mtl008 Chapter 412 Slander
Chapter 412 Slander
"It's great that you've become the top scholar! I'll come cheer you on when the time comes," Shen Li said with a smile as she entered the room.
Shen Yue ran over and hugged Shen Li's arm, saying, "Sister, you should go too! With your abilities, you're sure to be the top scholar."
"Then you won't have any left?" Shen Li teased her.
"It's not like we lost to anyone else. By the way, what brings you here, sister? Aren't you busy with the imperial examination results?"
Shen Li gradually became serious upon hearing this: "Yue'er, come into the room, I have something to tell you."
"Why are you taking this so seriously, sister? You can make the decisions on important matters. I'm too lazy to think about it." Shen Yue was genuinely intimidated when she realized it was a serious matter.
Shen Li was both amused and exasperated. Her younger sister was an extremely intelligent child, but she was born to enjoy a life of luxury and didn't like to put her mind to anything other than martial arts.
"It's up to you to decide," Shen Li said, leading her into the room. "It's about your marriage."
"Marriage?" Shen Yue was taken aback when she heard this: "My parents are going to choose a husband for me?"
Shen Li shook her head slightly: "It's the Fourteenth Prince. He said he wants to marry you."
"A little kid?" Shen Yue was even more surprised to hear this: "How old is he? He hasn't even grown all his fur yet and he wants to get married?"
"Yue'er." Shen Li frowned slightly.
Shen Yue then realized that she had spoken without thinking, and coughed before saying, "Why did you suddenly bring this up? Although I quite like playing with him, I hadn't thought about this at all."
Her personality is more like Xiao Bailing's; she says what she thinks and isn't ashamed to admit even things she likes.
This was perfectly normal for her.
"Then think it over carefully, and tell your sister when you've made up your mind." Shen Li took her hand: "Especially if you don't want to get married, you must say so. You absolutely cannot wrong yourself."
Shen Yue still didn't know why her sister would suddenly bring this up, but seeing how serious her sister was, she nodded: "I'll think about it carefully."
"Okay, let's go out for dinner."
The family had dinner together, and Gu Chang'an came to pick Shen Li up that evening. Shen Li leaned against Gu Chang'an in the car.
"My husband, I'm really angry." She said this calmly.
"I know." Gu Chang'an rubbed her head. "It was Consort Zheng who did it. Prince Yi must have been involved. He will pay the price. Just wait and see, A-Li."
Shen Li knew that Gu Chang'an's actions would not be ordinary, but she could not do nothing; she had her own methods.
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.
Recently, Prince Yi has suffered repeated setbacks in court, which has caused Emperor Cheng to relax his vigilance against him. Consort Zheng has easily regained the emperor's favor.
As long as Consort Zheng was present, even the young girls who had just entered the palace could not catch Emperor Cheng's eye.
As expected, Emperor Cheng spent the night in Consort Zheng's palace that day. There were many memorials piled up beside him, but Emperor Cheng did not want to look at them. He simply sat on the couch and drank tea, with a painting of a beautiful woman, the latest work by a painter, hanging in front of him.
The painter had just finished and delivered it today. Emperor Cheng shook his head slightly as he looked at it: "It is very lifelike, but it is still not as artistic as Shen Li's painting."
Consort Zheng was initially pleased to finally have another portrait, but upon hearing Emperor Cheng's words, she felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
That's utter nonsense. If there were any painter in the contemporary era who could compare to Shen Li, then Shen Li wouldn't be considered a talented woman who excels in both calligraphy and painting.
She gave an awkward smile and continued to massage Emperor Cheng's shoulders, while saying, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. The daughters of the Shen family are all outstanding. That second young lady is particularly skilled in archery and horsemanship. Perhaps she could become a female general in the future."
"Yue'er must be sixteen by now." Emperor Cheng fell into thought upon hearing her words: "She's reached the age to discuss marriage."
"Yes, recently there have been rumors inside and outside the palace that Miss Shen is getting very close to our Fourteenth Prince. Should Your Majesty grant them their wish?" Consort Zheng asked seemingly casually.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng suddenly frowned.
The deposed crown prince Li Heng married Zhou Qianqian, the daughter of the chief minister. The two colluded and eventually rebelled.
He cannot allow the Grand Secretary and the prince to reunite.
Li Che was, after all, the legitimate son of the Shen family, which had a greater influence than the Zhou family back then, including Shen Li and Gu Chang'an, and its influence was extremely widespread.
If the Shen family were to marry the legitimate son, not only would the other princes be in danger, but even he, the emperor, would feel that his throne would be unstable.