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

As soon as Xiao Mingyue left, Xiao Jingshu seemed to have been unleashed.

She tugged at the Empress's sleeve and swayed back and forth, hanging on the armrest of the throne, and began to act coquettishly from every angle.

"Mother, Mother, I want to learn kung fu!"

The Empress, still holding her teacup, glanced at her daughter, whose eyes were shining, and spoke in a calm yet helpless tone.

"here we go again."

Last month he said he wanted to learn falconry, last year he said he wanted to learn swimming, and before that he wanted to learn sword making.

My daughter has a wide variety of interests, but none of them last long.

Xiao Jingshu said righteously, "Before, it was all just a passing fancy. This time is different; this time I'm serious."

The Empress put down her teacup, touched the tip of her nose with a handkerchief, her expression a mixture of helplessness and amusement.

"You want to learn light-body skills so you can sneak out of the palace?"

Xiao Jingshu wasn't embarrassed at all when her little scheme was exposed; instead, she just chuckled.

"I just wanted to use my strengths. I was really good at horseback riding at Pear Blossom Slope last time. Even the guards who taught me riding said I was agile and had great potential for martial arts."

As she spoke, she nestled closer and lay down on the Queen's lap, looking at the Queen with pitiful puppy eyes.

"Mother, if we encounter any danger again, I can use my martial arts skills to escape. That's much better than relying on some useless guards."

When the incident at Pear Blossom Slope was mentioned, a look of worry appeared between the empress's brows.

"You still say that if we just stay obediently in the palace, we won't encounter any danger?"

Xiao Jingshu's face fell, and tears welled up in her grape-like eyes; she was about to cry.

Just then, Shen Jingque spoke up: "Your Majesty, His Highness did learn riding skills very quickly last time. He is very agile. It would be good if he could learn some lightness skills to protect himself."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with solemnity as she looked at the Empress: "After all, there are many people and things going on in the palace, and there will always be times when the guards and maids can't take care of everything."

The Empress was suddenly startled, feeling that the little girl's words had a hidden meaning.

Upon closer inspection, however, it revealed a completely innocent and naive appearance.

After careful consideration, I realized that her words made some sense.

She only has this one daughter; what if something really happens to Shu'er...

She dared not think about how she would live in the future.

Seeing the Empress's thoughtful expression, Xiao Jingshu assumed she was seriously considering his suggestion and pressed her advantage by making further demands.

"If Mother is worried, then let Shen Jingque study with me."

Shen Jingque was drinking tea nearby when she heard this and almost spat out a mouthful of tea from her nostrils.

Damn it, why is she being dragged into this again!

Normally, he would go to Qishan Academy for classes on weekdays and accompany Xu Wanying to practice riding and archery on his days off, so he had no energy to go to the palace to learn light-body skills.

She quickly put down her teacup, her face full of refusal. "Your Highness, my limbs are not very coordinated. I always trip over my own foot when I walk. If I were to learn light-body skills, I'm afraid I'd fall off the roof. Perhaps... I should give up?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingshu surprisingly did not insist as usual.

Instead, he took half a step back and carefully looked Shen Jingque up and down.

Then he sighed with a hint of helplessness, his tone filled with pity.

"Yes, you're right."

Shen Jingque: "???"

Xiao Jingshu patted Shen Jingque's shoulder with a serious expression and said earnestly, "I wanted to say this when I saw you riding a horse last time. You swayed like a green onion in the wind while sitting on the horse. You were really a bit clumsy. Let's just forget about it."

Shen Jingque felt as if an arrow had struck her knee.

Xiao Jingshu wasn't finished yet, adding insult to injury: "At worst, once this princess learns lightness skill, I'll protect you from now on."

Shen Jingque's lips twitched violently twice, speechless with emotion.

Having lived two lives and now in my twenties, I was actually labeled a sports failure by a twelve-year-old girl in person today.

Doesn't she have any pride?

Seeing Shen Jingque's colorful expressions, the Empress finally couldn't help but laugh out loud and took Xiao Jingshu's hand.

"Alright, alright, I'll find you a female master, but let me make it clear beforehand: your studies can't be neglected, and you can only practice martial arts on your days off."

"I will obey Mother!" Xiao Jingshu clapped her hands.

The Empress nodded, her gaze towards Shen Jingque now filled with genuine affection.

