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

Shen Jingque stared at the disheveled Third Prince on the ground, her feelings complicated.

He was disheveled, tears streaming down his face, his once gentle features now ruined, and he knelt on the ground like a dog, begging for help.

It's so pitiful.

But the thought of the body's owner falling for this gentle, jade-like skin, being completely taken advantage of, and then still having to count money for him is unbearable.

She felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat.

So he turned to leave.

But the system, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly started to speak.

[System 001 Warm Reminder: If the male lead, Xiao Jingchen, dies tonight, Consort Liang's faction will lose its balance of power, the purge plan targeting the Princess's residence will be launched ahead of schedule, and the point at which chaos ensues will be moved forward by three years.]

Shen Jingque's footsteps were rooted to the spot on the floor tiles.

Is he truly a chosen one favored by Heaven?

His life alone could affect the entire world.

Shen Jingque closed her eyes and swallowed back the swear words that were rising in her throat.

Row.

It's just about saving the male lead.

She crouched down and lifted Xiao Jingchen's face: "Open your mouth."

His unfocused eyes struggled to aim in her direction, his teeth clenched, his breath trembling and labored.

Tsk.

Shen Jingque raised her hand and slapped him cleanly and decisively.

The crisp sound echoed through the empty corridor, even causing several palace servants running in the distance to turn their heads.

Xiao Jingchen's head was knocked to one side, his jaw loosened by the sudden force, and his mouth instinctively opened as he gasped for breath.

Taking advantage of that moment, Shen Jingque stuffed the pill she was holding between her fingers into his mouth, grabbed his chin with her other hand and lifted it up, pressing her thumb firmly against his Adam's apple.

"Swallow it."

Xiao Jingchen let out a muffled cough and arched his back as he coughed violently.

A mouthful of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin onto his shirt.

Shen Jingque took a step back, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her fingers, and looked disgusted.

Xiao Jingchen leaned against the pillar and gasped for breath for a long time. The suffocating pain finally receded from his internal organs, and his consciousness gradually returned.

He raised his head.

In the flickering lamplight, the little girl stood three steps away.

She crossed her arms and looked down at him with cold, almond-shaped eyes.

The residual heat from that slap was still burning on half of my cheek.

Xiao Jingchen was stunned.

In the past, those women were either captivated by his tenderness and affection or admired his power.

No one has ever dared to treat him like this.

A feeling he had never experienced before welled up inside him, like anger, yet it made his heart pound.

He opened his mouth, then said in a hoarse voice, "Shen Jingque, you..."

"One antidote is worth ten thousand taels of gold."

Shen Jingque interrupted him and shook a finger.

"Deliver it to the Princess's residence within three days. If it's even a copper coin short, I'll personally prepare poison and send it back. You can try me if you don't believe me."

Xiao Jingchen stared at the small, white hand, his face turning pale and then flushed, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head.

Shen Jingque withdrew her hand, turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.

A steady thud of wheels rolling on the ground came from behind.

Xiao Changgeng was pushed in from outside the hall.

He wore a dark blue robe over a black cloak, and the murderous aura between his brows and eyes had not yet dissipated.

His gaze fell on Shen Jingque, and when he saw Xiao Jingchen leaning against the pillar beside her, the coldness in his eyes deepened.

"Xuan Qi".

"Your subordinate is here."

"Bring the young lady back to Her Highness the Princess's side."

Xuan Qi accepted the order, turned to the side and extended his hand to guide Shen Jingque, separating her from Xiao Jingchen.

Shen Jingque obediently followed, and when she passed by Xiao Changgeng's wheelchair, she secretly tugged at his sleeve.

"Big brother, Mother's poison has been cured, so don't worry."

Xiao Changgeng looked down at her, nodded slightly, and gently pressed the back of her head with his hand.

Since the degree of poisoning varies from person to person, Ji Qianshang divided the antidote evenly, just enough.

On the high platform, a loud cough broke the wailing.

Xiao Chengyu sat up, supporting himself on the armrests of the dragon throne. His face was still somewhat ashen, but his breathing was steady.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy knelt prostrate at the foot of the imperial steps, his forehead pounding against the gold bricks with a resounding thud.

