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

Chapter 284 What is your relationship with her?

"Of course I don't want to help you, but what you have is also related to my future and even my life. I won't joke about it." Shen Li remained calm and composed under her scrutinizing gaze.

Zhou Qianqian thought so too. Only she knew where that thing was. As long as she kept quiet and didn't take it out, no matter how many clever schemes Shen Li devised, they would be useless.

"Fine, but I'll only give you two days. If you don't give me an answer in two days, I'll hand the things over to His Majesty." Her eyes hardened. "Don't force me."

"Okay," Shen Li agreed.

Zhou Qianqian couldn't see anything in Shen Li's indifferent expression, and she felt really insecure. She always felt that she couldn't control Shen Li.

But she didn't know exactly where things went wrong or what was wrong.

Why is Shen Li always so unfathomable? Even though she has all the evidence against her, she still feels uneasy.

But she vaguely remembered that Shen Li was not like this before. She was someone who would sacrifice everything for the greater good. When did she change?

Shen Li left the side hall and walked out, while Zhou Qianqian returned to the East Palace.

But after Zhou Qianqian left, Shen Li stood at the corner outside Fengxiang Palace looking at a tree: "This winter plum will bloom later, and it will be breathtakingly beautiful after the snow."

"Miss, let's go. We can come back to see it after it snows." Peony looked up at the bare branches and asked in confusion, "There's nothing here yet."

"Alright, Lianqiao, you stay and break off two branches," Shen Li instructed.

Forsythia suspensa is a symbolic representation of something.

Shen Li hadn't gone far when Lian Qiao saw one of the palace maids who had been following Zhou Qianqian turn back.

"Where is your master?" the palace maid asked warily when she saw that no one was around.

"Who are you?" Lian Qiao asked instead of answering.

"My name is Yingyu."

"That's you." Lian Qiao said in a low voice, "If you want to know the details, someone will naturally give you the things at the East Palace corner gate tonight."

Yingyu looked puzzled and asked again, "Did His Highness really send you?"

"If you don't believe me, fine. Anyway, only you can save your master now." Lian Qiao said, using her lightness skill to climb the tree, breaking off two thin branches before gracefully landing and chasing after Shen Li.

Yingyu quickly returned as well. She saw the mark Shen Li had drawn on the pillar, which was a secret code between her and the Crown Prince that no one else would know.

Considering the concubine's current attitude of only wanting to protect herself, it seems that the Crown Prince does indeed need her, and she must save the Crown Prince.

When she got back, Zhou Qianqian asked, "Did they say or do anything again?"

"I didn't say anything, I just broke off a few branches and left Fengxiang Palace," Yingyu replied, calming her racing heart.

Zhou Qianqian naturally had no doubt that the maid who had accompanied her since childhood was still focused on Shen Li. She knew in her heart that this was the last time the two of them would clash.

Whether he succeeds or fails, he is doomed. The only way to survive is to win a chance for his child to live. If he fails, even that last chance will be gone.

Zhou Qianqian touched her stomach, her usual strength completely gone, and tears streamed down her face.

She married an unreliable man, and now she has to fight for her child's future, but Shen Li is not someone who can be easily manipulated.

Of all the times they've clashed, this is the one she can't afford to lose.

She can't lose either.

Thinking of this, she felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen and her mind became weary, so she called out, "Yingyu."

"The servant is here."

"Please keep a close eye on those things for me. Even if I'm not feeling well, no one can know, okay?" Zhou Qianqian earnestly instructed.

"Yes," Yingyu replied, though a moment of struggle flashed across her face.

After giving her instructions, Zhou Qianqian went to bed to rest. She wanted to take care of things herself, but her body wouldn't allow it. The imperial physician said that if she continued like this, even though the dangerous months had passed, the baby might still not survive.

Shen Li's expression remained heavy throughout her journey home. Her mind was filled with the image of Zhou Qianqian kneeling before her, and the thought of Zhou Qianqian's slightly protruding belly.

There was a little life inside. She remembered the child; he was a little boy, fair-skinned and chubby, and looked more like Zhou Qianqian. The child was well-educated by his master and would call her "Auntie" when he saw her.

In the world of the past, that child would have been the future crown prince, but now... he will never exist.

The deposed crown prince and his bloodline—even if she and Gu Chang'an didn't intervene, they couldn't protect them.

As long as that child is alive, whether he is ambitious or being used by someone with ulterior motives, he will be a scourge to Da Zhao.

Those with too pure bloodlines will not survive.

Thinking of this, Shen Li closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.

Just as she was thinking about it, the carriage stopped, and Shaoyao lifted the curtain and said, "Miss, Miss Lin is having tea at the theater. Please come up and have a seat."

"I'll go." Shen Li agreed without even thinking.

What she needs right now is Lin Wan'er.

Upon arriving at the theater, she went upstairs to her private box, closed the window for watching the performance, and listened to the sounds.

Outside, a mournful and plaintive singing voice drifted out. Inside the private room, two people sat facing each other, both seemingly preoccupied, neither speaking a word.

The maids were all waiting outside, so they didn't hesitate to say anything.

To some extent, they are soulmates, and sometimes they can only talk to each other.

Even to Gu Chang'an, Shen Li couldn't tell him the truth; she had hurt him too much in her previous life.

"you……"

"I……"

The two spoke at the same time in silence, their voices colliding as soon as they left their mouths.

Shen Li raised her hand, gesturing for her to speak first.

"What is your relationship with Cheng Ruojin?" Lin Wan'er had been thinking about this for half the night, and finally couldn't hold back any longer and had to ask her.

"Huh?" Shen Li almost dropped the cup in her hand; she never expected Lin Wan'er to ask this.

Lin Wan'er looked at her and reiterated, "What relationship?"

“Friend, we lived next door when we were in the palace, and I had helped her before, so we got to know each other over time.” Shen Li then explained, “She has a good temperament, so we often get together to play.”

"If you have her now, do you still want to see me?" Lin Wan'er asked again.

Shen Li didn't understand where these questions came from, but seeing her seriousness, she said, "Of course, you know there are many things I can only tell you, so naturally I wouldn't not come to you."

Lin Wan'er felt a little relieved, and her expression became less tense.

"No, are you interrogating a criminal?" Shen Li said, both amused and exasperated. "You weren't ignoring me yesterday because you were angry about this, were you?"

"I didn't." Lin Wan'er turned her head away. "I didn't see you."

"...You didn't see me?" Shen Li almost laughed out loud: "Lin Wan'er, could your excuse be any more lame?"

Lin Wan'er did not answer.

Shen Li laughed even more freely: "So you value me that much? I thought you were like you, not caring that much."