Su Jin advised Marquis Dongxiang, "Father, be more open-minded. At least the grain fell into the hands of the people and wasn’t destroyed, which is a stroke of luck amid misfortune.

"Moreover, Prince Qi’s actions are not appropriate, use them wisely, and he will reap what he has sown."

Marquis Dongxiang looked at Su Jin, "How will he reap what he has sown?"

This seems like a perfect way to win the hearts of the people.

Su Jin felt her father was truly muddled and said, "Those who receive the grain will naturally praise Prince Qi, but what about those who don’t?"

The places under Prince Qi’s control are not limited to Yunzhou.

Although it has rained in Yunzhou, the severity of the disaster is better known to the people than to us.

It’s not an exaggeration to say Prince Qi gave away a batch of grain for free.

How will the people feel if they eagerly hope for Prince Qi to open the granaries only to be joyously disappointed? With just a little stirring, there will surely be cries of resentment against Prince Qi.

First providing disaster relief and then burning the grain, Prince Qi is playing with the people in the palms of his hands, which will only make him more hated.

With this action, Prince Qi has already eliminated his retreat from burning the grain.

With just one sentence from Su Jin, most of Marquis Dongxiang’s anger had dissipated.

He wanted Prince Qi to hoist himself with his own petard!

Marquis Dongxiang sent people to invite the Old Prince, the Prince, and Marquis Jibei to discuss military matters.

Because there were spies in the camp, Marquis Dongxiang only called a few trusted individuals like the Old Prince. Just as they finished discussing, the gate guards said, "The heir’s wife, the Hidden Guard has returned."

Su Jin stayed and listened, then said, "Let him in."

The Hidden Guard walked in, and Su Jin impatiently asked, "How did it go?"

The Hidden Guard quickly replied, "The task entrusted to Princess Beimo, she said has been completed."

Su Jin was not surprised by such a result.

The Prince, the Old Prince, and Marquis Jibei all looked at Marquis Dongxiang.

Seeing Marquis Dongxiang looking at Su Jin, they each turned to look at him.

Su Chong looked at Su Jin, curiously asking, "What did you ask Princess Beimo’s help for?"

Su Jin smiled and said, "Beimo Cheng King borrowed troops from Nanliang, promising ten thousand taels of gold and three hundred thousand dan of grain and grass."

Beimo Cheng King is ambitious and wants King Beimo to pay for the promises made for him, which King Beimo certainly will not agree to.

But if he refuses to pay, King Beimo will be seen as ungrateful.

After all, when Beimo Cheng King’s troops approached the city, it was to have Daqi release King Beimo.

No matter what his true purpose was, at least on the surface it was to save King Beimo.

No matter how angry or annoyed King Beimo might be, he is powerless.

Su Jin continued, "The favor I asked Princess Beimo is precisely for these ten thousand taels of gold and three hundred thousand dan of grain and grass."

"This batch of grain and money is ostensibly handed over to Nanliang, but in reality, it’s lent to our Daqi."

The borrowed money and grain must be repaid.

Publicly, Beimo has dealt with Nanliang, preserving its reputation, while actually suffering no real loss.

And with the money and grain, Daqi does not need to worry about grain supply for at least half a year.

Marquis Dongxiang frowned, "What conditions did you agree to with Beimo?"

Although he has dealt with King Beimo, ten thousand taels of gold and three hundred thousand dan of grain are not a small sum, and King Beimo would not agree easily.

Especially since the grain and money are supposedly repaid to Nanliang, isn’t Beimo afraid that Daqi would refuse to acknowledge it?

Su Jin shook her head, "Father released King Beimo for the greater good, and King Beimo, even if he doesn’t trust me, will trust Father."

"Besides, this matter is not detrimental to Beimo; it is worth King Beimo taking a gamble."

"In the letter, I also mentioned that if King Beimo is uneasy, he could propose conditions, and King Beimo should send a trusted aide to discuss how to ensure it is foolproof."

No one wants that ten thousand taels of gold and three hundred thousand dan of grain to be wasted.

Given the gravity of the matter, prudence is not excessive.

Marquis Jibei smiled and said, "If we can indeed acquire those ten thousand taels of gold and three hundred thousand dan of grain and grass, then there will be no worries in this battle."

