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Chapter 149
"That's good, think it over carefully. Whatever decision you make, I'll support you," Li Xia didn't object to Xu Xinyue remarrying. On the contrary, she was supportive.
Xu Xinyue had told Li Xia more than once that she envied the relationship between her parents and her elder brother and sister-in-law. Her words revealed a desire to have a happy, harmonious, and stable family like theirs.
With Li Xia not objecting, Xu Xinyue felt much less conflicted.
Li Xia got up and went to a drawer in the desk to take out a jade pendant for safety and protection, placing it in Xu Xinyue's hand. "Mother, I made you a jade pendant for protection. Take a look, do you like it? If not, I can make something else."
Xu Xinyue took it and said "I like it" before even looking at it.
The jade pendant felt warm in her hand; it was a piece of warm jade.
Xu Xinyue's hands and feet would get icy cold in winter. This warm jade was something Li Xia had asked Qiu Ling to inquire about for a long time before finally buying it, and it wasn't cheap. After buying it, Li Xia carefully cut it into two pendants. One for Xu Xinyue, and the other for Mrs. Lu.
"Don't be so extravagant with your spending. You're not young anymore, you need to be more frugal," Xu Xinyue said as she handed the jade pendant back to Li Xia, telling her to keep it. It would be a waste to give her such a good thing.
"It's for you, Mother, so you must keep it. I won't agree if you don't wear it," Li Xia pushed it back into Xu Xinyue's hand.
"Alright, I'll keep it. You're getting more and more strong-willed," Xu Xinyue accepted the jade pendant, seeing Li Xia's forceful attitude.
"It's all because of how you've spoiled me," Li Xia's words made Xu Xinyue's smile deepen, and the mother and daughter burst into laughter together.
After having lunch in the Orchid Courtyard and taking an afternoon nap, Xu Xinyue got up to go to the Wild Goose Pavilion to bid farewell to Mrs. Lu and return to the Xu family.
Li Xia lay on the bed, not wanting to move. If her mother was going to remarry, she would need to prepare some nice things. But what should she prepare?
"Qiu Ling," Li Xia called Qiu Ling in and asked her to inquire about what was usually prepared for someone like Xu Xinyue who was remarrying, and also what dowry the Xu family had prepared for her.
After discussing with Li Ming, Mrs. Lu decided to hold a spring banquet. Invitations were sent out everywhere, as the Li family was planning a grand event. The Xu family also received an invitation.
On the day of the event, Li Xia followed behind Li Xin, accompanying the young ladies.
The Beining Marquis Manor arrived early, as the old lady wanted to look for a potential daughter-in-law. Lu XuanNing, not going to the battlefield, was to have his marriage arranged. Unable to refuse his grandparents, Lu XuanNing came along.
When they arrived at the Li family, not only did the young ladies turn pale at the sight of Lu XuanNing, but even the ladies and gentlemen had unpleasant expressions. Li Hui, not wanting Lu XuanNing to be hurt, took him to his own study.
"I'm fine," those fearful gazes were something he had been experiencing since he woke up, and he had almost become numb to them after experiencing it so much.
"You stay here and read for now," Li Hui went out to entertain the guests.
"Alright," Lu XuanNing, in the study, saw the statue of a great roc spreading its wings on the desk. He reached out to carefully touch it, feeling the mark in the corner at the bottom, indeed just as in his dream.
Li Xia, after a round of socializing, was too tired and found a small corner to sit down and rest. This was more exhausting than killing zombies for a whole day. It wasn't physical fatigue, but mental fatigue. Li Hui was now a hot commodity, with many inquiring about him.
Of course, there were also ladies who were quite satisfied with Li Xia. They asked Mrs. Lu about Li Xia's situation. Mrs. Lu not only had to look for matches for Li Hui, but also for Li Chou and Li Guang, the two concubine-born sons who had also come of age. Both of them now had academic degrees, though not high ones, but with the support of their father and elder brother, they wouldn't do too poorly in the future. Those of higher status thought about finding such matches for their concubine-born daughters, while those of lower status thought their daughters weren't bad either.
