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

The streetlights stretched along the entire length of the street.

Children surrounded the sugar figurine stall, colorful lanterns hung along the riverbank, and pedestrians, dressed in elegant clothes, chattered and laughed all the way from the bridge to the alley.

As soon as Shen Jingque got out of the car, her eyes were too busy to take it all in.

Wow, is this an ancient, large-scale immersive night market?

Although there are no neon lights, no loudspeaker promotions, no grilled sausages, milk tea, or stinky tofu, the lanterns are hung up, the fried dough sticks smell delicious, and the lively atmosphere is no less than that of a modern commercial district.

In her childhood, she rarely had the opportunity to participate in such activities. At this moment, it felt like she had accidentally wandered into an amusement park and become a child again.

She tugged at Shen Yan's sleeve and said, "Dad, that rabbit lantern is pretty."

Shen Yan barely hesitated before touching his purse: "Buy it."

His purse contained the money for the month.

It's not a lot, but it's much better than before.

"That lotus lantern is beautiful too."

"purchase."

"That sugar painting is beautiful too."

Shen Yan was about to nod when Xiao Mingyue spoke first: "Qingyuan, pay the bill."

Shen Yan was taken aback and subconsciously wanted to say no.

Xiao Mingyue glanced at him and pressed down his hand as he reached for the silver: "We're in a good mood today, so don't cause any trouble outside."

Shen Yan felt a warmth in his heart and could only whisper his thanks.

Shen Jingque turned around, holding the rabbit lantern: "Your Highness, how can I accept this?"

Ji Qianshang said coolly from the side, "You say you're sorry, but your hand has already reached out."

Shen Jingque took the sugar painting and said matter-of-factly, "Master Ji, one should learn to see through things without saying anything."

Ji Qianshang felt both annoyed and amused by her greedy little face.

This little bean sprout is good at pretending to be well-behaved.

She was pitiful in front of the Princess, soft and weak in front of Shen Yan, but when it came to him, she would open her mouth and stab him in the back.

But she really is capable.

If it weren't for her, who knows how long those counterfeit medicines in the pharmacy would have remained hidden.

Thinking of this, Ji Qianshang closed his fan and decided to let it go for the time being.

A person of great character is magnanimous.

Xiao Mingyue looked at Shen Jingque and said, "Eat slowly."

Shen Yan tucked the hand warmer back into her arms: "Hold the sugar painting steady, don't let it touch your clothes."

The two spoke almost simultaneously, one with a steady tone and the other with a gentle one, but both with the same concern.

Shen Jingque nodded obediently, feeling warm inside but also a bit of a headache.

She's now being protected like a freshly cooked dumpling, surrounded by spoons.

How could she smoothly slip away to "check in" with Xiao Jingchen?

Her gaze passed over the crowd and landed on the white jade bridge in the distance.

A group of young men in fine clothes and women from various households gathered at the bridgehead, with lanterns hanging high.

That's exactly where Xiao Jingchen would appear in the original book.

According to the plot, the male lead will see the female lead by the White Jade Bridge.

Now, because Shen Tingyun has taken over her storyline involving the Marquis's mansion, she will appear on the bridge tonight with the people from the Marquis's mansion, and she and Xiao Jingchen will meet in the crowd and feel an instant connection.

And that's how all the misfortune and tragedy began.

So she looked up at Xiao Mingyue and said, "Your Highness, I would like to go to the front to see that revolving lantern."

Qingyuan immediately said, "This servant will accompany you, Miss."

Shen Jingque's heart skipped a beat.

Sister Qingyuan won't do.

She's too perceptive. If she were to suspect the male lead of having ulterior motives when they bump into each other and report it to the princess, it would be a case of losing more than she gained.

Shen Jingque quickly waved her hand: "No need, no need, it's just a few steps ahead, I'll be right back after I've looked at it."

She tried to make herself look like an innocent child.

But who is Xiao Mingyue?

Looking into Shen Jingque's bright and overly obedient eyes, she knew that this girl probably had other ideas.

However, she simply thought it was just a child being playful, and that it was normal for someone to be tempted to join in the fun at a crowded lantern festival.

Xiao Mingyue's gaze swept across the crowd: "Then let Lü'e come along."

Shen Jingque smiled politely: "Okay."

She decided to shake off Lü'e first, then go back to find her after she finished her work, and then they would meet up with Xiao Mingyue and the others.

The little girl led Green Calyx forward, and when they passed a stall selling silk flowers, she deliberately stopped and picked out two. Then, as a group of children chased after the lanterns, she crouched down and slipped into the crowd.

Green Calyx called out softly, "Miss Shen?"

Shen Jingque had already slipped to the alley entrance with the rabbit lantern in her arms and was walking quickly toward Baiyu Bridge.

She thought to herself, "If I see it once, I'll consider it a chance encounter and leave immediately. I won't get involved."

As soon as I got under the bridge, I heard a familiar voice.

"younger sister?"

Shen Jingque stopped in her tracks.

Shen Tingyun stood by the bridge, wearing a red satin jacket adorned with begonia blossoms and a gold filigree hairpin in her hair, surrounded by several noble ladies.

Compared to when he was in the Shen family, Shen Tingyun is indeed like a completely different person now.

