flstandardbreds Chapter 216 We can't let Ah Li go hungry
Chapter 216 We can't let Ah Li go hungry
"You're perfectly fine, it's just that your belly hasn't shown any signs of pregnancy, otherwise this imperial concubine position would have been yours long ago," Empress Ning said again.
"Yes, it's all because I'm useless." Zhou Qianqian lowered her head weakly, but her gaze was no longer filled with the inferiority she once had; instead, it was cold.
She's determined to take the position of Crown Princess.
From this day forward, the Empress led the entire harem in prayers, and the officials and noblewomen who had accompanied the Emperor from the previous dynasty also expressed their sentiments, setting up incense tables in the inner palace to fast and pray for blessings.
As an official of the imperial court, Shen Li not only had to submit a memorial to pay his respects, but also had to set up an incense table as was customary. After burning incense, he was at a loss when he looked at the table of vegetarian dishes prepared by his mother.
She then realized that Liu Yue's information to Zhou Qianqian was correct; she really didn't like eating vegetarian food.
Is this a case of shooting oneself in the foot?
"Miss, how about we have the kitchen secretly make some?" Peony suggested, seeing her mistress struggling with the problem.
"Wouldn't the cook know I stole some? If word gets out, it'll be a handle against me." Shen Li sighed slightly. "Just give me a few more steamed buns."
"Poor Miss, if Consort Zheng is sick, just call the imperial physician. What good is praying for blessings?" Peony complained in a low voice.
"Perhaps some illnesses are beyond the reach of doctors. Don't speak ill of important people. My father will be here soon," Shen Li reminded him.
Peony quickly stopped talking, her big eyes blinking as she looked around, afraid that the master would hear her.
Only Shen Zizai ate properly during the meal, while Xiao Bailing and her two daughters looked pale and listless.
Shen Zizai knew that his wife and youngest daughter were people whose emotions were easily read on their faces, but his eldest daughter was not a picky eater before, so why was she so sullen now?
"Sister's ability to observe celestial phenomena is truly amazing; the matter of selecting a concubine has indeed been put on hold." Shen Yue admired her older sister even more.
It seems like there's nothing my older sister can't do.
Shen Zizai looked at Shen Li with suspicion: "Li'er, did you do something?"
"Father, do you think I can manipulate the Imperial Concubine or the Imperial Observatory?" Shen Li shrugged.
Shen Zizai thought for a moment and shook his head. It did seem like a coincidence, but he just felt that his daughter might have the power to influence them.
"Father, my sister said she saw it in the sky," Shen Yue explained, then looked at Shen Li: "Sister, could you tell us when we can eat meat?"
"..." Shen Li couldn't think of a way to smooth things over for a moment.
She also wanted to know when she could eat meat.
“You’re such a sensible child,” Xiao Bailing interrupted her, saying seriously, “Celestial phenomena are divine secrets that only indicate major events. Don’t bother your sister with trivial matters.”
Shen Yue nodded in agreement: "Mother is right."
Shen Li lowered her head and ate her vegetables, her guilty conscience making her quite silent.
I should have known better than to brag.
After dinner, the two sisters sat in their mother's room for a while before returning to their own courtyards. Since Gu Chang'an was not there, Shen Li usually went to bed early, planning to read for a while before going to sleep.
She had read the book before, but it wasn't very interesting. Shen Li missed Gu Chang'an a little; it had been several days since she'd seen him, and she wondered how his policies were going.
"Miss, I heard from the servant that the young master has arrived and is now going to the main courtyard to pay his respects to the master and mistress," Peony came in to report.
Shen Li's eyes lit up upon hearing this. It was like a pillow being delivered when she was sleepy. Just as she was thinking about it, the person arrived.
Before long, he heard the maids in the courtyard bow, and then Gu Chang'an entered the room, accompanied by a box, which was placed in the outer room by a servant.
"Husband." Shen Li got off the bed and hugged him.
Gu Chang'an pulled the person into his arms, his previously serious expression now filled with a smile.
"My husband, you've finally arrived! I've missed you so much!" Shen Li expressed her affection without reservation and asked, "Have you missed me?"
"I think about it every day." Gu Chang'an lowered his head and nuzzled her nose.
While the two were cuddling, Lianqiao and Shaoyao carried the box into the inner room, presumably containing the clothes they had brought, and began to unpack and organize them.
"Are the doors and windows closed properly?" Gu Chang'an asked.
Obviously not, but both girls tacitly went to close it when they heard this, and were stunned when they came back and opened it again.
Inside, four food boxes were neatly arranged.
Shen Li's eyes lit up even more when she saw this.
“Ah Li is a vegetarian and probably doesn’t feel full, so I had someone secretly buy some from the restaurant and send it over. No one will know,” Gu Chang’an said, patting her head.
We can't let his Ah Li go hungry.
"Thank you, my husband. Let's eat together. I'm really not full." Shen Li excitedly kissed him on the cheek, and then instructed the two maids to open the food box.
Gu Chang'an touched his face and secretly smiled.
Shen Li finally filled her stomach, washed up, and lay in bed before asking, "Did my husband come here especially to bring me food?"
"Mm," Gu Chang'an replied.
"My husband is busy with official duties, and the implementation of government orders is at a critical juncture. He bears the weight of the nation's affairs on his shoulders, so please don't let such a small matter distract you." Shen Li looked at him with concern: "You don't usually sleep well, do you?"
She knew Gu Chang'an's character well; he wouldn't neglect his political duties just to come see her. He would sacrifice his rest time to handle things properly.
In the end, he was the one who suffered.
“Ah Li’s matter is the most important thing, how can we ignore it?” Gu Chang’an held her small hand in his palm: “Although there are many government affairs, they are all well-organized. We just need to deal with them one by one. It’s not complicated.”
"Only you would say that. I don't know how much more worried someone else would be," Shen Li sighed.
"It's alright." Gu Chang'an's voice was calm and languid.
"I won't say anything more, my husband, go to sleep," Shen Li said softly.
The thought of him having to get up early tomorrow made me want him to rest a little longer.
"Mmm," Gu Chang'an responded, and quickly fell asleep while holding her.
Shen Li looked at him with heartache. Implementing the new policies was extremely difficult, and unfortunately, few people were capable of helping him, and many were even holding him back.
The only thing better than the previous life is that she is back. She remembers the wrong paths taken during the reforms in the previous life, and she had written a policy essay for him beforehand, which can help Gu Chang'an avoid some detours.
This way, we can complete this feat faster.
When Shen Li woke up early the next morning, Gu Chang'an had already left. She rolled around in bed and groaned sadly, "My own man has been run off with the court officials. Is there any justice in this world?"
If it were a woman vying with her for Gu Chang'an, it would be easy to resolve; she'd be lucky to survive. But when it comes to matters of national importance, she really can't be so clueless.
There's only so much we can do to help, so let's not hold Gu Chang'an back.
Compared to Gu Chang'an's busy schedule, Shen Li felt so idle at the Hanlin Academy that she felt like a parasite on the court, eating public food every day but having nothing to do.
She spent her days organizing and copying the official records of the dynasty and checking the archives of the Hanlin Academy. She studied quite a bit, but reading the files was simply too easy for her.