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

For the next two days, Xiao Changqi ran to Fanji Xiangfang with lightning speed.

He comes home every day with a beaming smile, and often finds himself smiling to himself as he walks.

Shen Jingque sighed softly, "Love drives people crazy."

Xiao Changgeng was no longer as carefree as before, leaving early and returning late, and he even had dark circles under his eyes from staying up late.

Xiao Mingyue and Shen Yan didn't ask any questions after learning about what happened at the Fan Family Incense Shop that day, presumably because Xiao Changgeng had already given them instructions.

However, Shen Yan repeatedly instructed them not to run around in the near future, lest the villain still have accomplices in the city.

Shen Jingque readily agreed.

Having gained some leisure time, he devoted all his attention to the Shennong Space.

She casually flipped through the prescription booklet, her gaze suddenly lingering on a certain page.

[Laugh-Out-Loving Pills]

[The Crying and Snotting Pill]

As the name suggests, after taking it, you will be unable to stop laughing or crying.

Isn't this just like the old-fashioned tear gas?

After looking at the detailed instructions, I discovered that it could only be made into pills.

"It would be great if it could be made into a spray or powder."

When the time comes, it will be scattered by the wind, like a hidden weapon.

Just as she was about to exit the space, she suddenly noticed a line of small characters next to the alchemy furnace.

Upgrade your alchemy furnace for only 50 points!

This thing can be upgraded?

She hurriedly asked, "System, what's the use of upgrading this medicine furnace?"

[Dear host, after leveling up you will unlock more custom medicine-making plans, such as pills, powders, ointments, and other forms.]

What did she say again? These features are like a perfect pillow for someone who's sleepy; they meet all her needs perfectly.

"So how do you get these upgrade points?"

[Earn points for each medicinal herb you light up in the Shennong Compendium: 1 point for common herbs and 5 points for rare herbs]

Shen Jingque's smile froze on her face. "Only one point for each light you up? How can you not be incredibly stingy!"

The system remained silent for a moment before speaking again.

[The host can also complete main quests to directly obtain upgrade rewards!]

Task 1: Treat Xiao Jingchen's old ailment to demonstrate your medical skills and gain his favor.

[Task Two: Accompany Xiao Jingchen to the palace banquet and win the emperor's favor through a talent performance]

[Task 3: Help Xiao Jingchen gain the support of the Eldest Princess, and...]

"Alright, alright, alright, now shut up."

"A cunning debt collector."

Shen Jingque rolled her eyes.

What kind of tasks are these?

She wasn't going to mess with that smiling tiger.

Instead of creating trouble for yourself, you should try to collect the illustrations.

She exited the space, took out the herbal medicine catalog she had bought at the academy a few days ago, and flipped through it page by page.

When she turned to the second half of the book, her fingertips stopped.

The booklet shows that there is a herb garden on the back mountain of Qishan Academy.

The academy is planted with medicinal herbs such as Dendrobium nobile, Paris polyphylla, Aster tataricus, and Polygonatum odoratum. Unauthorized entry is prohibited without the academy's permission.

Shen Jingque stared at the line of words, rubbing her hands excitedly.

"I never knew Qishan Academy had such a wonderful place!"

Although it's forbidden to enter without permission, she doesn't intend to pick them. Touching them shouldn't be a problem, right?

……

The next day, Shen Jingque went to the academy again with the homework she was punished to copy.

She jumped out of the car and saw several burly men blocking the entrance of the academy, shouting and cursing.

"Wang Jichuan! Your father owes our gambling den three hundred taels of silver, and he signed a contract with his fingerprint on it! Now that he's run away, you're the one who has to pay this debt!"

"It's only right that the son should pay for the father's debts! If you don't hand over the money today, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Shen Jingque pushed through the crowd and stood on tiptoe to look inside.

Wang Jichuan was surrounded by several creditors, his face pale and ashen.

His usual arrogant demeanor was completely gone; his lips trembled, and he could barely speak: "I... my dad... I have no money..."

"No money? Your Wang family is a Hanlin Academy academy, how could you be short of money?"

The leader grabbed his collar. "Enough nonsense! Today you either give us the money, or we'll report you to the authorities and let your father's shameful deeds spread throughout the capital!"

Shen Jingque quietly squeezed next to Xu Wanying and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Xu Wanying pouted, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"These guys are from 'Wanbaofang' in the east of the city. Wang Jichuan's father ran away because he owed gambling debts, and somehow he came to the academy this morning."

