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

Chapter 211 Pay Back the Money!

Hearing the noise coming from the front yard, Jiang Jinshuang curled her lips into a smile.

Without further ado, Jiang Jinshuang took Yan Jue and headed towards the courtyard.

With the arrival of the Crown Prince, the banquet was naturally of the highest quality.

Qingbei Mountain was also waiting on the side early, greeting Jiang Biechen and Pei Du.

Qing Beishan is now in his sixties, with graying temples but still sharp hearing and eyesight, and a vigorous spirit. His eyes are sharp as an eagle's, carrying an innate chilling aura.

He clasped his hands in greeting to the two men and said, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and greetings, Grand Secretary."

Today, Jiang Biechen is dressed in a black and gold robe, exuding an air of nobility and royalty.

Looking at Qingbei Mountain, Jiang Biechen had a kind expression on his face. He nodded reservedly and raised his hand to excuse Qingbei Mountain from the formalities.

"General Qing, there's no need for formalities. Today is your sixtieth birthday. If it weren't for the fact that the Emperor is busy with state affairs, he would have personally come to offer his congratulations."

Qing Beishan chuckled and said, "Your Majesty's diligence in governing is a great fortune for Wan Jin. I dare not disturb Your Majesty's birthday banquet."

Jiang Biechen smiled along, then turned to look at Pei Du.

"On my way here, I happened to meet the Grand Secretary, so we came together."

Pei Du bowed slightly towards Qingbei Mountain and said, "This junior wishes General Qing a long life."

Upon seeing this, Qing Beishan hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, feeling flattered and overwhelmed: "The Grand Secretary's official rank is far higher than mine, how can this be proper!"

"It is a junior's birthday greeting to an elder, General Qing, please don't find it offensive."

"How could this be? How could this be!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Qing Beishan smiled and personally led the two to their seats.

As the guest of honor, Prince Jiang Biechen naturally sat in the main seat, below Qingbei Mountain Residence, his seating arrangement the same as Pei Du's.

Today, Pei Du wore a dark blue wide robe and a round-necked long gown.

On the blue robe, there were bamboo branches embroidered with silver patterns, which shimmered in the sunlight.

Beside Qing Beishan was Qing Shan, the only daughter of his Zhenyuan General's Mansion, the precious young lady he cherished.

"Qingshan, hurry up and pay your respects to the two of you," Qing Beishan urged with a smile.

Qingshan lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief in her hands, seemingly lost in thought.

I did not hear what Qingbeishan said.

She bit her lip slightly, lowered her eyes, and looked down at her handkerchief.

Upon seeing this, Qing Beishan's smile froze for a moment. He coughed lightly, and his voice unconsciously rose a few decibels: "Qing Shan."

"Huh?" Qing Shan finally came to her senses, glanced at Qing Beishan's eyes, and quickly realized what was going on.

She rose, curtsied to Jiang Biechen, and then bowed to Pei Du.

Qing Beishan smiled with satisfaction and said to Jiang Biechen, "I've spoiled this girl since she was little, Your Highness, please don't blame me."

Jiang Biechen waved his hand with a smile: "Not at all, I think Miss Qingshan is truly genuine, that's what makes her a valiant daughter of a military family!"

Everyone laughed along, and the atmosphere was great.

In his seat as a guest, Pei Du sat upright, his gaze sweeping over the group of guests.

Her long eyelashes trembled twice before she looked away.

"Brother, you've come too!"

A sound of clearing to zero came from the backyard. Jiang Jinshuang lifted her skirt and walked smilingly into the banquet hall.

Pei Du was the first to look in the direction of the sound, and when he saw the person who had come, the knuckles that had been tucked into his sleeves finally loosened a little.

Upon seeing this, the guests all bowed in greeting. The smile that had been playing on Jiang Biechen's lips faded slightly.

He took a deep breath and then gave Jiang Jinshuang a gentle smile: "Shuang'er, why did you come from the backyard?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and first bowed to Qing Beishan to offer her congratulations: "Congratulations to General Qing on your sixtieth birthday. May you live as long as the pines and cypresses of Nanshan Mountain."

Qing Beishan smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Jinshuang walked unceremoniously to Jiang Biechen's side and sat down in the seat to his left.

It is also the position of the guest of honor.

Jiang Biechen's smile froze slightly, but he still maintained a gentle smile.

After taking his seat, he seemed to remember Jiang Biechen's question and said slowly, "Zhaoming arrived earlier than my brother and just wandered around."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Biechen nodded slightly: "Shuang'er and General Qing are old acquaintances, and their relationship should indeed be closer than mine."

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly, took a sip of wine, and winked at Jiang Biechen: "What, are you envious, Your Majesty?"

With a hint of teasing laughter, it was like the simplest joke between siblings.

Jiang Biechen twitched the corner of his mouth but didn't reply.

The guests had all arrived, and the banquet officially began.

Jiang Jinshuang sat next to Jiang Biechen, watching the lively and bustling banquet guests, and then smiled at Jiang Biechen.

"Brother, what congratulatory gift did you send to General Qing?"

Jiang Biechen raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at her warily, and said in a cold tone: "I heard that General Qing is fond of military strategy, so I ordered the craftsmen of the Eastern Palace to reproduce twelve volumes of bamboo slips with gold thread and ink to celebrate his birthday."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded thoughtfully, then smiled and said, "This congratulatory gift from my royal brother is quite valuable."

Jiang Biechen took a sip of wine and chuckled softly, "It's nothing."

Jiang Jinshuang looked at him with admiration and said innocently, "Your Majesty is very wealthy and powerful. I wonder when you will be able to return my share of salary?"

The wine seemed to get stuck in his throat. Jiang Biechen frowned slightly and looked at Jiang Jinshuang with a gloomy expression.

Jiang Jinshuang seemed oblivious, simply blinking innocently: "When Zhaoming left the capital three years ago, didn't you say you'd save up my salary? Now that Zhaoming's back, where's my salary?"

Jiang Biechen scoffed coldly: "The dignified Princess Zhaoming doesn't even have this much savings in her treasury?"

“Your Majesty, you are mistaken,” Jiang Jinshuang laughed frankly. “Whether my treasury is full or not, what is mine is mine. Just because that money has been in Your Majesty’s hands for three years doesn’t mean it has changed hands, right?”

Jiang Biechen narrowed his eyes coldly and said in a deep voice, "I will have someone send him to your princess's residence another day."

"Thank you very much, my Royal Brother."

Jiang Jinshuang then revealed a bright smile, her eyes crinkling.

Jiang Jinshuang relaxed slightly and glanced down at the banquet table, where she saw Pei Du sitting at the lower end of the table.

Pei Du looked exceptionally radiant today.

Jiang Jinshuang paused for a moment, then looked away.

The guests were having a great time at the banquet, drinking and chatting in small groups. Jiang Jinshuang noticed that, apart from Pei Du being surrounded by a group of ministers as usual, there was also a dozen or so guests surrounding another person.

Noticing Jiang Jinshuang's gaze, Jiang Biechen followed her line of sight.

With a cold laugh, Jiang Biechen took the initiative to speak: "The one surrounded is this year's newly crowned top scholar, Lin Qingyan."

As he spoke, he suddenly lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

"I have met that Scholar Lin a few times, and he does indeed bear some resemblance to that Grand Secretary in terms of his features."

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows slightly.

From her perspective, all she could see was the top scholar being surrounded by layers of people offering him toasts. After all, he was a newly appointed top scholar, and the ministers in the court all wanted to build a good relationship with him.