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Chapter 155
Li Hui and Li Xin were her biological children, so they would undoubtedly receive her dowry. Li Xia would also be left something, but as for Li Chou and Li Guang, Mrs. Lu wouldn't use her own dowry to supplement them.
Regarding marrying Lu XuanNing, Li Xia didn't object, but she needed to meet him first. Before Li Xia could figure out how to arrange a meeting, Lu XuanNing himself sent a visiting card requesting to see her.
They met in the garden of Li Manor. This time, Lu XuanNing came in a wheelchair. It had been raining for the past few days, and his leg pain was too severe for him to walk.
On the way, Lu XuanNing worried that Li Xia might be frightened. But Li Xia's excessively calm gaze left him feeling somewhat dejected.
Li Xia said quizzically, "I'm not a good candidate for a wife. You saw that night."
"You just need to be yourself," Lu XuanNing replied, understanding her meaning.
"Be myself." Li Xia repeated, approaching Lu XuanNing. Looking at him seated in the wheelchair, she said with an ambiguous tone, "My true self - can you handle it?"
This version of Li Xia reminded Lu XuanNing of her expression in his dream when she was tricking and scheming against others. His heart skipped a beat despite himself.
"I can," Lu XuanNing said solemnly.
After studying Lu XuanNing for a good while, Li Xia smiled and stood up straight.
Only then did Lu XuanNing realize he had been holding his breath. Seeing Li Xia's smile, he knew he had passed her test and received the answer he hoped for. He took a deep breath. freewёbnoνel.com
"Well then, I look forward to your guidance, my fiancé," Li Xia said, extending her hand.
Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia's hand, hesitated for a moment, then reached out his own. Their hands clasped together. Li Xia's hand was soft, her skin fair and delicate, completely different from his own. Lu XuanNing thought to himself that he should ask Xiao Changyou for some skincare ointments when he returned.
Li Xia withdrew her hand and noticed the unnatural redness on Lu XuanNing's face, as well as the two large scars crossing it. She reached out and lightly touched one of the scars.
Li Xia's action made Lu XuanNing freeze. He wanted to move but didn't dare to. He also didn't dare look at Li Xia's face, fearing he might see disgust or fear in her expression.
"Move aside, you lowly servant!" Li Shan's shrill voice rang out.
Li Shan felt waves of discontent rising within her. Why was her marriage in shambles, living a life neither here nor there, while Li Xia, a mere concubine-born daughter, could be registered under the name of the principal wife and even be engaged to Lu XuanNing? Though Lu XuanNing was lame and disfigured, his status as a Duke was undeniable.
Unlike the man she married, who was merely the son of a Duke, and a useless one at that. Li Shan used to have feelings for Zhao Decheng, but the longer she lived in the Zhao family, the more she hated them. She hated Aunt Wang, Mrs. Lu, Li Ming, and the entire Zhao family.
"Oh my, what a sweet couple," Li Shan said mockingly. "Duke Lu, you've barely entered the Li Manor and you're already so eager to see Second Sister."
Lu XuanNing frowned. If it weren't for Li Xia's sake, he would have ordered someone to drag Li Shan away.
"Not as sweet as you, little sister. You even have a child now," Li Xia retorted, having little affection for Li Shan.
"That's right, I am better than you. At least my man is better than yours," Li Shan said, eyeing Lu XuanNing's scarred face.
"Li Shan, what are you saying?" Li Ming exclaimed as he hurried over, having overheard Li Shan's words. Did this girl know what she was saying?
Hearing Li Ming's voice, Li Shan felt a moment of fear, but remembering she was now married into the Zhao family, she immediately raised her head again. "Father, am I wrong? Everyone's saying that Lu XuanNing is just a lame, ugly, useless..."
Li Ming walked over and raised his hand, slapping her across the face. Li Shan was stunned by the slap, unable to believe that Li Ming would hit her.
"Take the Third Young Miss away," Li Ming ordered. The nearby maid immediately grabbed the struggling Li Shan and dragged her away, ignoring her protests.
