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

"That's strange, why haven't we heard a single word?"

For the past three days, Shen Jingque felt like her heart was being scratched by a cat.

Logically speaking, since Xiao Jingchen had asked Shen Tingyun to keep an eye on Rong Jing, he must have had some ulterior motive. Knowing that she had revealed such a big "scandal," he shouldn't have remained indifferent.

The more Shen Jingque thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong.

That day, she simply took advantage of the midday to sneak into the Hundred Herbs Garden again.

The garden is still filled with the bitter fragrance of herbs, quiet and serene, reminiscent of the charm of returning to rural life.

As soon as Shen Jingque entered, she saw a person squatting by the herb garden.

Today, Rong Jing was dressed in a plain Hangzhou silk robe of pine green color, with the sleeves tied up with a ribbon. He was watering the herbs with a bamboo tube with a thin spout.

He didn't turn around when he heard footsteps.

"Little girl, trying to steal my master's medicinal herbs again?"

Shen Jingque walked over quickly, plopped down on the stone bench next to him, and swung her legs back and forth, pretending to be strolling around.

"What do you mean by 'plucking'? I just came to check how the herbs are growing. Grandpa Feng said I can come and go in this yard whenever I want."

Rong Jing finally turned to look at her, his eyebrows slightly raised, a smile in his eyes that she couldn't decipher.

"Oh? You're just here to look at medicinal herbs?"

"Otherwise what?"

"I thought you came to see me."

Shen Jingque almost choked on her own saliva, but rolled her eyes without changing her expression.

"Rong Jing, you're really shameless. What am I supposed to watch you do? Watch you water the flowers? Watch you play in the mud?"

Rong Jing stood up, patted the mud off his hands, and slowly walked to the other side of the stone bench to sit down, less than an arm's length away from her.

"Why didn't you bring your deskmate with you today?"

"He Lanqing is having lunch," Shen Jingque replied casually, then changed the subject, trying to steer the conversation back to the main point.

"By the way, I've been passing by the back mountain these past few days, and your yard seems a bit strange. Hope nothing's happened?"

Rong Jing turned his head to look at her expression, his dark eyes gleaming with mischievousness.

"What do you think will happen?"

"I was just asking." Shen Jingque tried to remain calm. "After all, there are so many traps in this place. What if a wild rabbit runs in one day and triggers something? You'll have to fix it."

"A wild rabbit?" Rong Jing laughed. "Shen Jingque, are you hoping something bad will happen to me here?"

Shen Jingque's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained unchanged: "Why would I want something to happen to you? I have no grudge against you."

"That's true."

Rong Jing stopped laughing and looked down at the mud stains remaining on his fingertips.

"Don't worry, everything is fine. The herbs are perfectly healthy, not a single leaf is missing."

Shen Jingque stared at his profile for several seconds.

This person is cunning and speaks with utmost tact; asking him like this won't yield any useful information.

Just as she was wondering whether to try from a different angle, the door of the bamboo house behind her creaked open.

Mr. Fengming emerged with a head of white hair that looked like a bird's nest.

The old man yawned widely, squinted and scanned the courtyard, his gaze settling on the two younger men sitting side by side on the stone bench.

"Oh, the little girl is here."

"Hello, Grandpa Feng!" Shen Jingque immediately stood up, smiling sweetly and obediently.

Mr. Fengming stroked his messy beard, dragged his wooden clogs over, and casually tapped Rong Jing on the back of the head as he passed by.

Rong Jing was slapped so hard he stumbled forward. A hint of embarrassment appeared on his usually carefree and languid face as he said helplessly, "Master, please be gentle."

"Little girl, you rarely come all this way, why are you giving me that sour look?"

Mr. Fengming casually sat down on the rattan chair on the other side and waved to Shen Jingque.

"Come here, come here, ignore him, chat with Grandpa."

Shen Jingque's eyes lit up, and she immediately seized the opportunity to climb up the pole, jogging over to Mr. Fengming and squatting down, looking up at him to complain.

"Grandpa Feng, you don't know, I just asked him some questions, but he wouldn't tell me a single truth. He just kept trying to shut me up."

Mr. Fengming glared at Rong Jing: "You brat, are you bullying that young lady?"

Rong Jing said helplessly, "Master, how could I dare to bully her? I'm already grateful she doesn't scheme against me."

"That young lady is only asking because she cares about you, and you don't appreciate it?" Mr. Fengming said, then turned to look at Shen Jingque.

"Girl, if you want to ask something, just ask me. If he won't tell you, I will."

Shen Jingque opened her mouth, but swallowed the words that were about to come out.

She couldn't very well just ask, "Has anyone come to raid your house these past few days?"

It looks like they're trying to hide something.

Rong Jing watched her conflicted expression from the side, and the corners of his mouth curved into a wider and wider smile.

"Can't bring yourself to ask?" he asked with a laugh.

"Shen Jingque, if you really want to know something, come with me for a boat trip on the lake another day. Maybe I'll tell you if I'm in a better mood."

"You're dreaming!"

Shen Jingque stood up, patted her skirt, and decided to make a strategic retreat.

"Never mind, it's alright now. I'll go back to class."

Shen Jingque waved her hand without turning her head and walked briskly toward the courtyard gate, with Tian Jiu following silently.

She had walked more than ten steps from the courtyard gate when she heard Mr. Fengming's strong voice behind her.

"If you like her, just say so. What kind of nonsense is this, beating around the bush?"

Then Rong Jing mumbled, "Master, you've had too much to drink."

"I haven't even started drinking it today!"

Shen Jingque quickened her pace by three steps, her ears burning slightly.

What nonsense! She's only twelve years old.

Where is conscience? Where is the bottom line? Where is morality?!

She shook her head, banishing the thought from her mind, and hurried back to the school.

During the afternoon's scripture class, Shen Jingque lay on the table in a daze, her mind filled with reviewing the events.

Counting the time, it has been a full three days since she told Shen Tingyun the false information.

Did nothing really happen at the Hundred Herbs Garden?

If something is wrong, why would Rong Jing hide it?

But if nothing happens...

That means Shen Tingyun didn't tell Xiao Jingchen the news she mentioned.

If Shen Tingyun really concealed this information, does that mean that she still retains a sliver of conscience that refuses to compromise her principles?

Although Shen Jingque was just a transmigrator, she had no feelings for the original owner's older sister.

But if Shen Tingyun can really pull back from the brink, she wouldn't mind helping her older sister out of trouble in the future.

After all, we are all victims of this cannibalistic nature of fate.

Shen Jingque tapped the table with her fingertip, deciding to find an opportunity to probe Shen Tingyun's intentions.

She looked up and gazed at the corner on the other side of the classroom, then paused, startled.

Today, however, the desk is completely empty.

"Qingqing, didn't my sister come to roll call this morning?"

She turned to ask He Lanqing.

He Lanqing put down her pen and carefully recalled the scene from that morning.

"No, I heard that someone from the Yong'an Marquis's residence came to ask for leave, saying that he was unwell and would not be coming to the academy for the next few days."

Shen Jingque hesitated.

Since the start of the semester, Shen Tingyun has not been particularly noticeable, but she has never been absent.

Is it a coincidence that I took leave during these few days?

Or... something else happened.