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

Chapter 146 To lift...or not to lift?
With a hint of... helpless indulgence.

Jiang Jinshuang was slightly taken aback, and pressed her head against his chest. The cloud and crane pattern on the man's chest was made of fine and expensive cotton yarn, so it didn't feel prickly.

"Um... please forgive me, sir. I must have misread or misheard, which is why I disturbed your business!"

The leader, being quick-witted, immediately lowered his head and ordered his men, "Get out of here! Get out of here and go patrol!"

Above him, Pei Du's voice was clear and calm: "What happened tonight must not be told to anyone."

"I understand, I understand..."

With that, the leader bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, then hurriedly led his men away.

As soon as the guards left, Jiang Jinshuang pushed Pei Du away, raised her eyebrows slightly, and looked at him with a half-smile.

"Lord Pei, the Tibetans are very skilled in martial arts."

Ignoring Jiang Jinshuang's ramblings, Pei Du bent down and picked up the silver hairpin that had just been nailed to the floor.

"This was an expedient measure taken out of necessity, Your Highness. Please forgive me."

Pei Du handed the silver hairpin to Jiang Jinshuang and earnestly explained his reason for doing so: "It would be detrimental to Your Highness's reputation to be with me."

Everyone in the palace knew that she and the eldest son of the Si family in Jiangnan were deeply in love and had a very close relationship.

Even at the palace banquet just now, the two sat side by side and chatted happily, as everyone could see.

It seems like good things are on the horizon.

It's not good to let others see her with him before this matter is completely resolved.

It damages her reputation.

—That's what Pei Du thought.

But Jiang Jinshuang was stunned, clearly having misunderstood.

Did he feel that being with her would ruin his reputation as the Grand Secretary?
She chuckled softly and tilted her head slightly: "Is Lord Pei worried that Miss Xia will be sad?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Du was slightly taken aback for a moment.

He spoke his mind freely, asking in a low voice, "What is this related to the Xia family?"

Why bring her up all of a sudden?
Jiang Jinshuang curled her lips and said casually, "Lord Pei, there is no need to be so vigilant. I have been too busy to attend to her affairs lately, so if possible, Lord Pei, please tell Miss Xia that it is better for her to stay at Huguo Temple. If she comes out, she may be in even greater danger to her life."

Pei Du's eyes were clear and calm as he nodded earnestly: "Alright, then I will explain to the Xia family that Xia Shi can spend more time practicing at Huguo Temple."

After a pause, Pei Du added, "As for framing Your Highness, please give me some time, Your Highness, and I will handle it properly."

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly and let him go.

She felt that Pei Du wanted to get involved in this matter because he wanted to reduce Xia Yurong's crime and give her some dignity.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't care much about these things.

—Because in her eyes, Xia Yurong was already a dead person.

If she knew what was good for her, she could have spent the rest of her life at Huguo Temple.

Otherwise, if she insists on hopping around in front of her like a grasshopper, even if Pei Du tries his best to exonerate her, Jiang Jinshuang has a million ways to kill her.

"It's getting late, Your Highness, it's time to return to the banquet," Pei Du reminded him gently.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and tilted her head, but her gaze slowly moved down from his face.

Until it moved to his waist and abdomen.

"Lord Pei just said... 'In times of emergency, one must act expediently,' which is a last resort, right?"

Stared at like that, even Pei Du's usually aloof and indifferent face showed a hint of embarrassment.

He nodded somewhat stiffly and replied with a "Yes".

Then they heard the girl's silvery laughter.

Jiang Jinshuang took a few steps forward, her whole body seemingly pressed against Pei Du's body.

Surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, Pei Du's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, but he only looked down at her without moving.

Jiang Jinshuang then went further.

She smiled, her slender, beautiful index finger landing on his chest, circling the crane wing on his chest.

One lap, two laps...

“Plop, plop—”

Whose heartbeat is deafening?

Pei Du roughly guessed that Jiang Jinshuang was trying to tease him.

An overly gentle demeanor is more like the calm before the storm.

He knew it.

But she couldn't break free.

The young girl smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling and her teeth white.

She smiled, her fingers slowly moving down his chest.

It grazed his cold silk, grazed his priceless jade belt. And continued downwards.

"Your Highness!"

Suddenly I realized!

Pei Du suddenly grabbed Jiang Jinshuang's wrist, his ear tips turning red.

His dark pupils narrowed slightly as he stared intently at her.

Her laugh was wicked.

Her wrists were restrained by him, but she didn't struggle.

"Since it's a last resort, Lord Pei, what... will you choose?"

Almost instantly, Pei Du pushed away Jiang Jinshuang's wrist and took several steps back!

He glanced at Jiang Jinshuang in surprise, then looked away, his handsome brows furrowing slightly, and even his breathing became uneven.

Jiang Jinshuang's smile gradually widened.

It was that kind of wicked smile, the smile of someone who had successfully tricked someone.

She sensed something was wrong the moment he pressed her against his waist.

Pei Du... his self-control is too weak, isn't it?

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows slightly, and was really happy to see that Pei Du finally had a different expression on his face.

"Pei Du, after all these years, how come you haven't made any progress at all?"

She was ruthless and made no attempt to conceal it.

"Three years ago on the bed, I merely said a few kind words, and you..."

"your Highness!"

This time, before Jiang Jinshuang could finish speaking, Pei Du interrupted her.

His face was flushed red, his thin lips were tightly pressed together, and he looked as if he had suffered a great humiliation.

"What's wrong, Lord Pei?" Jiang Jinshuang asked with a smile, tilting her head to look at him.

"We've been away for too long, it's time to go back."

After saying that, Pei Du didn't look at her again and turned to leave.

Looking at Pei Du's slightly disheveled figure, Jiang Jinshuang felt relieved, and even the moon seemed exceptionally pleasing to the eye today!

……

Linde Hall.

Jiang Jinshuang waited until Pei Du had been in the hall for about a quarter of an hour before entering herself.

She was in a bad mood at the banquet, so she left without any restraint, taking Pei Du with her.

Since Pei Du wanted to avoid suspicion, she didn't need to rush to establish any real relationship with him.

It's better to pretend that we weren't together just now.

Upon re-entering the main hall, one is greeted by songs and dances, a scene of vibrant life.

Jiang Jinshuang lifted her skirt and walked to Si Ning's side.

Upon seeing Jiang Jinshuang, Si Ning's lips curled into a smile.

"Your Highness encountered Wen Fengcang?"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded, even raising her chin with a hint of pride: "Not only did I run into him, but I also chatted with him for a bit."

Si Ning readily asked, "What did Your Highness talk about with him?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled, her gaze piercing through the crowd to Wen Fengcang, whose face was cold and gloomy at the banquet.

Following Jiang Jinshuang's gaze, Si Ning explained with a smile, "This Prince Beihuai has not looked well since he returned to his seat."

"What did His Highness say?"

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow: "You'll find out soon enough."

Si Ning blinked blankly, her dark eyes seemingly veiled in mist.

As if to verify Jiang Jinshuang's words, Wen Fengcang stood up at the banquet, holding a wine glass.

Facing Si Ning: "I have long heard of Mr. Si Ning of the Si family in Jiangnan, a man of great talent and extensive knowledge of the world."

"Today, I have prepared a Northern Locust War Dance and would like to invite Mr. Si Ning to appreciate it."

These words caused an uproar among the audience.

The dignified Crown Prince of Beihuai is actually going to perform a dance for the Si family of Jiangnan?!

Si Ning was slightly taken aback, then turned to look at Jiang Jinshuang, who was smiling leisurely to the side.

I understand, it's His Highness who's standing up for him.