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

Chapter 53 I believe.

Her relationship with this junior official had never been good.

As the upright and outspoken Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Huaihe impeached her countless times before the Emperor.

After not seeing him for three years, Jiang Jinshuang felt that this Junior Minister seemed... to have become much gentler?

Shen Huaihe pursed his lips slightly, his tone cold and deep: "I'm just worried that Your Highness won't be able to hold on until my interrogation is over."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lord Shaoqing, my wound has healed a lot, and I still have the energy."

Shen Huaihe nodded and spoke again: "Does Your Highness still remember what the assassin looked like? Any feature will do."

After frowning and recalling carefully for a moment, Jiang Jinshuang shook her head: "He covered his face, only revealing his eyes, and you couldn't see any other features at all."

Shen Huaihe said calmly, "No rush, Your Highness can think about it slowly."

"I hadn't fallen asleep that night when I heard someone climb in through the window. I took a vase from the bedside table, and when the assassin lifted the curtain, my vase hit his arm, and his sword fell to the ground."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang continued, "I quickly called for help, but the assassin reacted and pulled out a dagger from his waist and stabbed at me. I couldn't dodge in time and was stabbed."

"The assassin heard the noise outside and hurriedly left."

At this point, Jiang Jinshuang looked at Shen Huaihe: "Things that night were too chaotic, and this is all I remember."

Shen Huaihe narrowed his eyes: "What kind of dagger is that?"

Upon hearing Shen Huaihe's question, Jiang Jinshuang suppressed the smile on her lips and pretended to be thinking seriously: "Speaking of which, I feel like I've seen the design of that dagger somewhere before. Its hilt is shaped like a tiger."

Shen Huaihe nodded: "Does Your Highness have anything else to say?"

Jiang Jinshuang thought for a moment: "I feel that the assassin didn't really want to kill me. He could have killed me after he stabbed me, but he still pulled out the dagger and ran away."

"It's more like a warning and a threat," Shen Huaihe said coldly.

Jiang Jinshuang nodded in agreement.

Lowering his eyes, Shen Huaihe pondered for a moment, then looked up at Jiang Jinshuang again: "Your Highness has a question that I hope Your Highness will answer."

"Please speak, Lord Shaoqing."

"It is rumored that when Prince Ruiyang was executed by order of the Emperor for treason, the last person he saw was His Highness."

Jiang Jinshuang listened quietly as her knuckles tapped rhythmically a few times on the table.

"Everyone says that the Tiger Tally, which can command 200,000 Black Armored Cavalry, is in Your Highness's hands," Shen Huaihe paused, then calmly asked, "Does Your Highness possess that Tiger Tally?"

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, a nonchalant smile playing on her lips: "If I said no, would Lord Shaoqing believe me?"

Everyone seemed to believe that even if the tiger tally wasn't in her possession, she must know its whereabouts.

—She was the last person Prince Ruiyang saw before he died.

Shen Huaihe looked at Jiang Jinshuang intently for a long time.

"I believe."

Jiang Jinshuang was somewhat surprised: "Didn't you always say that I bully women and men and that I'm a liar?"

Shen Huaihe's eyes were dark, and he spoke clearly: "One thing at a time. Your Highness did not do anything wrong, and I would never wrong you."

Jiang Jinshuang found it amusing: "Then how does Lord Shaoqing know I'm not lying?"

Shen Huaihe calmly said, "The eyes don't lie. This is the discernment that I, as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, should have."

Jiang Jinshuang felt that this Junior Minister seemed rather interesting!
Shen Huaihe slowly rose and bowed slightly to Jiang Jinshuang: "Regarding the assassination attempt, Your Highness, I will do my utmost to find out the real culprit. Please rest assured."

Suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration, Jiang Jinshuang asked, "Shen Huaihe, if someone wants to assassinate one of my people, given their high position and power, and you cannot act on their own, what would you do?"

Upon hearing this question, Shen Huaihe's handsome brows furrowed slightly.

He stood in the dim morning light, wearing a bright red official robe, his radiance dazzling, his whole body glowing.

"Now that I am in this position, there is no one I cannot touch."

After a pause, Shen Huaihe continued, "Back then, when Her Highness the Princess made a mistake, I dared to submit several memorials to the throne. Now that someone else has made a mistake, there is no reason to let it go."

Yo ho.

Jiang Jinshuang curved her eyebrows and eyes, resting her chin on one hand as she looked Shen Huaihe up and down.

She had always known that Shen Huaihe was upright and impartial, and treated everyone equally.

However, the fact that he could say such things in front of a "great villain" like her still makes one admire him a bit.

"Shen Huaihe, I suddenly feel that you are not so annoying after all."

Shen Huaihe's handsome, thin lips pressed into a thin line upon hearing this, though he didn't know where he went wrong with the statement.

He frowned and took a few steps back, his ear tips seemingly burning from the sun.

He bowed slightly to Jiang Jinshuang and said, "This humble subject takes his leave."

After saying that, he didn't look at Jiang Jinshuang's expression again and turned to leave.

What followed seemed much simpler.

During the few days that Jiang Jinshuang was recuperating, Si Ning would bring her new messages every day.

Following the clues given by Jiang Jinshuang, Shen Huaihe searched the entire capital and finally caught the assassin who was preparing to leave the capital two days later.

After another day of interrogation, no one knew what method Shen Huaihe used, but he actually managed to pry open the assassin's mouth.

The assassin claimed that it was ordered by the Crown Prince Jiang Biechen, and that the tiger-shaped dagger was now hidden in his study in the Eastern Palace!
When Shen Huaihe sent people to search, they indeed found a dagger in Jiang Biechen's study.

Everything was going too smoothly, and Shen Huaihe became suspicious.

When he went to interrogate the assassin again with the dagger, he heard that the assassin had committed suicide by biting poison in prison.

Now, all the clues have gone cold on Jiang Biechen.

The emperor was furious and ordered Jiang Biechen to be placed under house arrest in the Eastern Palace, and not to leave until the matter was investigated.

During this time, Jiang Jinshuang went to the palace again.

The Emperor asked for her opinion, and Jiang Jinshuang stated righteously that someone had definitely framed her and that she believed her brother would not do such a thing.

The emperor nodded in satisfaction and bestowed upon her many tonics and precious treasures.

Jiang Jinshuang then offered to investigate the matter thoroughly in place of Jiang Biechen.

The emperor hesitated.

Jiang Jinshuang, however, said that someone must be trying to sow discord between the siblings and that this matter should be thoroughly investigated along with the incident at the palace banquet last time.

Upon hearing this, His Majesty pondered for a moment and then agreed to Jiang Jinshuang's request.

It just added one more condition.

—Let Lord Pei Du assist her in investigating the case.

Jiang Jinshuang readily agreed.

Having finally gained the right to enter and exit the Dali Temple's archives, Jiang Jinshuang was in a very good mood when she left the palace.

But her good mood didn't last long before she saw Xia Yurong, biting her lip and with bloodshot eyes, walk up to her side.

Xia Yurong was probably preparing to go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager.

I just never expected to meet her here.

Xia Yurong didn't even bow when she saw Jiang Jinshuang.

Her voice trembled as she said, "Sister, Father told me that you rejected the Xia family's marriage proposal?"

"You...do you resent Rong'er that much?"

(End of this chapter)