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

Chapter 32 Who does Your Highness want me to seduce?

Jiang Jinshuang noticed the fleeting emotion on Xia Yurong's face.

She squinted slightly and instantly realized what was going on.

The screens for the female guests were made of light gauze, so from a distance, only the charming figures of the female guests could be seen, which was very alluring.

The screen depicts maids pounding silk, with beauties of all shapes and sizes in various poses, their expressions lively and lifelike.

Through the sheer screen, Jiang Jinshuang smelled the familiar sandalwood scent.

A cold, disdainful glint flashed in his eyes.

No wonder the acting was so good; it turns out there were "spectators" watching.

The next second, large tears rolled down Xia Yurong's cheeks. She bit her cherry lips lightly, her voice trembling and pitiful: "Your Highness, in just three years, Yurong never imagined you would become like this..."

Jiang Jinshuang really couldn't stay any longer.

The women around her looked at her as if she were some ungrateful, treacherous scoundrel.

"Xia Yurong, put away your tricks and schemes," Jiang Jinshuang sneered. "I don't have time to watch your act."

After saying that, she didn't look at Xia Yurong's expression again and turned to leave her seat.

Stepping out from behind the screen, Jiang Jinshuang immediately spotted Pei Du standing not far away.

The man was wearing a dark red brocade robe today, which made him look radiant and elegant.

Aside from his bright red official robe, it seemed to be the first time Jiang Jinshuang had ever seen Pei Du wear such vibrant clothes.

She still remembered when he was in the princess's mansion, Jiang Jinshuang had become lustful and made many brightly colored robes for Pei Du, insisting that he wear them.

To everyone's surprise, the man merely glanced at the clothes indifferently, his tone cool and calm: "Whom does Your Highness want me to seduce by wearing these clothes?"

Jiang Jinshuang blinked, looking completely innocent: "Young Master Pei, how could you think of me like that? I was just kindly making you some new clothes!"

Upon hearing this, the man put down his calligraphy brush and said without much emotion, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I don't like wearing such brightly colored clothes."

Now, Jiang Jinshuang looked at the man in the red robe in front of her and couldn't help but sneer.

She realized that she had been incredibly foolish before.

He believed everything Pei Du said.

At today's palace banquet, Xia Yurong is present, and the Grand Secretary naturally wants to dress up in a flamboyant manner.

He didn't like her back then, so naturally he wouldn't put any effort into dressing up.

Jiang Jinshuang knew that Pei Du must have overheard her argument with Xia Yurong.

When the two were arguing, Hongyao, who was always by Xia Yurong's side, was not there. Now that I think about it, she must have been keeping watch from outside the screen.

Jiang Jinshuang wasn't a brainless person. Although she had guessed this possibility, she didn't interfere.

Just as she told Xia Yurong: even if Pei Du were here, she would say the same thing.

They were a perfect match, soulmates, and she was the ruthless princess who destroyed their relationship.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't care what people said.

—Even Pei Du was no longer of concern.

At this moment, the man's thin lips were pressed into a line, and his gaze was noble and indifferent.

He must have heard it.

Jiang Jinshuang sneered and walked away.

The Imperial Garden's Jinming Pond is home to a thousand koi carp, and several long bridges span the lake, leading from all directions to the small island in the center of the lake.

The island is called "Yingzhou".

Jiang Jinshuang walked onto the long bridge, passed under the waterfall-like wisteria blossoms, and ascended to Yingzhou.

The island isn't very big; it doesn't take long to walk around it.

Jiang Jinshuang thought she would wait here for a while until the banquet started before going back.

She just didn't expect that she wasn't the only one who wanted to slack off here.

Jiang Jinshuang had thought that she would see her crown prince brother today, but she never expected it to be in this way.

On Yingzhou Island, a man in a long black and gold robe stood under the shade of trees and flowers, his smile divided in two.

