Novel All
Chapter 234
Jiang Chong was skilled in battlefield tactics, and it was hard to win against Qiu Chan without going all out. But going all out meant Qiu Chan could get hurt. This test was not easy for Jiang Chong.0
Li Xia realized that Qiu Chan was not foolish at all. In matters of the heart, she was more clear-headed than Qiu Ling and Qiu Kui.0
Lu XuanNing returned to find Li Xia still asleep.0
"Madam woke up in the afternoon, ate something, and took a walk in the garden," Qiu Shui reported Li Xia's activities for the day.0
Lu XuanNing approached Li Xia, who opened her eyes, her voice hoarse from sleeping too long, "You're back."0
"I'm back, and I brought roast duck."0
"I was just thinking before I slept that I'd take Chengcheng to eat roast duck tomorrow," Li Xia said, getting up with the help of Lu XuanNing's hand and letting him dress her.0
"No worries, I'll join you tomorrow," Lu XuanNing expertly dressed Li Xia.0
In the dining room, Lu Liucheng was proudly telling Old Marquis Lu about how he won against his classmates and earned the title of class leader.0
Old Marquis Lu praised him, "My great-grandson is truly formidable."0
"Of course, great-grandfather, I am going to be a great general. How could I possibly be defeated?" Lu Liucheng was very proud.0
"Aren't you going to do something about it?" Li Xia, standing outside, watched Lu Liucheng's proud demeanor.0
"When I was his age, I was even more mischievous," Lu XuanNing felt that it was good for Lu Liucheng to experience these challenges. Winning was his own skill, and losing was also his own doing.0
"Dad, Mom, you're so slow. I and great-grandfather are waiting for you to eat," Lu Liucheng turned back and called them to hurry to dinner.0
Lu XuanNing and Li Xia entered, "Grandfather."0
"How are you feeling?" Old Marquis Lu looked at Li Xia with some concern. Lu XuanNing had convinced Old Marquis Lu to come to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South by telling him about Li Xia's injuries from fighting on the frontier. Since arriving in the capital, Li Xia had been too busy to properly recuperate, and now needed to rest. Lu XuanNing was also busy with daily affairs, and Lu Liucheng needed some guidance, which Old Marquis Lu could provide.0
Upon hearing this, Old Marquis Lu immediately stopped feigning illness and packed his bags to come to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South. Lu XuanNing went to discuss future plans with Marquis Lu concerning Lu Xuanyu.0
Lu Xuanyu wanted to take the imperial examinations to become a civil servant, which Lu XuanNing did not oppose. The Lu family still needed his lineage. However, as a member of the Lu family, he must practice martial arts and learn military knowledge, even if not excellently, he must know these basics. These were the roots of the Lu family and must not be lost. Old Marquis Lu, staying at the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, would instruct Lu Xuanyu every other day.0
After sleeping all morning, Li Xia asked Qiu Chan to move a chair into the courtyard to sunbathe. Xu Xinyue walked into the courtyard to find Li Xia almost asleep.0
Feeling someone's presence, Li Xia opened her eyes to see Xu Xinyue standing at the door, "Mother, what brings you here?" A few days ago, she had sent someone to the Wang Family and learned that Xu Xinyue was supposed to accompany Old Lady Wang to offer prayers today.0
"Why have you lost so much weight?" Xu Xinyue walked up to Li Xia, heartbroken, while Qiu Chan tactfully brought over a chair.0
"I could stand to lose a few pounds, I've felt a bit overweight," Li Xia commented, lifting her arm and eyeing herself critically.0
"You're already skinny enough. If you lose any more weight, you'll be nothing but skin and bones. How are you going to face people then?" Xu Xinyue said, gently touching Li Xia's hand and forehead, worried as she was when Li Xia was a child.0
"Mom, I'm healthy," Li Xia assured her. However, it was clear that Xu Xinyue didn't believe her. Li Xia looked considerably more pale than usual.0
"Xia'er, tell me the truth, are you pregnant?" Xu Xinyue's question made Li Xia burst into laughter.0
