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

Before dawn, Shen Yan was already dressed and left the house.

Hearing the noise, Shen Jingque peeked out of the house with sleepy eyes and saw her father standing in the yard.

Today, Shen Yan changed into a new blue long gown sent by the princess's residence. The material wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was much more crisp than his old clothes.

It accentuated his long neck, his hair was tied up with a plain jade hairpin, and his eyebrows and eyes were gentle and clean.

Shen Jingque rubbed her eyes and muttered softly, "Dad, isn't this outfit a bit too much for you to wear to work today?"

Hearing the voice, Shen Yan immediately turned around and saw her standing by the door wearing only an outer robe. He quickly said, "Que'er, the morning breeze is chilly. Why don't you wear more clothes?"

Shen Jingque hugged the door frame, her head bobbing sleepily, and mumbled, "I wanted to sleep, but someone has been walking around the courtyard quietly since dawn. I thought a moving broom had entered the princess's residence."

A look of embarrassment crossed Shen Yan's face, and he shifted the grip on his book bag: "Did Dad disturb you?"

Shen Jingque yawned: "No, I should get up too. I'm going to work as a child laborer at Yingzhu Garden today."

As she spoke, she let out two fake sobs.

When no one responded, he squinted one eye to peek.

She then noticed that Shen Yan was looking at her with a doting yet helpless expression, and even reached out a finger to tap her forehead.

"You...didn't you agree so readily yesterday?"

Shen Jingque pursed her lips.

Okay, the pitiful act didn't work on my handsome dad.

She changed the subject: "Dad, are you nervous?"

Shen Yan's ears turned red. "Father, don't be nervous."

As soon as he finished speaking, the book bag in his hand fell to the ground with a thud.

Yeah, I'm not nervous, it's just that the bookworm wants to run away from home.

Shen Yan bent down to pick it up, but Shen Jingque had already run over, scooped up the book bag first, and patted off the dust.

"Dad, listen to me." She looked up at him with a serious expression. "You earn your living through your own abilities, don't act like you've gotten a huge advantage."

"The princess is willing to use you because she values ​​your abilities, so don't underestimate yourself."

"Father, please be more worthy of my attention."

Shen Yan rested his fingers on the book bag and looked down at his daughter.

The little girl barely reached his chest, her face still showing signs of sleepiness, but her words were like tiny pebbles, rumbling and clattering into his heart.

My daughter has grown up and knows how to care for her father, which makes my heart melt.

He patted Shen Jingque's head and whispered, "Father has remembered."

……

As dawn approached, Shen Yan arrived at the study door and met Qing Yuan.

"Mr. Shen, His Highness has instructed you to go to the library in the front courtyard starting today."

Shen Yan quickly cupped his hands in thanks, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Qingyuan."

Qingyuan handed him a copper key.

The edges of the key were worn shiny, indicating that it was frequently used.

"The main study is a highly sensitive area, containing all military reports and confidential documents. No one may enter without His Highness's summons."

"The library is located to the east of the main study. It contains mostly old books, as well as some account books from previous years. Uncle Xu has already had a table prepared, where Mr. Shen is temporarily copying and compiling the books."

Shen Yan accepted the key with both hands, his expression as solemn as if he were receiving an imperial edict.

"I understand."

Qingyuan glanced at him and added, "His Highness also said that if there is anything you don't understand, you can ask me or perhaps Bodu. If anyone makes things difficult for you, you can also report it."

Shen Yan was slightly taken aback.

Is Your Highness worried that he will be bullied?

He then shook his head self-deprecatingly, thinking, "Don't flatter yourself. I am of lowly status. Why would His Highness give me such special instructions? It must be because Miss Qingyuan is kind-hearted."

After Qingyuan finished speaking, she turned around and led the way.

The front yard was much more solemn than the back courtyard. The patrolling guards were neatly dressed, and the sound of their footsteps on the bluestone ground made people straighten their backs.

Shen Yan kept his head down the whole way, not daring to look around.

Until Qingyuan stopped in front of a two-story building.

