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

Chapter 161 Your Highness, I am not a plant.

If we're talking about this passionate pursuit, it seems she was the one who started it, and she was also the one who unilaterally declared it over.

Everyone said that it was because of the auspicious smoke rising from Pei Du's ancestral grave that he gained Princess Zhaoming's favor, which caused her to become so fiercely entangled and completely lose her composure.

But Pei Du knew that wasn't the case.

—The one who is high and mighty has never been him.

She beckoned with her finger, trying to win him over, but then found it uninteresting and waved him away.

Like willow catkins fluttering on willow branches.

It looks beautiful when you like it, but after a while, it just gets on your nerves.

Jiang Jinshuang isn't actually very patient.

She used to cherish a jade bead dagger, which she would caress for three days after acquiring it and hold in her arms every night before going to sleep. But after three days, she put the dagger away and left it unused.

When asked about this, she clicked her tongue and commented, "If it's just for killing, that dagger is no different from the one I usually use."

—She really has very little patience.

She felt that nothing seemed different.

"So, either I or Si Ning is acceptable, right?"

Pei Du's tone was slightly somber, and his gaze toward Jiang Jinshuang was cold and silent.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly: "Of course it's different, Pei Du."

She paused, tilted her head and chuckled, her tone nasty: "I prefer the willow branch that Si Ning sent."

She not only lacks patience, but her character is also truly despicable.

She didn't care much about the emotions Pei Du was showing; she was only concerned with her own happiness.

As expected, Pei Du's expression froze slightly upon hearing this, and his eyes misted over as he looked at Jiang Jinshuang.

The rain was falling steadily outside.

The flickering candlelight, like warm golden light, bathed him in its glow.

Jiang Jinshuang remained unmoved, and slowly said, "Pei Du, I have actually tried to put myself in your shoes and think about your thoughts."

"But after thinking it over, I feel that if you just want to get revenge on me, going this far is putting the cart before the horse, and top-heavy," Jiang Jinshuang paused, tilted her head slightly, and looked at the man with bright and arrogant eyes, "So Pei Du, you like me?"

Pei Du pursed his lips slightly, standing tall and elegant, but he only looked down at her.

With her smile undiminished, Jiang Jinshuang pondered, "But Pei Du, that's not what you like."

"Because I used to always be chasing after you, you've gotten used to it. Now, I'm just taking back those privileges and transferring some of them to someone else, and you're already feeling uncomfortable."

“Pei Du, that’s not liking.”

"That's just your selfishness at play."

Jiang Jinshuang looked at him quietly, speaking slowly and deliberately, calmly and deliberately.

But for some reason, when he looked at Pei Du again, the man's eyes were bloodshot and his posture was stiff.

"Jiang Jinshuang, you just think I don't understand anything."

He only said this one sentence, gazing intently at her.

"Your Highness, I am not a tree."

The candlelight in the main hall flickered twice more.

By the time Jiang Jinshuang realized what was happening, Pei Du had already left with his umbrella.

My gaze shifted to the guest seat where he had once sat, and I saw only a few willow branches lying quietly on the table. They looked wet and cool from the rain and dew.
-
The next morning, the sky was still somewhat gloomy.

Jiang Jinshuang received Jingmo's message yesterday and went to the Imperial Observatory early this morning.

On the way to the Imperial Observatory, Jiang Jinshuang wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the people coming and going on Chang'an Street were looking at her carriage with suspicion and wariness.

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Observatory. It was said that Zhao Yun had dismissed his guards, and when Jiang Jinshuang went to see him, only Zhengze remained to serve him.

Upon seeing Jiang Jinshuang, Zhengze's cold and indifferent eyes finally cleared up a bit. He took a few steps forward and jogged to Jiang Jinshuang's side: "Why did you take so long? Your master has been waiting for you!"

Ignoring the urging, Jiang Jinshuang was pushed by Zhengze and arrived at the main hall of the Imperial Observatory!

Seeing that Xiao Zheng was urging her so urgently, Jiang Jinshuang thought that Pei Du had already arrived, but when she entered the main hall, she found that she did not see Pei Du.

"Where is the Grand Secretary?" Jiang Jinshuang asked in confusion.

Inside the main hall, a huge rotating star chart was placed in the center of the hall. Zhao Yungui was standing under the star chart. Hearing the sound, he turned around to look at her.

"Lord Pei came last night."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly: "Last night?"

"Yes, he came to see me right after the sacrificial ceremony ended last night."

Jiang Jinshuang asked, puzzled, "Why is he here so early?"

Zhao Yungui remained silent, his cool gaze falling indifferently on Jiang Jinshuang.

"Your Highness, I have a question. You may choose not to answer it, but if you do, please be sure to tell the truth."

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows, waiting for Zhao Yungui to continue.

I do not know how long it has been.

Zhao Yungui's gaze was fixed, and his tone was clear and cold: "Is Your Highness willing to inherit the throne and rule the world?"

The rumbling thunder in the sky finally gave way to a loud crack as a bolt of lightning struck down.

The lightning bolts reflected off Jiang Jinshuang's fiery red dress, dividing her into two shades of light and dark.

She didn't speak, her cold eyes glancing indifferently at Zhao Yungui.

I do not know how long it has been.

Just when Zhao Yungui thought she wouldn't answer, Jiang Jinshuang finally spoke.

"So, the person who tried to assassinate you yesterday was actually after me, right?"

Zhao Yungui didn't seem to mind Jiang Jinshuang changing the subject. He nodded slightly and didn't hide anything: "They must have planned this. As soon as the assassins appeared, rumors started spreading in the streets."

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled: "When I heard it yesterday, it was just that the Grand Preceptor had been assassinated. But after a night of fermentation, I wonder what it has become?"

Zhao Yungui said with a somber expression: "Rumors are circulating that Princess Zhaoming is hiding a tiger tally, acting like a hen crowing at dawn, plotting rebellion, and manipulating the words of the Imperial Preceptor."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang smiled casually and said, "So, Zhao Yungui, tell me, the rumors circulating in the capital a few days ago about a white rainbow piercing the sun and a calamity star attacking the moon, are they referring to me?"

Zhao Yungui looked at her intently: "Sorry, I can't see clearly."

There are very few things he cannot see clearly.

But ever since that day, when the girl turned his dead end with a single finger, even the heavens seemed unwilling to be fair to her.

That was the retribution of Heaven.

Jiang Jinshuang listened, but simply nodded to indicate that she understood.

"Where's the assassin?"

Zhao Yungui said in a deep voice, "If the first attack fails, bite the poison and commit suicide on the spot."

After a pause, Zhao Yungui closed his eyes slightly and added, "Before dying, the assassin shouted, 'Princess Zhaoming possesses the Tiger Tally; she will unify the world!'"

Things were worse than she had imagined.

The fact that the people behind the scenes dared to do this proves at least one thing: they were certain that the Tiger Tally had left some other clues, and those clues pointed to her.

Previously, the imperial family suspected and feared her, but they had no concrete evidence and could not bring the matter to the forefront.

But now, with Zhao Yungui assassinated, the whole matter has been brought to the forefront. Many people in the capital resent Jiang Jinshuang and will naturally not allow her to unify the country!
No wonder, no wonder the crowd of people looked at her so strangely on her way to the Imperial Observatory today!

"Your Highness, His Majesty's Imperial Guards should now surround the Princess's residence."