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

Chapter 41 She doesn't deserve it.

When Jiang Jinshuang regained consciousness, she was lying on the bed in her room.

She slowly turned her eyes and saw a man in a wide red robe placing a brand-new red dress beside her bed.

"Put on."

Jiang Jinshuang's head was throbbing with pain.

She frowned, glanced at her fairly neat clothes, and looked at Pei Du again.

I'm feeling a bit irritable.

Pei Du seemed to have no intention of speaking to her; he simply turned around and walked away.

For a moment, Jiang Jinshuang was the only one left in the room.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Jinshuang knew that now was not the time to throw a tantrum.

—There's another performance waiting for her on stage.

After changing her clothes, Jiang Jinshuang came out of the room with her thoughts calmed down.

She glanced at Jingmo not far away. Jingmo only looked up and met her gaze for a second before instantly looking away.

—Why do you act like you've seen a tiger whenever you see her?

In the distance, Pei Du stood under the pear tree in the courtyard, the white petals fluttering down like snowflakes, brushing past his shoulders.

Hearing the sound, the man slightly withdrew his gaze from Huazhi, turned around, and looked at Jiang Jinshuang.

Petals brushed against his robes, but not a speck of dust or mud touched them.

He must have just washed his hands, but he had only changed his outer robe, which was still a dark red wide-sleeved robe.

—It's somewhat similar to what she's wearing now.

Seeing her come out, he merely glanced at her and said indifferently, "You can go now; they should be waiting for you over there."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang straightened her expression and said in a slightly cold tone, "You knew all along that Jiang Biechen was going to deal with me?"

Pei Du frowned, a moment of confusion flashing in his eyes.

But it was only for a moment before he realized what was happening, and he pursed his lips without answering.

Jiang Jinshuang sneered: "So Lord Pei waited specifically for me to be drugged, just to see me make a fool of myself?"

Jiang Jinshuang's personality is actually quite strange.

Just as she clearly understood that, both morally and logically, Pei Du had actually helped her in this matter.

Even without Pei Du, she wouldn't have fallen into Jiang Biechen's trap; even without Pei Du, she could have survived the effects of the medicine.

However, it must be said that Pei Du's appearance and help made things much easier for her afterwards.

But she still couldn't help but speak harshly to him.

She never believed that anyone would be genuinely good to her.

She doesn't deserve it.

Therefore, others must have had a purpose in helping her.

Just like the Si family in Jiangnan were willing to help her because she promised the head of the Si family that she would do her best to help Si Ning find that military doctor.

Just like Yan Jue helped her because she had dug him out of a pile of corpses.

—Pei Du will be no exception.

What did she have that made him want to help her?
The only thing Jiang Jinshuang could think of was that he hated her and wanted to see her in a miserable state.

The man remained silent after hearing her say that.

A considerable commotion was already coming from the side hall not far away. Pei Du averted his gaze and said calmly, "You should go."

You see, even at a time like this, Pei Du still possesses extraordinary composure and magnanimity.

Jiang Jinshuang stopped looking at him and turned to leave.

Jingmo watched Jiang Jinshuang's departing figure, wanting to say something more, but upon turning around, he immediately noticed the bright red stain on the man's face. "My lord, your face..."

Jingmo pointed to Pei Du's face.

Pei Du frowned, realizing what was happening.

Jingmo took out a handkerchief and handed it to the man.

He wiped the bright red lipstick off his face with a handkerchief, and stared at the conspicuous red spot on the white handkerchief, lost in thought.
-
"Gentlemen, I am truly ashamed that such a thing happened at the palace banquet today, as the Crown Prince."

In front of another side hall, Jiang Biechen, dressed in a long robe, looked ashamed.

The palace banquet was drawing to a close, and His Majesty, still recovering from a long illness, had already left.

The group of ministers who had followed after hearing the commotion exchanged bewildered glances, some with expressions of schadenfreude.

—Among this group of guests, they had just roughly counted them, but only Princess Zhaoming and the Grand Secretary were missing!
The Grand Secretary would never do such a scandalous thing in broad daylight, so it's clear who the couple in there really are.

Among the guests and ministers, one feigned displeasure and said, "Your Highness, there is no need for shame! If anyone should feel guilty, it is that couple inside who should feel even more guilty!"

"Yes, yes! In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how could they do such a scandalous and improper thing!"

"That's right! Whoever is inside, they must be severely punished!"

"Yes! They must be severely punished!"

"..."

Among the crowd were quite a few ministers and guests who hated Princess Zhaoming to the core, and the current situation stirred their emotions!
—If we could take this opportunity to punish Princess Zhaoming and dampen her arrogance, it would be an incredible thing!

Many women in the crowd also followed.

Although they followed behind the male guests and did not participate in the verbal attacks, they still discussed the matter at length.

Qing Shan and Xia Yu Rong stood together, a gloating smile on their faces: "Yu Rong, do you think that person inside the house is Princess Zhaoming with some random man?"

Xia Yurong suppressed the emotions in her eyes, rolled her eyes, and her eyelashes trembled slightly: "My sister... she must have been confused because she was drunk..."

Qing Shan's smile deepened: "I'll see later whether she can still maintain her previous arrogance when I pull her off the man!"

Although they had known before that Princess Zhaoming was licentious and domineering towards women and men, those were just rumors.

Now that I'm actually going to see her, I'm definitely going to give her a good laugh!
"Speaking of which, why haven't we seen the Prime Minister since just now?" Qing Shan looked around, her face full of doubt.

Xia Yurong had a bad feeling, but she quickly suppressed it.

No, not possible.

"I don't know. Brother Pei... actually doesn't really like banquets with lots of people," Xia Yurong replied ambiguously.

Speaking of Pei Du, Qing Shan's lips curled into a teasing smile: "Yu Rong, you haven't told me yet, what exactly did the Grand Secretary say after you went out with him? When you came back, your face was all red!"

Xia Yurong frowned and quickly lowered her head.

In Qing Shan's opinion, she was just shy.

"I...we didn't say anything..." Xia Yurong forced an unnatural smile, "we just chatted casually..."

"I don't believe it," Qing Shan said with a knowing look, and asked in a low voice, "When are you and the Prime Minister getting married?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Yurong glared at Qing Shan with a shy expression: "Qing Shan, don't talk nonsense..."

"What nonsense are you talking about? We all know about your friendship with the Grand Secretary. Humph, if Princess Zhaoming hadn't returned to the capital and started flitting around the Grand Secretary like a fly, you might have already exchanged betrothal gifts by now!"

Speaking of this, Qing Shan looked at Xia Yu Rong with some nervousness: "Yu Rong, don't blame me for saying something unpleasant, but although the Grand Secretary doesn't like Princess Zhao Ming, it's hard to guarantee that she won't use some insidious schemes to plot against the Grand Secretary."

"You and Lord Pei should settle things as soon as possible."

Xia Yurong moved her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Just then, Jiang Biechen, who was standing at the front, ordered someone to break open the side hall door!
"To commit such a vile act at a palace banquet, you two, get out here right now!"

At the same time, a bright voice came from not far away: "Hey? Why are there so many people here?"

(End of this chapter)