"Shuang'er, it's been a long time." Jiang Biechen is the eldest son of the current emperor, the crown prince, and the future emperor of Wan Jin.

—He is also Jiang Jinshuang's half-brother.

A breeze blew across Yingzhou, causing Jiang Biechen's long robe to flutter and his dark hair to sway.

Jiang Jinshuang scoffed lightly, meeting Jiang Biechen's eyes, which held no smile.

His lips were clearly smiling, but there was no smile in his eyes, and you couldn't even read any emotion in them.

It gives people a sense of unfathomable gloom.

"Brother, it has indeed been a long time since we last met."

Jiang Jinshuang crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow leisurely.

The man's voice was soft and gentle, much like that of a caring older brother: "Since you went to Baiyujing three years ago, I have missed you terribly."

"Really?" Jiang Jinshuang blinked in surprise. "What are you thinking about me, Brother? Are you wondering why I didn't freeze to death after three years in that extremely cold place?"

Jiang Biechen still had a smile on his lips: "Shuang'er is joking again. I'm just worried that you're not doing well in Baiyujing."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am well and have returned to Chang'an. You will no longer need to think of me every day."

Jiang Biechen smiled helplessly. He showed great tolerance for Jiang Jinshuang's sarcasm, his gentle gaze as if he were looking at an ignorant child.

"Shuang'er, three years have passed, are you still blaming me?"

Speaking of what happened back then, Jiang Biechen's face showed some regret, as if he also felt guilty about what happened three years ago.

"What did Your Majesty mean? Shuang'er doesn't remember anymore."

Jiang Biechen's expression finally changed.

He stared into Jiang Jinshuang's eyes, his gaze filled with unfathomable emotions: "Shuang'er, you know, from childhood to adulthood, the two of us have always been the closest."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded in deep agreement: "Yes, I originally thought that since my brother and I have always been close, he would never do anything to wrong me."

Jiang Biechen took a deep breath, his smile appearing somewhat stiff and cracked.

"Shuang'er, don't be stubborn."

Jiang Jinshuang's smile faltered for a moment.

Jiang Biechen frowned slightly: "I know you are angry, but you should also know that the reason why Father Emperor does not want to see you is not only because he is angry with you for what happened back then, but also because he is wary of you."

Jiang Jinshuang remained silent, letting the long wind in the center of the lake blow her long hair and the hem of her clothes.

"Shuang'er, before your uncle, Prince Ruiyang, died, you were the closest to him. You clearly know that everyone in the court is wary of you."

To be precise, it wasn't that I was afraid of her.

She was nothing more than Princess Zhaoming, whose status had been demoted.

What they truly feared was the tiger tally of the Prince of Ruiyang, and the 200,000 black-armored cavalry of the Prince of Ruiyang!

Yes, everyone thought that after Prince Ruiyang died, the Tiger Tally would be handed over to her.

Whether it was the emperor, the crown prince, or even Lu Xiao, the former deputy general of Prince Ruiyang, they all thought so.

Even though she knew nothing about the Tiger Tally, and even though she was searching everywhere for clues about it.

Everyone believed that the clue to Prince Ruiyang's tiger tally lay with her.

Jiang Jinshuang has suffered countless assassination attempts over the years; the number of people who want to kill her could stretch from Chang'an City all the way to Baiyujing.

Everyone wanted to get their hands on the tiger tally.

No one believed that Jiang Jinshuang had never seen the Tiger Tally.

“Shuang’er, don’t be stubborn,” Jiang Biechen sighed. “Give me the Tiger Tally, and I will guarantee your safety and a life of wealth and honor.”

Jiang Jinshuang smiled.

People shouldn't tell too many lies.

You see, even if she says the tiger tally isn't on her, no one will believe her.

"Brother, are you so eager to take the Tiger Tally from me because you're worried that I'll take these 200,000 Black Armored Cavalry and replace you as emperor?"

(End of this chapter)