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

Chapter 158 Knotting Grass and Carrying a Ring
Zhao Yun has been assassinated!?
Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly and exchanged a glance with Pei Du beside her.

Pei Du shook his head slightly, indicating that he was also unaware of the matter.

The two arrived outside the princess's residence and found Jingmo already waiting for them.

"My lord, I knew you were here!"

Jingmo's eyes lit up, and he ran to the two of them in a few steps.

Pei Du and Jiang Jinshuang dismounted.

"Has the Grand Preceptor been assassinated?" Pei Du asked in a cold voice.

Jingmo's expression also turned serious: "Yes, I was just about to tell you about this."

He looked around, then moved closer, not trying to hide from Jiang Jinshuang.

"The Grand Preceptor has instructed me to convey a message to you both, saying that this assassination attempt was highly suspicious and that you would like to meet at the Imperial Observatory tomorrow evening."

"The Grand Preceptor is not injured, Your Highness and I need not worry."

Jiang Jinshuang lowered her eyelids, a deep meaning flashing in her eyes.

Hearing from Jingmo that Zhao Yungui was not injured, Jiang Jinshuang's tense body finally relaxed.

Pei Du nodded slightly: "I understand."

After a pause, Pei Du continued, "With the Grand Preceptor assassinated, is the sacrificial ceremony still proceeding as scheduled?"

“Yes, proceed as usual,” Jingmo said in a low voice. “His Majesty wanted to suppress the news of the Grand Preceptor’s assassination to avoid disturbing the people’s peace of mind. However, these rumors seem to have been prepared in advance. As soon as the incident occurred at Huguo Temple, the rumors had already spread throughout the capital.”

Jiang Jinshuang sensed something was wrong.

She chuckled softly and narrowed her eyes slightly.

He exchanged a glance with Pei Du.

Clearly, Pei Du had also thought of the point she had made.

—This stance seems to be aimed at her.

These matters will be left aside for now.

Since the sacrificial ceremony proceeded as scheduled, and the Grand Preceptor had encountered an accident, Pei Du, as the chief minister of the country, had to step forward.

"Your humble servant will first go to Huguo Temple to preside over the sacrificial ceremony."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded, and then Pei Du mounted his horse and rode off into the distance.

Many things happened today.

When Jiang Jinshuang entered the princess's residence, she was still sorting out her thoughts.

If the mask of the God of Slaughter has been switched, then she cannot alert the enemy.

If the mask of the God of Slaughter is indeed the Tiger Tally, once this matter is publicized, the person behind the real mask will definitely mobilize troops.

Jiang Jinshuang rolled her eyes and started making plans in her mind.

She has quite a few enemies, but the only ones who are truly irreconcilable with her, besides Prince Changping Jiang Zeyi, are Crown Prince Jiang Biechen.

wrong.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes slightly, and the image of another person appeared in her mind.

There was one more person she almost forgot.

With the scope narrowed down slightly, Jiang Jinshuang decided to find an opportunity to sound them out.

The morning dew was faint.

Jiang Jinshuang tapped the table lightly with one hand, trying to piece together all the fragmented clues in her mind.

As the Grand Preceptor of Wan Jin, Zhao Yungui faced numerous attempts to influence his words, so the number of assassination attempts he encountered was not small.

But he said that this assassination attempt was different.

—What could be different?
Jiang Jinshuang's situation is still uncertain.

Many things have lost their clues and connections, and my thoughts are scattered like sand, unable to be pieced together.

Jiang Jinshuang simply shook her head, clearing her mind. "Your Highness is thinking about something again."

A clear and familiar voice came from the courtyard.

Jiang Jinshuang looked in the direction of the sound and saw Si Ning walking gracefully towards her in a smoky blue robe.

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

She stood up and went out to greet him: "Si Ning, what brings you here?"

"Your Highness has forgotten? Today is Qingming Festival, and my father asked me to deliver some willow branches to the Princess's residence."

As Si Ning spoke, several servants carrying clean and tidy tender green willow branches entered the princess's residence.

Jiang Jinshuang's gaze swept over the willow branches before she smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Speaking of which, today is Qingming Festival, so I should go and visit Uncle Si."

How can one accept someone's gift without expressing gratitude?
Si Ning smiled and asked, "Is it because Your Highness's affairs are not going well?"

At this point, Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "It might not be as simple as just 'not going smoothly'."

Now, it's unclear who has the God of Slaughter Mask. If it can truly command the Black Armored Cavalry, then things are in serious trouble.

Upon hearing this, Si Ning lowered her gaze slightly and looked at Jiang Jinshuang seriously: "What does Your Highness need me to do?"

Jiang Jinshuang twitched the corner of her mouth and waved her hand slightly: "Not for now. If there is anything I can do to help you, I will certainly not be polite."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang took a deep breath and said to Si Ning, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Are all these willow branches really transported from Jiangnan by Uncle Si?"

Si Ning smiled and nodded: "Your Highness, please tuck a few willow branches into your waistband. They'll ward off evil and bring you peace."

Jiang Jinshuang didn't quite believe in these customs, but she couldn't resist Uncle Si's good intentions.

She smiled and nodded, then pulled out a few willow branches and tucked them into her waistband.

Seeing this, Si Ning smiled and stepped forward, pulling out the slightly thick willow branch from her waist: "Your Highness, it's very uncomfortable to wear this kind of willow branch on your belt."

"You can choose a few thin and soft branches, so that they won't cause any problems when you insert them."

As she spoke, Si Ning smiled gently: "I have been frail and sickly since childhood. Due to my heart condition, I have rarely gone out to pick branches and plant willows over the years, and I have missed many customs."

When he said this, Si Ning sounded a little regretful. He lowered his head and carefully helped Jiang Jinshuang tidy up the branches around her waist.

Jiang Jinshuang said earnestly, "Si Ning, things will be different from now on. Your heart ailment has been mostly cured. In the future, you can personally visit the beautiful landscape of Wan Jin."

Si Ning smiled and nodded: "Speaking of which, I haven't yet formally thanked Your Highness for treating my heart ailment."

"Mr. He is obsessed with medicine and dislikes gold and silver treasures, so I sent him a lot of rare herbs, which he seems to like."

After a pause, Si Ning lowered his eyes and looked at her seriously: "What does Your Highness like?"

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows confidently: "Mr. He doesn't like gold and silver treasures, but I do. If Mr. Si Ning wants to express his gratitude, why not send a few more boxes of jewelry?"

Si Ning chuckled and simply said, "Okay."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "There's no need for such formal thanks between us. You saved my life, and since I can heal you, I will naturally do my best."

Jiang Jinshuang was just joking about the gold and silver treasures; she considered Si Ning a good friend and didn't need any grand thanks from him.

Si Ning smiled and said, "In that case, Your Highness, would you be so kind as to weave a willow wreath for me?"

They tied grass and carried rings.

Jiang Jinshuang said with difficulty, "You can ask me to kill someone with a sword, but I can't make it up."

"I will teach Your Highness."

Weaving willow rings wasn't difficult; Jiang Jinshuang finished them in no time.

Si Ning bowed slightly, and Jiang Jinshuang understood, placing the willow ring on the top of his head.

The priceless jade crown was covered by the simple willow ring, revealing its somewhat clumsy and crude appearance.

Si Ning seemed quite satisfied and nodded: "This is a gift from Your Highness, and I like it very much."

"Trying to treat a few willow branches like treasures, Mr. Si Ning certainly knows how to talk." A lukewarm voice came from not far away.

Jiang Jinshuang looked in the direction of the sound and saw that He Weijing had appeared behind the two of them at some point.