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

In front of the Treasure Pavilion, the ladies who had been watching the whole thing were whispering to each other.

"That Zhao family that seized the fertile land, isn't that her family?"

"That's right. The Emperor himself pronounced the crime, yet she still has the nerve to come out and squander money like water."

Zhao Yuwan's fingernails dug into her palms, and the color drained from her face inch by inch.

If it weren't for Shen Jingque, she wouldn't be in this predicament today.

She won't let that little bitch get away with it!

The shopkeeper stood behind the counter, fiddling with an abacus, and smiled obsequiously.

"Miss Zhao, shall I wrap these up for you?"

Just then, the shop curtain was lifted from the outside, and Shen Tingyun walked in carrying an octagonal lacquer box.

The maid Chun Tao followed behind her. The two walked quickly, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

"Sister, the rouge is back. The shop was crowded today; we had to wait in line for quite a while."

Shen Tingyun handed over the lacquer box with both hands, her tone filled with humble flattery.

Zhao Yuwan's gaze fell on Shen Tingyun's face, and her pent-up anger finally found an outlet.

"Where the hell have you been?!"

Shen Tingyun was stunned by the shout.

Zhao Yuwan snatched the lacquer box and flipped her wrist.

The octagonal lacquer box crashed onto the bluestone ground, and the rouge box inside popped out and shattered into several pieces. Crimson rouge splattered on the hem of Shen Tingyun's skirt, like a pool of blood.

"You've been dawdling for ages just to get some rouge! If you'd come back even a quarter of an hour earlier, I wouldn't be making a fool of myself here!"

Shen Tingyun opened her mouth, about to speak, when Qiuhe beside her tugged at her sleeve, leaned close to her ear, and briefly recounted what had happened in the Treasure Pavilion.

Shen Tingyun's hands hung at his sides, his fingertips curling up little by little.

Shen Jingque.

It's Shen Jingque again.

She is now riding high, backed by the Princess's mansion, and has Zhao Yuwan completely under her thumb.

As for herself, she ran errands for Zhao Yuwan to get rouge, but when she returned, she was still implicated, scolded, and humiliated by Zhao Yuwan.

Back in the Shen family, she snatched Shen Jingque's spot to go to the Marquis's mansion, thinking she had climbed the social ladder.

Now it seems that the high branch is covered with thorns, which have pricked her and left her covered in blood.

Shen Tingyun swallowed the bitterness in her throat and said softly, "Sister, calm down. It's my fault. I'll be faster next time."

Zhao Yuwan snorted coldly, not even bothering to look at her.

At that moment, Qiuju trotted in from outside, carrying a heavy purse in her arms: "Miss, I've brought the money."

Zhao Yuwan snatched the purse and tossed it to the shopkeeper without even counting it.

"Check out."

The shopkeeper felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly finished counting the silver notes and put them into the warehouse, then told his assistants to pack the goods into boxes.

Zhao Yuwan adjusted her shawl and walked towards the door. She paused as she passed Shen Tingyun, her face filled with disdain.

"Why are you looking like a pushover? It's like I'm the one bullying you, just like that wretched girl, you're not presentable at all!"

Tears welled up in Shen Tingyun's eyes, and she lowered her head awkwardly.

The carriage was already parked outside. Zhao Yuwan lifted her skirt and got into the carriage, instructing Qiuju to close the curtain tightly.

Shen Tingyun followed behind, and just as he stepped onto the footrest, Zhao Yuwan's cold voice came from inside the carriage curtain.

"Go back, there's no room in the car."

Qiuju pushed the chest full of silk and jewels out of the carriage, blocking the doorway.

Shen Tingyun's hand froze in mid-air.

Swah——

The coachman cracked his whip, and the wheels started moving.

Caught off guard, Shen Tingyun stumbled two steps and fell to the ground.

Chun Tao rushed to help her up, her voice trembling with anxiety.

"Miss, are you alright? Did you hurt your knee?"

Shen Tingyun slowly stood up, supported by Chun Tao's arm. Her skirt was dusty, and her tailbone ached slightly.

The East Market remained as bustling as ever, and no one gave the disheveled master and servants a second glance.

A gust of wind blew in from the street corner. Shen Tingyun's padded jacket was as thin as a piece of paper, and the chill seeped into his bones through the collar.

Chun Tao rubbed her hands together, anxiously pacing back and forth.

"Miss, it's still four or five streets away from the Marquis's residence. Let's hurry, in case we run into some bad guys on the way."

Shen Tingyun pursed her lips and didn't speak, her eyes reddening as she forced back her tears.

She can't cry.

Crying won't help; it will only make Zhao Yuwan laugh at me and embarrass me.

Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the street corner, growing louder as it approached.

A hand lifted a corner of the carriage curtain from the inside, revealing half of a handsome profile.

"Young lady, it's cold and the road is long, would you like a ride?"

His voice was as gentle as a warm breeze in March, and he was very polite.

Shen Tingyun subconsciously took half a step back, raised her head, and met the gaze of the person in the car.

His delicate features held just the right amount of concern.

He was clearly not a young master from an ordinary family.

Chun Tao tugged at Shen Tingyun's sleeve warily and said in a low voice, "Miss, it's not appropriate to hitch a ride with just anyone on the road."

Shen Tingyun also knew that this was inappropriate.

But her skirt was dirty, and the spot where she had fallen was still sore. She didn't know how long it would take to walk back to the Marquis's residence from here.

The person inside the car didn't urge them, but simply handed a hand warmer to the car door.

"If you are worried, I will only take you to the crossroads ahead. There are sedan chair shops there where you can transfer."

Shen Tingyun hesitated for a moment, then finally took Chun Tao's hand and stepped onto the footrest.

The carriage was covered with thick plush carpets, and a pot of hot tea sat on a small table, the steam rising gently, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

She sat down on the embroidered stool opposite the low table, cupped her hands over the brazier, and slowly regained feeling in her frozen fingertips.

The man poured her a cup of tea and pushed it towards her. He didn't rush to speak, but instead looked down at the street scene outside the window, giving her enough time to catch her breath.

After a long while, Shen Tingyun finally spoke.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir. I got separated from my sister and am in a difficult situation. Please forgive me."

"Traveling alone in the cold winter is indeed inconvenient, but you don't need to worry about it, young lady."

He smiled, his tone as natural as that of an old friend he had known for many years.

The carriage moved very slowly, and the driver seemed to have deliberately taken a longer route, passing through two alleys before turning onto the main street.

Shen Tingyun held the teacup, and couldn't help but glance at the person opposite him a few times out of the corner of his eye.

This person speaks and acts with perfect tact, neither overly solicitous nor cold and distant; every detail is just right.

The carriage stopped when it was almost at the entrance to the back alley of the Marquis's residence.

Shen Tingyun put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed slightly to him.

"Thank you very much for your help today, young master. May I ask your name so that I can visit you another day to express my gratitude?"

The wind lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, letting in the midday sun, which shone on his gentle, jade-like face, giving it a golden sheen.

He didn't answer, but only slightly curved the corners of his lips.

"You will know tomorrow at the Flower Appreciation Gathering."