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

On the night of the lantern festival, Shen Jingque changed into her light yellow jacket and was once again amazed by her father standing in the courtyard.

Shen Yan stood quietly under the tree, his black hair flowing like a waterfall, tied in a simple bun with a jade hairpin, his brows and eyes clear and cold like distant snow-covered mountains.

Hearing the noise behind him, he turned around, his eyes shimmering with tenderness, like water dripping into a spring.

"Sparrow, is this the right way for Father to act?"

Shen Jingque walked over with her mouth slightly open, circled halfway around Shen Yan, and said seriously, "Father, it's really not safe for you to go out like this today."

Shen Yan looked down at his cuffs, somewhat puzzled: "Why?"

He was actually still not used to wearing such nice clothes.

The material is soft and fits snugly; it's clearly not something an ordinary family can afford.

Wearing it felt as light as a cloud, which made him feel a little uneasy.

But this was a gift from His Highness.

Shen Yan lowered his head, his fingertips gently tracing the dark patterns on his cuffs, a strange bittersweet feeling welling up inside him.

Shen Jingque clicked her tongue in amazement, her mind filled with the thought, "My father is in grave danger."

"If you were dressed like this, and some lady took a liking to you on the way and insisted on inviting you to her house to preach, I would have to go and bail her out."

Shen Yan shook his head helplessly: "The more you talk, the more absurd it becomes."

Green Calyx tied her cloak, listening to the father and daughter's back and forth, her shoulders trembling slightly.

During her time at Xiling Residence, she had witnessed Miss Shen's abilities firsthand.

Despite her young age, she always manages to leave people speechless with a single sentence.

Unfortunately, Young Master Shen had a good temper. Even when his daughter teased him until his ears turned red, he would only gently offer a few words of advice.

This father and daughter don't seem like the typical impoverished family living under someone else's roof.

They didn't have that gloomy, resentful air about them; instead, they were as lively as a blazing fire in winter, filling the originally somber princess's residence with a warm and lively atmosphere.

Green Calyx suppressed a laugh and said, "Young Master Shen, rest assured, His Highness has sent guards to accompany you. No one will dare to snatch someone right under the nose of the Princess's residence."

Shen Jingque nodded immediately, with a "See, I told you so" expression on her face: "Did you hear that? Even Sister Lü'e admitted that someone wanted to steal it."

Shen Yan had no choice but to shove the small hand warmer into her arms, saying, "You little mouth, shut up. It's chilly at night, hold it tight."

The father and daughter left Xiling Residence, and as soon as they reached the gate of the mansion, Shen Jingque stopped in her tracks.

Two inconspicuous blue-curtained carriages were parked outside the mansion gate.

Xiao Mingyue stood beside the carriage, having changed out of her usual red dress and into a black casual outfit, wearing a cloak and with only a black jade hairpin in her hair.

The lamplight fell on her shoulders, making her appear less fierce and more elegant and graceful.

Ji Qianshang stood on the other side, holding a folding fan in his hand, the silver threads on his clothes shimmering under the lamplight.

Shen Yan was also somewhat surprised to see Xiao Mingyue.

He felt a slight tightness in his chest at first, followed by a sense of unease that he himself was embarrassed to admit.

He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Xiao Mingyue looked at him.

Shen Yan was wearing the long robe she had prepared. The night breeze blew across the hem of the robe, and the dark bamboo leaf pattern shimmered faintly under the lamplight.

When he bowed, his eyes were lowered, his demeanor gentle and humble, yet his ears were flushed slightly with nervousness.

The frustration she felt due to the backlog of official duties suddenly dissipated.

Xiao Mingyue said, "There's no need for such formalities when we're out in public."

Ji Qianshang shook his fan, raising an eyebrow: "Little bean, what's with that look? Are you so touched by seeing me accompany you to the lantern festival that you can't even speak?"

He originally intended to tease Shen Jingque a bit.

To his surprise, Shen Jingque looked up at him and said something utterly infuriating with her sincere eyes: "Master Ji, are you carrying a fan in this freezing weather because you want people to know you're deficient in yin and have excessive internal heat?"

