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

Chapter 34 The Imperial Concubine's Feeling of Powerlessness

"Li'er, do you like the food in the palace?" Emperor Cheng asked during their meal.

Consort Zheng paused with her chopsticks, afraid that Shen Li might say something.

"Of course everything in the Imperial Concubine's palace is excellent." Shen Li's eyes shifted almost imperceptibly as she looked up and said, "However, I am still recovering from a serious illness and have a delicate stomach. I'm afraid it will be difficult for the cooks in the Imperial Concubine's palace."

"There's no trouble at all. I will take care of them and make sure they look after you," Consort Zheng quickly interjected, her words even carrying a hint of goodwill.

We need to calm Shen Li down first.

Peony was getting anxious. Why was her young lady silent at this crucial moment? If she didn't complain now, would she just keep eating those green vegetable leaves that were delivered to her?

"Gastrointestinal discomfort is no small matter. I will have the imperial physician examine you tomorrow, and I will also send two imperial chefs to take care of your diet." Emperor Cheng said with concern, "If you have any needs, just tell the Consort. Treat yourself as if you are at home and don't feel constrained."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Shen Li was moved, but not surprised.

However, Consort Zheng and others, including Peony, were greatly puzzled. Although His Majesty had always taken good care of Shen Li, it was far from this extent.

"Get up quickly. Your father may not say it, but he's really worried about you. You've been wronged by me. He said this afternoon that he asked me to bring you some pickles, but actually he's just worried about you." Emperor Cheng teased his old friend.

Consort Zheng then realized that she had underestimated the power of the Shen family; they were truly a tough nut to crack.

Peony secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that the master had gone to the palace. Miss was truly prescient.

Shen Li was not that magical. Her parents were also anxious about this in her previous life, but at that time her father had just spoken up for the crown prince in court, and the emperor was in a bad mood and did not see her father at all.

This life is different. His father is recuperating at home amidst the storm, which the emperor sees as a way to avoid suspicion. Such discretion undoubtedly pleases him.

Under these circumstances, it was only natural for the emperor to consider their past relationship and treat them kindly.

"It's good that His Majesty sent the imperial chef. I suppose Lady Gu is not satisfied with the food in my palace, otherwise she wouldn't have dined at the East Palace," Consort Zheng said, seizing the opportunity.

Once she's accused of forming a faction, she'll be in serious trouble, even if she had nine lives.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng's eyes darkened, but he still calmly asked, "Have you gone to see the Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, I did not see His Highness the Crown Prince today. I only caught up with the Consort. Her sister recently passed away and she is still grieving. I offered her a few words of comfort." Shen Li sighed, her voice filled with sorrow, "That child is also pitiful, so young..."

She couldn't continue, and the atmosphere at the table became melancholic. It seemed that at this moment, no matter what people were thinking, they would show sadness at the right time, otherwise they would feel inhuman.

"It's no wonder she's upset; it wouldn't be easy for anyone to get over this." Emperor Cheng dismissed the matter with a single sentence, saying it was only natural to ask more about such a common human experience.

Moreover, if there were truly collusion, there would be many ways to pass messages, so openly entering and leaving the Eastern Palace would not seem suspicious.

Consort Zheng expressed her regret for the deceased before realizing that the topic had been steered off course, and the matter could no longer proceed.

Goodness, Shen Li! Her mouth is as sharp as a half-censor's.

No, she still wanted to make a fuss about the painting; Shen Li's neglect of her was definitely real.

"Your Highness is so beautiful that I have never painted a portrait of someone like you before. I am so intimidated that I don't know how to begin. May I ask if Your Highness would allow me to enter your Treasure Pavilion for a look?" Shen Li spoke first.

Consort Zheng was momentarily stunned. Her reason was quite plausible, effectively shutting down all of her accusations.

"What's the big deal? Go ahead and take a look. Just one thing: you must paint better than those other people." Emperor Cheng readily agreed on behalf of Consort Zheng.

Consort Zheng, standing to the side, said with a forced smile, "Of course, I will have someone take you there tomorrow."

A smile appeared in Shen Li's eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will certainly live up to your and His Majesty's expectations."

Consort Zheng could no longer laugh; she realized that her initial idea of ​​punishing Shen Li was simply impossible to implement.

This girl is so cunning.

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"I'm not full. Quickly find the snacks and meat I packed back from the East Palace for me." Shen Li returned to the side hall and immediately complained of being hungry as soon as she closed the door.

"Miss, let me go to the small kitchen and make you something. The food has been left over all afternoon, so you can't eat it." Peony immediately felt that this was inappropriate.

Her young lady grew up with meticulous care. The Shen family, noble for generations, was very particular about food, and most things that weren't freshly cooked wouldn't be allowed into the master's mouth.

Let alone leaving it out for an afternoon, even an hour would be enough to make these servants feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.

"It's so crisp and clear in autumn, it'll be just as good as fresh after an afternoon. Let's eat it together." Shen Li had long since stopped being so particular. She washed her hands and quickly climbed onto the couch, looking at the peony with anticipation.

Peony almost laughed. The young lady had become much more lively. Although she was reluctant, she still took out the dishes from the food box one by one and placed them on the small table.

Three large platters of braised beef, a plate of steamed deer tail, a whole roast goose, and various pastries—all of which were served cold.

"I knew this meal wouldn't be good." Shen Li picked up two goose legs, stuffed one into her mouth and handed the other to Shaoyao: "Try it, the Crown Prince makes the best of this."

"Thank you, Miss." Peony accepted it, her eyes shining. "Miss, you were amazing tonight! I think Consort Zheng was about to be driven mad by you, but she was no match for you."

“She deserves it.” Shen Li still felt resentful when she mentioned Consort Zheng, and it wasn’t just a simple matter of past grievances.

She would get her revenge sooner or later, with interest, for the holiday debt, and her resentment stemmed more from her being alone at home.

She had been thinking about Gu Chang'an for so many years in her past life. After finally spending a few peaceful days together, they were forced to separate again. It would be strange if she didn't have feelings.

“But this is the palace after all. If you provoke her like this, we won’t be able to defend against any underhanded tricks she might use,” Peony said with concern.

Shen Li looked at Shaoyao with satisfaction: "Little Shaoyao has improved, but do you think she won't resort to underhanded tricks just because I've been so tolerant?"

From a formal perspective, this life is no different from the previous one; there is no obvious point of attack against her. Consort Zheng is not one to let things go easily.

More than twenty years of favor and privilege had made her somewhat lawless; what was there that she wouldn't dare to do?

"Then... what should we do?" Peony was a little confused when she heard this, feeling like she was in a dilemma.

Could this bottomless palace really eat people?