The next day, Xiao Zhixing got up early to train, ate a relatively dry breakfast, changed into his official clothes, and rode out with Xiao Yuanshan before dawn.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, the other officials entered in turn. A young eunuch immediately approached them and said, "By His Majesty's decree, Prince Zheng and Prince Yuansheng may ride into the palace."

Some officials nearby were taken aback.

Xiao Zhixing remained calm and composed. "Father, let's go inside."

"Oh, is His Majesty showing compassion for your father?"

The father and daughter rode into the palace on horseback, causing the officials who had to walk to grind their teeth in envy and jealousy.

Oh, and there's also Li Xiao. The emperor bestowed upon him a sedan chair, and he's being slowly carried around like this.

Xiao Zhixing caught up with him and greeted him with a cupped-hand salute, "Old sir, I heard that Third Master Li is going to take up a post in Beizhou? I know that place well. It's sparsely populated and full of bandits. After the Battle of Sanqingyuan, many Northern Barbarian soldiers fled. Tsk tsk, they haven't been killed yet."

Li Xiao was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but scrutinize her, wondering to himself what she meant by this.

Then he glanced at Xiao Yuanshan behind him.

Xiao Zhixing rode his horse alongside his sedan chair, recounting the story with great emotion, as if telling a story: "The An Ziji family died tragically. More than two hundred people died, not even a three-year-old child escaped. The blood flowed so much that the entire mansion became a river."

"It wasn't just him; some local officials and gentry were also killed, or their families were murdered. Tsk tsk, in that place, it's common for one or two people to die."

Li Xiao stroked his white beard, realizing what was happening. Was this... intimidation or a threat?

What does that mean? Is it implying that he doesn't allow his third son to go to Beizhou?

"Your Highness Yuansheng's words are far too alarmist. Beizhou is part of our Great Sheng territory, how could it be unsafe?"

Xiao Zhixing smiled and said, "Really? Then just consider this a story I told you."

Once inside the main hall of the Gansheng Palace, the civil and military officials stood in their positions as was customary.

Some people noticed that Xiao Zhixing's court robes were different, but assumed they were specially made for the emperor.

(Thanks to Lin Erlang, who loves golden threadfin bream, for the donation. I wish all my friends who are about to take the college entrance examination, and all my friends and family members with candidates, good luck on the exam. May you guess all the right answers! Those who check in here will definitely get into a 985 or 211 university!)