kvmb Chapter 423 Trust Between Husband and Wife
Chapter 423 Trust Between Husband and Wife
"You can all go now," Shen Li said to the maids. "I'm fine, I don't need any medicine."
The maids left, and Shen Li looked at Gu Chang'an and patted the bed beside her: "Husband, please sit."
"No rush." Gu Chang'an still wanted to see her up close. At this moment, his thoughts were mixed, and he didn't know what to say first.
"Does my husband know that I met with the advisor of the Prince of Yi?" Shen Li knew exactly what she was going to say; keeping such a thing to herself would only suffocate her.
Gu Chang'an nodded: "What did you say?"
"He said that you sent someone to poison my cousin, and that the purpose was to frame Yi Wang with a self-inflicted injury, and that there was no third-party force involved." Shen Li told him everything in one go.
"Hmm?" Gu Chang'an was even puzzled for a moment when he heard this, but then he knew why A-Li was feeling palpitations. No one was more afraid than her.
"So, does A-Li believe him?" Gu Chang'an asked, stroking her hand.
"He really fooled me. Before I could even figure it out, I started feeling unwell. I don't know why."
Shen Li shook her head slightly and then said, "But when I put my mind to it, I knew it was impossible. My husband wouldn't need to go to such lengths to frame the Prince of Yi."
"It wasn't me." Gu Chang'an spoke slowly after listening to her analysis. Although A Li believed him, he still had to give an explanation and a statement.
He wanted to put Ah Li's mind at ease.
"I knew it." Shen Li smiled; she believed Gu Chang'an's words.
Gu Chang'an smiled and looked at her: "Let's not talk about that. Does A-Li know why she suddenly felt unwell?"
"Maybe I've been eating too much lately? Or sleeping too much?" Shen Li asked, puzzled. "Should I move around more? It's just that the Ministry of Rites has more work than the Hanlin Academy, I haven't had any free time..."
You are pregnant.
“I will… ah…” Shen Li was muttering to herself, but she suddenly stopped when she heard this.
Gu Chang'an nodded to her, indicating that she hadn't misheard.
"Pregnant?" Shen Li was completely stunned.
She has lived two lives and experienced a lot, but this pregnancy is truly her first.
She suddenly felt a little nervous, uneasy, and even panicked.
She wondered if she could protect her child, whether the child would be born safely, and whether the child would grow up safely.
"Don't be afraid, A-Li. The imperial physician said the pregnancy is stable. As long as she doesn't get any external stimulation or harm, she'll be fine," Gu Chang'an gently reassured her.
Shen Li took a few deep breaths, then suddenly laughed. She grasped Gu Chang'an's hand and said, "Husband, we're going to have a child. Are you happy?"
"Thank you, A-Li." Gu Chang'an was more grateful than anything else, and her eyes reddened. "It's just that you've had a hard time."
"It's alright, I'm in good health," Shen Li reassured him. "Husband, don't be too nervous."
Gu Chang'an found it hard not to be nervous.
It was the first time the couple had a child, and they were both a little lost, but they comforted each other in their words.
This comforting conversation lasted all night. Neither of them knew what they talked about, but they just couldn't fall asleep. Even Shen Li suddenly stopped feeling sleepy.
Gu Chang'an had never felt this mix of anticipation and nervousness before, not even the day before his wedding.
This was the first time for Shen Li. She thought she had matured enough after living two lives, but she didn't expect to still act so naive.
Gu Chang'an gave many instructions early the next morning before leaving.
Shen Li did not go to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty. She got up early and wrote a letter requesting leave, and also wrote a note to have someone send it back to the Shen family.
The note did not mention that she was pregnant; it simply asked her father to take her mother on a long trip, to enjoy the scenery and not waste this precious time of leisure.
Shen Zizai had a knot in his heart and couldn't sleep all night, but receiving his daughter's letter suddenly changed his perspective on the matter.
Over the years, he has devoted too much energy to his own ambitions, neglecting his wife's feelings. His wife loved to travel around since she was a young girl.
After getting married and having two children, she also had to manage the family shop. Except for accompanying her husband back to his hometown to pay respects to their ancestors, she never left the capital.
Isn't now the perfect time?
To hell with the prime minister, even if he begs me to come back, I won't.
So that very day, he ordered his servants to pack their bags and bring his guards. After giving all the instructions, he found Xiao Bailing in the accounting office, took the account book from her, and handed it to the accountant.
"What are you doing?" Xiao Bailing asked, puzzled but also concerned.
Her husband had devoted most of his life to the court, and now that he had suddenly left, she worried that something might happen to him.