"His Majesty's blessings are boundless!"

The emperor, in the prime of his life, had a hidden anger in his brows as he shoved aside the imperial physician beside him.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

Even in his naiveté, he had already heard that the antidote was brought by the divine physician from the Princess's residence.

I felt both relieved and annoyed.

Fortunately, there was such an extraordinary person who prevented him from being dragged down by the useless Imperial Medical Academy.

It is indeed frustrating that he has once again been indebted to his beloved elder sister.

Xiao Chengyu's eyes were half-closed, and his tone softened: "Thanks to my elder sister today, otherwise this palace banquet would have turned into a huge mess."

Xiao Mingyue had just recovered and was too lazy to engage in banter with him: "Your Majesty, I dare not take credit. I am glad that Your Majesty is alright."

The emperor's majestic gaze passed over Xiao Mingyue's shoulder and landed on that round figure.

"That child, come here."

Xiao Mingyue's gaze suddenly turned icy as she glanced towards the imperial throne.

The palace maid gently nudged Shen Jingque, who was picking at her hands: "Miss, His Majesty is calling for you."

"what?"

She stood up blankly and looked at the face on the throne, half-hidden in the shadows.

What's going on? Is Old Deng going to take the antidote and then deny it?

Then he walked to the steps, knelt down, and respectfully kowtowed.

"This humble woman, Shen Jingque, kowtows to Your Majesty."

Xiao Chengyu nodded.

"I just heard from the imperial physician that the antidote pills were sent by you?"

Shen Jingque paused.

The emperor and Xiao Mingyue don't get along, so letting him know that I have this ability is definitely not a good thing.

"Your Majesty, the medicine was prepared by my master, Ji Qianshang. I am merely his little apprentice who runs errands for him."

She added, "My master's medical skills are divine. He has studied the remedies for all poisons for many years. He can cure any difficult and complicated disease. The officials of the Imperial Hospital have also witnessed this."

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy nodded repeatedly: "He is indeed a divine physician."

Hearing this lavish praise from behind, Ji Qianshang's lips twitched.

But he quickly understood and nodded almost imperceptibly to Shen Jingque.

The little girl is very clever; her talent is indeed not something that should be revealed in front of the emperor.

Xiao Chengyu hummed in agreement, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer.

"Are you the daughter of Shen Yan, the Imperial Son-in-Law?"

"Yes."

"Since she has rendered meritorious service in delivering the medicine, it wouldn't be right to let her work for nothing." He glanced around and said, "Issue an imperial decree to bestow upon Lady Shen the title of Princess of Shaoning County, and grant her a golden book and jade seal."

The hall fell silent.

The clansmen who had been whispering just moments before all looked up and exchanged bewildered glances.

Since the founding of the Dayong Dynasty, all those granted the title of County Princess have been daughters of the imperial clan.

Shen Jingque was a second wife from a commoner background. Although her father married a princess, he had no royal blood.

This reward came about in a strange way.

Shen Jingque frowned slightly.

She couldn't understand what the emperor was up to—was he trying to win her over, or did he have ulterior motives?

But with all eyes on her in the hall, she had no time to hesitate.

She bent down, her forehead touching the ground.

"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

A smile appeared on Xiao Chengyu's lips as he lightly tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingers, seemingly pleased with her tact.

"Princess Shaoning, you may now accompany Her Highness the Eldest Princess in and out of the palace; you no longer need to submit invitations or wait for summons."

Xiao Mingyue stood to the side, her fingertips tucked into her sleeves, her face calm and composed.

After kowtowing, Shen Jingque stood up and retreated behind Xiao Mingyue.

Xiao Changqi leaned closer, covering half his mouth with his folding fan, and asked in a low voice, "Why is the old... why is His Majesty suddenly being so generous?"

Shen Jingque shook her head and said softly, "I don't know, but I have a feeling it's not a good thing."

Her gaze passed over the mess of cups and leftovers in the hall and landed on the emperor's figure, half-hidden in the candlelight on the high platform.

He was speaking to the imperial physician with his head down, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

That smile was exactly the same as the one Xiao Jingchen had shown him when they first spoke in the bookstore.

They truly are father and son.

They all have the same chilling quality...