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

Chapter 273 Taking the Knife.

Before leaving, he told her to "get some rest."

However, it is clear that this situation does not seem to be the time for rest.

Almost as soon as Pei Du left the bedroom, Si Ning's people finally found their way here!
Initially, Si Ning didn't want to see Jiang Jinshuang and Lin Qingyan get married, so she went directly to the Lin residence to help Jiang Jinshuang organize the banquet for the guests.

Actually, Si Ning arrived early because she was worried that the Lin family wouldn't have enough manpower and wouldn't be able to handle everything.

When the time for the wedding arrived, Lin Qingyan originally intended to leave the mansion, but what awaited her even earlier was the presence of people from Wenshan Pavilion, who surrounded the entire Lin mansion, making it impossible to move.

Jingmo stood guard outside the Lin residence, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.

When Qian Yao arrived at Pei Du's private residence, no one in the mansion stopped him.

"Your Highness!"

Upon seeing Jiang Jinshuang, Qian Yao rushed forward anxiously, his face full of worry.

Are you alright? Are you injured?

Jiang Jinshuang shook her head, but then asked, "How did you find us?"

Qian Yao gasped for breath: "Your Highness! My master has been looking for you like crazy!"

"Has Pei Du gone mad?! He actually dared to use his private army to surround the Si family in Jiangnan!"

“Yesterday, my master sensed something was wrong, so he sent a secret message to ask the mountain pavilion to find the person. After failing to find the person, he sent people to search the capital!”

"Not long ago, Pei Du withdrew the Lin family's private army, which is why the master used his connections to find you!"

Jiang Jinshuang scoffed softly, narrowed her eyes, and glanced around.

Yesterday, because she was wearing a red veil, she couldn't see her surroundings.

Looking around now, Jiang Jinshuang realized—that bastard Pei Du is quite cunning.

Although this private residence is located in Chang'an City, it is far from the bustling area, offering a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, and is rarely visited by people.

It was an open secret among officials that they used their positions to acquire private residences.

Jiang Jinshuang never expected that Pei Du would also prepare these things.

"Your Highness, I have just received news that Pei Du has entered the palace. His Majesty is furious and says he will be executed!"

As Qian Yao spoke, he snorted coldly: "I never thought that Pei Du, who usually appears so noble and upright, would do something as despicable as kidnapping a bride. Executing him would be too lenient!"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded, temporarily setting aside Pei Du's matter.

Then she asked about something else: "Where's Chun Tao?"

Since Jiang Jinshuang sent Chuntao out to find Shen Huaihe yesterday morning, she hasn't received any news from her.

Qian Yao opened his mouth, about to say something, when he heard a familiar female voice from outside the door: "Your Highness! Your Highness! This servant is back!"

Chun Tao jogged all the way to Jiang Jinshuang's side.

She had already heard about what happened yesterday on her way here, and now she looked at Jiang Jinshuang with complicated emotions, full of heartache.

Seeing that Chun Tao was safe and sound, Jiang Jinshuang smiled with relief and nodded reassuringly: "How did things go?"

She remained calm as always.

In fact, their calmness was almost excessively extreme.

"Your Highness! After hearing my report yesterday, the Junior Minister immediately sent people to investigate!"

As she spoke, Chun Tao carefully took out a letter from her sleeve: "This is the testimony of Lord Shaoqing during his interrogation of Zhou Yuan's wife."

Jiang Jinshuang took the letter, opened it, and read its contents.

Chun Tao continued, "At first, Zhou Yuan's wife refused to admit it, but Lord Shaoqing said that as long as she told the truth, not only would her family be safe, but he would also promise to bring Zhou Yuan's body back to her so that he could be laid to rest."

"Your Highness, you are truly a prophet! Just as you guessed, the other half of the eagle-head jade pendant is in the hands of Zhou Yuan's wife!"

“Zhou Yuan and his wife already have a five-year-old child. One reason Zhou Yuan chose to steal the eagle-head jade pendant and give half of it to his wife was because he wanted to use that half to protect his wife and child.” “There’s another point…”

Chuntao hesitated and didn't say what she was going to say next.

Jiang Jinshuang had finished reading the complete testimony. She slowly closed her eyes, her voice trembling slightly: "Speak."

Chun Tao glanced at Jiang Jinshuang cautiously before whispering, "I also learned about this from Zhou Yuan's wife."

"Does Your Highness know what it meant when His Highness Prince Ruiyang wanted to give you this eagle-headed jade pendant as a birthday gift?"

Jiang Jinshuang looked at Chuntao, her eyes misting over, but she just shook her head helplessly.

"do not know."

Chun Tao exhaled a breath of stale air and said softly, "Back then, when His Highness Prince Ruiyang was imprisoned, Prince Changping Jiang Zeyi and his guard Zhou Yuan went to the death row and secretly met with His Highness Prince Ruiyang."

"At that time, His Highness Prince Ruiyang took out this eagle-headed jade pendant, intending for Prince Changping to pass it on to His Highness."

After a pause, Chun Tao said in a trembling voice, "His Highness Prince Ruiyang said that he only wishes that His Highness, like a hawk soaring in the sky, would be free."

He granted her complete freedom.

He granted her complete freedom.

Prince Ruiyang, Jiang Buhuo, always knew what Princess Jiang Jinshuang wanted most.

Jiang Jinshuang suddenly lowered her head, and large tears fell into the stone bricks, one after another, silently yet deafeningly.

The hand holding the testimony tightened slightly.

The phrase "his merits overshadowed the emperor's" uttered by Prince Ruiyang in the testimony is enough to identify the "murderer".

She saw in the testimony the sentence that Uncle Wang wanted Changping Wang to pass on to her.

He said, "Your Highness, I will only be a hero this once."

It was because of this statement that Jiang Zeyi, the Prince of Changping, made a drunken and reckless remark, saying that Jiang Buhuo, the Prince of Ruiyang, was nothing more than a cowardly and weakling.

After countless twists and turns, that sentence passed through so many people, so many years, so many changes of life and death, before finally reaching her hands.

Jiang Jinshuang took a deep breath, slightly raised her eyes, and looked straight ahead.

“Chuntao,” she said.

Chun Tao also became serious, clasped her hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Here."

"Get the knife."

"Yes."

Qian Yao stared wide-eyed as Jiang Jinshuang lifted her foot, took the testimony, and walked out of the mansion towards the majestic Forbidden City.
-
Palace dungeon.

Jiang Biechen had the lock opened, shook off the putrid smell, and leisurely looked at the man in the prison.

He chuckled softly, his eyes clear and cold, devoid of emotion.

Pei Du noticed that in just a few years, Jiang Biechen and Jiang Huayan's eyes and eyebrows had become increasingly similar.

I still remember many years ago, Jiang Jinshuang mentioned to him that her elder brother always took special care of her and was very gentle and kind to her.

At that time, he thought that if the person he was to assist in the future was such a kind and benevolent brother, he would also devote himself wholeheartedly and be willing to serve as his advisor.

But it seems they were blinded by greed.

But time seems to have a sharp edge.

When benevolence is gone, ambition gradually erodes it.

At this moment, Jiang Biechen stood in front of Pei Du with a faint smile on his lips, and even bowed slightly to him: "Prime Minister, it has been a long time."

Jiang Biechen's eyes were tinged with a hint of scarlet.

He smiled, his tone tinged with mockery: "I truly never imagined that the Grand Secretary would dare to commit such a heinous crime of deceiving the Emperor for the sake of a personal relationship."