Her clothes were luxurious, her hairpins and ornaments exquisite, and her face wore a carefully maintained air of propriety.

The moment Shen Tingyun saw Shen Jingque, he was also startled.

Why is she here, dressed so nicely?

The pale yellow jacket was made of fine material, and the rabbit fur cloak was not something you could buy in an ordinary market.

Shen Tingyun originally thought that Shen Jingque's life would be hard after following Shen Yan.

In my previous life, I harbored countless grievances in my heart.

In this life, she grabbed her mother's leg first and finally entered the Marquis's mansion.

She thought she had won.

But now, as Shen Jingque stood elegantly under the lamp, Shen Tingyun suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

Are her father and her living a good life now?

Then what about all the grievances she suffered for going through so much trouble to get into the Marquis's mansion, spending her days subservient to him, learning the rules, and trying to please her elder sister and other noble ladies?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when she forcefully suppressed it.

impossible.

What could Shen Yan, a down-on-his-luck scholar, possibly offer Shen Jingque?

She has now entered the Yong'an Marquis's mansion.

They lived in luxury, came from a distinguished family, and were surrounded by dignitaries from the capital.

Shen Jingque just happened to have a nice dress.

It must be like this.

One of the girls in the apricot-colored cloak sized up Shen Jingque: "Tingyun, is this your younger sister who stayed with the Shen family?"

Shen Tingyun's expression changed: "Yes."

Then he turned to Shen Jingque and asked, "Jingque, what are you doing here?"

Shen Jingque, carrying a rabbit lantern, bowed obediently and said, "Greetings, elder sister."

The girl in the apricot-colored dress chuckled softly: "The etiquette is proper, but it's rather casual. Didn't anyone in the household teach you this?"

She spoke with a smile on her lips, but her eyes were devoid of any warmth.

I brought Shen Tingyun out today with a bit of a desire to see some excitement.

My father married a concubine, surnamed Du.

This Lady Du was actually married and had children; she even brought her daughter to the Marquis's residence.

Her father and grandmother were kind and treated Shen Tingyun like a young lady from a noble family, but she was always unhappy.

On what grounds?

The prestige and glory of a marquis's mansion are not something anyone can climb.

From a young age, she learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and how to navigate social circles with grace and poise.

Her every word and action represented the face of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion.

But what about Shen Tingyun?

A woman from another family who entered the household halfway through her life, just because she gained respect through the Du family, actually thought she was a young lady of the Marquis's mansion?

Shen Tingyun has been cautious these days, speaking eloquently and willing to humble herself, but the more she does this, the more Zhao Yuwan wants to test her limits.

She wanted to see just how far Shen Tingyun could endure.

Now that I've met Shen Jingque, it's like an opportunity has been delivered to my doorstep.

Another girl in blue chimed in, "I've heard that Miss Shen lives outside with her father, so it's understandable that she might be a little lax in observing etiquette."

Shen Tingyun's face flushed, and she quickly said, "Please don't be offended, sisters. She is young and has little experience in the world."

She felt a little embarrassed as soon as she said those words.

She knew those words would hurt Shen Jingque, but she had no choice.

He knew his position in the Marquis's mansion was too weak, and Du Yuerong had not yet fully established herself. If he displeased her today, he didn't know how she would be talked about after they returned to the mansion.

Shen Jingque looked up: "Sister is right. I am not worldly-wise. This is the first time I have seen a young lady from your family teaching people manners in the street."

The smile on the girl in the apricot-colored dress faded slightly: "What did you say?"

Shen Tingyun lowered his voice: "Jingque, do not be rude. This is Zhao Yuwan, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an."

Shen Jingque blinked: "So you are the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family. My apologies for my disrespect."

It turns out she was Zhao Yuwan, the one who bullied the original owner of the body in the book.

After the original owner went to the Yong'an Marquis's mansion with her mother, Zhao Yuwan would mock her no matter what she did.

If you don't use proper dining etiquette, you'll be considered ill-mannered.

If the color of your clothes is wrong, you'll be accused of having poor taste.

Speaking too loudly is considered rude; speaking too softly is considered petty.

She bullies people every few days, acting like a spoiled rich girl.

One of the most important reasons why the original owner later decided to leave with Xiao Jingchen was that she didn't want to be bullied by Zhao Yuwan anymore.

Who would have thought that even though she didn't enter the Marquis's residence this time, this woman could still locate her remotely and accurately come to her head to defecate.

The original owner could tolerate it, but Shen Jingque could not.

Zhao Yuwan sensed the perfunctory tone in her voice, and her displeasure deepened.

How dare a maidservant who follows a poor scholar act arrogantly in front of her?

She said calmly, "Since you know you've been disrespectful, you should apologize to everyone, lest others say that Tingyun's sister is ill-mannered."

Shen Jingque said seriously, "Sister Zhao's words are interesting. If you want to say I'm ill-mannered, then say it about me. Why drag my sister into it?"

"Is sowing discord what the Yong'an Marquis's family is supposed to be like?"

"Besides, it was someone from the Princess's residence who brought me out today."

The smile on her face vanished completely. "If you say I'm ill-mannered, then Sister Zhao is implying that the Princess's residence doesn't know how to teach people?"