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

Chapter 263 Family?

Jiang Jinshuang was stunned for a moment, and didn't react immediately.

She stared blankly at the hairpin Chun Tao handed her.

Temporarily lift the red veil.

"This is……"

"This hairpin was bought by Chun Tao herself with her own savings. Does Your Highness think it suits you?"

As she spoke, Chun Tao smiled and inserted the jade hairpin into Jiang Jinshuang's hair, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

Jiang Jinshuang stroked the jade hairpin with her hand.

Chun Tao's salary wasn't much, because she always felt that Jiang Jinshuang had saved her life, and that serving and taking care of her was only right and proper.

During her time in Baiyujing, Jiang Jinshuang lived in poverty. Chuntao would even go out to do some embroidery to earn some pocket money to buy candy for Jiang Jinshuang.

Chun Tao is a free spirit and not the kind of girl who would obediently save money.

Now, Jiang Jinshuang touched the warm and lustrous jade hairpin, her eyes sparkling.

She gave a helpless smile: "Chuntao, this is too precious."

Chun Tao smiled and shook her head: "Because Your Highness deserves all this. I have been by Your Highness's side for so long, and Your Highness treats me like family. I know this in my heart."

After a pause, Chun Tao looked at Jiang Jinshuang in the bronze mirror with gentle and tender eyes: "Since we are family, we should use the best and most worthwhile things."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang couldn't help but laugh: "Look at what you're saying. As family, would you really risk your life for me against someone else?"

Chun Tao frowned and said seriously, "Of course I'm willing!"

Jiang Jinshuang paused for a moment, and in a flash, she seemed to realize something.

Chun Tao didn't notice anything amiss. She continued to explain, "This servant considers Your Highness family. As family, even if this servant dies, I will risk my life to leave Your Highness a way out and find a way to survive!"

"Wait," Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes slightly, "what did you just say?"

Chun Tao paused for a moment, then repeated herself truthfully.

Jiang Jinshuang looked at herself in the bronze mirror and heard her own voice: "Chuntao, do you think... all 'family' in the world would think like you?"

Chun Tao scratched her head, thought about it seriously for a moment, and then answered, "Any family member with a bit of humanity would have this realization, right?"

Wasn't Prince Ruiyang the same way back then, planning a lot for the prince?

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes lit up!
Correct!
Yup!

They are "family"!
That half of the eagle-head jade pendant!
"Chuntao!" Jiang Jinshuang's tone was somewhat urgent.

"This servant is here," Chun Tao stepped forward and hurriedly replied.

Jiang Jinshuang looked at Chuntao, a smile playing on her lips: "Go find Shen Huaihe now and tell him to check whether Zhou Yuan is married and whether his wife and children are still in the capital."

"Huh?" Chun Tao was taken aback. "Your Highness, now?"

"Yes, go now. I can't leave right now, so I can only leave this to you."

Upon hearing this, Chun Tao looked at Jiang Jinshuang's earnest eyes and nodded solemnly: "This servant understands, this servant will go right away!"

Watching Chun Tao's departing figure, Jiang Jinshuang's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

—She's just too slow to realize it.

Or perhaps she was emotionally detached and hadn't considered this aspect at all.

The reason Zhou Yuan only had half of the eagle-head jade pendant is that he must have given the other half to someone close to him.

Initially, Jiang Jinshuang, like Shen Huaihe, guessed that the other half of the jade pendant should be in the hands of Zhou Yuan's subordinates or his sworn brothers.

They once believed that Zhou Yuan's actions must have been aided by accomplices.

But just now, just after Chun Tao said those words, Jiang Jinshuang suddenly understood!
—The other jade pendant with the eagle's head should be in the hands of Zhou Yuan's wife and children!

Because they are "family," even if it means his own death, he will fight to save his wife, children, and elderly parents.

Jiang Jinshuang guessed that ever since the fall of the Prince of Changping and the subsequent pursuit, he knew his days were numbered. The reason he obtained the eagle-headed jade pendant and broke it in two was to try and secure a way out for his family!
If one day the investigation into the jade pendant leads back to his wife and children, as long as they have that half of the jade pendant, they will be safe.

This is the way out that Zhou Yuan left for his "family".

Jiang Jinshuang took a deep breath and heard her own heart pounding in the middle of menstrual cramps.

If her guess is true...

If her guess is correct, then the reason why Uncle Wang confessed back then needs to be investigated!

Firecrackers were set off one after another outside the mansion, as if trying to scare away the night.

The original plan was for Chun Tao to stay by her side and leave with the sedan chair.

Now that Jiang Jinshuang has sent Chuntao out to deliver the message, she is left all alone.

She then put the red veil back down.

Jiang Jinshuang looked down and could only see her toes.

She was wearing a red dress, which made even her bedchamber appear bright red.

Jiang Jinshuang listened to it, and also heard the increasingly sparse firecrackers outside the mansion.

According to the Wan Jin etiquette, the wedding procession arrives when the sound of firecrackers stops.

So, as the sound of firecrackers outside gradually subsided, Jiang Jinshuang surprisingly felt a sense of... something she hadn't felt in a long time.

I don't know how to describe it.

Perhaps it's... helplessness?

Jiang Jinshuang rarely experiences such emotions. If analyzed carefully, it's probably because this is the "marriage" she once fantasized about.

They really got married.

She developed a very intimate relationship with a man who was "not related to her by blood or marriage".

The imperial family will not be attending the wedding due to "busy affairs".

Both the Crown Prince Jiang Biechen and the Empress Dowager of Qianqing Palace claimed to be ill and did not come.

In truth, Jiang Jinshuang knew perfectly well that her claims of being busy with work and being unwell were false.

They didn't want to come, nor were they willing to come.

The fact that the imperial family did not come demonstrates their attitude.

Therefore, although Pei Du sent wedding invitations to officials of all ranks in the capital on behalf of the Ministry of Rites, not many accepted the invitations.

Who would want to witness the wedding of the wicked Princess Zhaoming?

How unlucky!

Jiang Jinshuang understood all this and had nothing to criticize about the ministers' actions.

A few days ago, Si Ning sent many congratulatory gifts to the princess's residence. Qian Yao also apologized on Si Ning's behalf, saying that his young master did not want to see her and others get married, so he would come later for the banquet.

That little rascal Yan Jue, he said he was going out for a while, but he hasn't come back yet.

In short, although the firecrackers outside the princess's residence were making a lot of noise, not many people were willing to set foot in the princess's residence today.

That's fine, at least Jiang Jinshuang can finally have some peace and quiet.

But thinking about these things, I still felt somewhat sorry for Lin Qingyan.

—He didn't do anything wrong.

It was a wedding, but not many people were willing to come forward and offer their blessings.

Lin Qingyan was a scholar, and scholars, by their very nature, often possessed a certain arrogance and a sense of pride.

If Lin Qingyan were to see that the wedding venue wasn't even fully occupied with guests today, her expression would likely be quite unpleasant.

Just as I was lost in thought, the last firecracker outside the door stopped abruptly.