102: Chapter 102 Living Better Than You: The General Male Supporting Character 20

Inside the banquet hall, the music was pleasant, and the wine had been served three times over.

The noblewomen and ladies were chatting and laughing, appearing to be in perfect harmony.

However, halfway through the banquet, someone broke this harmony and tranquility.

First came a sudden sound of footsteps, steady and powerful; it was clearly a man, not a woman.

The people present quickly withdrew their smiles and looked toward the sound, only to see Prince Jing, Xuan Yuan Jing, in an ink-colored python robe, striding in.

The reason for using the word "striding in" was that this kind of banquet hosted by Princess Jing was like a medieval noblewomen's salon; even the male host of the house would generally not interfere.

To barge in halfway like this was extremely rude.

But he was Prince Jing, and there were no distinguished guests like princesses invited to the banquet.

Everyone had no choice but to restrain their smiles and bow, becoming reserved, yet no one dared to voice any accusations.

They only inwardly criticized Prince Jing for lacking manners.

Little did they know, Prince Jing did not care at all.

He wore a strange smile on his face, scanned the entire room, and surprisingly spoke loudly to the group of women.

"Princess Jing is hosting a banquet today, and I have been busy with official business. I have arrived a step late, and I hope all the ladies will forgive me."

This was simply shameless; he shouldn't have come at all.

The lively hall became somewhat quiet, and everyone was trying to figure out what exactly Prince Jing wanted to do.

There were quite a few shrewd and intelligent people present who immediately sensed something unusual.

They couldn't help but become nervous.

Nan Jin and Nan Li were even more so; they exchanged a glance, both wondering if he was targeting them or the other person.

Both saw vigilance and gravity in the other's eyes.

Prince Yu was at least still in the capital at Prince Yus Mansion, whereas Meng Zhu was far away in the Southern Border.

Nan Jin's hand holding the wine cup couldn't help but tighten slightly, and alarm bells rang in her heart.

She had underestimated the enemy's shamelessness and was already feeling a slight regret.

[I originally thought Prince Jing had a bit of a kingly aura and was more pleasing to the eye than Prince Liang, but it turns out he is such a petty person.]

[To put it nicely, he is someone who accomplishes great things without being bound by trifles; to put it bluntly, he is someone who stops at nothing.]

[He has no rules in his eyes anymore; he is probably desperate and broken.]

[It's normal to think about it; too many plot points have been changed by Meng Zhu recently, and Prince Jing is panicking.]

How could he not panic?

Think about the original story; not to mention how much military power Prince Yu had by the end, the Prince of Zhenbei was wholeheartedly supporting Prince Jing.

The reason Prince Yu was able to ascend the throne was, on one hand, that Prince Jing and Prince Liang were both severely injured by Meng Zhu's schemes.

Secondly, it relied on Meng Zhu's connections and influence in the military, as well as his desperate martial arts prowess, which was how he sent Prince Yu to the dragon throne.

But what about now? Just because the granddaughter of the Prince of Zhenbei married Prince Yu, it touched Prince Jing's sore spot.

Furthermore, during the flower viewing banquet, Meng Zhu even "helped" Prince Yu and single-handedly facilitated this matter.

This made Prince Jing's sense of crisis much stronger than that of Prince Liang.

It even reached the point where he was anxious and unable to sleep at night.

[But using women to deal with men, to be honest, is too despicable.]

The barrage was full of condemnation, but Meng Zhu, far away, looked at the comments with a calm expression.

Since Prince Jing arrived at the banquet, Princess Jing had been "playing dead," sitting in the main seat without saying a word; she was clearly also in on it.

After Prince Jing sat in the main seat, she didn't say a word, as if she didn't exist.

In this state, even if everyone were foolish, they would have noticed something.

Prince Jing's eerie, fake smile also made everyone present feel a sense of discomfort.

Yet, he nonchalantly picked up his wine cup, his gaze sweeping across the room, and toasted everyone.

But the more he did this, the more everyone felt like they were sitting on pins and needles.

After drinking two cups of wine, Prince Jing's gaze inadvertently fell on Nan Li.

"Princess Consort Yu."

He spoke, his smiling eyes hiding a coldness beneath them.

"Li Ruolan is my own cousin. She has been spoiled by the Prince of Zhenbei's estate since she was young, so her temper is inevitably a bit arrogant. I am asking on behalf of my grandfather: has she ever offended you in any way while at Prince Yus Mansion? If so, Princess Consort Yu, just speak up, and I will naturally make the decision for you."

