After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

As soon as Xiao Changgeng finished speaking, the air in the courtyard became much quieter.

Shen Yan's already pale face was now covered in cold sweat.

He quickly stepped forward, his blue robe billowing in the wind, making him look even more like a bamboo shoot that had just been battered by rain.

"Your Highness, the eldest son has misunderstood."

Shen Yan cupped his hands, his voice a little tight, "I had absolutely no intention of instigating my daughter to curry favor with Your Highness. My daughter is young and only spoke without thinking because she felt sorry for her useless father."

Shen Jingque stood to the side, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Why is she belittling herself again? She feels so unworthy. It seems she needs to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Shen Yan.

She was about to speak up to make amends when Xiao Mingyue raised her hand.

"I know."

As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Changgeng and said, "Changgeng, Shen Yan will temporarily go to the study to listen to my instructions. I will handle this matter properly."

Xiao Changgeng raised his eyes and exchanged a tacit glance with Xiao Mingyue, without saying anything more.

His adoptive mother was extremely stubborn; once she made a decision, very few people could influence it.

Fortunately, Shen Yan was just a weak scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken, so he didn't pose much of a threat.

but……

His gaze swept over Shen Jingque, who was standing to the side pretending to be a quail, and he suddenly said, "Miss Shen."

Shen Jingque's small face turned serious. "Yes."

"The Princess's residence does not support idlers. Since you understand medicine and have made a contribution today, I will reward you with a job."

Shen Jingque: "?"

and many more.

The words "reward" and "job" don't sound quite right when put together.

The next moment, Xiao Changgeng's words made her vision go black.

Xiao Changgeng pointed at Ji Qianshang and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will come to Yingzhu Garden and assist him."

Shen Jingque: "..."

This left her speechless. Her father was treated like a beast of burden, so why should she, a twelve-year-old girl, also be treated like a beast of burden?

But then I thought about it again...

Although Xiao Changgeng's face was even more sinister than the eight million he owed him, he was the adopted son of the princess's mansion, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the number one fighting force of the future villain camp.

Being able to become a familiar face under his nose is better than being invisible at Xiling Residence.

Furthermore, Ji Qianshang is the son of a divine physician, and the Shadow Bamboo Garden is rich in medicinal herbs, which allows her to quickly improve her Shennong Illustrated Compendium.

Shen Jingque immediately looked up and smiled sweetly, "Thank you for your appreciation, Young Master."

Ji Qianshang, still holding the dregs of the medicine, turned green with rage upon hearing this.

"Wait, who said I was going to bring her?"

Shen Jingque turned to look at him, her face full of sincerity: "Master Boiled Chicken, don't worry, I'm easy to manage."

Ji Qianshang nearly choked: "Who's your master? And don't call me 'white-skinned chicken'!"

Shen Jingque blinked. "But I don't know your name. Is it 'Doctor with Purple Braids'?"

Ji Qianshang: "My name is Ji Qianshang! Call me Ji Qianshang!"

Xuan Qi turned his head to the side, his shoulders twitching slightly.

Xiao Changgeng glanced at him, and he immediately stood up straight, holding his sword and looking up at the sky, making it clear that he hadn't heard anything at all.

Looking at the chaos in the yard, Xiao Mingyue's chill dissipated somewhat.

She turned around and said, "Shen Yan, come with me."

Shen Yan quickly agreed, but before leaving, he glanced at Shen Jingque with concern.

Shen Jingque waved her little hand at him, "Dad, you can go to work without worry!"

Shen Yan slipped and almost tripped over the threshold.

work?

What new word is it this time?

Xiao Mingyue walked ahead, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

This little girl never utters a single ordinary word.

After leaving Yingzhu Garden, the bamboo shadows on both sides of the corridor gradually receded into the distance. Shen Yan followed three steps behind Xiao Mingyue, feeling somewhat uneasy.

When he left home this morning, he only thought about going to Uncle Xu's place to ask what kind of work he could do.

Unexpectedly, she was first taken to Yingzhu Garden by Xuanqi, and then learned that her daughter had trespassed into the forbidden area, which also involved the internal traitor incident in the Princess's mansion.

Then, for no apparent reason, he was to follow the princess to her study.

Life is full of ups and downs.

Shen Yan felt like a small fish that had been washed ashore by the waves, splashing and unable to find the water.

Xiao Mingyue turned her head to look at him, "Worried about Little Sparrow?"

Shen Yan quickly lowered his head, "Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness."

He hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Que'er is young and has a lively personality. I'm afraid she might offend the young master in Yingzhu Garden."

What I fear even more is that her identity is unclear.

If she were a maid, she wouldn't be a slave, and Shen Yan would never let his daughter fall into such a situation.

But if he's an apprentice without a proper master and spends his days hanging out with several men, that's probably not a good thing.

A woman's reputation is like thin paper in this world; it can be torn apart by a strong wind.

Having experienced the bitterness of gossip himself, Shen Yan was even more unwilling to let his daughter be talked about behind her back in the future.

Xiao Mingyue slowed her pace and glanced at Shen Yan.

Born into royalty, she was not only father and daughter with the emperor, but also his subject, and never experienced ordinary family affection.

Shen Yan's deep love for his daughter made her feel a little bittersweet.

Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them.

She probably didn't even realize at that moment that she was somewhat envious of Shen Jingque.

