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

At this moment, Shen Yan was standing by the window, calculating how many liters of rice he could earn by copying books at the bookstore in the east of the city.

He originally worked as a tutor in the household of a wealthy man surnamed Zhao, where he educated the young masters and ladies of the family.

However, last month the Zhao family offended a local tycoon and moved to Shouchun.

Therefore, Shen Yan has been relying on odd jobs to make ends meet for his family lately.

He was a man of principle, a scholar who, despite not having achieved official rank, worked hard to earn his own money and never considered using his wife's dowry.

Those dowry items were originally brought by Du Yuerong from the Du family, and he never felt that he was entitled to a single penny of them.

Even though Du Yuerong had sneered countless times that he was arrogant, that he was poor and stingy, and that he was good for nothing except his face and a few strokes of his pen, he remained silent.

What she said didn't seem to be wrong.

He had indeed failed to provide a good life for his wife and daughters.

Now that Du Yuerong has divorced him, she has moved all the furnishings and decorations out of the house, making the old residence seem much emptier.

Children are growing rapidly, so they must not lack food or clothing.

It was still quite difficult for him to support himself and his daughter by copying books.

"Sparrow, tomorrow I'll set up a letter-writing stall on the street."

He pulled Shen Jingque closer to his chest.

"Then you should stay home and not wander off."

Shen Jingque grabbed Shen Yan's wide sleeve, her big eyes blinking and glistening with tears.

"Father, we cannot let ourselves fall into such a state of depravity."

Shen Yan's face turned pale.

In that instant, it felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head.

He supported his daughter with his own hands, so how did he fall into depravity?

On second thought, perhaps it was true, as Du Yuerong said, that he could only make a living by doing odd jobs, which was indeed pathetic.

His wife and children were separated, his house was empty, and he had to carefully budget even for his daughter's meal.

Does his daughter dislike him?

His eyes darkened, tinged with apology.

"I'm sorry, Sparrow, following your father has made you suffer."

Shen Jingque tugged at his sleeve with her small hand and walked towards the door.

"So, Father, we must strive to do our best!"

"We need to find a backer even more powerful than the Marquis's mansion as soon as possible, so that they can't even touch the hem of our clothes."

Shen Yan was half-dragged and half-pulled out of the house by his daughter.

He looked completely bewildered: "Que'er, we have no relatives or friends in this capital city. Where can we find someone to rely on?"

Shen Jingque's two short legs moved incredibly fast.

"Father, don't worry about it! I'm going to find you a good family to marry into today!"

Her sweet voice echoed down the long street, drawing stares from passersby.

Shen Yan's face flushed instantly, even the roots of his neck turned red.

He had just divorced his wife and was penniless; besides, what kind of man gets married?

"Sparrow, stop talking nonsense! What...what do you mean, 'married'? This is ridiculous!"

He stammered in desperation, trying to break free, only to find that the little girl was surprisingly strong.

The cold winter wind blew in my face.

Shen Jingque was completely oblivious to the chill, her mind filled with her shocking plan.

The system 001 in my mind is about to short-circuit.

【Host, wake up!】

Your mission is to enter the Yong'an Marquis's residence, meet the chosen one Xiao Jingchen, and experience a heart-wrenching love affair with him!

Where are you going now?

"Go to the Princess's residence."

System 001 screams.

What are you doing at the Princess's residence?!

Princess Xiao Mingyue is the main antagonist in the entire book. She wields considerable military power, is distrusted by the emperor, and is considered unlucky for her husbands. In the end, she will be eliminated by the male protagonist's scheme!

Are you deliberately trying to get yourself killed?!

Shen Jingque sneered.

Why did the eldest princess die in the original book?

"It's all because of her good brother, His Majesty the Emperor, who insisted on marrying her a prince consort named Wang Changhe."

"Wang Changhe appears to be a refined scholar, but in reality, he is a traitor sent by the emperor to monitor her, and in the end, he even plots to frame her."

"What the eldest princess needs right now is a shield that can block the emperor's pretext of a marriage, and that poses no threat to her."

"My father was a commoner, powerless and without influence, with a gentle personality, and most importantly, he was good-looking."

"According to the original novel, the princess's first three husbands were all refined, handsome, and charming young men."

What does this mean?

"This shows that Her Highness the Princess is a sucker for good looks; she only likes handsome husbands!"

System 001 was completely bewildered by her rambling and managed to utter a single sentence after a long while.

[But... the main plot is about you meeting the male lead, working with him to quell the chaos and change the dynasty, not arranging a marriage for your father!!!]

Shen Jingque covered her ears.

"Screw the main quest, your male protagonist is a PUA master."

"Why would I give up a top-tier player to cling to and instead become a stepping stone for a scumbag?"

"Am I the one who lost Wu Zetian's husband (Li Zhi) and lost my mind?"

"Every working person knows to look for a big company with good benefits and compensation. Your crappy system doesn't even pay for the five social insurances and one housing fund. You expect me to work my life away for you?"

The system is speechless; the system crashes.

What makes you think the Eldest Princess would accept Shen Yan, a good-for-nothing who won't even survive three episodes?!

Shen Jingque clicked her tongue in disdain.

That's why I say you have no taste.

"A female warrior paired with a sickly and delicate husband, do you even know what extreme contrast is?"

[But this part wasn't in the original story! If the main plot breaks down, the power of Heaven will forcibly correct it!]

Shen Jingque was annoyed by its noise and rolled her eyes.

But she was also worried that this forced correction would just send her straight to the male lead's bed.

That would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, utterly doomed.

