when her father was bedridden, she went begging for food and was beaten with a broom by the old nanny in the cold palace...

At times like these, she would secretly harbor a sliver of hope—would her mother suddenly push open the door and come to save them?

However, not even once...

That person never came until Father closed his eyes and never opened them again.

From then on, she stopped thinking about it.

Then, my godfather appeared.

Her godfather fed her delicious food, dressed her in warm and pretty clothes, took her out to play, and even sent her to kindergarten.

Life is so wonderful now.

Aside from occasionally missing her father, she rarely thought about her mother, the Empress.

Only occasionally, when I see other children being held and kissed by their mothers at the kindergarten gate, I feel a little envious.

But it was only as fine as a hair! I forgot about it afterwards.

After all, she has a godfather now, which is already incredibly awesome!

Not to mention... she just found out that it was that person who harmed her father.

So even if her godfather made that person die, she could accept it completely.

Xiao Douzi raised her eyes and secretly glanced at Lin Ye.

Her godfather was also looking at her.

Her godfather's eyes were always gentle, and she felt a warm glow in her heart every time she looked into his eyes.

Looking into those eyes, Xiao Douzi swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Oh well, as long as my godfather is happy.

In any case, whether that person lives or dies, they will never be her mother.

Her mother, the queen, never existed, and never will...