Beanie Has Grown Chubby

"Do you know?" Colin Gu suddenly spoke.

Grace turned around to look at him.

"The secret codes between Emperor Tuoba Hong, your father, and Evan Xiao have already been deciphered by me."

Grace's heart suddenly sank.

"Then, I had someone forge new codes to change their original plan and help me block reinforcements from all the allied nations."

Colin Gu sat down leisurely and smiled, "Those two are the highest-ranking generals in the Blue Moon Kingdom and masters of military strategy. With their help, I was able to successfully cut off reinforcements to the Vermilion Kingdom and utterly defeat Emperor Tuoba Hong!"

Grace was silent for a moment, then said, "So Evan Xiao wasn't driven into the Eastern Sea by Emperor Tuoba Hong's men, but by... you!"

Grace had never understood why he would capture the Imperial Advisor, whom he always relied on.

Now it all made sense.

Because Leon Zane and Evan Xiao were on the same side.

Colin Gu smiled, not denying it. "But the Prime Minister is different from Evan Xiao! He's your father."

His fate—or rather, the fate of the entire Zhu Clan—isn't in my hands, but... in yours," Colin Gu said.

"In three days, if the wedding goes as planned, the Prime Minister will still be honored as a hero. I'll reward him and grant him the title of Prince Regent of Harmony. But if there's no wedding... then it's treason, and I wouldn't be wrong to punish your family, would I?"

"Your Majesty, a marriage born of threats really isn't meaningful!"

"Meaningful or not, you'll only know once you try!" Colin Gu replied. "Decide now! No need to let the servants work for nothing!"

Grace clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves and could only say, "Fine."

Colin Gu laughed at her answer. "Grace, I believe that after you marry me, you'll understand just how deep my love for you runs!"

"I'm heading back first!"

"Go ahead, but remember to come to Eastgate Palace a day early!"

Colin Gu was completely at ease.

Because he knew Grace would never abandon her entire family.

Back home, Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu, Minister Zhuo, and Lena were discussing the upcoming wedding.

They all agreed: Grace should leave.

But Grace told them she was going to marry Colin Gu.

Because there was no other way out.

She didn't tell her father what Colin Gu said today.

If she didn't tell him, he'd still think the secret letter was from Emperor Tuoba Hong, and there might be a glimmer of hope.

If she did tell him, he'd be desperate, he'd panic...

...

Grace returned to Serenity Pavilion and sat there, unmoving.

After a long while, she called for her nanny and asked where Cutie Pie was.

The nanny said she hadn't seen Cutie Pie at all lately—it hadn't come back.

Grace then sent Chushi to ask at the General's Manor.

Chushi came back and said it wasn't at the General's Manor either.

Grace had no idea where it had gone, so she simply took out the Dragon Scale and bit down on it.

Every time she bit the Dragon Scale, Cutie Pie would appear.

But this time, it didn't show up for ages.

At this point, her only option was to assassinate Colin Gu and his two bodyguards.

That way, the Zhu Clan would be safe, and she wouldn't have to marry him.

She planned to enter the palace a day early and make her move then.

But Wolf and Scorpion were both Spirit Masters, and Grace needed Cutie Pie's help to take them down.

But she just couldn't find Cutie Pie anywhere.

Grace had to give up.

...

That night, she cultivated in her sanctum until deep into the night.

Just as she was about to leave and go to sleep, she suddenly noticed some movement by Beanie.

She walked over and saw Cutie Pie standing in front of Beanie, staring at it.