The main courtyard.
Upon receiving the news, Shen Danqing rushed home in a hurry.
Shen Heqing got there one step ahead. He pulled Shen Danqing behind the screen and stuffed the silver note in his hand into Shen Danqing's.
The touch of the silver note made Shen Danqing stunned for a moment. He subconsciously refused, "Brother, there's no need. I still have money..."
"What money do you have? You haven't bought writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones for a long time, and your clothes have faded from washing." Shen Heqing was insistent and forced the silver note into Shen Danqing's hand.
Shen Heqing patted Shen Danqing on the shoulder. "Take it. I swindled this money from Shen Yunfeng. Not only you, but also Haiyan and Baozhu have some."
"I know you've been saving money to buy a gift for Baozhu. There's no need. Baozhu will like whatever you give her."
There was a hint of jealousy in the last sentence. Shen Heqing still remembered that last year Shen Danqing embroidered a small bag with his own hands, which became Shen Baozhu's favorite birthday gift.
Thinking of the birthday gift, Shen Heqing suddenly advised, "Danqing, now that you have some money, for Baozhu's birthday gift this year, you should buy something valuable."
Shen Danqing looked at Shen Heqing and didn't say a word for a long time.
It made Shen Heqing extremely nervous. Shen Danqing drawled, "Brother, don't tell me you're deliberately persuading me to buy a gift while you plan to give her a handmade one?"
Shen Baozhu's maternal grandfather was fighting in the war outside, and she was the beloved youngest daughter in the family. Compared with valuable things, she preferred gifts handmade by others.
Last year, only Shen Danqing accidentally gave her a small bag sewn by himself.
Shen Baozhu liked this small bag very much. She would take it with her every time she went out to play with her friends.
Caught by Shen Danqing, Shen Heqing looked a bit guilty. He changed the topic. "Baozhu just got a silver bracelet. She likes it very much and wants you and Concubine Yun to have a look."
At this moment, Shen Baozhu was shaking the silver bracelet on her wrist to show it to Concubine Yun.
She said cheerfully, "Aunt Yun, look. This is the silver bracelet Brother Lin Yu gave to Baozhu. Isn't it beautiful?"
Concubine Yun caught the key point in Shen Baozhu's words and coaxed the little girl. "It's really beautiful. This is the first time I've seen such a round silver bracelet."
The Princess Jingning was afraid that Shen Baozhu would blurt out the secret of the bracelet, so she put her arm around her and interrupted her conversation with Concubine Yun. "Concubine Yun, are you feeling better?"
"Much better. Thanks to the medicine the Princess sent." Tears welled up in Concubine Yun's eyes. In her heart, there was not only gratitude but also fear.
Although Shen Yunfeng sent the ointment, it was for removing scars. If the Princess Jingning hadn't sent the medicine, she might still be using the scar - removing ointment stupidly, and her injury wouldn't have recovered so quickly.
The Princess Jingning knew that Concubine Yun was timid, so she comforted her a few more words. When Shen Baozhu in her arms saw Shen Danqing, she ran over.
"Second Brother, look! Isn't Baozhu's new bracelet beautiful?" Shen Baozhu skillfully stretched out her hand to let Shen Danqing see her bracelet clearly.
Reminded by Shen Heqing, Shen Danqing smoothly said, "Is this Baozhu's new bracelet? It's so beautiful!"
Shen Baozhu twirled around with her silver bracelet shaking and finally returned to the Princess Jingning's arms.
She was a bit unhappy and said sullenly, "Third Brother still hasn't come home."
The room instantly fell silent. The Princess Jingning hugged Shen Baozhu and coaxed her softly, "Third Brother is in the military camp. He can only come out when it's his turn for a break. When he comes out, Baozhu can beat him hard to vent your anger."
"Third Brother is so bad. He doesn't come home to accompany Baozhu."
But when the Princess Jingning said so, Shen Baozhu felt a bit embarrassed instead.
She said awkwardly, "Third Brother is not bad. He's too busy... Anyway, I can't beat Third Brother. I can't bear to!"
The Princess Jingning was amused by Shen Baozhu, and even Concubine Yun covered her mouth with a handkerchief and snickered.
Shen Baozhu looked at the Princess Jingning and Concubine Yun blankly. "Why is Mother laughing?"
