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

Chapter 92 Protection
All sounds are silent.

When the incredibly wealthy Si family of Jiangnan spoke, everyone present changed their expressions.

If there is anyone in this world who dares to criticize a prince or emperor to his face, Si Beihuan is definitely one of them.

Now, he spoke in a cold, loud voice, making undisguised accusations, and the smile on the Prince of Changping's lips froze upon hearing it.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up at Si Beihuan, who was sitting directly opposite him.

Si Beihuan scoffed coldly, his face displeased: "No matter what, Princess Zhaoming was also frightened when she welcomed Prince Changping this time. Not only did Prince Changping not know how to be grateful, but he also made unwarranted accusations. It's really outrageous."

In fact, these words not only criticized Jiang Zeyi, but also subtly criticized the emperor.

Princess Zhaoming went out of the capital to welcome Prince Changping, but was assassinated. She had worked hard, even if she hadn't done anything meritorious. Instead of rewarding her, these two sent her to the ancestral temple outside the city to copy scriptures!
Si Beihuan gets angry just thinking about it!
"boom--"

Si Beihuan slammed the wine cup down on the octagonal table and coldly looked at Jiang Zeyi, the Prince of Changping, opposite him: "Moreover, I have heard that when you were assassinated, His Highness the Prince of Changping transferred all his guards to your side, which is why you were short-handed, which led to Lord Pei risking his life to save you."

"If we really want to hold someone accountable, then His Highness Prince Changping... should be punished more severely."

The smile on the Prince of Changping's lips had completely vanished, replaced by an undeniable coldness and killing intent in his eyes. Yet, he still managed a forced smile as he apologized, "What Patriarch Si says is absolutely right. I was being presumptuous. I was just joking around with Zhaoming, whom I hadn't seen in a long time."

"Hmph, a joke? This old man doesn't find it funny at all," Si Beihuan had no intention of letting the matter rest just because the Prince of Changping admitted his mistake. "Princess Zhaoming is, after all, a woman who values ​​her reputation and honor. Yet His Highness the Prince of Changping says that she has feelings for Lord Pei. Could it be that he wants to ruin Princess Zhaoming's reputation?"

Si Beihuan lowered his eyes and remained silent, his expression unpleasant.

After a pause, Si Beihuan raised his chin, a hint of arrogance in his eyes: "Moreover, Princess Zhaoming and my son Si Ning have already expressed their feelings for each other. Prince Changping's joke is really inappropriate."

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at each other in astonishment!
Upon hearing this, Si Ning was taken aback at first, then shook her head with a helpless chuckle and smiled wryly.

His father... he really couldn't keep a secret.

Jiang Jinshuang was also taken aback.

She hurriedly looked at Si Ning's expression across the room.

Noticing the look Jiang Jinshuang gave him, Si Ning smiled reassuringly and said softly, "It's alright."

Jiang Jinshuang was finally relieved.

She wasn't worried about her reputation being damaged as a result.

—After all, Princess Zhaoming's reputation was already utterly ruined throughout the capital.

She was just a little worried that Si Ning would be targeted and treated coldly by some people because of this.

Now that she heard Si Ning say this, she was no longer nervous and tilted her head to watch Si Beihuan's verbal battle.

For some reason, Jiang Jinshuang felt a surge of warmth in her heart as she looked at Si Beihuan, who stood up for her.

It is extremely rare for an elder to protect her like this.

Her reputation was so bad that the old officials in the palace wished they could kill her, so naturally they wouldn't speak up for her.

After her uncle, Prince Ruiyang, died, no one protected her like that anymore.

The surrounding area was filled with the continuous discussions of civil and military officials.

"What's going on? Princess Zhaoming and the Si family of Jiangnan..."

"So that's why Mr. Si Ning from Jiangnan was willing to travel all the way to the capital to attend the banquet, it turns out there's this connection..."

"No wonder, no wonder Mr. Si Ning and Princess Zhaoming have such a good relationship!"

"Who can argue with that? Before the head of the Si family came to the capital, didn't Mr. Si Ning live at the princess's residence?"

"It seems... it really is true?"

"Now that the head of the Si family has personally spoken, how could it be false?"

"Heh, judging from this situation, the two of them might already be secretly exchanging gifts and having an affair..."

"..."

The way everyone looked at Jiang Jinshuang and Si Ning became ambiguous.

Si Ning calmly lowered her eyes and drank her tea, not caring about the comments of others.

He glanced at Pei Du's position without making a sound.

The man sat upright and elegantly, looking straight ahead, seemingly unconcerned about the conversation that had just taken place. Si Ning lowered her gaze slightly.

He saw the spilled tea on the man's desk.

—My hand wasn't steady.

Si Ning smiled slightly, lowered her eyes, and drank her tea.

Si Beihuan came here today to save face for Jiang Jinshuang.

Now that we've come this far, he rested his hands on his bent knees, sitting with a bold and unrestrained posture: "Your Majesty, I am a full twelve years older than you, so I should be considered your elder. There is something I must say."

Sitting in the main seat, Jiang Huayan maintained his smile: "Please speak freely, Patriarch Si."

Si Beihuan snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

“I know that everyone here has some kind of grudge against Princess Zhaoming.”

"But since Princess Zhaoming and my son are of one mind, I must say some unpleasant things upfront."

"What's past is past. If Princess Zhaoming did anything wrong, I, this old man, apologize to everyone on her behalf."

With that, Si Beihuan stood up, picked up his wine cup, toasted everyone present, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing this, the ministers exchanged glances, said a few polite words with forced smiles, and had no choice but to pick up their wine and drink a cup.

After downing a glass of wine, Si Beihuan poured himself another, then turned to face Jiang Jinshuang, who was not far away.

“Princess Zhaoming, I am but a rough man. I hereby make a promise to you: from now on, regarding your marriage to my son Si Ning, whether it comes to fruition or not, if anyone dares to disrespect you or gossip about you, I have a sword personally bestowed upon me by the late Emperor, and I can execute them first and report later, regardless of the reason!”

"If Your Highness encounters such a fool again in the future, just kill him, and I will take full responsibility!"

These words were spoken in front of all the civil and military officials, and even the emperor.

The meaning is already obvious.

Regardless of what Princess Zhaoming did in the past, the Si family of Jiangnan is determined to elevate her to a higher position.

After saying that, Si Beihuan drank another cup.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshuang did not get up. Instead, she poured herself a glass of wine, raised it to Si Beihuan, and drank it all in one gulp.

Si Ning did not stop him from drinking this glass of wine.

For a moment, the atmosphere at the banquet became somewhat oppressive and eerie.

Until the official in the main seat laughed loudly: "Alright, alright, today is a welcoming banquet for Changping, let's not talk about these things anymore."

"Someone, continue playing the music."

The music started again, and the tense atmosphere in the hall gradually became lively again with the music and the dancers' graceful movements.

Jiang Jinshuang toyed with her teacup, her ears twitching slightly as she looked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony once more.

Night fell, and the moonlight enveloped everything.

It wasn't her imagination.

Jiang Jinshuang heard footsteps.

However, the footsteps were slightly heavier than Yan Jue's, indicating that his martial arts skills were inferior to Yan Jue's.

—An assassin has entered the palace?
Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows slightly.

She stood up without making a sound and glanced at Si Ning across from her.

Si Ning noticed Jiang Jinshuang's movements and looked at her.

Jiang Jinshuang glanced outside the hall.

Si Ning understood and nodded slightly.

Taking advantage of the music and the dancers' performance, Jiang Jinshuang slipped away from the Taihe Hall.

(End of this chapter)