The Prince Beimo wishes to meet someone, but the Emperor of Nanliang and his Prince know nothing of the truth, oblivious to the difficulty faced by Princess Consort Mo.

Within the Prince of Nanliang’s villa, Prince Cheng of Beimo remains confined, essentially unseen.

Princess Consort Mo couldn’t manage the situation alone. She had previously instructed Prince Cheng to send someone to inform Prince Beimo, yet none returned.

She still wasn’t sure whether Prince Beimo knew that the princess was fake.

Princess Consort Mo pondered for a moment; Prince Beimo likely didn’t know, otherwise, he wouldn’t have returned to Nanliang.

Princess Consort Mo whispered a few words to the palace maid, who then withdrew.

Soon, the palace maid returned.

Accompanying her was the fake Princess Beimo.

Wearing the North Desert Princess’s favorite skirt, she indeed had a bit of the Princess Beimo’s demeanor.

Prince Beimo already knew that Princess Beimo was fake, but he hadn’t expected the impersonator to be Xiuxiu, a close maid of Princess Jing Shan.

Seeing Xiuxiu, Prince Beimo was stunned.

Princess Consort Mo’s heart raced with fear, worrying that Prince Beimo might openly declare Xiuxiu was a fake; she hurriedly said, "Have you siblings become estranged after so long?"

Xiuxiu’s gaze flickered as she called out, "Imperial Brother..."

Prince Beimo looked at Princess Consort Mo.

With an icy expression, Princess Consort Mo seemed just a step away from etching the word ’threat’ across her forehead.

Prince Beimo’s face showed displeasure, yet he didn’t expose the truth and addressed Xiuxiu, "You’ve grown much thinner. Coming to Nanliang wouldn’t you have consulted with me? You’ve worried Father and Mother sick."

Xiuxiu’s nose ached, her tears cascading like beads from a broken string. Prince Beimo wiped her tears, saying, "Don’t cry; I was too harsh in my words. The important thing is that you’re safe."

Xiuxiu wiped her tears away, relieving Princess Consort Mo temporarily.

The welcoming banquet continued.

Throughout the banquet, Prince Beimo kept casting sharp and suppressed glances at Princess Consort Mo.

He held back throughout the banquet.

After the event dispersed, Prince Beimo stood and said, "It’s reassuring that Jing Shan is fine, Aunt has taken good care of her, and I will join Aunt for a nostalgic chat."

The Emperor of Nanliang glanced at Prince Beimo, then looked towards Princess Consort Mo.

Princess Consort Mo smiled, "Emperor, let me accompany them for a stroll in the Imperial Garden."

"Go on, just don’t tire yourself," the Emperor of Nanliang affectionately replied.

Princess Consort Mo stood up, assisted down the steps by a palace maid.

Prince Beimo paid his respects and retreated.

A cluster of palace maids and eunuchs followed Princess Consort Mo, making private conversation difficult. Arriving at the Imperial Garden, she said, "All of you, withdraw."

The palace maids and eunuchs stepped back twenty paces.

Princess Consort Mo looked towards Prince Beimo, his previous faint smile had long vanished.

"Where is Jing Shan?!" demanded Prince Beimo.

Princess Consort Mo glanced at Xiuxiu.

Apparently, the threat was effective; the maid truly dared not speak recklessly.

Looking at Prince Beimo, Princess Consort Mo said, "Do you think I hid Princess Jing Shan away?"

"For Beimo, I reluctantly had Xiuxiu impersonate Princess Jing Shan to get by this ordeal."

Prince Beimo’s brow furrowed, yet he remained silent.

Princess Consort Mo sighed, "The Emperor of Nanliang doesn’t particularly favor me; lending soldiers to my father was merely for Beimo’s wealth and resources."

"When the wealth and resources were intercepted, the Emperor of Nanliang’s attitude towards me plummeted. The affection shown is merely a facade for outsiders."

"They kidnapped Princess Jing Shan from Nanliang to Beimo, and when I sent people to intercept, it was too late. Princess Jing Shan vanished without a trace. Fortunately, Nanliang does not recognize Princess Jing Shan."

"Fearing she would encounter danger in Nanliang, I had Xiuxiu impersonate Princess Jing Shan and quietly dispatched people to search for Jing Shan."

As she spoke, Prince Beimo didn’t meet her gaze, evidently disbelieving without needing confirmation.