Two old locust trees stand outside the small building, and a wooden plaque hangs above the door with the words "Library Pavilion" written on it.

Qingyuan opened the door with the spare key.

A scent of paper, ink, and wood wafted towards me.

The moment Shen Yan looked up, his breathing became lighter.

The window was half-open, and the morning light slanted in, making the dust motes drift slowly in the air.

Rows of wooden shelves extend from the entrance into the house, with more than ten rows on each side.

For scholars, this was like a paradise.

Shen Yan stood at the door, not taking a step for a long time.

Qingyuan tilted her head. "Mr. Shen?"

Shen Yan then came to his senses, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "My apologies."

Qingyuan didn't find it strange.

The eldest princess was a military general, and the stereotype of military generals was that they were illiterate and burly.

Therefore, many people have forgotten that the eldest princess once studied alongside the emperor, and her literary talent was no less than that of the ladies from scholarly families in the capital.

Moreover, some of these books are by those three individuals.

She took out a few thin books from beside the table.

"This is an old catalog, which has fallen into disrepair over the years, and the entries do not match those on the shelves. Mr. Shen has been checking them by category these days and creating new catalogs for each category."

Shen Yan's fingertips touched the old catalog, and he nodded respectfully, "Okay."

Qingyuan pointed to the corner again, "The tea is over there, and lunch will be delivered. If you need to get a book, you can call the servant outside; you don't need to carry heavy things yourself."

Shen Yan quickly thanked him.

After Qingyuan left, the library became quiet.

Shen Yan stood in front of the bookshelf, looking at the books, his eyes welling up with tears.

He hadn't sat so peacefully at his desk in a long time.

Later, he married Du Yuerong. She looked down on the Shen family and also looked down on him for touching account books. Copying books was just a way to make a living, and he had to be mindful of others' feelings when he was a tutor.

He thought that this was pretty much how his life would be.

Write other people's letters, copy other people's books, and be a useless person who dares not raise his head.

But now, someone has given him a small table, a key, and a room full of books.

There is also a monthly salary that can support my daughter.

It was all because her youngest daughter pulled him along and bravely knocked on the door of the Princess's residence.

Shen Yan raised his hand and stroked the spine of the book, whispering, "Que'er, Father will do a good job."

Then he sat down, spread out the pages of the book, dipped his brush in ink, and picked up his pen.

With each stroke, the stroke is neat and clear.

Outside the library, Qingyuan returned, intending to check if he was missing anything, but through the crack in the door she saw that he had already completely sunk inside.

The scholar in the blue robe sat in the room bathed in morning light, his eyes gentle, his wrists raised, his posture elegant and refined. He was a far cry from his disheveled appearance yesterday.

Qingyuan stood for a moment, then turned and went to the main courtyard to report.

Xiao Mingyue was looking at the list of medicinal herbs that had been delivered last night. After listening to Qing Yuan's report, she tapped the edge of the page with her finger.

"Can he adapt?"

Qingyuan said, "Young Master Shen really likes the library."

Xiao Mingyue slowed her flipping through the book a little. "Oh? How do you like it?"

Qingyuan thought for a moment, but couldn't think of a more fitting description: "Like a mouse entering a rice jar."

Xiao Mingyue chuckled softly, "That's quite fitting."

Qingyuan added, "Young Master Shen is cautious in his actions. He didn't look around randomly on the way into the front courtyard. After entering the pavilion, he checked the old catalog first and didn't touch the military registers sealed with red tags."

Xiao Mingyue nodded.

She's willing to give opportunities, but she won't be completely unprepared.

We'll have to wait and see what kind of person Shen Yan is.

However, it seems that this scholar is even more well-behaved than she expected.

That makes you very vulnerable to being bullied.

Xiao Mingyue closed the register. "Don't keep too close an eye on the library. Tell them not to neglect it."

Qingyuan responded.

She turned to leave, but Xiao Mingyue called her back.

"What about Yingzhu Garden?"

Qingyuan said, "Little Sparrow has already gone."

Xiao Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "She didn't make a scene?"

Qingyuan's lips twitched. "This is ridiculous."