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

The lobby was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

As soon as Shen Jingque finished speaking, Qin Lie jumped up to object, his broad body blocking her way.

"No! That hostage from Yan is full of evil intentions. What would you, a perfectly innocent young woman, do by going to see him?"

Xiao Changqi stood to the side, fanning himself with a folding fan. Although he wasn't as excited as Qin Lie, he clearly disagreed.

"Third brother's words may be rough, but they make sense. Que'er, I don't care what happens in the Southwest, but there are countless eyes watching us in the capital. If word gets out that you went to see him in secret, don't you care about your reputation?"

Shen Yan and Xiao Changgeng also advised, "Que'er, listen to your brothers."

Shen Jingque had actually anticipated her family's opposition.

However, the emperor's unusual handling of Xiao Jingchen made her uneasy.

Furthermore, she instinctively felt that there was something wrong with the Taoist priest Tantai Liang who had suddenly appeared by the emperor's side.

Therefore, it is imperative to see Rong Jing today.

Of those present, only Xiao Mingyue had not yet expressed her opinion.

She bowed slightly, her gaze level with Shen Jingque's, her expression solemn.

"You really want to go?"

Shen Jingque nodded: "Yes, I want to go, I have..."

"Then let's go." Xiao Mingyue agreed without waiting for her to finish speaking.

Qin Lie panicked: "Mother! That boy..."

Xiao Mingyue raised her hand to stop him from speaking.

"I've seen what kind of person Que'er is on this journey to the southwest for disaster relief. She's quick-witted, decisive, and has a big picture in mind. She must have her reasons for wanting to go."

She looked at Shen Jingque, her tone softening slightly.

"The daughter of the Eldest Princess's household wouldn't be so easily swayed by a little personal affection, would she?"

Shen Jingque nodded. "Yes, Mother, I have something to discuss with him."

Xiao Mingyue didn't ask any more questions, but simply straightened his clothes.

"Take Tianjiu with you, and come back as soon as possible."

Shen Jingque was overjoyed, and her cheers were clear and melodious.

"Thank you, Mother! Sparrow loves you!"

……

In the afternoon, Shen Jingque took Tian Jiu out.

To be honest, she had never been to Rong Jing's mansion, which was called Lazy Garden, but she felt that the name suited the man very well.

Lazy, relaxed, as if he doesn't care about anything.

Now, as a place where hostages are imprisoned, it is surrounded by layers upon layers of the Shenji Camp, making it difficult even for birds to cross.

Shen Jingque got off the carriage and entered the garden with the token given to her by Xiao Mingyue.

The autumn wind swirled fallen leaves in the courtyard, creating a desolate scene.

"Tianjiu, wait for me outside." Shen Jingque left Tianjiu outside the door.

It wasn't that she was afraid he would find out anything, but subconsciously she felt it was better for her to talk about this with Rong Jing alone.

Turning past the moon gate, you'll find yourself in the back garden.

Shen Jingque had just stepped onto the corridor when she abruptly stopped.

A wooden wheelchair has overturned under the corridor in the garden.

Rong Jing, dressed in pure white, fell to the ground in a disheveled state, his legs dragging behind him in a twisted position.

He seemed to be trying to stand up, bracing himself with his hands on the ground, but fell back down heavily, splashing mud all over the ground.

Shen Jingque's breathing became slightly disordered.

What happened? He came back perfectly fine. Was this just an act?

She lifted her skirt, rushed down the steps, and headed straight for him.

"Rong Jing!"

She knelt down and reached out to support his arms.

The moment my fingers touched the sleeve, my wrist was gripped tightly by a slightly cool hand.

A strand of hair fell across his forehead, subtly obscuring his vision, and he slowly raised his lowered eyes.

There was no trace of embarrassment or distress in those eyes; instead, a clear, cold light flashed across them.

He shook his head at her almost imperceptibly.

Immediately afterwards, his slender fingers slid down to her palm and quickly traced two lines.

Shen Jingque suddenly understood.

Someone is watching him.

Without making a sound, she used the action of bending down to pull him to quickly glance around.

Sure enough, next to the artificial rockery diagonally in front, a gardener was squatting in the flower bushes, pruning the branches and leaves.

The man wore a tattered straw hat and was snipping at dry branches with large scissors, but his body was stiff and his eyes seemed to drift towards them.

This courtyard was taken over by the Shenji Battalion, yet outsiders were still able to infiltrate it?

The only possibility is that this person already existed before they returned.

At this moment, Rong Jing was putting on an act for this person.

"Are they all dead?!" Shen Jingque raised her voice, looking at the servant standing motionless in the distance.

"Is this how you serve people? The Emperor only placed him under house arrest here, he didn't say he was going to kill him! If something happens to the hostage right under our noses, who can bear the responsibility!"

Several old women and servants who had been pretending to be deaf and dumb then hurriedly ran out from behind the pillars.

"What are you all standing there for! Carry him inside!"

Shen Jingque pointed at the noses of the servants and cursed, her eyebrows raised high.

"Everyone on duty today will have half a month's pay deducted! If there's a next time, they'll all be sold off!!"

The servants were so frightened that they responded repeatedly and hurriedly lifted Rong Jing from the ground.

[Oh my god, host, your aura is amazing! You're absolutely awe-inspiring!]

Suddenly, the loud and boisterous voice of System 002 echoed in my mind.

[You've got a whole repertoire of those clever phrases; you've completely fooled them. I love your domineering presence.]

"Shut up, keep an eye on that gardener pruning the flowers and see what he does."

Shen Jingque replied in her mind, but her face remained angry.

"Alright, I've got your back. That guy's been eyeing us suspiciously, but looks like he's intimidated by your posture."

System 002 immediately and dutifully began broadcasting the announcement.

As Rong Jing was being pulled, his brows furrowed in pain, and he let out a muffled groan of suppressed emotion.

Her legs hung limply, being dragged along by the servants, and she stumbled against the stone steps without any awareness, a shocking sight to behold.

Shen Jingque stood in the mud and water, coldly watching the group carry Rong Jing into the main house.

Yu Guangli observed that the gardener beside the artificial hill, seeing the people being carried away, slowly put the large scissors in his hand into a basket.

He lowered his straw hat and, using the flowers as cover, quietly turned and retreated along the covered walkway.

He thought he had gotten away with it, but little did he know that Shen Jingque had already seen through his actions.