boyutpedia Chapter 6 Shen Li's Talent
Chapter 6 Shen Li's Talent
At the entrance of the Shen residence, servants stood on either side of the steps, while a girl of about thirteen or fourteen stood in the center of the gate. The girl had her hair in two buns and wore a pink short jacket. Her big eyes blinked as she looked out at the street.
Upon seeing the Gu family's carriage arrive, she immediately jumped up and waved excitedly, but when she saw the dignified and composed Shen Li alight, she immediately changed her demeanor.
She placed her hands in front of her, lowered her eyes slightly, and respectfully greeted the newcomer, "Elder Sister."
Shen Li realized once again how rigid she had been. Shen Yue was a free spirit who didn't like reading but loved playing with swords and spears. She had been lectured by Shen Yue a lot since she was a child.
Although the sisters were very close, Shen Yue still held her elder sister in some awe.
In her previous life, Shen Li was well aware of the cruelty of the political strife, so she tried her best to mediate her sister's marriage, ruining the marriage arranged for her by the Crown Prince and allowing her to marry the person she loved. She lived a peaceful and happy life for more than ten years.
But in the end, she couldn't escape death... It was ultimately her choice as the older sister that led her down the wrong path.
This time, she won't make a mistake.
"Alright, laugh if you want to, don't hold back." Shen Li stepped forward and pinched her chubby little face, her eyes full of doting affection.
Shen Yue was a little stunned by the pinching. Her older sister was actually going to fight in the street?
"Come on, let's go see Mother." Shen Li pulled her inside.
The court assembly had not yet ended, and her father, Shen Zizai, was certainly not at home. She couldn't wait to go see her mother.
"Mom went to Grandpa's house to visit my cousin."
Shen Li stopped in her tracks; she vaguely remembered.
Her cousin, the young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, was injured while leading troops in training at the military camp and is currently recuperating at home.
"Then let's wait for Mother to come back, and go to your courtyard first." Shen Li held her hand tightly.
"Ah, is my elder sister going to test my studies again?" Shen Yue put on a pitiful expression, her pleading for mercy was obvious.
Shen Li asked, amused, "Do you want me to take the exam?"
Shen Yue shook her head honestly, her entire being screaming rejection.
"Then we won't test you. We'll just see how well you've practiced your martial arts."
"Really? Sister is so kind." Shen Yue hugged Shen Li's arm tightly, even changing how she addressed her.
Shen Li smiled indulgently, patted her little head, and felt a lot of emotions, but unfortunately there were spies around, so it was inconvenient to say anything.
"Ying'er, wait in front of the mansion gate. Summon me as soon as His Highness arrives," she instructed as she walked forward.
Ying'er, without suspicion, immediately replied, "Yes."
Shen Yue was naturally unconventional and preferred martial arts to poetry and literature. Martial arts equipment could be seen everywhere in the courtyard: sandbags, stone weights, wooden stakes, and pits of all sizes dug out for unknown purposes, along with a variety of weapons.
Shen Li sat under the eaves and watched her perform a set of boxing moves with impressive skill. She praised her repeatedly, saying, "Well done! Come and wipe your hands."
“Grandpa praised me for practicing well the other day.” Shen Yue ran over and lowered her voice: “Grandpa also said that his biggest regret is that you don’t practice martial arts. You are the only one in our family who is like the Xiao family ancestor.”
The Xiao family, the family of Duke Zhenguo, are descendants of founding heroes. The ancestor of the Xiao family was born with superhuman strength. He could break a tiger's head with his bare hands when he was young, and he was invincible after adulthood. He was the number one general in the founding of the country.
Although the descendants of the Xiao family are still brave, no one with superhuman strength has emerged since. Apart from the family, no one knows that this talent actually appeared in Shen Li.
Shen Li could crush walnuts when she was a month old, and when she was one year old and learning to walk, she could push down the wall she was holding onto. When she was three years old, she could throw a pebble and it could pierce through a tree.
