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

As dusk approached, only a solitary stone lantern shone in the courtyard of Mingcui Pavilion.

Shen Jingque rushed into the courtyard in a flurry of activity.

Her stomach was growling with hunger, and she almost missed the people in the yard.

Xiao Changgeng stood in front of her herb garden, leaning on another bamboo cane, his back to her, watching for an unknown amount of time.

Shen Jingque paused for a moment, thinking that Xiao Changgeng would ignore her for a few days.

"Big brother, what brings you here?"

"The herbs in your medicinal field are dying." Xiao Changgeng looked a little uncomfortable and tried to make conversation.

Shen Jingque looked down and, sure enough, the dendrobium plants by the wall had yellow tips and were drooping, looking malnourished.

"...I've been busy lately and forgot to water the plants."

If you're not going to put any effort into growing something, you might as well not grow it at all.

Shen Jingque pursed her lips. "These are my herbs. I can just replant them if necessary."

She's being talked about again, hmph (♯｀∧´)

Xiao Changgeng: "..." Is he still angry?

"Big brother, if you have nothing else to do, go back and rest. I'm starving. I'm going back to my room to eat."

Tianjiu devoured her lunch today, but the kid had a change of heart and bought her a bag of mung bean cakes in the afternoon. They were so dry and salty that she almost choked to death.

And so I've been starving and juicy ever since.

"I had someone buy some Baihelou's Golden Milk Pastry for you to have a snack."

Xiao Changgeng spoke somewhat awkwardly. He had never been so humble and coaxing to anyone before, especially a little girl.

But since he chased people away yesterday, he'll reluctantly try to appease him.

"Yesterday... I shouldn't have yelled at you, I should have talked to you properly."

Shen Jingque blinked, somewhat surprised.

Wow, Xiao Changgeng, that big ice block, actually took the initiative to make peace and apologize to him.

She tried hard to control her expression and nodded calmly: "Yes, my attitude wasn't good yesterday either. I shouldn't have said you were being nosy."

Xiao Changgeng tightened his grip on the bamboo cane and said gently, "I know you're not a child who doesn't know your limits; it's just that I got carried away by my concern."

I used to have a younger sister too.

"She was only four years old at the time. Because my father trusted others too easily, he let a wolf into the house, so..."

He didn't continue, but Shen Jingque already understood.

The regret of a brother who couldn't protect his sister is etched deep in his bones.

She suddenly understood why Xiao Changgeng had lost control so much when he found out about her contact with Rong Jing.

He was terrified that those around him would be harmed because they trusted him too easily.

She had always lived under Xiao Changgeng's protection. Even though she couldn't see or touch those secret guards, it didn't mean they didn't exist.

She should not underestimate Xiao Changgeng's warning.

Shen Jingque cleared her throat, walked up to Xiao Changgeng, and said solemnly, "Big brother, you were right yesterday. Rong Jing is indeed not simple. You told me to have less contact with him for my own good."

Xiao Changgeng's gaze sharpened.

Shen Jingque recounted what happened that afternoon, and added at the end: "The Hundred Herbs Garden is a forbidden area of ​​the academy, and it also contains the Mohist mechanical arts. How did he, a hostage from a foreign country, get the key? I think his connections and influence in the academy are much deeper than they appear on the surface."

Xiao Changgeng was silent for a moment, then asked, "You approached him to gain access to the Hundred Herbs Garden?"

Shen Jingque nodded: "I need the herbs in there."

She thought for a moment, then her eyes darted around, and she whispered, "Don't tell my dad."

"I'll investigate the matter of the Hundred Herbs Garden. Don't make any rash moves yet." Xiao Changgeng's expression was somewhat solemn. He had indeed only just learned about what Shen Jingque had mentioned.

"After we go to the Hundred Herbs Garden tomorrow, we should stay away from Rong Jing."

Shen Jingque responded, then changed the subject, smiling at him, "Big brother, I've listened to you, can you take Tianjiu back?"

Xiao Changgeng looked at her sweetly smiling face, his expression unwavering: "No."

"He squatted on the outhouse when I took a dump today! Is that right?"

"He was doing it to protect you."

Shen Jingque panicked: "He really made me lose face at the academy!"

Xiao Changgeng looked at her helplessly, but finally compromised by half a step.

"Can I ask him to stay away from you too?"

……

In a private room on the second floor of Baihelou Restaurant, the window was half-closed, and the candlelight cast blurry shadows on the paper screen.

Xiao Jingchen sat alone at the table, the exquisite food and wine on it barely touched.

He spun the teacup in his hand again and again, the bottom of the cup making a very soft rubbing sound on the table.

A servant outside the door whispered, "Your Highness, the person has arrived."

"Let her in."