"Esteemed nephew, my foolish daughter knows not what she says. Please forgive her," Li Ming apologized to Lu XuanNing.
"It's alright. She spoke the truth. As long as Miss Li doesn't mind," Lu XuanNing said, looking towards Li Xia.
Seeing both Li Ming and Lu XuanNing looking at her, Li Xia said with a hint of shyness, "I don't mind. Duke Lu was injured serving our country. He deserves respect."
Li Xia's response pleased Li Ming, who nodded and said, "Good, well said."
Lu XuanNing lowered his head and coughed to hide his smile. He hadn't realized Li Xia had this side to her, so different from her earlier demeanor.
The news of Lu XuanNing's engagement to the Li family's second daughter sparked widespread discussion. People inquired about Li Xia, and their investigations revealed that this Second Miss Li was quite extraordinary. Her birth mother had been given a certificate of release and married a Hanlin Academy scholar.
Li Xia had been registered under Mrs. Lu's name, becoming a legitimate daughter. She had good relationships with both the eldest legitimate daughter Li Xin and the eldest legitimate son Li Hui. On multiple occasions, both siblings had been protective of this sister.
Li Xia paid no attention to the outside gossip. Looking at the fabric Mrs. Lu had sent, she asked, "Mother, there are still two years to go. Do I need to start embroidering the wedding dress now?"
"The wedding dress is the first step you take as a maiden preparing to become a wife. It can't be done carelessly. You must do it well," Mrs. Lu said, knowing Li Xia's temperament.
Hearing Mrs. Lu's words, Li Xia knew she couldn't refuse. She returned to her room and tossed the fabric onto the bed. She didn't want to embroider the wedding dress. Although Li Xia's needlework had improved considerably, she still disliked doing it. Especially since she had to make everything herself - the wedding dress, the bridal bedding - it was all too troublesome. When Li Xin was doing hers before, just watching had given Li Xia a headache.
"Miss, we can handle the cutting, but not the sewing," Qiu Shui hurriedly refused when she saw Li Xia's appraising look.
"Then Qiu Shui, you start with the cutting. Qiu Kui, draft a two-year plan for making the wedding dress. No more than half an hour each day," Li Xia instructed. Qiu Kui was always good at planning and arranging schedules.
"Yes, Miss," Qiu Kui responded and left to draft the plan.
"Miss, what should I do?" Qiu Chan stepped forward to ask. Li Xia had assigned tasks to Qiu Shui and Qiu Kui.
"You? Just keep me company while I eat," Li Xia said, reaching out to pinch Qiu Chan's cheek. Her earlier frustration instantly vanished - it was truly stress-relieving.
Hearing this, Qiu Chan quickly said, "Sister Qiu Kui made some mung bean cakes. I'll go fetch them," and ran out. Her hefty build made the floor shake as she went.
With only Qiu Ling left in the room, she stepped forward and whispered, "Miss, as you instructed, we've leaked the information about the Third Young Miss to Mrs. Zhao."
Now that she and Lu XuanNing were engaged, he was one of her own. And when one of her own was bullied, Li Xia naturally had to settle the score.
Li Xia had Qiu Ling investigate Li Shan. Li Xia understood Li Shan's character well. Sure enough, once investigated, many hidden matters came to light. Li Xia had Qiu Ling find someone to leak some of Li Shan's secret deeds to Mrs. Zhao.
Li Xia felt she was truly being a good person. Li Shan was nearly driven mad with anger when her act of changing Zhao Decheng's medicine was discovered. Although the impact wasn't significant, Mrs. Zhao disliked Li Shan even more and had people keep her under watch. Li Shan, not one to suffer losses quietly, caused quite a bit of trouble.
A month later, the Wen'an Marquis Mansion publicly announced that Li Shan had given birth to a son. Zhao Decheng's health had also improved. The incident with Zhao Decheng had made the Wen'an Marquis Mansion the laughingstock of many. Li Shan giving birth to a son somewhat countered this ridicule and proved something for the Zhao Family.