Yet he chose to "believe" Princess Consort Mo’s words.

"Where did Jing Shan disappear exactly?" Prince Beimo asked urgently.

Princess Consort Mo casually mentioned a place that was over two hundred miles away from where Princess Jing Shan was rescued.

Prince Beimo intended to send people to find Princess Jing Shan, but Princess Consort Mo objected, saying, "Now the Emperor and Prince both believe Xiuxiu to be Jing Shan, and with you in the Capital, their suspicions are further allayed."

"You and I must continue as before, lest they discern any issues."

Prince Beimo felt secretly amused.

He knew Princess Jing Shan was safe.

Princess Consort Mo’s explanation must have been considered for a long time; it flowed effortlessly, almost convincing.

Yet, her words contained half-truths, leaving Prince Beimo skeptical.

But such deceit satisfied Princess Consort Mo; she had to find Jing Shan before the Prince marries her, or else the consequences would be unbearable.

Prince Beimo excused himself to privately chat with his "Imperial Sister" and moved afar.

Prince Beimo asked Xiuxiu, "Where exactly is the Princess?"

Xiuxiu shook her head, "I don’t know either, my lord."

"Are you aiding Princess Consort Mo in deceiving me?" Prince Beimo asked.

Xiuxiu was Princess Jing Shan’s close maid, yet they had been apart for some time, leaving Prince Beimo uncertain if she had been bribed by Princess Consort Mo.

Xiuxiu’s eyes welled with tears, saying, "The Princess was rescued but couldn’t bring me along. Just before we went to the banquet, Princess Consort Mo sent people to threaten me, claiming they have found the Princess, and if I spoke out, she would kill the Princess."

Xiuxiu was anxious saying this.

Princess Consort Mo was certainly not benevolent; none knew if she’d carry out her threats.

"Prince, please find the Princess," Xiuxiu pleaded.

Prince Beimo sensed Xiuxiu hadn’t betrayed him, but for Princess Jing Shan’s safety, he wouldn’t reveal her whereabouts to Xiuxiu.

The fewer people know, the safer Princess Jing Shan remains.

Xiuxiu was anxious; the Prince of Nanliang believed she was indeed the princess and treated her with utmost attentiveness. Several times she almost slipped up, barely holding on.

She longed for the Princess, she wanted back to Beimo.

Prince Beimo reassured her to follow his lead without worry.

Xiuxiu nodded repeatedly.

Prince Beimo spent a while in the palace, then left with Xiuxiu.

As siblings, they resided together in a palace.

Fearful of them escaping, Nanliang assigned people to watch the palace, trailing Prince Beimo everywhere he went.

Two days later, Prince Beimo brought up leaving.

Even if Princess Jing Shan and the Prince of Nanliang shared mutual affection and promises, Princess Jing Shan should still return to Beimo; Nanliang should formally propose for marriage, the etiquette cannot be abandoned.

However, having gone through great lengths to bring Princess Jing Shan here, Nanliang wouldn’t easily release her.

To fend off Prince Beimo’s inquiry, Nanliang enacted a story of Princess Jing Shan being pregnant.

Pregnant, unfit for long journeys, nearly driving Prince Beimo to madness.

Even though he knew Princess Jing Shan was fake, such rumors spreading could gravely affect his Imperial Sister’s reputation!

To preserve Princess Jing Shan’s reputation, Prince Beimo "conceded," agreeing to her marriage with the Prince of Nanliang, but the pregnancy must be tightly concealed; Beimo cannot afford such disgrace.

Although Prince Beimo agreed to the marriage, even if he wasn’t King Beimo, as the elder brother akin to a father, urgency necessitated flexibility.

Beimo and Nanliang signed the marriage agreement.

Nanliang delivered the marriage pact, and upon reviewing it, Prince Beimo angrily remarked, "Even my Imperial Sister’s title is incorrect."

Bewildered, Nanliang’s minister questioned, "Isn’t she Princess Jing Shan?"

"She’s Golden Mountain Princess," Prince Beimo retorted.

"Father hopes one day she’ll possess a Golden Mountain."

Nanliang’s minister’s lips subtly twitched, finding the title rather tacky.

Nanliang’s minister rewrote the marriage agreement, upon which Prince Beimo imprinted his seal, and the matter was settled.