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

Chapter 204 Lord Pei, are you blaming me?

A long wind blows.

It brushed past Jiang Jinshuang's long hair.

It also lifted Jiang Jinshuang's skirt.

She chuckled softly, and as if she had thought of something, she took a few steps forward and came to Pei Du's side.

She tilted her head slightly. The man in front of her was exceptionally handsome and outstanding. His cold eyes were only fixed on her face as he looked down at her.

"Lord Pei, you haven't been waiting here since the beginning, have you?"

From early this morning until now, she first had breakfast with Zhao Yungui of the Imperial Observatory, and then spent so much time dealing with His Majesty in the Imperial Study.

It's already past noon.

It has been at least two or three hours.

Did she start waiting from the moment she entered the palace?

Pei Du pursed his thin lips slightly.

No answer.

Jiang Jinshuang shrugged indifferently and continued to ask, "Does Lord Pei have something to say?"

Otherwise, why wait for her?

Pei Du glanced in the direction Jiang Jinshuang had come from.

"Has Your Highness gone to see His Majesty?"

Instead, they asked her questions.

Jiang Jinshuang became interested, chuckled, and looked at him casually: "What? Does Lord Pei also think that I went to apologize to His Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Du did not nod as Jiang Jinshuang had expected.

Instead, he frowned slightly, his gaze turning colder: "Why do you want to apologize?"

Jiang Jinshuang: "..."

This sudden question left Jiang Jinshuang somewhat at a loss for words.

She blinked, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Since I was released from prison without imperial decree, doesn't the Grand Secretary think I should apologize to His Majesty?"

Pei Du pursed his lips slightly, his handsome brows slowly furrowing: "If there is truly a crime, the crime lies with this humble subject, what does it have to do with Your Highness?"

After a pause, Pei Du said in a deep voice, "Has His Majesty punished His Highness?"

Jiang Jinshuang didn't react for a moment and didn't answer Pei Du's question.

But in Pei Du's eyes, this expression meant acquiescence.

He straightened his posture slightly and said coldly, "I will go and explain this to His Majesty."

“No need, Lord Pei,” Jiang Jinshuang finally reacted as Pei Du was about to leave. She chuckled and called out to Pei Du, speaking in a nonchalant tone, “I did not go to apologize to His Majesty, I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with him.”

Pei Du knew that Jiang Jinshuang's words were half true and half false.

Since she said no, then let it go.

Nodding, Pei Du turned his gaze to the carriage behind him: "Your Highness, may I escort you back to your residence."

Jiang Jinshuang then noticed that outside the palace gate, behind Pei Du, there was only a carriage.

It's from Wenshan Pavilion.

She sneered and narrowed her eyes at Pei Du: "Where is the princess's carriage?"

Pei Du focused his gaze, his tone clear and calm: "I told the coachman at the princess's residence that I would escort Your Highness, and the coachman went back on his own."

Jiang Jinshuang: "..."

She scoffed, "You'd be a fool to believe that."

However, Jiang Jinshuang did have something to discuss with Pei Du, so she didn't dwell on it and walked ahead of Pei Du into the carriage of Wenshan Pavilion.

Outside the carriage was Jingmo driving.

Jiang Jinshuang and Pei Du settled in, and the carriage began to move, smoothly leaving the palace.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Jinshuang sat opposite Pei Du, speaking casually: "I had a very pleasant conversation with His Majesty today."

Pei Du rarely exposed others' secrets, and even if he guessed something, he would simply listen attentively. He lowered his eyes, handed the teacup he had prepared to Jiang Jinshuang, and then softly replied, "That's good."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and tilted her head slightly: "Oh, by the way, His Majesty also assigned a task to the Grand Secretary, and I estimate that he will inform Lord Pei soon."

Upon hearing this, Pei Du slightly raised his eyes, his cold gaze falling on Jiang Jinshuang.

Jiang Jinshuang curled her lips: "His Majesty means that he wants the Grand Secretary to help him choose a candidate."

Pei Du asked, puzzled, "Whom are you referring to?"

"The candidate for the imperial son-in-law."

The teacup in my hand was not held firmly.

The tea spilled out and splashed onto his finger bones.

The man did not look at the spilled teacup; instead, he raised his eyes and fixed his gaze on Jiang Jinshuang.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled calmly and nonchalantly: "His Majesty told me that I am of marriageable age and it is time for me to get married."

Pei Du's Adam's apple bobbed a few times.

He looked at Jiang Jinshuang for a long time before lowering his head, only belatedly brushing away the water stains that had splashed onto his clothes.

"If Your Highness is unwilling, I will find a way to refuse."

Jiang Jinshuang looked puzzled: "What's there to be unwilling about? It's just finding a man, which suits my wishes even better."

Smacking her lips, Jiang Jinshuang thought to herself, "Although His Majesty treats me coldly, he will not mistreat me when it comes to marriage."

“At the very least, His Majesty’s choice of consort should be good-looking and pleasing to the eye,” Jiang Jinshuang paused, then smiled at Pei Du, “I came here to trouble you, Lord Pei. If you see any ugly candidates among them, please be sure to screen them out for me.”

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Grand Secretary."

She said it so casually.

She said it very casually.

They spoke as if they were merely discussing the fine weather of the day, making the selection of the prince consort sound like child's play.

Pei Du's throat tightened, and his beautiful thin lips pressed into a straight line.

"Didn't Your Highness once say that your future husband should be the leader of all ministers, a dragon among men?"

Jiang Jinshuang rested her head on her hand, sighed helplessly, and shook her head: "It's not easy to find a dragon among men. I was young before and made grand pronouncements, but I no longer have such ambitions."

The fingers gripping the teacup tightened.

He was still brushing the water stains off his clothes with one hand.

But the water stains had spread on the hem of the clothes, turning into a dark water droplet, so how could it be wiped clean?
"Your Highness seems to be inconsistent in your work, starting strong but finishing weak."

Jiang Jinshuang sensed something amiss.

Jiang Jinshuang slightly opened her eyes, tilted her head, and said with a half-smile, "Lord Pei, are you... blaming me?"

"Wei Chen dare not."

“What wouldn’t you dare to do, Pei Du?” Jiang Jinshuang smiled. “You went to the border alone without an imperial edict, falsely conveyed the imperial decree to command the Black Armor Cavalry, and used your merits to force His Majesty to issue an edict to restore the royal lineage of Prince Ruiyang.”

"Lord Pei, is there anything in this world that you dare not do?"

Pei Du's gaze also fell on Jiang Jinshuang.

"What about before?"

"What?" Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly, not understanding what Pei Du meant.

Pei Du said, enunciating each word clearly, "Then what about my past with Your Highness? What does that count for?"

Ha, and you still say it's not a reprimand.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled coldly: "Didn't Lord Pei say that it only counts as 'the past'?"

“Pei Du, you are very clever, and now you are a powerful minister. I really don’t want to be your enemy,” she said with a frank smile. “So, if Lord Pei is magnanimous, you can just consider the past as my youthful ignorance and let it all go, how about that?”

To be honest, it's really not worth it to be enemies with Pei Du.

Pei Du took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to control his emotions.

"Does Your Highness also intend to wipe the slate clean regarding yesterday's events?"