The door was pushed open, and Shen Tingyun, wrapped in a gray cloak, entered the private room. When she took off her hood, fine beads of sweat slid down her temples. She didn't bother to wipe them away and first curtsied.

"Your Highness."

Xiao Jingchen calmly raised his hand and said, "Sit down."

She sat down across the table, her hands neatly folded on her knees, waiting for Xiao Jingchen's question.

Xiao Jingchen would invite her to meet every ten days to inquire about her recent situation in person.

Despite his noble status, the young prince's tone remained as gentle and approachable as ever: "Has anything new happened at the academy these past few days?"

Shen Tingyun lowered his eyes, knowing that he wasn't really interested in the gossip about the academy, and carefully chose his words when he spoke: "Recently, besides going to and from restaurants with those playboy sons of wealthy families, Rong Jing also meets with Shen Jingque every noon at a bamboo pavilion on the back mountain of the academy."

Xiao Jingchen's slender fingers rested on the rim of the glass, his thumb slowly tracing the cracked patterns on the glass's surface.

The reason Shen Tingyun was allowed to get close to Rong Jing was because he knew one of Rong Jing's secrets.

To bring him under your control, you need to understand him better.

Compared to approaching her through secret guards and spies, a harmless little girl like Shen Tingyun is less likely to attract attention.

Even if discovered, she can claim it's just a young girl's infatuation.

He just couldn't figure out how Rong Jing and Shen Jingque met.

He had tried to get close to Shen Jingque countless times, but every time the girl shut him down with her words, not even giving him a chance to say a few more words.

But Rong Jing easily sat down at the same table with her, chatting and laughing.

Xiao Jingchen suppressed the inexplicable dryness in his throat, his face still as gentle as spring water in March: "Yun'er, you are Shen Jingque's older sister."

He set down his teacup, his hand sliding across the table before gently grasping Shen Tingyun's soft hand: "Getting close to her is more legitimate than anyone else's. I need you to find out exactly what Rong Jing said to her."

Shen Tingyun's eyes flickered, and her cheeks suddenly flushed crimson.

But when she thought of Xiao Jingchen's request, she couldn't help but feel troubled: "Your Highness, Shen Jingque has a pageboy by her side today. His skills are not like those of ordinary servants. I... I dare not approach him rashly."

Xiao Jingchen was not displeased upon hearing this. Instead, he stood up, walked around the table, and stood in front of her.

Long, slender, cool fingers lifted her chin, like cradling a delicate flower petal.

She was forced to meet Xiao Jingchen's gaze.

Those eyes held just the right amount of pity, and when they looked at someone, they were extremely focused, as if the person in front of them was the only important existence in the world.

"Yun'er, you are her older sister. Even if it's discovered, it's just an older sister caring for her younger sister."

"Didn't you say you wanted to assist me? Can't you even grant me this small request?"

As he spoke, he slowly leaned closer, his handsome features revealing a slightly alluring sense of grievance.

Shen Tingyun's heart pounded wildly.

Yes, as long as we can assist him, we can get rid of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion and no longer have to live under someone else's roof and depend on others for our lives.

As long as I am of value to him...

Seeing that her expression relaxed, Xiao Jingchen took out a carved jade pendant from his sleeve and handed it to her.

The jade is warm and lustrous, and it is carved with a double lotus pattern, making it clear at a glance that it is no ordinary object.

"As long as you help me wholeheartedly, I will personally bring you to the palace after you come of age."

After those words were spoken, only the soft flickering of the candlelight remained in the private room.

Shen Tingyun stared at the jade pendant, her lips trembling slightly.

She suddenly remembered what Shen Jingque had said to her that day—

Don't give your heart to Xiao Jingchen.

"Guard your heart."

Her heart...

A bitter smile crept across Shen Tingyun's lips as he unhesitatingly reached out and took the jade pendant.

Shen Jingque, watching from the sidelines, could never understand the hardships she endured while struggling to survive in the storm.

Let alone the heart, what difference would it make if I exchanged my conscience for it?

That's how my mother did it, and that's how everyone does it.

The coolness of the jade pendant traveled through her fingertips, and Shen Tingyun obediently lowered her head.

"Yes, Tingyun understands."

……

At the alley entrance, the wonton stall was steaming hot. The old man selling wontons was ladling soup with his head down, while a woman dressed as a servant was huddled next to him, holding a bowl in her hands, but her eyes kept turning towards the side gate of Baihelou.

As Shen Tingyun came out of the side door of the restaurant and passed in front of her, the old woman immediately lowered her head and stirred the soup in her bowl with a spoon.

Once the cloaked figure turned out of the alley, the old woman tossed the copper coins onto the table, abandoned the soup, and headed towards the Yong'an Marquis's residence, lifting the hem of her skirt.