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

Chapter 245 Gift
The weather is nice today.

Even at night, the moon is bright and the stars are few, making it as clear as day.

The fox fur coat that Pei Du was wearing was for catching the wind.

Come to think of it, Jiang Jinshuang doesn't recall ever seeing Pei Du wear this fox fur coat before.

It was a dark blue-gray color, with a soaring eagle embroidered on the fox fur, its eyes haughty and fierce.

The soft fox fur draped over Jiang Jinshuang protected her from the surrounding cold wind.

Wen Fengcang looked at the newcomer, narrowed his eyes slightly, and the smile on his face turned cold.

Pei Du glanced at Wen Fengcang, then turned away to help Jiang Jinshuang straighten the sash in front of her.

"Lord Pei has also arrived. It's been a long time." Wen Fengcang said with a half-smile.

Pei Du lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the eagle on Jiang Jinshuang's fox fur coat.

"Has Your Highness ever seen this fox fur coat?"

Wen Fengcang smiled and followed Pei Du's gaze to look at the lifelike eagle embroidered on the painting.

“It seems to be the craftsmanship of Beihuai,” he replied.

Pei Du nodded slightly, his tone cool: "Your Highness has excellent eyesight. This fox fur coat was left on the battlefield by Bei Huai soldiers when I was in Baiyujing, after we defeated Bei Huai."

At this point, Wen Fengcang's smiling face froze.

Pei Du seemed oblivious to his expression and said calmly, "Some of the soldiers in Beihuai are really too cowardly."

Wen Fengcang's face turned completely cold.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, a wicked smile curling at the corner of her lips.

Wen Fengcang gave Pei Du a cold look, then said nothing more and walked towards his seat.

Jiang Jinshuang looked at the fox fur coat she was wearing, then smiled and looked at Pei Du: "Lord Pei is really amazing. He can hit the nail on the head with just a few words."

Pei Du remained silent, looking down at the red-tailed kite at Jiang Jinshuang's waist.

Jiang Jinshuang reached out, wanting to take off her fox fur coat and return it to him.

"how?"

He raised his eyes slightly to look at Jiang Jinshuang, seemingly wondering why she had taken off her fox fur coat.

Jiang Jinshuang said lazily, "Since it was picked up on the battlefield, it belongs to the public. I cannot let Lord Pei bear the blame for favoritism and corruption."

As she spoke, Jiang Jinshuang reached out to untie the ribbon on her chest.

Before she could untie it, Pei Du raised his hand and pressed down on the back of Jiang Jinshuang's hand.

He looked at Jiang Jinshuang, his voice hoarse and slightly cold: "She wasn't picked up on the battlefield."

The cool touch of her palm traveled from the back of Jiang Jinshuang's hand to her limbs. Jiang Jinshuang looked up and looked at Pei Du.

He moved his Adam's apple slightly.

"Jiang Jinshuang is a gift."

"A gift I brought back from Beihuai."

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly: "So, Lord Pei brought me a gift from Beihuai, and it took all this trouble?"

Even giving a gift requires going through countless twists and turns.

Pei Du pursed his lips and said calmly, "When I came back from Beihuai, you were angry with me, so I didn't find a chance to give it to you."

Jiang Jinshuang: "..."

It was indeed a bit cold. Jiang Jinshuang didn't say anything more, turned around and left, draped in her fox fur.

The palace banquet is about to begin.

Jiang Jinshuang sat back down in her seat, waiting for the banquet to begin.

A maidservant poured him some wine.

For some reason, Jiang Jinshuang recalled that a few days ago, Zhao Yungui reminded her to drink less alcohol at the palace banquet.

—It must be because they were afraid she would get drunk and cause trouble.

Jiang Jinshuang was confident in her alcohol tolerance, so she didn't pay much attention to Zhao Yungui's words, picked up the wine cup beside her, and drank it all in one gulp.

The wines prepared for tonight's palace banquet were specially ordered by Jiang Jinshuang from a famous restaurant in the capital. Although they couldn't compare to the priceless wines of the Si family, they were still of good quality.

Jiang Jinshuang drank a few more cups.

Jiang Jinshuang's gaze swept across the banquet hall, and she spotted Pei Du higher up.

—He did not drink any alcohol.

A maidservant came forward and respectfully poured him wine, but he did not touch the wine cup beside him.

If Pei Du's status in the palace before defeating Bei Huai was that of a trusted minister before His Majesty, then after defeating Bei Huai, Pei Du's status was even comparable to that of a prince in the palace.

Pei Du himself seemed completely unaware of this, and didn't seem to care much about the ministers' subtle respect and probing. As usual, he refused the ministers' toasts or offered them tea instead.

In fact, Pei Du's current position is quite precarious.

Jiang Jinshuang knew this, and Pei Du should know it too.

The principle of merit overshadowing the emperor applies here; none of the ministers who stand in the court are fools.

Pei Du had no intention of forming factions in the court, but once he reached his position, even if he did nothing, a group of ministers would still speculate about his intentions or "gather followers" in his name.

The imperial court cannot tolerate such things.

This trend is only just beginning now. If it really escalates, it won't be as simple as just giving a warning.

Jiang Huayan wielded considerable influence over Pei Du.

It seems there's a strong intention to shift his power and push him into the limelight.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't like it.

—It's not because I'm worried that Pei Du will be implicated as a result.

Pei Du, the chief minister, was truly a rare and wise and loyal minister throughout history, capable of strategizing and remaining calm in the face of both honor and disgrace.

Jiang Jinshuang was not pleased if such a minister could not serve Wan Jin and instead became feared by Jiang Huayan, ultimately suffering a tragic end.

In Jiang Jinshuang's view, Wan Jin and its people are far more important than the one on the dragon throne.

Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes as she looked at Pei Du in the distance.

She pondered whether she should find a day to remind Pei Du, or help him to share some of his conspicuous "power".

Jiang Jinshuang's gaze shifted, finally settling on the area beneath her.

Lin Qingyan was also present.

Noticing Jiang Jinshuang's gaze, Lin Qingyan slightly raised her eyes, smiled, and nodded to her.

Lin Qingyan's official position has not yet been announced.

After tonight, Lin Qingyan's status as "Imperial Son-in-Law" should arrive at his residence even sooner than his official title and honors.

Just then, a sharp, piercing voice came through.

"Your Majesty has arrived——"

In an instant, countless guests and officials knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" in unison before the bright yellow dragon robe.

Jiang Huayan arrived.

Jiang Biechen followed behind him, his expression reserved and respectful.

Tian Jia first looked around, examining his surroundings, before finally fixing his gaze on Jiang Jinshuang's face, revealing an almost benevolent and kind smile.

"Shuang'er did a great job hosting the Qixi Festival banquet tonight."

"Father, you flatter me."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled obediently, her eyes also unusually docile.

A loving father and a filial daughter.

Jiang Huayan slowly sat down in the main seat.

Jiang Biechen helped Jiang Huayan to sit down next to him.

"Recently, the Empress Dowager has been praying for Wan Jin in the Qianqing Palace, but she has caught a cold and is unable to attend the banquet today. Therefore, my dear ministers, please do not be too formal and just relax."

Jiang Huayan smiled, her gaze flickering a few times before settling on Jiang Biechen: "It's Qixi Festival, and the Crown Prince is not young anymore. Does the Crown Princess have someone she admires?"