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

Chapter 75 Pei Du, you're stupid!
He took all the blame for that day upon himself.

Jiang Jinshuang stood behind Pei Du, her face cold and stern.

"Be bold!"

Jiang Huayan's tone turned serious: "When the emperor is angry, blood will flow for miles."

"Pei Du, I always thought you were a reliable and steady person, but I never expected you to be so eager for quick success and so competitive!"

Pei Du knelt down and bowed respectfully to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"Considering that you were seriously injured while protecting the Emperor, you will be suspended from your post for half a month and your salary will be reduced for three years. During this period, all your memorials and official documents will be handled by the Crown Prince."

After a pause, Jiang Huayan coldly looked at Jiang Jinshuang: "As for Zhaoming, you failed to judge the situation in time, causing this disaster. You are hereby punished to copy scriptures at the Imperial Ancestral Temple for seven days, during which time you are not allowed to leave without permission!"

Jiang Jinshuang took a deep breath and bowed slightly: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."
-
Jiang Jinshuang walked out of Weiyang Palace with quick steps.

It wasn't until she stepped out of the Forbidden City and outside the palace gates that Pei Du finally grabbed Jiang Jinshuang's sleeve.

Jiang Jinshuang's frustration finally reached its peak.

She shook off Pei Du's hand without hesitation, her eyes cold and indifferent.

Pei Du looked terrible.

Her lips were pale, and her body was weak, like a sickly beauty confined to her sickbed, frail and powerless, yet possessing a morbid beauty.

He was wearing a red robe, and even the crane on the robe's patch looked sickly.

"What does the Grand Secretary wish to say?"

Jiang Jinshuang scoffed softly, her brows furrowed.

"I should really thank the Grand Secretary. He saved my life yesterday and exempted me from punishment today."

As she spoke, Jiang Jinshuang sneered, "Pei Du, do you think you're so great?"

Pei Du frowned slightly, his thin lips pressed tightly together: "Jiang Jinshuang, I know you're angry with me."

"Angry? Ha, what nonsense are you talking about, Grand Secretary? How could I dare to be angry with my savior?"

Despite saying this, Jiang Jinshuang's expression grew even colder: "The Grand Secretary's selflessness and noble character are truly admirable!"

A cold wind blew, and Pei Du coughed a few times, his expression stern. He moved his Adam's apple, his face pale.

Jiang Jinshuang's patience ran out, and her tone became even more sarcastic and bitter: "Pei Du, do you think that because you saved me, I should be grateful to you?"

"Do you think that because you stepped forward today and took most of the punishment for me, I'll be eternally grateful and thank you profusely?!"

"I'm telling you, no! Even without you, I wouldn't have died from those three arrows. Even if you weren't here today, His Majesty wouldn't have banished me back to Baiyujing!"

"Do you think you're so clever? His Majesty summoned me here today only to shut me up and prevent me from revealing the identity of the assassin from Beihuai!"

"And you, in your cleverness, came to the palace, giving His Majesty the opportunity to strip you of your power and hand it over to Jiang Biechen!"

“Pei Du, you’re stupid. You haven’t learned a single thing I taught you.”

After saying this, Jiang Jinshuang turned to leave.

Before she could even lift her foot, Pei Du grabbed her sleeve again from behind.

"I know."

A man's slightly trembling, jade-like voice came from behind.

"Jiang Jinshuang, I know."

He knew all of this.

He knew she was skilled in martial arts, so even if she couldn't kill the person who came, she wouldn't be easily injured.

He knew that His Majesty did not want to be enemies with Bei Huai, so he pretended not to know the identity of the assassin who came to kill him.

He knew that going to Weiyang Palace today would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

His Majesty has long been wary of his power, yet he has never found the slightest fault or flaw in him, and even when displeased, he has no way to punish him.

He took the blame voluntarily, giving His Majesty a pretext to punish him.

He knew all of that. But...

but.

When she was attacked, she cried out "Protect the Emperor!" in such a panic that by the time he realized what was happening, he was already standing in front of her.

He knew perfectly well that His Majesty would not demote her back to Baiyujing in court today; most likely, she would just receive a few dozen lashes and that would be the end of it.

—But she didn't like being punished.

Years ago, in order to avenge him, she killed the Vice Minister of War without authorization and was punished with eighty strokes of the cane.

She said, "Pei Du, this is the first time I've been punished with a beating. I don't want it to happen again."

He knew Jiang Jinshuang was afraid of pain.

"You know?" Jiang Jinshuang sneered. "Lord Pei, you're so shrewd, do you know everything?"

"If you truly knew everything, you wouldn't be here in the main hall of Weiyang Palace today!"

Jiang Jinshuang smelled blood.

The stench of blood overpowered the scents of medicine and sandalwood, piercing her nostrils.

She frowned slightly and noticed the bloodstains on Pei Du's shoulder.

The once bright red official robe was now stained a dark red with blood, like red plum blossoms blooming on red Xuan paper, a beauty that was terrifying.

Jiang Jinshuang frowned, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "Let's go back to the manor. I don't want to see you right now."

Pei Du pursed his beautiful lips into a line, his Adam's apple bobbed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Your Majesty's actions today are not only intended to strip me of my power and position, but also to cover up the truth for the Prince of Changping."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes slightly: "Hidden?"

Pei Du: "Yesterday's assassination attempt did not implicate Prince Changping, and none of the assassins were targeting Prince Changping's carriage."

Jiang Jinshuang frowned: "You mean, the Prince of Changping is secretly colluding with Beihuai?"

Pei Du did not answer Jiang Jinshuang's question, but only said, "His Majesty does not want to go to war with Beihuai, so he will naturally keep this matter a secret. Therefore, regardless of whether the Prince of Changping has any dealings with Beihuai, he will keep it a secret."

After a pause, Pei Du continued, "Therefore, regardless of whether I come to Weiyang Palace today, His Majesty will definitely come looking for me later and find a reason to block my news."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang quickly realized what was going on and chuckled, "So, you want to take the initiative, take the blame, be punished, and get away unscathed?"

Pei Du remained silent, simply staring intently at Jiang Jinshuang.

Jiang Jinshuang closed her eyes and rubbed her throbbing temples.

I'm still feeling irritable.

Seeing Pei Du's weak appearance only made him more annoyed.

—It was as if he was constantly reminding her that he was hurt because of her.

"I'll take you back first."

With that, she turned and led Pei Du into the carriage that led back to Wenshan Pavilion.

Pei Du's injuries were already severe, and when Jiang Jinshuang brought him back to Wenshan Pavilion, he fell unconscious again.

He Weijing arrived just in time. After examining his pulse, he remained aloof and indifferent.

Jingmo asked anxiously, "Mr. He, how is my husband?"

He Weijing: "Since he wants to die, we should dig a hole and bury him as soon as possible, so as not to waste my prescription."

Jingmo didn't dare to utter a word in rebuttal and could only cautiously endure the scolding.

Although he was a bit harsh, He Weijing still wrote a new prescription for Jingmo and asked him to decoct the medicine.

Jiang Jinshuang waited outside the bedroom and walked up to He Weijing when he came out.

"Mr. He, how is Lord Pei?"

“He’s not dead,” He Weijing wiped his hands, then turned to look at Jiang Jinshuang, his eyes filled with a cold indifference. “You care about him?”

(End of this chapter)