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

The next morning, Xiao Changqi arrived at Xiling Residence early to call Shen Jingque.

"Shen Jingque! The sun's practically high in the sky, what are you dawdling about!"

Green Calyx, holding the ribbon in her hand, called out towards the door, "Second Young Master, please wait a little longer, it will be ready soon."

Shen Jingque turned around in front of the bronze mirror.

The pale yellow silk jacket made her face look fair and radiant, and she wore a pomegranate red pleated skirt underneath. A magnolia hairpin was worn diagonally in her hair, and the tassels swayed gently as she walked.

She patted the bulging purse at her waist and checked the antidote pills and several packets of medicine powder she had prepared yesterday to make sure nothing was missing.

She gave a wicked smile.

Anyone who dares to cross me today will be killed on the spot!

Once outside, Xiao Changqi looked her up and down, then lightly tapped the top of her head with his golden fan.

"Hmm, not bad, at least she looks somewhat like a young lady from the Princess's residence."

"Of course! My second brother personally delivered these clothes, how could they be anything less than perfect?"

Xiao Changqi felt very comfortable after being flattered, and he closed his golden fan and walked towards the carriage.

The carriage slowly swayed out of the side door.

Xiao Changqi leaned against the car wall, tapping his knee with the handle of a fan, a rare sight as he put away his playful grin.

"Today is a mixed bag, and none of the people in the Marquis's mansion are easy to deal with. Although the people of Dayong are open-minded and it is not uncommon for men and women to sit together, I cannot be with you every moment."

Shen Jingque peeled a candied fruit and popped it into her mouth, mumbling, "Okay, Second Brother."

The golden fan smacked her on the forehead.

"I'm serious! If anything seems amiss, have Green Calyx relay the message immediately, understand?"

Shen Jingque covered her head and muttered, "I heard that, I heard that. Second brother, why are you acting like my father today?"

Xiao Changqi rolled his eyes. "Your father is now a royal consort, busy with his lovey-dovey relationship with his adoptive mother. He has no time to care about you."

What can be done? I can only trouble him, as the older brother, to worry about it.

"Then you've worked hard, second brother. I'll make you a perfect tonic pill later."

"Stop trying to poison me with those dubious meatballs of yours."

The carriage came to a stop in front of the Yong'an Marquis's residence. Before the curtain was even lifted, an affected voice drifted in from outside.

"Oh, we've been waiting for our distinguished guest!"

Shen Jingque got out of the car and looked up, only to be met with Zhao Yuwan's meticulously made-up face.

She wore a light blue palace dress that fit her perfectly, with jade beads dangling from her ears, and four or five old women and maids standing in a row behind her.

This is the pomp and circumstance of a noblewoman's daughter.

Shen Jingque sneered inwardly.

Yesterday, she was swindled out of three thousand taels of silver at the Treasure Pavilion, but today she's smiling at her like a close sister.

They're either crazy, or they've dug a pit for her to fall into.

Zhao Yuwan quickly came forward and affectionately took Shen Jingque's arm.

"Sister Shen, you must be tired from your journey. We have prepared fine tea and snacks in the flower hall, all chosen to suit your tastes."

Shen Jingque smiled sweetly as she was led inside by her arm.

"Sister Zhao, you're too kind. I can't accept that."

Just as their arms were intertwined, she felt something lightly brush against her cuff, like a thin layer of powder brushing against her fabric.

A faint fragrance of grass and trees wafted to my nose, and a flash of green light appeared in my mind.

【Lysimachia christinae: warm in nature, sweet in taste, its function is to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.】

[Special Attribute: Its pollen scent has a strong attraction to snakes; snakes and insects within a radius of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) will gather there following the scent.]

Snake-attracting powder.

Zhao Yuwan rubbed the snake-attracting pollen onto her sleeve.

It seems the Marquis's mansion has prepared a "special program" for her at this grand flower-cherishing event.

Shen Jingque looked up at Zhao Yuwan with a smile, her lips curving even sweeter.

"Sister Zhao looks so beautiful today! The color of this palace dress really suits you."

Zhao Yuwan's gaze swept over her sleeve, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"Little sister, you have such a sweet tongue. Come on, I'll take you inside."

He felt very pleased with himself.

You little brat, you'll be crying for your mother soon enough!

Upon entering the inner courtyard flower hall, one is greeted by a profusion of flowers.

The old lady of the Marquis of Yong'an sat in the main seat, wearing a dark brown jacket with floral patterns, and a string of sandalwood prayer beads twirling on her wrist.

The two women who were organizing the banquet were unfamiliar to me. Judging from the way others addressed them, they must be from the second and third wives' households.

Despite being the wife of the Marquis of Yong'an, Du Yuerong was nowhere to be seen.

The old lady saw Shen Jingque and Xiao Changqi enter together and spoke in a lukewarm tone.

"So you are Miss Shen from the Princess's residence. Please have a seat."

After saying that, he turned to the noblewoman beside him and didn't give her a second glance.

Xiao Changqi unfolded his golden fan with a snap, covering half his face, and whispered in Shen Jingque's ear.

"Is that old woman putting on airs? Does she think her family is still the powerful and influential Marquis of Yong'an we used to be?"

Shen Jingque tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Just watch the show."

She calmly took the last seat, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

Several pairs of eyes turned towards us from the flower hall.

The daughter of the Imperial Son-in-Law, the person who has been the talk of the town lately, I finally got to see her in person today.

They arrived early, before all the guests had arrived, so Shen Jingque planned to complete the main task of their visit first.

She was going to visit Du Yuerong.

"Madam."

The old lady turned her face, and the prayer beads stopped between her fingers.

Shen Jingque stood up and gave a proper curtsy.

"Where is my mother? I made a special trip here today, and the first thing I wanted to do was to see her."

After a moment of silence, several noble ladies exchanged glances, their eyes shifting between the old lady and Shen Jingque.

Everyone was also wondering why Du Yuerong, the first wife, did not show up at the banquet held at the Marquis's residence.

Although she was a concubine, the Marquis personally welcomed her, so it shouldn't be so shameful.

A subtle glint flashed in the old lady's eyes, and she gave a gentle, loving smile.

"Your mother is unwell and is recuperating at the Jingxin Nursing Home, so it's inconvenient for her to come out and receive guests."

"Then I'll go see her."

Shen Jingque tilted her head. "Since we're already here, it wouldn't look good if word got out that I, as their daughter, didn't go and visit them."

"You child, your mother is recuperating; you can't cause trouble."

The old lady's smile was somewhat stiff.

"I'll just go take a look, and then I'll come right back."

Shen Jingque clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her eyes sparkling.

"Madam, please have mercy, I haven't seen my mother in so long."

A lady of high rank standing nearby, holding a teacup, glanced at the old lady's face, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

If we don't let her go, tomorrow the whole capital will be gossiping that the Marquis's mansion is preventing its daughter from visiting her mother.

The old lady's lips twitched twice, and she waved to the stewardess beside her.

"Take Miss Shen to the Meditation Center."

Shen Jingque gave a polite curtsy.

"Thank you so much, Madam. You are so kind."

Green Calyx followed closely behind, "Miss, they're stopping you from going; there's something fishy going on."

Shen Jingque smiled, but her tone was icy.

"It's alright, they can't kill me anyway."