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

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Sister Green Calyx, be gentle, you don't need to tie it so tight."

Shen Jingque sat in front of the bronze mirror, while Lü'e held her down and combed her hair.

Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The Empress Dowager, who had been ill for nearly half a month, has finally recovered somewhat, so she summoned the royal family members to the palace to pay their respects.

Early in the morning, Shen Jingque was forced to dress up and prepare for her first business as a county princess.

Green Calyx ran a comb through her hair and then inserted a small gold hairpin into it.

The little girl in the bronze mirror was exquisitely beautiful, with a round face and bright, sparkling eyes.

She wore a light crimson brocade jacket, a moon-white long skirt embroidered with sparrow patterns, and a jade pendant bestowed from the palace at her waist.

She sighed for a long time, wondering when she had lost the jade pendant with the bird that her father had given her.

She and Shen Tingyun each had one of those jade pendants; hers was carved into a bird, and Shen Tingyun's into a cloud.

Unfortunately, it can't be found now.

After combing her hair, Shen Jingque shook her head, causing the gold hairpin adorned with jewels to sway and sparkle. She was very satisfied.

When she walked out the door, Xiao Mingyue had been waiting for quite some time.

Today she wore a dark blue palace dress, her hair was styled in a high bun, and a gold ornament on her forehead made her look even more dignified.

Seeing her take small, quick steps out, he smiled and said, "Let's go."

On the carriage, Xiao Mingyue once again reminded her of the rules for entering the palace and the important person she was to meet.

"Besides the Empress Dowager, we may also meet the birth mothers of several princes."

"Consort Chen is the birth mother of the eldest prince, Xiao Jingyan. She comes from a powerful family and has a cheerful personality. We have always been on good terms."

"Lady Liang is the mother of the Second Prince Xiao Jingyu. Although her rank is not high, she knows how to behave appropriately."

"And there's Consort Liang, the mother of the Third Prince, Xiao Jingchen."

Shen Jingque paid more attention when she heard Xiao Jingchen's name.

"What was Consort Liang's family background?"

Xiao Mingyue glanced at her, somewhat surprised by her attention: "She comes from the Zhao clan of the Empress Dowager."

Shen Jingque understood.

It turns out that Xiao Jingchen was connected to the Empress Dowager.

It's strange, though. Given such a close relationship, why does the original book say that he was not favored by the emperor?

She pressed the hand warmer closer to her chest: "Mother, don't worry, I will try my best to be well-behaved and discreet today."

Xiao Mingyue smiled and tapped her forehead with her finger: "You."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "I know you're not the type to cause trouble, so you don't need to be timid."

After all, she has the entire Princess's residence backing her up.

We don't provoke trouble, but we're not afraid of it either.

When the carriage entered the palace, the guards at the palace gate were much stricter than last time.

The Imperial Guards and the Imperial Household Department stood on either side, and all the palace servants who came and went kept their heads down.

The palace banquet poisoning case has not yet been solved. It is said that Xiao Changgeng arrested several palace servants who served dishes and dragged out two charred corpses from near the Cold Palace, but the clues were lost halfway.

Outside the Cining Palace, several eunuchs were waiting.

A woman dressed in a light purple palace dress came out first and bowed gracefully to Xiao Mingyue.

"May Your Highness be well."

"Liang Meiren." Xiao Mingyue nodded.

Liang Mei was gentle and pretty, with some fine lines around her eyes, and she seemed to have a good temper.

Her gaze fell on Shen Jingque, and she smiled gently:

"Is this the newly appointed Princess Shaoning, who serves His Highness? She is truly beautiful."

Shen Jingque bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness is too kind; I am unworthy of such praise."

Behind Liang Meiren was a young man, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a dark blue straight robe, with a dignified face and a hint of restraint between his brows.

"This is Jingyu." Liang Meiren gave him a push.

Xiao Jingyu's ears turned slightly red, and he bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Imperial Aunt; greetings, Princess Shaoning."

Shen Jingque returned the greeting.

In the original book, this character was practically invisible. In the end, he was granted the title of Prince and allowed to lie low in his fiefdom. He was the kind of person who was harmless to humans and animals.

Just then, another group of people came from the palace road.

The woman at the head of the group was dressed in a lilac-colored palace gown. She walked with composure, and her eyes and brows exuded the dashing and proud air that comes with being raised in a noble family.

A young man, dressed in a fox fur coat and with pale lips, followed her by coughing every few steps, covering his mouth with a handkerchief.

Consort Chen has arrived.

"Bright Moon".

Consort Chen was very approachable and took Xiao Mingyue's hand. "After the incident at the palace banquet a few days ago, I wanted to visit you at your residence, but I was afraid of causing trouble. Now that you look better, I can finally relax."

Xiao Mingyue's attitude towards her was also gentler than towards others: "Thank you for thinking of me."

Shen Jingque followed suit and bowed.

Consort Chen looked at her, her gaze lingered for a moment, and then smiled, "Bright youth, peaceful years, this child has the face of a prosperous and peaceful nation, truly wonderful."

The eldest prince, Xiao Jingyan, standing beside her, also nodded to Shen Jingque.

"Princess of the County".

He had only uttered two words when he turned his head and coughed again, a handkerchief pressed against his lips, his shoulders heaving as he breathed heavily.

Consort Chen looked worried and reached out to pat his back.

Shen Jingque glanced at him again.

That cough sounded off.

It sounds muffled, not like a common cold, but more like a lung disease or something similar.

Before she could think it through, the matrons from Cining Palace came out to invite someone.

The Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, her forehead band adorned with pearls, exuding an air of nobility and dignity.