Xiao Mingyue smiled and said gently, "Chang Geng looks fierce, but he is an upright and honest person. He won't bully Xiao Que'er."

Shen Yan looked up, his eyes still filled with worry.

Xiao Mingyue added, "Ji Qianshang is the son of the divine physician Ji Wuyai. Although he has a sharp tongue and a strange temper, his medical skills are indeed commendable."

Ji Qianshang, far away in Yingzhu Garden, sneezed.

Xiao Mingyue continued, "Since Xiao Que'er is blessed with natural talent and has an understanding of pharmacology, it would be better for him to learn some skills from her than to run around aimlessly all day."

Shen Yan's ears turned slightly red.

Even as her father, he couldn't refute the phrase "running around aimlessly"—Shen Jingque was indeed a bit too lively.

Seeing the shadow still between his brows, Xiao Mingyue said, "As for her status, don't worry. You are now a guest of the manor, no one will treat her like a servant, and no one will dare to talk about her."

Shen Yan looked up, startled, "Your Highness..."

He didn't expect that Xiao Mingyue would see through his thoughts in just this moment of hesitation.

Xiao Mingyue stopped and turned to look at him. "If... you are still in the Princess's residence next year, I will send her to study at Qishan Academy when it opens for girls."

Shen Yan stood still, his heart surging with gratitude, making his breathing somewhat unsteady.

What merit or ability did he and his daughter possess to have such good fortune?

The wind blew up his sleeves, and it took him a while to come to his senses. He then bent down to perform a deep bow.

"Your Highness's kindness is beyond my ability to repay."

Xiao Mingyue reached out and helped him.

When her fingertips touched his wrist, Shen Yan swayed slightly.

Xiao Mingyue lowered her eyes and saw that his ears had turned red again.

She's so easily amused.

She withdrew her hand, her tone becoming more serious, "I haven't finished speaking yet."

Shen Yan quickly stood up straight.

Xiao Mingyue led him into the side hall of the front yard.

Not far from the main study, there are several pine trees outside the window, and several blank books are pressed on the desk.

Xiao Mingyue sat down behind the desk and gestured for him to sit down.

Shen Yan dared not sit down and stood respectfully below.

Xiao Mingyue didn't press the matter, and asked, "How is your education?"

Shen Yan replied, "I studied with my grandfather for a few years when I was young. I am fairly familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, historical essays, and policy proposals."

He spoke very modestly.

Shen Yan was quite famous in the capital for his writing when he was young, but he was later burdened by his family background and married Du Yuerong, which gradually buried him in obscurity.

Dust can cover a person, but it can't cover talent.

Xiao Mingyue casually pulled out a border grain register and placed it on the table.

"Can you read the ledgers?"

Shen Yan stepped forward and flipped through a few pages. At first, he was a little reserved, but as he looked at them, his brows furrowed.

"The amount of grain and fodder lost here does not match the amount put into storage on the previous page."

A hint of interest surfaced in Xiao Mingyue's eyes.

Shen Yan turned two more pages.

"And here, the Northwest Army shouldn't have used so much more charcoal in March than in February. If it wasn't due to a snow disaster, then someone in the accounts must have falsely reported it."

He only realized after he finished speaking that he had been discussing military matters in front of the princess.

Shen Yan slammed the booklet shut in his hand. "I misspoke."

Xiao Mingyue looked at him with a satisfied expression in her eyes, "You are very perceptive."

She pushed another booklet towards her, "My study is short of a clerk to copy documents, organize books, and check old accounts. Would you be willing to do this?"

Shen Yan stood there, stunned. "Me?"

Xiao Mingyue nodded, "Twenty taels of silver per month, plus clothing for all four seasons, and room and board provided in the mansion."

Twenty taels.

Shen Yan's mind was buzzing. In the past, he copied books for others, and it was considered good if he could earn two taels of silver a month. If he encountered a mean employer, he would find fault and deduct money.

Twenty taels is enough for Que'er to eat and wear, enough to buy writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, and enough to save up some dowry for her.

During the reign of Emperor Da Yong, literature was valued over commerce. After the Shen family was convicted, those clansmen who owned land could still make a living by relying on the land, but Shen Yan's branch turned to commerce.

When he was a child, his father often held him on his lap to look at the account books, and he would obediently read them, thus learning some things from what he saw and heard.

The Du family was a scholarly family, and Du Yuerong's marriage to him was already a way of repaying the family's kindness. She despised the money-grubbing of businessmen and after marrying Shen Yan, she forbade him to touch such things again, considering them to be low-class.

Shen Yan never imagined that what he had learned in his childhood would become the foundation of his life.

He gripped his sleeve with his fingers, his eyes were a little red, and he bowed deeply in a solemn gesture.

"I am willing, Your Highness. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Xiao Mingyue said, "Come to the front courtyard at dawn tomorrow. Qingyuan will make arrangements for you."

Shen Yan quickly agreed.

When he left the side hall, his steps were a little unsteady.

He has work to do now, proper work.

He can support his daughter on his own now.

The scholar in the green robe walked to the corridor and looked up at the high eaves of the princess's mansion. Suddenly, he felt as if he had been transported to another world.

At this time yesterday, he was still thinking about writing letters on the street, but today he has entered the study of the Princess's mansion as a clerk.

It's like a dream.