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

Chapter 256 Does Your Highness feel no reluctance?
—This is quite different from his previous way of doing things.

Jiang Jinshuang only had a slight doubt about it and didn't take it to heart.

She had something more important to do.

Within those seven days, Jiang Jinshuang went to see Shen Huaihe once.

Inside the residence of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Huaihe's eyes were clear and cold, revealing no emotion.

He lowered his head, looking at the half of the eagle-head jade pendant in his hand, his expression unreadable.

Jiang Jinshuang sat in the main seat. He didn't urge her to hurry. She took a sip of tea before looking up at Shen Huaihe.

"Finding the other half of the jade pendant is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, Your Highness."

“Of course I know,” Jiang Jinshuang said with a smile, putting down her teacup. “It’s precisely because I know it’s as difficult as climbing to the heavens that I came to ask Lord Shaoqing for help.”

She lacked manpower in the capital and couldn't make the search for people public. Even Shen Huaihe could find a needle in a haystack, but Jiang Jinshuang couldn't even make any big moves.

—It will be discovered by someone hiding in the shadows.

Playing with the eagle-headed jade pendant in his hand, Shen Huaihe said calmly, "If I am not mistaken, this eagle-headed jade pendant should be the work of Beihuai."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded without hesitation and explained, "It was a birthday gift that Uncle Wang wanted to give me back then."

It just hadn't been delivered yet.

It remained in his possession.

Although Uncle Wang was a prince, he was not wealthy compared to those princes and marquises who lorded it over the capital and lived a life of extravagance and debauchery.

The Black Armor Cavalry's military expenses were a huge burden. In addition, Uncle Wang was stingy with himself but very generous to his subordinates. If they made meritorious contributions on the battlefield, they would receive a considerable reward.

When Uncle Wang was on the battlefield, he was poisoned by spies and barely survived. When Jiang Jinshuang learned of this, she tried many methods and found many rare medicinal herbs, and finally managed to save his life.

Jiang Huayan, far away in the capital, knew nothing of these matters.

That eagle-headed jade pendant was probably the best birthday gift he could give Jiang Jinshuang within his means.

Upon hearing this, Shen Huaihe's gaze deepened, and he ran his fingertips over the broken part of the eagle-headed jade pendant, his voice cold and elegant: "Does Your Highness wish to continue investigating the matter of Prince Ruiyang?"

Jiang Jinshuang curled her lips and raised an eyebrow: "Investigate? Why not investigate?"

Shen Huaihe said coldly, "After the death of the Prince of Changping, his personal bodyguard Zhou Yuan should be the one who knows the most inside information."

"Now that Zhou Yuan has been killed, it is clear that someone was secretly manipulating and observing everything. Doesn't Your Highness think the truth is already quite obvious?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "Shen Huaihe, I know what you want to say, but I need evidence. I need evidence that can be presented to him, so that he will be speechless and confess his guilt."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huaihe nodded slightly: "I understand what Your Highness means."

"So, will you help me with this favor, Lord Shaoqing, or not?"

Shen Huaihe raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Jinshuang for a long time.

But he spoke first, asking her another question: "Your Highness's wedding is imminent."

Jiang Jinshuang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly after realizing what she meant: "Yes."

Finally putting down the jade pendant, Shen Huaihe said in a clear voice, "Lord Lin Qingyan is a seventh-rank official and is not in the court."

A seventh-rank official is too low a rank; even in the capital, they are not qualified to attend court and participate in political discussions.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, a half-smile on her face: "So what?"

Shen Huaihe said calmly, "Your Majesty, I just don't quite understand. If you had to choose between the Grand Secretary and Lord Lin, anyone would choose Lord Pei."

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow. Strange.

it's wired.

why?

—It seemed that everyone assumed she would be torn between Pei Du and Lin Qingyan.

However, this was originally a matter between her and Lin Qingyan, and had nothing to do with Pei Du.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly and looked at Shen Huaihe in front of her: "Does Lord Shaoqing think that it was the right choice for me to marry Prime Minister Pei?"

Shen Huaihe shook his head: "With Your Highness's abilities, whoever you marry will be able to rise to the rank of one of the Three Dukes and reach the pinnacle of officialdom."

"The Grand Secretary is indeed a man of exceptional talent, but it is also thanks to His Highness's discerning eye and careful guidance that Lord Pei has achieved his current status and power."

"Even though Lord Lin is only a seventh-rank official now, with Your Highness here, I believe that Lord Lin will soon rise to the rank of general and prime minister and hold a high position in the imperial court."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang chuckled and tilted her head to look at Shen Huaihe: "Then what does Lord Shaoqing mean?"

Shen Huaihe raised his eyes, a hint of doubt in them: "Your Highness has put in so much effort to elevate Lord Pei to his current position above all others. It is a case of hardship finally paying off."

"In that case, wouldn't marrying the Grand Secretary be a more convenient and faster option?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "Your Excellency should know better than I do that it's lonely at the top. Even if I wanted a husband with a high position and great power, His Majesty would never agree."

"Moreover, to me, Pei Du or Lin Qingyan are the same."

Shen Huaihe frowned: "The same?"

“Yes, the same,” Jiang Jinshuang explained. “I don’t mind spending my time and effort on another person, elevating him to the top and making him the head of all ministers. For me, this is not a big deal that requires much thought.”

Jiang Jinshuang has the ability and the courage.

Shen Huaihe lowered his eyes, his gaze falling once again on the eagle-headed jade pendant beside him.

"So, if my rank were lower, perhaps I could also be of service to Your Highness and be at Your Highness's beck and call, is that right?"

Jiang Jinshuang thought for a moment and smiled: "That's true. If Lord Shaoqing's rank were still the same as when we first met, he would indeed be a better choice than Lin Qingyan."

Shen Huaihe gazed intently, lightly tapping the table with his fingertips, and returned the jade pendant to Jiang Jinshuang.

"I will send someone to investigate this matter."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang smiled radiantly: "Then I will trouble you, Lord Shaoqing."

After saying that, Jiang Jinshuang turned to leave.

"Does Your Highness feel no reluctance at all?"

Behind him, Shen Huaihe's voice was cold and indifferent, revealing no emotion.

Jiang Jinshuang stopped and turned slightly, a look of doubt flashing in her eyes: "What are you reluctant to part with?"

Shen Huaihe raised his eyes: "Your Highness has pursued the Grand Secretary for many years. Now that the Grand Secretary has achieved great success and has no beautiful woman by his side, Your Highness has turned to marry someone else. Don't you feel reluctant?"

Jiang Jinshuang shrugged indifferently, her tone casual: "Whether it's Shen Huaihe, Pei Du, or Lin Qingyan..."

"Once I've made the decision, I won't regret it, nor will I feel reluctant to let it go."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "Besides, I was the one who gave it my all back then, and I was the one who exhausted all my energy. If we're talking about regrets, it should be Pei Du who regrets them."

She loved with all her might; she shouldn't be the one with regrets about that experience and those memories.

Jiang Jinshuang never regretted it.