"Princess Shaoning, please come to the palace whenever you have free time to chat with Shu'er, okay?"

Shen Jingque quickly composed herself, her pride shattered, and respectfully performed a gesture of gratitude: "This humble woman is deeply honored."

With the Queen's permission, Princess Huiyun, whose energy rivals that of Bige, has a new idea.

"Shen Jingque, I'll take you to see the swing in the Imperial Garden. That swing can swing really high."

As he spoke, he grabbed Shen Jingque and ran outside.

"Princess, let go first, you've almost pulled my outer robe off..."

The two ran hand in hand across the threshold of the main hall of Fengyi Palace, through the corridor, and down the steps.

Shen Jingque was bending down to straighten her skirt, which had been ruffled by the wind, when a jade-colored shadow suddenly appeared in her peripheral vision.

Before he could stop, a ball of flesh crashed solidly into his arms.

The force was considerable; Shen Jingque was thrown backward, her buttocks making intimate contact with the floor.

"hiss--"

She winced in pain, and a red mark appeared on her elbow.

Shen Jingque looked up and saw a boy who looked to be about ten years old. He wore a jade-colored brocade robe embroidered with dark gold python patterns. His round figure made the robe bulge, making him look like a glutinous rice ball.

He glared at Shen Jingque with a fierce expression, and the chubby boy pointed his finger at her nose and started yelling.

"Which blind servant dares to block my path!"

Shen Jingque rubbed her waist, and before she could speak, a pink barrier appeared in front of her.

Xiao Jingshu stepped in front of her, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Xiao Jingzhang! You're barging around recklessly at the entrance of Fengyi Palace, not even watching where you're going, and you still have the nerve to swear at people? Have you forgotten how to behave like a dog?!"

Xiao Jingzhang flinched at the shout, his cheeks twitching with fear.

Xiao Jingshu was the legitimate princess, and her status was already much higher than his. Moreover, she was deeply favored by the emperor and empress. No matter how domineering Xiao Jingzhang was, he dared not confront her directly.

He held his breath for a while, then stiffened his neck and bowed to Xiao Jingshu.

"Is Your Majesty well..."

Xiao Jingshu didn't appreciate his kindness at all, snorted coldly, and reached out to pull Shen Jingque.

Shen Jingque had already stood up by herself, dusted off her skirt, and looked at the chubby boy in front of her.

The fourth prince, Xiao Jingzhang.

Born to Consort Shu, he was the emperor's most beloved son. At the age of ten, he was raised to be arrogant and domineering, looking down on everyone.

In the original book, this fourth prince was pampered and spoiled as he grew up.

He eventually became addicted to cockfighting and dog racing, and forcibly seized farmland from the people. He was later demoted to a commoner and imprisoned.

Shen Jingque's gaze swept over the group of palace servants behind him.

Those people wore obsequious smiles, but their eyes revealed an inexplicable indifference. When Xiao Jingzhang offended the princess, not one of them stepped forward to stop him.

As the emperor's most beloved son, was there no one around to guide and take care of him?

Or perhaps these people were bribed to deliberately watch him cause trouble.

Xiao Jingzhang looked past Xiao Jingshu and gazed at Shen Jingque, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

He probably recognized her as no ordinary palace maid from her clothes and appearance, and his droopy eyelids lifted slightly.

Who are you?

Xiao Jingshu raised her hand first to introduce: "This is the Princess Shaoning, personally bestowed by my father, and she is also a friend of mine."

Xiao Jingzhang tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly grinned.

"Oh, you're the newly appointed county princess."

He tilted his chin up, put his chubby hands behind his back, and imitated the mannerisms of an adult.

"What's so great about being a county princess? When I grow up and become the crown prince, my rank will be much higher than yours."

Just as Xiao Jingshu was about to explode, Shen Jingque grabbed her shoulder.

Shen Jingque smiled and bent down to meet his gaze, her tone gentle.

"Your Highness is right. I am naturally not as noble and precious as a prince."

Xiao Jingzhang proudly raised his head.

Shen Jingque's smile remained, but her voice instantly turned cold:

"But Your Highness just said that you will be the Crown Prince in the future. Did His Majesty tell you that?"

"Do you know what crime it is to speak ill of the heir apparent as a prince?"

Xiao Jingzhang's face stiffened, his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The expressions of the palace servants behind him also became subtle at that moment.