Fish-scale armor gleamed silver.
Xiao Little Ninth, Prince of Jian'an and nominal Inspector of Yingzhou, wore armor and a sword as he stood before the mirror, turning left and right without end.
Even if this light armor was tailor-made, wearing it was still a little tiring. But it did look imposing!
The sword was just too big-long, huge, and heavy. Hanging at his waist, it made his legs look short.
Xiao Little Ninth tried a few more angles, his hand on the hilt, chin slightly raised, eyes slanting toward his reflection. He tried to strike a commanding pose, but none satisfied him:
"This sword is so big!"
An attendant flattered him:
"It doesn't look big to me! Your Highness has such a heroic air that no sword could look too big on you!"
"I know."
Xiao Little Ninth remained vexed:
"But why is this sword so big..."
The attendant ventured:
"Shall I fetch a smaller, more delicate sword?"
Xiao Little Ninth immediately objected! His face darkened:
"Why would I use a little sword! With my heroic air, no sword could be too big!!"
"Yes, yes, of course. I meant that if we brought a smaller sword and compared them before you, we'd see just how well a large sword suits Your Highness."
The clouds cleared from Xiao Little Ninth's face. He straightened his back, gripped the hilt, and studied himself in the bronze mirror:
"That's true... but why is this sword so big..."
The attendant decided not to answer for the moment.
Xiao Little Ninth admired himself a while longer, wrestled with the matter briefly, then slapped his scabbard, brimming with spirit:
"Big it is, then! I've got the heroic air for it anyway! Come on! Out of the city!"
Outside Yingzhou, the river surged mightily.
Though the great