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

Chapter 221 I have no male favorites except me.

Hearing what Pei Du said, Jiang Jinshuang became even more suspicious.

Hearing Jiang Jinshuang ask this, Pei Du lowered his eyes, his gaze following the flickering candlelight in the room.

"Your Highness, my hand hurts."

To be honest, Jiang Jinshuang rarely saw Pei Du show weakness.

Back when they were in the princess's residence, Jiang Jinshuang gave Pei Du everything she had, giving him what she considered to be the best.

At that time, although she was of higher status, Pei Du was actually more like the dominant one between the two of them.

What's that saying again? The one who falls in love first is the loser.

Jiang Jinshuang felt that she could be considered a loser in her relationship with Pei Du.

But now, things seem to have changed.

Jiang Jinshuang is not actually the type of person who can't let go.

She has loved, liked, pursued, and tried her best. If she still can't get what she wants, then she shouldn't be the one who regrets it in the end.

Jiang Jinshuang could take it on, and she could also put it down.

So, when she met Pei Du again three years later, all the turmoil in her heart had actually subsided.

But looking at Pei Du, it seems that's not the case.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't like this feeling.

It feels like an endless entanglement, a mess that can't be untangled.

She likes knives.

She likes to cut things off quickly.

Instead of now, he looked down at her as if showing weakness, and whispered, "Your Highness, my hand hurts."

just like……

just like.

hiss……

How best to describe it?

Oh, just like the big yellow dog she had fed a few times in Baiyujing.

After feeding it a few times, it would wag its tail happily every time Jiang Jinshuang passed by.

But if she was in a bad mood and her face turned ugly when she passed by the big yellow dog, the big yellow dog would not dare to bother her.

She thought the big yellow dog would be afraid of her after that, but the next time she passed by, the big yellow dog acted as if nothing had happened, still wagging its tail and walking up to her.

It seems that no matter how she treats it, as long as she is in a good mood, the big yellow dog will come running to her with its tongue lolling out and its tail wagging, just by beckoning her.

Jiang Jinshuang thought that Dahuang was too stupid.

She doesn't want to be Big Yellow.

She would turn back with great joy as soon as Pei Du showed the slightest sign of weakness.

That's not Jiang Jinshuang.

She doesn't need to wag her tail.

Even now, seeing Pei Du showing such weakness, Jiang Jinshuang only slightly twitched the corner of her mouth: "Pei Du, answer."

Her patience is actually quite limited.

The man held her with one hand behind his back, placing it over his heaving chest.

He casually showed her the back of his other hand.

Hearing Jiang Jinshuang's tone, the man's gaze narrowed slightly.

He lowered his head, his long, ink-black hair brushing through Jiang Jinshuang's fingers, swaying gently in the wind.

“Jiang Jinshuang, they say I am the first top scholar in the history of Wan Jin.”

For no apparent reason, he said this.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly, her thin lips pursed: "So?"

So, don't worry about what happens to him.

"You need to watch me."

Jiang Jinshuang laughed in exasperation.

She pulled her hand away from Pei Du's, a half-smile on her face: "If Lord Pei won't tell me, then I'll just ask directly."

"Pei Du, you said Lin Qingyan hit you, but I guess you hit him first, right?"

Pei Du's eyes shimmered like shimmering wine. He remained silent, and Jiang Jinshuang knew she had guessed correctly.

Once you know the answer to this question, nothing else really matters.

She originally wanted to cooperate with Lin Qingyan, but now that she knows Lin Qingyan did not defect to Jiang Biechen's camp and only accidentally injured Pei Du in self-defense, then this person is someone she can cooperate with.

Having figured this out, Jiang Jinshuang saw no need to stay any longer.

"You should get some rest. Jingmo should be here soon to help you sober up."

After saying that, Jiang Jinshuang turned to leave.

"There are no male consorts, right?"

Behind him, Pei Du's voice was low, hoarse, and deep.

Jiang Jinshuang stopped in her tracks, frowning in confusion, and turned to look at him: "What?"

"I have no male lovers besides myself." He slightly raised his chin, his posture upright.

If it weren't for the hint of drunkenness in his eyes and the crimson at the corners of his eyes, one would never have guessed that this Grand Secretary was intoxicated.

He was wearing that fiery red scholar's robe.

To be honest, the material of this scholar's robe is not as rare and comfortable as the fabric he wears now as the Grand Secretary.

His current official robe is also red, but compared to this scholar's robe, it still makes him look more mature and composed.

Three years ago, Pei Du was still young and spirited. Jiang Jinshuang could even imagine Pei Du wearing this bright red robe, riding through the streets, with fruit thrown into his carriage.

It must indeed be a once-in-a-century opportunity.

Even if she saw the newly crowned top scholar in his scholar's robes today, it would still be far less impressive than the grandeur of Pei Du's time.

Once it's missed, it's missed.

It's a pity, and it's also a regret.

But Jiang Jinshuang will not be burdened by the past, nor will she look back.

Moreover, Pei Du was drunk tonight and had put on his scholar's robe again.

Although his clothes were a bit disheveled...

But in the end, it did fulfill her previous regret.

And so it passed.

It's in the past, so I don't care anymore.

When Pei Du asked this question, although it was a question, his tone was unusually firm.

He seemed to clearly and firmly believe that he would only hear one answer from her.

But no.

Jiang Jinshuang disliked his confident expression.

"Lord Pei, that is my business, it has nothing to do with you."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled, then turned and left without looking at him again.

Not long after leaving the bedroom, Jiang Jinshuang headed towards the gate of the mansion. Before she could even step out of the gate, she saw Jingmo, who had learned of the news, rushing towards the bedroom.

"Your Highness!?"

Upon encountering Jiang Jinshuang, Jingmo's eyes widened, and he hurriedly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and waved her hand: "It's alright, I've brought your father back safely. He had some drinks at his birthday banquet today, so you can go and take care of him."

Jingmo cupped his hands in greeting, but did not leave. He said with some difficulty, "Um... Your Highness, Jingmo has something I would like to ask of you..."

"Oh?" Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "What business does Lord Jingmo have with me?"

“Well…” Jingmo scratched the back of his head, chuckled twice, and then said, “At today’s banquet, Your Excellency drank a lot of the wine offered by officials and ministers. If the court officials find out about this, I am worried that in the future, when Your Excellency attends a banquet, other ministers will follow suit.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang chuckled lightly: "Didn't your master consider that once he started this trend, it would be difficult to clean up the mess?"

Jingmo was even more embarrassed. He scratched his cheek and stammered, "My master... is not in a good mood today. Your Highness, you are kind-hearted. You can't just watch my master being toasted by those ministers all the time, can you?"

"I am kind-hearted?" Jiang Jinshuang laughed. "Lord Jingmo, how could you say such a thing?"

Jingmo smiled and said, "Your Highness, please consider this as a sign of your compassion for the court officials. If my master drinks like this a couple more times, I'm afraid he won't be able to attend court anymore."

Jiang Jinshuang waved her hand casually: "We'll talk about it later, I'm leaving now."

"Farewell to Your Highness."
-
As I stepped out of Wenshan Pavilion, night fell.

Jiang Jinshuang walked towards the Princess's residence.

They had only walked a short distance when they saw Lin Qingyan, dressed in a scholar's robe, standing in front of a rack full of lanterns in the distance, waiting amidst the fading lights.