Duke Jing's younger sister

After Shen Li recuperated in Cuibai Hall for three days, he again asked to return to his own Qinghui Courtyard.

Shen Beiqi knew that she was a person of final say, so even though he wanted to keep her, he had no choice but to let her go.

He remembered the advice of the Jiang family doctor that she must not get cold or get windy, nor should she eat cold food.

It is now the middle of March, the sun is shining brightly in the courtyard, and the pomegranate tree at the corner of Cuibai Hall has grown lush branches and leaves, full of green.

But the spring breeze still makes people feel cold.

Shen Li watched as Shen Beiqi brought out a winter cloak and stubbornly put it on her shoulders.

Shen Beiqi was tall, and Shen Li was petite to begin with, making her even smaller when standing in front of him, with her head barely reaching his shoulders.

As he tied the straps of her cloak, he spoke carefully, "I've thought about this carefully these past two days..."

Shen Li raised her head and looked at him quietly.

"This matter was caused by me, and the fault is also mine, so I decided to take responsibility. After I have exchanged letters with your father and brother, I will marry you."

Shen Li was stunned.

In this Jiangdu city, there are countless noble ladies who want to marry Shen Beiqi.

But Shen Li didn't even dare to think about it.

To Shen Li, Shen Beiqi was like the bright moon in the sky. Even though she could see him by just looking up, there was a distance and gap between them that was difficult to cross in this lifetime.

Duke Jingguo Shen Beiqi, who is famous for his prestige and even more famous for his good reputation, is more than qualified to be the match for a county lady or a princess.

Unfortunately, Shen Li is out of her reach.

What's more, the Shen family raised her, and she didn't want to make Yang worry about this matter and add to her troubles.

She also didn't want the mother and son to have any grudge against each other because of her.

Shen Li curled the corners of her lips and said softly, "Brother, I will forget all this, and at the same time, I hope you can forget it too."

Shen Beiqi lowered his eyes and looked at Shen Li, who was a head shorter than him.

Her facial features have just grown into full shape. Her once tender and round cheeks have gradually become clearer, with smooth and soft lines. Under her lively and bright deer eyes, the tip of her straight nose is small and delicate.

Like an uncut jade, clean and clear.

It is also like a winding stream in the mountains, with a kind of beauty that is not at all aggressive, without any impurities, and makes people feel close to it just by looking at it.

It's just that she seems to have grown up a little, but she still seems to be a child.

They seem to not understand what it means for a woman to lose her virginity.

Shen Beiqi sighed and advised, "Do you know what you will face in the future..."

"Brother!"

Shen Li interrupted him. She knew what Shen Beiqi would say without thinking.

She knew better than anyone what innocence meant to an unmarried girl.

But so what?

Yang and Shen Beiqi loved her and gave her a home when she was adrift, allowing her to live with dignity during the eight years when she should have been suffering.

In the end, is she going to be like a snake rescued by a farmer, taking this opportunity to climb up to Shen Beiqi and become an ungrateful person?

If he really liked her, she could ignore the rumors and give it a try.

Unfortunately, she knew he was not.

He just felt guilty, and that was why he wanted to marry her. And because of that guilt, he wanted to go along with the mistake.

But Shen Li didn't want to let this guilt bind his life.

Shen Li lowered her eyes, hiding the emotions in her eyes, "If you take the wrong path, you should correct it in time, right? Why does brother still want to make the same mistake again?"

"What's wrong with making the best of a bad situation? If we can make the best of a bad situation for a lifetime, it can be considered a perfect match."

A bitter smile appeared on Shen Li's lips. To her, this mistake was nothing more than a drunken dream on a spring night.

She remembered every detail of that night clearly, but she didn't blame Shen Beiqi. Perhaps she was willing to do so subconsciously.

After being so unrestrained once, she was already content and did not dare to hope for more.

"Brother, don't mention this matter again. You will always be my brother."

Shen Li turned around and left resolutely. Shen Beiqi frowned slightly and looked at her slowly leaving back.

Since she didn't want to, how could he force her?

Xingping was waiting outside the Cuibai Hall. When she saw Shen Li coming out with a pale face, she hurried forward to support her.

"Girl, why do you look so bad?"