So they decided to appease the system that was crying and complaining.

"You don't understand, I call this a roundabout way to achieve my goal."

"I'm just a poor, orphaned girl from a poor scholar's family. How am I supposed to get close to your Celestial Dragon protagonist? By selling myself?"

"I might as well sell my father."

system:……

That actually seems...quite reasonable!

As Shen Jingque ran, she began to give Shen Yan pre-job training.

"Father, when you see the person later, you're just responsible for maintaining this frail and delicate appearance."

"The eyes should look innocent, the corners of the eyes should be red, and it would be best if you could squeeze out two tears that are about to fall."

Startled by these lewd words, Shen Yan stumbled and finally broke free from Shen Jingque's grasp.

"Sparrow! I would never do something like this, using my beauty to please someone!"

His inherent pride made it impossible for him to accept this arrangement.

Shen Jingque stopped and looked up at him.

Of course she could tell that Shen Yan was injured.

But now is not the time to emphasize the integrity of scholars.

The father and daughter are so poor they can barely afford food, why are they still trying to maintain a semblance of dignity?

Can a decent person cook porridge?

Can backbone be used as a blanket?

"Father, your greatest advantage is your beauty. What's shameful about using your looks to please others?"

"That's called leveraging core strengths for differentiated competition!"

"Do you want to see me starving, cold, and bullied everywhere?"

"Do you want your mother to one day have a sudden whim and snatch me to the Marquis's mansion, separating me from Father forever?"

Separated forever?!

Shen Yan's face turned pale.

Although he felt his daughter was acting strangely today, and didn't understand what she meant by "lack of competition".

He could live on meager rations, but he'd rather kill him than let him never see his daughter again.

His eyes struggled violently, and he accepted the arrangement in a second.

"If it can truly protect you, then Father... I will listen to you."

Shen Jingque patted his hand with satisfaction: "That's more like it, you've broadened your perspective!"

As the two struggled, they arrived at the vermilion side gate of the Princess's residence.

The tall gatehouse is carved with auspicious beasts, and the stone lions exude a solemn and imposing aura.

When Shen Yan saw the plaque that read "The Residence of the Princess Zhenguo," his legs went weak and he almost knelt down.

"Sparrow, the good family you spoke of, could it be...?"

He gasped, and his vision went black.

This is a living Yama who can twist off the head of an enemy general and kick it around like a ball!

If a scholar like him goes in, he'll probably be reduced to ashes!

Shen Jingque tidied her slightly disheveled hair and put on a well-behaved and pitiful expression.

"Father, what are you afraid of? This one is practically tailor-made for the Princess."

After saying that, she stood on tiptoe and knocked on the door knocker without hesitation.

The dull knocking sound carried far through the morning air, making Shen Yan's heart pound.

The gatekeeper poked his head out, his face full of impatience: "Go away, go away! Where did this beggar come from!"

Shen Jingque raised her chin, her voice clear and crisp.

"Please inform the princess that someone has come to deliver a generous gift that can help Your Highness in her urgent situation."

The gatekeeper was about to grab a broom to shoo them away when he was met with Shen Yan's stunningly handsome face.

He was stunned.

Having served in the princess's residence for many years, I have never seen a man so handsome.

As if possessed, he left behind the words "Wait," and the gatekeeper hurriedly ran in to report.

……

At this time, in the backyard of the princess's residence

On the training ground, a silver spear flew up and down, the force of the wind sweeping away the yellow leaves scattered on the ground.

Xiao Mingyue was dressed in a black outfit, her long hair tied up high, and her eyes and brows carried the coldness and ruthlessness forged from licking blood on the front lines.

She sheathed her spear, casually tossed the heavy silver spear to a guard, and walked to the stone table to pick up a teacup.

Beside him stood a pale-faced, beardless eunuch with a fawning smile.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is doing this for your own good. Wang Changhe is highly talented and comes from an upright family."

"You've been widowed for three years now; there must be someone in the household who cares for you, right?"

Xiao Mingyue's fingers were slightly bent.

With a "crack," fine cracks appeared on the wall of the fine white porcelain cup.

The young eunuch trembled with fear, but forced himself to continue, "His Majesty said that if Your Highness refuses again, he will personally issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage..."

Xiao Mingyue was so angry she laughed.

Her good brother wasn't concerned about her at all; he was clearly worried about the military power she held and was eager to plant spies in her bed.

She knew perfectly well how the first three princes-in-law had died.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were afraid that she would join forces with civil officials by taking a son-in-law, and they were also afraid that she would leave behind an heir.

As a result, she ruined three husbands and was branded as a "husband-killer"!

Nowadays, which noble family in the capital would be willing to let their son marry a princess who is considered a "husband-killer"?

So it's no surprise that the emperor found her something disgusting.

She would rather die alone than let these filthy things defile the princess's residence!

Just as Xiao Mingyue was about to order the eunuchs to be beaten out with sticks, a guard rushed over and knelt on one knee.

The guard's expression was extremely strange: "Your Highness, someone has come to the side gate and is insisting on seeing you."

Xiao Mingyue frowned slightly. "Why are all these random people coming to report this? Just get rid of them."

The guard swallowed hard. "I wanted to send him away, but what he said was really strange..."

"She said she wanted to send His Highness a great gift... to relieve His Highness's urgent crisis."

"And you also said..."

The guard glanced at Xiao Mingyue's face and forced himself to repeat it.

"Rumor has it that Her Highness has been cursed to lose three husbands in a row, possessing an extremely strong destiny. Her father's destiny is the most resilient to such curses. Would you like to... give it a try?"