Chapter 131 What? Are you feeling guilty?

The Spring Festival banquet at Prince Chen's Mansion was obviously not as lively as previous banquets. Some senior officials either said they were busy with official business or were sick and did not come.

Everyone knows that Pei Chong is close to Prince Chen, and now that the Pei family is in ruins, no one wants to follow in his footsteps.

Therefore, they all wait and see the situation secretly.

Since last year until now, the disaster in Lucheng and the hidden private soldiers have revealed his ambitions. The emperor, considering the relationship between father and son, suppressed the matter.

But Prince Chen not only refuses to repent, now an underground secret passage connecting Pei's Mansion to Prince Chen's Mansion has been discovered. This is a big taboo.

Most of those who came to the banquet today were Prince Chen's confidants. Apart from them were some officials with low qualifications who dared not not come.

The atmosphere of the Spring Festival banquet was solemn and it was really hard to relax.

Just at this time, Jiang Jie, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, came with the eldest daughter of the Qi family. This move really surprised everyone, and made them more suspicious of the relationship between Vice Minister Jiang and Prince Chen.

Although the marriage between the two families was set in stone, they had not yet gotten married, and it was really inappropriate for a couple to appear together in such an occasion.

Prince Chen raised his eyebrows, with a hint of pride in his eyes. After all, Qi Siwei's father Qi Yuanchang was his man.

Jiang Jie stepped forward and said, "I am Jiang Jie, the Minister of Justice. I pay my respects to the prince and princess."

"Your servant Qi Siwei has met the prince and princess."

Prince Chen: "Master Jiang, there is no need to be polite. Please take a seat."

Jiang Jie brought Qi Siwei to the low table. The moment they sat down, Qi Siwei moved to the side, pretending not to see Jiang Jie's annoying look.

Prince Chen and Princess Chen had never expected that Jiang Jie would bring the daughter of the Qi family. Now that Lord Qi is guilty, any normal person would try to avoid suspicion.

But he brought Qi Siwei with him when he passed away, fearing that others would not know about the marriage between the two families.

This person is indeed just as the rumors say, he acts crazy and his mind is hard to guess.

Qi Siwei has been feeling anxious ever since she stepped out of the house and boarded Jiang Jie's carriage. Her marriage to the Jiang family was already a foregone conclusion, and now her father has confined her to the mansion pending investigation.

She had no way out, and she wasn't even qualified to die.

If she died, the Qi family would really have no bargaining chips.

Her father said that only if she married Jiang Jie could the Qi family have a chance of survival.

"Come sit here."

His voice was obviously not loud, but Qi Siwei still trembled a little, but she did not move: "Be polite in front of others so as not to affect the reputation of the adults."

Jiang Jie sneered, turned his head, and slowly approached Qi Siwei.

His approach frightened her. It was a familiar feeling of oppression that made her feel as if she was trapped in a cage and unable to escape.

This feeling is familiar.

There are so many people here, how dare he do that?

Seeing him getting closer and closer, Qi Siwei had no choice but to lower her head even lower and move slightly towards him: "Sir, please respect yourself."

Jiang Jie rolled his eyes: "Is it me who doesn't respect myself, or is it the girl who doesn't respect herself?"

Qi Siwei suddenly raised her head, the fear and panic in her eyes were clearly visible in his cold and dark eyes.

"Why, are you feeling guilty?" Jiang Jie licked his lips and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Miss Qi, could it be that she has really done something disrespectful?"

In shock, Qi Siwei knocked over the wine bottle on the table. After she hurriedly held it up, she subconsciously wanted to get up and run away, but Jiang Jie held her wrist tightly: "It seems that you are really guilty, but Miss Qi, don't forget your father's instructions before you go out."

Sure enough, she stopped struggling. Before leaving, her father told her not to cause trouble for Lord Jiang.

She knew the remark was a double entendre.

To put it bluntly, it was to let her please Jiang Jie so as to find a way out for the Qi family and her brother.

He An came with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Prince Chen and his wife stood up to greet him: "Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince is finally here. I wouldn't dare to start the feast if you weren't here."

"It is my fault that I am late. Please do not be offended, Prince Chen."

"How could that be? Although I am under house arrest, I have heard that a lot of things have happened in the capital recently. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister are very busy with official business, and I am the one who has been holding them back and cannot be of much help."

The Crown Prince: "Now that the Emperor has released you from your confinement, as a prince, it is your duty to share his worries."

"Of course. After this period of confinement, I have learned something. I should be diligent and self-disciplined in the future and put state affairs first."

The prince nodded.

After He An and Ruan Qinghuan paid their respects to King Chen and his wife, they sat down separately.

When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister arrived, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This way, there should be nothing for these little rascals to do.

Prince Chen: "Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived, how about His Royal Highness announcing the start of the feast?"

The prince raised his wine cup and said, "Today, the King of Chen is holding a banquet to welcome the spring, hoping that the weather in Dongzhao will be good and the country will prosper. This is a private banquet, so don't be too reserved. Just relax."

After that, everyone raised their glasses and said, "I wish our Dongzhao country peace and prosperity, and a long and prosperous national destiny."

Prince Chen put down his wine cup and winked at the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, have you heard that Minister Jiang and the legitimate daughter of the Qi family have known each other for a long time?"

The prince looked towards Lord Jiang's seat and then shook his head.

The Crown Princess also noticed that Qi Siwei had wanted to marry He An earlier, but now that the situation has changed, Jiang Jie actually asked the Emperor for permission to marry her.

Ruan Qinghuan followed the Crown Princess's gaze and saw Jiang Jie's eyes were cold. Due to the distance between them, she couldn't hear what they said. She only saw Qi Siwei's face was pale and she was obviously very nervous.

Now that Lord Qi is a criminal, how could Jiang Jie be so kind as to marry the daughter of a criminal?

There must be a conspiracy behind this, and Qi Siwei, trapped in it and shackled by it, can only maneuver around it.

It's no wonder she was so scared, staying with someone like Jiang Jie who was moody and cold-hearted all day.

After a while, Prince Chen, the Crown Prince and other officials went to the main hall to talk, leaving this place for the female members of the family.

As soon as Jiang Jie left, Qi Siwei seemed to have been drained of all her energy and spirit, and sat on the mattress limply.

Just when Jiang Jie asked her if she had ever done anything disrespectful, her heart seemed to jump out.

What should we do? Their wedding date is getting closer and closer, and this matter will be revealed sooner or later. On the wedding night, what if he finds out that I am not a virgin and becomes angry with the Qi family?

Thinking of this, Qi Siwei didn't dare to think further.

Now that the Qi family has fallen on hard times, Qi Siwei no longer enjoys the glory of being the center of attention. The noble ladies present seemed to have a tacit understanding and left her alone, gathering around the Crown Princess and the Prime Minister's wife.

This actually made Qi Siwei feel relieved.

Now she really doesn't have the energy to deal with these trivial matters.

She wanted to get up and go outside for some fresh air, but the maid came to her and said, "Miss Qi, Princess Chen heard about your engagement with Lord Jiang and has a gift for you. Please come into the room and talk."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qinghuan looked at the Crown Princess.

Princess Chen must have had a purpose for calling that person away alone. It seems that Prince Chen wants to start with Qi Siwei to win over Jiang Jie.