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

Chapter 26 Pei Du, do you have pity on me?
It's inaccurate to say that he saw Pei Du.

—She saw the carriage of Wenshan Pavilion.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly.

Kang, the eunuch beside His Majesty, stepped forward with a smile and bowed to Jiang Jinshuang: "Your Highness, His Majesty is already waiting in the palace."

Nodding, Jiang Jinshuang asked, "Eunuch Kang, is the Grand Secretary also going along?"

"Yes," Eunuch Kang replied respectfully, "His Majesty also summoned Lord Pei to the palace."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded, said nothing, and stepped out of the mansion.

Wildflowers fall suddenly.

Peach blossoms on Chang'an Street brushed against her hem, carrying a fragrant breeze.

The carriage of Wenshan Pavilion was made of green jade, and two jade pendants hung at the front of the carriage. When the wind blew, the jade pendants collided and made a crisp sound.

Jiang Jinshuang's carriage was in front. When she got into the carriage, the person from Wenshan Pavilion was sitting inside, but never showed up.

Yesterday, Chun Tao spent the whole day preparing for the banquet, so Jiang Jinshuang didn't ask her to come along today.

Si Ning is still not awake.

The groom in the manor placed a sedan chair stool, and Jiang Jinshuang stepped into the carriage.

Eunuch Kang led the way, guiding the two towards the Forbidden City.

Speechless all the way.

"Your Highness, Grand Secretary, we have arrived."

Kang Gonggong's voice came from the front.

The carriage slowly came to a stop. Jiang Jinshuang got off the carriage and looked up at the majestic Forbidden City.

With a whisk in hand, Eunuch Kang bowed and said, "Please come with me, both of you."

Jiang Jinshuang then noticed Pei Du getting off the carriage.

Today he wore a dark green robe with subtle cloud patterns embroidered on it, exuding an air of noble character.

The man was tall and elegant, with exquisite features. A jade hairpin held up his dark hair, making his already aloof and indifferent demeanor even more distant.

Pei Du kept his eyes fixed ahead, never looking at her.

Jiang Jinshuang glanced at him once, then looked away.

Following Eunuch Kang's lead, Jiang Jinshuang and Pei Du arrived at the door of the Imperial Study.

"My son, I pay my respects to my father."

"I am here to see you, Your Majesty."

Eunuch Kang smiled and looked at the two of them: "Please wait a moment, I will go and report to His Majesty."

Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes, as if she had realized something, and a hint of emotion flashed in her eyes.

Not long after Eunuch Kang went in, a familiar female voice came from the Imperial Study.

"Then I will go and invite them in."

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes widened slightly, and she subconsciously raised her eyebrows.

Before long, a beautiful figure walked out of the imperial study.

Jiang Jinshuang looked at the newcomer, a cold smile flashing in her eyes.

—It is Xia Yurong.

Xia Yurong is now close to the Empress Dowager and visits her every few days. As a result, the Emperor has also come to know her.

Xia Yurong clearly noticed them too. With a shy smile on her face, she lifted the hem of her skirt and walked towards the two of them.

—To be precise, it led to Pei Du.

Xia Yurong looked up at Pei Du: "Brother Pei, His Majesty has ordered me to summon you in."

Upon hearing this, Pei Du remained expressionless and bowed towards the Imperial Study, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Xia Yurong finished speaking, she seemed to realize that Jiang Jinshuang was present.

She quickly suppressed her smile, her doe-like eyes looking timidly at Jiang Jinshuang.

"Your Highness, His Majesty said... that his chronic illness has not yet healed and he is worried that he may infect you with his illness, so he asks you to go back first."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang let out a cold laugh.

Ah, she should have thought of that.

One beating wasn't enough to dampen her spirits, so they did it again.

If His Majesty's refusal to see Princess Zhaoming once was a coincidence, now that he has refused to see her twice in a row, even the most foolish person would realize what's going on.

—His Majesty is not yet prepared to forgive Princess Zhaoming.

