Now that he was certain his princess was still alive, he finally felt relieved.

"Brother Phosphorus, put a hairpin here. Yes, wear this. This was given to me by my mother when I was four years old. Isn't it pretty? I like wearing hairpins. They sway and make a sound when you walk."

Before the emperor even entered the room, he heard Xingxing's cheerful chatter. Wait, didn't she just call out "Brother Phosphorus"?

Zhu Lin actually entered the palace so early, and instead of taking the normal route, she insisted on climbing over the wall to get in. She entered the princess's bedroom before dawn. What kind of behavior is this?

"Your Majesty." The palace servants knelt down as the emperor entered. The emperor uttered a flat tone and stormed into the inner chamber.

Then you see the boy standing tall and straight behind the little princess, combing her hair with a comb.

"How do you serve the princess? You can't even comb her hair, and you have to ask outsiders for help?" The emperor couldn't vent his anger on the princess and the boy, so he directed his taunts at the palace maids and nannies.

At this moment, the boy had already finished combing the little girl's hair. Xingxing stood up and said in a clear voice, "Father, please don't blame them. I asked them to leave. Brother Lin combed my hair beautifully. I like it when he combs my hair."

The emperor felt a lump in his throat. The little princess was only six years old, how could she already be siding with outsiders? His chest tightened, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak.

"Have breakfast first. After breakfast, your mother and I have something to say to you." The emperor had sent people to investigate Xingxing's experiences over the past two years, but they only knew the general outline. They would like to hear Xingxing's account for the details.

The princess now has a nickname, 'Star,' and she seems to have gotten used to being called that. Her every move is now too unrestrained and bold, and she seems unable to bear the constraints of the palace.

But she was born into royalty, and there were certain rules she had to follow and certain manners she had to learn; she couldn't continue to be so casual.

No rush. Let her get used to life in the palace for a few more days, and then we can correct her behavior gradually. The emperor believes that the princess will change naturally under the subtle influence of the palace environment, and he doesn't need to find a tutor to force her to learn etiquette.

Zhu Lin stayed by Xingxing's side the whole time. When she ate, he would sit down and eat too. He would even serve her food and wipe her mouth. He was even more considerate than the Empress, who was her mother.

The emperor and empress frowned more and more as they watched, their brows furrowed so deeply they could have trapped a fly. This young man completely disregarded them, ignoring them entirely and doing whatever he wanted.

Judging from his proud and refined appearance, he didn't seem like a brainless fool. So he did it on purpose. He wanted the Empress to know that even if the Emperor himself came, he would still possess the little princess, and that the little princess was rightfully his to take care of.

"Young Master Zhu, this is improper. You are not young anymore and should know the proper separation of men and women," the Empress couldn't help but remind him.

"Rules are made by people, and nothing is unbreakable. Besides, I am the rule here." The boy was unreasonable but confident.

The Empress was taken aback, feeling that the young man was far too presumptuous, daring to be so arrogant in front of her and the Emperor.

"What an arrogant brat! Believe me, I'll chop off your head!" Emperor Taikang didn't care whether this man had saved his life or not; he only wanted to give him a severe scolding.