"Why are you laughing? I'm serious," Xu Xinyue was left confused by Li Xia's reaction.0
"No, Lu XuanNing and I will only have one child in this lifetime," Li Xia's confident response made Xu Xinyue's heart skip a beat.0
"What happened between you two?"0
"He doesn't want me to suffer through childbirth again." Li Xia's words touched Xu Xinyue, knowing her son-in-law's deep love for her daughter, but also worrying this might cause dissatisfaction within Lu's family.0
Li Xia's mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhou, Xu Xinyue had encountered several times. The way she looked at her, as if Xu Xinyue were some repulsive creature. Xu Xinyue initially wanted to befriend her, but eventually decided it was best to maintain a neutral relationship.0
"Mom, weren't you supposed to accompany Old Lady Wang to the temple today, to find a wife for Wang Xiao? Why did you suddenly come here?" Li Xia was worried that Xu Xinyue had been wronged.0
"Old Lady Wang, she didn't want my company. I would rather not go either," Xu Xinyue's tone carried a hint of impatience. She never wanted to meddle in her stepson's affairs.0
Old Lady Wang was overprotective of Wang Xiao, preventing Xu Xinyue from getting close to him. Xu Xinyue had no desire to grow close to someone else's child.0
When the Wang Family wanted to marry Wang Xiao off, Old Lady Wang expected Xu Xinyue to ask for Li Xia's help, trying to appoint a noble lady from the Marquis Family for Wang Xiao. Xu Xinyue flatly refused. As for Wang Hong, she had no intention to use her own daughter, Li Xia, to find him a noble wife either.0
Upon Xu Xinyue's rejection, Old Lady Wang considered asking her to provide ten thousand taels for Wang Xiao's bride price. Xu Xinyue took out the Wang Family's account book, all income and expenditure over the years were clearly recorded.0
The Wang Family only had five thousand taels, thanks to Xu Xinyue's meticulous budgeting. As for ten thousand taels, the Wang Family didn't have that kind of money. Hoping to get Xu Xinyue to provide her dowry for Wang Xiao's bride price was a downright impossibility.0
Xu Xinyue very bluntly told Wang Dong that her dowry would only belong to Wang Hong. She wouldn't concern herself with how much the Wang Family are willing to contribute to Wang Xiao's bride price. But should they consider touching her dowry, she would not hesitate to take the issue up with others.0
With her own daughter backing her up, Xu Xinyue was fearless against the members of Wang Family. Seeing that Xu Xinyue was immovable and would not brought out her dowry for Wang Xiao's bride price, Old Lady Wang no longer wanted Xu Xinyue to accompany her to the temple. Threatened by Xu Xinyue's alleged greed for the Wang Family's wealth, Xu Xinyue didn't pay any heed to the accusations. In response, she changed her outfit and went straight to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South to see her daughter and grandson.0
"What's there in the Wang Family to covet?" Li Xia scoffed. The wealth of the Wang Family couldn't even match one-third of her mother's dowry.0
"This old lady guards against me like she's guarding against a thief, always rushing to find a granddaughter-in-law to take back the housekeeping power," Xu Xinyue grumbled, she didn't care for the Wang Family's housekeeping power at all. She'd be more than happy to have the new granddaughter-in-law take it.0
"I've arranged for my younger brother to be brought over this afternoon. Mother, spend a few more days at my place," Xu Xinyue proposed, seeking to disengage herself from those matters and enjoy a few quiet days.0
"That might not be a good idea," Xu Xinyue hesitated, having Old Marquis Lu reside here could have undesirable implications.0
"Grandfather has a good temperament, mother. You don't need to worry. I'll send someone to notify the Wang Family," Li Xia decided to send a messenger to the Wang family. The formal notice was essentially a warning.0
Seeing this, Xu Xinyue agreed. Li Xia ordered Qiu Shui and others to tidy up the courtyard.0
"Xia, a couple of days ago, Yiyou brought the kids to see me," Xu Xinyue stated, sounding somewhat hesitant.0