mesbooks Chapter 384 It’s Time for Me to Go
Chapter 384 It’s Time for Me to Go
At this time, Shen Li and Xiao Chenze were standing under a tree, arguing about something.
Xiao Chenze was furious that Chu Qianxue had been able to attend the Yan family banquet. He had inquired, and the Chu family explained that Fang Yao and Shen Li didn't want the Chu and Fang families to become too awkward, allowing those with ulterior motives to exploit the situation and disrupt the government. Therefore, they agreed to the emperor's proposal to restore Chu Qianxue's arm tendons and allow her to appear before the public. This was to prevent Old Madam Chu from attending the banquet alone, which would arouse suspicion about the Chu family.
Shen Li said, "Don't say anything. This is all for Madam Chu's sake. My uncle said he couldn't forget the care Madam Chu gave him when he was young, and this concession is a way of repaying her kindness."
Xiao Chenze was speechless for a moment.
He obviously didn't want his cousin to die, and he also wanted his grandmother to save face in front of others.
But when he thought that all this had to be achieved through Shen Li's tolerance and grievance, his heart ached as if he had been stabbed by something, and even breathing became difficult.
"There are many ways to save Grandmother's reputation. There's really no need to force my cousin out. The shock to her tendons was her punishment, and reconnecting them in just two days doesn't invalidate the previous punishment? How can she learn a lesson and take warning?"
Shen Li raised her eyelids and looked into the distance. "I thought the eldest prince was reluctant to give up the deep love between brother and sister. After all, when she wanted to kill me, you immediately took the initiative to get her away to prevent her from being caught by me."
"I..." Xiao Chenze was speechless for a moment, feeling inexplicably panicked.
"I know your ability. I took her away to save her life." He also looked in the direction Shen Li was looking at and said, "We grew up together. Thanks to my uncle's family, I am where I am today. I am used to protecting my cousins and forgot that she hurt you. I'm sorry."
Shen Li replied calmly, "Your cousins have a deep bond, what does it have to do with me? If you want to protect your cousin, just continue to protect her, no one will stop you. Just like if your cousin dares to provoke me again, I will kill her, and it has nothing to do with you."
Her tone was cold, as if she was talking to an unrelated person, and Xiao Chenze felt even more depressed.
He retracted his gaze and looked at Shen Li, "I know I did something wrong and I won't do it again. So when I saw my cousin appear today, I felt that I was being unfair to you. I will have someone take my cousin away later, break her tendons again, and confine her to self-reflection. She is not allowed to appear in front of you again."
When Shen Li saw that her teacup in the pavilion had been replaced, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"That's not necessary. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor pleaded for mercy together. It was Old Madam Chu's pity that moved my uncle, and that's why he released Chu Qianxue," she said. "You don't have to do anything. I'm giving her a chance. Whether she wants to live or die is up to her own decision, not your forced confinement."
Xiao Chenze didn't quite understand what was said, but he didn't need to understand.
What Shen Li wanted was this time to leave the pavilion. She was originally planning to find another excuse, but Xiao Chenze asked her to come out and talk, and accidentally helped her.
This gap is just the right time for them to make some moves.
She knew that there must be something in the new teacup. She smiled, turned around, and looked at Xiao Chenze again, "Grand Prince."
Xiao Chenze was stunned.
Shen Li has never been like other people who follow so many rules in front of him.
So I have never called him the eldest prince with such a serious expression like today.
This made him feel as if he was gradually drifting away, and he felt increasingly uneasy. "Don't you always call me by my name?"
Shen Li didn't shy away from the question and said bluntly, "When I called your name, I thought we were one family. It turns out I was mistaken. You are the eldest son of the royal family, the future crown prince of the Great Zhou, and the cloud in the sky. I am the dirt on the ground, the dust, and I am very far away from the clouds in the sky."
"Nonsense, in my heart, you have always been the most important person to me," Xiao Chenze said hurriedly, "Shen Li, don't be angry first, listen to me. If it was Fang Jitao who wanted to kill me, would you also subconsciously want to save his life?"
Shen Li was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and said, "Yes, it is really possible."
"I saved Chu Qianxue out of habit over the years. By the time I came to my senses, the deed had already happened. So I've been thinking about how to make it up to you these days," Xiao Chenze said. "Before I could figure it out, I saw Chu Qianxue today, and then I learned what the Imperial Grandmother and Father had done. Before this, I was sent to the Imperial Mausoleum by my father, so I really didn't know anything. If I had known, I would never have agreed to it."
"I was afraid you might misunderstand, so I came to you right after I got back because I wanted to make my stance clear to you. I'll have Chu Qianxue captured and her tendons re-broken. From now on, if she dares to offend you again, you don't have to do anything. I'll vent your anger for you, regardless of life or death."
Shen Li stared into his eyes for a long time without saying anything, and her eyes gradually became moist.
A gust of wind blew, and the fragrance of plum blossoms filled her nose. She blinked her eyes.
"Xiao Chenze, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor actually asked my uncle to intercede, not only for Madam Chu, but also for you. Your enthronement ceremony will be held after the New Year. As the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, your mother's family cannot be criticized. If people knew that your cousin and aunt acted like that, what would they think? Queen Chu's family and your maternal family will affect your reputation. This is something the Empress Dowager and the Emperor don't want to see, and it's also something my uncle doesn't want to see."
"What you said just now reminded me that if it were me, I wouldn't necessarily kill my cousin on the spot. So, Xiao Chenze, I'm not angry with you anymore."
Shen Li finished speaking and slowly lowered her head, "But Xiao Chenze, I have to go now. Goodbye."
The sound of girls playing came from afar. The weather was clear today. The bright sunshine shone on the snow and the bright red plum blossoms, which set off each other beautifully and filled the air with a subtle fragrance.
Xiao Chenze looked at Shen Li who was retreating with her eyes lowered, and reached out to pull her. Shen Li turned around and smiled at him.
Turned around and walked away quickly.
This smile remained in Xiao Chenze's memory. Whenever he woke up in the middle of the night, a deep pain would surge in his heart.
Shen Li came to the pavilion and picked up the teacup to drink in front of everyone.
The tea had been changed twice, and every time new tea came up, Shen Li knew that medicine had been added to it.
She gave the medicine to Chu Qianxue in the name of Shen Yao. Chu Qianxue also wrote back to thank Shen Yao for her help and said that she would invite Shen Yao to visit the Duke's Mansion after the Plum Blossom Banquet.
The letter and medicine are now in Shen Li's hands.
Chu Qianxue and the Cui cousins looked at Shen Li nervously. After drinking the tea, she drank a few more cups. It was obvious that she was really thirsty.
After a while, Shen Li covered his forehead and stood up dizzy.