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

It was already dusk when they returned to the Princess's residence.

Xiao Changqi didn't return to his own courtyard; instead, he carried Shen Jingque straight to Yingzhu Garden.

Shen Jingque was dragged along half of the covered walkway by him, panting like a donkey pulling a millstone.

"Second brother, slow down, my legs are short!"

The gate to Yingzhu Garden was half-closed, and the inside was brightly lit.

Xiao Changgeng was sitting in a wheelchair reviewing official documents, his vermilion pen scratching on the paper, while Xuan Qi stood beside him grinding ink.

He lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping from Shen Jingque's face to Xiao Changqi.

"What brings you at this hour?"

Xiao Changqi placed the golden fan on the table, pulled up a chair and sat down, unusually putting away his playful smile.

"Brother, something happened at Wenjin Pavilion today."

Xiao Changgeng continued writing, awaiting his next move.

Xiao Changqi recounted the events in detail, especially describing the boy's appearance and behavior.

"I suspect it's someone from the palace."

Xiao Changgeng pondered for a moment, then put down his vermilion brush: "How old are you?"

"Looks like fifteen or sixteen, at most seventeen."

Xiao Changqi recalled for a moment and then added a sentence.

"She was very good-looking, with delicate features, and her smile made her seem harmless."

"He was also very tactful in his speech. He didn't get angry when Xiao Que called him a human trafficker in public; he could even smile and clasp his hands in farewell."

"But I always felt a sense of unease."

Shen Jingque nodded frantically beside him.

What a kindred spirit, Second Brother!

She hesitated for a moment, then interjected.

"And another thing, I've been watching that old man selling candied hawthorns outside the mansion gate for several days now."

"As soon as I went out today, he packed up and left. When I came back, he and his stall were gone."

Xiao Changgeng's fingers paused on the armrest for a moment.

Are you sure?

Shen Jingque nodded affirmatively: "Of course, I noticed it on the first day. Setting up a stall in front of the Princess's residence, what common people would buy from it? They'd lose a fortune!"

Xiao Changgeng nodded and pulled out a stack of silk scrolls from a hidden compartment.

There were at least dozens of scrolls, arranged neatly in some unknown order.

He flipped through the papers for a while, then his finger stopped on one of them and spread it out in front of the two of them.

It is a small portrait painted in the meticulous style.

The boy in the painting is dressed in black casual clothes, with delicate features and a slight smile on his lips.

His smiling, dagger-like demeanor was exactly the same as that of the white-robed scholar in Wenjin Pavilion today.

Shen Jingque glanced at it and nodded.

"That's right, it's this face."

Xiao Changgeng put the scroll away. "This is the Third Prince, Xiao Jingchen."

"The Third Prince? Consort Liang's son?" Xiao Changqi asked in surprise.

Xiao Changgeng's gaze fell on Shen Jingque's face: "Where have you seen him before?"

Shen Jingque spread her hands, her expression more wronged than Dou E's.

"Young Master, I swear, I really don't know him!"

"Before today, I didn't even know what he looked like!"

This wasn't exactly a lie; today was indeed the first time she had seen Xiao Jingchen in person.

As for the descriptions in the original book...

That doesn't count, right?

Xiao Changgeng scrutinized her for a moment and felt that her furrowed brow did not seem to be feigned.

"He must have ulterior motives for approaching you."

Shen Jingque nodded frantically in her heart.

Ah yes, yes, this guy came here to harm her!

"That's right, young master. What would a prince like you want from me? It's terrifying."

Xiao Changqi interjected, "Could it be that they're after my godmother?"

"It can't be ruled out." Xiao Changgeng stuffed the scroll back into the hidden compartment.

"Starting tomorrow, you must take someone I assign with you when you leave the manor."

Shen Jingque nodded hurriedly.

"Alright, alright, forget about bringing people, I'll even dress up as a man."

Xiao Changqi grew angrier the more he thought about it, and slammed his hand on the table.

"So what if he's the Third Prince? He's not going to lay a finger on my sister."

Xiao Changgeng glanced at him.

"Don't make this public, and don't tell your godmother either."

Xiao Changqi was taken aback.

"Why? If my stepmother finds out, she'll definitely..."

"Your godmother is already preparing for her wedding, and she also has to deal with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Now, at this crucial juncture, you're adding another problem. Do you think she's not busy enough?"

Xiao Changqi shut up.

