Rebirth: So what if my husband is a little crazy? He loves me.

Chapter 67 The Nemesis of the Imperial Concubine

Consort Zheng was practically slumped in her chair. When she saw Shen Li, she weakly raised her head, then let out a soft hum, her eyes filled with a chilling despair: "Nothing good ever comes from seeing you."

The Goddess Painting is good, but it took away twenty-three paintings from her Wanbao Pavilion, as well as that snake. Now she feels that Shen Li is her nemesis.

"Your Highness, I have been ordered to come and inform you that I will paint another portrait of you, and I will send it to you for your review once it is finished." Shen Li remained as humble and dignified as ever.

Consort Zheng was completely disheartened and instead said, "Forget it. One of your paintings almost killed me. If another one comes along, it will probably really kill me."

“Mother, since Madam Gu has such good intentions, you can’t very well refuse her,” Prince Yi said. “Besides, my cousin has recently wanted to learn calligraphy and painting. What do you think about sending her to the Gu residence to observe?”

Shen Li raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. It seemed that the tooth that Consort Zheng had pulled out had grown into this Prince Yi's body.

Consort Zheng replied almost without hesitation, "My son's opinion is my opinion. What does Madam Gu think? Would it be convenient for you?"

"If Miss doesn't mind, I'll certainly do my best to help." Shen Li's eyes darkened slightly, but her words were soft and very amiable.

Yi Wang narrowed his eyes, feeling he should remind his cousin of something.

"Go on, don't linger in my palace." Consort Zheng waved her hand impatiently.

Now, whenever she sees Shen Li, she thinks of that goddess painting and her own portrait from twenty-three years ago, and her heart aches so much that she can hardly breathe.

"This humble woman takes her leave." Shen Li bowed respectfully before stepping out.

Seeing that she was still so dignified, Consort Zheng was even angrier. After Shen Li left, she smashed things and broke bowls, unable to vent her anger.

"Miss, what does His Highness Prince Yi mean? Why is he sending people into our manor?" Peony asked, puzzled, on the way back in the carriage.

Shen Li looked up and shook her head: "To be honest, I don't know."

Because her actions deviated from the path of her previous life, many things happened that did not occur in her previous life, and this is no exception.

This situation can only be analyzed, but she was too lazy to analyze it. If a little girl could accomplish anything in the Gu family, then she and Gu Chang'an should retire as soon as possible, and what's the point of seeking revenge?

"Is it that Miss Zheng, the sister of the young master Zheng who committed arson?" Lian Qiao guessed. "I haven't heard that Prince Yi has any other cousins."

Peony wanted to laugh when she heard this. Now, whether in the harem or among the common people, everyone believed that Zheng Youwei had gone mad and burned down Wanbaoge.

Shen Li nodded: "It should be."

She had seen the girl a few times at poetry gatherings, but didn't have a deep impression of her. She just remembered that the girl was very beautiful and had a similar charm to her aunt, Consort Zheng.

When Shen Li returned home, she didn't see the young lady from the Zheng family. Instead, she received a message from Zhou Qianqian: it was Li Heng's order to have Gu Chang'an's Ministry of Revenue delay paying the Ministry of Works' money.

If the funds are not allocated in the short term, the Ministry of Works will be unable to carry out construction.

"Damn it." Shen Li threw the note down: "With the nation in peril, is he playing house here?"

"Then... how should we respond?" Lian Qiao asked timidly, she had never seen her young mistress so angry before.

Shen Li had already picked up her pen and wrote only eight large characters: "National affairs are of utmost importance, fundraising is the top priority."

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.

"Does Your Highness still not suspect that Shen Li has ulterior motives?" Zhou Qianqian held Shen Li's reply: "Last time Your Highness was placed under house arrest, she did nothing, and now she's even asking Your Highness to help Prince Yi. Isn't this betrayal?"

Li Heng rubbed his temples. Having grown up in the royal family, he knew that no matter how hard he tried, defeat was inevitable. What was regrettable was that he hadn't been able to seize the initiative.

"So, the exorbitant reward that Consort Zheng gave to Shen Li was just given away for nothing?" Zhou Qianqian said from the side, "Your Highness, you mustn't be fooled by her."

What Li Heng thought of was Shen Li's cold gaze today. Although Shen Li was always aloof and calm, she was a little too calm.

Does she really not want to help him anymore?

Or is fundraising the right thing to do?

The situation is irreversible. Taking the initiative to raise funds would naturally establish an image of virtue and generosity, and would also help the emperor share his burdens. It would be a good opportunity to get a share of the spoils.

But he just couldn't swallow this insult. He had been overshadowed by Prince Yi, who had taken away the hosting rights for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration and the authority to oversee the manufacture of firearms. He still wanted to get his revenge.

"Do you have a good idea?" Li Heng looked at Zhou Qianqian, who was talking incessantly, with great impatience.

"No, Your Highness. Please forgive me. I will go and wait for news from my father." Zhou Qianqian quieted down.

"Get out," Li Heng said coldly.

This woman is useless in both her womb and her brain; all she knows are the tricks of a woman confined to the inner quarters.

But soon Zhou Qianqian came in again, handed a brocade pouch to Li Heng, and said softly, "Your Highness, news of Father has arrived."

Li Heng grabbed the brocade pouch and opened it. There was only one sentence on it: "Fundraising".

He looked at it and just sighed; he already knew what it was.

Being a virtuous ruler is truly difficult; the first thing one must learn is to swallow one's pride, a quality that few ordinary people can bear.

"Your Highness, what did Father say?" Zhou Qianqian asked.

Li Heng handed her the note. Zhou Qianqian fell silent after reading it. It turned out that it was the same idea as Shen Li's. Did that mean that Shen Li hadn't betrayed them?

She still had a feeling that something was wrong; Shen Li just didn't look the same as before.

"Can you shut up now?"

"I know I was wrong." Zhou Qianqian quickly knelt down: "Your Highness, please calm down. I will not speculate wildly again."

Li Heng closed his eyes, regretting that he hadn't received the news sooner; now it was too late to say anything.

They could only swallow their pride and help the King of Chess gain fame.

He'll get his revenge sooner or later.

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.

That evening, Gu Chang'an returned early to have dinner with Shen Li. Upon seeing him, Shen Li said, "Congratulations, Your Excellency."

She knew that Gu Chang'an's initial ambition was to become a key minister of the court, and entering the Six Ministries was the first step.

Gu Chang'an, dressed in a blue robe, smiled gently and said, "Thank you, Madam."

"My lord, how much do these ten thousand muskets cost?" Shen Li asked after he sat down.

Gu Chang'an took her bowl and picked up some food. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Madam has been planning for a long time before finally thinking of asking how much it will cost?"

"I don't really manage money that much," Shen Li said, sounding a little guilty.

"The Ministry of Works reported today that 10,000 muskets will cost 100,000 taels of silver." Gu Chang'an placed the bowl in front of her: "Don't worry, the national treasury can manage to raise that much money."

"Does the national treasury really need to manage this money?" Shen Li shook her head slightly: "It seems the national treasury isn't as wealthy as my mother."