I heard she was sick a few days ago, but she seems to be in good spirits today.

Shen Jingque stepped forward and knelt down respectfully to kowtow.

"Your humble servant Shen Jingque pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, wishing Your Majesty good health and longevity."

The Empress Dowager smiled and told people to get up. Her gaze fell on Shen Jingque, and she looked him up and down without making a sound.

"You grew up among the common people, and now that you've been granted the title of county princess, you still need to learn the rules."

It sounds kind, but it doesn't feel like something good.

This is being picky about her background.

Shen Jingque naturally did not refute.

Firstly, what she said was true.

Secondly, she didn't intend to stand out among this group of shrewd people today; she just wanted to get through this safely.

Therefore, the tone of voice is more respectful.

"Your Majesty's teachings are absolutely correct. I have been bestowed this title by His Majesty, and I dare not disgrace the imperial family. I will never forget the rules for even a day."

It's just pretending; anyone can do that.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and said nothing more.

Just then, the sound of an attendant announcing something came from outside the hall.

"Consort Liang has arrived—His Highness the Third Prince has arrived—"

The curtain was lifted, and a graceful woman entered.

Consort Liang was very well-maintained, with delicate features and a resemblance to Xiao Jingchen in her eyebrows and eyes. Her voice was gentle and soft.

"Is this the young princess who saved everyone in the palace? Jingchen spoke highly of her that day."

Following behind her was Xiao Jingchen, whom Shen Jingque was trying to avoid at all costs.

Xiao Jingchen's face was still a little pale, but his eyes had regained their former gentle and calm look.

However, his gaze lingered on Shen Jingque's face for a moment, making her very uncomfortable.

Shen Jingque took a deep breath and tried her best to put on a professional smile.

"Your Highness is too kind. I have only learned a little from my master Ji Qianshang. If it weren't for Her Highness the Eldest Princess's guidance, I would never dare to make a fool of myself in front of others."

A dark undercurrent surged in Xiao Jingchen's eyes, but his face remained calm and composed.

"Your Highness is too modest." His voice was slightly hoarse. "I will never forget your life-saving grace."

Shen Jingque kept her eyes down, avoiding eye contact with him. "Your Highness is too kind."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sweet, melodious female voice came in from outside.

"Grandmother, your granddaughter is late."

The girl looked to be about the same age as Shen Jingque. She was dressed in an apricot-yellow palace gown, with a gold hairpin in her hair. Her clothes were luxurious, and her eyebrows and eyes carried the arrogance of a noble family.

As soon as she entered the palace, she affectionately rushed to the Empress Dowager's side and acted coquettishly. Then, her gaze swept over the Empress Dowager and landed on Shen Jingque.

"You are the newly appointed Princess Shaoning by the Emperor?"

Shen Jingque glanced at Xiao Mingyue with some confusion, and Xiao Mingyue quickly introduced, "This is Princess Huiyun, Xiao Jingshu."

Shen Jingque rose and bowed: "This humble woman greets Princess Huiyun."

Xiao Jingshu did not answer immediately, but instead circled around her, looking her up and down.

"Nothing special, really. I heard you were the one who delivered the antidote to the palace to save someone on the day of the banquet?"

Sensing the hostile tone in her voice, Shen Jingque replied humbly, "It's just running errands."

The Xiao family of Dayong had few princes but many princesses, and Xiao Jingshu was considered the most favored daughter of this generation.

She was still a child at heart. When she heard that her father had newly bestowed the title of Princess Shaoning, she thought that there would be another person to share her father's favor and attention.

Who would have thought that Shen Jingque in front of me would be such an honest and simple person.

So much so that at this moment, she felt like she had punched cotton, and her face looked rather unpleasant.

Just as he was about to say something more, the Empress Dowager raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Alright, Huiyun, don't be rude."

Then she turned to Shen Jingque, her tone kind and gentle.

"Princess, please don't take it to heart. Huiyun is just a spoiled child."

Shen Jingque smiled and shook her head: "Princess is so innocent and carefree, I can't help but envy you."

Xiao Jingshu snorted and turned her head away.

"Boring."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand with a smile: "Alright, it's no fun for the young people to stay here with us old folks. Let's go to the side hall and have some snacks. It's rare for the palace to be so lively."

It seems that the Empress Dowager intends to send the younger generation away and speak with the concubines and the eldest princess alone.

The younger generation then rose, bowed, and left the main hall.

Snacks and fruits had already been laid out in the side hall.

Xiao Jingshu sat in the main seat, her gaze occasionally drifting towards Shen Jingque, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Shen Jingque pretended not to see it and carefully examined the pastries on the table.

"These pastries are so exquisite," she exclaimed.

Xiao Jingshu frowned: "It's just a regular peach blossom pastry. You've never had one before?"

Shen Jingque nodded very sincerely: "Ah, I really haven't eaten it before."

Ordinary noblewomen would try to save face in such situations.

Faced with such rude mockery, most people would probably put on a show.

Xiao Jingshu's favorite thing is to expose the false pretenses and forced facades of those noble ladies.

Who knew that Shen Jingque was so honest and simple, it made it seem like she was the one bullying people.

Xiao Jingshu grabbed a piece of food with some annoyance and placed it in Shen Jingque's hand: "Then eat it, you've never seen anything like this before."

After saying that, I don't know why I became even more irritable.

Shen Jingque chuckled inwardly.

This little girl isn't a bad person at heart, it's just that she offends people with her mouth.

Seeing that she had eaten, Xiao Jingshu coldly took a piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. She had just taken a bite when her face suddenly turned red.

It was the eldest prince, Xiao Jingyan, who discovered it first.

"Huiyun? What's wrong?"