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

Chapter 232 Jiang Jinshuang, you're biased towards him.

Jiang Jinshuang wasn't actually very obedient.

I usually forget what those nagging words say as soon as I hear them, and I rarely take them to heart.

For example, right now.

—When we disembarked, Si Ning repeatedly told her not to scratch the red rash on her body.

In the end, Jiang Jinshuang was still arrested.

She not only scratched her arms, but even the red rash that was showing on her neck was scratched until it was completely red.

It was probably the pills Si Ning gave her that worked; the rash subsided considerably, but the red mark on her neck became even more noticeable.

—It's like a trace of ambiguity.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't notice any of this.

Upon seeing Pei Du appear before her, she raised her eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.

The surrounding chatter and mockery vanished the moment Pei Du appeared.

Instead, they displayed respectful expressions and solemnity.

Even the way he looked at Jiang Jinshuang had become more solemn.

The blue brocade robe was billowed by the wind on Chang'an Street, its cloud-patterned silver threads fluttering.

Pei Du stood tall and elegant, his slender fingers half-hidden in his sleeves.

The dappled shadows of the trees on Chang'an Avenue fell perfectly over his brow bone, creating a play of light and shadow.

A long wind blew, and a strand of hair fell through his black hair, which was tied up with a jade crown, and landed next to his tense jawline, like a broken string on a zither.

Those eyes landed on Jiang Jinshuang's neck.

Obscure and unclear.

Before Jiang Jinshuang could speak, Lin Qingyan was the first to react.

He slightly curved his lips, bowed to the man not far away, and said in a gentle tone with impeccable manners: "This humble official greets Your Excellency the Grand Secretary."

The voice was clear and bright, without the slightest ripple.

But Pei Du did not respond.

Lin Qingyan then maintained the gesture of cupping her hands.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly, raised one hand, and lowered Lin Qingyan's hands, which were clasped in greeting.

"I have met His Highness."

Without even glancing at Lin Qingyan, Pei Du bowed and greeted Jiang Jinshuang.

The surroundings quieted down.

Passersby seemed to be glancing in this direction, paying attention to what was happening.

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows and looked at him with a smile: "Where are you going, Lord Pei?"

The man still didn't look at Lin Qingyan, his voice low and cold: "Your Highness, I have come to see you."

"Oh?" Jiang Jinshuang smiled casually. "What brings you to me, Grand Secretary?"

"It's a private matter," he said calmly.

Private matter?

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled lightly: "What private matters are there between me and the Grand Secretary?"

For some reason, Jiang Jinshuang recalled the discussions among the people earlier.

"Judging from this, Princess Zhaoming intends to make this top scholar the Grand Secretary, and settle for second best?"

"Hahahaha, Lord Pei is now the head of all officials, a powerful and noble minister. How could a princess with no favor possibly dare to dream of him?"

"I suppose he still harbors feelings for the Grand Secretary, but knows he can't have him, which is why he's forcing this Scholar Lin to serve him!"

"Settle for second best."

Jiang Jinshuang didn't like this statement.

—It seems that to everyone else, Lord Pei is perfect and impeccable.

She only chose Lin Qingyan because she couldn't have him.

That's clearly not the case.

Pei Du is indeed very good.

But she could guarantee that, under her tutelage, Lin Qingyan would not be inferior to him.

—She doesn't want the "second-best" one.

Hearing Jiang Jinshuang say this, the man's expression remained unchanged, his handsome features still evident.

"Your Highness and I do have private matters to discuss." He said this while looking at Jiang Jinshuang, but he was speaking to others.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyan remained calm and smiled, saying, "In that case, I shall take my leave."

That's what she said, but Lin Qingyan didn't leave immediately.

He turned to Jiang Jinshuang, his tone gentle and soothing: "Today, I had a very enjoyable time boating with Your Highness. The lotus flowers in the south of the city are in full bloom. I will invite Your Highness to go and admire the flowers another day."

"Tomorrow," Jiang Jinshuang said.

Lin Qingyan's smile faltered for a moment, then she asked softly, "What?"

“I will go tomorrow,” Jiang Jinshuang said.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyan smiled and nodded: "Then I will come to pay my respects to Your Highness again tomorrow."

After speaking, Lin Qingyan bowed to Jiang Jinshuang and then to Pei Du before leaving.

Chang'an Avenue was bustling with people, but it seemed that only the two of them stood still, unmoved by the surging crowds.

It was Pei Du who made the first move.

He lifted his foot and walked towards Jiang Jinshuang.

To ensure that more people could see them, Jiang Jinshuang and Lin Qingyan were walking on the main road of Chang'an Avenue today, where there were quite a few people coming and going.

Many people glanced at the two of them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

He walked up to her and stopped.

He looked down at her.

—It wasn't to see her.

Jiang Jinshuang noticed that Pei Du's gaze did not meet hers; instead, it drifted downwards and landed on her.

She frowned slightly: "Lord Pei, what brings you here to see me?"

The man lowered his eyes, his dark pupils narrowing slightly, his cold gaze landing on her neck, unwavering and unbiased.

A blinding red.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and the knuckles hidden in his sleeve paused unconsciously.

His gaze was obscure, and the interplay of light and shadow divided his face into two distinct sides.

He doesn't respond.

Jiang Jinshuang pursed her lips, her tone turning colder: "Pei Du."

She called him that to show how little patience she had.

Finally, the man spoke in a hoarse, low voice: "Mad dog."

"What?" Jiang Jinshuang frowned even more, thinking she had misheard.

She looked up at the man, her eyes filled with confusion.

The man lowered his eyes, and his gaze finally met hers.

"Your Highness seems not to have taken my words to heart."

Jiang Jinshuang frowned: "What did you say?"

The man said coldly, "As I said yesterday, Lin Qingyan hit someone."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang scoffed lightly: "Lord Pei, our young master Lin is so weak and frail, he can't even kill a chicken. He's usually like a little lamb. How could he possibly hit someone?"

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang continued, "Besides, Lin Qingyan's wound seems to be much more serious than yours, Your Excellency. Young Master Lin hasn't said anything yet, so why are you being so petty, Your Excellency?"

for a long time.

The man looked at her and said in a hoarse voice, "You're biased towards him."

Jiang Jinshuang wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Pei Du's voice seemed to tremble slightly when he said those words.

Jiang Jinshuang blinked and nodded honestly.

"The Grand Secretary holds a high position and is revered by thousands, while Lin Qingyan is merely a scholar with no support. Naturally, I favor him."

“Besides,” Jiang Jinshuang smiled, “Lin Qingyan will be my husband in the future, so naturally I will side with my husband.”

"Jiang Jinshuang".

Once again, he called her by her full name.

His eyes were sharp and his face was like frost.

Those eyes, praised as "the bright eyes of a gentleman," seemed to be filled with a swirling, obscure mist.

"You're biased towards him."

He said it again, the same sentence, but this time it wasn't a question, but a cold, questioning one.