The seductive princess is no longer being pursued; the aloof prime minister is facing a crematorium.

Chapter 103 Shouldn't Your Highness go and visit Lord Pei?
It's about being tolerant, and also about giving her dignity.

—But Jiang Jinshuang is no good.

She pushed her luck and refused to accept this petty sense of propriety.

Jiang Jinshuang stood in front of the desk, in front of Jiang Huayan.

She straightened her back and raised her eyebrows.

"Father, what if I insist on refusing?"

When the emperor is angry, blood will flow for thousands of miles.

But Jiang Jinshuang knew that even if Jiang Huayan was really angry, he wouldn't really do anything to her.

He disliked her, yet he was constantly wary of the "tiger tally" that didn't actually exist in her possession.

Sometimes Jiang Jinshuang felt that the rumor that the "Tiger Tally" was in her possession was really useful.

Even though she had never used those 300,000 black-armored cavalry in the past three years, the way those people looked at her was as if they were looking at a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

I can't stand her.

I can't get rid of her.

Very useful.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled, her eyelashes still slightly damp from acting, but she didn't appear fragile or delicate.

"Father, what if I refuse your tolerance?"

……

When Jiang Jinshuang came out of the Imperial Study, she saw Eunuch Kang holding a bowl of soup and respectfully standing guard outside the door.

Seeing her come out, Eunuch Kang hesitated and stepped forward a few paces: "Your Highness... His Majesty did this for your own good."

Jiang Jinshuang tilted her head and smiled: "Does Eunuch Kang think that Father Emperor is doing this for my own good?"

Grandpa Kang remained silent.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't seem to mind, and chuckled softly, "Eunuch Kang, you're busy. I'll head back now."

"Farewell to Your Highness."

No agreement.

It's impossible to reach an agreement.

His Majesty is worried that if she marries Si Ning, she will further strengthen her power, which would be beyond his control.

The Si family of Jiangnan is incredibly wealthy, richer than any king or nobleman. If the Black Armor Cavalry were to receive such assistance, they would be like tigers with wings, traversing every place as if walking on flat ground.

Jiang Jinshuang wasn't too worried that His Majesty, out of anger and embarrassment, would force her into marriage.

After all, he knew better than anyone that truly angering her would not benefit anyone.

In His Majesty's eyes, she is now a hedgehog covered in needles.

His Majesty wanted to devour her flesh and blood to strengthen himself, but he was also worried that the thorns on her body would scratch his internal organs.

That's actually a good thing.

At least the two of them reached a tacit understanding of the balance.

She will not marry Si Ning for the time being, and he will not bother her with the matter of the arranged marriage for the time being.

But this balance is only temporary and is very fragile.

Even if one day, a feather-like weight appears on either side of the scale.

The entire balance will then collapse and become unsustainable.

Recalling what she had discovered in the letter that morning, Jiang Jinshuang stopped thinking about it and hurried back to the princess's residence.
-
Royal study room.

Jiang Huayan was bent over his desk reviewing memorials, his expression cold and stern, his features indistinct.

When Eunuch Kang came in, he placed the soup he was carrying next to him.

Jiang Huayan did not look up.

He whispered, "Did you tell Xia Yurong?"

Eunuch Kang replied respectfully, "Yes, I have already said so."

"Ah."

Jiang Huayan responded faintly and then remained silent.

Looking at the emperor bent over his desk reviewing documents, Eunuch Kang opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Jiang Huayan spoke calmly: "Speak."

"Yes," Eunuch Kang said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, can Miss Xia really help us accomplish this?"

Jiang Huayan's hands kept moving.

"That depends on how smart she is."
-
When Jiang Jinshuang returned to the princess's residence, Si Ning was already waiting for her in the main hall.

Seeing Jiang Jinshuang return, he got up to greet her. "How did it go? Did His Majesty say anything?"

Si Ning frowned and asked softly.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and shook her head: "It's nothing serious, no need to worry."

