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

Shen Jingque turned around and was met with a clear and aloof face.

The young man wore a green robe and a jade belt, his dark hair was casually tied up, with a wisp of hair falling from his forehead, and his eyes were clear.

He was leaning casually against the pillar, looking at her with a half-smile.

It turned out to be that young master Rong.

She blinked, somewhat surprised: "Hey, it's you!"

I never expected to run into someone I know here.

But wasn't he a hostage?

Can a proton also study at the academy in Dayong?

Rong Jing seemed to see through her thoughts, and gently waved the paper fan in his hand.

"Is Princess Shaoning wondering why I, a hostage, can live so comfortably in Dayong, and even be able to attend school?"

Shen Jingque blinked; this person was indeed perceptive.

She nodded: "That was indeed my initial thought."

Rong Jing: "Oh? And now?"

Shen Jingque: "Later, I heard my second brother talk about you and felt that it was only natural that Young Master Rong could live so freely in Dayong."

"After all, capable people can do well no matter where they are."

Rong Jing was taken aback at first, then chuckled softly, his laughter clear and melodious, like snow melting under the eaves in spring.

"Princess Shaoning, I must say, I find your words very helpful."

Shen Jingque waved her hand, "Stop calling me 'County Princess' all the time, it sounds too formal. My name is Shen Jingque."

Rong Jing nodded: "I haven't formally introduced myself yet. My name is Rong Jing."

Her demeanor was elegant and refined, radiating natural brilliance.

The name reflects the person.

A morning breeze swept through, ruffling Shen Jingque's hair.

Rong Jing's gaze fell on her face as her hair fluttered in the wind.

The girl's round almond-shaped eyes looked exceptionally bright in the morning light, and her skin appeared delicate and smooth, with a light pink tinge.

It inexplicably evokes an untimely itch in one's heart, making one want to reach out and pinch that cheek.

A startled sparrow flitted past the eaves, rippling the surface of a tranquil lake in springtime.

Then he suddenly woke up.

It seems that he has been living too leisurely in Dayong, which has led to such a chaotic state of mind.

Rong Jing chuckled lightly, said nothing more, and turned to wave at Shen Jingque.

"I'm gone."

"Until we meet again, Shen Jingque."

Shen Jingque was completely bewildered.

This person is so strange. He suddenly strikes up a conversation and then suddenly turns around and leaves. It's hard to tell what he's up to.

Just as she was about to look away, her peripheral vision caught sight of something hanging from Rong Jing's waist.

A jade pendant.

Its white and smooth texture shimmered in the sunlight.

Shen Jingque paused in her steps.

Eh?

Why does it look so familiar?

It looks exactly like the piece she lost sometime ago.

But how did my jade pendant end up with him?

Before he could figure it out, the academy's attendant, who was leading the way, urged him on.

"New students, please follow me to the main courtyard."

"Here it comes, here it comes."

Shen Jingque, with Lü'e by her side, jogged a few steps to catch up.

Under the shade of the trees, Shen Tingyun watched Shen Jingque leave with a cold gaze.

The scar on her forehead was half-hidden by her hair, and her lips were tightly pressed together, making her look exceptionally pale.

She obeyed Xiao Jingchen's orders and stared at Rong Jing.

But they unexpectedly witnessed Shen Jingque and Rong Jing chatting intimately.

She didn't understand why Shen Jingque was so popular wherever she went.

Even the Third Prince had his eye on her, and the young master Rong, who was admired by all the young men in the capital, showed her great favor.

Her hands, which were hanging in her sleeves, slowly tightened, and the embroidery thread on the cuffs was crumpled by her.

A maid from the Marquis's mansion beside him whispered a reminder.

"Girl, it's time for you to go."

She abruptly withdrew her gaze and put on a docile expression again.

"Okay, I understand."

The noise in front of the main courtyard gradually increased.

Green Calyx handed the book box to Shen Jingque and then straightened her collar.

"Miss, I'm here to bring you lunch. I'll be waiting for you at the Crane Pavilion."

Shen Jingque said "Oh," and carried the book box into the house.

The classroom was already quite full, mostly young boys and girls around her age, chatting quietly in small groups.

Upon her arrival, the previously noisy atmosphere suddenly quieted down, and dozens of eyes turned to her.

They scrutinized, inquired, envied, and a few barely concealed hints of disdain.

After all, her appearance as a commoner county princess was sudden, unlike those from aristocratic families.

Shen Jingque didn't care at all. She had never thought about forcing herself into any circle. With a normal expression, she chose an empty seat by the window and sat down.

The sun was shining brightly, and there was an apricot tree outside the window with tender new buds sprouting from its branches.

Hehe, a perfect spot to slack off and enjoy the scenery during class.

My deskmate was a fair-skinned boy.

She had been keeping her head down, but when she heard the noise, she raised her eyes and met Shen Jingque's gaze.

Shen Jingque gave him a sweet smile.

"Hello, deskmate, my name is Shen Jingque, what's your name?"

The fair-skinned boy's face flushed instantly, the redness spreading from the tips of his ears all the way down to his neck.

He hurriedly got up and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards her.

"Greetings, Princess Shaoning. My name is He... Helan Qing."

Shen Jingque blinked.

Helan Qing?

Why does this name sound so familiar?

Hiss... wait a minute.

Shen Jingque immediately sat up straight.

I remembered.

In the latter half of the original book, the old case of the Shen family is brought up again, and a young imperial censor reports to the emperor, pleading for the innocence of the Shen family.

That person's name was Helan Qing.

He discovered that the Shen family had been framed years ago, and risking angering the emperor, he presented the old evidence.

In the end, the Shen family was exonerated.

But by then, there were only a few people left in the Shen family.

Shen Yan had already died, and the Shen family's collateral branches had scattered. When the original owner of the body who was by Xiao Jingchen's side learned of this, she could only give a bitter smile.

Innocence comes too late; it's too late to offer up only the grass on the grave.

Shen Jingque's gaze towards He Lanqing immediately became much more affectionate.

This is a future righteous young imperial censor.

However, a strange laugh suddenly came from behind.

"Shh...shh, the little stutterer is stuck again."

A few suppressed laughs rang out in the classroom.

Shen Jingque turned around.

Sitting in the back row was a boy with a slightly dark complexion. He was missing a tooth on his left front, and when he smiled, a dark gap was visible.

He slapped the table and imitated Helan Qing's speech.

"Hehehe... Helan Qing, you've once again... you've driven the teacher crazy with worry again today."

He Lanqing's ears turned red, and she gripped her pen, wanting to refute him.

"I...I...I..."

The boy with the missing tooth laughed even harder.

"What did you say? Just say it!"

Shen Jingque tugged at He Lanqing's sleeve to make him sit down, and slowly turned around.

"What's there to say? Even if he stumbles, he can still get his point across."

The boy with the missing tooth stopped laughing.

Shen Jingque tilted her head, her gaze fixed on his mouth.

"But you're missing a big tooth, so you speak with a lisp and spill rice when you eat. Be careful flies don't fly in through your teeth."

The boy with the missing tooth covered his mouth, his face turning a deep purplish-red.

"You, you dare laugh at me!"

Shen Jingque spread her hands innocently.

"I wasn't laughing at you; I was just reminding you to pay attention to oral safety."

Someone immediately burst out laughing.

The boy with the missing tooth stood up with a dark expression.

Just then, a middle-aged scholar dressed in a gray-blue Confucian robe walked in, his gaze sweeping across the room, his voice serious.

"quiet!"