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

Chapter 53 Ah Li, Stop Making Trouble

"Good girl, get in the car quickly." Shen Zizai saw tears welling up in his daughter's eyes.

In his view, no matter how his daughter reassured him that she was safe, she must not want her family to worry and must have suffered.

The palace is no place for a human being, especially in the hands of a ruthless person like Consort Zheng. It's a miracle that you were able to leave unscathed.

"Husband, get in the car." Shen Li reached out her hand to Gu Chang'an, who was standing outside the car, as soon as she got in.

When Gu Chang'an saw that small, white hand reaching out to him, his heart immediately felt as if it had been warmed by a stove. He knew that A-Li had accepted him.

However, his father-in-law didn't like him, so he figured he'd better not spoil the mood.

"No, you haven't been home in a long time. Go back and stay with your family for a few days. Let me know when you want to come back and I'll come pick you up."

Gu Chang'an smiled, his eyes filled with relief, as if to say that it was alright.

Shen Li felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this. She knew why Gu Chang'an was standing there waiting; he probably wanted to catch a few more glimpses of her.

After all, once he returned to the Shen family, he wouldn't see them for several days.

"Come on up." Shen Li's tone was both gentle and firm: "Otherwise, I'm not going back."

"Ah Li, stop making a fuss." Gu Chang'an coaxed gently, "Go back quickly, don't keep your mother and sister waiting."

He didn't want to spoil the fun.

"Just come up when I tell you to. Do I have to go and ask you to come up?" Shen Zizai's reluctant voice came from inside the carriage.

Shen Li stretched out her hand to him again, waving her little hand nimbly.

"Yes, Father-in-law." Gu Chang'an knew that it would be disrespectful not to get into the car, so he bowed and grabbed Shen Li's hand, but did not use it for leverage.

To his surprise, an astonishing force suddenly came from that small hand, and he was pulled up onto the carriage as soon as he stepped onto it.

His pupils dilated. Could his little Ah Li have such strength?

"Li'er, did the fire in the palace last night hurt you?" Shen Zizai had no time to find fault with Gu Chang'an; her attention was entirely on her daughter.

"The fire was discovered early, and no one was hurt." Shen Li held her father's hand and said, "I ate and slept well in the palace and didn't suffer any losses."

"How could no one have been hurt? I heard that the Minister of Personnel's youngest son died in the fire. Why was he at Anhua Palace so late at night?"

“I suspect he set the fire. Think about it, otherwise what would he be doing sneaking into Anhua Palace in the middle of the night?” Shen Li analyzed seriously.

Shen Zizai was very puzzled: "No way, everyone knows that Wanbaoge is Consort Zheng's lifeline, and this Zheng Youwei is Consort Zheng's own nephew. How could he commit arson?"

“No one would set a fire for no reason. I think they wouldn’t risk their lives to do such a thing unless they had suffered a great injustice,” Shen Li said softly. “I heard that Zheng Youwei had some unpleasantness with the Imperial Concubine in the palace.”

"Such a thing really happened?" Shen Zizai was still half-believing and half-doubting.

“Yes, it’s a pity that the Minister of Personnel is still in the dark.” Shen Li’s eyes darted around as she continued, “If you see him, you should remind him.”

“I told you he wouldn’t believe me.” Shen Zizai shook his head: “That old man and I have been at odds for years.”

“But if public opinion gets out of hand, no matter how smart he is, the one who died was still his own son, and he wouldn’t be completely without suspicion.” Shen Li said this to Gu Chang’an across from her.

Gu Chang'an had guessed most of what Shen Li was saying from the moment she started speaking, and his eyes sharpened.

Zheng Youwei was a lustful glutton; what was he most likely to do at Anhua Palace in the middle of the night?

If you want to kill him, the best way is to make it an accident. A fire can burn away all traces, which is perfect.

He knew that Consort Zheng's decision to keep A-Li around for the past two days was suspicious.

This thing deserved to die.

Public opinion? That's what he's best at. Zheng Youwei won't be able to die peacefully.

"Father was really scared. Luckily you're alright. We absolutely can't go to the palace again." Shen Zizai still broke out in a cold sweat when he thought about it.

Gu Chang'an nodded as well.

Shen Li looked at him with a puzzled expression. Was he going to follow the trend like this?

Gu Chang'an naturally knew that the ones who would suffer this time entering the palace were Consort Zheng and Prince Yi. Even the Crown Prince and the Empress were still under house arrest, and one had fallen ill several times from anger.

The only beneficiary was the Shen family, whose father-in-law successfully entered the cabinet, avoiding countless potential pitfalls.

But what he valued was never profit, nor was it the bargaining chip in the game; it was Ah Li. In any game that required Ah Li to take risks, he was the loser.

The Shen family had received news of Shen Li's impending return well in advance. Shen's mother and Shen Yue had been waiting at the gatehouse, and upon hearing the servant announce that the carriage had arrived, they immediately went to greet it.

Gu Chang'an got out of the car first, then helped Shen Li out of the car, but when he tried to help Shen Zizai, he was pushed away.

Shen Li felt it was time to have a proper talk with her father.

"My Li'er is finally back! Chang'an is here too. Come in quickly, let's go back inside and talk."

Shen's mother, Xiao Bailing, was a very straightforward person. She was genuinely happy to see her daughter and also liked Gu Chang'an.

In her opinion, Gu Chang'an did not have the major faults that were rumored outside. The main thing was that he was good to his daughter. Being able to wholeheartedly treat his daughter was better than countless men. He was an excellent son-in-law.

"Sister, brother-in-law," Shen Yue said, leaning closer. "Sister looks great, as if you haven't suffered any injustice."

Peony touched her nose, thinking to herself that it was already good enough that her young lady didn't make others feel bad, so what about Consort Zheng? She was almost half dead now.

When I left the palace, I heard from the nanny in the Empress's palace that Consort Zheng had fainted. It turned out that she was having a nightmare and kept muttering about snakes.

So it became a situation where one felt sorry for the painting while awake and worried about the snake while asleep. Whether a person would die if they continued to torment themselves like this is another matter, but they would definitely age ten years.

Given how much Consort Zheng cherished her appearance, it would be a complete catastrophe if she got old.

Miss's methods this time truly exemplify the saying "killing someone by destroying their spirit."

"Brother-in-law looks a bit thinner than he did during the last Dragon Boat Festival. You must have been worried about my sister, right?" Shen Yue asked jokingly.

"Mm," Gu Chang'an replied obediently.

"Yue'er," Shen Zizai said unhappily, "how can a young girl say such nonsense? You're becoming more and more unruly."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chang'an fell silent.

Shen Yue only dared to mutter softly; at home, she was afraid of her older sister and her father.

"Father, I've been focusing on painting lately, and my chess skills have declined somewhat." Seeing this, Shen Li said, "How about we play a game of chess after dinner?"

"Oh?" Shen Zizai saw a glimmer of hope for victory and immediately said, "Okay."

"But there are stakes involved, so you'd better think carefully before you place your bet," Shen Li said slyly.