Si Ning breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled, "You summoned me here in such a hurry, did Your Highness find something unusual?"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded seriously, then pushed the letter from Prince Ruiyang accusing him of colluding with the enemy in front of Si Ning.

"Feel these two pieces of paper, what's the difference?"

Si Ning looked up, took the two letters in her hands, and gently stroked them.

After a long pause, he shook his head slightly, still puzzled in his eyes: "It seems there is no difference."

Jiang Jinshuang's smile deepened: "That's the problem."

Si Ning paused, her eyes darting around, before turning to look at Jiang Jinshuang.

Jiang Jinshuang placed the two letters in front of him and explained earnestly, "This letter is from five years ago, and this one is from four years ago. There is a full year between the two letters."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang pondered, "If I remember correctly, the paper four years ago was smoother and whiter than before because the method was improved."

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes lit up: "Look at these two letters, they are clearly the same as the ones that were improved four years ago."

Si Ning's eyes flickered slightly: "So, it's highly likely that these letters were written all at once by His Highness Prince Ruiyang?"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded solemnly: "Yes, if it were truly a letter written during a period of treason, the paper wouldn't be this kind of slippery paper."

Si Ning frowned slightly: "But if His Highness Prince Ruiyang has not colluded with the enemy, why would he write these letters?"

At this point, Jiang Jinshuang closed her eyes slightly and took a deep breath.

He folded the letter back up and put it back into the envelope.

"I haven't figured that out yet."

Si Ning looked at Jiang Jinshuang, her eyes flickering.

In fact, there is a very obvious reason in front of them.

They both knew the truth perfectly well.

Even though each step she took brought her closer to the reason, she still refused to voice her conjecture.

There was only one person who could force Prince Ruiyang to write these letters.

Everyone says that Princess Zhaoming is heartless, cruel, and ungrateful.

But Si Ning knew.

Her Highness is stubborn and headstrong.

Even if that's the real reason, even if it really is that person.

She insisted on gathering all the evidence before she could convince herself.

Si Ning lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a shadow.

"Oh, by the way, Your Highness, would you like to visit Lord Pei today?"

Si Ning smiled and changed the subject.

"Pei Du?" Jiang Jinshuang was taken aback. "Why would I go see him if I have nothing better to do?"

Si Ning blinked: "Hasn't Your Highness heard yet?"

"Today, the Grand Secretary claimed to be ill and did not attend court. There must be many civil and military officials crowding outside Wenshan Pavilion, wanting to visit him."

Jiang Jinshuang was still puzzled: "What does that have to do with me?"

If you're sick, you should find someone to treat you. What's the point of her visiting you?

Upon hearing this, Si Ning smiled helplessly: "Your Highness, the imperial physician reported that the arrow that pierced Lord Pei's shoulder blade was contaminated with a deadly poison, and it may be necessary to cut out the flesh to save him."

Jiang Jinshuang frowned and commented, "Quack doctor, what kind of poison requires cutting out flesh to eradicate?"

"None of the imperial physicians had ever seen that kind of poison before, and just to be on the safe side, they said it would be best to cut it out."

Jiang Jinshuang thought about the scene of flesh being cut out and unconsciously shrank her neck.

Hiss, it hurts just thinking about it.

"If you can't cure it, then don't. As expected, Mr. He is truly capable. After a few doses of medicine, Pei Du was able to walk and jump again not long ago, wasn't he?"

Si Ning smiled and said, "It must be that the medicine is not working well anymore. Mr. He hasn't asked Shan Ge to change the medicine these days."

"His Majesty was worried about Lord Pei, so he ordered the imperial physicians to treat him."

Jiang Jinshuang frowned, somewhat annoyed: "If you want to cut off some flesh, then cut off some flesh. It won't kill you if you lose a piece of flesh."

Si Ning patiently explained with a smile, "Your Highness, everyone in the palace is talking about Mr. He right now."

Jiang Jinshuang frowned: "Talking about him?"

"Yes, some uninformed officials... said that Lord Pei had clearly improved some time ago, but now he is like this, it is possible that His Highness instructed Mr. He to... poison him."