0p0 Chapter 133 Wan'er's Double Standards
Chapter 133 Wan'er's Double Standards
There was more charcoal in Lin Wan'er's room than usual, and the couch was burning hot. She had a blanket made of fine fur on her legs and was reading a book in one hand.
"Miss, Madam Gu has arrived." The outer door opened, and Shen Li walked in as the maid announced her arrival.
Shen Li wore a dark blue cloak, the white fur of which accentuated her rosy face. She held a branch of red plum blossoms that was about to bloom, and she was more beautiful than the flower itself.
"Why did you come out in this freezing weather? Aren't you afraid of frostbiting your wound?" Lin Wan'er's tone was already somewhat reproachful.
"I'm much better, it's nothing." Shen Li said when she saw that her arm was still in a sling, "Seeing that you couldn't get out, I picked some flower branches for you after I checked, they still have snow on them."
As she spoke, Lianqiao helped her take off her cloak and handed the flower branch to Lin Wan'er's maid.
"Thank you for thinking of me, please sit down." Lin Wan'er looked at her agile movements, so different from five days ago, and couldn't help but ask, "Is it no longer in pain?"
"Much better." Seeing that she was reading a military book, Shen Li picked up a book from the table as well: "You can read yours, don't worry about me. I just came to sit for a while because I had nothing else to do."
"Go to the small kitchen and get some snacks," Lin Wan'er instructed the maid.
“Then we can take more.” Shen Li was quite interested in this.
Soon the snacks were served, and Lin Wan'er took the initiative to discuss military theory with her, her eyes even shining when she talked about it.
"Why don't you talk to someone else?" Shen Li was only interested in the snacks on the table.
She had indeed read a lot of military books, but rather than saying she didn't understand them, it would be more accurate to say she didn't particularly like them.
Before Lin Wan'er could speak, the outer door opened again, and a maidservant came in carrying a large bouquet of plum blossom branches: "Miss, these are flowers sent by the young master. He said you mentioned liking them last time, and since you couldn't go out, he brought some over on his way."
"Oh?" Shen Li, who had been listening listlessly to the military text, suddenly perked up: "Where is it on the way?"
Even with her limited understanding of matters of the heart, she could tell that this was a special gift.
"He said he was going to see Madam Gu, but when I told him you were here, he left," the maid replied.
Shen Li smiled and said to Lian Qiao, "Go and catch up with the young master and tell him that it is inconvenient for me to see him in the young lady's room. My injuries are no longer serious, so please don't worry."
"Yes," Lianqiao replied.
"Wait a minute." Lin Wan'er coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Please also thank them for me."
After Lian Qiao left, Shen Li looked at Lin Wan'er's expression and saw that she looked quite shy and didn't even look up to meet her gaze.
"Let me see, is this dignified daughter of a military family shy?" Shen Li asked jokingly.
Lin Wan'er gave her an annoyed look: "I don't believe you're not embarrassed?"
"To be honest, I'm not the shy one in my family." Shen Li said, then thought of Gu Chang'an: "It's better not to mention it, but it makes me sad. The army's journey will be very slow this time, and with the heavy snow, it will be springtime by the time I get back."
"I miss my husband." She said this with a mixture of melancholy and frankness.
"..." Lin Wan'er.
Is this something I can say directly?
Shen Li was still talking, but she noticed that Lin Wan'er wasn't listening. Instead, she took a white vase and carefully arranged the plum blossom branches inside.
"No, you didn't even glance at what I gave you." Shen Li hadn't expected people to treat each other differently to this extent.
Lin Wan'er felt a little guilty and rolled her eyes, trying to find an excuse.
"Alright, stop making things up. Your face can't lie," Shen Li said, amused, stopping her.
"Alright then." Lin Wan'er readily agreed and continued arranging flowers, her eyes glued to the plum blossoms.
Seeing her growing complicated expression, Shen Li didn't really want to bring it up but still had to: "Your cousin isn't on the list of those recalled to Kyoto. What are your plans now?"
Lin Wan'er paused, her gaze also faltering for a moment before resuming her movements.
“If there is an arranged marriage, I will refuse and request to serve on the northern border,” she replied.
“I’ll say it again, His Majesty won’t agree. I think your cousin has feelings for you, why don’t you just make it official?” Shen Li thought for a moment and then added, “Or you can hint at it to him.”
“I did mention that His Majesty and the Empress have always intended to choose a husband for me, and with this great victory, I probably can’t avoid it, but he didn’t say anything.” Lin Wan’er shook her head as she spoke: “I haven’t had much contact with him yet, so I shouldn’t force it.”
Shen Li didn't say much about matters of the heart, only saying, "If there's anything you need from me, please let me know."
"I will."
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Three days later, the 50,000-strong army set off in the icy north. Since there was no need for a rapid march, the old Duke and Shen Li and others rode in horse-drawn carriages.
Lin Wan'er and Shen Li, both injured, were given special care. They were placed in a spacious carriage, and the accompanying military doctor checked their pulses daily. Their meals were even delivered to the carriage, for fear that they would freeze if they got out.
Lin Wan'er naturally needed such care, but Shen Li was already lively and energetic. Fortunately, she was naturally quiet and didn't like to move around, otherwise she would have gotten bored and developed problems along the way.