Xing Ping's lips also turned a little pale. Shen Li gently patted the back of her hand twice, "You are still the same? Where are you hurt?"

Xingping's nose was sour, "I am thick-skinned and tough, so I am fine with a few whips, but you are the one who suffered..."

Not seeing Zi Yuan, Shen Li asked, "Where's Zi Yuan?"

"She said that there was an emergency at home, so she left in a hurry. She and the maidservant came to pick up the girl."

Shen Li nodded.

Xingping is a house-born child. Her mother works in the second branch of the Shen family next door, but Ziyuan is not.

Ziyuan was ten years old when she entered the Marquis' Mansion. She was sold to the Duke's Mansion as a slave because her family was really struggling to make ends meet.

During the past few years of being with Shen Li, Zi Yuan sent all the monthly salary she saved back home to support her brother's studies. Shen Li also knew all this.

Whenever Ziyuan mentioned her younger brother, she always looked proud and said that he was a good student and always won the first place in every school examination.

I think something urgent must have happened at home, that's why Ziyuan rushed back in such a hurry despite being injured.

Back at Qinghui Hall, Shen Li sat on the edge of the couch, thinking that when Ziyuan came back, she would ask a few questions to see if there was anything she could do to help.

Just as Xingping brought the prepared tonic, hurried footsteps were heard in the yard, accompanied by a few curses. It was Ren Jiaorui's voice.

"Shen Li, you shameless bitch!"

Xingping immediately got angry, "Hey! Who is this person? How dare he insult my daughter with such dirty words?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the person who was cursing had already stood in front of Shen Li. Xingping stood in front of Shen Li with her eyes wide open, as if she was ready to fight to the death with Ren Jiaorui.

Ren Jiaorui was wearing a scarlet summer shirt with flowing sleeves. She looked delicate in appearance, but it did not match her angry expression at the moment.

Because of anger, Ren Jiaorui's chest heaved violently, and her eyes seemed to be burning with blazing fire as she stared straight at Shen Li.

"You——" She put one hand on her waist and pointed at Xing Ping in front of Shen Li, "Get out of my way, I have something to say to her!"

Xingping was not convinced and was about to fight back, but Shen Li behind her grabbed her sleeve.

"You go out first."

"Young girl..." Xingping was a little worried. The young girl was injured. If a fight really broke out, how could she be a match for her cousin?

Shen Li shook her head, "Don't worry, it's okay."

Xingping thought about it and it made sense. Over the years, this cousin had caused trouble for the girl many times, but she had never gained any advantage from her.

It's just a bluffing paper tiger!

Xingping walked away from Shen Li with puffed cheeks. Before leaving, she did not forget to glare at Ren Jiaorui fiercely to express her disgust for her.

"Would you like to sit down and talk?"

Shen Li spoke in a light tone, picked up the warm tonic on the table, took a sip, and the strong sour and bitter taste spread on the tip of her tongue. She couldn't help but frown.

"Shen Li, you are so shameless that you dare to seduce your cousin? Don't you even look at what you are? Are you worthy?"

Shen Li raised her eyes, glanced at Ren Jiaorui, and her fingertips unconsciously tapped the edge of the porcelain bowl twice.

It seems that Ren Jiaorui has already investigated clearly what mistakes she made that earned her family punishment.

But how could Ren Jiaorui know?

Apart from Shen Li, only four people knew about this matter: Yang, her confidant Nanny Qin, the Jiang family doctor, and Shen Beiqi.

Needless to say, Yang would never tell anyone else for the sake of the entire Shen family and Shen Zhiyan.

Doctor Jiang has worked in the Duke's Mansion for more than 30 years. He naturally understands the way of survival of wealthy families and will not easily disclose the privacy of his master.

Shen Beiqi, it is even more impossible to tell Ren Jiaorui!

Shen Li drank the bowl of Chinese medicine soup in one gulp, glanced coldly at Ren Jiaorui, put the empty bowl on the table, and waited for the next words.

"Why are you looking at me? I'm telling you, just wait, I'm going to tell everyone right now that you are shameless and you used tricks to climb into your brother's bed. Then everyone will spit on you and insult you, let's see how you deal with it!"

Shen Li's eyes turned slightly, and she smiled and said, "Okay, go quickly, and spread the news to the whole Jiangdu city, leaving no one behind."