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

Shen Jingque recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

From chasing butterflies to arrows in the woods, and then to rescuing horses after they were startled.

She tried her best to make it less dramatic, but Xiao Mingyue's brows were still furrowed.

Before Xiao Mingyue could speak, a series of hurried, almost erratic footsteps came from the door.

Shen Yan, dressed in a blue robe, rushed into the room and knelt down in front of Shen Jingque. He cupped her face in his hands, looked her over from side to side, and then checked her arms and knees.

"Where are you hurt? Did the horse trample you?"

Shen Jingque was examined by him several times, like a little chick being manipulated.

"No, no, Father, I'm perfectly fine, not a single hair on my head is missing."

Shen Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, pulled his daughter into his arms and hugged her tightly. He rested his chin on the top of her head without saying a word, but the hand on her back was still trembling slightly.

Shen Jingque patted his back and obediently let him hug her, feeling warm inside.

She's so lucky to have such caring family members.

Just as she was about to say a few more kind words to comfort her father, she heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling over the threshold behind her.

Xuan Qi pushed Xiao Changgeng in, with Xiao Changqi following behind, his brows furrowed as if it were uncharacteristically furrowed.

It seems that Tianjiu has already explained things to them.

The hunting arrow, pulled from the tree trunk, was in Xiao Changgeng's hand.

His slender knuckles traced an inch along the arrow shaft, finally stopping at the point where the fletching was bound.

"It is indeed a thick arrow used by hunters."

He raised his head, his pale face appearing exceptionally serene in the candlelight.

"But the three arrows landed in almost the same area, as if they were aimed at a fixed target."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingshu finally realized how frightening it was.

She shrank closer to Xiao Mingyue, her little hands clutching her aunt's sleeves, her face pale.

"That was...that was terrifying."

Her voice was soft, completely different from the crazy little girl who ran around the mountains during the day; her lips were still trembling slightly.

"If Shen Jingque hadn't pulled me off the horse, and if that hostage from Great Yan hadn't saved me... I would have been trampled to death by the horse."

Xiao Mingyue reached out and hugged the little princess who was curled up in her arms, gently patting her back, then frowned slightly.

"A hostage from Great Yan?"

Shen Jingque nodded and briefly recounted how Rong Jing had saved the person while passing by.

Xiao Mingyue's expression was somewhat subtle, as if she wanted to say something.

But after glancing at the two disheveled girls, he decided not to press them for answers at that moment.

"Where is he?"

"He said he had to leave first."

Shen Jingque laughed it off and changed the subject.

She really didn't want to add another step of explaining Rong Jing to today's chaotic situation.

Xiao Mingyue and Xiao Changgeng exchanged a glance but did not ask any further questions.

Xiao Changgeng whispered to Xuan Qi behind him, "Take men to search the mountains, find that hunter, and bring him back alive."

Xuan Qi knelt on one knee and silently retreated.

Xiao Changqi stood to the side, unusually quiet for so long, before finally unable to hold back and spoke.

"Brother, don't you think it was an accident?"

Xiao Changgeng put the arrow into his sleeve and glanced at Xiao Jingshu and Shen Jingque with a serious expression.

no answer.

……

That evening, everyone settled down at the villa.

Shen Jingque had just finished washing up and sat down on the edge of the bed when the door was gently pushed open.

Shen Yan brought in a bowl of steaming soup and sat down by the bed.

"Drink it before you sleep."

Shen Jingque smelled it, and the subtitles of the Herbal Encyclopedia appeared before her eyes.

[An Shen Tang (Calming the Mind Decoction): Sour jujube seed, licorice root, anemarrhena rhizome, poria cocos...]

It seems that Father is still shaken.

"Father, don't worry, I'm really fine."

Shen Yan held the spoon to her lips, his voice gentle yet insistent, "Be good, finish your drink and Daddy will leave."

Shen Jingque looked at the bloodshot eyes in his eyes and couldn't say anything. She obediently finished drinking it sip by sip.

When the bowl was empty, Shen Yan used a handkerchief to wipe the soup stains from the corners of her mouth and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

"Go to bed early, and don't kick off the covers."

