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

Chapter 20 Young Master Pei, you've been drinking and acting recklessly~
The roar was deafening, and everyone knelt down.

Jiang Jinshuang sat high in the main seat, one hand supporting her head, looking at the officials below with a half-smile.

"You gentlemen have arrived at just the right time. I was just about to start the banquet. I thought you had eaten your fill elsewhere and wouldn't be coming today."

The guests arrived one after another from outside the mansion, lining up on both sides, all kneeling to offer their congratulations.

"We have come to the Princess's residence for a banquet to welcome Her Highness back to the capital!"

The procession was just like it had been many years ago when Princess Zhaoming went out.

—It's as if, for all these years, she has always been the most admired and the one who commands respect.

Hearing Jiang Jinshuang say this, the ministers gave a forced laugh: "Your humble servants wouldn't dare..."

She did not tell the group to stand up, but simply leaned back and relaxed, her gaze sweeping over the kneeling officials.

Some guests brought their female relatives, who knelt beside their elders with their heads bowed low.

Outside the mansion, the officials in charge of ceremonies continued to chant rites, while many portly officials arrived late, sweating profusely as they ran to the backyard and knelt in the procession.

It's quite a sight to behold.

The incense on the altar was half-burned.

Jiang Jinshuang remained silent, and the guests kneeling at the banquet dared not raise their heads, much less get up.

All the arrogant and haughty faces that were just at the Xia residence have disappeared, replaced by fawning and ingratiating smiles.

Jiang Jinshuang slightly curved her lips, but pretended to speak casually to Si Ning, who was sitting in the guest seat.

"Mr. Si Ning, look at these officials, they are all pillars of our court, with imposing presence and outstanding talents."

Upon hearing this, Si Ning nodded seriously: "Indeed, when I was in Jiangnan, my father mentioned that the officials in the capital were honest, upright and incorruptible. Only today do I realize that the rumors are true."

The ministers were so frightened that they immediately kowtowed: "We are honored by your praise, sir. We will serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty and devotion!"

Since the late emperor's death, the Si family of Jiangnan has no longer been involved in court affairs. Therefore, Si Ning has no official position. Whether it is the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers or ordinary people, even the current emperor calls him "Sir".

It is rumored that this Mr. Si Ning was born with a congenital deficiency and suffered from heart disease since birth.

Such an incurable disease would have killed an ordinary family long ago, but the Si family of Jiangnan was wealthy and managed to keep this person alive by relying on various famous doctors, rare medicines, and rare and precious herbs.

The head of the Si family had a son late in life, and given the scarcity of offspring in the Si family line, this eldest son of the Si family was pampered and cherished by the family from a young age.

The fact that the eldest son of the Si family, who suffers from a heart ailment, has traveled a great distance to attend the Yichun Banquet at the Princess's residence speaks volumes about his significance.

The incense on the altar burned out.

Jiang Jinshuang and Si Ning exchanged a glance, then finally faced the guests again and said with a smile, "Everyone, please stop kneeling. Now that all the guests have arrived, let's begin the banquet."

"Thank you, Your Highness Princess."

After kneeling for the duration of an incense stick burning, the officials, supported by their attendants, shakily rose and slowly sat down.

A servant nearby shouted, "Let the banquet begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two rows of maids carrying dishes approached from afar and placed all the dishes on the guests' tables.

When the officials saw the dishes, their smiles froze on their faces.

What... what are all these things?

Scallion and tofu salad, cucumber salad, salted white fungus...

There wasn't even a drop of oil in it!
Seeing the astonished looks on everyone's faces, Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "I thought that you gentlemen might have eaten too much before coming, so I specially prepared these side dishes to help you cleanse your palates."

Upon hearing this, everyone broke out in a cold sweat and lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Jiang Jinshuang turned her head and asked the man in the guest seat with a serious expression, "Prime Minister, do you like the dishes I prepared?"

Pei Du's expression was cool and calm. Hearing her question, he nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness." Jiang Jinshuang smiled with satisfaction, then turned to Si Ning on the other side and asked: "Sir, are the dishes to your liking?"

Si Ning smiled gently: "It's been a long time since I've had any refreshing side dishes, and this is just what I'm looking for."

This……

Since Mr. Si Ning and the Grand Secretary had both said so, everyone looked at each other, exchanged glances, and finally picked up their chopsticks, frowning as they began to eat.

"Please enjoy your meal. I have prepared a grand performance, and I will invite you all to enjoy it together in a little while."

At this point, an official at the table smiled and said, "When we arrived, we saw a stage set up outside the mansion. We didn't expect that Your Highness would invite us to watch a play!"

Jiang Jinshuang's smile was meaningful: "Yes, I went to great lengths to have this stage set up, so all of you gentlemen should do me the honor of attending."

Everyone at the banquet smiled and agreed.

“No feast is complete without wine,” Si Ning smiled, “I have prepared some wine, and I hope you gentlemen will not find it offensive.”

As he spoke, Si Ning gestured to Qian Yao, who understood and had a servant bring over a wine pot.

Dozens of servants, each carrying a wine pot, placed wine cups on the table.

Some knowledgeable officials, upon merely looking at the wine jug, widened their eyes and gasped: "This...this is Songfengyin!?"

"Song of the Pine Breeze?"

Upon hearing this name, the entire room erupted in uproar.

Si Ning smiled and nodded: "This is just a small amount of wine, nothing special."

—This is hardly "light wine"!

This is a rare and precious wine that the Si family of Jiangnan has been brewing for a century!
"The pine breeze opens the wine jar, and the Jade Emperor descends to earth."

—This is the famous Jiangnan wine, "Songfengyin"!
It is said that the production process of this Songfengyin is extremely complicated, and each of the raw materials used costs thousands of gold coins!

When brewing this Songfengyin wine, the wine jars need to be buried under pine trees for a hundred years. Even so, only one out of ten jars can have the taste of Jinbo Yuniang and Bailu Qiongjiang!
Such a rare delicacy is something that even the emperor rarely gets to taste, let alone these nobles and royalty!

If I hadn't come to the princess's residence today, I would have missed out on such a rare and exquisite wine!

Moreover, Mr. Si Ning generously gifted each of them a pot!
The hands of everyone who picked up the wine jug trembled slightly, as if they were afraid that they might accidentally drop it on the ground.

Even if the spring scenery of those ten states is rare, it is still a thing of the mortal world. If one is willing to wait, one can always obtain it.

But this Songfengyin (Pine Breeze Chant) is not something that just anyone can drink!
"Thank you, Mr. Si Ning!"

The officials toasted Si Ning to express their gratitude.

Jiang Jinshuang tilted her head and immediately saw Pei Du standing to the side.

The man sat upright, politely enjoying the side dishes, but did not savor the Songfengyin like the others.

"Lord Pei, is this 'Pine Breeze Chant' not to your liking?"

Jiang Jinshuang asked with a forced smile.

Pei Du looked up at Jiang Jinshuang, and after a long while slowly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Si Ning, but I am not a good drinker and cannot drink."

Jiang Jinshuang knew that Pei Du had a low alcohol tolerance.

Back then, Jiang Jinshuang forced Pei Du to drink three cups of fruit wine, which made him dizzy and unconscious.

The next morning, when he found himself sleeping in her bedchamber, he looked as if his chastity had been defiled. Jiang Jinshuang still remembers it to this day!
"Young Master Pei, you've acted recklessly after drinking. You're not planning to run away and shirk responsibility, are you?"

At that time, Pei Du had a splitting headache and bloodshot eyes, but she still insisted on teasing him.

(End of this chapter)