At noon, the civil and military officials filed out through the Gate of Heavenly Succession.
On the bustling street, a carriage drawn by four horses abreast rolled along, Black Bureau guards accompanying it on either side. Its doors and windows were shut.
Inside the spacious carriage, Ye Jingtang stood with his back straight and his arms spread.
On the small table beside him lay a black robe embroidered with a golden python dragon, along with a belt inlaid with gold and jade bearing python patterns. The Python Robe had much the same decoration as Silly's Fat-Headed Dragon Python Robe, but the men's style was looser and grander.
Dongfang Liren and her two accompanying maids removed Ye Jingtang's official uniform and dressed him in the Python Robe, then had him sit while they carefully arranged his hair and secured a gold crown.
Strictly speaking, Ye Jingtang had not yet reached the age for his capping ceremony, and the martial world paid little attention to such things. He normally tied his hair with a ribbon. Being fussed over by Silly and two bashful maids left him rather helpless.
"We're going straight home, not attending a ceremony. Why dress so formally?"
Dongfang Liren stood before him, straightened his face with her hands, and said solemnly,
"I'm checking whether it fits. If it doesn't, it will need altering. In a high position, your every movement must follow proper bounds, and neither joy nor anger should show on your face. Look a little colder. Hmm... like when you faced Sima Yue. Calm as a gentle breeze and drifting clouds, but still confident and proud..."
Ye Jingtang knew Silly wanted to see how he looked in a Python Robe. He placed his hands on his knees and sat upright, the smile fading from his face until