Whether they were powerful or ordinary citizens, a sense of pride and security welled up in their hearts.

These are the soldiers of the Great Sheng Army; with them, our country is at peace.

The heads of the spies from the Three Kingdoms, who had been "invited" by Xiao Zhixing, looked grim.

He couldn't wait to go back and send a message to his superiors; Xiao Zhixing was blatantly intimidating him.

What terrified them even more were the excited, flushed faces of the people—this intangible public opinion and support.

Who can stop them?

The first military parade in Dasheng has come to a close.

What Xiao Zhixing considered a simple ceremony actually enhanced the patriotism of everyone in Dasheng.

Even the most ignorant and foolish people can feel this power and pride.

A grand fireworks celebration was also held in the live broadcast room.

[Yellow comment: This is the first military parade in our Great Sheng Dynasty, it's of great significance.]

[Green comment: If these troops were still here back then, we wouldn't have almost been wiped out.]

Zhao Yunqi and the officials were all beaming with joy.

Zhao Yunqi, in particular, seemed to have instantly become several years younger, walking with a brisk pace and laughing loudly.

Overcome with excitement, he grabbed Li Xiao and laughed heartily, “See? With such an army and the support of the people, our Great Sheng will surely be the strongest nation on the Qian Yuan Continent.”

Li Xiao's lips curled into a smile, and he kept saying he should be humble, but his beard flew off with laughter.

The group of folk literati, represented by Feng Yong, did not spoil the mood at this time, saying anything about being too aggressive and warlike.

They had never been so clear that a powerful nation must be protected by a strong military, which would reassure the people and inspire them to wholeheartedly support the court.

There's no need to rank literary and martial arts; they can complement each other.

After the military parade was completed, civilian activities began.

Fireworks, acrobatics, poetry recitals, dragon dances, and snacks—the diverse folk performances created a scene at every turn, attracting crowds of people from all over the city to stop and watch. Even those who were short of money would take out a few coins to have some fun.

According to statistics, the population of Shengjing City today has increased three times compared to its usual daily population, with people from surrounding towns flocking to the capital.

The lively activities continued from the afternoon until late at night, with the city ablaze with lights.

It is said that countless famous figures left behind timeless verses to commemorate this magnificent scene on this night.

The Da Sheng Daily rushed to produce the article overnight, featuring both text and pictures. Both the North and South editions were printed simultaneously, and the news was disseminated to thousands of households and even to several neighboring countries early the next morning.

It is said that the eagle that was used to deliver newspapers almost broke its wing.

The front page, featuring a large, realistic portrait of Xiao Zhixing, boosted newspaper sales by 40%. Even ordinary people who usually just read the newspaper couldn't resist buying a copy to keep at home or use as a talisman against evil spirits.

It wasn't that Zhao Yunqi refused to become emperor; it was that Zhao Yunqi himself declined. In the end, Xiao Zhixing became the first person to appear in the Dasheng Daily.

The portrait was painted by a coroner who was skilled at realistic painting and could reproduce the appearance of people one-to-one, just like a real photograph.

After being discovered and joined the Da Sheng Daily, he became its chief illustrator, entering a new chapter in his career.

After seeing his own portrait, Xiao Zhixing decided that he would be in charge of painting portraits of celebrities from now on.

The daily newspaper has decided to launch a monthly report specifically to report on the deeds of celebrities and to commend their merits, and it is in great need of this talent.

At this time, the latest daily report on the three kingdoms of Nanfan, Nanyi, and Beiman was received: ...

They looked at the woman in the first edition and were filled with rage.

Originally thought to have dampened Da Sheng's momentum, it unexpectedly boosted her popularity.

"The army is powerful and imposing, and the people all support them!"

This is the first message sent back by our spies.

Wei Zhang clutched his chest, panting heavily.

At this moment, another guard reported that they had apparently discovered traces of the late empress's brother, which made him even more unhappy.

In Shengjing, at the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Zhixing invited everyone to the mansion to celebrate and thank them for their help in organizing the military parade.

This time, everyone from Junziyuan and Zhao Bupi were among those invited.

Xiao Zhixing raised his glass with a smile, "Thanks to everyone's great help, the military parade was a great success, showcasing the power of our great nation. Come, I toast you all, you have worked hard these past two months."

The crowd returned the toast with joy on their faces, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. We will drink a cup to toast you first."

This event was well organized, and not only did it receive praise from the people and please His Majesty, but the elders in the family also praised it repeatedly, making them feel as sweet as if they were eating honey.

Xiao Zhixing was truly a good leader. She dared to delegate authority and was good at using people. She was pragmatic and not impractical, and she listened to advice without being bound by convention.

It makes them feel exceptionally comfortable doing their work.

Of course, they also knew that if she didn't have enough prestige to subdue everyone, these chosen ones might not have cooperated so obediently.

Li Jun secretly admired Xiao Zhixing's skill in employing people, which was unparalleled and left no trace.

She may seem to delegate authority and make seemingly random moves, but she has a comprehensive view of the situation and always makes the right decisions, making you unconsciously obedient and willing to be led by her.

There is still a lot I need to learn.

After the lively event and seeing everyone off, Xiao Zhixing took the opportunity to visit the military camp to reward and praise the soldiers who participated in the parade, awarding merits to those who performed outstandingly.

Back at home that evening, I watched the live stream again.

She was happy to see the unpleasant expressions on Xiao Chi and Xiahou Zhenglin's faces after receiving news of the military parade.

I was just about to turn off the live stream and go to sleep.

Mo Mei came to report, "Your Highness, someone has come to visit; it is the First Prince."

They all like to visit through the back door in the middle of the night.

Why would Zhao Lin want to see me?

She moved to the study and waited for him while pondering why he had come. She had a rough idea of ​​what was going on.

Not long after, Zhao Lin was brought in by Mo Mei along with his wheelchair and placed not far from her.

Xiao Zhixing met his eyes, which were usually lowered. "Your Highness's visit so late at night is truly unexpected. May I ask what brings you here?"

Looking at it this way, Zhao Lin and Luo Wei are seven parts similar, and he looks even more like Xiao Bao, which is quite amazing.

He usually hunches his shoulders and back, has his eyes downcast, and half of his bangs cover his face, so no one pays attention to his appearance; he has such a low profile.

At this moment, Zhao Lin straightened his back slightly and gently cupped his hands. "I apologize for disturbing you. As a son, I cannot ignore the whereabouts of my biological mother. Therefore, I have come here with great shame to ask Your Highness where my mother is and whether she is still alive."

Xiao Zhixing was not surprised. "Your mother didn't die of illness? The Crown Prince's question to me like this is quite perplexing."

Zhao Lin smiled bitterly, "If Your Highness has any conditions, please feel free to make them. I will do my best to fulfill them. I only hope to see my mother one last time."

Xiao Zhixing's mind raced as he met his calm yet stubborn gaze, assessing the credibility of his words.

[Yellow comment: Wait, wasn't Consort Zhang dead?]

[Red comment: So he didn't actually die, but was taken away by the prince's men?]

[Green comment: As expected, Zhao Lin isn't a fool. There are no fools in Shengjing City. He looks much better this way.]

Xiao Zhixing suddenly smiled, "I want you to personally reveal the truth about your origins, are you willing to give it your all?"