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

Chapter 95 Japan's Schemes

Old Lu's words were too obvious, and the surrounding officials and common people dispersed. Don't ask, the answer is always the same: they didn't see anything.

Japanese delegation: "..."

They had heard of the cunning and treacherous nature of the people of the Central Plains, but this time they truly experienced it firsthand. Wasn't this a loss they had to swallow in silence?

Prince Pingcheng didn't even dare to pursue the matter further, as he was genuinely worried that he wouldn't be able to come to Dazhao next year, which was such a wonderful place.

The carriage with lanterns bearing the words "Gu Mansion" moved slowly through the traffic jam. Inside the carriage, Shen Li ate the fried meatballs that Shaoyao handed her.

"Did you vent your anger?" Shen Li asked her.

Peony was still shaken when she heard this: "Miss, is this really alright?"

Even if she acted impulsively, she only wanted to fight to vent her anger. She never thought she would go to such lengths. The samurai's right hand was almost useless after being cut off, which was even more cruel than killing him.

I did get my revenge, but I was also a little nervous, wondering if I had done something wrong.

"Something's up." Shen Li ate a meatball. "I don't intend to let them off so easily."

“…” Peony.

Who is really going to let whom off the hook? Even vassal states shouldn't break ties so easily, since everyone knows that fighting on two fronts is dangerous when there's a battle in the north.

"Go ahead, I'll have someone make you an even stronger whip later." Shen Li even felt a little sorry for Shaoyao's whip.

Peony lowered the curtain, her face full of suspicion. She had initially thought she was impulsive and didn't know her own strength, but now she realized that the adults and young ladies were far more impulsive and even more clueless about their own strength than she was!

"Don't you think I'm impulsive, A-Li?" Gu Chang'an looked at Shen Li with great caution. If she felt uncomfortable, he would never use a knife in front of her in the future.

“These people deserve to be treated this way.” Shen Li gave a light snort and asked, “Is it true that your country is fighting over tribute matters?”

"Yes, the Celestial Empire has been richly rewarded, and these people are just here to take advantage of it and strengthen themselves." Gu Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she wasn't angry, and used a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth.

“It’s not just the imperial court’s rewards. Over the years, after leaving the capital, they have been killing and looting within our country, often bringing back enough food for the army for several months.” Shen Li said angrily.

The imperial court could never muster enough strength to suppress them, since these Japanese pirates would run away when the army came, and then plunder even more fiercely after the army left.

However, since these were all small-scale disturbances, the imperial court had no time to deal with them and never sent troops, even if it knew about them.

Gu Chang'an nodded slightly: "The imperial court lacks a navy."

As the Vice Minister of Revenue, he had to keep military matters in mind. He believed that as long as one had the strongest fist, even the most unreasonable person would eventually listen to reason.

Shen Li now understands why Gu Chang'an supported a navy for the imperial court in his previous life; the seed was planted here.

"Husband, how many more firearms have been sent to the Northern Border?" Shen Li changed the subject.

Because in five years, we will be able to dominate the seas.

"Another five thousand were sent." Gu Chang'an looked at her with concern: "Didn't A-Li ask about it yesterday? Did you forget?"

Ah Li is thoughtful and doesn't often forget things.

"I remember now." Shen Li tapped her forehead: "I was always a little worried that a fight would break out."

"It'll be alright." Gu Chang'an placed his large hand over her small hand, gently comforting her.

Shen Li nodded and smiled at him.

The palace banquet was very grand and solemn. The seats of the third-rank officials and the imperial consorts were still some distance from the head of the table. After the emperor and empress led the officials to offer their birthday wishes, they took their seats on both sides, leaving the red carpet space in the middle empty.

After that came the part of offering birthday wishes and gifts one by one. As soon as Shen Li sat down, she felt a gaze constantly looking at her from above. She looked up and met a pair of triangular eyes.

It was the Heijo Prince of Japan. Only then did Shen Li get a clear look at his face. He was in his thirties, and when he was sitting, you could see that his upper body was very short. His mustache looked both ugly and somewhat sinister.

And she wasn't mistaken; the person wasn't looking at Gu Chang'an, but at her.

Besides being unfriendly, his expression also carried a hint of lewdness.

In his previous life, Gu Chang'an was the one who took care of the person he stepped on on the roadside. As a result, he held a grudge against Gu Chang'an in his previous life and was somewhat offensive to her in his expression, but they didn't have much contact after that.

I only heard that he died a few years later under the giant ship built by Gu Chang'an. Of course, he was not the only one who fell, but also several small countries in the surrounding area.

Shen Li could pretend not to care in her previous life, but she wasn't so generous in this one. These little things are bold, though they may not be human.

He listened to the emperor present gifts, his eyes narrowing slightly.

After the Emperor and Empress presented their birthday gifts, it was Consort Zheng's turn. Although she was dressed in her finest attire, she appeared thinner and more haggard, and her demeanor was not as confident as before.

It's clear that Wanbaoge is practically half her life; she hasn't recovered even after all this time.

Consort Zheng, knowing the Empress Dowager's tastes, presented her with a piece of calligraphy by a famous artist, which brought a smile of satisfaction and kindness to the Empress Dowager's face.

Then came the Crown Prince. He sat opposite the Prince of Yi. The Prince of Yi had a mocking smile on his lips as he ate the dates that Xia Shiyin had brought him, and his eyes were full of amusement as he looked at Li Heng.

The real show is about to begin.

Shen Li also looked over, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the seats below the princes and princesses. Zhou Zhen, who was sitting at the head of the court officials, had just come out of the outhouse, and now frowned again, getting up to leave once more.

At his age, having to poop several times a day is really unbearable; the sweat is as big as beans, and he looks pitiful from a distance.

"Ah Li." Gu Chang'an brought the peeled tangerine to her lips: "I just tasted it, it's sweet."

"Thank you, my husband." Shen Li then realized that all around her were wives serving their husbands, and she had been so focused on watching the spectacle that she had forgotten about this.

So she prepared to peel and look at the tangerines as she went, but Gu Chang'an took the tangerines from her and said in a low voice, "If you want to eat them, I'll do it. You just eat them."

He even thought Shen Li wanted to eat it herself.

Shen Li smiled helplessly and went to the Crown Prince, who had already unveiled the red cloth. Under the red cloth was a white jade Guanyin statue that was half the height of a person. What was amazing was not only the size and rarity of the jade, but also the fact that it was made of hard Hetian jade, which is the most difficult to carve. Such a large Guanyin statue had to be made three years ago, which shows that it was extremely carefully made.

The Empress Dowager was also very surprised when she saw it, and she praised the Crown Prince for his filial piety. Even the Emperor showed Li Heng some rare kindness.

The King of Chess's smile deepened.

The Empress Dowager got up and looked around the Guanyin statue. When she saw the side of the statue, her expression froze.

"Great-Grandma, there's a huge crack here." The Empress Dowager was accompanied by the eldest prince's daughter, who was only six years old. Pointing at the crack, she seemed to have discovered something extraordinary and exclaimed, "It's true, Grandpa! Look!"