NCCnovel Chapter 107 A Letter from the North
Chapter 107 A Letter from the North
“I’ve eaten. As Ah Li said, I’ve been taking my meals and medicine as usual,” Gu Chang’an replied immediately.
Shen Li's spirits sank when she heard about the medicine, but she quickly rallied: "Let's go to sleep then, I'm tired."
Even if we can't sleep together, we can still kiss and touch each other, right?
"Okay." Gu Chang'an touched his ear and walked over, opening his arms to hug her. She looked small as she clung to him.
When Shen Li touched the scar on her collarbone, she suddenly thought of that assassination attempt. In her previous life, she left no survivors, but in this life, she left quite a few.
"By the way, my husband, have you interrogated those who tried to assassinate you?" she asked. "Who sent them?"
"The Governor of Cangzhou." Gu Chang'an took a breath before speaking to make sure he didn't stutter:
“During the interrogation of Liu Ling, it was discovered that the governor of Cangzhou had been sending him large amounts of gold and silver every year. I checked the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue and found that the tax policy there was very unclear, so I sent someone to investigate. However, the person who investigated the accounts did not return, but the assassin arrived first.”
"That means there are serious problems with the accounts in that prefecture." Shen Li's eyes flickered as she asked, "Whose side is the Cangzhou governor on—the Crown Prince's or Prince Yi's side?"
"Liu Ling once said that he had given gifts to the Crown Prince, but the Prince of Yi had no idea about it."
"That's not right. Why would someone from the Crown Prince's faction assassinate you?" Shen Li was even more puzzled. This was the reason she had never fallen out with the Crown Prince. She wanted to be the hunter, not the target.
“The assassins can only find out who is behind this, but as for why he did it or whether someone else is directing him, we don’t know.” Gu Chang’an softened his voice when he saw her anxious: “Ah Li, don’t worry, it’s not too late to investigate after I’m done with this.”
Shen Li's memories of Cangzhou were still from the travelogues she had read. She only knew that it was located in the north. In her previous life, Cangzhou had already fallen along with the fall of the northern border. After that, it was incorporated into the territory of the Great Liang as part of the territory ceded by the Great Zhao, and had nothing to do with the imperial court anymore.
After all, the Xiao and Lin families had no descendants, and no capable military generals emerged in the Great Zhao Dynasty. Moreover, internal strife was severe, and the seven ceded states were never recovered until her death.
"Okay." Shen Li couldn't really do anything, so she just agreed.
Shen Li had a lot of free time after that. Someone was in charge of making cotton-padded clothes for the soldiers, so she just wrote down the gift list with Gu Chang'an and handed it to the steward for purchasing.
Shen Li spent most of her time at the Duke's mansion. She would take Shen Yue there almost every morning and return to the mansion in the evening.
The old Duke was a veteran of countless battles and was mentally prepared for his grandson to go to the battlefield, so he only worried for a few days before his spirits lifted.
Xiao Bailing was worried about her father being alone in the mansion, so she moved here. Shen Zizai also suggested moving here several times, but the old Duke chased him away each time.
"Your father is too weak. Even I, at my age, could beat him up." Old Duke Xiao Zhan sighed as he mentioned it.
Shen Li and Shen Yue could only listen, not daring to agree or disagree.
“Father, the child is so grown up, why do you still look down on him? Not everyone can be a martial artist. What’s wrong with scholars?” Xiao Bailing said as she handed over a tangerine that was roasting over the charcoal fire.
"Weak and righteous." Xiao Zhan shook his head repeatedly: "You said so many good young men in the military camp liked you back then, how did you end up with him?"
“He’s long-lived. Look how many of those good young men from back then are still alive now?” Xiao Bailing wanted to make a joke, but realized it wasn’t a good time to say it.
Sure enough, a hint of worry flashed in the old Duke's eyes.
Shen Yue wanted to agree, but Shen Li tugged at her sleeve and spoke up while Shen Yue was puzzled:
“My mother was born at the wrong time. How difficult those times were, unlike now where everything is bright. I should have chosen my husband from the military camp. How glorious it would have been to be ennobled and awarded a title then.”
Seeing this, Xiao Bailing chimed in, "That's right, Gu Chang'an is also a weak scholar. Why do we always choose sons-in-law like that?"
She said this against her will; although she liked martial arts, she never really liked men who practiced martial arts.
Shen Zizai and Gu Chang'an are the types she prefers. They are affectionate yet gentle, capable of expressing their feelings when they are deep and resorting to physical violence when they are indifferent.
“You’re wrong again. Gu Chang’an is a good kid. Although he’s a scholar, he’s not pedantic or bookish. He’s smart.” Xiao Zhan was indeed drawn away from his sad thoughts and began to speak well of Gu Chang’an.
Although he initially had some reservations about Gu Chang'an, Gu Chang'an offered many pertinent suggestions regarding the peace delegation's actions in the rear of Daliang.
This made Xiao Zhan look at him with new eyes. War is not just about real swords and guns; sometimes, trickery and deception are the best strategies.
"Grandpa, how about I find a military general for myself in the future?" Shen Yue understood and immediately said, "I like people who practice martial arts the most. We can fight together on the battlefield."
Shen Li smiled upon hearing this. In her previous life, this child did not say such a thing. She said she liked her younger brother because he was obedient and clingy, and that she would have no regrets even if she spent her whole life with him in the same place.
Shen Yue enjoyed some good years back then, but after Li Heng ascended the throne, he could not tolerate the Shen family, let alone his younger brother who had married a daughter of the Shen family.
As she was lost in thought, a servant from the Duke's mansion suddenly ran in, cupped his hands, and said, "Miss, someone is looking for you outside."
"Looking for me?" Shen Li stood up in confusion, bowed to her maternal grandparents, and walked out. She hadn't expected anyone to come to the Duke's mansion looking for her.
"Sister, I'll go with you." Shen Yue didn't care much about etiquette and got up to run outside.
Xiao Bailing looked at them with doting eyes: "These two children have had a good relationship since they were little."
"Looking at the kids all day makes me feel more energetic," Xiao Zhan said, turning to his daughter. "The weather's nice today, want to come ride horses in the backyard?"
“Father.” Upon hearing this, Xiao Bailing’s face immediately darkened, and he said seriously, “How old are you? Over seventy and still riding a horse? If something happens to you, will you let us live?”
"Look at you, you get so agitated with just one sentence, just like your mother." Xiao Zhan said this, but he was genuinely intimidated.
He was a man of great influence outside the home, but at home he used to fear his wife, and now he fears his daughter.
"How about this, when the weather is nice in spring, I'll have someone find you a gentle horse so you can ride it and have some fun?" Xiao Bailing's heart softened as soon as she said this.
Xiao Zhan then smiled: "My daughter is so thoughtful. I'm not bragging, but I can still go out to fight without any problem."
"Please don't bother. It's our blessing that you can retire at home."
When Shen Li arrived at the outer room, she saw a strange man with a weathered face. Upon seeing her, he knelt on one knee and presented a brocade pouch with both hands, saying, "My master requests that Madam Gu take a look."
Shen Li's pupils contracted, and her heart seemed to skip a beat.
What girl would embroider wild geese on a sachet?!