The Person You Like

Zhong Ning heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Shen Li had returned, but she still sounded worried.

"Where have you been? Why did you take so long?"

As she spoke, she sized Shen Li up from head to toe. After making sure that she was fine, she put away her nervous expression.

Shen Li did not want her to worry, so she did not mention her encounter with Si Yan.

"I just got lost."

Zhong Ning took her hand, still in shock.

"If I had known earlier, I would have asked Xiao Shuang to accompany you. The palace is not like the outside world. You have to be careful."

Shen Li took a sip of the hot tea and agreed. She only felt better after the warmth had passed through her internal organs.

When she raised her head again, Shen Li realized that Si Yan was sitting right in front of her. She choked on the water in her mouth. She tried her best to suppress the discomfort in her throat and swallowed the water with great difficulty before she finally started wheezing.

Shen Li covered her mouth with a handkerchief and tried to keep the noise as low as possible for fear of attracting attention.

Fortunately, there was a dance and music playing in the middle of the hall, so Shen Li's voice slid through undetected.

Through the sheer power of will, she managed to pull herself together.

At the flower banquet, there was no lack of entertainment. There was no shortage of talented noble ladies to perform. Shen Li only focused on eating until... She saw that Shen Jiao had gone up the stage.

To be honest, Shen Li found it hard to appreciate the tune of the lute that Shen Jiao was playing. She was not doing a good job. Even the old busker by the street of her neighborhood was more pleasing to the ears.

Shen Li soon noticed the oddity.

Her blushing cheeks, her affectionate eyes, and every movement and expression made her look like a little girl who was in deeply in love.

Shen Li followed her line of sight, and his heart skipped a beat.

She was looking at Si Yan! Were these two having an affair?

Shen Li's brain was working at full speed. She could not help but take a deep breath after she understood what was going on.

The rumors of a marriage could not be referring to Shen Jiao, right?

Shen Li hated Shen Jiao from the bottom of her heart. She was pretentious, pampered, and barbaric. She was just like her mother. If anything, she lacked the brains.

Si Yan may look ferocious, but she could tell that he was a good person. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let her off so many times.

While Shen Li was criticizing her in her mind, Shen Jiao finished her performance. At that moment, Empress Dowager Lu suddenly spoke.

"General Si. I believe that you are not married yet?"

Emperor Zou Yuan and Empress Shi Han seemed to be surprised by the Empress Dowager's sudden voice.

Zou Yuan had intended to shut Empress Dowager Lu up, but due to his status, he could only attempt to negotiate with her.

"Mother, how can I trouble you with General Si's family matters? I will take care of it."

Empress Dowager Lu didn't seem to agree.

"Son, that's what you always say. But think of it. As Emperor, you are busy with ten thousand matters every day. You do not possibly have the time to take care of something a minuscule as this.

"General Si is not exactly a young man anymore. He has contributed much to the country. How could we delay this marriage any longer?

"Many amazing young ladies have shown up today. There is no better time than now!"

Zou Yuan's expression was a little ugly. He had already tried to talk to Empress Dowager Lu out of this, but he had not expected her to try maneuvering him before the public eye.

In this situation, with so many eyes watching, what Empress Dowager Lu said would sound reasonable. If Zou Yuan continued to argue with her, he would seem like the unreasonable one.

Si Yan, the person in question, was still focused on drinking, as if the Empress Dowager was not talking about him.

Si Yan remained as calm as a statue, but Guan Fu, who was behind him, was extremely jittery.

Guan Fu clenched his fists and cursed her in his heart. "This old hag was up to no good!"

Empress Dowager Lu turned to Si Yan and questioned him directly.

"General Si, do you have any particular person in mind? If not, I believe that the young lady of the Shen family is not bad."