Shen Li passed the time by reading in the car, and occasionally, when her grandfather and the military doctor weren't looking, she would sit in Lin Wan'er's car for a while.
The army marched south, and the season changed from the depths of winter to early spring. However, the chill of spring had not yet dissipated, so charcoal fires still needed to be lit in the carriages.
A month later, after entering the territory of Hejian Prefecture, we were finally able to change out of our cotton-padded clothes and into spring clothes.
When they set up camp for the night, Shen Li slept in a tent. She beckoned Lian Qiao over, handed her a note and a token, and said, "Give this to Shadow and have him investigate something for me."
The token she handed to Lian Qiao was none other than the one Gu Chang'an had given her before her departure—a token that allowed her to mobilize the secret Imperial Guards.
Because she was near the central command tent, no matter how strong the Shadow's hidden strength was, it couldn't get in, so it had to be sent out.
"Yes, I will go and do it right away." Lianqiao left the tent.
Peony asked in surprise, "Miss, is there something you haven't finished taking care of?"
"It's a personal matter," Shen Li replied. "Tomorrow morning, pack some personal clothes and valuables, and we'll go into the city for a stroll."
"Really?" Peony's dark eyes widened slightly.
Because an army of 50,000 is no small number, and they usually have to walk around the city in the wilderness, she hasn't been to the city for a month and hasn't seen the city's liveliness.
"After passing Hejian Prefecture, we won't be far from the capital. We should relax a bit." Shen Li said as she lay down, her gaze towards the tent top carrying a hint of anticipation.
"That's great! I can't sleep right now, so I'll pack up right away." Peony said, opening a large chest and starting to pack.
The next morning, the weather was clear. Shen Li went to her grandfather's tent early to pay her respects, and only told him her plans after Xiao Zhan came out.
"Go for a stroll in the city?" Xiao Zhan thought for a moment and then nodded. "It's good for young people to want to have some fun. Your grandfather will send Ma Zheng to be your personal guard, and he will bring twenty men with him."
This is already the number of people he has reduced, and it is still based on the premise that Shen Li herself is not likely to encounter danger.
"Grandpa also knows my abilities and those of the girl beside me. There can't be more than two of us. If we attract too much attention, it will be even more troublesome if someone criticizes me again."
"Then you must be careful and not go to places you shouldn't go. Return to the team as soon as possible." Xiao Zhan agreed when he saw that she had a plan.
Just as Shen Li was about to give the old man a few words of advice, Li Rui walked over. He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with gold thread, which shimmered in the sunlight. He was arguably the most extravagant of all the princes.
"Your Highness," Shen Li said after bowing, "This humble woman will take her leave."
Li Rui nodded slightly to her, but there was no solemnity in his peach blossom eyes, only a teasing smile.
"What instructions does Your Highness have?" Xiao Zhan also bowed respectfully.
"Old Duke, I'd like to go out for a short trip, maybe just a couple of days. What do you think?" Li Rui asked in a low voice.
Shen Li was still quite a distance away when he said this, and she was genuinely taken aback. She hadn't expected Li Rui to be thinking of running away as well; he must have been incredibly frustrated.
Xiao Zhan was somewhat hesitant, but he couldn't resist Li Rui's persistent pleading. In addition, Xiao Zhan had watched the boy grow up and understood him well. Although he was a playboy, he wasn't too troublesome.
So they insisted on sending ten people to accompany them before they agreed.
When Shen Li arrived at Lin Wan'er's tent, Lin Wan'er had already come out. Since her injury had basically healed, she no longer had her arm in a sling.
"Want to go out and have some fun?" Shen Li wanted to tease her when she saw her aloof demeanor, so she leaned closer and said in a teasing tone, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Lin Wan'er shook her head and took a step back: "Be careful, and don't go astray."
She always felt that Shen Li had picked up some bad habits from somewhere.
"Really not going?" Shen Li persisted.
"Hmm." Lin Wan'er's gaze remained calm and she didn't move an inch.
Seeing her appearance reminded Shen Li of her former self—a proper, meticulous noblewoman, so dignified that even her expressions were subtle.
“Okay, is there anything you need me to bring?” she asked.
"Military treatises or ancient books, or even the best weapons, are both acceptable," Lin Wan'er replied without hesitation.
Shen Li blinked, admitting that people are still different.
When the army set off again, Shen Li quietly left the group, taking only Lianqiao, Shaoyao, Ma Zheng, and a personal guard with her.
As she reached the city gate of Hejian Prefecture, she heard a relaxed and leisurely voice behind her: "Hey Li girl, when did you become so unruly? Departing from the army without orders is a serious offense."
Shen Li didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Turning around, she saw Li Rui leading his guards over, but the guards were some distance away and had all changed into civilian clothes.
“Your Highness is free to report me,” Shen Li said without any hesitation. “Just pretend we have no bond from growing up together.”
"You sharp-tongued girl." Li Rui stepped forward, his tone indulgent: "Come on, let's go eat."
"Your Highness's birthday is younger than mine," Shen Li kindly reminded her. "You called me 'elder sister' when we were little, but now you're a senior?
"It's only been a few days since I was born. Can you bring it up before we even meet?" Li Rui's smile vanished, replaced by a hint of anxiety.