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

The day before the Lantern Festival, the Shangyi Bureau delivered new clothes to Xilingju.

Shen Jingque had just returned from Yingzhu Garden, carrying a small medicine basket on her back. As soon as she entered the door, she saw two large lacquer boxes on the table.

Her eyes lit up immediately: "Wow, the package has arrived!"

Green Calyx was tidying up her clothes when she heard the words, and she paused in her work.

"Miss, what's this?"

Shen Jingque waved her hand.

"It's okay, just think of it as happiness."

She rushed to the table and opened the first box.

Inside was a light apricot-colored jacket and dress, with delicate bird patterns embroidered on the hem, and an outer snow-white rabbit fur cape. The collar was soft and fluffy, like a cloud to the touch.

Shen Jingque was immediately taken advantage of.

Who can resist something furry?

Anyway, she can't.

She opened the second box.

Inside lay a set of moon-white brocade robes, with bamboo leaf patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem, and a light blue waist belt, paired with a warm and smooth jade pendant.

Shen Jingque picked up the clothes and shook them out in the sunlight.

The moon-white brocade shimmered with a soft light.

If her dad wore this, wouldn't he be irresistible?

Shen Jingque turned around and called out, "Father!"

Shen Yan was organizing the books he had brought back from the library in the inner room when he heard the noise and came out.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Jingque held up the brocade robe, her eyes sparkling.

"Dad, hurry up and put it on."

Shen Yan looked at the clothes, a hint of hesitation on his face.

"This fabric is too expensive. I'll just wear my usual blue robe."

The brocade was soft and lustrous, with elegant patterns. Even when the Shen family had not yet fallen from grace, they rarely had such fine fabric.

He was just a newly arrived clerk in the Princess's residence. Although his monthly salary was high, he had not yet made any real achievements.

His Highness has already provided them, the father and daughter, with shelter, given them a job, and provided them with a monthly salary.

Nowadays, even clothes are prepared so thoroughly.

What merit or ability does he possess?

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingque immediately stuffed the clothes into his arms.

"Father, we're representing the Princess's residence tomorrow. If you go out in old clothes, people will think Her Highness is mistreating her guests."

Shen Yan hugged the brocade robe, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"It's not that serious!"

"Yes." Shen Jingque said with a straight face, "Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. Father is so handsome, and since His Highness has prepared this for you, he naturally hopes you will wear it. We cannot go against his wishes."

Shen Yan's ears burned instantly upon hearing this, and he reached out to cover Shen Jingque's mouth.

"Don't talk nonsense, you little kid."

He was never used to people praising his appearance.

When he was young, some people said he was good-looking, but later, under Du Yuerong's cold stares and ridicule day after day, his good looks became proof that he was useless, weak, and unworthy of respect.

Du Yuerong always said that he only had a pretty face, but couldn't make a career for himself or give her a decent life.

Over time, Shen Yan stopped looking in the mirror as much as he wanted.

Shen Jingque whimpered twice, managing to speak through his fingers, "I'm telling the truth!"

Green Calyx stood to the side, her shoulders trembling slightly.

You can't laugh; she's a professional maid.

Shen Yan couldn't persuade his daughter otherwise, so he took the clothes and went into the inner room.

Shen Jingque sat outside waiting, her legs shaking with excitement.

Green Calyx carefully tucked the rabbit fur cloak away for her, then couldn't help but ask, "Why is Miss so happy?"

Shen Jingque lowered her voice, her face full of mystery.

"Sister Lü'e, you don't understand, this is called the joy of nurturing."

Green Calyx couldn't understand anymore.

But looking into Shen Jingque's bright eyes, she could roughly guess what was going on.

Miss Shen was happy for Young Master Shen.

The inner room door finally opened.

When Shen Yan came out, Xilingju instantly fell silent.

He was slender, but his shoulders and back were not hunched. The belt around his waist accentuated his scholarly air and gave him a touch of nobility.

Her black hair was half-tied up, with a jade hairpin pressing down on her hair ornament. A faint beauty mark appeared at the corner of her eye. When she lowered her eyes, they were gentle and warm, and when she raised them, they had a kind of purity that had not been tainted by the world.

Shen Jingque cupped her face in her hands.

Good heavens, she was overjoyed by her own father's good looks.

Although saying it out loud might seem like a distortion of filial piety, it really can't be blamed on her.

It's mainly because her dad's face is just too unfair.

If this were a modern video platform, she'd already come up with a title:

"A cool, aloof, fatherly beauty whose true beauty has been overshadowed by life; love at first sight."

The comments section shouldn't be filled with "Father-in-law, I'm in love!" "Is this really my husband whom I've never met?" "I need all his information in three minutes."

Green Calyx was so engrossed in watching that she forgot what she was doing, and the handkerchief in her hand fell to the ground.

When she realized what had happened, her face flushed slightly, and she quickly bent down to pick it up.

Shen Yan felt uneasy under their gazes and lowered his head to straighten his cuffs.

"But what's wrong with it?"

Shen Jingque slammed her hand on the table. "Perfect!"

Green Calyx quickly picked up the handkerchief, her face flushed: "Young Master Shen, this outfit suits you very well."

Shen Yan's face flushed even more.

"That's good."

Just then, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Xiao Mingyue was originally just passing by Xiling Residence.

She had just returned from the front yard, still holding her riding whip. Last night, her investigation into the list of medicinal herb transactions had uncovered several shady accounts, and today, after hearing Xuan Qi's report, a chill settled over her.

The Princess's residence appeared impregnable, but in reality, someone had already quietly reached out to it, which annoyed her.

She should have returned to the main courtyard to continue dealing with these sordid matters.

But after hearing Qingyuan say that the Imperial Clothing Bureau had sent clothes, I don't know why I ended up here.

