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

The window of the prince's study was half-open, and the thin winter sunlight slanted in, casting a cold white glow on the documents on the desk.

Xiao Jingchen turned the last page with his slender fingers, closed the file, and placed it back on the table.

The guard stood with his head bowed below the steps, reporting in a low voice:

"Shen Yan, a member of a collateral branch of the former Qingliu Shen family, was barred from taking the imperial examinations for life because his ancestors were involved in an old case concerning the imperial examinations."

"My wife, Du Yuerong, divorced me a month ago and remarried Zhao Heng, the Marquis of Yong'an, as his second wife. We have two daughters. The eldest daughter, Shen Tingyun, went to the Marquis's mansion with her mother, while the younger daughter, Shen Jingque, went to live with her father in the mansion of the Princess."

Xiao Jingchen picked up the teacup; the tea had already gone cold, but he didn't care and slowly took a sip.

A destitute and useless father, and a young girl with no connections.

Why did Xiao Mingyue throw the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family into the river in the street for her sake?

Why should we openly break ties with the people of the city?

Although her aunt was always decisive and ruthless, she had no fear of these powerful families.

But he had never seen this kind of protective attitude, this reckless favoritism, in Xiao Mingyue.

"Keep an eye on it." Xiao Jingchen put down his teacup. "Report everything in detail: where Shen Jingque goes each day, who she meets, and everything that happens to her."

The guards responded and withdrew.

The study fell silent again.

Xiao Jingchen leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on the old plum tree outside the window, its branches gnarled and its buds yet to bloom.

Xiao Mingyue commands a large army, making him a force that Xiao Mingyue must win over in order to eventually reach the top.

This Shen Jingque might become his easiest target.

He smiled slightly and reached out to push the file deep into the drawer.

Not urgent.

A good hunter never easily disturbs his prey.

……

The Princess's Residence, Xiling Residence.

Shen Jingque excitedly shouted and yelled in the Shennong Space.

The twelve medicinal herb seeds planted last night have already sprouted into tender seedlings half a foot tall, with lush green leaves and upright stems, looking even stronger than the crops that have been carefully tended for three months outside.

[Ding! Accelerated growth of medicinal herbs detected within the space; current maturity rate: 100%. The host can now identify them using the encyclopedia.]

Shen Jingque's eyes lit up as she squatted down by the edge of the field and touched each one in turn.

The moment my finger touched the first leaf, a pale gold illustration appeared before my eyes.

[Fritillaria cirrhosa: Bitter and sweet in nature, slightly cold, enters the lung and heart meridians, clears heat and moistens the lungs, resolves phlegm and relieves cough. (Illustrated guide highlighted! Currently included: 51/80)]

Shen Jingque touched each plant one by one, and the encyclopedia page popped up one after another.

Of the twelve new medicinal herbs, eight were varieties she had never encountered before, with the identification number jumping from 51 to 59.

[Currently included: 59/80. 21 more prescriptions are needed to unlock the prescription feature.]

Shen Jingque rubbed her hands together, mentally calculating the remaining gaps.

There are still many medicinal herbs in Yingzhuyuan Pharmacy that she hasn't touched. After Ji Qianshang's holiday ends, she will go and farm them again. It shouldn't be difficult to collect seventy herbs.

As for the last ten, we'll figure out a way later.

She was deep in thought when she suddenly heard a noisy commotion.

It wasn't a sound from inside the room; it came from outside.

Shen Jingque's consciousness exited the space, and when she opened her eyes, she heard the servants bustling about outside the courtyard wall.

She ran to the door and bumped into Lü'e, who was carrying a copper basin in.

"What's going on outside? Are you moving?"

Green Calyx's eyebrows curved into crescents, her face beaming with joy: "Miss, the Second Young Master is back!"

"Second Young Master?" Shen Jingque blinked.

"It's the Second Young Master Xiao Changqi!" Lü'e put down the copper basin. "The Second Young Master went to Lingnan to buy goods three months ago, and he's finally back in the capital today."

"You didn't see it, the scene in the front yard, tsk tsk, dozens of big trucks blocked half the alley."

Shen Jingque's mind raced as she recalled the contents of the original book.

Xiao Changqi, the second adopted son of the eldest princess, is the richest man in Dayong.

Qi Yun Money Exchange is his business, and his restaurants and shops are all over the north and south. Every year, the tribute money he gives to the Princess's Mansion alone is enough for an ordinary wealthy family to live on for three generations.

The original book doesn't describe him much, only saying that he is shrewd and greedy, but he is extremely filial to his adoptive mother, Xiao Mingyue, and spends money so lavishly that it's outrageous.

Now that this God of Wealth has returned home, she wants to see him for herself.

After changing into a clean jacket and skirt, Shen Jingque slipped out of Xiling Residence and walked along the covered corridor towards the front courtyard.

Before even reaching the main gate, I was stunned by the sight before me.

The bluestone path in the front yard was lined with boxes and cages of all sizes.

There were red lacquered boxes with gold trim, black lacquered boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and several long wooden boxes wrapped tightly in oilcloth—clearly precious items meant to be protected from damage.

The servants came and went, carrying things non-stop. Uncle Xu stood under the eaves, checking the booklets box by box, his forehead beaded with sweat.

Shen Jingque leaned closer, stood on tiptoe, and looked at the booklet. It was densely covered with writing, and she had flipped through several pages before reaching the end.

"Uncle Xu, are these all goods that the second young master brought back?"

Uncle Xu shook his head, a helpless smile on his face: "These are not goods, but gifts that the Second Young Master brought back to pay respects to His Highness."

Shen Jingque: "..."

What kind of nouveau riche style is this!

She turned her head and looked again at the dozens of boxes in the passageway, then at the convoy still carrying boxes in outside the door. For a moment, she felt that poverty had limited her imagination.

"Make way, make way, don't block the way!"

A clear voice came from the direction of the gate, carrying a hint of smugness.

Shen Jingque looked in the direction of the sound.

A young gentleman stepped across the threshold, dressed in fine clothes and a jade belt, holding a folding fan with intricate gold carvings in his hand.

Despite it being the coldest time of winter, he waved his fan with great force, the gold face of which dazzled the eyes in the sunlight.

This man had a dashing face, with eyebrows that swept into his temples, and peach blossom eyes that, when smiling, carried a hint of frivolity. Yet, beneath those eyes gleamed a shrewd glint, as if he were always scheming something.

A middle-aged man carrying an account book followed behind, looking distressed and keeping pace with him.

"Second Young Master, you've already brought in twelve corals from the South China Sea, plus the agarwood and sharkskin, and the cost has exceeded the budget by thirty percent. The accounts are..."

Xiao Changqi didn't turn his head, and pointed behind him with his golden fan: "We'll talk about the account later. Let's finish checking the gift list for our godmother first."

"But Second Young Master..."

"Qian Mo." Xiao Changqi stopped and turned to look at the middle-aged man, smiling broadly. "I'm in a rare good mood today, don't spoil my fun, hmm?"

Qian Mo: "..."

Shen Jingque stood behind the pillar, the corners of her mouth unable to help but turn up.

Good heavens, this second young master's style is the complete opposite of Xiao Changgeng's.

One was as cold as a sword in an ice cellar, the other as flamboyant as a peacock.

Xiao Changqi walked into the courtyard and glanced around, spotting the little girl peeking out from beside Uncle Xu.

He paused, closed his golden fan, and pointed at Shen Jingque.

"Uncle Xu, whose little girl is this? I've never seen her before?"