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

Chapter 60 Is the Grand Secretary threatening me?
All sounds are silent.

It was a warm spring day, and although there was no incense burning in the main hall, the main gate was open.

A spring breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers passes through the hall, bringing with it the unique scent of spring.

Si Ning sat in the main seat, dressed in a moon-white robe. A long wind blew across the hem of his robe, making him appear composed and noble.

At the guest seat, the tea in Pei Du's hand was ruffled by the wind.

"Ah-"

He placed the tea back on the table, his eyes cold and indifferent.

Si Ning also put the teacup back.

"what?"

He still smiled as he looked at Pei Du, seemingly unaware of the coldness and gloom in his eyes.

"My favorite person is me."

Pei Du reiterated the points clearly and deliberately, emphasizing each word.

Si Ning still had a smile on his lips as he brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeves: "That's all in the past, sir."

After a pause, Si Ning still smiled and said, "Now, Your Highness and Lord have no relationship anymore."

With a light tap of his beautiful fingertips on the table, Pei Du lowered his eyes slightly, casting a large shadow in them.

Si Ning didn't urge him on anything, but just smiled and waited for him to continue.

“The Si family of Jiangnan is incredibly wealthy, enough to rival a nation. Even if His Majesty doesn’t say it, you should know that His Majesty has long been wary of the Si family.”

Si Ning's smile faded slightly, and he turned cold: "Is the Grand Secretary threatening me?"

"This is just a reminder," Pei Du said with a refined and indifferent gaze, "If the Si family wants to protect themselves, they should keep a low profile."

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Your Highness and I are of one mind and will always be together.” Si Ning smiled gently.

“In the past, a down-on-his-luck scholar knelt in front of the princess’s mansion and said to me, Pei, that he and Your Highness were in love and he was willing to humble himself and serve Your Highness, only asking to stay by Your Highness’s side.”

Si Ning raised an eyebrow slightly: "What happened next?"

Pei Du rose leisurely and dusted off his clothes.

"Later, he was executed for cheating in the imperial examination, and his head was separated from his body."

Si Ning smiled as she looked at Pei Du, who had already stood up: "Are you referring to last year's imperial examination, sir?"

"I have heard about that imperial examination, and I also heard that the chief examiner that year... was you."

A few petals brushed past the man's feet.

Pei Du said nothing, bowed slightly to Si Ning, and turned to leave.
-
When Jiang Jinshuang returned from the backyard after seeing Shen Huaihe off, she seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Before they even reached the main hall, they saw Pei Du, dressed in a red official robe, walking towards the gate.

Seemingly noticing this, the man stopped, turned to the side, and looked at her.

It was just a glance.

Pei Du withdrew his gaze and strode out of the princess's residence.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned, ignored her, and went to the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Si Ning was still having tea.

Seeing Jiang Jinshuang arrive, Si Ning stood up with a smile: "Did Your Highness ask about something?"

Jiang Jinshuang took the tea leaves from Si Ning, her expression not very pleasant.

“Shen Huaihe told me that he was also present when Prince Ruiyang was interrogated. Faced with the various pieces of evidence found in his mansion, Prince Ruiyang confessed to the crime without hesitation.”

Si Ning frowned: "Does His Highness Prince Ruiyang have no rebuttal?"

"Yes, not a single word of rebuttal."

Noticing Jiang Jinshuang's emotions, Si Ning said softly, "Your Highness need not be sad. Since this path is now blocked, let's try another one."

Jiang Jinshuang's fingertips caressed the rim of the cup, watching the tea leaves rise and fall in the tea.

After a long pause, her eyes lit up: "Those physical evidence."

Si Ning realized: "Does Your Highness want to try to find clues from those physical evidences from back then?"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded.

Si Ning pondered for a moment: "As far as I know, His Majesty has collected all the physical evidence from back then, and it should now be placed in the Imperial Study."

Jiang Jinshuang pursed her lips slightly and narrowed her eyes: "It seems we need to think of a way."

