Seeing her father praised the plan, Princess Beimo quickly stood up to grind the ink, urging King Beimo to put in writing his promise allowing her to choose her own husband.

King Beimo looked at his daughter and said, "Does your father appear so untrustworthy in your heart?"

Princess Beimo spread out the silk cloth and said, "Father’s words are weighty, and I naturally believe you wouldn’t deceive your daughter, but there are still many ministers in the court."

"What if one day they want me to marry for political alliance again?"

The words "political alliance" stirred King Beimo. Since he had already promised her, why not write a royal decree?

Personally writing the marriage decree, Princess Beimo quickly brought the Jade Seal for King Beimo to stamp it, and after stamping, Princess Beimo held the decree, laughing so much that she nearly fell over.

The Princess Consort Zhenbei really is her lucky star.

Last time, she was forced into a political alliance, although unsuccessful, it indeed made her as a princess feel helpless.

Being in the Royal Family, enjoying endless wealth and glory, also comes with many inevitable situations.

Such things, she never wants to experience again; she wants to control her own life.

Just then, a eunuch entered, and Princess Beimo rolled up the decree saying, "Father, this humble child will take her leave now."

Holding the decree, Princess Beimo walked as if floating.

A palace maid followed closely, celebrating for Princess Beimo, "The Princess Consort Zhenbei is a Daqi Princess, she was able to choose her own Prince Consort, and now the princess can choose her own Prince Consort too."

Princess Beimo laughed, "Although we are both princesses, her Prince Consort was won by herself, and with my father’s personally written decree in hand, whoever’s name I write on the decree becomes my Prince Consort."

The feeling of effortlessly securing a Prince Consort without lifting a finger is just wonderful.

Seeing Princess Beimo as if she were to fly with happiness, the palace maid unwittingly threw cold water on her excitement, "But where is the princess’s Prince Consort?"

Princess Beimo, "...."

The smile on Princess Beimo’s face froze, and she used the decree in her hand to gently knock the palace maid on the head, "Don’t mention such a spirit-dampening thing."

Palace maid, "...."

How is this spirit-dampening?

The princess wanted the decree to marry a satisfactory Prince Consort, didn’t she?

The palace maid rubbed her head and said, "The Princess Consort Zhenbei chose her Prince Consort in the street. Will the princess also choose a Prince Consort in the street?"

"That’s a good idea," Princess Beimo laughed.

"I’ll pick an auspicious day, and we’ll go to the street."

As a princess, going out of the palace is not easy, so such an opportunity cannot be missed.

Originally, Princess Beimo planned to leave the palace tomorrow, but now she will be more careful.

Princess Beimo took the decree to see the Beimo Empress to share the good news. The Beimo Empress did not expect King Beimo to give such a decree and reached out saying, "Give the decree to your mother, and I will keep it for you."

Princess Beimo quickly tucked the decree into her bosom, kowtowed, and took her leave.

She told her mother to dissuade her from the idea of picking a Prince Consort for her. If she gave her the decree, her mother could casually write a name on it, and she’d have nowhere to cry later.

She must carry this decree with her and not give it to anyone.

The next day, the palace maid exited the palace, going to the inn where the Hidden Guard resided and informed him, "Your family’s Princess Consort has helped our princess, and the matter is already settled."

Though the specifics of the assistance were unclear, it was good that it had been handled.

The Hidden Guard expressed gratitude to Princess Beimo through the palace maid.

The palace maid left without staying long, bidding farewell to return to the palace.

The Hidden Guard, having completed his task, prepared to return to the border.

On the way downstairs, he saw a young servant coming up with a tray that held two plates of pastries.

The Hidden Guard remembered that Xingxing asked him to buy pastries, and his face couldn’t have looked more displeased.

After passing by the young servant, the Hidden Guard turned around to call out to him.

The young servant looked at him and asked, "What are your instructions, sir?"

"Which shop in the Capital City sells the best pastries?" the Hidden Guard asked.

After asking, he almost felt like punching himself.

The young servant smiled, "The pastries from Hundred Cake House are the best, just two streets from here. Sir, will you go there yourself or should I run the errand for you?"

The Hidden Guard took out two taels of silver from his bosom and placed them on the tray, "Buy seven or eight of the best-tasting ones and bring them back."

The young servant nodded repeatedly.

He picked up the silver ingot, tucked it happily into his bosom, "Wait a moment, sir. I’ll go to buy them for you after delivering these two plates of pastries."

Two taels of silver for seven or eight pastries and there would still be plenty left, serving as a tip for his errand-running.

If more customers like this one came along, he could save up enough for a wife in no time.

The Hidden Guard returned to his room, and after a short wait of half an hour, the young servant came back with the pastries.

The Hidden Guard looked at the wrapped pastries and opened them all at once.

You thought he bought these to take back for Xingxing?

No.

He bought them for himself.

He was determined to infuriate that heartless maid Xingxing!

The Hidden Guard sat there eating, feeling both angry and gluttonous.

He couldn’t tell if he was full from food or from anger, but either way, he felt sick at heart and stomach, uncomfortably stuffed.

Having eaten two or three pieces of each, the Hidden Guard took up his bundled package, settled the bill downstairs.

He rode out of the city on horseback.

But once outside the city, he tightened the reins again.

He looked back at the Beimo City Gate, biting his lip.

Why was he, a grown man, bothered by a little maid? It was unbecoming.

The Hidden Guard turned back to buy pastries, purchasing a bundle of ten varieties.

Having bought them, he finally rode swiftly back to the border with ease.

After eight days, the Hidden Guard arrived back at the military camp.

At that time, Su Jin was in the camp urging Marquis Dongxiang to calm down.

More news of Prince Qi’s rebellion had spread.

The news that arrived had angered both Marquis Dongxiang and the Old Prince severely.

Recently, it had rained at the border, and many areas in Daqi experienced rainfall as well.

In Yunzhou, it rained for three days, toppling two or three dozen dilapidated houses, and such situations barely qualify as a disaster. Under normal circumstances, these situations wouldn’t be reported to the court.

But Prince Qi had staged a scene of disaster relief and caring for the people.

As soon as the rain stopped in Yunzhou, they opened the granary and distributed grain for relief, and the line for grain rations reportedly extended to the city gate. Anyone in line, regardless of age or gender, received a sack of rice to take home.

For the common people, who becomes Emperor doesn’t affect them much; whoever relieves them from taxes and brings peace is a good Emperor.

Is there anything better in a rainstorm than distributing grain for disaster relief?

Prince Qi had used the court’s grain to win hearts in Yunzhou, reaching unmatched prestige.

In reality, for Prince Qi, the grain and grass were a burden. Distributing his forces to control grain in various provinces left him unable to concentrate troops for an assault on the Capital.

If he burned the grain, it would damage the people’s hearts, as it was their hard-grown grain.

Now, by redistributing grain to the people, he had future reasons to collect, and with distributing grain aiding the people, future court demands for grain due to warfare taxed and levied harshly painted him more favorably in comparison.

Prince Qi’s use of unnecessary grain to win over the people dealt a severe blow to the court; how could one not be angry?

Especially since the border still lacked grain!