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

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The guard who delivered the report knelt on one knee, not daring to lift his eyes.

Everyone knows that the princess's Achilles' heel is the label of "husband-killer".

The emperor repeatedly used this matter to his advantage, trying to place people into his household.

Now this scoundrel, who knows where he came from, dares to come and cause trouble.

The little eunuch finally came to his senses and shouted in a shrill voice.

"You audacious madman!"

"Your Highness is of noble birth; how can you allow such vulgar scoundrels to humiliate you? This servant will order them to be beaten to death!"

Xiao Mingyue raised her hand to stop the little eunuch's movement.

"Wait a minute."

"I'd like to see which damned bastard dares to provoke this trouble."

Xiao Mingyue strode towards the outer courtyard.

Outside the side gate of the Princess's residence.

Shen Yan tugged at Shen Jingque's sleeve, his voice trembling.

"Sparrow, let's go."

"Even if your father goes to East Street to carry sacks and do hard labor, he can still support you."

Shen Jingque wrapped her arms around Shen Yan's arms, hanging on him like a weight.

"Father, we've come all this way, there's no reason for us to leave empty-handed."

"We're living in the Du family's house now. If you and Mother get divorced and they kick us out, we'll have to fight wild dogs for territory at the mountain temple."

"Can you bear to watch your lovely, well-behaved daughter be chased and bitten by stray dogs?"

The tragic image of her daughter being chased by stray dogs flashed through Shen Yan's mind, and her heart ached so much that she clenched her teeth.

He gritted his teeth, trying to suppress his fear.

"But how could we possibly aspire to the status of the Princess's residence?"

Shen Jingque patted the back of his hand and comforted him earnestly.

"Dad, you need to have a clear understanding of yourself."

"With your looks, you'd be a top-tier celebrity in the entire capital."

System 001 suddenly emitted an electronic sound.

[Host, you're playing with fire and getting burned!]

"You can still turn back now. The Yong'an Marquis's carriage is just two streets away. If you run fast, you can still catch up with your mother!"

Shen Jingque rolled her eyes inwardly.

"High risk brings high reward; as the saying goes, fortune favors the bold."

"My father, this perfect innocent and pure young man, was tailor-made for the Eldest Princess."

Princess Xiao Mingyue is a villainous supporting character; she kills without blinking an eye. If your father goes in, he'll just be sent to his death!

Shen Jingque was too lazy to pay attention to the screaming chicken in her head.

When she was reading the book, she wondered, why is the one who opposes the male lead considered the villain?

In her view, the eldest princess was only too soft-hearted towards her emperor brother, which is why she was betrayed time and time again by these power-hungry men.

The heavy, vermilion side door emitted a dull, scraping sound.

Two rows of heavily armored soldiers filed out and quickly formed a battle formation outside the gate.

A chilling atmosphere swept over us.

Xiao Mingyue was dressed in a black outfit, with a long, unsheathed sword at her waist.

She was originally seething with anger.

They were planning to tie up this arrogant fool and throw him into the moat to feed the turtles.

But when her gaze fell on Shen Yan's face, she froze in place.

The winter morning light pierced through the thin mist and slanted down on Shen Yan.

He wore a slightly worn blue robe that exuded a cool and aloof aura.

Her brow bone was delicate and refined, and a small beauty mark at the corner of her eye blushed slightly with fear.

Like a traditional Chinese ink painting dampened by rain, it exudes a fragile and endearing quality.

Although the previous three princes-in-law were also refined scholars, compared to the man before them, they were nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs.

Xiao Mingyue's heart skipped a beat.

Shen Yan felt a chill run down his spine under Xiao Mingyue's gaze.

His wide sleeves concealed his trembling fingertips, and he dared not even catch his breath.

Shen Jingque's gaze swept over the two of them, and she whistled inwardly.

Steady!

This is the fate of those who only care about appearance!

She decisively let go of Shen Yan and stepped forward with her short legs.

He imitated the mannerisms from the opera and performed a crooked curtsy.

"This humble woman, Shen Jingque, greets Your Highness, the Eldest Princess."

Xiao Mingyue forcibly withdrew her gaze and looked down at the little girl whose breasts barely reached her chest.

She had big, watery eyes, a smile on her lips, and two small dimples.

Her eyes were bright and lively, and she was as lovely as jade.

"Little girl, was it you who said you wanted to send me a big gift?"

Shen Jingque tilted her head back and smiled innocently.

"Your Highness, it is indeed I, this humble woman."

"I've heard that the imperial court is planning to bestow a marriage upon you with a scholar surnamed Wang."

Xiao Mingyue's face darkened.

Wang Changhe's affairs are royal secrets. Where did this little girl hear about them?

She flipped her wrist, pressing her thumb against the hilt of the knife.

"Clang—" The long sword was pushed out half an inch, and a cold light flashed.

"How did you find out? Who sent you?"

Shen Yan was terrified and shielded Shen Jingque behind him.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

"My daughter is young and ignorant, and spoke nonsense. I beg Your Highness to spare her life, for she is still a child!"

"This humble citizen is willing to take the punishment in place of my daughter!"

Shen Yan tried desperately to cover Shen Jingque's mouth, but the little girl dodged away like an eel.

Shen Jingque peeked her head out from under his arm.

"Your Highness, no one instructed me. I just overheard a eunuch talking about it at the door."

She didn't actually hear it at all.

Who cares? Children say the truth, and the dead can't prove it.

Seeing that Xiao Mingyue did not move, she spoke rapidly:

"My dad was a scholar too, but he was definitely a hundred times better looking than that guy surnamed Wang!"

"Besides, my father has a clean background and is as timid as a rabbit, posing no threat to you whatsoever."

"Keeping him in the manor will not only block the pretext of the imperial court's arranged marriage, but also make you happy to see him every day."

"By marrying my father, Your Highness is guaranteed to make a profit!"

System 001 emitted a pig-like scream in Shen Jingque's mind.

【Aaaaaah, you're going to die!】

[She's drawn her sword! This system will be buried with you!]

Xiao Mingyue's hand, gripping the hilt of the knife, hesitated to make a further move.

She looked down at the father and daughter.

The little girl is incredibly audacious, spouting nonsense, yet every single word she utters seems to hit her sore spot.

She desperately needed a reason to turn down Wang Changhe's informant.

The emperor and empress dowager were pressuring her, and she couldn't just randomly pull in a beggar to fill the quota.

The man in front of me looks weak and unassuming, and he certainly can't cause any trouble.

The worst part is... this person's appearance is just too much to her liking.

Xiao Mingyue's gaze fell on Shen Yan again.

Shen Yan felt extremely uncomfortable under their gaze, so embarrassed that even his long, slender neck flushed slightly.

He opened his mouth, trying to salvage some dignity as a scholar.

"Your Highness... This humble subject only desires to be fed and clothed, and has no other desires."

"If Your Highness's residence is lacking a scholar to copy texts... this humble subject... this humble subject dares to..."

He didn't really want to sell himself, so he forced himself to explain.

Her voice trembled with nervousness, and her raised eyes welled up with tears.

His helpless and vulnerable appearance, coupled with his refined and otherworldly face, was striking.

Like a white rabbit that has wandered into a pack of wolves.

Xiao Mingyue closed her eyes.

Damn, it's totally her type.

With a soft "click," the long sword returned to its sheath.

Without giving the father and daughter another glance, he turned and stepped through the vermilion gate.

He left behind three firm words:

"Come in and speak."