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

Chapter 215 I am your best male consort.

Jiang Jinshuang is actually a very impatient person.

He used all his limited patience on Yan Jue.

She had sworn to protect Yan Jue and would never let him suffer any injustice.

Upon hearing Jiang Jinshuang's words, Yan Jue nodded earnestly and replied, "Okay."

"Your Highness, you have been so presumptuous at Qing Shan's residence today. Aren't you afraid of my father's wrath?"

Qing Shan snorted coldly, her tone turning somber.

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled lightly: "Miss Qingshan can tell General Zhenyuan everything that just happened. Since I am so presumptuous, I am not afraid of others knowing."

Qing Shan sneered, then glanced at Yan Jue, her tone contemptuous: "Is it worth it for Your Highness to go to such lengths and make such a fuss over a mere male concubine?"

Jiang Jinshuang tilted her head, her expression unchanged: "There's nothing I can do. My male favorite is just too handsome and suits my taste perfectly. It's no problem to show him some favoritism."

"You—" Upon hearing this, Qing Shan's eyes turned bloodshot, and her gaze towards Jiang Jinshuang was filled with jealousy and hatred!

After a slight pause, Qing Shan scoffed and slowly said, "That's right. If Her Highness the Princess can't have someone as noble and virtuous as the Grand Secretary, she can only settle for someone like him who has no power or influence."

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow: "Who said I was settling for second best? I feel that my current male favorite is many times better than the Grand Secretary."

A breeze ruffled Jiang Jinshuang's clothes and long hair, and she caught a whiff of familiar sandalwood scent carried on the wind.

She raised her eyebrows slightly, her expression unchanged, and did not turn around to look at the person who came.

Yan Jue also reacted, leaning down slightly and whispering in her ear, "Someone's here."

The voice was very soft and faint, and only she could hear it.

Jiang Jinshuang blinked, as a response.

Yan Jue understood, and stood behind Jiang Jinshuang without saying a word or turning around.

Only Qing Shan had a look of anticipation, her eyes even brightening slightly.

"What does Your Highness mean? You're comparing the current Grand Secretary to this lowly male favorite. Aren't you afraid the Grand Secretary will be angry?"

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow: "I'm just telling the truth, what's there to blame me for?"

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang slightly raised her chin: "Even if the Grand Secretary were here, I would still say that my male favorite is far superior to him."

A triumphant smile appeared in Qing Shan's eyes.

As if she had just noticed the person behind her, Qing Shan lowered her head in a fluster and curtsied, saying, "Qing Shan greets the Grand Secretary."

His tone was light and cheerful, carrying a hint of barely suppressed excitement and exhilaration.

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly before turning around as Qing Shan spoke.

The man wore a dark blue robe with bamboo patterns faintly visible.

He stood not far behind Jiang Jinshuang, tall and elegant, without approaching.

At this distance, Jiang Jinshuang was certain that he had overheard their conversation.

Behind him, before Pei Du could speak again, Qing Shan added fuel to the fire, saying, "Your Excellency, please forgive me. Qing Shan and Her Highness the Princess were just chatting casually. Her Highness had no intention of belittling you!"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled as she looked at the newcomer, her eyes clear and bright.

The man in front of her stood upright, his gaze towards Jiang Jinshuang clear and calm.

—It's impossible to discern any emotion from him.

He didn't say anything.

After a long silence from Pei Du, Qing Shan frowned slightly, inwardly grumbling, and called out again, "Prime Minister—"

"Those who speak recklessly about the royal family and court officials deserve to be executed."

Before Qing Shan could finish speaking, the man's voice was as cold as frost.

Qing Shan's smile froze, and she looked up at Pei Du with a blank and shocked expression.

Suddenly, she met the man's chillingly cold eyes.

Qing Shan had witnessed a lot in the military camp since she was a child. Those officers and soldiers who had spent a long time on the battlefield would more or less be tainted with a murderous aura.

She was used to it.

But Pei Du's eyes were too cold.

That wasn't the look one would give a living creature.