Of course, as a young lady from a respectable family, she began to learn to control her strength at the age of five. Now she is used to handling things gently and gracefully, and her demeanor is more dignified and elegant than anyone else's.
"I will visit him in a couple of days," she said.
If you don't want to be taken advantage of, you have no choice but to take advantage of others. It's a very simple truth.
Would someone who has died once still be afraid to hold a knife?
"Miss, His Highness has arrived and is waiting for you in the side hall," Ying'er reported as she entered.
"Wait for your sister to come back." Shen Li patted Shen Yue's head, her gaze turning cold as she stood up.
Li Heng, we're going to meet again.
In the side hall, Li Heng dismissed those around him and sat alone, his handsome brows revealing an unconcealed worry.
Shen Li saw him before she even entered the room. Li Heng was wearing a red court robe with gold-woven dragons on his shoulders and chest, and a jade belt around his waist. Even indoors, he shone with brilliance.
He was handsome, with a refined and approachable demeanor. Everyone in the court and the public felt that this prince was completely different from the current emperor who was indulging in excessive punishments, and that he would become a benevolent ruler in the future.
Therefore, he gained the love and support of many officials, mostly civil officials, and the Shen family was one of them.
It can be said that this crown prince has a great advantage in the current situation. He is the legitimate son of the empress and supported by his ministers. He should be able to rest easy, but he lives in constant fear and trepidation.
Because there was one person who disliked him, and that person was the emperor.
"Your Highness." Shen Li walked in and bowed slowly, her expression as calm and composed as ever: "Did Your Highness summon me here for something?"
"Sister Shen." Li Heng immediately ran down from his seat upon seeing her, and asked with concern, "How have you been doing at the Gu family? Ever since you married into the family, I haven't been able to sleep well night after night. Has that cruel official Gu Chang'an been mistreating you?"
Looking at his gentle yet anxious demeanor and his sorrowful face, Shen Li understood why she had been deceived by him in her previous life.
They were childhood sweethearts, and Gu Chang'an was indeed a cruel official. Whether it was out of personal feelings or for the greater good, she would have leaned towards him in her past life.
She had already paid the price of her life for the choices she made in her previous life, and in this life she didn't want much, just for him to pay with his life.
"Your Highness need not worry, he treats me very well and listens to me very well." Shen Li did not show her true feelings and continued to comfort him: "Your Highness, rest assured."
"You've really suffered, alas, I'm so sorry." Li Heng sighed repeatedly, his eyes seemingly filled with tears.
Shen Li was deeply moved to see his haggard appearance in her previous life, but now she knew perfectly well that he was only so anxious because Liu Ling had been arrested.
She had no interest in playing along with his youthful romance, so she feigned urgency and said, "My matter is not important. I heard from Ying'er that Your Highness has something urgent to attend to. May I ask what it is?"
"Ying'er really has a quick tongue." Li Heng sighed, as if he hadn't sent anyone to deliver the message.
Shen Li knew he was about to speak, so she waited quietly.
"I didn't want to bother you, but did you know that Liu Ling, the Minister of Revenue, has been arrested and taken to the Dali Temple?" Li Heng was more anxious and quickly got to the point.
Shen Li scoffed inwardly, her voice indifferent: "I know, he was accused of corruption, and His Majesty ordered his arrest and interrogation."
“Does my sister know that he is under my command? If he is tortured into making false accusations, not only will other officials under my command be implicated, but I myself will also be implicated.” Li Heng spoke urgently, explaining the implications.
"Does Your Highness want Gu Chang'an to release him?" Shen Li asked with great difficulty. "The censors have listed many of Liu Ling's crimes, and His Majesty is furious about it. How can this person be protected?"
"He brought this upon himself, so he must have foreseen this day. I will not save him; this matter will simply be settled with him." Li Heng looked at Shen Li. "You know what I mean, don't you?"