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

Chapter 149 He is my fiancé

Jiang Huayan wanted to punish her as a show for Wen Fengcang to appease the anger of the Beihuai envoy.

But Jiang Jinshuang knew that even if she escaped punishment today, Wen Fengcang wouldn't do anything to her.

—He still needs her help.

Jiang Huayan was simply afraid.

He feared that if Wen Fengcang were truly angered, it would be detrimental to Wan Jin and to his throne.

Jiang Huayan cherished his throne very much.

Inside the Imperial Study, Eunuch Kang's voice was weak, tinged with a cautious apprehension.

As expected, upon hearing this, Jiang Huayan's already gloomy expression became even more somber.

"What does Pei Du mean? Does he think I will do something to Zhaoming?!"

When Jiang Huayan said this, he did not lower his voice, and it reached the outside of the closed palace gate.

Seeing His Majesty's anger, Eunuch Kang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Lord Pei is probably only worried about the princess's safety and has no other intentions..."

"Hmph, you're not Pei Du, how do you know he didn't mean it that way!" Jiang Huayan snorted coldly, his expression suppressed.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study plummeted to freezing point.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and turned to Jiang Huayan: "Father Emperor just mentioned punishment. What do you want your son to do?"

Hearing Jiang Jinshuang say this, Jiang Huayan's expression finally softened a bit.

His expression softened, and he tried to tone his voice gently: "Zhaoming, you have been clever and quick-witted since you were a child, and you are willing to share your father's burdens. As for tonight's matter, your father only needs you to apologize to Prince Beihuai, and then he will let bygones be bygones."

After a pause, Jiang Huayan continued, "Zhaoming, as you know, Wan Jin is not what it used to be, and Father is under a lot of pressure."

They've switched to a more conciliatory approach.

His words were earnest and sincere, each one a difficult choice.

"As for the matter of the marriage alliance," Jiang Huayan said slowly, "I can assure you that this matter will not be promised lightly."

This can be considered a concession made by Jiang Huayan.

If it were someone else, they would have taken the opportunity to back down.

After all, it was just an apology to Prince Beihuai, which was already considered a light punishment.

But Jiang Jinshuang is not an option.

—She refused to accept Jiang Huayan's concessions.

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly. She glanced at the flickering candlelight on the table and finally spoke, "Father, you shouldn't have said that to me."

"You should ask Wen Fengcang if he dares to make his son apologize to him."

Jiang Jinshuang looked at Jiang Huayan and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Or, Father Emperor could subtly inquire with him about today's events and ask if he dares to blame me?"

If she could swallow this insult—hiring an assassin to provoke Si Ning—she wouldn't be Jiang Jinshuang.

Now, her position relative to Wen Fengcang is that he's the one begging her for affections.

She would only apologize to him after she had eaten too much.

"Zhaoming, you—"

“Father, I have finished speaking, and I should take my leave now.” Too lazy to continue the pretense with Jiang Huayan, Jiang Jinshuang smiled, bowed, and took a few steps back. “I am really afraid of the dark, so I will take my leave now.”

After saying that, Jiang Jinshuang didn't look at Jiang Huayan's expression again, and turned to leave the imperial study.

As soon as the door closed, Jiang Jinshuang heard the sound of an inkstone shattering on the ground coming from inside the main hall.

The emperor was furious.

Jiang Jinshuang's expression was indifferent as she stared straight ahead.

She stared blankly at the inverted hook in the sky for a moment.

She knew that tonight's events had broken the veil of "family affection" between her and His Majesty.

Although Jiang Jinshuang always knew that Jiang Huayan had long since lost any affection for her.

But when things really came to this point, Jiang Jinshuang still felt...uncomfortable.

She suddenly remembered that long ago in the imperial study, her father had taught her to read and write, rubbing her head and laughing as he said, "Shuang'er is very smart, Shuang'er is very good."

He said that Shuang'er is very good.

Now he says, "Zhaoming, you cannot distinguish right from wrong and you do not know how to repent."

People are going to change.

Jiang Jinshuang understood, but she was still a little unaccustomed to it.

Following the moonlight, his gaze slowly moved downwards. In the bright moonlight, Pei Du, dressed in a loose robe, with a blue sash tied around his waist, from which hung a blue jade crane-shaped pendant.

The ground was covered in silvery white, like a snow-covered landscape.

The man stood there, his appearance dignified and his posture upright.

Jiang Jinshuang adjusted her mood and slowly walked up to Pei Du.

"Why is Lord Pei here to fetch me instead of returning to Wenshan Pavilion?"

Pei Du lowered his eyes, his dark pupils falling on the girl's face.

Jiang Jinshuang wore her usual nonchalant smile.

Being stared at like that by him always made me feel a little uncomfortable.

“Your Highness,” Pei Du said softly, “if you’re unhappy, you don’t need to smile.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang's smile faded slightly.

Pei Du is ill.

Jiang Jinshuang gave him a cold look.

"The carriage is waiting outside the palace gate. Your Highness, I will escort you back."

Jiang Jinshuang was stunned for a moment before she remembered that she had entered the palace with Pei Du.

Without Pei Du's carriage, it seemed she would indeed have to walk back by herself.

So, that's why he waited for her to go back together?

Jiang Jinshuang smacked her lips, looking a little embarrassed.

Without saying another word, she lifted her foot and walked towards the palace gate.

Pei Du walked alongside her in silence.
-
Outside the palace gates, the carriages of the guests who had come to attend the banquet had all dispersed.

Only the carriage of Wenshan Pavilion remained standing there. Jingmo stood beside the carriage and, seeing the two of them come out, hurriedly went to greet them.

"Your Highness, Your Excellency, you're back!"

Jingmo smiled, and his expression finally relaxed.

Jiang Jinshuang patted Jingmo on the shoulder: "Lord Jingmo, you've worked hard."

After saying that, she smiled and jumped onto the carriage.

Jingmo scratched his head and chuckled twice.

Pei Du, who was standing to the side, glanced at Jing Mo without saying a word, and then stepped onto the carriage using the horse stool.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Jinshuang rested her chin on her hand, gazing aimlessly out the window.

When Pei Du walked in, he naturally sat down next to Jiang Jinshuang.

The carriage started moving.

Jiang Jinshuang was preoccupied with thoughts, and coupled with the fact that she had drunk quite a bit of alcohol that night, her head was feeling a little dizzy.

I'm not drunk, just a bit dizzy.

"His Highness has had Prince Beihuai perform a dance in public tonight."

A sudden sentence reached Jiang Jinshuang's ears, and Jiang Jinshuang's gaze finally slowly returned to the scenery outside the window.

He looked at Pei Du beside him.

She said with a half-smile, "What? Has Lord Pei also come to lecture me?"

The night was still and quiet, and the carriage moved forward smoothly.

On the cushion, Pei Du looked down at his finger bones: "Your Highness, I just want to say that I have great respect for Your Highness's willingness to go to such lengths for those around you."

It's not admiration.

—Not admiration.

Pei Du knew he was lying.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, her clear eyes calmly landing on Pei Du.

She chuckled softly, as if finding it amusing, and leaned slightly forward, pressing her entire body against Pei Du.

The unexpected, cool fragrance wafted into his nose, and Pei Du frowned almost imperceptibly, but he simply lowered his eyes, neither dodging nor avoiding it.

Jiang Jinshuang scrutinized Pei Du's face with a mixture of curiosity and malice.

Outrageous to both gods and men, possessing the appearance of a celestial being.

After a long while, she smiled and said, "Pei Du, Si Ning is not just an ordinary 'person close to me,' he is my... fiancé."