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

Night falls.

The daytime in Chang'an seemed to be stretched very long in the approaching summer night.

As Jiang Jinshuang was helped onto Pei Du's carriage by Jing Mo, she smelled the familiar sandalwood scent again.

The scent, mingled with the fragrance of herbs, made his presence seem both near and far.

Lifting the carriage curtain, Jiang Jinshuang immediately saw the tea being boiled in the center of the carriage.

The aroma of tea fills the air.

The carriage curtain fell silently, and Jiang Jinshuang looked up at the person sitting in the main seat.

Pei Du's face was slightly pale, probably due to the effects of the medicine given by He Weijing. He sat upright and slender, with a graceful and relaxed posture.

Today he wore a black, wide-sleeved robe with gold bamboo patterns, the cuffs embroidered with gold cloud patterns. He wore a back cloud pendant with long, green tassels, which outlined the man's tall and straight figure.

After glancing at it only once, Jiang Jinshuang looked away, sat down by the stove, and looked down at the boiling teapot.

Although it's not officially summer yet, the weather in Chang'an is gradually getting warmer.

Therefore, the stove inside the car inexplicably made Jiang Jinshuang feel a bit hot.

—Pei Du is different from her.

His face was slightly pale, and he was wearing a thick cloak. Just by looking at his finger bones, you could tell that he must be quite cold.

"Your Highness, please be seated. We're leaving now."

Outside the carriage, Jingmo gave a reminder, and the carriage started moving again.

Inside the carriage, the two fell silent for a moment, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Ultimately, Jiang Jinshuang really should thank Pei Du.

At Huguo Temple, they truly helped her clear her name of the charges.

Therefore, Jiang Jinshuang asked He Weijing to treat Pei Du.

Looking at the teapot on the stove, Jiang Jinshuang finally spoke softly: "Wen Fengcang must have come to investigate the state of the country."

In the main seat, Pei Du, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slightly opened them, his dark pupils calm and undisturbed: "Tiger Tally."

Jiang Jinshuang's expression remained unchanged, but she understood Pei Du's meaning: "Are you saying he's still worried about Uncle Ruiyang's Black Armor Cavalry?"

Pei Du coughed a few times and slowly responded with an "Mm".

“After the death of Prince Ruiyang, the Black Armor Cavalry obeyed His Majesty’s orders without the Tiger Tally,” Jiang Jinshuang said. “In other words, if Wen Fengcang was really afraid of the Black Armor Cavalry, it would be the same no matter who controlled them.”

With his beautiful, thin lips slightly pursed, Pei Du poured two cups of hot tea, picked up one, and took a sip: "They're different."

“Since the passing of His Highness Prince Ruiyang, the power of Beihuai has declined, beset by internal and external troubles, and is outwardly strong but inwardly weak,” Pei Du paused, then continued, “If Beihuai were to send troops to attack at this time, even if His Majesty had 300,000 Black Armor Cavalry under his command, he would not rashly deploy them.”

The Black Armored Cavalry are like a piece of gold in a bonfire.

Everyone wants it, but everyone is afraid of getting burned.

The imperial family holds such a mighty lion in their hands, but if one day that lion breaks free of its shackles and loses control, then they will reap what they sow.

Without the tiger tally, the imperial family ultimately dared not fully trust the black-armored cavalry.

Therefore, Jiang Jinshuang and Pei Du were both aware that the emperor of Wan Jin was somewhat apprehensive about the arrival of the envoy from Beihuai.

Thinking of something, Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly and lowered her head slightly.

Pei Du looked down at her, his voice slightly hoarse from coughing: "What is Your Highness laughing at?"

Jiang Jinshuang shook her head: "It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered that many years ago, when Uncle Wang was still alive, Beihuai sent an envoy to pay homage to me."

"Back then, as long as the Prince sat beside His Majesty, the group of envoys would tremble with fear and dare not even breathe."

