"Rise!" Xue Xingyue said, not even glancing at Princess Jing An.
Princess Jing An felt a flush on her face. She stood there, unsure whether to leave or where to sit.
"Princess, His Highness the Second Prince of Qi," Ji Wuran reminded her in a low voice.
Princess Jing An finally remembered that she had not yet paid her respects to the Second Prince of Qi.
Her face was flushed. This should not have been a mistake, but facing Princess Xingyue, who was superior to her in every way, she felt that everything she did was wrong.
This was why she always avoided places where Princess Xingyue appeared. She did not want to make a fool of herself in front of someone whose status was much higher than hers.
Yet, she had still made a fool of herself.
She tightened her grip on her handkerchief, so much so that her fingernails dug into her flesh, but she felt no pain. She hated that she was not born into the same status as Princess Xingyue. A mere princess was so much nobler than her, an Ongzhu.
Therefore, no matter how talented she was, no matter how outstanding her beauty, no one saw it because she was not a princess, just an Ongzhu.
"Princess," Ji Wuran reminded her again, seeing Princess Jing An lost in thought.
Princess Jing An snapped back to attention and glanced at Ji Wuran. Fortunately, she did not have to marry a profligate like Meng Jiangming, who had the title of heir but managed to lose it.
Her father was right; Ji Wuran was no ordinary person. He would undoubtedly shine brightly one day. Therefore, all she had to do was hold onto this excellent pawn, Ji Wuran.
One day, she would trample Princess Xingyue, that self-proclaimed daughter of heaven, under her feet.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Second Prince," Princess Jing An curtsied to the Second Prince.
The Second Prince smiled and said, "Princess Jing An, you are too kind. Your presence here is enough to give me face. Please be seated!"
"Thank you, Your Highness the Second Prince." After paying her respects, Princess Jing An stepped forward and stood beside Ji Wuran. "Wuran, where shall we sit?"
The Second Prince had not invited many people. As Princess Jing An rarely made an appearance, she did not recognize anyone at the event except Princess Xingyue and Meng Jiangming.
Her status was also a bit awkward; lower than a princess, yet much nobler than the daughters of ordinary noble families or high-ranking officials.
Therefore, her seat was ultimately arranged to the right of Princess Xingyue.
Princess Jing An knew that what was coming could not be avoided, so she decided to face it boldly.
Meng Jiangming was already quite reserved. Upon seeing Ji Wuran, he naturally hoped Ji Wuran would sit beside him. As for Princess Jing An, although he was not very familiar with her, she was a woman who could converse with Princess Xingyue. Thus, he beckoned Ji Wuran and Princess Jing An to sit beside him.
Ji Wuran looked at Princess Jing An and said lightly, "Princess Jing An, what do you think?"
Princess Jing An smiled gently. "Young Marquis, as long as you think it's good, it's good."
"Young Marquis Ji, you have quite a bit of good fortune with women. Princess Jing An even..." Unfortunately, before the Second Prince could finish speaking, he was met with a cold glare from Ji Wuran.
Seeing this, the Second Prince twitched his lips. Recalling that he had been threatened by Ji Wuran not long ago, he wisely shut his mouth.
After sitting down, Meng Jiangming whispered, "Wuran, you have good fortune with women? What's going on? Are you going to have some fun with Princess Jing An?"
Ji Wuran glanced at Meng Jiangming and said lightly, "It seems the caning you received yesterday wasn't severe enough."
Meng Jiangming quickly said, "Ji Wuran, are you digging up my past?"
Ji Wuran said lightly, "I'm just stating the facts."
Meng Jiangming dared not say anything more, fearing that Ji Wuran might accidentally reveal it, which would be truly embarrassing for him.
The Second Prince, holding his wine cup, approached Xue Xingyue and Meng Jiangming and said, "Your Highness, I wish Princess and Young Master Meng a smooth completion of your wedding."
Meng Jiangming quickly raised his wine cup and said, "Thank you, Your Highness the Second Prince."
The Second Prince heard this and said, "Young Master Meng, aren't you going to drink this cup for me?" Da Feng Novel Network
Meng Jiangming was slightly taken aback. Normally, he would have drunk it. However, having just been caned yesterday, drinking again today might not be conducive to his recovery. It was a pity, though, as his wedding was tomorrow, and he didn't want to embarrass himself.
He hesitated about this drink.
"What? Your Highness the Second Prince, are you not giving me face?" The Second Prince's gaze turned cold. While he couldn't do much to Princess Xingyue, he dared to do something to someone from the Ningguo Duke's mansion.
"I appreciate Your Highness the Second Prince's kind intentions, but tomorrow is my wedding with Princess Xingyue. I..."
"It will not affect your wedding with Princess Xingyue tomorrow," the Second Prince said.
Meng Jiangming's hand, holding the wine cup, tightened slightly. He bowed and said, "In that case, thank you, Your Highness the Second Prince."
After speaking, Meng Jiangming raised the cup to his lips.
Suddenly, a hand rested on his hand holding the wine cup. The fingers were slender and fair, like fine jade.
"I will drink this cup for him," Xue Xingyue said. She then took the cup and drank it down.
Meng Jiangming stood frozen. Not only him, but everyone present was stunned.
The Second Prince heard this and said with a half-smile, "Princess Xingyue, you drank Young Master Meng's wine. I haven't even toasted you yet."
Xue Xingyue heard this, picked up the wine pot from the table with one hand and a cup with the other, and looked at the Second Prince with cold eyes, asking, "How many cups does Your Highness the Second Prince wish to toast me with? I will accompany you."
The Second Prince was slightly taken aback, then he smiled and said, "Since Princess Xingyue is so bold, why not drink three cups with me?"
Xue Xingyue heard this and said coldly, "No need to drink together. I will drink three cups myself." With that, she poured three cups of wine for herself and drank them down one after another without any hesitation.
Meng Jiangming watched with bated breath. He rarely saw Princess Xingyue drink so heartily, but he knew that this Princess Xingyue was the female general who commanded a hundred thousand troops at the border.
After drinking three cups in a row, Xue Xingyue looked at the Second Prince and said, "Your Highness the Second Prince, I have finished drinking. What about you?"
The Second Prince twitched his lips and said, "Naturally, I will accompany Princess Xingyue to the end."
The Second Prince also drank three cups in a row. After finishing, he said, "I see Princess Xingyue has a great capacity for wine. These cups are too small. Why not switch to bowls? I've heard that when Princess Xingyue was at the border, she drank from bowls with the soldiers."
Xue Xingyue raised her eyes, her gaze clear and cold as she looked at the Second Prince. "Your Highness the Second Prince, are you sure you want to drink with me?"
"Yes," the Second Prince said, looking at her word by word.
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "Alright, but how can drinking be complete without some entertainment, Your Highness the Second Prince?"