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

"What is this flower-cherishing festival for?"

Xiao Changqi picked up the post and flipped through it. He then held it up to the sunlight and squinted at the line of small, gold-printed characters.

"The Flower Appreciation Gathering is an old tradition of prominent families in the capital."

"About ten days before the Spring Festival each year, the aristocratic families would organize an event in the garden, which would be attended by unmarried young men and women from various households, along with several mistresses and ladies of the house."

"To put it bluntly, it's about bringing people together and encouraging them to look at each other."

Shen Jingque blinked.

"Shall we take a look?"

"That's right. The sons of military families are usually stationed in the field. When they return to the capital to report on their duties during the Spring Festival, it is a good opportunity for them to meet and get engaged."

Xiao Changqi unfolded his golden fan, his tone quite sophisticated.

"Cherish the flowers, cherish the flowers" means to urge you to cherish your youth, for you should pluck the flowers while they bloom.

Shen Jingque's lips twitched.

Good heavens, this is like an ancient version of a large-scale offline matchmaking event.

She's only twelve this year, why is she going to join in the fun? We can't exactly arrange a marriage between her and her childhood sweetheart, can we?

"wrong."

Xiao Changqi flipped the invitation to the back, tapped the red seal at the bottom of the signature with his fingernail, and narrowed his peach blossom eyes.

"Sponsored by the Marquis of Yong'an's residence."

Shen Jingque's smile vanished.

Sending an invitation to Zhao Yuwan, who is in her home turf, is like driving a lamb into the tiger's den.

She reached out to tear it, but when her fingertips touched the inner layer of the post, she felt a thin layer of paper.

Pulling it out, you'll find a small, plain white note folded into a square, with delicate and neat handwriting.

Shen Jingque pulled out the letter, unfolded it, and scanned it quickly.

It was written by Shen Tingyun.

The wording was surprisingly gentle, making no mention of the incident where he slapped her in public at the lantern festival, and the tone even carried a hint of grievance.

It is said that his mother, Du Yuerong, has been unwell lately, coughing incessantly at night, and several times she has incoherently called out Jingque's name.

At the end of the letter, the tone shifted, and it was written that if she did not attend the banquet, the Zhao family would blame Shen Tingyun, saying that she couldn't even persuade her own sister to attend, and that she would have no place in the Marquis's mansion in the future.

Xiao Changqi craned his neck and peered over.

"Your sister slapped you across the face at the lantern festival last time, and now she's trying to play the victim?"

Shen Jingque didn't reply, staring at the letter for a long time.

She didn't feel sorry for Shen Tingyun; their sisterly bond was shattered the moment that slap came down.

No matter how biased Du Yuerong was, she was still her father's ex-wife, and no matter how hopeless Shen Tingyun was, she was still her father's biological son.

If her mother really falls ill, she, as the daughter, won't even be able to ask her to come, which would be bad for her reputation.

Shen Jingque folded the letter and stuffed it into her sleeve, then looked up.

"I'll go and meet them."

Xiao Changqi closed his fan and frowned.

"Are you serious?"

Shen Jingque sighed: "My father may not say it, but he still cares about my sister. If he finds out that she was really bullied because I didn't go to the Marquis's mansion, he will be sad for a long time."

"I'll go, but I must first inform Her Highness the Princess that you will accompany me."

Xiao Changqi leaned back in his chair, suppressing the displeasure in his peach blossom eyes, and snorted.

"Fine, that wretched place, the Marquis's mansion, won't dare bully you a second time. If anyone dares to lay a finger on you, I'll tear their garden down on the spot."

Shen Jingque grinned and walked towards the study in the front yard with the letter in her pocket.

The lanterns hanging on the veranda cast swaying shadows.

The window in the study was half-open, and candlelight leaked through the crack, clearly illuminating the shadows of the people inside.

Shen Yan sat behind the desk, with a sheet of snow-white Xuan paper in front of him, holding a wolf-hair brush, drawing stroke by stroke.

Xiao Mingyue sat upright in a round-backed chair three steps away from him, her face slightly turned to the side, dressed in a magnificent palace gown.

The candlelight outlined a soft curve on her face, softening her sharp features.

Shen Jingque held her breath and pressed herself against the window frame.

Her father is drawing a portrait of Xiao Mingyue.

Shen Yan was extremely focused as he wrote, his gaze slowly moving back and forth between Xiao Mingyue's face and the paper. Occasionally, when he looked up and their eyes met, his ears would turn even redder.

Xiao Mingyue's lips curled into a faint smile as she suddenly spoke.

"How long have you been drawing? Isn't your hand sore?"

Shen Yan's gaze remained fixed on the paper as he softly said, "Your Highness, please don't move. This part of the eyebrow hasn't been finished yet."

Xiao Mingyue didn't move, but her eyes held a mischievous glint, as if she was deliberately staring at him.

Shen Yan was momentarily stung by that gaze, his brush trembled slightly, and he quickly lowered his eyes to focus on the drawing paper.

Shen Jingque almost bit her fist so hard it left teeth marks.

Good heavens, what an amazing scene!

One is focused and gentle, the other sits upright with a smile.

This is so cute!

Shen Jingque decided not to disturb the scene, and that it wouldn't be too late to report the matter of the Flower Appreciation Gathering tomorrow morning.

She tiptoed around, retreating on her tiptoes.

No sooner had he taken a step than he bumped into someone, his forehead hitting the jade clasp on the other person's chest.

Shen Jingque gasped in pain, but before she could even cover her forehead, the door to the study behind her was pushed open from the inside.

The candlelight spilled out, illuminating the entire corridor.

Xiao Mingyue stood at the door, her gaze passing over Shen Jingque and landing on the person who came in, a moment of surprise flashing across her face.

He immediately composed himself and deftly stepped aside to make way.

"Lord Song, please come in."

Shen Jingque covered her forehead and looked up, using the light shining from inside the door to see who had come in.

The man, in his forties, had a lean and serious face, exuding the air of a scholar, yet his brows revealed a calm and authoritative presence.

The servant behind him was carrying a lantern, indicating that they had entered through a side door.

Shen Yan had already left the study, grabbed Shen Jingque by the back of her collar and pulled her behind him, then bowed to Lord Song.

Then, carrying Shen Jingque, he quickly walked towards Xiling Residence.

She was trapped under his arm, her legs dangling in the air, her mind filled with questions.

"Father, who is this Lord Song?"

Shen Yan continued walking, his tone unusually serious.

"Children should not ask questions."

"But he came in through the side door, he didn't even go through the front yard, could it be...?"

"Sparrow".

Shen Yan's tone unusually carried a hint of uncompromising rigor.

Shen Jingque wisely kept quiet.

Okay, fine, I won't ask.

Back at Xiling Residence, Shen Yan tucked her in and then hurriedly left.

Shen Jingque rolled over in bed, looking distressed.

The eldest princess was a military officer and rarely interacted with civil officials in the court.

The civil official who could make her open the side door to welcome him in late at night and even personally come out to greet him must be someone of extraordinary background.

But she had a vague feeling that something big was about to happen.

However, that's not the most pressing issue right now.

She must make a clean getaway from the Flower Appreciation Banquet three days later, on the Marquis's territory.

She still doesn't know what tricks the other party will pull.

Shen Jingque pulled the blanket over her head and mumbled something under her breath.

"Can't you just leave it alone for a couple of days after wearing a book?"