My older brother is the most thoughtful.

Xiao Changgeng looked at Shen Jingque and calmly said:

"You don't need to worry too much. The Third Prince's purpose is unclear at the moment, so he shouldn't act rashly."

"Just remember, no matter what he says or does, don't have any contact with him alone."

Shen Jingque nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, young master, I'll run away as soon as I see him and I won't give him a second chance to speak to me."

Xiao Changgeng hummed in agreement and picked up his vermilion pen again to review official documents.

The matter was thus temporarily dropped.

Shen Jingque and Xiao Changqi left Yingzhu Garden one after the other.

Once on the bamboo path, Xiao Changqi belatedly hissed.

"Good heavens, so I cursed the Third Prince as a lecherous scoundrel today?"

Shen Jingque looked up at him, her face indifferent: "So what? I could have said he was a human trafficker."

Xiao Changqi patted his forehead.

"If he holds a grudge, will my Qiyun Money Shop still be able to keep its thirty-two branches in the capital region open?"

Shen Jingque patted his arm, her face full of sincerity.

"Second brother, it's alright. If you really go bankrupt because of this, you can just go to Manager Fan and act pitiful so she'll feel sorry for you."

"Maybe Manager Fan will take pity on you and let you marry into her family?"

Xiao Changqi was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"You're right!" he exclaimed, slapping his thigh.

"Sparrow, you are truly a great strategist for your brother!"

Shen Jingque looked at his excited expression and silently rubbed her forehead.

I'm hopelessly in love.

……

That evening, after returning to Xiling Residence and washing up, Shen Jingque immersed her consciousness in the Shennong Space.

The spring water gurgled and flowed, and the twelve new seedlings had grown to waist height, their leaves unfurling, a vibrant green.

She squatted down by the edge of the field, opened the herbal catalog she had bought at Wenjin Pavilion during the day, and planned to study it carefully.

"System, what level is my Pokédex now?"

[59/80, 21 more prescriptions needed to unlock the prescription feature.]

Twenty-one.

Shen Jingque gnawed on her fingernails and counted the numbers.

There are still a few more types of swiping available at Yingzhuyuan Pharmacy. Xiao Changqi will buy the rest for her, so there shouldn't be any problem.

She closed the catalog, clapped her hands, stood up, and stretched.

No rush, let's take it one step at a time.

Xiao Jingchen has already set his sights on her; she needs to quickly arm herself with protective gear.

After exiting the space, she lay on the bed and stared blankly at the top of the tent for a while.

The last look that person gave her kept flashing through her mind.

It felt like being stared at by a venomous snake; it gave me goosebumps.

Shen Jingque pulled the blanket over her head.

Heavenly Venerable One, someone come and subdue that demon!

……

In the prince's residence, a solitary lamp flickered dimly.

Xiao Jingchen sat behind his desk, his fingertips slowly stroking the jade thumb ring on his hand.

The details of our encounter at Wenjin Pavilion today kept flashing through my mind.

His original plan was very simple.

A down-on-her-luck woman living under someone else's roof, who happens to meet a generous and refined scholar of the same age in a bookstore, will naturally develop feelings for him.

But the little girl not only didn't accept his kindness, she also accused him of child trafficking in public.

What surprised him even more was Xiao Changqi's reaction.

The richest man in the Dayong Dynasty, with immense wealth, protected a little girl with whom he had no blood relation without hesitation.

Including Xiao Mingyue's performance on Baiyu Bridge earlier.

Everyone in the Princess's residence was actually protecting Shen Jingque.

Xiao Jingchen put the ring back on the table, got up and walked to the window, pushing open half of the window.

The night was deep, and the lights on the corner towers of the palace walls in the distance flickered.

He was defeated today by a single word.

urgent.

He was too eager to make a first impression and chose the wrong approach.

One should not treat a young girl protected by the powerful with a condescending attitude.

That would only make her wary.

A night breeze blew in through the window, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and a guard bowed to report.

"Third Prince, the Marquis of Yong'an's residence has sent a visiting card, inviting you to the Flower Appreciation Festival in three days."

The Marquis of Yong'an's residence?

Xiao Jingchen accepted the visiting card, narrowed his eyes, and already had a plan in mind.

Since it's impossible to get close to Shen Jingque directly, then we should start with her sister...

His lips curved slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"How could such a small bird escape the hunter's grasp?"