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

Chapter 166 Pei Du and you are different.

Judging by the time, it should have been seven days since Si Ning last came to see her.

In these seven days, the situation outside has changed dramatically, and the jailer's attitude towards her has changed from initially being respectful and humble to now being bossy and domineering.

Just now, when Xia Yurong was brought here, the jailer bowed and scraped, saying, "Miss Xia, please come in. This cell is filthy everywhere, please be careful with the hem of your skirt."

After waving away the jailers, Xia Yurong put away her oil-paper umbrella and looked down at Jiang Jinshuang.

Compared to when she was seen at Huguo Temple, Xia Yurong now wore a magnificent robe and looked even more beautiful and elegant.

If Xia Yurong in front of Jiang Jinshuang in the past was a pure and innocent little white flower.

The Xia Yurong standing before him was noble and dignified, quite different from her former demeanor.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "What are you doing here?"

Xia Yurong chuckled softly. She first glanced at the filth around her and the straw mat she was sitting on, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.

“The weather outside has changed. Yu Rong was worried that you wouldn’t know, so she came to tell you.”

Jiang Jinshuang nodded slightly, her expression unchanged: "Oh? Miss Xia, tell me, how exactly will the situation change?"

"Don't you know, sister? The Northern Huai army is restless and has repeatedly invaded our borders. His Majesty is unwilling to go to war with the Northern Huai, which would cause great suffering to the people on the border. Therefore, he proposed a marriage alliance with the Northern Huai monarch."

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Lord Beihuai has agreed?"

Xia Yurong chuckled: "No, the Lord of Beihuai said that Princess Zhaoming is vicious and has committed many evils, and Beihuai is unwilling to marry such a princess for a political alliance."

After a pause, Xia Yurong's lips curled into an even more pronounced smile: "So, the Lord of Beihuai said that they would only withdraw their troops and cease their invasion if they killed you and handed over Baiyujing along with the surrounding twelve cities to Beihuai."

That's pretty much what she thought.

The ruler of Beihuai is insatiable and is now advancing rapidly. He will not easily withdraw his troops without some benefit.

Jiang Jinshuang had no idea why Xia Yurong would come to her and act so arrogantly.
Jiang Jinshuang rolled her eyes and slightly raised them, as if she had realized something.

She chuckled softly, tilting her head to look at Xia Yurong: "The Empress Dowager bestowed an honor upon you?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xia Yurong could no longer hide her smugness, and the smile on her lips gradually widened.

"Yes, sister, do you know? The Empress Dowager personally brought Yu Rong back to the capital, and yesterday she requested an imperial decree from His Majesty to bestow upon me the title of Princess Qingrong."

A smile spread across her lips, and she laughed almost maniacally: "Sister, look, Yu Rong is now on equal footing with you."

Jiang Jinshuang sneered: "Xia Yurong, have you ever thought about why the Empress Dowager bestowed upon you the title of princess?"

“Of course it’s because you’re going to die, sister,” Xia Yurong continued. “Wan Jin can’t be without a single princess. After you die, I will inherit everything you have.”

"Including the princess's residence and Brother Pei."

What an idiot.

Jiang Jinshuang shook her head helplessly: "Xia Yurong, do you really think that Father Emperor would agree to the conditions of the Northern Huai Monarch, kill me, and then give him twelve cities?"

It's true that Jiang Huayan doesn't want war, but if he were to hand over the city to someone else, it would be throwing his royal family's face to the ground!
He can't let that happen!

However, Xia Yurong was just a commoner who never participated in court struggles and could not possibly understand these things.

Now, all she knew was that she had become Princess Qingrong, someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Jinshuang. —No, she was even more noble than Jiang Jinshuang.

After all, Princess Zhaoming is now in the dungeon and will be executed soon.

"Sister, Brother Pei went to Baiyujing and we haven't heard from him for several days."

When Pei Du was mentioned, Xia Yurong's smile vanished, replaced by concern and worry: "Do you think Brother Pei has really died in the chaos of war?"

"I heard that Brother Pei conveyed His Majesty's decree to lead 300,000 Black Armor Cavalry to resist foreign enemies. If there were no Tiger Tally, the Black Armor Cavalry would naturally obey His Majesty's decree. However, a few days ago, His Highness Prince Changping, wearing a mask of a killing god, rushed to the border."

Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly, and a hint of coldness finally appeared in her eyes.

Pei Du probably wanted to lead the Black Armor Cavalry to repel Bei Huai before His Majesty would punish him.

But Pei Du was falsely conveying the imperial edict. Didn't he realize that doing so was a capital offense?

If they could really defeat Bei Huai, that would be fine, but the Prince of Changping moved upon hearing the news and went there wearing the God of Slaughter Mask, clearly wanting to stop Pei Du's plan!

Thus……

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes were cold as she looked at Xia Yurong and chuckled, "So, you're now standing by Jiang Zeyi's side, certain that he will win?"

What is there left to not understand?
Xia Yurong had already pledged allegiance to Jiang Zeyi, the Prince of Changping, so Jiang Zeyi found a way to bring her back from Huguo Temple and establish a relationship with the Empress Dowager.

Jiang Zeyi's ambition has slowly become apparent.

"Sister, you don't know yet, do you? Prince Wen Fengcang of Beihuai was assassinated a few days ago. I heard that his injuries are serious and his life is in danger."

"Heh, I wonder if the Lord of Beihuai will be so enraged upon learning of this that he will lead his troops to capture Baiyujing and even the imperial city?"

Jiang Jinshuang took a deep breath and looked at her with a smile: "Xia Yurong, did you come here just to tell me this?"

"Of course not," Xia Yurong said with a smile, walking closer to her. "Sister, why are you still so calm? Didn't you hear what Yurong just said?"

"Brother Pei may already be dead, and you will have to go to the underworld to join him."

Jiang Jinshuang looked at her with a smile, without saying a word.

“Sister, Yu Rong has always felt it’s very unfair,” Xia Yu Rong said with a smile. “Why were you born into that unattainable royal family, while I have to cling to your legs step by step just to survive and climb up the social ladder?”

“Look, there is clearly no difference between us. I can also be the high and mighty Princess Qingrong, worshipped by thousands. I am even better at winning the favor of the Empress Dowager and getting along better with His Majesty and the Crown Prince than you.”

"Sister, you're just luckier than me, that's all.

As she spoke, Xia Yurong's eyes were bloodshot and her gaze was filled with fury: "Sister, you have everything, why do you still want to cling to Brother Pei?"

"Someone like Brother Pei, who comes from a poor family, should be the same kind of person as someone like me!"

"If it weren't for you, sister, if it weren't for Jiang Jinshuang—who wouldn't let go and kept pestering him, Brother Pei and I would have been together long ago!"

“Pei Du is different from you.” Jiang Jinshuang spoke slowly and deliberately, enunciating each word clearly as she looked at her.

“Xia Yurong, Pei Du is different from you.”

“He is clear-headed and upright, never complains or blames others. Even when he is in a quagmire, he never feels sorry for himself, nor does he belittle himself or others. Xia Yurong, he is different from you.”