"Come with me now, let's go out for a walk." Shen Zizai took her hand and led her away.
“Okay, where to?” Xiao Bailing agreed, thinking that Shen Zizai was too sad and wanted to go out for a walk.
Where do you want to go?
"How about the outskirts? We can hunt or fish there," Xiao Bailing suggested.
Shen Zizai shook his head: "Go further afield. I remember you wanted to go to the Northwest to see the frontier scenery. How about we go there?"
"What?" Xiao Bailing began to feel that something was wrong.
She noticed that all the servants in the mansion seemed to be moving around, carrying things from the main courtyard out of the mansion. She even saw pots, pans, and kitchen utensils.
"Perhaps the southeast or the Jiangnan region?" Shen Zizai offered a few more suggestions: "Wherever you say we want to go, that's where we'll go."
Xiao Bailing's first reaction was to touch Shen Zizai's forehead. Shen Zizai smiled and blocked her, but Xiao Bailing grabbed her wrist and reached up with her other hand.
"That's strange, she doesn't have a fever," she said, puzzled.
Shen Zizai was both amused and exasperated by this martial-minded wife, so he told her about the letter he had received and shared his thoughts.
“My daughter reminded me that over the years I have served the country and its people but failed to take care of my wife’s wishes. Now that I am free from official duties, we can go wherever we want.”
"Go wherever you want?" Xiao Bailing was a little slow on the uptake and hadn't quite grasped the idea yet.
Shen Zizai nodded.
"But didn't His Majesty tell you to stay home and consider it?"
"He doesn't even want his official position anymore, so why would he care where I am? I really don't believe he would kill me for that."
Xiao Bailing was also surprised that her husband, who had always followed the rules, would say such a thing, but thinking about it, it seemed to make sense.
"Are you coming or not?" Shen Zizai asked.
Xiao Bailing, also filled with heroic spirit, immediately said, "Let's go! Anyone who doesn't leave is a bastard!"
Shen Zizai smiled. His wife was indeed the daughter of a military family; she possessed a boldness that he could never learn.
So when the imperial decree to grant the marriage was issued that day, Shen Yue was shocked to realize that she would soon be the only one left in the mansion.
The imperial edict was for betrothal. Considering that Li Che was still young and the wedding date had not yet been set, there was no need to prepare too many things.
"Mother will have your sister send someone to prepare, so you can stay home and look after the house without worry," Xiao Bailing instructed.
"Mother, please take me with you. I don't want to stay in the manor either," Shen Yue said immediately.
Shen Zizai was the first to shake his head: "If you want to go, wait for your future husband to take you. Then don't interfere with me and your mother."
“…” Shen Yue.
Is this what it feels like to be disliked?
As she watched the wheels roll away, her young heart felt a great pang of sorrow, so she rushed to the Gu residence to seek refuge with her sister.
She was puzzled for a moment when she saw that her older sister was home during the day, but then she hugged Shen Li tightly and wouldn't let go: "Sister, it's good that you're here. Father and Mother went on a long trip this morning without me."
"You didn't take me with you either." Shen Li patted her head and said, "Alright, stay with me until Mom and Dad come back. Your sister will keep you company."
Shen Yue nodded repeatedly, and the thought of being able to stick close to her older sister quickly brought a smile to her face.
"By the way, sister, what are you doing at home?" she asked.
"Pregnancy care".
"Oh, raise... raise what?" Shen Yue jumped up from Shen Li's arms, looking at her flat stomach with disbelief.
Shen Li smiled and touched her lower abdomen.
"Sister, are you kidding me? I'm going to be an aunt?" Shen Yue asked blankly.
"You weren't this excited when the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon you," Shen Li teased her.
"How can these be the same?" Shen Yue squatted down and gently touched Shen Li's lower abdomen, her face full of surprise: "Sister, do you think it's a boy or a girl?"
Shen Li shook her head and asked her, "What do you hope for?"
"I like boys. I can teach him to ride horses and shoot arrows. Wouldn't it be great to fight on the battlefield in the future?" Shen Yue said with a look of longing.
Shen Li realized that she didn't actually like boys; she just wanted to be with them.
“Girls aren’t necessarily without a chance either,” Shen Li said. “Didn’t you say you wanted to take the martial arts exam? Even if you become a prince’s wife, you can still take it.”
"Really?" Shen Yue's hope was rekindled.
"It's all about human effort. The higher you climb, the more opportunities you'll have. I believe in you," Shen Li said, patting her shoulder.
Shen Yue nodded heavily: "Then I still need to practice martial arts diligently. Sister... oh, you can't practice anymore. You have to protect my little baby."
