AWB Chapter 78: You're not listening to my chapter anymore?
Chapter 78: You're not listening to my chapter anymore?
Shen Li remembered that the assassins were all江湖死士 (jianghu assassins), and it was impossible to find out who the mastermind was. As a result, she still didn't know who the mastermind was in her previous life, so she could only strengthen her defenses.
“We can send more guards, but you should stay here, A-Li,” Gu Chang’an said softly. “I know you’re doing this for me, but I’m worried about you too.”
"Don't treat the Duke of Zhenguo's granddaughter like a delicate flower." Shen Li pulled his hand and placed the musket in his palm: "Take it, or I'll get angry."
She feigned displeasure.
“Ah Li…” Gu Chang’an looked at her charming expression with utmost affection: “I know you won’t really be angry.”
"Oh, so now that you know, you won't listen to me, huh?" Shen Li said, reaching for the musket.
"I will listen." Gu Chang'an gripped the musket tightly while also holding her hand, his gaze filled with sincerity as he looked at her: "I will always listen to A-Li, whether I'm angry or not."
"I will always keep this musket with me and will never let Ah Li down."
While Shen Li felt a little guilty for her actions, she opened her arms again and said in a coquettish tone, "Hug me."
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.
Shen Yue practices martial arts in the mansion very early every day, and Shen Li also learns swordsmanship with the instructor. Now she can perform simple sword moves quite well.
"Instructor Li, how do you dislocate someone's jaw?" Shen Li asked seriously after sheathing her sword.
"The young lady wants to learn?" Instructor Li was taken aback by the question. This young lady usually seemed composed and dignified, but the question she asked was quite violent.
Shen Li nodded: "There's no need to find someone to demonstrate, just tell me how to do it."
"That's how you hold your chin and sway it from side to side, then gently pull your palm downwards." Instructor Li gestured the approximate posture to his face.
"So it's that simple." Shen Li realized. She thought martial arts were all difficult, but now it seems that strength can replace many techniques.
Shen Yue asked in surprise, "Sister, why are you learning this?"
"Just learn it casually, you never know when it might come in handy." Shen Li said, putting down the sword. "You practice first, I'm going back to paint."
With that, she bid farewell to the instructor and walked out of the courtyard.
"Instructor Li, my sister has been working on it only sporadically, hasn't she? She's really not diligent enough in her martial arts practice." Seeing her sister like this, Shen Yue felt as if she were seeing herself when she was in school.
She used to think that her sister was mistreating herself by practicing music, chess, calligraphy and painting so hard, but now she realized that her sister really loved those things.
However, she also felt sorry for her sister, who clearly had more talent in martial arts but didn't study hard enough.
Coach Li also largely agreed with this.
"Miss, all the flutes in the storeroom are here. These three are made of Hetian jade, these five are bamboo flutes, and there are four bone flutes." Lian Qiao, accompanied by her maid, brought over a dozen long brocade boxes and placed them on the table, opening them one by one.
“These are all things you used at home. You rarely bring them out after you married into the Gu family.” Peony also found them interesting: “It’s rare to see you in such a good mood today.”
Shen Li walked around the table, taking out items one by one to look at them and then putting them back. In the end, she chose a flute made of turquoise Hetian jade. The jade was warm to the touch, and when she picked it up and put it in the sunlight, she could see that there seemed to be a breath inside, as if it could breathe.
"This one will do." She looked at the jade flute in the sunlight, her gaze seemingly looking through the flute at other things.
"Didn't you say that the sound of jade flutes isn't as crisp as that of bamboo flutes? In terms of value alone, these five bamboo flutes were made by a top-notch craftsman, commissioned by the master according to your preferences. They are all one-of-a-kind in the world," Peony asked again.
"This one is good; it won't hurt if it falls." Shen Li put away the flute and said, "Put those back properly and tell the servants to take good care of them, making sure they don't crack in the winter."
"Don't worry, I will explain." Lianqiao instructed someone to move the flute off the table.
"Keep this safe, take it with you when you go out in the future." Shen Li casually handed the flute to Shaoyao, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to go paint.
"Aren't you going to use it?" Peony felt that she couldn't fathom her young mistress's thoughts at all. All this fuss had been made, and she wasn't going to use it at all?
“It will come in handy. If we don’t hurry up and finish the painting now, it will be too late to send the gift.” Shen Li knew what was important. The Empress Dowager’s favor was very important, and the Empress Dowager was considered her confidante. The birthday gift had to be prepared carefully.
Gu Chang'an still comes home very late these days, but he always sees Shen Li still painting, which makes him feel sorry for her every day.
"If only my drawing skills were as good as A-Li's, then I could draw it for you." Gu Chang'an frowned as he looked at the painting.
It's all because he only focused on studying when he was young, and his skills in calligraphy and painting are far inferior to Ah Li's.
Shen Li found it both funny and heartbreaking: "You mean you're busy all day until night, and then you still have to paint for me when you get home?"
"I'm a man, it's not a big deal if I sleep less." Gu Chang'an still couldn't let it go.
Shen Li put down her paintbrush and hugged him. She truly felt sorry for him. It wasn't that he lacked talent in calligraphy and painting; in fact, his talent surpassed hers. It was just that he came from a poor family and couldn't even afford to eat. How could he afford so many brushes, ink, and paper to support his daily writing and painting practice?
Even so, he still blamed himself for being incompetent, which truly broke her heart.
"Ah Li?" He looked down and saw her head buried in his chest. He asked softly, "Are you tired? Shall I carry you to rest?"
Shen Li's forehead only reached his neck. She rubbed against him and felt his prominent Adam's apple move as he spoke. She couldn't help but raise her head and gently kiss him.
She then visibly saw Gu Chang'an's pupils dilate and his jade-like, pale skin gradually turn red.
Seeing his strong reaction, Shen Li couldn't help but secretly laugh. Who would have thought that the cold and ruthless Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would blush so easily after a kiss?
Moreover, simply being shy and not resisting will only make men want to take advantage of you.
“Ah Li…” His body stiffened, his eyes pleading, “Stop making a scene.”
He was genuinely worried about losing control of himself. As a grown man, he was naturally fine, but he feared that Ah Li might act impulsively and regret it.
"Alright, I won't let you off so easily after you take your medicine." Shen Li voluntarily slept on the floor today, and even after blowing out the lamp, she felt that Gu Chang'an was tossing and turning as if he couldn't fall asleep.
Shen Li thought he was still immersed in what had just happened, so she wanted to distract him and asked, "Husband, how long have you been serving as the Vice Minister of Revenue?"