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

As Shen Jingque emerged from the flower hall, Xiao Jingshu's chubby little face was still on her mind.

System 001 suddenly appeared in a cheeky manner.

[Host, why are you asking about the prince so much today? Have you finally decided to return to the main storyline?]

Shen Jingque walked into the courtyard without turning her head, saying perfunctorily, "Doing my homework."

[What homework are you doing? Are you planning to use Xiao Jingshu to meet the Third Prince Xiao Jingchen and then help him ascend the throne...?]

"Why do you care so much? Go stand aside, I have my own rhythm."

I saw Xiao Jingchen again; I couldn't even avoid that guy.

System 001 paused for two seconds, then muttered pitifully, "[You always yell at me]."

Then, knowing better, he stopped talking.

Shen Jingque returned to Mingcui Pavilion, closed the door, and calculated the time of Xiao Jingshu's death in the original book.

There are still more than half a year left, that's enough time for her to figure everything out.

The most urgent task is to find out why Xiao Jingshu died. Was it a genuine accident, or was someone murdering her?

Since she likes me so much, it would be good to teach her some ways to save her life and give her some life-saving pills in advance.

……

The next day happened to be a rest day at the academy, and Xiao Changqi met Shen Jingque in the garden.

As Xiao Changqi swayed, he saw her lying on a large rock in the courtyard, flipping through a storybook. Hearing his footsteps, she raised her head.

"...Second brother, what are you still doing here?"

"If I'm not here, where am I?" Xiao Changqi asked, puzzled.

Shen Jingque jumped up abruptly. "Aren't you going to prepare the clothes for Mother?"

Xiao Changqi was taken aback, then scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"Um... I got so excited when I saw my brother was better yesterday, I haven't found the right time yet..."

They're still looking for the right time; they'll be going on a spring outing in a few days.

Xiao Mingyue rarely goes out for fun, so why not take this opportunity to play some games?

Thinking this, Shen Jingque jumped off the rock and walked up to Xiao Changqi: "You're not afraid to tell Mother, are you?"

"Who says I wouldn't dare!" Xiao Changqi slapped his fan into his palm and retorted stubbornly, "I just think we should plan carefully and make thorough preparations before going..."

"Alright, alright." Shen Jingque grabbed his sleeve and started pulling him out.

"Let's go find my sister-in-law and have her draw up the design. I have a way to get my mother to wear it."

Xiao Changqi was dragged along by her, staggering forward, still muttering, "What method?"

"Don't worry about it, just follow me."

Fanji Incense Shop remains bustling with customers, and upon entering, one is greeted by a faint scent of styrax.

In the private room, Shen Jingque clearly explained her needs in just a few words.

"Sister Fan, I would like to ask you to make a set of outfits for my mother to wear when she goes out for a spring outing. She is about to take our family to the outskirts of the city for a spring outing, and she is in need of a suitable spring outfit."

Fan Suyao sat across the table, her face beautiful and dignified. Upon hearing this, her eyes widened slightly.

"Her Highness the Princess's clothes?"

"Yes, don't be afraid, my mother is very easy to talk to."

Xiao Changqi nearly choked on his tea and desperately tried to hide his contorted expression with his fan.

Easy to talk to? Stepmother?

He felt something was off about putting those two words together.

Fan Suyao didn't notice his strange behavior. She excitedly pulled out her charcoal pencil and sketch paper from under the table and started sketching quickly on the paper while listening to Shen Jingque's description.

"Your Highness usually wears black, so the color shouldn't be too striking. How about using a soft blue as a base? Embroider a landscape painting with subtle silver thread on the shoulders and back. It will look simple from afar, but you'll see the details up close."

Her brushstrokes were clean and crisp; with just a few strokes, she sketched the outline of a garment.

The waist is fitted with a belt, and the sides of the hem are slit to the knee for easy riding. The cuffs are narrow but still allow for enough freedom of movement.

"It has the agility of a martial artist, as well as the grace and character of a woman."

Shen Jingque leaned over the table, her eyes shining, and nodded repeatedly.

"Perfect, perfect, that's exactly how it feels."

Xiao Changqi leaned over to take a look at the sketch, his eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Suyao, your design is even prettier than that batch of narrow-sleeved shirts last time."

Fan Suyao looked up at him, her lips curving slightly.

"I improve every day, that's only natural."

When Xiao Changqi saw Fan Suyao looking at him, the tips of her ears turned visibly red, so he quickly picked up his teacup and took a big gulp to cover it up.

Shen Jingque chuckled inwardly.

This second brother, who usually looks like a butterfly, is now so innocent and pure in front of his sweetheart.

It's kind of cute with that unexpected contrast.

When the two came out of the private room, Shen Jingque was already planning her next move.

The design is ready; the current problem is how to get Xiao Mingyue to wear it willingly.

Xiao Changqi walked beside her, fanning himself worriedly: "Let me tell you, last time I bought my godmother a pomegranate-red shawl, do you know what she used it for?"

"Knife holder".

How did you know?

"I saw it that day."

Xiao Changqi looked sad.

"Don't worry, Second Brother, you don't need to ask me to do this." Shen Jingque waved his hand, smiling confidently.

"So what do you plan to do?"

Shen Jingque turned her head and held up one finger to Xiao Changqi.

"There's one person in our family who will listen to whatever my mother says."

Xiao Changqi's expression went from bewilderment to realization, and then to a mixture of laughter and tears.

"You're going to screw over your dad."

"What do you mean by 'pitfall'?" Shen Jingque corrected him righteously. "It means everyone has their own strengths and specializes in their own field."

That evening, Shen Jingque sneaked into Shen Yan's study with the drawing in her arms.

Shen Yan was copying the shopping list under the lamp when he heard the noise and looked up.

Seeing her daughter acting suspiciously, she put down her pen and asked in confusion.

"Sparrow? Why aren't you resting so late?"

Shen Jingque chuckled and displayed the drawing in front of him.

"Daddy, look at this, isn't it pretty?"

Shen Yan took the drawing, looked down at it carefully, and gently pinched the corner of the paper with his slender fingers.

The lamplight illuminated his handsome profile, revealing his well-defined eyebrows that furrowed slightly before slowly relaxing.

"good."

Shen Jingque, resting her chin on her hand, exclaimed, "Mother would look incredibly dashing and heroic in this."

She paused, then deliberately sighed.

"It's a pity that my mother probably wouldn't wear this new style."

Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Jingque saw her father's ears turning red at a visible speed, and his eyes gradually softening and becoming dazed.

She guessed that Xiao Mingyue might already be imagining what she would look like in this outfit.

So she stretched and slowly moved towards the door.

"Father, get some rest. I'll leave the blueprints here with you. I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."

The door closed gently.

Shen Yan sat alone under the lamp, still clutching the sketch in his hand.

His mind was filled with the image of Xiao Mingyue wearing this dress, her waist slender and graceful, the soft blue color highlighting her heroic eyebrows and eyes, and the silver mountain and river lines faintly visible in the sunlight.

He placed the drawing on the table, looked at it again and again, and liked it very much.

Then he covered his face with his hands to relieve the burning sensation.

really.

Early the next morning, Green Calyx brought the news.

"Miss, the Prince Consort went to His Highness's room this morning and said that you should contact the tailor who draws the patterns to come and take your measurements."