Not only can we confidently fight to the end with Nanliang, but Prince Qi also loses his leverage over the court.

Now, we just hope that Beimo sends someone to discuss how to snatch food from Nanliang’s jaws.

Su Jin is truly looking forward to this battle; if successful, it will definitely leave the Emperor of Nanliang spitting blood in anger.

Marquis Dongxiang and the others needed to discuss further, so Su Jin withdrew.

Xingxing followed behind into the tent, and the Hidden Guard rigidly holding a large bundle of pastries for Xingxing.

Xingxing was a bit puzzled.

She thought the Hidden Guard wouldn’t help her bring them.

She said, "Wait for me a moment."

After speaking, Xingxing turned back to the tent.

The Hidden Guard was bewildered.

Because Xingxing did not take the pastries.

After waiting a bit, Xingxing came out, holding a purse, and handed it to the Hidden Guard, "For you."

"For me?" The Hidden Guard’s voice rose two pitches.

Though the purse was a bit ugly, it was clearly handmade, with much more meaning than appearance.

Xingxing nodded repeatedly.

The Hidden Guard took the purse, feeling happy inside.

Luckily, he turned around and bought the pastries, or else this maid certainly wouldn’t have given him a purse.

Xingxing hugged the pastries and said, "You can go back and rest now."

After half a month apart, he found the maid much more considerate.

The Hidden Guard was indeed tired and turned back to the tent to rest.

Halfway, he looked at the purse, finding it more pleasing the more he looked.

But his joy lasted less than a tea’s worth of time, and the Hidden Guard almost threw the purse.

Because he saw a soldier also had a purse.

And the design was the same, with unsightly embroidery.

The Hidden Guard asked, "This purse is...?"

"Miss Xingxing made clothes for the heir’s wife’s unborn Young Prince, practicing with purses. Though a bit ugly, it’d be a shame to waste it, so we’re given them." The soldier replied.

"Each contains some herbs, they say it can fend off mosquitoes."

The Hidden Guard felt a heavy blockage in his chest.

The purse was the same level of ugly.

Others had herbs inside, yet his lacked them. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Thinking of the pastries he brought back, the Hidden Guard couldn’t hold back and cursed Xingxing for lacking heart.

Inside the tent, Xingxing eagerly opened the pastries, a full ten packages, making her smile from ear to ear.

She was just about to give one to Su Jin to try, when suddenly her nose itched, and she sneezed.

Su Jin, "...."

Xingxing, "...."

Xingxing retracted her extended hand and said, "I didn’t mean to sneeze..."

A sneeze contains droplets, now unknowingly spread, Su Jin surely would not eat them.

Looking at the whole table of delicacies, Xingxing felt that dining alone wasn’t truly enjoyable.

"Should I just eat by myself?" Xingxing asked, holding the pastries.

"Go ahead."

Xingxing sat down, picked up a pastry, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Beimo and Daqi have quite different tastes. If eaten often, one might not get used to it, yet this being her first time, she found it delicious with a lingering taste.

Xingxing tried each of the ten types of pastries in one go.

When she went for a second round, her stomach protested.

Xingxing held her stomach and ran to the privy.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

...

Xingxing, clutching her stomach, came back, "Miss, save me..."

Su Jin had long wanted to check her pulse, but each time Xingxing reached the tent entrance, she dashed back.

This last time, she managed to sit, Su Jin just had her hand on the pulse when Xingxing ran again.

Su Jin said, "No need for pulse-taking, it’s the pastries upsetting your stomach."

"I’ve already had someone prepare medicine for you."

Xingxing eyed the pastries, "Did the Hidden Guard poison me?"

"I knew he wouldn’t willingly bring me food!" Xingxing angrily said.

"....."

"The weather’s too hot, spoiling the pastries," Su Jin felt sorry for the Hidden Guard.

"....."

Xingxing felt unfortunate. Wasn’t it said that being able to eat is a blessing?

She was about to sit down when her stomach growled, forcing her to bolt out.

The soldier, carrying medicine, saw Xingxing dash quickly and shouted, "Miss Xingxing, your medicine!"