Outside the moon gate, she looked up and saw Shen Yan turning around.

The wind blew through the old locust tree in the courtyard, and the shadows of its branches fell on the hem of his moon-white robe.

He stood under the eaves, and when he heard the noise, he looked up, his brows furrowed with lingering anxiety.

Xiao Mingyue stopped in her tracks.

She has met many men.

Those who shed blood on the battlefield, those who speak slyly in the imperial court, and those who are carefully cultivated by aristocratic families to be dashing and debonair.

But Shen Yan was different.

He has no sharp edge and doesn't know how to flatter.

Like a scroll of elegant calligraphy and painting that had been suppressed by the old year, its original colors were finally revealed after the dust was brushed away.

Such a bright and clear sky.

Xiao Mingyue tightened her grip on the riding whip, a strange emotion welling up inside her.

Qingyuan followed behind, and when she saw her lord stop, she looked over as well.

Then she understood.

Young Master Shen's outfit today is indeed a bit of a disaster.

Shen Yan saw Xiao Mingyue and quickly bowed.

"Your Highness."

Xiao Mingyue looked away from him and coughed lightly.

"No need for such formalities."

Shen Jingque's eyes darted around beside her.

Good guy.

She noticed the princess's obvious momentary lapse in concentration, and her romantic radar went off.

Shen Jingque immediately exerted her strength.

"Your Highness, you've come at the perfect time! Look how good my father looks in this outfit!"

Shen Yan's face flushed: "Que'er."

Shen Jingque's main character is deaf.

"My father is so handsome, anyone who marries him will eat two bowls less of rice a day."

Green Calyx was stunned: "Why?"

Shen Jingque spread her hands, "Because it's visually appealing."

Shen Yan couldn't hold back this time and reached out to pinch her mouth.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Shen Jingque's mouth was pinched, and she made a muffled protest: "Mmm!"

Shen Yan pinched his daughter's lips, his face turning so red it was almost bleeding.

He was genuinely embarrassed.

But beneath the shame, there was also a hint of panic that even he dared not admit.

When Shen Jingque said these words, his first reaction was that he was afraid of offending Xiao Mingyue.

My second thought was... what would His Highness think?

Would you find it frivolous?

Do you think he doesn't know his limits?

But the next moment, he realized that he shouldn't have had such thoughts.

There was a world of difference between myself and His Highness.

He was merely a clerk in the government office, receiving favors from others; how could he harbor such anxieties about gain and loss?

Shen Yan became increasingly confused and could only try to cover his daughter's mouth even more tightly.

"Your Highness is too kind."

As Xiao Mingyue watched the father and daughter bickering, a hint of pleasure appeared in her eyes, and her tone was gentler than usual.

"What Little Sparrow said isn't entirely wrong."

Shen Yan was stunned.

Xiao Mingyue seemed oblivious to the inappropriateness of her words, only glancing at the empty space around Shen Yan's waist.

"Why aren't you wearing your jade pendant?"

Shen Yan looked down and realized that the jade pendant that came with the box was still on the table.

He was afraid of damaging it when he changed his clothes, so he didn't dare to wear it.

Shen Jingque immediately picked up the jade pendant and handed it to Shen Yan.

"Dad, put it on, put it on. We can't skimp on the atmosphere."

Shen Yan took it, but his fingers got tangled in the jade belt.

The more he tried to understand, the more confused he became, and the more confused he became, the more anxious he became.

Xiao Mingyue couldn't bear to watch any longer and stepped forward.

"I'll do it."

Shen Yan swayed slightly, and the jade pendant in his hand was taken by her.

Xiao Mingyue stood in front of him, bowing her head to adjust the jade belt around his waist.

The two were close together.

Shen Yan could smell a faint, cool fragrance emanating from her, mixed with the scents of leather and metal, like a fire burning in a snowy night.

He dared not look down at her, but could only look at the old locust tree in the courtyard.

But her ears were so red that even Shen Jingque could hardly bear to look at her.

Father.

You already have two kids, why are you still acting like a pure-hearted boys' high school student?

Xiao Mingyue quickly fastened the jade pendant for him.

Shen Yan only let out a soft breath when his fingertips left the waistband.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Mingyue took a half step back, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.

"This outfit is nice."

Shen Yan said in a low voice, "The clothes bestowed by His Highness are the best."

Xiao Mingyue didn't reply, only saying, "There will be a lot of people at the lantern festival tomorrow, so stay close."

These words were spoken to Shen Yan, but Shen Jingque immediately raised her hand.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will hold my father's hand tightly and make sure he doesn't get lost."

Shen Yan raised his hand to his forehead: "Que'er."

He really wanted to pack this little devil up and stuff him into a bundle.

Shen Jingque blinked, looking completely innocent.

"Did I say something wrong? Father, you're so handsome. What if some lady or young lady sets her sights on you and tries to snatch you away on the spot?"

Xiao Mingyue glanced at Shen Jingque, her tone very serious.

"No one dares to rob the people from the Princess's residence."

Shen Jingque let out a scream like a groundhog in her heart.

I bumped into something.

I'm really hooked.

Xiao Mingyue did not linger.

But after she left, an unusual ambiguity lingered in the air of Xiling Residence.

Shen Yan stood under the corridor, looking down and touching the jade pendant at his waist.

When my fingers touched the edge of the jade pendant, I realized that my palm was a little warm.

Shen Jingque leaned closer, smiling like a little fox.

"Father, His Highness just praised you."

Shen Yan immediately withdrew his hand. "Your Highness is just being polite."

Shen Jingque said with a mature air, "Dad, being overly modest just shows a lack of tact!"

Shen Yan wanted to pinch her lips again.

Shen Jingque covered her head and ran away like a rat.