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

What does Chapter 30 have to do with you?
The Si family of Jiangnan is known for its virtuous and upright family traditions and its illustrious lineage. Countless officials and ministers in the court wish to curry favor with them.

Jiang Jinshuang was well aware of these things. Although everyone knew that the Si family of Jiangnan had a close relationship with the Princess's Mansion, she still tried her best to avoid excessive contact with Si Ning in front of the public.

But Si Ning doesn't seem to think so.

The man's clear, resonant voice pushed through the crowd and landed precisely in Jiang Jinshuang's ears.

The ministers surrounding Si Ning had also seen Jiang Jinshuang.

However, with the idea of ​​avoiding trouble, everyone deliberately ignored her and only talked to Si Ning, who was walking in front.

Now, Si Ning's words and actions forced everyone to look at Jiang Jinshuang behind him.

The ministers exchanged glances, each seeing the hesitation and uncertainty in the other's eyes.

Si Ning acted as if he hadn't seen any of this, stopped and walked to her side with a smile.

"I, Si, greet Your Highness."

The man bowed slightly, displaying impeccable manners and understated elegance.

The ministers who were still hesitating saw that even the eldest son of the Si family in Jiangnan had bowed, so they hurriedly followed behind him and cupped their hands to Jiang Jinshuang, saying, "Your subject pays respects to Your Highness."

Jiang Jinshuang didn't expect Si Ning to help her like this.

She smiled helplessly and whispered, "You don't have to do that."

Si Ning simply looked at her earnestly and smiled: "Your Highness has forgotten? I promised yesterday that I would take Your Highness with me."

Then, Si Ning smiled and nodded slightly to the assembled ministers: "Gentlemen, I will now accompany His Highness to the banquet."

With that, Si Ning led Jiang Jinshuang away calmly in front of everyone.

The ministers watched the two leave together, their expressions varied.

"It seems the rumors were true; the Si family of Jiangnan really is going to support Princess Zhaoming!"

"So what? You don't know yet, do you? Yesterday, Princess Zhaoming was summoned by His Majesty, but after the princess arrived at the Imperial Study, His Majesty still claimed to be ill and refused to see her!"

"So, does that mean His Majesty still has no intention of forgiving His Highness?"

"That's right. Perhaps in a few days, when His Majesty recovers, he will allow Princess Zhaoming to return to her fiefdom!"

"That makes sense..."

A group of ministers gathered together, speculating about the emperor's intentions and discussing the matter animatedly.

Not far away, the carriage of Wenshan Pavilion also stopped in front of the Forbidden City.

As soon as Pei Du stepped off the carriage, he almost immediately attracted the attention of all the officials.

The Grand Secretary rarely attends banquets in Chang'an, nor does he participate in private gatherings among officials and ministers.

Therefore, even though they were both officials in the court, they only worked together and had very little personal relationship.

Even at palace banquets hosted by His Majesty, the Grand Secretary would only attend according to etiquette, and most of the time he would leave alone after the banquet ended.

In my memory, even when attending palace banquets, the Grand Secretary rarely dressed so... brightly?
The man wore a dark red, round-necked, wide robe, which made his skin appear even whiter. A silk sash and jade belt were tied around his waist, and a jade pendant of emerald green hung neatly at his side. He was elegant, beautiful, and extremely noble.

The Grand Secretary rarely wears such brightly colored clothes, but today's red robe makes him appear exceptionally noble and refined.

The man had delicate features and a handsome face. A jade hairpin adorned his hair, which was tied up like a ribbon, making it even more dazzling than the bright spring colors.

The bright red robe did not make him appear frivolous; on the contrary, it made him look like a handsome, ethereal immortal, noble and elegant, captivating all who beheld him. The ministers who had not yet entered the palace for the banquet were all utterly astonished by his appearance!
Many officials took this opportunity to step forward and chat with Pei Du.

Besides some ministers from the capital, His Majesty also allowed officials to bring their families to the banquet. Many noblewomen who came with their fathers turned around frequently, their faces flushed.

Pei Du's gaze was cold and indifferent as he stared straight ahead.

He didn't notice the way others were looking at him. He simply exchanged a few polite words with the officials who came up to him, and then found an excuse to walk alone to the palace banquet.

Although it was a small spring banquet, the proper etiquette for the Imperial Garden was not lacking at all.

Jiang Jinshuang and Si Ning arrived relatively early and found their seats.

Today's small banquet is being held in the Imperial Garden, where spring is in full bloom and all things are in harmony.

Not far from the banquet was Jinming Pond, where thousands of koi carp, red and yellow in hue, rippled gently in the water.

The seats for men and women were arranged separately. Jiang Jinshuang glanced at the empty seat next to the head of the table, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

—I wonder if her beloved elder brother, the Crown Prince, will attend the banquet today.

She still has a score to settle with him.

Jiang Jinshuang guessed that Xia Yurong would come, but she didn't expect Xia Yurong to arrive so early.

When she and Si Ning sat down in their respective seats, they found that Xia Yurong had already arrived.

The women's section was separated from the men's section by a screen.

Xia Yurong clearly saw Jiang Jinshuang as well, and smiled as she curtsied, saying, "Sister, you've come."

Beside Xia Yurong was her close friend, Qing Shan, the only daughter of General Zhenyuan.

Qing Shan glanced at Jiang Jinshuang, snorted coldly, and reluctantly bowed.

Xia Yurong smiled gently and said, "It's so wonderful that you could come to the banquet, sister. I even pleaded with His Majesty yesterday, and I didn't expect him to actually agree."

Jiang Jinshuang scoffed coldly: "So, I'm only able to attend this banquet today thanks to Miss Xia?"

"Sister, that's not what I meant..." Xia Yurong explained in a flustered voice, her eyes instantly reddening and welling up with tears.

Seeing this, Qing Shan frowned and stood in front of Xia Yurong: "Your Highness, Yurong went to the Imperial Study yesterday to plead for you. Even if you don't appreciate it, you don't need to put on such a high and mighty attitude, do you?"

Hearing Qing Shan say this, Jiang Jinshuang laughed out loud: "So Miss Xia went to the Imperial Study yesterday to plead for me. If I didn't know better, I would have thought she went to the Imperial Study to wait to see Lord Pei."

"Sister, please, please don't say that..."

"Jiang Jinshuang, what are you saying!"

Qingshan has a fiery temper, and when she saw her sister being bullied, she immediately became furious!
"Yesterday, Yu Rong pleaded for you before the Emperor, saying countless kind words," Qing Shan paused, then looked Jiang Jinshuang up and down, and sneered, "Besides, even if Yu Rong wanted to meet with the Grand Secretary, that's perfectly reasonable. What does it have to do with you?"

As she spoke, Qing Shan suddenly put on a knowing look and blinked: "Oh! Look at my brain, I almost forgot that back then, Her Highness the Princess pursued the Prime Minister so relentlessly, but she didn't receive the slightest bit of favor from him!"

"What? You can't win the favor of the Grand Secretary, so you humiliate Yu Rong like this? Your Highness, you have quite the magnanimity!"

Qing Shan's voice wasn't quiet. Although the banquet hadn't started yet and there weren't many guests, there were still three or five female guests.

Hearing the commotion of the three people, the women chuckled softly, their eyes filled with disdain and mockery as they looked at Jiang Jinshuang.

(End of this chapter)