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

Chapter 142 Competing for Favor
In an instant, the banquet fell silent.

It was even a little too quiet.

All the courtiers' eyes fell on the upright and handsome chief minister.

An eerie gaze.

This Grand Secretary actually said that Her Highness the Princess is delicate and frail!?
—What exactly is it about her that she's delicate and weak?!
Ignoring the stares from the crowd, Pei Du took a sip of tea and said in a cool and indifferent tone, "Your Highness, you have overstepped your bounds."

It carries an undisguised warning.

Wen Fengcang narrowed his eyes and chuckled. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a palace attendant announce his arrival from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty has arrived——"

In an instant, all the guests knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, exuding majesty, swept past the crowd and sat high in the main hall.

"Everyone is safe."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Jiang Huayan's complexion was not good.

This should be considered his first formal meeting with the Prince of Beihuai.

They actually bypassed countless cities and brazenly appeared outside the gates of the capital.

He looked a little embarrassed.

When his gaze shifted to Wen Fengcang's face, he knew he still had to maintain proper etiquette.

He smiled and said to Wen Fengcang, "I am very pleased that the Prince of Beihuai has traveled a long way to the capital to pay homage to him, to show the friendship between our two countries."

As he spoke, he raised his glass, and the guests present followed suit.

"Come, let this glass of wine be offered to our guests who have come from afar."

The aroma of wine overflows.

Jiang Jinshuang also raised her glass, took a sip of wine, and glanced casually at Wen Fengcang across from her.

Setting down his wine cup, Wen Fengcang bowed slightly towards Jiang Huayan, placed his right hand on his chest, and said in a pleasant voice, "I have long heard that Wan Jin is full of talented people and has countless talents in the court. Seeing it today, I can see that it is indeed well-deserved."

Jiang Huayan smiled and said, "If the Prince of Beihuai likes it, he can wander around and see the scenery that is different from that of Beihuai during his stay in the capital."

Wen Fengcang also said, "Wan Jin is a vast and resource-rich land. Even within a single city, the scenery is quite different. When I entered the capital, I passed by Huguo Temple. It was clearly late spring, but the peach blossoms on the back mountain of Huguo Temple were in full bloom, like the warm spring of March. It was truly beautiful."

"Haha, I didn't expect the First Prince to be a lover of flowers as well."

Jiang Jinshuang wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but when Tianjia said those words, Wen Fengcang seemed to glance in her direction.

“Love flowers…” Wen Fengcang pondered for a moment, a beautiful smile appearing on his lips. “I’ve heard that Wan Jin also likes to compare beautiful women to flowers in his poems and writings.”

"Xiao Wang is indeed a person who cherishes and loves flowers. If he can have the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful flowers of Wan Jin, then this trip will not be in vain."

"What's so difficult about that? Today is a time of peace and prosperity, and I hope the Crown Prince will enjoy himself to the fullest."

As he spoke, Jiang Huayan slightly raised his hand.

The next second, music began, and a dozen beautiful dancers came to the center of the hall, dancing gracefully like butterflies.

The dancer's flowing sleeves separated Jiang Jinshuang and Wen Fengcang from each other's gaze.

Jiang Jinshuang rested her chin on her hand and squinted slightly.

What Wen Fengcang meant by that sentence...

She tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, concealing the cold melancholy in her eyes.

Wen Fengcang, you'd better behave yourself.

Si Ning and Si Beihuan arrived a little late.

But because their seats were at the back, no one noticed.

When Jiang Jinshuang saw Si Ning, she looked around, crouched down, and walked through the crowd of guests to the end of the table.

"Si Ning," Jiang Jinshuang called out to him, and sat down next to him without any ceremony, "Why are you so late?"

Si Ning's robes were neat and tidy, and Jiang Jinshuang could feel his body temperature as soon as she got closer.

—It looks like he's just had some strenuous exercise.

Si Ning glanced around discreetly before lowering his eyelids and pouring Jiang Jinshuang a glass of water. "My father and I were attacked on our way to the banquet."

Jiang Jinshuang's hand tightened slightly as she gripped the teacup, her knuckles turning a little white.

Her fingertips traced the rim of the teacup. She lowered her eyes slightly, watching the tea leaves floating in the cup. After a long while, she suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Raising her eyes, Jiang Jinshuang's gaze flashed with murderous intent: "Was it Wen Fengcang who had someone do this?"

Although it was a question, Jiang Jinshuang already had the answer in her heart.

as predicted.

Si Ning gently pressed down on Jiang Jinshuang's restless sleeve and said in a gentle tone, "Your Highness, he is just provoking us."

It was a very obvious and despicable provocation.

When Jiang Jinshuang first returned to the capital, she was disliked by officials and courtiers, and even a banquet almost couldn't be held.

It was Si Ning who came to "borrow the tiger's power" for her, and even openly showed favoritism.

—Wen Fengcang was provoking her.

Jiang Jinshuang knew it.

“If Your Highness is truly angered, then you have fallen into his trap,” Si Ning reassured him.

Wen Fengcang simply wanted to find something wrong with her and use it to achieve his goal.

It was a very clumsy method, but it had to be said that it was effective.

If Wen Fengcang's methods were aimed at her, she could just endure it.

But it applies to the people around her.

Then you can't get through.

She is petty and vindictive.

Jiang Jinshuang scoffed coldly, rubbing the teacup in her hand: "He's asking for it."

Si Ning smiled helplessly and changed the subject: "On the way here, my father mentioned His Highness to me again."

Jiang Jinshuang blinked, her fierce aura dissipating, and she looked blank and innocent: "Uncle Si spoke ill of me to you again?"

“No, Your Highness,” Si Ning said softly. “My father told me that the Qingming Festival is coming soon, and he sent someone from Jiangnan to bring willow branches, saying that he wanted to give some to Your Highness.”

Jiang Jinshuang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Willow branches are also available in Chang'an, so why transport them all the way from Jiangnan?"

“That’s a different Your Highness,” Si Ning explained with a smile. “My father is stubborn. He insists that the willow branches from our hometown are the most beautiful, and that they must be willow branches growing on the banks of the Yangtze River in Jiangnan.”

Jiang Jinshuang laughed along, "Since Uncle Si has prepared it for me, then I definitely have to accept it!"

"Alright, then I'll send some to Your Highness's residence another day."

"it is good."

There's really nothing special to talk about.

Jiang Jinshuang only felt that Si Ning was a little late, so she came to ask.

At the banquet, officials clinked glasses and drank, and music filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

Jiang Jinshuang also didn't really want to go back to her original position.

Seeing Wen Fengcang's face, she worried that she wouldn't be able to hold back and would beat him up on the spot.

Jiang Jinshuang drank quite a bit of alcohol, but she had a high alcohol tolerance and didn't feel anything, except that her face felt a little hot.

Si Ning sat to the side, looking at Jiang Jinshuang beside her. She lowered her eyes slightly and said in a soft tone, "Your Highness, please drink less wine, otherwise I will complain to Mr. He."

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes widened in shock.

"Si Ning, you actually want to be a traitor!"

Si Ning smiled helplessly, and was about to say something when she heard Jing Mo's anxious voice behind her.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! You must come and see our master!"

Jiang Jinshuang turned her head, her tone slightly cold: "What's wrong with Lord Pei?"

"Those envoys from Beihuai insisted on getting the lord drunk, but as you know, the lord has a low alcohol tolerance and is also injured..."

Before Jingmo could finish speaking, Jiang Jinshuang suddenly stood up from her seat.

She gave a cold laugh, said nothing, and walked towards Pei Du's seat.