He Lanqing also leaned over and whispered, "I heard... that his father was a compulsive gambler, and in his younger days he even... secretly pawned Old Madam Wang's jewelry, but Lord Wang Huaijin kept it under control, so it didn't escalate."

Shen Jingque raised an eyebrow.

Wang Huaijin was in charge of the family, which was considered a family of integrity. How could he have raised a son who was a gambling addict?

And shouldn't a son ask his father for money when he owes him?

Why are they trying to blackmail Wang Jichuan, who is only a teenager?

She keenly sensed that something was amiss.

It looks like someone deliberately lured the casino staff to cause trouble.

Just then, the headmaster arrived upon hearing the news and solemnly ordered the noise to stop.

The men recognized this renowned scholar and, after some grumbling, released their grip, but remained blocking the doorway, refusing to leave.

Bai Heling said in a deep voice, "This is a quiet place in the academy. What kind of behavior is this, making a ruckus here? If there are any debt disputes, you can go to the government to file a complaint and they will make a fair judgment."

"Chief Bai, it's not that we're causing trouble, it's that the Wang family is refusing to pay their debt!"

The man, neck stiff with arrogance, declared, "It's only right that the son should pay for the father's debts! If you don't give us a clear answer today, we'll come here every day until Young Master Wang Jichuan repays the money!"

Wang Jichuan felt like he was being stared at by everyone and wished he could disappear into the ground.

He usually runs rampant in the academy because of his grandfather and uncle's influence. He has never been so humiliated before.

As more and more classmates gathered to watch, the whispers felt like needles pricking their lips.

He couldn't take it anymore, so he shoved aside a creditor who was standing nearby, buried his head, rushed out of the crowd, and ran away in a flash.

Shen Jingque withdrew her gaze and exchanged a glance with Xu Wanying. They both saw the words "serves her right" in each other's eyes.

He Lanqing coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "The Wang family prides itself on being a family of scholars and values ​​its reputation most. With this incident, Lord Wang Huaijin's reputation is likely to be damaged."

Xu Wanying curled her lips, "If I had known this would happen, I should have disciplined my children and educated them in morality. Now that this has happened, there's nothing to regret."

Shen Jingque wholeheartedly agreed.

Wang Jichuan's character is such that if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too.

If the father is a bad father, the son will naturally be a bad son as well.

The class that day was unusually dull.

Wang Jichuan's seat was empty, and Master Cen looked displeased while lecturing.

After school ended, the students left in twos and threes.

Shen Jingque, Xu Wanying, and He Lanqing traveled together, chatting idly until they reached a fork in the road before parting ways.

She walked alone along the corridor toward the side gate of the academy, still thinking about the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure, crept forward stealthily along the wall.

It is Shen Tingyun.

She hunched her shoulders, moved lightly, and kept her eyes fixed on the slender figure not far ahead.

The man, dressed in an indigo robe and wearing a jade pendant at his waist, walked with a leisurely gait; it was none other than Rong Jing.

Shen Jingque paused, her heart sinking.

Is Shen Tingyun tracking Rong Jing?

What does she want to do?

Rong Jing seemed unaware that someone was behind him. He turned through a moon gate and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Shen Tingyun quickened her pace, about to catch up, when suddenly, as if she had been discovered, she slipped into the shadow of a pillar in the corridor.

Shen Jingque followed silently.

Shen Tingyun peeked out from the shadows, and only after confirming that Rong Jing was far away did she quickly catch up.

Shen Jingque wanted to get a closer look, but accidentally stepped on a dead branch.

A soft "click" sounded particularly clear in the quiet corridor.

Shen Tingyun suddenly turned around.

Eyes facing each other.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

The color drained from Shen Tingyun's face, and his eyes first showed panic, then a fierce ruthlessness surged up.

She rushed over, covered Shen Jingque's mouth with one hand, and gripped her wrist tightly with the other.

"Hmm!"

Shen Jingque struggled for a moment, but Shen Tingyun dragged her into a nearby room filled with miscellaneous items.

The door creaked shut.

The room was dimly lit, with only a small window high up letting in a sliver of light, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air.

Shen Tingyun leaned against the door, his chest heaving violently, his eyes fixed on Shen Jingque, like a young beast driven to the brink of despair.

Shen Jingque blinked and pulled the hand that was covering her mouth down.

"Sister," she said seriously, "what are you doing following Young Master Rong?"