"I'll stay here and not go anywhere else. I'll protect my sister well." Shen Yue became even more determined to stay at the Gu residence.
"By the way, sister, why don't you just take leave until you give birth? It's not very safe to go out."
Shen Li smiled and shook her head: "It's not as fragile as you think. Besides, there's not much to do at the Ministry of Rites. Going there is just a way to relax."
"Then you must be very careful, sister."
"it is good."
The news of Shen Li's pregnancy was not spread, but because many people in the manor knew about it, those who were interested were still able to find out.
Among these people with good intentions, the first was the King of Chess.
He had thought that sowing discord would have some effect, but he didn't expect to receive news that the couple were still in love and that Shen Li was pregnant, as well as a highly sensitive advisor named Gao.
Master Gao's residence was surrounded by guards. He ate and drank without leaving his room, and he had to test all the food with a silver needle before he could eat it. Even so, he still had nightmares.
According to him, Shen Li was terrifying that day. It was as if he was being targeted by a demon from hell. Even now, thinking about that look and that aura still sends chills down his spine.
King Yi was furious, but he had always cultivated a reputation for being respectful and courteous to his subordinates, so he couldn't be too harsh on them and could only tolerate and appease them.
He dismissed Shen Li's threats with disdain. He had heard too many women say hurtful things and knew that women could say anything when they were angry, but none of them could actually do it.
Even if he was not the best, he was still a prince at the height of his power, the most likely heir to the throne. How could a mere woman want his life?
It's absolutely ridiculous.
What good is killing so many people on the battlefield? This is the imperial court, a place where she can kill people at will.
Take Master Gao's head within seven days?
He wanted to see what kind of assassin had the ability to enter his palace and kill someone.
The imperial examination is just around the corner, and he believes that his father will release him then, and he will be able to seize the opportunity once again.
Now that the Shen family has lost its position as prime minister, what resources does Shen Li have left to fight against him?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Shen Li went to the Ministry of Rites the next day. Her pregnancy did not require any medication to prevent miscarriage, and she had no other symptoms except for eating more and being sleepy.
She didn't experience the morning sickness, loss of appetite, or intolerance to greasy smells that other pregnant women often have; she seemed healthier than most people.
She did nothing but take care of her pregnancy. She knew that Bai Wuyou was suspected by the emperor and that her father's resignation was common knowledge in the court, but she didn't care about anything and looked very leisurely.
So much so that when people from the Ministry of Rites saw her, they all tried to comfort her. Of course, there were also a few who, upon seeing her, no longer showed the same enthusiasm as before and avoided her.
With the Grand Secretary out of power, the current Minister of Rites, who was formerly the Grand Secretary, may not be able to secure his position, and the Ministry of Rites may very well be transformed into a new entity.
At this point, it's still necessary to avoid suspicion.
Shen Li could only sigh that these people were born to be officials; they didn't miss any opportunity to curry favor and rise to power, and they could immediately protect themselves when the situation turned against them.
"Lord Shen, don't be too sad. Maybe His Majesty will come to his senses one day and summon the Grand Secretary back," someone comforted him.
Shen Li smiled and said, "Thank you, brother. I'm fine. My father has worked so hard for so many years. It's a good thing that he can now travel around and enjoy his retirement."
The group nodded, but they all felt that Shen Li was forcing a smile.
Who in this world wouldn't care about the position of Grand Secretary? It's a position second only to the emperor, a powerful minister who can reject the emperor's memorials and contradict him.
"The palace examination is in three days. Gentlemen, who do you think will be the top candidate this year?" Shen Li changed the subject.
She didn't want to discuss things whose outcome was already known.
Everyone perked up when the topic came up, each offering their own opinion, and some even arguing heatedly.
Most people still believed that with Wei Zheng's talent, he would become the top scholar, but there were some different opinions, saying that the top few in this imperial examination also had a chance.
Shen Li did not participate in the discussion, but returned to her seat to drink tea. She was thinking about what kind of food Gu Chang'an would bring her for lunch.
The imperial physician advised her not to eat too much after becoming pregnant, lest the baby become too large and cause difficult labor. She hadn't eaten any snacks today and was already starving, just waiting for lunch.
The palace examination was held outside the Chengde Hall. The Grand Secretariat, along with the Six Ministries, the Nine Ministers, and most of the officials from the Ministry of Rites, accompanied the emperor, and Shen Li was among them.
Seeing Wei Zheng's fair face, she wondered if Cheng Ruojin had succeeded. She hoped such a good young man wouldn't be taken by someone else.
But Gu Chang'an had no idea what she was thinking. Occasionally, when he turned around and saw her staring intently at Wei Zheng, he felt a pang of unease.