"Rob..."
"Miss?"
"You're amazing!" Du Xixi earnestly clapped her hands. Such speed is really impressive. And not only is the Rob incredibly fast, but it's also very stable. Sitting inside, Du Xixi almost felt no movement, not even a bump.
One moment, Du Xixi was still pondering what to say to Chen Yin, and the next, she had arrived at her destination.
"Miss, you flatter me." It seemed it wasn't just Du Xixi's imagination; Rob's cold mechanical voice took on a shy tone. "It's all thanks to the master's excellent design."
Without saying much more, Du Xixi got out of the hovercar and looked at the magnificent palace gates before her. It was impossible for her not to feel apprehensive, but Rob, having reverted to its mecha form, gently held her arm and cautiously led her inside.
All the guards at the palace entrance were members of the Imperial Guard and, like Rob, they were all mechas. Perhaps it was due to Rob's presence, or perhaps for some other reason, but when Du Xixi and Rob passed by, the palace gates opened by themselves, and the rows of guards on either side bowed respectfully.
Du Xixi maintained her composure perfectly, managing to even control the elegant sweep of her gown's hem. Yet internally, having never experienced such grandeur, she was a nervous wreck, trembling all over.
Oh my gosh, thankfully they're all mechas. Otherwise, if each one were to bow to her, wouldn't it be life-shortening...
The Imperial Palace was so vast that Du Xixi had to step onto a hoverboard to reach the palace where Chen Yin resided. Once Du Xixi naturally stepped onto the hoverboard, Rob became intensely nervous, transformed into its mecha form, and cautiously followed close by.
Du Xixi, however, didn't feel in any danger. The hoverboard wasn't much different from the Blue Star's hovercar, just a bit more open beneath and lacking a rod to hold onto.
Thus, everyone in the palace observed today that there was a beautiful and mysteriously noble woman, elegantly and cautiously accompanying Rob beside her.
And so, Du Xixi inexplicably became popular in the palace with all sorts of identities—the emperor's childhood sweetheart, his little lover, a princess sent by a neighboring empire for marriage, or even Rob's future mistress...
If not for the strict rules of the palace that stifled gossip no matter how heated, Du Xixi might have exploded on the spot, dragging Chen Yin to clear things up in front of the entire Empire.
The palace where Chen Yin resided was also where he usually met with the ministers. When Du Xixi and Rob arrived, there were many guards and robots waiting outside, obviously waiting for their respective ministers, as Chen Yin was inside having discussions with them.
"Miss, shall we go in?" Seeing Du Xixi stop after stepping off the hoverboard, Rob gently held her arm, motioning to escort her inside.
This was the scenario she had anticipated. Sure enough, it wasn't just Chen Yin who wanted to see her; the ministers of the Blue Star Empire were also present. Du Xixi was startled: "Hmm, let's go."
When soldiers come, confront them with generals; when water comes, use earth to stop it. Whatever the reason they wanted to see her, Du Xixi was not afraid. At worst... she'd bribe them with some good food!
Under the astonished gazes of the guards and curious looks from the robots, the hall doors opened wide. Du Xixi lowered her eyes to calm herself and approached the man seated in the high position step by step.
...
"Xixi, you can call me brother."
...
"I'm sorry, brother has to go out to make money."
...
"Xixi, I can't come back this year either."
...
Led by Rob, Du Xixi ascended step by step onto the dais, standing before His Majesty under the deeply complex gazes of the ministers. She lifted her eyes slightly, staring at the familiar face with a gentle and affectionate smile, and uttered two words: "Idiot!"
The ministers: ...
Rob: ...
Chen Yin: ~%?…;#*'☆&℃$︿★? garbled text
"Ahem! Xixi, don't you miss your brother?" Chen Yin coughed, trying to look serious, and then feigned an angry look.
"I don't." Du Xixi blinked, her tone extremely heartless, her expression equally indifferent.
The room fell silent again; Chen Yin glanced at the indistinct expressions of the ministers below, some even trying to suppress laughter, and helplessly gave Du Xixi a pitiful look.
Du Xixi and Chen Yin shared a deep understanding, communicating effortlessly with just their eyes.
—— Xixi, big brother was wrong, give me some face~
—— Hmph.
—— Don't be mad! Big brother really did hide something from you, but I'll tell you everything soon~
—— Hmph.
—— Xixi~ Give me some face~ I'm the emperor now~
—— ... Hmph!
—— Little piggy, you can eat as much as you want, choose any chicken or fish!
—— Deal!
Chen Yin: ...
"Xixi, do you really not miss me?" Although a bit heartbroken, Chen Yin wiped away his metaphorical tears and smiled gently.
Facing away from the ministers, Du Xixi's expression couldn't be seen by them, only the obviously perfunctory tone could be heard: "Wow, I missed you to death."