Ji Qianshang's fan stopped in mid-air, and his dashing smile suddenly cracked open.

That brat!

He never said a kind word.

He pointed at Shen Jingque with his fan and said angrily, "Shen Jingque, if it weren't for the princess's promise of grace, I would have dragged you back to the pharmacy to copy the medicine manual right now."

Shen Jingque shrank back and hid behind Shen Yan, sticking her tongue out at Ji Qianshang.

Stingy guy, can't take a joke, loading cargo.

Xiao Mingyue ignored their bickering and looked at Shen Yan: "Qingheng, there are a lot of people tonight, so you should keep a close eye on Xiao Que'er."

Shen Yan replied in a low voice, "Yes."

Shen Jingque blinked.

OK OK.

The two have already progressed to the point of calling each other by courtesy names, so it seems like her CP (couple) has a good chance of a happy ending!

Then, feigning innocence, she asked, "Is Your Highness going too?"

Xiao Mingyue nodded and reached out to adjust the brim of her cloak: "It may be many years since I've seen this New Year's Lantern Festival."

Qingyuan, who was standing beside her, felt a slight pang of sadness as she listened.

Over the years, Your Highness has either been at the border, or in the capital dealing with court officials, or being tested and suppressed openly and secretly by His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.

For outsiders, the Spring Festival lantern festival represents a lively reunion and the warmth of everyday life.

For His Highness, however, it was like a distant, old dream.

Shen Jingque turned her head and glanced inside the mansion gate, but did not see the figure in the wheelchair. The joy on her face faded a little.

She waited a moment, then tiptoed to look inside.

Xiao Mingyue noticed her movements and asked, "What are you looking for?"

Shen Jingque withdrew her gaze, looked up, and asked, "Your Highness, isn't the eldest young master going?"

Xiao Mingyue's hand paused at the edge of her cloak: "He sent someone back this afternoon saying he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be going tonight."

Shen Jingque, holding a hand warmer, whispered, "He was clearly trying out the new wheelchair yesterday."

Ji Qianshang continued, "It's common for people with leg injuries to stay indoors at night when the wind is cold."

Shen Jingque didn't reply, recalling the fleeting shadow on Xiao Changgeng's face yesterday afternoon at Yingzhu Garden.

She raised her hand and slapped her mouth.

You always have such a loose tongue, ugh.

Xiao Changgeng must be angry with her.

Let's see if there's anything new or interesting to buy and use to appease him.

The group boarded the carriage and left the mansion. The wheels rolled over the bluestone street, and the lamplight faded into the distance.

In Yingzhu Garden, Xuan Qi pushed his wheelchair to a stop under the corridor, and the faint sound of firecrackers could be heard from afar outside the courtyard.

Xiao Changgeng held a scroll of documents he hadn't finished reading in his hand, the pages lingering in the same spot for a long time.

Xuan Qi said in a low voice, "Master had already promised His Highness to go to the lantern festival together, why did you change your mind at the last minute?"

Xiao Changgeng lowered his eyes, placed his palm on his knee, and remained silent for a long time.

Xuan Qi continued, "Miss Shen even specifically asked that the lanterns over the White Jade Bridge are the most beautiful, saying that if Master goes there, she can snatch the biggest one for Master."

Xiao Changgeng turned a page of the official document, the edge of the paper bearing shallow marks from his fingertips.

"If I were to accompany them, they would be worried about my wheelchair all night long."

"The little girl is still young and rarely goes out of the manor, so don't spoil her fun."

Xuan Qi looked up: "Master, His Highness and Young Master Ji won't find it troublesome."

Xiao Changgeng said, "I know."

But he would think he was a burden.

He couldn't stand the pity and sympathy that others expressed, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

His pride wouldn't allow him to become such a pathetic creature.

He preferred to lock himself in the garden and not see anyone.

Xuan Qi stopped speaking and let out a long, silent sigh.

Xiao Changgeng closed the desk with a blank expression: "Have the kitchen keep some hot soup. It's chilly at night. Send it to each courtyard when they return."

Xuan Qi responded in a low voice, "Yes."