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

Chapter 215 My sister can read the heavens?

Shen Li moved back to her parents' home. She hadn't come before because she was worried about bringing Gu Chang'an's illness back with her, but this time she planned to stay for a few more days.

After the family finished dinner, they sat in the courtyard to cool off. Shen Zizai asked dryly, "Why didn't Gu Chang'an come back with you?"

"Father, what did you say?" Shen Li vaguely thought she hadn't heard clearly.

It was rare to hear her father mention Gu Chang'an on his own initiative.

"You heard me." Shen Zizai awkwardly refused to say it again.

"I really didn't hear you clearly," Shen Li said teasingly. "Mother, little sister, did you hear it?"

"I heard it. Dad was asking why my brother-in-law didn't come back. He was worried about him," Shen Yue repeated, adding her own interpretation.

“When have I ever cared about him? Children shouldn’t talk nonsense,” Shen Zizai said quite seriously.

“I heard it too. This isn’t the first time he’s shown concern. He’s been talking about how good Chang’an is lately,” Xiao Bailing chimed in, trying to sabotage the conversation.

Shen Zizai had no choice but to let his wife talk.

"Does Dad also think he did a good job with this tax reform?" Shen Li asked with a smile.

"I knew it all along; the original memorial had entered the cabinet before the revision," Shen Zizai replied, seemingly ignoring the question.

"So, Father, do you agree or disagree with the cabinet's draft proposal?" Shen Li had no intention of letting her father off the hook.

Shen Zizai said in a muffled voice, "Of course I agree."

Shen Li smiled with relief, feeling that Gu Chang'an's efforts were worthwhile; everything he had done had not been in vain, and everyone had seen it.

I'm also happy for my father. He must have seen a different path to becoming a pillar of society, and he may not be so stubborn in the future.

Shen Zizai was indeed pondering what was loyalty and what was treachery, and whether it was wrong to be tactful in his actions.

"Li'er, your little sister doesn't want to marry the Crown Prince. What are the chances that her refusal will be granted?" Xiao Bailing asked.

Shen Yue immediately leaned over to listen.

"Absolutely." Shen Li said with certainty, "This concubine cannot be chosen for the time being."

"Why is that? I heard that the Empress is actively preparing, just waiting for the young ladies to enter the palace to be seen by the Crown Prince in a few days," Xiao Bailing asked, puzzled.

Shen Li's eyes darted around, and she pointed to the night sky: "I observed the celestial phenomena at night, and that's how I saw it."

"But the sky is overcast tonight." Shen Yue looked up and stared. "Where are the stars?"

"The highest level of celestial observation is observing the overcast sky. If you see dark clouds covering the sky, it must mean that things are not going well for the imperial family," Shen Li said seriously.

Perhaps she was too serious, because Shen Yue nodded along even though she looked confused.

My sister is amazing; she can even read the heavens.

"Stop lying to your sister. I will refuse His Majesty's request. Yue'er is too impulsive and has little education. She is not suitable to be the Crown Princess, much less the future Empress," Shen Zizai said.

“Yes, the affairs of the harem are so complicated. The concubines and the crown prince are constantly fighting. Don’t even mention that she is still a child. Even if I were to go, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.” Xiao Bailing also shook her head.

Shen Zizai then said to Shen Li, "Don't worry, Father won't marry Yue'er into the palace. We won't cling to the wealth and status of that family, nor will we suffer such injustice."

He was worried that Shen Li might do something dangerous to interfere with the matter.

"Okay, I know, I won't act impulsively," Shen Li replied.

"Father, Mother, and Sister, you are all so kind." Shen Yue carried one person in each arm, and when she couldn't carry them all, she took turns carrying them.

"Your marriage must be one that suits your taste." Xiao Bailing said, holding her youngest daughter's hand. "If there is no suitable match, your parents will raise you. You won't suffer at home."

"Mother." Shen Yue practically clung to Xiao Bailing, constantly whining and pleading.

Shen Zizai and Shen Li looked at each other with doting expressions.

Afterwards, Shen Yue discovered that her older sister really could read the heavens, because the next day, Consort Zheng fell ill, and suddenly her illness became even more serious than when Wanbaoge was burned down. She was completely unconscious and talked in her sleep for days, and the imperial physicians could not find the cause of her illness.

This greatly worried Emperor Cheng, who invited monks and Taoist priests to the palace to exorcise the evil spirits, and also summoned the Director of the Imperial Observatory.

"Your Majesty, I observed the stars the other day and night and found that the star Yao Guang in the Big Dipper had changed position. Yesterday, dark clouds covered the sky, which is an ominous sign. The Imperial Concubine has protected Your Majesty from disaster."

Emperor Cheng became even more anxious upon hearing this: "Then how can I become a Noble Consort so that I can recover?"

"The only thing to do is for the entire palace to pray to Heaven for blessings. No blood or red should be seen in the palace, and no celebratory events should be held in order to seek Heaven's forgiveness," said the Imperial Astronomical Bureau official.

"Very well, issue an edict ordering the Empress to set aside all her affairs and lead the harem in a month-long prayer ceremony." Emperor Cheng gave the order without hesitation.

The Empress is preparing to present the final list of candidates to the Emperor. As long as the Emperor nods in approval, she can choose a good marriage for her son. She has noticed that Zhou Qianqian's dissatisfaction has been brewing for quite some time.

When she heard that Consort Zheng was ill and the imperial physicians could not find the cause of her illness, she was half happy and half suspicious. She was waiting to see if the emperor's decree would be issued.

One must pray for blessings for a month, bathe and fast, and refrain from celebrating.

She suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes, but Zhou Qianqian supported her.

"She doesn't have any illness at all; she's clearly trying to make things difficult for me!" After the imperial decree was issued, Empress Ning knew exactly who this plan was targeting.

Once the Prince of Yi has weathered his slump in a month, what chance will the Crown Prince have of marrying a noblewoman? He'll be lucky if she doesn't end up as a village woman.

The emperor's favoritism was excessive.

But then she had some doubts. She had never heard that the Director of the Imperial Observatory was a man of Prince Yi. Otherwise, Consort Zheng would have caused trouble long ago. Why wait until now?

"Mother, why don't you invite an imperial physician to take Consort Zheng's pulse? If it's exposed that she's faking illness, that would be a crime of deceiving the emperor," Zhou Qianqian suggested from the side.

Empress Ning waved her hand weakly: "His Majesty panicked when she fell ill, and he couldn't listen to what others were saying. If he makes a move now, he will surely be bitten back."

She had been fighting for twenty years and had suffered many such losses. No matter how right she was, she couldn't withstand Consort Zheng's coquettishness.

Both women were born into commoner families, but her father only held the nominal title of marquis and received a small annual salary, while Consort Zheng's brother rose rapidly to become the head of the Six Ministries and influenced the court.

If she hadn't been chosen by the late emperor to be his empress, she probably would have nothing now.

"So we're just going to suffer this loss?" Zhou Qianqian said indignantly.

"Let's do as His Majesty says for now. In a few days, Consort Zheng will stop making such a fuss. It's not too late to persuade him after His Majesty has calmed down."

Zhou Qianqian sighed: "Consort Zheng is truly cunning; she has disrupted the Crown Prince's plan to select a consort."

"It's rare to see someone so sensible." Seeing that she was wholeheartedly thinking about the Crown Prince, Empress Ning became more patient with her and comforted her, saying, "It was out of necessity for your mother to choose a consort for the Crown Prince. You have also seen the current situation. Without the help of a powerful force, he might not be able to make it to the end."

Zhou Qianqian's expression was tolerant and kind: "Mother, rest assured, I understand."