What good is it to have the support of the Si family in Jiangnan?
Ultimately, the empire belongs to the emperor. This is also the message His Majesty wants to convey to everyone: Princess Zhaoming is still a criminal.

Jiang Jinshuang licked the roof of her mouth with the tip of her tongue and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She took a few steps back and gave a slight bow towards the direction of the imperial study: "Father, please rest assured and recuperate. I will take my leave now."

With that, Jiang Jinshuang turned and left without looking at Xia Yurong and Pei Du again.

Xia Yurong's soft voice came from behind: "Brother Pei, let's go in quickly. His Majesty said he wants to play another game with you."

Jiang Jinshuang suddenly realized that even after three years, her temper was still not very good.

As Jiang Jinshuang strode out of the Forbidden City, for some reason, she suddenly remembered that Xia Yurong used to always hang around Pei Du.

Back then, Xia Yurong fled to the capital alone and was almost eaten by a group of refugees.

Jiang Jinshuang couldn't bear it and sent someone to rescue her.

She was too thin and weak at that time. Jiang Jinshuang originally planned to find her a family to adopt her, but she kowtowed to the ground and insisted on staying in the princess's mansion to repay her life-saving grace.

—Actually, thinking about it now, it's not hard to guess.

Xia Yurong stayed at that time not to repay her, but because she saw Pei Du's extraordinary appearance.

Sure enough, Xia Yurong preferred to spend time with Pei Du rather than with her "savior".

Once, Jiang Jinshuang wanted to enter Pei Du's bedroom as usual, but before she could knock, she heard a sound coming from inside the room.

"Your Highness...she looks a bit fierce, and I'm always afraid when I'm with her..."

It has to be said that if Jiang Jinshuang were a man, he probably wouldn't be able to stand Xia Yurong's delicate and frail appearance, coupled with her timid and dependent voice.

She didn't knock on the door immediately, wanting to hear Pei Du's response.

Before long, she heard the man's cold and distant voice.

"You're a coward, but I can be fierce too."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang couldn't help but laugh.

At that time, she thought that although Pei Du didn't like her, he probably didn't hate her either.

Looking back now, Jiang Jinshuang scoffed coldly.

—What a load of rubbish.

After leaving the Forbidden City, Jiang Jinshuang prepared to board the carriage and return home.

The coachman placed the sedan chair in place, and as Jiang Jinshuang was about to step onto it, an arm appeared beside her.

The dark green brocade robe was adorned with cloud patterns sewn with silver thread, and the man's fingers were fair with clearly defined bones.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly and looked down at the owner of the hand.

Pei Du remained expressionless, his demeanor indifferent.

Jiang Jinshuang did not reach out to help.

"The Grand Secretary has been summoned by His Majesty; shouldn't he be in the Imperial Study now?" Jiang Jinshuang smiled coldly.

The man's eyes were dark as he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Your Majesty, I am not feeling well today and am worried that I might pass on my illness to you."

That's the same story as that person, completely unbelievable.

An unnamed rage ignited within him.

Jiang Jinshuang sneered and leaned down slightly to look at him: "Pei Du, do you pity me?"

Like someone in a superior position, they inadvertently flaunt their status and condescendingly bestow their laughable sympathy.

Upon hearing this, the man looked up at her, his beautiful lips pressed into a thin line: "No."

Jiang Jinshuang didn't say anything. She turned around, didn't help him, and got into the carriage on her own.

He knocked on the car frame: "Back home."

"Yes."

The carriage started moving.

"Your Highness, please stay!"

In the distance, a sharp sound grew louder as it approached.

Lifting the carriage curtain, Jiang Jinshuang saw Eunuch Kang jogging and panting as he stopped beside her carriage.

Jiang Jinshuang was in a bad mood, and her patience was also lacking: "Is there anything else, Eunuch Kang?"

Eunuch Kang, still out of breath from running all the way, gripped his whisk and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has sent me to ask you a question."

"Oh?" Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow.

Kang Gongzheng straightened his clothes and put his back on his head: "His Majesty said that if you can answer this question, he will be willing to see you."

(End of this chapter)