The cold made her shiver. "Prime Minister," Qing Shan forced a smile, trying to stay composed, "but...it was Her Highness the Princess who..."

“You made some bad friends before. After the Xia family was executed, the imperial family did not blame you because of General Zhenyuan’s influence,” Pei Du paused, his voice cold and indifferent, “If Miss Qingshan insists on doing this, even General Zhenyuan cannot protect you.”

That's already a chilling warning.

Qing Shan stared wide-eyed at Pei Du in astonishment.

After a long while, she took a deep breath, finally lowered her head, and gave a slight curtsy: "It was Qing Shan who was impolite, please forgive me, Your Excellency."

“Miss Qingshan should not apologize to me.” His tone was as cold and indifferent as ever.

Qing Shan pursed her lips slightly, and after a long while, she finally turned to Jiang Jinshuang, her tone stiff and cold: "Qing Shan misspoke, please forgive me, Your Highness."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled innocently and understandingly: "It was just a few words with Miss Qingshan, how could it be considered a slip of the tongue? Miss Qingshan, there's no need for that~"

Qing Shan looked up, a smile playing on her lips: "The banquet still needs Qing Shan, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, Qing Shan didn't linger and turned to leave.

For a moment, only the three of them remained in the side courtyard.

Jiang Jinshuang turned to look at Pei Du again, a half-smile on her face.

Waiting for Pei Du to say something accusatory, Pei Du bowed slightly and said in a cold tone, "This humble subject will take his leave now."

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "What brings Lord Pei here? Why are you taking your leave so soon?"

The steps paused.

Pei Du had broad shoulders and a graceful waistline.

He did not turn around, and said in a cold voice, "I was just passing by and have disturbed Your Highness."

After saying that, he left without waiting for Jiang Jinshuang to say anything more.

Watching Pei Du's departing figure, Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows.

It's really fun.

After dealing with Qing Shan's matter, Jiang Jinshuang was still in a daze when Yan Jue tugged at her sleeve.

Jiang Jinshuang followed the hands to Yan Jue, then pretended to be angry and frowned, her lips pursed: "Yan Jue, didn't I tell you to come with me?"

Yan Jue lowered his eyes, his beautiful sword-like eyebrows also slightly lowered, making him look like an innocent and pitiful little beast.

He didn't say anything, just looked down at her with an expression of resignation.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshuang couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Alright, I won't blame you."

Yan Jue's lips curled up slightly, but as if recalling the question from earlier, he spoke softly: "What does 'male concubine' mean?"

Yan Jue didn't understand these things.

Jiang Jinshuang: "..."

How should she talk to a naive and clueless man about this issue?
Jiang Jinshuang coughed lightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke cryptically: "A male concubine is... a close friend, a very close friend, someone with whom one has intimate communication."

Snuggling into a bed together, how can that not be considered intimate contact?
Upon hearing this, Yan Jue frowned slightly, then nodded seriously.

"Yes, I am your male concubine."

As he spoke, he patted his chest with great certainty: "I am your best male favorite."

Jiang Jinshuang: "..."

I'm sorry, she's guilty.

After dismissing Yan Jue, Jiang Jinshuang waited for the banquet to end so she could take him to meet the Zhenyuan General.

At the banquet, glasses clinked and everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

Jiang Jinshuang knew that Yanjue was not used to this kind of occasion, so she did not insist. She simply told him to find a quiet place to wait until the banquet was over.

Back at the banquet, Crown Prince Jiang Biechen claimed to be unwell and had left to return to his palace.

Jiang Jinshuang lowered her eyes and saw a cup of sake placed on her seat.

Raising her eyebrows slightly, Jiang Jinshuang looked up and scanned the banquet below.

Finally, the top scholar raised his wine cup to Jiang Jinshuang.

Hahahaha, if you knew I was rushing to catch a flight at the airport when a blizzard hit, causing the flight to be delayed for over ten hours, and then I caught a cold and fever as soon as I landed, you'd think I had a terrible life too~~ (Updated while sick...)