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

He Lanqing's ear tips suddenly burned.

He subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed his earlobe, as if he could wipe away the heat.

Shen Jingque didn't notice his little movements and continued to "interpret the divination" on her own, arms crossed.

"Once you've decided on someone, you'll devote yourself to them wholeheartedly."

"But your emotions aren't the passionate, flamboyant type."

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then added, "You know how to hide your feelings in the details."

"For example... copying someone's notes, or remembering a sentence someone said unintentionally."

He Lanqing's fingertips gripped the cuff of her sleeve, her knuckles turning slightly white.

She couldn't possibly know her own heart; she was merely interpreting the divination.

But I couldn't help but wonder, what if she finds out?

He thought to himself, "She knew all along."

This thought was like a thorn in his side, making him feel restless.

"What you value most is spiritual connection." Shen Jingque raised her index finger. "To be friends with you, I have to think it through. I can't just rely on sweet words. Superficial enthusiasm won't move you."

"Also, you have a natural talent for speaking up for the weak, and you have an exceptionally strong sense of justice."

She paused, then softened her tone.

"But sometimes you can be too sensitive and magnify other people's malice several times over, and then you have to deal with it all by yourself."

He Lanqing slowly lowered her gaze.

The feeling of being seen through was too intense, like someone gently knocking open a crack in the thin shell of his heart, letting in light and exposing even the corners he dared not look at directly.

He felt a strong urge to escape.

And yet... I'm a little reluctant to escape.

Shen Jingque's heart skipped a beat when she saw his reaction.

He Lanqing was a year older than her, and boys of that age are very sensitive.

Could it be that I went too deep into the subject or administered too strong a dose of medication?

Feeling uneasy, she didn't press him for details, but simply patted his shoulder gently.

"Qingqing, you will definitely become a great censor in the future."

She paused, then smiled and changed her words.

"No—Prime Minister."

He Lanqing slowly raised her head.

There was a hint of water in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth curved like ripples on a river in spring.

"Th-thank you."

……

After the last divination was completed, most of the onlookers dispersed.

Only Shen Jingque, Xu Wanying, and He Lanqing remained in the tea room.

Xu Wanying was still immersed in her interpretation when she slammed her fist on the table with a "bang," making the teacup jump.

"I'll go home and tell my dad!"

He Lanqing said softly, "Do...do you want me to write a petition for you? If the wording is tactful, the general might be more likely to accept it."

Xu Wanying was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"Will you write it for me?"

"Hmm." Helan Qing nodded. "The general has fought for many years and is used to obeying military orders. If he were to say 'my daughter wants to go to the battlefield' right away, he would definitely refuse."

"Why not start from the perspective of 'practicing martial arts to strengthen the body and protect the home,' and proceed step by step?"

Xu Wanying's expression changed from surprise to admiration: "Helan Qing! Your brain works so well!"

Shen Jingque rested her chin on her hand as she looked at the two of them, inwardly marveling: My team's configuration is just too strong.

A future female general, a future prime minister.

He is accomplished in both literary and martial arts, and has a bright future ahead of him.

And she—

"Sigh." She leaned back lazily, and the chair back creaked.

"You two will become a general and a prime minister in the future, that's wonderful!"

Xu Wanying asked curiously, "So what do you want to do?"

Shen Jingque gave a sincere smile.

"I want to be kept by you guys."

"?"

Xu Wanying almost dropped the pastry in her hand.

He Lanqing stammered, forgetting even what he had said: "What did you say?"

"Since you're all skilled in both academics and martial arts, I don't have much room to show off."

She shrugged, looking completely at ease.

"You guys earn money to support me, and I'll be responsible for accompanying you to meals, entertainment, and conversations, providing emotional support. Professional conversationalist, guaranteed to be reliable."

"If I become rich and powerful, let's not forget each other."

He Lanqing was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing.

Xu Wanying was so angry she laughed, and slapped her on the back, almost knocking her under the table.

"How dare you say that!"

The three of them burst into laughter.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the three boys in the tea room, overlapping them so closely that they seemed inseparable.

As Shen Jingque smiled, her gaze inadvertently drifted to the window.

In the distance, towards the back mountain, the outline of the bamboo forest appears a gentle dark green in the setting sun, stretching upwards in layers and disappearing into the thin mist halfway up the mountain.

The Hundred Herbs Garden is in that direction.

Her eyes darted around, and a hint of cunning appeared in her smile that others couldn't decipher.

"Speaking of which—"

She lowered her voice, rested her elbows on the table, and assumed a posture as if she were plotting something big.

"Since we've already had our fortunes told..."

"After school today, I have a small favor to ask of you two."

He Lanqing's intuition immediately sounded the alarm: "Wh...what kind of busy?"

"It's a small favor." Shen Jingque raised two fingers and made a pinching motion.

"I swear, I will never violate the academy's rules, do anything immoral, or implicate you."

Looking at her innocent and harmless smiling face, Helan Qing felt a chill run down her spine for no apparent reason.

In the days he's known her, he's learned one thing—

The sweeter Shen Jingque's smile, the more complicated things were.

"It's... the Herb Garden on the back hill." She gestured with her chin towards the dark green expanse outside the window. "I want to go in and take a look."

He Lanqing: "...", he knew it.

That's a forbidden area of ​​the academy; the headmaster has explicitly stated that students are not allowed to enter without permission.

"Look! Just look!" she quickly added, clasping her hands together. "I like herbs, I want to touch and smell them, but I absolutely won't pick them, I won't even reach out my hand."

Xu Wanying was fearless, waving her hand dismissively: "The Hundred Herb Garden? Let's go then, what's there to be afraid of!"

He Lanqing frowned: "That place...didn't they say no one could enter without permission?"

"That's why I need you to keep watch."

Shen Jingque grasped his hand, her almond-shaped eyes filled with sincerity.

"If anyone comes, signal me and we'll retreat immediately. We won't linger in battle."

He Lanqing looked down at her wrist, which was being held, and her ear tips began to burn again.

He raised his other hand and rubbed his temples, forcing himself to calm down.

"The ink from the last time I was punished by copying hasn't dried yet."

The meaning is clear—if he commits another offense, his writing hand won't be able to withstand a second round of abuse.

"Don't worry!" Shen Jingque patted her chest, her voice firm and resolute. "If we get caught, I'll take all the blame. I'll just say you two were innocent bystanders who were kidnapped by me, and have nothing to do with the main culprit."

He Lanqing stared at her for three seconds.

"You always say that."

"This time it's for real! Please... Qingqing..."

"..."

He sighed, looking exactly like an old gentleman exasperated by his troublesome students.

"All right."

Shen Jingque shouted in her heart: It's done!

Just as she was about to stand up to plan her preparations, she suddenly caught a glimpse of the end of the corridor outside the window—

A glimpse of an indigo-blue hem flashed by.

Extremely fast, as if someone deliberately avoided her gaze.

Shen Jingque narrowed her eyes, her smile unchanged, but her heart skipped a beat.

Rong Jing... why is this person always haunting me?

Also, how much did he hear?