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

There is a typo in Chapter 179 of the scripture.

Jiang Jinshuang's voice was also slow and leisurely, neither hurried nor slow.

She wasn't in a hurry at all. Pei Du was sitting right there in Wenshan Pavilion; how could he possibly run away?
Although she was indeed quite curious about what Pei Du had asked the imperial family for, she still had the patience to ask.

Therefore, she didn't see anything wrong with the setting sun appearing outside the Wenshan Pavilion at this moment.

Jiang Jinshuang looked at the man sitting at the front of the desk.

The three days and three nights he knelt outside the palace seemed to have not diminished his appearance or demeanor in the slightest. He remained upright, handsome and refined, with a clear and elegant face.

Jiang Jinshuang was standing in the very center of the study.

She was wearing a long red and blue dress today, the hem of which fluttered in the wind, and she was carrying several strings of medicinal herbs in her hand.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the back of Jiang Jinshuang's dress, gilding her with a layer of reddish gold.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, but glanced at the man in front of the desk.

The study in Wenshan Pavilion was also furnished according to the original layout of the side hall in the princess's mansion.

The desk in front of him was large, with a peach blossom branch that had long since withered on its edge. Further ahead, there were several stacks of official documents and files that he had arranged.

The files were neatly arranged on a table some distance away from him, with several sheets of Xuan paper and fine ink beside him.

The white jade penholder was placed beside him, indicating it had just been used.

Several passages of Buddhist scriptures and verses were written on the finest Xuan paper.

Jiang Jinshuang only glanced at it briefly before looking away.

—There is a typo.

Not a lot.

This reveals a glimpse into Pei Du's state of mind.

Faced with Jiang Jinshuang's question, the man's expression remained unchanged, and he simply said in a clear voice, "There wasn't much official business; it was all taken care of yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang blinked in surprise, her face filled with shock: "Lord Pei, you're handling official business as soon as you've recovered? You're so busy with so many things every day, I admire you greatly."

When Jingmo heard his master's answer, his eyes widened in shock. He lowered his head, not daring to look at his master again.

"Um... I'll go check if the medicine for the master is ready."

With that, Jingmo bowed and withdrew, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

For a moment, only Jiang Jinshuang and Pei Du remained in the study.

The sandalwood scent seemed a bit stronger.

Jiang Jinshuang adjusted her skirt and tilted her head slightly: "Lord Pei, you are not yet fully recovered, please be very careful."

As she spoke, she placed the medicinal herbs in her hand on his desk, a smile playing on her lips: "Look, this is my humble offering; I hope the Grand Secretary will not find it offensive."

Pei Du lowered his eyes and glanced at the medicinal herbs.

It wasn't particularly expensive, and it even had the shop's name on it, so it must have been bought while browsing the shop on my way here.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Pei Du nodded slightly, then pointed to the seat next to him: "Your Highness, please sit down."

Jiang Jinshuang glanced at Pei Du, then at the spot he pointed to.

With a smile, Jiang Jinshuang moved a chair from the side and casually sat down in the seat next to the desk, instead of sitting in the spot he had pointed to.

Seeing Jiang Jinshuang sit down, Pei Du lowered his eyes slightly, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it next to Jiang Jinshuang.

Pei Du was actually a very particular person.

Jiang Jinshuang still remembered that she had reserved a side hall for Pei Du back then, originally intending to set up a study for him, but he declined.

A corner of the side hall was set aside and became his study area.

Pei Du clearly separated his reading and studying from his daily life.

In his own words, "A gentleman cultivates himself, regulates his family, governs the state, and brings peace to the world, following a proper order. If one cannot even distinguish these things, one is not qualified to understand the principles of things."

Pei Du was always strict with himself. —At least before, Jiang Jinshuang had never seen anything like a teacup on his desk where he studied diligently.

He didn't like having these things on his desk when he was reading or practicing calligraphy.

Now, Jiang Jinshuang looked at the teacup that had been pushed in front of her. The golden nanmu desk had a warm and lustrous sheen, indicating that it had been used for a long time, and its surface was still shiny.

Jiang Jinshuang was momentarily dazed.

Three years may not be a short time; it can change many people and many things, and may even subtly change a person's habits.

Jiang Jinshuang simply found it amusing.

It seems that a lot has really happened during the three years she was away from Chang'an.

Seeing that she was just staring at the cup of tea without saying a word, Pei Du lowered his eyes slightly and said in a clear and calm tone, "It's the third time."

He assumed it was because she didn't drink the second cup of tea.

Jiang Jinshuang then came to her senses, raised an eyebrow and smiled, then picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

A slightly astringent taste spread across her tongue, and Jiang Jinshuang squinted her eyes comfortably, her gaze falling on him again.

"Lord Pei, please tell me."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, her smile radiant.

Pei Du's gaze also fell on her.

His tone remained calm and even as always: "What does Your Highness wish to know?"

Jiang Jinshuang blinked: "Then I'll ask them one by one."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang spoke first: "You knew all along that the God of Slaughter Mask wasn't the Tiger Seal?"

first question.

Pei Du's expression remained unchanged; he merely glanced at the sutra he had just copied and delivered to him.

There seem to be quite a few typos.

With his thin lips slightly pursed, Pei Du took a book and discreetly covered the scriptures with it.

He then slowly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and tilted her head: "How did Lord Pei know?"

Pei Du replied calmly, "I guessed."

Jiang Jinshuang looked at him with a half-smile, her eyes clearly showing disbelief.

Pei Du glanced at Jiang Jinshuang and explained softly, "The God of Slaughter Mask was something His Highness Prince Ruiyang wore on the battlefield all the time."

"Your Highness knows Prince Ruiyang's character well. He is prudent and plans ahead, and is definitely not the kind of person who starts something but finishes it halfway."

“His Highness Prince Ruiyang always wears the God of Slaughter Mask. If the God of Slaughter Mask really is the Tiger Tally, His Highness Prince Ruiyang would not have been in such a passive position after he was imprisoned.”

"Moreover, Your Highness should also know that, according to legend, the Mask of the God of Slaughter is imbued with divine power. Some say that as long as one obtains the Mask of the God of Slaughter and wears it on their face, they will be invincible like Prince Ruiyang."

Jiang Jinshuang's gaze paused slightly, as if she had figured something out.

She frowned slightly and slowly said, "Therefore, the Mask of the God of Slaughter is itself a controversial item, coveted by some unscrupulous people."

Pei Du nodded: "Therefore, even to reduce the risk of it being taken away by someone with ulterior motives, His Highness Prince Ruiyang will not use the God of Slaughter Mask as the Tiger Tally."

The reason is actually very simple: in the eyes of some people with ulterior motives, this mask of the god of death is a highly sought-after and desirable item.

Even if it weren't a tiger tally, it would still be coveted and plotted against by some people.

Uncle Wang is always meticulous and would not allow such a risk to occur.

Therefore, the mask of the god of war could not possibly become the tiger tally.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jinshuang chuckled: "A controversial object that won't become a tiger tally is a new line of investigation."

Pei Du remained silent, waiting for Jiang Jinshuang to continue.

Jiang Jinshuang composed herself and looked at him with a smile: "So, Lord Pei, you dared to lead the Black Armor Cavalry to resist Bei Huai on the border of Wan Jin because you knew that the Prince of Changping did not have the Tiger Tally?"