ebookland Chapter 182 Do you want to marry your cousin?
Chapter 182 Do you want to marry your cousin?
"That's good. Sister, go inside and wait for dinner. I'll settle in and then go in." Shen Li was still directing the servants to arrange the flowers.
"Okay." Liu Yue wasn't that fond of flowers, so she skipped and hopped into the house.
Lian Qiao quickly came over and whispered in Shen Li's ear, "The maid who's been watching her says she's been going out every day lately, and so has that uncle of hers. They're always hanging around teahouses and taverns, and you can't see them doing anything productive."
After thinking for a moment, Shen Li beckoned to Yu Die: "I'll leave this to you. Keep a close eye on her, especially whether she meets anyone outside."
"Yes, Miss, you can rest assured leaving it to me," Yu Die assured her. She had been stealing since she could remember, and she was confident that she was better than most people at hiding herself and keeping watch.
Shen Li nodded, her expression meaningful as she lowered her head to smell the flowers. If this was a well-behaved person, she could find her a good family. It wouldn't be a bad thing to keep in touch in the future.
if not...
"Go in, little peony." Shen Li looked up and teased the peony with a smile.
Peony's face fell immediately, and she said in a low voice, "Miss, this sounds like the name of a top courtesan."
Shen Li was amused by her. That evening, she had dinner with Liu Yue. Seeing that Liu Yue showed no sign of leaving, she stayed on the couch to talk. Liu Yue did most of the talking, while Shen Li occasionally responded.
Later on, Liu Yue was clearly distracted, as if she was thinking about other things.
"Miss, the master is back," Lian Qiao announced as she entered.
Liu Yue then got off the couch, even tugging at her wrinkled clothes and tucking her hair behind her ear.
Shen Li calmly withdrew her gaze from her. In the past, she might have been somewhat oblivious to this, but after the Zheng Yanran incident, she understood it perfectly.
"Ali."
Gu Chang'an walked in, looking travel-worn. He was initially excited and expectant, but when he saw that there were other people in the room, although his expression didn't change, his eyes gradually became more subdued.
I can't be happy when there are people I dislike.
"Cousin's back, give it to me." Liu Yue ran forward and reached out to take the official hat from Gu Chang'an's hand.
Before Gu Chang'an could dodge, Liu Yue's hand had already linked with his arm.
"Here you go." He shoved the official hat into her hands, then pulled his arm away, his brow furrowed.
Liu Yue was fine. After putting away her official hat, she came over again, wanting to take Gu Chang'an's hand again.
Having prepared himself, Gu Chang'an was not about to let her get away with it. He immediately turned cold and said, "Stand still. Didn't anyone teach you from a young age that men and women shouldn't touch each other?"
“But you’re my cousin, what are we afraid of?” Liu Yue looked at Shen Li with a wronged expression: “Is it your wife who minds? If she minds, then I won’t touch you.”
"Perhaps my younger sister is too young to understand, but once a woman grows up, everyone except her husband is considered an outsider. Whether it's a cousin or a biological brother, such intimacy is inappropriate, unless..."
Shen Li paused for a moment, then looked at her with her gentle and calm gaze: "Unless you want to marry your cousin."
Gu Chang'an's brows furrowed even deeper, his dark eyes filled with a chilling coldness.
“This…this…” Liu Yue suddenly looked hesitant and said, pointing to her finger, “Marriage is a major life event that parents should decide. How can I have my own ideas?”
"That's good. I'll discuss it with your parents later and we'll definitely find you a good match." Shen Li continued, seemingly oblivious to her shyness.
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Liu Yue's head. She was stunned for a moment and then said, "I won't trouble you, cousin-in-law. I'm not in a hurry to get married."
"If you're not in a hurry to get married, you need to be more careful about your behavior. Otherwise, if your reputation is ruined, you won't be able to be a wife, let alone a concubine," Shen Li said calmly.
But Gu Chang'an clearly sensed the aggression involved, and his initial anger suddenly turned into a feeling of satisfaction.
Ah Li cares about him a lot.
"Yes, I will follow my cousin's advice. I won't disturb my cousin and his wife's rest any longer." Liu Yue lowered her head, admitted her mistake, and slunk away.
Shen Li shook her head slightly. With such limited skills, she thought she could rise to the top? Did she really think she was a pushover?
"Thank you for your hard work, A-Li." Gu Chang'an didn't get too close to Shen Li because he hadn't changed his clothes. He just slowly squatted down in front of her, with a guilty look on his face.
"What are you saying, my husband? Let me help you change your clothes," Shen Li said, getting off the couch.
"The clothes you're wearing outside are dirty." Gu Chang'an stood up and took a half step back.
"Nonsense, it smells wonderful." Shen Li grabbed his hand and then personally helped him take off his official robes and change into the white clothes he usually wore at home.
Of course, she took advantage of the situation quite a bit during this period.
After changing his clothes, Gu Chang'an's ears were completely red, and he couldn't concentrate on his work for a quarter of an hour.
Shen Li absolutely adored seeing Gu Chang'an's shy demeanor. How come she hadn't noticed how shy Gu Chang'an was in private in her previous life? It was just so incredibly amusing.
"Ahem, Ah Li, did you copy His Majesty's reply to the Henan Circuit today?" Gu Chang'an quickly changed the subject when he saw Shen Li staring at him intently.
Shen Li was indeed distracted and nodded: "His Majesty has sent censors and officials from the Ministry of Works to the local areas to manage the floods, which will greatly ensure the success of the project."
She could finally relax. As for the struggle between the Crown Prince and Prince Yi in the court, it was nothing out of the ordinary, and she didn't want to pay any attention to it.
In contrast, she was more concerned about the progress of the case involving the beating of Young Master Zheng, so she asked a question.
"The murderer has not yet been found. It is clear that the perpetrator planned this in advance and has done this kind of thing many times before. It will not be easy to find him," Gu Chang'an replied matter-of-factly.
He avoided eye contact with Shen Li, afraid of being provocatively looked at again.
Shen Li breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Wan'er usually didn't make a move, like a cold and aloof flower on a high mountain. She didn't expect that when she used underhanded tricks, she could do so flawlessly.
He is capable of both stillness and action, and knows when to be tense and when to be relaxed; he truly deserves the title of a great general.
In this way, Lin Wan'er will not have to worry about her marriage for a while. Not only is the young master of the Zheng family injured, but also because of the turmoil in the court, the emperor and the Prince of Yi are too busy to care about her marriage.
She smiled with satisfaction, then quickly turned her attention back to Gu Chang'an.
"Ah Li, let's go to sleep." Gu Chang'an felt hot all over from being stared at, and even with his self-control, he couldn't concentrate on reading another word.
Even if you can't fall asleep, it can at least help you calm down a bit.
Shen Li nodded: "I'm sleepy too."
She could understand the psychology of a woman who was thinking about Gu Chang'an; it was truly hard not to think about a man like that.
She soon learned that Liu Yue wasn't the only one in the Liu family with this idea; the whole family shared it. When her nominal aunt came to talk to her, seemingly out of concern for her health, she was actually implying that she had no children.
Later, his words revealed his concern that the Gu family would have no heir.
“Wife, a woman without children has no one to rely on, so it’s inevitable that a man will bring in a concubine to bear children for him.”