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

Chapter 36 A Battleground Between Two Men
Si Ning wasn't a good drinker; he suffered from a heart condition, and his doctor forbade him from drinking alcohol.

Jiang Jinshuang sighed, stood up from her seat, and stepped out from behind the screen: "I'll go take a look."

"Yes, Your Highness! The master is over there."

Qian Yao happily pointed to the guest seats on the high floor, and Jiang Jinshuang saw a group of officials and ministers crowding around one seat, making it impossible to move.

Jiang Jinshuang shook her head helplessly and stepped forward.

Si Ning was surrounded by a group of people, all with warm and ingratiating smiles on their faces, who toasted her one after another.

"Mr. Si Ning, are you planning to stay in Beijing for an extended period of time?"

"I will be hosting a banquet at my residence in a while, and I would be honored to have Mr. Si Ning attend."

“Mr. Si Ning, I have met your mother a few times. You and your mother are indeed both extraordinary in demeanor!”

"..."

Jiang Jinshuang couldn't quite squeeze in.

She smiled slightly, cleared her throat, and then said loudly, "Why won't Mr. Si Ning offer me a toast?"

Jiang Jinshuang's voice broke through the crowd, and the officials and ministers who heard it made way and looked at her in the direction of the voice.

Jiang Jinshuang wore a light blue long dress today, with a light gauze belt tied at the waist, which fluttered in the wind, making her waist look slender and delicate.

She tilted her chin slightly and looked at Mr. Si Ning in his seat.

Si Ning, dressed in pristine white, sat there with a face as beautiful as a painting.

His features exuded an innate nobility and dignity, and even a slight smile from him could make people hold their breath.

The beauty mark at the corner of his eye was very alluring, and his eyes already showed signs of intoxication.

"Your Highness."

He slightly curved his lips, his tone gentle, lacking the cold indifference he showed to others.

When the ministers saw Jiang Jinshuang, they exchanged glances, bowed slightly to her, and then made excuses to leave.

His Majesty's attitude towards Princess Zhaoming is unclear, so it's best for them not to provoke her.

As soon as the group left, Jiang Jinshuang sighed and unceremoniously sat down in the half-seat that Si Ning had given up.

Si Ning smiled and asked, "Did Qian Yao summon His Highness?"

Jiang Jinshuang rolled her eyes at him, snatched the wine glass from his hand, poured out the wine, and replaced it with tea.

"Are you stupid? If someone offers you a toast, why don't you just secretly replace it with tea?"

Si Ning smiled and said, "Your Highness, tea and wine are not the same color."

Jiang Jinshuang said nonchalantly, "Even if they really find out you're drinking tea, who would dare to say anything to you?"

Si Ning smiled faintly: "Yes, Your Highness is indeed clever."

Jiang Jinshuang didn't think she was smart; she thought Si Ning was too stupid.

Having just been forced to drink several glasses of alcohol, Si Ning was still relatively conscious, but her head felt a little dizzy.

He propped his head up with one hand, his long, flowing hair cascading through his fingers and onto the table.

Si Ning propped her head up and looked at Jiang Jinshuang beside her, her eyes flickering.

"Does Your Highness know who my guest is?"

Jiang Jinshuang replied nonchalantly, "I just saw Pei Du leave his seat."

Si Ning smiled and said, "Hmm, the Grand Secretary seems a little unhappy."

Jiang Jinshuang didn't take it to heart: "He's unhappy all the time."

The handsome man in front of him blinked innocently: "I was just chatting with the Grand Secretary for a few minutes, and I must have said something wrong that displeased him."

Jiang Jinshuang was changing Si Ning's wine. She poured all the fine wine from the wine pot into a porcelain bowl next to her, then picked up the teapot and poured it into it.

Hearing Si Ning say this, she stopped what she was doing, stared at Si Ning with wide eyes and a look of shock on her face: "You mean to say that you just defeated Pei Du?"

Si Ning was taken aback, then chuckled softly, "You could say that Your Highness is feeling sorry for me?"

Jiang Jinshuang looked at Si Ning with a serious expression and patted him on the shoulder solemnly: "Si Ning, you are really amazing."

"Hmm?" Si Ning's tone rose slightly in a pleasant tone.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "In the entire Wan Jin, you are the second person who can win an argument with Pei Du."

As she spoke, she pointed to herself and raised her eyebrows slightly: "I'm the first one."

Si Ning's pupils widened slightly, then she lowered her eyes and chuckled softly.

"I thought..."

"Why?"

Si Ning shook his head and smiled: "It's nothing, Your Highness is very capable."

His gaze swept past Jiang Jinshuang and landed on someone walking towards them from not far away.

Si Ning's smile faltered. Suddenly, he clutched his chest, his brows furrowed, and his face paled.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshuang quickly supported Si Ning's arm, her tone slightly somber: "It's flared up again? Should we give her two more pills?"

Si Ning raised his eyes without making a sound, his gaze moving from Jiang Jinshuang's shoulder to the man behind him.

He smiled and shook his head at Jiang Jinshuang, looking somewhat weak: "It's alright, Your Highness. I probably drank too much just now. I'm feeling better now."

Jiang Jinshuang was still worried: "If anyone toasts you later, I'll drink it for you."

Upon hearing this, Si Ning's smile deepened, her tone carrying a hint of indulgent helplessness: "Your Highness, this is the men's section."

"What's wrong with male guests? It's not like I don't have—"

"Your Excellency, you're back."

Before Jiang Jinshuang could finish speaking, Si Ning in front of her changed her expression and nodded slightly to the man behind Jiang Jinshuang.

The sound was somewhat sudden, and Jiang Jinshuang shrank her neck, belatedly realizing what it was.

She slowly turned around and saw that, without her noticing, Pei Du nodded indifferently to Si Ning, then sat back down in his seat with a dignified and distant air.

Jiang Jinshuang occupied half of Si Ning's seat. At this moment, she shared a table with Si Ning, and next to her was the handsome and dashing Lord Pei.

A little uncomfortable.

It wasn't because of Pei Du, but because of the strange looks that the surrounding ministers and officials kept casting at them.

At this moment, she resembled a wicked princess who was fickle and abandoned her husband and children. To her left was the man she had "abandoned" three years ago, and to her right sat her "new love."

Jiang Jinshuang lowered her head slightly and coughed softly.

Si Ning seemed oblivious to the stares, responding as usual: "What was Your Highness trying to say? Did you also attend the male guest seats at previous banquets?"

The low stools used at today's palace banquet were not very long, so Si Ning made way for Jiang Jinshuang, and the two sat quite close together so that it would be easier for them to sit down.

Si Ning placed one hand behind the girl, supporting her waist as if afraid she would fall.

Jiang Jinshuang was unaware of any of this. Upon hearing Si Ning's question, she glanced at Pei Du, who was standing to the side, without making a sound.

The man sat upright in his seat, took a sip of tea, his posture was ramrod straight, and he looked straight ahead, without the slightest flaw.

—She couldn't very well tell Si Ning in front of Pei Du that she used to sneak into the men's section where Pei Du was just to be with him, could she?

So embarrassing.

Jiang Jinshuang cleared her throat and changed the subject: "You are not allowed to drink anymore. I've had Qianyao keep an eye on you. If you drink even one more drop, you won't be allowed to return home tonight."

(End of this chapter)