What kind of nonsense is this? If anyone should make a decision, it should be Prince Yu as the head of the household disciplining his inner court; what does Prince Jing think he is?

Nan Li felt cold in her heart.

This was no longer just probing; it was almost like whispering in her ear, asking how her relationship with Li Ruolan was and if she wanted to cooperate with him.

Nan Li figured out the connections, slowly stood up, curtsied, and wore an impeccable, dignified smile on her face.

"Prince Jing, you are overthinking. Concubine Lan comes from a military family, but she is a lady of noble upbringing. She acts with propriety, understands etiquette, and knows when to advance or retreat; there is nothing inappropriate about her."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Prince Jing chuckled, noncommittal, and actually turned his gaze directly to Nan Jin on the side.

"Then what about the General's wife?"

Prince Jing's tone still carried warmth.

"I met Meng Zhu in the army, and I admire his strength and ability to lead troops. Meng Zhu is now away fighting for the country. If you have any difficulties in the capital, you can feel free to come to Prince Jings Mansion and speak up. Even if there is nothing, we should visit each other more often so we don't become estranged."

This sounded as if he and Meng Zhu were on very close terms.

But in reality, this was no different from a naked threat.

Your man is not at home, so if you have something, come to me, and if you don't, we can visit each other.

Isn't this saying I can bully you anytime? Even if you are hiding in the Generals Mansion.

Behind Nan Jin, Bai Ni, who had been silent, narrowed her eyes.

Her thumb gently rubbed the hilt of her sword, pushing it open just a crack.

Nan Jin didn't notice Bai Ni's small movement; instead, she met Prince Jing's gaze with a calm expression, the corners of her lips curling into an arc.

"Thank you for your kindness, Prince Jing, but my husband often says that having those few friends in the capital is enough; there is no need to socialize. Those nodding acquaintances look lively, but when it really comes to a critical moment, you can't even entrust your back to them. What is the use of having them?"

Prince Jing turned the wine cup in his hand upon hearing this.

Many people present understood.

The General's wife meant that there were arrangements made by the General in the capital, enough to entrust her family to. If this could withstand Prince Jing's arrangements, that would be truly impressive.

But let's not think about these twists and turns.

People in the hall also noticed that whether it was Prince Jing, Nan Jin, or Nan Li, everyone was speaking with hidden meanings, their words like needles wrapped in cotton.

Could today really end peacefully?

[Holy crap! Both are tough; this rebuttal is so satisfying!]

[Nan Jin and Nan Li are quite interesting; it would be even better if they joined forces.]

[Are you implicitly supporting a harem?]

[Harem your sister! You guys, would you die if you didn't ship these people?]

The barrage light points jumped around the hall, and most of them were quite happy.

However, contrary to everyone's expectations, faced with their blunt words, there was not a trace of anger on Prince Jing's face; he was still smiling.

"Good! Well said! As expected of a Princess Consort Yu and a daughter of the Prime Ministers Manor, the General's wife; you both truly have backbone!"

The more he was like this, the deeper Nan Jin and Nan Li's hearts sank.

Usually, we are only particularly generous when dealing with the dead.

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon.

It is hard to imagine what kind of crazy things Prince Jing intends to do tonight.

Without waiting for everyone to think further.

Prince Jing's eyes narrowed abruptly, his lips curling slightly.

"Someone, pour wine for Princess Consort Yu and the General's wife. The two of you are heroines who do not yield to men; it is worth drinking another cup!"

[It's coming, it's coming! Don't drink it!! There is medicine in the wine!!]

[What?! Drugged? Holy crap, using such an old-fashioned trick?]

[Yes, before Prince Jing entered, I switched perspectives to watch him. I knew he was going to cause trouble; I saw him order the maid to drug it!]

[Is it the kind I'm thinking of? Aphrodisiac?]

[Yes, but it's not a strong one! It won't make people lose control and take off their clothes on the spot, but it will make them weak, flushed, with blurred eyes, and confused, very likely to say all kinds of wild and lewd things, making a fool of themselves!]

[This is to make them lose face in front of all the noblewomen and become a joke in the capital?]

[No way, this should be Prince Jing probing, probing Prince Yu and Meng Zhu. People like Prince Jing who stop at nothing are also most wary of whether what they are holding is actually the enemy's weakness.]

[Let's wait and see, Bai Ni is still present. It's hard to say about Prince Yu, but Meng Zhu definitely anticipated this.]