Mrs. Lu was so busy she wished she could split herself. Li Xin's marriage had already been arranged so she didn't need to worry about that, and was busy managing things.
Xu Xinyue was a guest today. After meeting Mrs. Lu, she voluntarily went to stay in a corner. She was looking to see if there were any suitable matches for Li Xia among the young men. Everyone in the Capital City knew about Xu Xinyue's status. However, seeing the Li and Xu families interacting so openly and naturally, they didn't dare say much.
Xu Xinyue looked around and saw Li Xia slumped in a corner. Qiu Chan, with her sturdy build, was shielding her.
"Why are you hiding here and slacking off?" She walked over and wiped the sweat from Li Xia's forehead.
"Socializing is too tiring," Li Xia was mentally exhausted. These young ladies, though they looked young, were full of tricks. Every sentence was a trap, and if you weren't careful, you'd fall right in.
"It's not like you have to socialize every day. Look how well Mrs. Lu and the eldest young lady are doing, you should learn from them and change your lazy ways," Xu Xinyue was really anxious for her. "Many families have come today, and several of them have shown interest. See if there's anyone you fancy, so we can let Mrs. Lu filter through them later."
"Mother, do you think this is like picking vegetables? You even talk about filtering," Li Xia found it amusing when she heard this.
"It's not much different from picking vegetables." Xu Xinyue felt there wasn't much difference.
"Mother, if they're vegetables, then what am I, a pig?" Li Xia didn't know how to respond to Xu Xinyue's words.
"Tsk tsk tsk, what are you saying?" Xu Xinyue gave Li Xia a light tap. She really says whatever comes to mind. Thinking for a moment, Xu Xinyue asked in a low voice, "Are you still thinking about the Young Master Lu, not the Marquis Lu?"
Xu Xinyue's words made Li Xia, who was drinking tea, choke suddenly. "Cough cough cough," it took a while for her to stabilize.
Xu Xinyue quickly patted Li Xia's back. "Look at you, I just asked a question. Why such a big reaction?"
"I was shocked by you, okay? How could you think that?" Li Xia thought that she hadn't shown any particular liking for Lu XuanNing in the past. Why would Xu Xinyue have this idea?
"As your mother, how could I not see through your little thoughts?" Li Xia had been paying a lot of attention to Lu XuanNing.
"I admire him for his dedication to the country and the people. I think his scars are a symbol of honor." That's why she disliked it when those young ladies showed fear and disgust. But as for having any thoughts beyond that, there were none. "Mother, he's still a child. It's too early to talk about this."
"Is that really the only reason?" Xu Xinyue doubted Li Xia's words.
"It's as true as it can be. My dear mother, why are you so intent on pushing me towards Lu XuanNing?" Li Xia repeatedly assured that she really didn't have any improper thoughts about Lu XuanNing.
"That's good then. He's not someone you can aspire to. Let Mrs. Lu find you an honest and decent man who can live a good life with you." Even if Lu XuanNing's face was scarred, his wife would not be a concubine-born daughter from a fourth-rank official's family.
"Mother, let's talk about this in a couple of years." Li Xia didn't want to get married so early, and even if she did, she would want to find someone who would accept her completely.
"What do you mean early? Li Shan is already married." How could Xu Xinyue not be anxious? She had just been stung by Aunt Wang's words earlier.
"How can the situations be compared?" Li Xia felt no sympathy for Li Shan's current predicament. You made your bed, now lie in it.
On the third day after Li Ming's return, Li Shan came back, crying and complaining to Li Ming about Mrs. Lu and Li Hui forcing her to marry. She begged Li Ming to make a decision on her behalf.
Every word she spoke blamed others, portraying herself as pitiful and innocent. But when this matter first arose, Mrs. Lu had actually consulted her. It was Li Shan herself who had chosen to marry into the Zhao Family. Now that she regretted it, she claimed it was like falling into a fiery pit.
Li Ming said nothing and sent Li Shan away. Then Li Ming met with the Wen'an Marquis, and though it's unclear what they discussed, afterwards Li Shan was kept under even stricter supervision. She didn't even attend this banquet. The official explanation was that she was ill and resting at home.