"Okay, goodnight, Daddy."

The door closed gently.

Shen Jingque lay in the darkness, staring at the dark floral patterns on the tent ceiling, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The events of today kept flashing through my mind, and the more I thought about them, the clearer my mind became.

Although all indications point to the danger today stemming from the hunter's mistake.

However, no direct evidence was found.

What if it wasn't Orion's mistake?

What if someone meticulously planned an "accident" to kill someone?

Who is the target?

Is it her? Or Xiao Jingshu?

She pulled the blanket over her face and forced herself to close her eyes.

We'll have to wait for the investigation results.

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Xuan Qi and Tian Jiu knelt on one knee in front of Xiao Chang Geng.

"Young Master, I investigated overnight and found the hunting house deserted. All the bedding and blankets were taken away, and not even a single piece of animal hide was left in the bamboo basket."

Xuan Qi lowered his head even further. "After expanding the search area, we found that the trail ended beside a stream. The other party must have left by wading upstream."

Xiao Changgeng rested his forehead on one hand, his eyes slightly dark, and paused in tapping his fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair.

"A hunter, would he really pack himself up neatly and escape at night, and even know to use stream tracks to leave his mark?"

Tian Jiu remained silent.

There is no doubt that what happened yesterday was not the work of an ordinary hunter.

However, Tianjiu's investigation at the time was too hasty, and he missed the best opportunity to search.

Xiao Changgeng turned his head to look at him.

"Departed from his post without authorization and acted rashly."

"Tian Jiu, you know the rules of the Dark Division."

Tian Jiu calmly raised her eyes and nodded. "I will go and accept my punishment."

Xiao Changgeng didn't say anything more, his gaze sweeping over the two people in front of him.

"Don't tell the young lady about this. She's just a little girl; she'll be scared if she knows too much."

He paused, then added a sentence to Xuan Qi.

"Continue to investigate secretly, focusing on outsiders who have entered or left Lihuapo within the past five days."

The two men acknowledged and withdrew.

Xiao Changgeng sat alone for a while, then turned his wheelchair and went to Xiao Mingyue's courtyard.

Meanwhile, Shen Jingque had already woken up.

With the events of last night still on his mind, he didn't eat breakfast after washing up, and headed straight for Xiao Mingyue's courtyard.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and just as she was about to push it open, Xiao Changgeng's voice came from inside.

"...I suspect they weren't after the sparrow."

Shen Jingque's hand froze in mid-air.

Xiao Mingyue's voice was cold and sharp, filled with shock and anger: "You mean this is aimed at Shu'er?"

"Princess Huiyun left the palace incognito, and not many people know she is here."

"But what if someone in the palace leaks the information and finds out our itinerary in advance..."

Xiao Changgeng paused in his speech.

"If Princess Huiyun were to have an accident during our trip, my godmother would be the first to be blamed by everyone."

"Not only that, the Empress will also hold a grudge against me from now on."

Shen Jingque stood under the eaves, her hand covering her mouth, her fingertips icy cold.

Someone is trying to frame the Princess's family by murdering Xiao Jingshu.

A chill crept up her back.

Shen Jingque had always thought that Xiao Jingshu's death was a drowning incident a year later, but she never expected that due to the change in the trajectory of fate, at this moment, the little princess's life was shrouded in the shadow of death.

It could even be an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and bring down the Princess's mansion.

Who is it?

emperor?

Even tigers don't eat their cubs, let alone Xiao Jingshu, who was his most beloved daughter.

Empress Dowager?

The last time I saw her, I felt that the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter was very good, and the Empress Dowager had no motive to kill her.

Shen Jingque's heart suddenly raced as she thought of the biggest beneficiary of this matter.

The answer is obvious.

……

Meanwhile, inside the imperial city, in the Third Prince's sleeping quarters.

A fine Ru ware teacup was smashed on the bluestone ground, shattering into countless tiny fragments.

Before the table, Fu Yibai knelt on the ground, remaining calm and still despite being splashed with tea.

Xiao Jingchen stood behind the long table, his chest heaving.

An almost distorted rage surfaced on that usually gentle and refined face.

"Who gave you permission to do it?!"