She lowered her head and smiled: "Now that Uncle Wang is gone, Bei Huai has become quite arrogant."

Everyone feared the god of death, King Ruiyang.

On the battlefield, he wore a mask of a killing god and slaughtered gods and Buddhas.

In the imperial court, he changed into a civil and military uniform, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

They say that His Highness Prince Ruiyang is not an ordinary person, but more like a weapon of death.

As long as he stood there, no matter how chaotic the demons below were, spreading their falsehoods and misleading the masses, he would remain like a wrathful Vajra, subduing all evil. Jiang Jinshuang suddenly missed him.

With her thoughts in disarray, Jiang Jinshuang shook her head haphazardly, raised her chin again, and looked at Pei Du with a smile: "Lord Pei, I don't think I've ever asked you that before."

Pei Du's finger bones were long and slender.

But now that they were in the air conditioning, their fair and well-defined finger bones trembled slightly.

Pei Du lifted his long eyelashes and looked at her intently, waiting for her to continue.

Jiang Jinshuang rested her chin on her hand and said casually, "Back then, Prince Ruiyang was convicted of treason. Although Lord Pei had not yet entered officialdom and was not familiar with the affairs of the bureaucracy, I would still like to ask you how you viewed Uncle Ruiyang."

"Does Lord Pei also believe that the Prince is arrogant and rebellious, and intends to commit treason?"

Jiang Jinshuang looked at Pei Du, her tone nonchalant, but her eyes were unusually serious.

They met each other's gaze.

The teapot on the stove made a few noises, then fell silent again.

Pei Du stared at her for a long while.

He suddenly smiled and looked at Jiang Jinshuang earnestly: "Your Highness, are you being coquettish?"

Jiang Jinshuang was stunned for a moment, and didn't even react for a while.

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes widened, and she gave a strange, cold laugh. "Lord Pei, has your fever damaged your brain?"

Pei Du, however, continued to look at her: "Will Your Highness ask His Highness about this?"

Jiang Jinshuang didn't understand, but replied earnestly, "Why should I ask him? He won't believe Uncle Wang, much less me..."

At this point, Jiang Jinshuang seemed to choke on her tea.

Belatedly, she looked up at Pei Du.

Pei Du raised his eyes and met her gaze.

"Therefore, in your heart, I am more trustworthy than His Highness the Crown Prince."

Not a question, but an affirmation.

Just as one only lets their guard down around someone they trust, Jiang Jinshuang's question at least proved her trust in him.

Jiang Jinshuang also realized this problem.

Although she had always been at odds with Pei Du, she never believed that Pei Du would be swayed by personal interests when it came to matters of principle.

—This is the character she has come to know about him over the three years she has been with him.

Pei Du's lips curled up in a very slight smile.

"Your Highness, you're being coquettish."

"To my lord."

To bare one's fangs and malice to those one trusts.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned, not liking this way of putting it.

She explained in a deep voice, "Pei Du, because of your noble character, I firmly believe that you will not curry favor with the powerful or flatter them. Even if we have a personal grudge, you are definitely not the kind of person who abuses your power for personal gain. Therefore, you will give what you consider to be the fairest answer to this question."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang said seriously, "This only proves that I trust your character. The Grand Secretary is upright and honest, a man of exceptional talent and character. My trust in your character and my inquiry of your answer do not prove anything."

"Acting coquettishly? It's a wonder Pei Du even uttered those two words!"

How could he possibly tell that she was being coquettish?
—It was as if she cared deeply about his answer and was determined to hear a satisfactory reply from him.

Pei Du seemed unwilling to debate this issue with her.

He simply nodded and then answered her question.

"Your Highness believes that the person you value is not a scheming, impure rebel."

Jiang Jinshuang felt that Pei Du's words were not quite right.

But before he could say anything, Pei Du coughed a few more times, his face turned pale, and blood seeped from the wound on his shoulder! (End of Chapter)