usatvline Chapter 139 Few Men Are Good
Chapter 139 Few Men Are Good
Shen Zizai ultimately paid the price for his sense of justice, and from that day on, he was targeted by the Crown Prince's faction, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it is unknown whether it was at the Crown Prince's behest.
In short, his colleagues were very unfriendly to him, and even a few censors impeached him. These censors were not affiliated with the Crown Prince and impeached Shen Zi for embezzlement and bribery. Although the charges were not serious, they made Shen Zi, an upright man, very uncomfortable.
Shen Li heard about it, but she did nothing. In the spring, she usually painted. She had promised to help Old Man Zou edit a book, and she had been working on it on and off.
The reason I didn't help was twofold: firstly, it was indeed difficult to get involved, and secondly, I wanted my father to see Li Heng's true colors—that he was not only petty but also unintelligent.
Li Heng was convinced that Shen Zizai would abide by ancestral laws and not betray him, so he gave him some painless but disgusting punishments in order to make Shen Zizai more obedient.
Things might indeed turn out as he expected; Shen Zizai, being a magnanimous man, wouldn't hold a grudge because of this, and he's unlikely to obey him in the future.
I really don't know what the point of doing this is?
Shen Li stayed for several days and saw her father's face turn ashen every day as he denounced these censors for seeking fame and fortune, for criticizing for the sake of criticizing, and for having no integrity whatsoever as a scholar.
Judging from the court proceedings, Li Heng did not target Zhou Zhen, clearly showing considerable apprehension towards this capable prime minister. However, he took a palace maid as his favored concubine and constantly gave Zhou Qianqian the cold shoulder.
"That man is really no good." Xiao Bailing shook her head repeatedly upon hearing this news, feeling extremely fortunate that she hadn't married her daughter off to him.
If her daughter were treated like this, her heart would probably break.
Shen Li nodded.
Anyway, Li Heng is definitely not a good person.
"Li'er, you've been back for four days now, it's time to go back," Xiao Bailing reminded her.
"Mother, I'm not in a hurry." Shen Li still wanted to stay for two more days to check on her father's condition, so she could only ask Gu Chang'an to make do.
“That won’t do. How can someone stay at their parents’ house and never leave?” Xiao Bailing said, then instructed Lian Qiao, “Go pack Miss’s things. She’ll go back after lunch.”
"Yes." Lianqiao left.
"Mother, it's rare for me to come back." Seeing that her mother had made up her mind, Shen Li didn't insist, but just wanted to act cute.
"It's close by, so if I miss my mother, I can come back and visit during the day." As Xiao Bailing said this, she was once again thankful that her daughter hadn't married into the palace. Not only would there be no good days inside, but one would never be able to get out.
It's not like this, where you can meet whenever you want.
"Okay, I'll definitely come back often." Shen Li agreed. She was naturally glad that she hadn't married into the palace, otherwise missing out on Gu Chang'an would have been a loss for two lifetimes.
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 Li planned to go back to her residence to change her clothes before going to see Old Man Zou. She had almost finished drawing the medicinal herbs he had given her, and she planned to exchange them for a few other pots of herbs.
She returned suddenly without prior notice. Before she even entered the courtyard, I heard sobbing; it was Yu Die's voice.
She strode into the courtyard and saw a row of maids from both the inner and outer courtyards standing under the eaves. Ying'er was standing in the middle of the courtyard, scolding Yu Die who was kneeling at her feet, holding a feather duster in her hand.
Yu Die curled up and cried, clearly having been beaten.
"There are only a few people in this yard. If it wasn't you who stole it, then who was it? If you don't hand over the stuff today, I'll beat you to death." Ying'er said, and then smacked him with a shovel.
"Ying'er." Shen Li's cold voice made her stop, and she turned around to see Shen Li walking into the courtyard.
"Miss... Miss, why are you back?" Ying'er asked in a panic, dropping the duster in her hand.
Peony quickly stepped forward and helped Yudie up.
“You can’t just stay at your parents’ house forever after you’re married.” Shen Li answered calmly, without revealing any emotion, before asking, “What’s going on?”
"It's like this, young lady. The jade hairpin you gave me was stolen by this girl, and I'm interrogating her right now." Ying'er lowered her head, her words sounding guilty.
"No, I didn't steal anything, Miss," Yu Die quickly protested.
"Jade, huh? We'll have to investigate that thoroughly. Do you have any evidence?" Shen Li asked calmly.
"We...we haven't found it yet." Ying'er's voice was even lower.
"How can you hit someone if you can't find them?" Shen Li stepped forward patiently, asking, "Who gave you that right?"
"Miss." Ying'er felt sweat pouring down her face and immediately knelt on the ground: "This servant knows her mistake. This servant acted impulsively."
Shen Li looked down at her, her voice even more indifferent: "Guards, take her to the woodshed and lock her up."
"Miss, you can't do this! I only hit a beggar. You should at least give me some face!" Ying'er panicked when she heard that she was going to be locked up.
How will she manage her servants in the future if she is punished in front of so many people?
However, Shen Li ignored her, her gaze fixed on Yu Die, her voice still indifferent: "Come back to my room with me, I have something to ask you."
Ying'er was gagged and dragged away, while Shen Li slowly entered the main room. Shaoyao helped Yudie in, and Lianqiao then closed the door.
"Miss, I didn't steal anything, I really didn't steal anything..." Yu Die cried as soon as she entered the room, afraid that Shen Li wouldn't believe her.
"Okay, okay, don't cry." Shen Li wiped her tears with her hand, her eyes full of pain: "I'm sorry, I still couldn't protect you well."
Because of the long journey, Yu Die's small body couldn't take it, so she left her at the mansion to rest and asked Ying'er to take care of her. She didn't expect Ying'er to take care of her like this.
"Does Miss believe me?" Yu Die sniffed, stopping her tears.
“Of course, our Xiaoyudie would never lie,” Shen Li said softly.
“Miss…” Yu Die cried again. She thought that because she had been a thief, no one would believe her.
"Don't cry." Shen Li hugged the person in her arms. "We will definitely get justice for this. What else did she do to you?"
Yu Die shook her head: "It's nothing... I just feel like she looks down on me... and won't let me eat."
"Okay, then eat here." Shen Li closed her eyes, informed the kitchen, and at the same time asked Lian Qiao to bring the ointment, which she then applied to her wound.
Fortunately, they returned in time; they had already been hit several times. If they had arrived a few days later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The food was served quickly, and Yudie ate it rather reservedly.
"Lianqiao, you take care of her." Shen Li slowly got up and walked outside: "Shayao, come with me to the woodshed."
Lian Qiao felt that her mistress's aura was particularly terrifying today. She looked at Yu Die more closely and wondered if this was really a feeling that could develop after only one meeting.
It felt like the young lady valued her highly, not even treating her like a servant.
Ying'er had the same question. She just felt that Shen Li was wary of her and was taking her anger out on the easiest person to bully. Why would she lock her in the woodshed?
She's the Crown Prince's woman, how dare Shen Li!