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

Chapter 172 Jiang Jinshuang is not suited to bowing her head
After entering officialdom and rising to the highest position, Pei Du rarely knelt before anyone.

Even when meeting the emperor in court, His Majesty granted him special privileges, so he did not have to kneel, but only needed to bow.

If one had to say, Pei Du actually knelt before Jiang Jinshuang far more times in his life than the imperial family.

She always liked him to kneel before her.

It wasn't the kind of condescending disdain that came from being high above; rather, it carried a hint of teasing and flirting.

Pei Du understood this, but didn't really care about such kneeling.

He was always proud, yet never belittled himself. Even when kneeling before Jiang Jinshuang, he never felt it was a disgrace or something that required him to lower himself.

Both in terms of status and mentality, Pei Du was completely convinced.

Even though he knew that her demand for kneeling was more of a mockery than anything else.

She always liked to sit high on the chaise lounge or the grand chair, with her legs crossed, one hand supporting her chin, and her lips slightly parted, her voice soft and alluring: "Pei Du, kneel before me."

With a somewhat unserious mindset.

At these times, he would readily kneel before her.

She seemed to enjoy looking down at him from a superior position, her eyebrows arched and the corners of her mouth curving upwards: "Pei Du, you said, 'I beg Your Highness for mercy.'"

If things go too far, he might fight back.

—She always pushes her luck.

"Your Highness, that's too much," he would remind her.

She pouted unhappily and gave up on those thoughts.

Her thoughts were easy to guess, and he could guess them accurately as well.

Therefore, whether it was kneeling or obeying, Pei Du did not feel any shame.

But after she left and was demoted from the capital, his career progressed smoothly, and after becoming the Grand Secretary, he rarely knelt before anyone again.

Even the emperor doesn't need to kneel in worship, so it's even less likely that others would ask anything of him.

So now, at this very moment.

Pei Du knelt on the cold, hard stone road, the scorching sun shining down on his back, and the towering, majestic Weiyang Palace standing before him.

The long stone steps seemed to have no end in sight.

Some scholars say that the stone steps leading to the main hall of Weiyang Palace are called the Heavenly Steps.

Once you reach the top, you will soar to great heights, transform into a dragon with the wind, and bring glory to your ancestors.

But for Pei Du, those stone steps were really not that difficult or long.

He walked a little, took a few steps, and arrived.

—It's not difficult at all.

But now, kneeling at the foot of those stone steps, a different emotion is stirring in his heart.

He suddenly realized—

Three years ago, she, such a proud and noble person, knelt before this palace for three whole days. How sad she must have been.

He understands Jiang Jinshuang.

She possessed a royal pride and elegance, and would never yield or bow to anyone.

—She liked being high and mighty, Pei Du knew that.

So, on that day, when she knelt outside the long street hall, it was as if she had broken her own spine and forced herself to bow her head.

Jiang Jinshuang dislikes bowing her head.

Jiang Jinshuang never bowed her head.

She was too proud.

Even if he admits that he admires and loves her as much as Jiang Jinshuang, she will not give up her integrity and backbone for him.

In order to pursue him, she could publicize it extensively and bestow all her favoritism and glory upon him.

Because for her, that was just a matter of favoritism.

But if she were to lower herself, condescend to pursue him, and beg for his love.

She won't.

She wouldn't stoop to doing that.

She is always the dominant one, high above everyone else.

She is a god.

—He is the believer who survives in this world only because of her glory and favoritism.

She only bowed her head once. For His Highness Prince Ruiyang, who was like a brother and a father to her.

She broke her own spine and struck her own knees, all to plead with the imperial court for justice for Prince Ruiyang.

That was the only time she ever gave in.

Pei Du's mind stirred slightly.

Ah, so that’s it.

So this is what she felt and realized when she knelt outside the palace for three days and three nights three years ago.

Jiang Jinshuang is not suited to bowing her head.

He remembered her kneeling here, in the same spot as him, in the dead of winter, in the midst of a snowy day, thinly dressed, her hands and feet icy cold, even more unbearable than the scorching sun.

Jiang Jinshuang is not suited to bowing her head.

She was suited to sit high on that armchair, legs crossed, one hand supporting her chin, raising an eyebrow and looking down at him with disdain.

"Pei Du, kneel before me."

At that time, she was radiant and noble, surpassing all others.

As the sun shone down, Pei Du's thoughts became somewhat chaotic.

The dampness below his knees seeped into the fabric of his clothes, as if it had invaded his limbs and bones.

A sharp, stabbing pain pierced my joints, like silver needles twisting my bones.

My thoughts were like something melting in the sun, a jumbled mess.

Even so, Pei Du still had the thought that when Jiang Jinshuang knelt outside the palace, she should have been more tactful and worn something like knee pads.

Her skin was delicate, and she had never knelt for so long before; her knees must have been very sore.

She's quite stubborn.

Thinking of this, Pei Du couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth again.

—He's quite stubborn too.

The sun's heat felt like it was burning a hole through his back.

Pei Du squeezed the scepter in his hand. The white scepter was smooth and shiny, but the end he was holding was already damp.

Still looking straight ahead.

He seemed to see that Eunuch Kang, brandishing his whisk, rushing towards him in a hurry.

"Lord Pei! Good news, good news!"

"His Majesty has granted your request! His Majesty has accepted your reward!"

When Eunuch Kang brought the news, his elderly eyes lit up and his eyebrows showed joy.

Pei Du straightened his posture and even dusted off the dust from his sleeves.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

One head slammed to the ground, thus announcing the winner of the game.

Eunuch Kang looked at Pei Du with concern, then hurriedly stepped forward to help the almost unsteady Pei Du to his feet.

The bright red official robe seemed to have faded somewhat, and the hem of the man's robe at his knees was filthy.

Grandpa Kang frowned and used a whisk to brush the dirt off his knees, which was better than nothing.

“Lord Pei, why are you doing this…” Eunuch Kang sighed. “By putting His Majesty in such a difficult position, he will be unhappy, and your future days will be difficult too.”

Pei Du's face was pale, and his lips were almost bloodless.

He glanced at Eunuch Kang somewhat slowly, nodded slightly as a sign of thanks, and said, "Those are nothing serious."

For him, neither the hardships of his future career nor the unquenchable wrath of His Majesty were major issues.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Kang opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more, only saying, "This old servant will escort you out, sir."

Pei Du stood up but did not move.

His spine remained straight and upright. He lowered his eyes slightly and looked at the two hands that were supporting his arm, held by Eunuch Kang.

With Kang Gonggong supporting his arm, Pei Du's body weight unconsciously leaned onto him.

The pain in my knee, instead of subsiding, seemed to be getting worse.

"Lord Pei, what's wrong?" Eunuch Kang asked softly, still supporting him.

Pei Du lowered his eyes, his dark pupils swirling with unfathomable emotions.

His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and his deep eyes flickered with light and shadow.

"When she left that year, was there anyone to help her?"