NFBE Chapter 102 A Fierce Effort to Win Him Over
Chapter 102 A Fierce Effort to Win Him Over
After having breakfast, Shen Li washed up and changed her clothes. Since it was just a routine audience, she did not need to wear the court dress of a noblewoman. So she wore a lotus-colored jacket and skirt, and put on a moon-white cloak over it after going out.
It was already deep winter, and the end of the year was fast approaching. Shen Li couldn't help but think of the northern border. Everyone said it was much colder than the capital, but she wondered what it was like there.
The imperial court received two battle reports, but she didn't receive a single message.
However, no news is good news; if news did reach her, it would be an extremely urgent matter.
"Miss, a hand warmer, freshly put in charcoal." Lianqiao handed a hand warmer inside the carriage.
"You can hold it, give it to me after we enter the palace," Shen Li said, taking off her cloak.
Although the car was warm, it was still not as warm as a house. Noble ladies and ladies would often need charcoal when traveling, but Shen Li did not need it. Even though she was dressed lightly, she did not feel cold.
However, Shen Li did not show this in front of others. When she entered the palace, she met several noblewomen who said they were cold, and she wrapped herself in a cloak and echoed their sentiments.
"This winter seems to be colder than usual, and the soldiers in the northern border are having a hard time. I wonder how many winter clothes Madam Gu's household is preparing to make?" an elderly noblewoman asked.
"The servants are working hard to prepare, but we don't know how much they can produce yet. In any case, the entire household will do its utmost." Shen Li said in official language, holding a hand warmer in both hands.
The noblewoman nodded in agreement: "Yes, we must always do our best."
Unable to probe Shen Li's background, they exchanged a few casual words and then moved on to another person to talk to.
The other noblewomen kept their distance from Shen Li from the very beginning. Before her marriage, Shen Li was the object of these elders' eagerness to get close to her, after all, marrying a talented woman from a prestigious family was a great honor, and she would have inexhaustible wealth.
Since Shen Li got married, her life has been much worse than before. Even if the husbands and sons of these people have not suffered at the hands of Gu Chang'an, their relatives and friends have. They both fear and hate Gu Chang'an, and by extension, they also dislike Shen Li.
In her previous life, Shen Li hated Gu Chang'an's actions even more because of this, but now that she thinks about it, do these people really appreciate and value her because of this?
She has such a great aura that who wouldn't want to marry her just because she's from the Shen family and is known as a talented woman, regardless of everything else?
I'm afraid only that fool, Gu Chang'an, would do that.
In this life, she will never let Gu Chang'an fight alone again. Look down on the wife of a cruel official? We'll see.
Shen Li lowered her gaze, her expression calm and clear as a spring, seemingly without any worries.
"Sister Shen, how have you been?" A voice came from behind her. Before Shen Li could turn her head, Zheng Yanran had already walked up.
She was still very charming and lovely in her red dress, but the look she gave Shen Li was undisguised provocation.
"Young lady Zheng, how's your painting practice going lately?" Shen Li ignored her hostility, her voice remaining calm.
It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned it, because the mere mention of it made Zheng Yanran even angrier. She lowered her voice and said, "Don't be so smug. I'll make you pay one day."
"You came to see me just to say this?" Shen Li looked her up and down and asked.
She had absolutely no interest in such provocation.
"You won't be laughing for long." Zheng Yanran snorted. She was about to say something, but when she saw Xia Shiyin standing not far away, she ran over to her. "Princess Consort, I'm accompanying Mother to the palace. Mother was thinking of visiting your palace later."
"Oh, it's my cousin." Xia Shiyin greeted her with a smile, then pulled her closer and whispered, "What did you just talk about with Shen Li?"
She vaguely noticed that Zheng Yanran's expression was unfriendly.
"Oh, I just didn't like her and wanted to provoke her. You look down on her too, don't you, sister-in-law? What's so great about having a good background?" Zheng Yanran's words couldn't help but carry a hint of sourness.
Why is Gu Chang'an so devoted to her?
"I knew you'd cause trouble. Come with me to apologize." Xia Shiyin pulled her along without further ado and walked towards Shen Li, revealing a polite smile that she had practiced.
"Huh? Why?" Zheng Yanran asked in a low voice.
"Just because the prince asked me to curry favor with her, I ruined his plans. Do you expect to have a good life?" Xia Shiyin quickly warned.
Zheng Yanran was even more puzzled. She could understand trying to win over a capable minister like Gu Chang'an, but what use would it be to win over a woman like Gu Chang'an?
Although there was some distance between them, Shen Li's six senses allowed her to hear every single word.
The King of Chess is really persistent; she thought that she and Gu Chang'an had made their rejections obvious enough.
However, before Xia Shiyin could get close, a louder voice rang out behind them: "Sister Shen, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for ages. The palace has prepared hot tea, so come in and warm up."
Xia Shiyin turned around and saw Zhou Qianqian walking over. She quickly stepped forward, took Shen Li's hand, and said warmly, "It's so cold today. Sister Shen must be tired from your journey. Mother was just talking about you in the palace."
Seeing that she had taken the lead, Xia Shiyin became anxious and immediately stepped forward, saying, "Sister Shen must be tired from your journey. The heater is cold. Lianxin, quickly bring me what I prepared."
Before Shen Li could say a word, Zhou Qianqian grabbed her arm, Xia Shiyin shoved a hand warmer into her hand, and then grabbed her other arm.
The noblewomen who were chatting and gossiping slowly as they strolled over were all astonished. They had only heard that Shen Li was quite close to the Crown Prince, but it seemed that she was also very familiar with the Princess Consort of Yi.
Now, the wives from both factions present were starting to regret their actions. If they had known she would be so valued after her marriage, they wouldn't have ignored her or badmouthed her and Gu Chang'an behind her back.
Fortunately, they weren't too close, so Shen Li couldn't hear them; otherwise, she would be in big trouble if she held a grudge.
Even Zheng Yanran couldn't understand it. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths? Shen Li wasn't some precious treasure; was it worth fighting over like this?
When Zhou Qianqian and Xia Shiyin locked eyes, their gazes were like lightning, neither giving an inch.
Shen Li finally made it to the palace, which was a good opportunity to win her over, and they wouldn't let it go, otherwise they would definitely be scolded for being useless when they got back.
Forsythia and Peony were relieved that their young lady was healthy, otherwise they would have been in pain from being pulled by them.
"Thank you for your kindness, Consort and Princess. We will go together." Shen Li's expression showed surprise for only a moment before she quickly calmed down.
“Sister Shen, you’re being too forward. Our two families have been friends since childhood, and I’ve really missed you these past month or so,” Zhou Qianqian said, seizing the opportunity to speak. She then gave Xia Shiyin a provocative look.
Her words were clearly aimed at Xia Shiyin's weaknesses, because Xia Shiyin had always loved to compete with people of good reputation like Shen Li and Lin Wan'er since she was a child. It was already a great honor for Shen Li that she had no enmity with her, let alone any friendship between them.
"Sister Shen's painting of the goddess last time was truly breathtaking. I wonder if you have any new paintings recently?" Xia Shiyin was not to be outdone, flattering Shen Li by talking about her strengths.
Not only was Shen Li speechless in the face of this, but even Zheng Yanran was puzzled.
So what are the benefits of marrying into the royal family? Not only can you not maintain any dignity, but you also have to flatter a third-rank noblewoman. It's simply outrageous.