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

Chapter 21 I did not beg for His Highness's favor

How can someone have such a low alcohol tolerance?

He got so drunk after just three cups of fruit wine that he collapsed on the ground, completely drunk.

At that time, Jiang Jinshuang sat calmly at the tea table in the outer room.

The sheer curtains were lifted to the sides, and she could clearly see the blush on the man's face, which extended from the corners of his eyes to the tips of his ears.

Thinking back on it—Pei Du was truly captivating when he was drunk!
The man on the bed was naked from the waist up, with only the blanket covering his body.

He leaned against the edge of the bed, and after a long while, he finally managed to utter a sentence: "I...don't remember..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang put on a very hurt look, on the verge of tears: "So, Young Master Pei means he's unwilling to take responsibility?"

“That’s not what I meant,” Pei Du replied stiffly.

Although Pei Du was not as mature as he is now, the youthful innocence in his eyes made him seem more real.

Jiang Jinshuang rested her chin on her hand, leisurely watching the man on the bed, appreciating the various expressions on his face caused by his inner turmoil and confusion.

She realized she had indeed gone a bit too far.

—She was the one who got him drunk, and now that he's sober, she's teasing him like this.

Shameless! Utterly shameless!
Moreover, she clearly knew that Pei Du resented her so much that even if he agreed out of a sense of gentlemanly duty, he would certainly be unwilling to take responsibility.

Isn't she just humiliating herself?
for a long time.

The man on the bed finally raised his eyes and his gaze fell on her.

He looked at her, as if he had been thinking for a long time, then parted his thin lips slightly, his voice low and husky: "I'll do it tomorrow..."

"Okay, I was just kidding."

The man's words were abruptly cut off.

He frowned slightly, his tone a little stiff: "What?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and waved her hand dismissively: "You're drunk and don't like being touched, so I can only let you rest in my bedchamber."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "You took off your clothes yourself, Pei Du. So you're this obedient when you're drunk?"

Do whatever you're told.

Like a cat whose fur has been stroked.

"Pei Du, haven't you ever read storybooks?" Jiang Jinshuang smiled, pursing her lips. "A man isn't good when he's completely drunk."

Quiet.

silence.

The sleeping quarters were as quiet as a calm lake.

Calming incense was burning in the inner room.

Smoke rose slowly from the openwork phoenix incense burner, swirling, gathering, entwining, spreading, and then disappearing into the air.

Just like someone's complex state of mind.

Through the swirling mist, she could see the man's cold and indifferent expression.

"Pei Du?" Jiang Jinshuang called out to him tentatively.

I do not know how long it has been.

"Only this once," Pei Du said solemnly.

"what?"

The man's eyes were clear and his expression was cold and stern: "If Your Highness tries to play tricks on me again, I will leave the Princess's residence."

Pei Du's tone was serious and earnest, clearly indicating that he was not joking.

Jiang Jinshuang knew she was in the wrong, so she pouted and said, "Okay, okay." After a pause, she sighed and looked at Pei Du seriously, "Pei Du, you're just taking advantage of my feelings for you."

The threat of "I will leave the princess's residence" would have no effect on anyone else.

“Pei Du, you’re just taking advantage of my favor,” Jiang Jinshuang wrinkled her nose. “If one day I stop liking you, and you speak to me like that, I’ll beat you to death with sticks.”

On the bed, the man's eyes were clear and sharp, his tone cold: "I did not beg for Your Highness's favor."

Look at them, they can't even say a compliment.

Jiang Jinshuang has never suffered such humiliation since she was born!
With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Jinshuang looked at Pei Du, who was sitting calmly at the octagonal table, and a teasing look appeared in her eyes.

She's petty and vindictive; she holds grudges and seeks revenge whenever she remembers something.

"Since it's not a problem with the wine, then it must be my problem?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "Is the Grand Secretary unhappy because he came to the wrong banquet?"

The ministers at this banquet all have six ears!
Hearing Jiang Jinshuang and Pei Du's conversation, everyone understood.

—It turns out that the Grand Secretary really did come to the wrong banquet, and was forced by Princess Zhaoming to stay at the Yichun Banquet!

They were right!
Given the previous relationship between the Grand Secretary and Princess Zhaoming, it is absolutely impossible for the Grand Secretary to willingly attend the banquet at the Princess's residence!
At the banquet, Pei Du's handsome brows furrowed slightly when he heard Jiang Jinshuang say this.

"Your Majesty, I had no such intention."

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow: "Since the Grand Secretary has no such intention, how about we drink a cup of Songfengyin to show our sincerity?"

In the entire city of Chang'an, besides Jiang Jinshuang, there is no one else who can keep up with Pei Du, the chief minister.

But Jiang Jinshuang didn't care about any of that. Since she had decided to take "revenge," she was determined to do it.

Behind Pei Du, Jing Mo hurriedly spoke up, "Your Highness, my master rarely drinks. If he behaves improperly after drinking—"

"What is Lord Jingmo worried about?" Jiang Jinshuang smiled wickedly. "If the Grand Secretary is really drunk, I will send someone to take him back to his residence."

Jingmo frowned, clearly wanting to say something more.

Pei Du raised his hand slightly, signaling Jing Mo to step back.

Jingmo glanced at Pei Du, then reluctantly retreated behind him.

Pei Du poured himself a glass of wine.

He first raised his glass to Jiang Jinshuang, then raised it to Si Ning in the opposite seat: "Mr. Si Ning has traveled a long way to the capital, and I celebrate with this toast."

Si Ning glanced at Jiang Jinshuang without showing any emotion, then raised his glass and smiled, "Thank you, Your Excellency."

He drank most of the glass of wine in one gulp.

Jiang Jinshuang rested her chin on her hand and watched Pei Du's brows furrow as he drank the wine, his tongue burning from the spiciness. She felt much better!
After that, Jiang Jinshuang ignored Pei Du's side.

The atmosphere at the banquet gradually became lively. Some ministers, upon learning that Jiang Jinshuang had "forced" Pei Du to stay at the Yichun Banquet, began to have some designs on him.

Normally, there aren't many opportunities to attend banquets with the Grand Secretary. Now that such a good opportunity has come, there are bound to be a few daring individuals who want to take the chance to "climb the social ladder" of the Grand Secretary.

Now that the Grand Secretary has been mistreated by Princess Zhaoming, if they can say a few words on his behalf, they will surely gain his favor!

Thinking this, a portly official finally stood up, raised his glass to Jiang Jinshuang in the main seat, and said with a smile, "The scenery at Your Highness's Yichun Banquet is truly excellent!"

"Putting everything else aside, just look at the cold spring beside this lotus pond. It seems that Her Highness the Princess specially dug and built it for the Prime Minister back then!"

Upon hearing this, the murmurs among the crowd subsided, and everyone cautiously observed Jiang Jinshuang in the main seat and Pei Du beside her.

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled and leaned back: "What does Lord Zhang want to say?"

The man addressed as Lord Zhang chuckled, puffed out his belly, and continued, "This humble official merely recalled that when Her Highness the Princess was pursuing the Grand Secretary, she was... ruthless and unscrupulous!"

As he spoke, Lord Zhang sighed again: "Alas, it's a pity that the Grand Secretary's heart is not with her. Her Highness the Princess's affection is like this gurgling cold spring; the falling flowers are willing, but the flowing water is indifferent."

(End of this chapter)