It’s not Xingxing bragging, but it really takes some strength to help a guard up a tree.

She felt proud of her strength.

She used to think she had to eat seven or eight meat buns to be that strong.

Later she found out four were enough, so she doesn’t eat that much anymore.

The guard placed a silver hairpin on Xingxing’s head.

Seeing that Xingxing was wearing flower pins, he moved his hand and took one down.

This scene happened to be seen by the Hidden Guard approaching.

He stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowed, feeling an inexplicable discomfort.

This maid, wherever she goes, flower peach always blooms.

The Heir’s wife’s peach blossoms don’t even bloom half as much as hers!

When they were in the military camp, Xingxing’s peach blossoms were abundant, but Xingxing didn’t know that every time one bloomed, it got cut off by someone.

Most soldiers wouldn’t dare covet Xingxing, but there were quite a few officers who felt their rank suited her and thus eagerly courted her.

The Hidden Guard watched with arms crossed, his face was as gloomy as it could be.

The soldiers could tell right away that he liked Xingxing.

He was Xie Jingchen’s personal Hidden Guard, although the word "hidden" had long been discarded by Su Jin and Xingxing to some unknown corner.

The Heir’s Hidden Guard paired with the wife’s maid, what a perfect match indeed.

Those officers knew their limits and quickly retreated.

Some who helped Xingxing carry water or clothes often ran off halfway through the task.

In such instances, Xingxing felt the Hidden Guard was the most reliable of all.

The guard hid the flower pin in his sleeve, and the Hidden Guard did not step forward to expose it; he didn’t want Xingxing to know the guard liked her.

Xingxing touched the silver hairpin in her hair and said, "If you insist on thanking me, then I’ll accept this silver hairpin."

The guard nodded.

Xingxing grinned widely, receiving a gift made her exceedingly happy.

She turned to see Su Jin and Xie Jingchen walking away, "I need to catch up with Miss."

"Here, these are the sour plums I just bought, please have some."

Stuffing the sour plums into the guard’s hand, Xingxing turned and went after Su Jin.

The guard watched her run off, disappearing into the crowd, no longer visible.

He looked down at the sour plums in his hand.

He squeezed one into his mouth.

The sourness spread.

From his mouth to his heart.

The guard turned and left.

The Hidden Guard went over and asked the small vendor, "Do you have more of that silver hairpin just now?"

"No," the vendor shook his head.

"Where can I get an identical one?" the Hidden Guard asked.

"I made it. If you want, I can craft another exactly the same," the vendor said.

"But it’ll only be ready the day after tomorrow."

The Hidden Guard took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the small stall, "I’ll come and pick it up the morning after tomorrow."

With that, the Hidden Guard turned and left.

After gifting away the sour plums, Xingxing bought another pack.

Despite squeezing her eyes from the sourness, she still ate them with relish.

After strolling down a street, she returned to the Palace.

The Princess Consort was looking for the Prince and saw Xie Jingchen return, "Have you seen your father?"

"No," Xie Jingchen shook his head.

"Mother Princess, what’s the matter?"

The Princess Consort shook her head, "Since yesterday after the tea ceremony, your father hasn’t been staying in the Palace much, I don’t know where he’s gone."

It hadn’t been noticed earlier, but just now when the Little Princess called for the Prince, the Princess Consort realized that the Prince had rarely stayed in the Palace these past two days.

This was unusual, and the Princess Consort felt something was amiss.

Xie Jingchen found it odd too, his father had no acquaintances in Nanliang, he said, "Perhaps father has matters to attend to. I’ll ask him when he returns."

The Princess Consort chuckled, "I’ll just ask myself."

The Princess Consort asked, but the Prince said nothing.

The next day was their last day in Nanlin.

The Prince accompanied the Princess Consort for a walk around and then went around the Donglin Prince Mansion.

Over the years, the Donglin Prince Mansion had changed ownership several times and had little resemblance to the Donglin Prince Mansion in memory.

But the Donglin Prince Mansion still lived on in the Princess Consort’s heart.

"Let’s go."

The Princess Consort’s voice was carried away by the wind.

On the day before leaving Nanlin, Zhao Xu held a banquet in the palace to bid farewell to the Prince and Prince Beimo.

Prince Beimo had no intention of staying longer.

With Princess Jing Shan in the palace, staying outside where he knew no one seemed dull; it was better to return to Beimo early.

The next day, Zhao Xu and Princess Jing Shan came out of the palace to see them off.

At the city gate, Prince NanAn suddenly remembered that he forgot to give Su Chong’s congratulatory gift to Zhao Xu.

He handed the brocade box to Zhao Xu, "This is from Brother Su for you."

Zhao Xu accepted the brocade box, and upon opening it, saw a jade pendant lying inside.

That jade pendant was very familiar to Zhao Xu.

It was given by the Emperor of Daqi to Xie Jingchen and the others.

Prince NanAn and the others each had one.

This jade pendant symbolized the brotherhood among them.

Now Su Chong was giving one to him.

This meant that whether he was Zhao Xu or Emperor of Nanlin, he would forever be a good brother to them.

Dong Chenglang stood aside and said, "Why don’t I have a share?"

Covered in injuries, he still came to see them off, complaining about good brothers; why not give him such a meaningful jade pendant?

Prince Beimo also looked at Prince NanAn.

Prince NanAn responded, "...."

Don’t look at him.

He really was just a messenger, okay?

Prince NanAn looked at Xie Jingchen, who said, "Aside from the Emperor’s, there’s just one left."

There were a total of nine jade pendants.

The Emperor gave them eight.

Dong Chenglang and Prince Beimo were unwilling to back down.

Prince NanAn then came up with a silly idea, "Why not split the last one in two?"

The trouble was that Chu Shun and the others agreed unanimously.

Prince Beimo had no objections.

He directly reached out and grabbed the one Zhao Xu had.

Zhao Xu, "...."

"Give that one directly to them, saves a trip to Beimo," Prince Beimo said righteously.

This was how big brothers bullied their brothers-in-law.

Previously, Prince Beimo would never have snatched a jade pendant.

He was Prince Beimo, the future King Beimo, what jade pendants wouldn’t he have?

After spending just a day with Prince NanAn and the others, he’d already gone a little astray.

What could Zhao Xu say?

Half is half, then.

After reluctant farewells, everyone parted ways.

Princess Jing Shan’s eyes became moist.

On this journey, at least Prince Beimo was with her, so Princess Jing Shan didn’t feel as sad.

Now, even her brother was returning to Beimo, leaving her alone in Nanlin.

Although she’d stayed before, now...

With Beimo right there, she could always go back whenever she wanted.

Now that she’s married, going back won’t be so easy.

Prince Beimo was also reluctant to leave Princess Jing Shan. He now regretted not accepting the one million taels of silver.

Princess Jing Shan married Zhao Xu, and his younger sister was betrothed to Young Master Su from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Both brothers-in-law were far away, he couldn’t even bully them, and he had to worry about them bullying his Imperial Sister.

How come he’s the big brother, yet he feels so aggrieved?

Thinking about the jade pendant he snatched in his arms, Prince Beimo felt slightly better, asking Prince NanAn to tell him what the other jade pendants looked like.