After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Prince Xuan Nan's heir, Zhao Yunmu, and Prince Xuan Nan's legitimate daughter, Zhao Yunxi, arrived in the capital yesterday and have already paid their respects to everyone they needed to in the capital.

The Prince of Xuannan was worried about his son, so he sent his smarter daughter with him to the capital.

Zhao Yunxi herself did want to come to the capital to see the city, but before she set off, the Princess of Xuan Nan gave her two days of earnest advice.

Just as much the Prince of Xuan Nan worried about his son, so too did the Princess of Xuan Nan worry about her daughter.

The two had a residence in the capital that had been prepared by the Prince of Xuan Nan, so they did not stay in the accommodations arranged by the emperor.

The emperor had no objection to this. Young people prefer the free and unrestrained life outside the palace. Although the palace was luxurious, it was indeed a bit stifling.

Zhao Yunmu thought the Emperor was a pretty good person, but his younger sister rolled her eyes at him.

"What do you mean? You're rolling your eyes at me again. I'm your older brother, is this how you treat someone's younger sister?"

“Brother, let’s talk about this back at our own residence. Have you forgotten what Father and Mother told you before they left?”

Zhao Yunmu choked and simply shut up. It wasn't that he was afraid of his sister, but rather that he was just obeying his father and mother.

The two returned to the Xuan Nan Prince's residence. As soon as Zhao Yunmu sat down, he began to complain again: "Sister, I was just saying that His Majesty is a good person, do you have to be like this?"

So what if there are eavesdroppers? I'm not speaking ill of His Majesty; is anyone going to inform on me?

Zhao Yunxi shook his head helplessly: "Brother, it's not about whether His Majesty is good or bad, it's just that we've just arrived in the capital, so we have to be careful about everything and can't say anything carelessly."

The saying "Disaster comes from the mouth" is not just a figure of speech. Our situation in the capital is awkward. We are here to receive an honor, but everyone knows the truth.

Zhao Yunmu smiled helplessly as he thought of his so-called reward.

He really only had a good reputation; he was a great general, but he didn't have any real power.

It was better when I was in the Southern Territory, where I could come and go freely in my father's military camp, train with him, and have strategists teach me military tactics.

General of the Cavalry, there must be a lot of honorary titles like that in the capital, right?

"I understand, Ah Xi. But the Empress's last words were quite intriguing."

Zhao Yunxi naturally understood the deeper meaning behind the Empress's words, but was it really as she thought?

Come to think of it, she and the Second Prince seem to be from different generations.

The Empress is my mother's cousin, so I am a distant cousin of the Empress. The Second Prince should call me Aunt.

Sigh~ I don't want to think about it anymore. What does this have to do with anything? It's just wishful thinking on the part of the elders.

A marriage alliance? She needs to agree to it first.

"Don't think about those things, brother. Rather than marrying some prince, you should think about whether you have the chance to be made a princess. It's better to have one yourself than to have one from someone else."

Although the title of "princess" is just a nice-sounding one, sometimes a nice-sounding title is more effective than no title at all.

Besides, the princess has a fiefdom and a stipend, so she's not at a disadvantage.

Zhao Yunmu nodded in agreement, "Indeed, but it doesn't seem appropriate for us to bring this up ourselves. How about we write a letter to Father and ask him to bring it up for you?"

Zhao Yunxi shook her head, "It's not appropriate for Father to bring this up. Besides, you've only just been granted the title. What merits has our family made that have led to us being granted titles again and again?"

Many princes' daughters never received a title of princess or county princess even after marriage, didn't they? If we were an exception, it would be too conspicuous.

"Then what should we do? Don't you really want to be a princess?"

Another eye roll. "Brother, you don't need to worry about me. There's always a way out. What if I happen to do something great someday?"

By then, even if no one pleads for my release, I will still get what I want.

Zhao Yunmu suddenly realized that the person standing in front of him was not his younger sister, but his mother who was thousands of miles away.

My sister and my mother really do look alike.

It's not that they look so alike, but rather that their auras are so similar!

"Ahem, alright then, I, as your older brother, won't worry about it for you anymore. Is there anywhere you'd like to go these next couple of days?"

"Once I report to the Ministry of War, I won't have much time to spend with you."

Zhao Yunxi smiled and said, "Brother, you can go and do your own thing. I'm not a child who needs someone to accompany me all the time."

Besides, doesn't your brother trust your own sister's skills?

"Of course they are trustworthy, but you should still bring more people with you when you go out. You don't know the area well, so you don't get bullied."

After saying this, Zhao Yunmu laughed at himself.

Haha, it's good enough that my little sister doesn't bully others. Being bullied? I don't think she's ever been bullied before, has she?

As the two were talking, the steward who had brought them rushed over to report: "Young Master, Miss, the Vice Minister of Rites has sent someone to deliver an invitation, inviting you both to a banquet tomorrow."

"The Ministry of Rites? Is this a private banquet?"

"Yes, it's a letter from the Vice Minister of Rites, not from the Ministry of Rites itself."

The Minister of Rites is Tong Qingyun, so the Vice Minister of Rites must be a member of the Tong family. Tong Qingyun is the maternal grandfather of the Fourth Prince. Why is the Vice Minister of Rites in such a hurry to hold a banquet? Could it be that the Minister of Rites, Tong Qingyun, instructed him to do so?

For what purpose? To win over the southern forces for his grandson?

Zhao Yunxi remained silent for a moment, and Zhao Yunmu was unsure whether to go or not, waiting for his younger sister to speak.

"Xi'er, say something! Are we going to the banquet hosted by the Vice Minister of Rites or not?"

Zhao Yunxi pinched her chin and finally shook her head.

"We're not going. They're hosting a banquet tomorrow, yet they're sending out invitations today. What do they take us for?"

Three days is for inviting, two days is for calling, and one day is for pulling away.

He couldn't see any sincerity from the Vice Minister of Rites. He clearly didn't take the two of them seriously, so why should he lower himself to attend this ridiculous banquet?

"Fine, then I won't go!"

Zhao Yunmu tossed the red invitation with gold trim back into the steward's hands.

The manager didn't say much and simply withdrew.

"So where are you planning to go tomorrow? Go for a picnic and horseback riding? Or just stroll around the city?"

Zhao Yunxi recalled the Liuxiang Pavilion bath and body care set that her mother had brought back for her. She had heard that the Empress had purchased it from outside the palace, and she found it to be quite good.

"Let's wander around the capital first and see what new and interesting things there are. When we return to the Southern Border, we can bring back more for Mother."

"My mother stayed in the palace the whole time last time and didn't have a proper chance to explore the capital."

"Alright, then let Zhuifeng and Zhuyun come along."

"Brother, wouldn't you like to take a stroll?"

Zhao Yunmu waved his hand, "Shopping is something you girls like, I'm not interested."

“Alright, if I come across any particularly delicious snacks tomorrow, I’ll bring them back for my brother.”