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

Chapter 93 The Eve of the Palace Banquet

"This sounds like a good idea, but those places can afford it and things will be fine. However, you said before that some places really can't afford it." Emperor Cheng still had concerns.

If all the prefectures and counties were wealthy, the imperial court would not allow them to continue owing money and grain.

"I have made up my mind. If they can't come up with the money, we'll make them acknowledge the accounts. In the future, we will actively promote land reform," Gu Chang'an continued.

Emperor Cheng felt hopeful when he thought of the reform proposals submitted by Gu Chang'an, so he said, "Very well, I will grant your request and issue an edict in a few days."

He has his reasons for not imposing the ban now. He wants to wait until the pressure subsides before implementing benevolent policies, so that those officials will be more grateful.

The grace of Heaven is so vast that it cannot be easily bestowed.

"This is the final list; please review it, Your Majesty," Gu Chang'an presented a memorial.

When Emperor Cheng took it, he saw more than a dozen names. He praised Gu Chang'an for his diligence and approved the document.

Gu Chang'an spoke humbly, and although he seemed to have prepared a way out, he knew he would get the money back.

He couldn't have taken that knife wound to the shoulder for nothing, could he?

"Yesterday I paid my respects to the Empress Dowager, and she still remembered Shen. Please make sure to bring Shen to the banquet tomorrow," Emperor Cheng instructed Gu Chang'an before she left.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Gu Chang'an's reply was entirely willing, devoid of any calculation, driven solely by emotion.

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.

"Excellent, excellent!" Li Heng paced back and forth in the hall, looking at the last batch of lists sent by the censor.

Gu Chang'an included the vast majority of people on the list he had drafted, leaving out no important figures.

“Your Highness, about 30% of these people are your people. I’ve seen some of these names on the gift list,” Zhou Qianqian said, looking at the list.

“The censor is also one of my people. He can simply pay a small amount to settle the accounts. It’s no problem,” Li Heng said nonchalantly. “This is just a smokescreen by Gu Chang’an.”

"Gu Chang'an is quite capable," Zhou Qianqian praised reluctantly.

"I feel much more at ease this time. I instructed those censors not to be lenient when they arrived in the provinces." Li Heng said smugly, "Once we remove Prince Yi's influence in the provinces, I'll see how he can act now that he's been favored."

Prince Yi is currently enjoying immense popularity, hosting envoys, organizing birthday banquets, and overseeing the manufacture of firearms, completely overshadowing the Crown Prince.

If we don't teach him a lesson, the court officials and the common people may only know the Prince of Yi and not the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, we owe this all to Sister Shen. May I send her some rare and interesting things later?" Seeing Li Heng's delighted expression, Zhou Qianqian immediately acted obedient and sensible.

All she had left to offer was her obedient and virtuous nature. In terms of strategy, she was indeed inferior to Shen Li, but that didn't mean she was afraid of Shen Li. In her eyes, those bookish people were the easiest to control.

"My beloved consort is truly of one mind with me." Li Heng pulled her close and said, "Pick out the best ones, don't be stingy, but don't send them to the Gu residence, send them to the Shen residence."

He wants to win over both sides.

"I understand," Zhou Qianqian said softly.

Li Heng chuckled wickedly and placed his hand on her lower abdomen: "Why is there still no sign of pregnancy in your belly? Once you give birth to the eldest grandson, my position will be even more secure."

"Your Highness..." Zhou Qianqian blushed slightly, "I am already taking medicine, please have mercy on me."

"Little vixen." Li Hengzhi was smug, feeling that he hadn't been this happy in a while, and immediately took Zhou Qianqian to bed.

The two spent the afternoon until evening, and while they were fast asleep at night, they were completely unaware that a dark figure had leaped out of the window of the palace storeroom, skillfully evaded the guards, and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

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.

"Ah Li instructed Shadow to do things that I can't even be told?" Gu Chang'an only knew that Shen Li had given instructions in the evening, but he didn't know what those instructions were.

"No rush, my husband will find out at the banquet tomorrow night," Shen Li said with a smile, keeping everyone in suspense.

The palace is going to be lively tomorrow night; she's just adding fuel to the fire by making the events of tomorrow burn even brighter.

"Alright, alright." Seeing that she was intentionally leaving things in suspense, Gu Chang'an didn't ask any more questions and smiled indulgently, "It'll probably be very late tomorrow night, so go to sleep early."

"I have a little trouble sleeping." Shen Li put down her book and said, "Let me tell you about my travels, and you can fall asleep while listening."

"Okay." Gu Chang'an closed his eyes.

He wanted to hear where Ah Li wanted to go.

The two of them talked and listened, and before they knew it, they had both fallen asleep. Although they went to bed late, Shen Li woke up early, which was unusual for her. Because it was the Empress Dowager's birthday and the court was closed for a day, Gu Chang'an did not have to attend court, but he still had to go to the government office to handle some matters, so he still got up early.

"Come back soon," Shen Li instructed.

Gu Chang'an left in response, and Shen Li personally checked the court robes and congratulatory gifts at home. After confirming that everything was alright, she went to find Shen Yue to practice her sword.

"Why is my sister up so early?" Shen Yue wondered.

Ever since her sister had that fire, she rarely got up early. Looking at the dimly lit sky and her sister, who was especially taciturn, she felt that something was wrong.

"Sister, is something on your mind?" She could tell.

"A little," Shen Li admitted.

"Is there anything I can do to help my sister?"

Shen Li shook her head: "I've prepared the court attire for the palace. Let's eat something this afternoon before we go, otherwise we'll be hungry at the banquet."

The Shen family has always maintained close ties with the royal family. Even though Shen Yue was not yet married and did not have a noble title, she was still among the noble ladies invited.

"Oh, okay, Yue'er will listen to her sister." Shen Yue didn't ask any more questions, knowing that her sister knew what she was doing.

All she can do is spend more time with her sister.

The curfew was lifted that day, and the streets were as bright as day in the evening, decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. People danced lions and dragons and set off firecrackers. Some particularly lively streets had various stalls on both sides. People rarely went out at night, so they strolled around with great interest and smiles.

Shen Li and the other two felt the strong celebratory atmosphere while sitting in the carriage. Besides feeling the excitement, they also felt a bit helpless because there were too many people on the street. Moreover, the officials lived in close proximity, and the most common phenomenon caused by them going out together was that the carriages were stuck in traffic.

This phenomenon occurs almost every time there's a major holiday banquet. People who leave early often get stuck in traffic with other people who leave early as well, and there's really no good way to deal with it.

Shen Li, unusually curious, lifted the curtain to look outside. She felt that the street scene was even more lively than the palace, and that she could relax here, unlike in the palace where she would feel so uncomfortable.

"Peony, buy a bowl of wontons and a bag of fried meatballs," Shen Li instructed Peony, who was walking beside the carriage.

"Ah? Oh." Peony had never seen her young lady buy things from the roadside, but since her young lady had mentioned it, she didn't ask any further questions.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

The sound of galloping horses echoed through the streets, accompanied by arrogant shouts and broken accents that suggested they weren't locals.