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

Chapter 180 Pei Du, are you trying to please me?
If that's the case, then everything makes sense.

Pei Du was by no means a reckless or impulsive person who acted without considering the consequences.

He must have guessed long ago that the mask of the killing god in the hands of the Prince of Changping was not the real tiger tally, which is why he went to the border of Wanjin, falsely conveyed the imperial decree, led the Black Armor Cavalry to resist Beihuai, and ultimately won a decisive victory.

That's what Jiang Jinshuang thought.

Unexpectedly, when Pei Du heard her say that, his handsome brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze towards Jiang Jinshuang carried an emotion that she couldn't understand.

"Your Highness, these are two different things."

"Two different things?" Jiang Jinshuang looked at him in confusion.

Pei Du pursed his thin lips and said in a deep and elegant tone, "Even if I don't know whether the God of Slaughter Mask is the Tiger Tally, and even if the Prince of Changping has the real Tiger Tally, I will still go to Baiyujing."

Jiang Jinshuang asked, puzzled, "Why? Pei Du, do you have other trump cards up your sleeve?"

Pei Du raised his eyes, his gaze flickering slightly as he looked at Jiang Jinshuang, as if offering a silent defense.

Even Jiang Jinshuang didn't understand what Pei Du was trying to explain.

“There’s no trump card,” he said hoarsely, “because that’s Bai Yujing.”

She asked him why he would go to the border of Wanjin without considering the consequences. If the Prince of Changping really had the tiger tally, his actions were tantamount to courting death.

He said it was because that was Baiyujing.

The Jade Palace in the heavens.

Her Baiyujing.

Jiang Jinshuang and Pei Du are not quite the same.

Jiang Jinshuang is a person who does most things with a strong sense of purpose and utilitarianism.

If this matter is not beneficial to her plans or future schemes, she probably won't do it.

Just like in the matter of Pei Du delivering the emperor's decree to lead an expedition.

Jiang Jinshuang was caught up in the situation, so she didn't take into account what Pei Du said.

But if she were to step outside this situation and become an observer like Pei Du, realizing that the mask of the killing god in the hands of the Prince of Changping was definitely not the Tiger Tally, then she would certainly take advantage of the imperial decree to launch an expedition against Beihuai.

Doing so would win her the favor and praise of the people, as well as generous rewards and titles.

No harm at all.

But the reality is that she didn't realize the mask of the killing god wasn't the tiger tally. She was already caught up in this situation, so it was impossible for her to risk falsely conveying the imperial edict by doing this.

It did her no good whatsoever.

In Jiang Jinshuang's view, Pei Du's actions made no sense.

—Or rather, there's no benefit to it.

She didn't understand why Pei Du would do that.

He said it was because that was Baiyujing.

So?

So what about Baiyujing?

What does it have to do with him?

Jiang Jinshuang blinked, belatedly realizing what was happening.

She is a person who is very ambitious, but also has a strong ability to reflect.

Therefore, when she encounters a problem she doesn't understand, she won't completely deny it or impose her judgment.

She tries to put herself in other people's shoes and think about the same thing from their perspective.

Just like now.

Hearing Pei Du say this, Jiang Jinshuang pondered for a long time.

Finally, she chuckled softly, slightly raised her eyes, and her dark eyes betrayed no emotion.

"So, Pei Du, are you trying to curry favor with me?"

—This is the answer she came up with.

Why would he risk falsely conveying an imperial edict to go to the Wanjin border to defend against the Northern Huai?

He said it was because that was Baiyujing.

—That was her Baiyujing.

So, Pei Du is trying to please her?

Jiang Jinshuang didn't show any particular emotion when she said this.

She's good at analyzing problems and answers, but that doesn't mean she can glean anything emotional from them. When she asked that question, it was just an inquiry.

Pei Du's long eyelashes trembled slightly.

He gazed at her, his dark eyes swirling with unfathomable emotions.

for a long time.

It went on until the sun was setting, until the moon rose and the clouds and rain fell, until candles were lit outside the room.

“Yes, Jiang Jinshuang,” he tightened his throat, his voice hoarse, “I’m trying to please you.”

Suddenly, Pei Du inexplicably recalled a conversation he had with a scholar: "A gentleman should die for his country, not be servile or obsequious."

But for her, it was a different story.

—She wasn't engaging in a debate.

He doesn't care about winning or losing.

He knelt upright before the desk, looking up at Princess Zhaoming, who sat high above him in the chair.

"Yes, Jiang Jinshuang, I'm trying to please you."

She is indeed very good at summarizing general points.

Even Pei Du himself wasn't entirely clear about his purpose, yet she articulated it precisely and concisely.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow in surprise, seemingly not expecting Pei Du to agree so readily.

She had originally thought that Pei Du would be furious and say "What kind of behavior is this?" several times before kicking her out of the study!
The expected argument didn't happen; instead, it made Jiang Jinshuang feel somewhat uneasy.

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled lightly, her gaze towards Pei Du devoid of emotion: "In that case, I should indeed thank the Grand Secretary on behalf of the people of Baiyujing."

Pei Du pursed his lips and remained silent.

Jiang Jinshuang's smile faded slightly, and she straightened her expression: "Then, regarding Lord Pei's request for kneeling outside the palace for three days and three nights, why doesn't Lord Pei tell me as well?"

Finally, they asked the part I was most curious about.

Jiang Jinshuang tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of curiosity as she looked at Pei Du.

"I heard it's related to me."

She didn't hide anything, and her gaze towards Pei Du was filled with undisguised curiosity.

She really wanted to know what Pei Du had asked for.

Pei Du's eyelashes fluttered slightly. He did not answer Jiang Jinshuang's question immediately, but instead his gaze fell on the official documents that he had piled up not far away.

—From the time he left the capital for Baiyujing, about half a month had passed, and he had accumulated 532 official documents.

He reviewed and approved the documents day and night, taking two days in total.

Pei Du was not a person who was overly ambitious. Although he was strict with himself, he was far from being reckless.

He just wanted to see her.

After finishing my official duties and recovering from my injuries, I will be able to see her.

He heard yesterday that she would be coming, so he spent the whole night reviewing all the official documents and files.

He admitted that he had put some thought into his clothing, and even the sandalwood incense in his study today was specially changed.

From dawn to dusk.

She entered the Wenshan Pavilion bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

He knew perfectly well that she didn't value today's meeting.

Perhaps it was just a passing moment, a fleeting curiosity that led him to come to Wenshan Pavilion and ask for his answer.

All he could rely on was her curiosity.

—And his answer.

That's it.

"Lord Pei's silence doesn't mean he's actually asking for our marriage, as others have said?"

Seeing that Pei Du remained silent, Jiang Jinshuang spoke again. Although she was smiling, her eyes were icy cold, devoid of any smile.

Pei Du's eyes flickered slightly.

He looked at Jiang Jinshuang, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "If that's really the case, what will Your Highness do?"

He asked her that question.

The same question He Weijing asked her.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't understand what the point of this question was, or why everyone kept asking her this.