After saying this, Si Ning recalled what her father had said when he came earlier: "Your Highness, I have just thought about it and I am thinking that since my father is in the capital for the next few days, I should move in and stay with him temporarily." Jiang Jinshuang nodded in agreement: "That's what I was thinking too. Uncle Si hasn't been to the capital for a long time and doesn't know about the factional disputes in the capital. I feel more at ease with you by his side."

Si Ning nodded: "Then I will move in today."

Jiang Jinshuang: "If anything happens to you, you must tell me immediately, okay?"

Si Ning smiled and said, "Alright, thank you, Your Highness."
-
For several days, a strange atmosphere pervaded the court.

Not only did the Si family from Jiangnan, who hadn't been to the north for a long time, come to Chang'an, but even the Prince of Changping, who had been claiming illness and staying away from home, was coming to the capital.

Some ministers in the court said that the Imperial Astronomical Observatory's chief advisor had been staying at the Observatory for the past few days, as if something important was about to happen.

It seems that ever since Princess Zhaoming returned to the capital, one thing after another has happened in the city.

Now I hear that because of her, the Crown Prince has also been imprisoned.

Could Princess Zhaoming really be a jinx?

……

This morning, Jiang Jinshuang was summoned to the Imperial Study.

The fragrance of ambergris wafted through the imperial study.

Jiang Jinshuang curtsied, but her gaze swept across the entire imperial study without making a sound.

Si Ning said that the physical evidence of Prince Ruiyang's rebellion should all be in the Imperial Study, but she glanced at it and saw nothing unusual.

Before his desk, the emperor was practicing calligraphy.

The brushstrokes, bold and unrestrained, danced across the finest Xuan paper, their strokes sharp and decisive.

As he wrote, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Is your injury any better?"

Jiang Jinshuang lowered her eyes: "Reporting to Father, I am much better now."

"Swish—"

Jiang Huayan did not speak, but instead practiced calligraphy at his desk.

Not long after: "Any progress in the assassination case?"

"Your Majesty, the assassin committed suicide by biting poison, and all leads have been exhausted. Your son is incompetent."

"Swish—"

"Then Shuang'er believes that the assassination was carried out by your imperial brother?"

Jiang Jinshuang was filled with fear and trepidation: "Father, my elder brother has always taken good care of me since I was a child. I absolutely do not believe that my elder brother did this!"

This time, Jiang Huayan gave a faint reply.

Jiang Jinshuang then understood the Emperor's meaning.

Now that the Crown Prince is under house arrest in the Eastern Palace, it can be considered a punishment. It doesn't matter who the culprit is anymore, and the Eastern Palace should be reopened.

Jiang Jinshuang lowered her eyes and said softly, "Actually... I think it's not appropriate to delve into the details of the assassination. If someone really wanted to harm me, they would definitely not be able to resist."

"Your subject thinks it would be better to let this matter rest and release Your Majesty as soon as possible, so as to avoid any rift between my brother and me."

She knew the Tian family wanted to release Jiang Biechen, but only she could say those words.

Only she, as the "victim," can personally forgive Jiang Biechen.

"Since Zhaoming has said so, then let's lift his confinement."

Jiang Huayan spoke casually, without any emotion.

Pick it up high, then put it down gently.

She had initially thought that the Tian family had summoned her today because of Jiang Biechen, but the next second, Jiang Huayan spoke again.

“Your Uncle Wang from Changping sent a message, saying that the troops coming to Beijing are tired and lack supplies, and he wants someone to send some over to him.”

Jiang Jinshuang's thoughts wandered for a while.

I roughly guessed what it was.

"Uncle Changping has not been to the capital for a long time, so it is inevitable that such a mistake would occur. I wonder who Your Majesty would like to send to welcome Uncle?"

The man at the desk stopped writing.

A pair of unfathomable eyes fell upon the delicate and obedient girl in front of him.

“Your Uncle Wang of Changping specifically requested that you go there.”

(End of this chapter)