Rebirth: So what if my husband is a little crazy? He loves me.

Chapter 10 Visiting Lin Wan'er

Gu Chang'an's heart skipped a beat when he saw her suddenly lean in. His hand, gripping the chopsticks, clenched tightly, the veins on his pale hand standing out prominently.

Shen Li felt happy as soon as she ate the meat. When she looked up, she met his affectionate gaze, and her eyes crinkled with laughter.

She realized that her happiness and peace were right in front of her; she had no idea what she had been busy with in her past life.

She ate the pork knuckle and noticed his evasive gaze and the flushed look in his eyes, as if he had been drinking. She smiled inwardly.

"Ah Li." His voice was reproachful, yet also pleading.

He could tell she was teasing him, but he couldn't help blushing and looking her in the eye.

"Alright, alright, let's eat." Shen Li then pulled back the half of her body that had been leaning over and sat up straight to eat.

Once she started eating, she couldn't control herself and ate until her belly was bulging before she stopped. Gu Chang'an, on the other hand, ate a few bites and then went to handle official business. It's unclear who was having dinner with whom.

People tend to get sleepy after a full meal. She was passing the time in the study with a book when she fell asleep. In her drowsy state, she heard Gu Chang'an's voice.

"Remember these names. Use severe torture. Make sure he reveals these people tonight."

She barely managed to open her eyes a crack when she heard the sound, and saw Gu Chang'an sitting behind his desk, with a tall, thin, dark figure standing opposite him.

"I understand, I will take care of it right away."

"Also, keep an eye on those spies and make sure they don't leak any information." Gu Chang'an's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

Shen Li lost consciousness completely at some point, and when she woke up again, it was the next morning. She was in her own bed, and no one was beside her.

Upon closer inspection, the blanket that had been laid out on the floor under the bed was rolled up, indicating that someone had slept on it, but they were gone.

"Miss is awake?" Lian Qiao came in when she heard the voice. Seeing Shen Li staring at the quilt on the floor, she immediately replied, "Miss fell asleep in the master's study last night. The master carried you back and ordered someone to spread the quilt on the floor for you to sleep on."

Her eyes were full of smiles as she said this; she was very pleased to see that the young lady and the master were doing well.

Although the master has a bad reputation, he is really good to the young lady.

“Next time, tell him to sleep in the bed. His body can’t withstand the cold of the floor.” Shen Li frowned slightly and asked, “Did he go to court?”

"Yes."

"Send a servant to take a bowl of hot ginger soup to the Dali Temple and watch him drink it."

"Miss is really paying more and more attention to the master," Lian Qiao said with a smile.

"You saying that proves I did a pretty good job." Shen Li was quite satisfied with herself.

Lianqiao went out to send someone away, and Shaoyao came in carrying a washbasin, her little face looking dejected.

"Who upset my little peony this morning? Tell me and I'll stand up for you. No matter who it is, not even the King of Heaven can touch him," Shen Li teased her.

“Miss.” Peony smiled and then scolded, “This servant is speaking up for you. The servants from the Zhou family came early this morning, urging you to finish the painting for their second young lady as soon as possible.”

Shen Li had a lot going on since her rebirth, and it took her a moment to remember what it was.

The Zhou residence was the home of Zhou Zhen, the Grand Secretary of the current dynasty. This Grand Secretary was a veteran official of two dynasties and the leading member of the Crown Prince's faction. Zhou's eldest daughter was the concubine of Crown Prince Li Heng.

The reason she was a concubine was because she was born out of wedlock and could not be a concubine. This was a temporary measure by the Zhou family. They were just waiting for her to give birth to the eldest grandson of the emperor so that she could be officially made the principal wife or empress.

However, the subsequent situation thwarted Zhou Zhen's plans.

Not long after this time in the previous life, war broke out on the front lines, and General Lin's entire family was killed in battle, leaving only Lin Wan'er as the last survivor. To honor the Lin family, the emperor bestowed Lin Wan'er upon the crown prince as his principal wife.

Later, Lin Wan'er naturally became Empress, while Zhou became a Noble Consort.

Consort Zhou was an old acquaintance of Shen Li. Since becoming the Crown Prince's concubine, she had been very kind to Shen Li, taking care of her in every way and giving her gifts and rewards as a matter of course.

If it were just ordinary attempts to win someone over, there would be nothing wrong with it. However, every time she met Shen Li, she couldn't help but say things about Gu Chang'an, both openly and subtly, to sow discord between the two.

The more Shen Li heard such words, the more she despised Gu Chang'an's behavior. Even though she knew he was genuinely good to her, she would never listen to him out of a sense of righteousness.

Looking back now, the woman's methods were undeniably skillful, and Li Heng's ultimate success was inextricably linked to her.

The struggle for imperial power is inherently cruel, so it's not a matter of who's right or wrong, but... she'd better not speak ill of Gu Chang'an anymore, or she'll mind it.

As for Zhou Rong, the second young lady of the Zhou family, who is to be painted, she is relatively less scheming. She was born to the first wife, and the Zhou family's wife was already over forty when she gave birth to her. As a result, she was pampered in every way, which fostered her spoiled nature.

This person is not very bright and only knows how to bully others in a straightforward way. However, in her previous life, after she and Gu Chang'an lost power, this girl took advantage of their misfortune to climb to the top.

However, she would never give the other party the chance to kick her when she was down.

"She's a pampered young lady, and your grandfather is the Grand Tutor, Miss. Isn't your status more noble than hers? Why does she boss you around and ask for your paintings whenever she wants? You can't even get a painting from a thousand-gold man outside," Peony said indignantly.

Shen Li stretched and said lazily, "Why are you arguing with a little girl? I have nothing else to do anyway, so I'll just draw it for her."

“Miss, you have such a good temper. They just think you're afraid of them. It makes me angry.”

Seeing that she was angry, Shen Li just smiled and said, "Alright, they're all unworthy people. I'd be heartbroken if you got upset."

Peony could only smile helplessly.

"Miss, please spoil her. She's becoming more and more unruly. People who don't know better will think she's the second young lady," Lian Qiao said with a smile as she walked in.

Peony stuck out her tongue guiltily.

Shen Li ate a whole table full of breakfast, which shocked the kitchen staff who were eating there.

After breakfast, she went to the study, intending to paint, but found that she had already finished.

"I finished this painting the night before you developed a fever. I was planning to send it to you the next morning, but you developed a high fever that night," Lian Qiao said.

"That's perfect, I'll take it to her and visit Miss Lin who's unwell on the way." Shen Li hadn't been able to find an opportunity to see Lin Wan'er.

The Zhou and Lin residences are on the same street; it wouldn't be right to pass by without going in.

She wanted to know why Lin Wan'er hadn't gone to the poetry gathering, and where the course of events had begun to deviate from her previous life.

"You're personally delivering it? And you're going to the Lin residence?" Peony glanced outside before continuing, "Has the sun risen in the west today? You and Miss Lin don't have that kind of relationship, do you?"

"You need to keep in touch if you're not close. Get the car ready." Shen Li couldn't wait to see seventeen-year-old Lin Wan'er.