The next day, Xiao Zhixing continued his training and handling of affairs as usual, completely unaffected.

Bai Su was ill and looked listless. Xue Mei told her to go back and rest.

The chat messages in the live stream were still not displayed, while the number of online viewers had reached 17 billion and then stopped increasing.

"Your Highness, tomorrow is your first time attending the Grand Court Assembly. The palace has sent over your court robes. Would you like to take a look?"

What's so interesting about it? Aren't all court robes the same?

Once unfolded, she realized it was a men's court dress. The height was her size, but the shoulders and chest didn't fit properly.

Was this a hasty decision made under the emperor's decree, resulting in a lack of prepared clothing? Or was someone deliberately targeting me?

Hongmei said anxiously, "What should we do?"

Wouldn't the prince be laughed at for wearing ill-fitting court robes to court?

Xiao Zhixing thought for a while, "How about I wear my battle armor to court first? You guys work harder to modify it for me?"

It's too late to make it in time or ask the palace for it.

If you were to argue with the embroiderers, matrons, and managers in the palace about such a trivial matter, you would be making a mountain out of a molehill.

If you blame them, they might make excuses like there wasn't enough time or there was no precedent for it.

I just find you disgusting.

Bihe hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, I have a court robe here. It only needs some alterations to the waistline..."

"Um?"

Bihe bowed, "This servant dares not conceal the truth. That...that was made for her by the late Empress Yuansheng Princess. She never wore it. This servant keeps it as a memento. If you don't..."

Xiao Zhixing's smile vanished, and everyone held their breath, instinctively kneeling down.

The sound of birds could be heard in the house.

Biyun said urgently, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. Sister He overstepped her bounds for a moment. Please forgive her this time, considering her old age and hard work."

The few plum blossoms remained silent. They knew their place and would never disobey Xiao Zhixing; their master's will was their will.

Xiao Zhixing swept his gaze over the four old women, his sharp eyes making them stiffen.

"I have no need for subordinates who act on their own initiative."

The four men touched their foreheads to the ground, daring not to have any further thoughts.

"However, since Granny Bihe had a good reason for resolving my predicament this time, I will forgive her and not let it happen again."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Bihe and the others left the hall to get their clothes, their expressions complicated as they looked at each other.

Biyu said calmly, "Sister He, the prince is not a princess. You would be better off adjusting your behavior in the future."

The prince is more disciplined, his word is law, and he is naturally dignified and will not get too close to his subordinates.

However, a master who is fair in rewards and punishments, rational and solemn, and pragmatic is actually easier to serve if you do your job well.

As for the princess, she is kind and approachable, and can laugh and joke with people like them, which makes it easy for her to win everyone's favor.

But this is not the attitude a leader should have; a benevolent ruler does not wield power.

She didn't know who was better or worse; she only knew that she had to adopt a certain style of doing things depending on the master she served.

Bihe was stunned. "...I was confused. Thank you, Sister Biyu. I understand now."

They carried over the box, gently opened it to reveal a purple, first-rank court robe inside, and then carefully unfolded it and hung it on the drying rack.

Xuemei couldn't help but exclaim, "So beautiful!"

The deep purple shimmers with iridescent light, exuding nobility and mystery. On the finest celestial silk, mountains, birds, beasts, immortal herbs, and a four-clawed golden dragon are woven with gold and silver threads.

Lifelike.

This court dress has been modified, combining elements of men's court dress with adjustments to the collar, cuffs, shoulders, waist, and chest, and adding peony embroidery patterns specific to women.

Xiao Zhixing raised an eyebrow, somewhat curious as to why Xiao Yan had made such a court dress for him but hadn't worn it.

She reached out her hand, and the others gently helped her change her clothes.

"Your Highness!"

The maids and nannies couldn't help but curtsy in unison, as if they were intimidated by her natural nobility and majesty.

Xiao Zhixing glanced at himself in the full-length bronze mirror and coughed, feeling a little vain.

Not bad, not bad, he looks like a prince.

She made the decision immediately: "My future court robes will also be made in this style."

"Yes." Bihe and the others were delighted.

That day, she stayed in the mansion and played chess with Xiao Yuanshan, that terrible chess player.

The live stream was the same as always, with no comments or activity, yet the number of viewers remained unchanged.

I imagine the interstellar side is getting anxious too.

"My dear son, tomorrow is the grand court assembly. The court will likely discuss the selection of the governor of the northern prefecture. What are your thoughts?"

Xiao Zhixing casually placed a piece, "Has Father heard any rumors?"

With An Ziji's tragic death, Qi Danhe is temporarily serving as the prefect of Beizhou. The court should indeed consider a new candidate.

However, she also had some ideas.

Xiao Yuanshan placed his chess piece on the board. "The officials recommended several people to His Majesty, among whom the third son of the Li family and the second son of the Zhao family are the most popular."

Li Su, the third son of Li Xiao, had always lived in the capital and was now seeking a posting outside the capital.

Zhao Zhong, the second son of the Zhao family, was a relative of the emperor within four degrees of kinship, and was considered a significant figure within the Zhao clan.

"Aren't they afraid that the Northern Barbarians will launch another southern invasion if they go to the Northern Region?"

Xiao Yuanshan looked at her carefully, "My dear girl, what are you thinking? Tell your father."

Xiao Zhixing laughed and said, "The Northern Prefecture has just experienced a calamity, and there are still scattered Northern Barbarian troops occasionally causing trouble. If you're not careful, you could lose your life."

Xiao Yuanshan stroked his beard, realizing that his daughter indeed had designs on that area.

Xiao Zhixing dipped his finger in water and wrote two names on the table.

Xiao Yuanshan's tiger-like eyes brightened slightly. "Will His Majesty allow it? Your arrangement clearly reveals your intention to interfere in the affairs of Beizhou."

Xiao Zhixing smiled mysteriously.

She also wanted to test whether the conversation between the emperor and the imperial system counted, and whether Zhao Yunqi would really show her "extra favor".

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