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

Chapter 11 You should apologize to the adults.
This Grand Secretary seems to have a unique aura.

He just stood there, and even without saying a word, everyone's eyes were drawn to him.

If the beauty of Su Xiu, the top courtesan of Nanfeng Pavilion, is one that is extremely aggressive and dangerous, then the beauty of this Prime Minister Pei is one that is inviolable and pure.

He is like the bright moon hanging high in the sky; even if one only has greedy thoughts and attempts to covet him, it feels disrespectful.

And now, that ethereal figure has appeared in the South Wind Pavilion.

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Qiao Zhong's forehead.

Earlier that evening, he had already prepared to stay at his lodgings when a servant rushed in to report that the Grand Secretary wanted to invite him to go with him to conduct a spot check on discipline and rectify official practices.

Although he didn't understand what the Grand Secretary intended, Qiao Zhong naturally dared not disobey the Grand Secretary's orders. He quickly changed his clothes and followed him to the Nanfeng Pavilion.

Upon seeing Princess Zhaoming here, Qiao Zhong belatedly realized what was going on.

—The Grand Secretary seems to want to punish this princess!

After all, back when the Grand Secretary was still a scholar, this princess was arrogant and domineering, committed all sorts of evil deeds, and even shamelessly "invited" the Grand Secretary to live in her palace!

Now, Princess Zhaoming is no longer favored, and the Grand Secretary is the mainstay of the court!

Given the vast difference in their social statuses, it seems quite reasonable for the Grand Secretary to want revenge for the humiliation he suffered years ago!
Qiao Zhong forced a smile and asked, "Sir, what should we do next?"

A refined male voice came from above: "Your Excellency, please conduct your business in an official capacity. There is no need to worry about my presence."

"Huh?" Qiao Zhong was a little confused. "Then... this subordinate will have someone conduct a preliminary investigation..."

What does "handling official business in an official manner" mean?
Qiao Zhong secretly grumbled to himself.

He gave a wink to the soldiers beside him, who nodded and led their men to begin checking the identities of the guests at Nanfeng Pavilion.

Those who came to Nanfeng Pavilion for pleasure were mostly widows of wealthy families and a few men with homosexual tendencies.

Qiao Zhong had just glanced around and realized that apart from Princess Zhaoming, there was no other prominent figure in the court who would dare to come here so openly.

So, Qiao Zhong took a deep breath and stood in front of Jiang Jinshuang with a stiff upper lip.

Jiang Jinshuang's thoughts were actually the same as Qiao Zhong's: Pei Du brought people from the Censorate late at night, probably because he wanted to make things difficult for her.

Let alone a princess, even if an ordinary person came to the Nanfeng Pavilion for pleasure, according to the laws of Wan Jin, the Censorate could not do anything to her.

Therefore, Jiang Jinshuang was not too worried about this.

Qiao Zhong twitched the corners of her mouth and bowed slightly to Jiang Jinshuang: "This humble official greets Your Highness the Princess."

Lu Xiao stood beside Jiang Jinshuang, remaining calm and composed.

Jiang Jinshuang made no attempt to hide her feelings, raising an eyebrow and smiling faintly: "Your Excellency, it is truly admirable that you are still so diligent and conscientious in your duties so late at night."

Qiao Zhong chuckled twice.

He knew Jiang Jinshuang was being sarcastic, and he bowed slightly, asking, "What brings Your Highness here?"

Jiang Jinshuang blinked: "Your Excellency's words are strange. I came here naturally to have some fun."

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that after the princess said those words, the Prime Minister's gaze behind him seemed to intensify.

The grasshoppers are like thorns on one's back.

Having no other choice, he reluctantly said, "Well... Your Highness, why don't you go and speak to the Grand Secretary... and apologize a little..."

Just as Jiang Jinshuang said, even if she came to Nanfeng Pavilion to seek pleasure, the people of the capital would only condemn and ridicule her verbally.

It's a transaction between two willing parties, and even if the authorities come, she has a case to make.

Qiao Zhong was brought in to investigate discipline. If it were an official or minister, he could punish them under the guise of inspection. However, this royal descendant was not under his jurisdiction!

Hearing Qiao Zhong say that, Jiang Jinshuang laughed sarcastically: "Me, give in to him?"

Why did she give in to him?

For some reason, Jiang Jinshuang suddenly remembered that many years ago, she had also had many arguments with Pei Du. Pei Du was a rigid and pedantic man, and even if she did something that was slightly inconsistent with royal behavior, he would reprimand her sternly.

Sometimes Jiang Jinshuang even felt that the person she had invited back was not a handsome young man in his prime, but a rigid and stubborn old-fashioned person!
Jiang Jinshuang couldn't remember the specific reason, but in short, she had a fierce argument with Pei Du that time. Jiang Jinshuang, who was eloquent and feared by everyone, was so angry with Pei Du that she couldn't speak!

"Pei Du! If you truly dislike me so much, then I will never see you again!"

"You don't need to be so stern and domineering, like a high and mighty academy teacher, to lecture me!"

Pei Du seemed to be angered as well, his tone cold and deep: "If Your Highness makes a mistake and no one dares to object, you will make a grave error sooner or later."

"That's my business, it's none of your concern!"

It's unclear what struck the man as particularly hurtful, but he looked at Jiang Jinshuang and nodded slightly: "Since it has nothing to do with me, Your Highness need not come here several times a day, so you can have some peace and quiet."

For many days afterward, the princess's residence was shrouded in an indescribable and eerie atmosphere.

For five or six days in a row, Jiang Jinshuang really didn't go to Pei Du's dormitory again.

later……

Jiang Jinshuang couldn't remember much about what happened after that.

She only remembered one night when she got drunk.

What happened after that was all relayed to her by Pei Du.

Pei Du told her that after she got drunk that night, she sneaked into his room, cried and begged him for forgiveness.

Of course, Jiang Jinshuang had no recollection of this at all.

At that moment, the man sat upright at his desk, one hand gripping the spine of a book, his tone cold: "Since Your Highness has admitted your mistake, then I will forgive you."

Anyway, for some inexplicable reason, the two made up.

For some reason, this past event suddenly surfaced in Jiang Jinshuang's mind.

It seems that in front of Pei Du, she is always the one who is wrong.

You need to apologize to him and beg for his forgiveness.

She had pursued him recklessly, disregarding her own status, so she tolerated his cautious treatment of Pei Du.

Now, Jiang Jinshuang refuses.

—She did nothing wrong, so why should she back down?

Jiang Jinshuang's gaze gradually shifted from Qiao Zhong to Pei Du's face in the distance.

The man's eyes were clear and calm, like the bright moon hanging high in the sky, illuminating the world without bias.

Pei Du's gaze also fell upon her, and their eyes met.

She gave Pei Du a smile that was almost provocative.

"I am not wrong, and I should not give in to him."

A silver hook hangs high, the moon is bright and the stars are few.

Qiao Zhong's expression grew even more grave and grim.

Just as he lowered his head, preparing to say something more, he heard footsteps behind him.

The man stopped beside him, and his voice came from above: "Come back with me."

A hint of doubt flashed in Jiang Jinshuang's eyes.

Go back? Go back where?

She looked up at the elegant man before her, and slightly raised her lips: "Your Excellency, are you here to arrest me?"

(End of this chapter)