Shen Heqing, who was watching on the side, couldn't help laughing out loud. Only Shen Danqing looked gentle, but the slight curl of his lips betrayed his mood.
Amid the laughter, the kitchen had already prepared the meal. Everyone could have dinner.
Undoubtedly, Shen Baozhu was the focus at the dinner table. Everyone else wanted to pick up food for her.
Shen Heqing was quick - eyed and quick - handed. He put a meatball into Shen Baozhu's bowl first and looked at Shen Danqing triumphantly.
Such a childish look made Shen Danqing turn his head away and ignore him.
As the key figure in this little rivalry, Shen Baozhu was completely unaware of all this.
She first ate the meatball from her elder brother and then looked at her second brother expectantly as he was scooping up sweet soup. "Baozhu likes the small balls in this. Second Brother, scoop up more small balls."
Seeing her eager look, the Princess Jingning laughed. "Little glutton. You just know how to order your brothers around."
But Shen Baozhu lifted her head proudly. "Second Brother loves Baozhu, and Baozhu loves Second Brother too. Baozhu will pick up food for Second Brother!"
"And for Big Brother, Mother, Aunt Yun..."
After picking up food for everyone at the table, Shen Baozhu returned to her seat.
She held the spoon and was about to drink the soup happily.
But at this moment, the subtitles in mid - air were refreshed.
[Is the score enough? Enough? This system actually limits the score!]
It was sent by the Dragon King today.
Shen Baozhu put down the spoon and waited obediently for the next subtitle.
But after waiting for a long time, the subtitle didn't update.
Looking down at the tempting sweet soup, Shen Baozhu couldn't resist the temptation and picked up the spoon...
[Remember to get back the gold for this King! This King would rather throw the gold away than let those villains benefit from it!]
At this crucial moment, the subtitle was successfully refreshed.
Shen Baozhu was a bit confused. "What gold?"
[It's the gold that hit those black - clothed men today. They're all the gold treasures this King has collected. You didn't pick them up!]
The last few words were a bit distorted, perfectly expressing the Dragon King's mood.
Shen Baozhu blinked her eyes. She lowered her head guiltily. "Sorry, Baozhu didn't know it was gold."
"Baozhu will pick it up now!"
When she lowered her head, Shen Baozhu looked at the sweet soup in the bowl. After much hesitation, she negotiated with the Dragon King. "If I go to pick up the gold and come back, the sweet soup won't taste good. Baozhu will drink the sweet soup first and then go."
She gobbled up the small balls in the sweet soup in two mouthfuls, drank the sweet soup in three mouthfuls, and then wiped her mouth clean.
The whole action was done in one go. Finally, Shen Baozhu threw herself into the Princess Jingning's arms. "Mother, the immortal told me to pick up the gold and not let the villains benefit from it."
Pick up the gold...
The Princess Jingning was stunned for a moment. Hearing the word "gold", Shen Heqing laughed. "Who is this Su Qian? A fairy?"
"Mother, Baozhu must have misheard. This was said by Su Qian. The first thing he said when he woke up was that gold was falling from the sky. He must be under too much pressure and having hallucinations."
Shen Baozhu retorted, "No! Brother Su Qian was holding me, and the black - clothed men were chasing us. Then the immortal made the gold fall from the sky to help me."
"It was also the immortal who reminded Baozhu that the villains mustn't pick up the gold."
Even though Shen Baozhu was very firm in her tone, Shen Heqing didn't take it seriously. "Okay, okay. It's getting late now. How about Big Brother takes you there tomorrow?"
Looking at the setting sun outside, Shen Baozhu was a bit tangled for a moment.
It did seem really late...
"Since the immortal has told Baozhu to do so, it's better to go." Shen Danqing said gently. "Mother, could you send a few more guards to accompany us?"
Since Shen Danqing took on the matter, Shen Baozhu felt relieved. She could complete the task the Dragon King had given her!
The Princess Jingning's gaze fell on Shen Danqing and she nodded. "Okay, then I'll trouble Danqing to take Baozhu there."
"Heqing, come with me to the study."
Soon, only Concubine Yun was left in the room.
Bai Zhi stepped forward to support her. "Concubine Yun, the Princess wants to make a few new clothes for the young Princess. Could you help this servant pick out some fabrics?"
Concubine Yun, who was a bit embarrassed at first, felt relieved and quickly agreed.