NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 168
Yu Wu, who had served Liu Yuanchang since childhood, knew everything about his actions. After being captured, he naturally could explain everything clearly. However, there was one thing he didn't know - during the struggle, the woman had grabbed the jade pendant that Liu Yuanchang always wore close to his body.
The jade was specially requested by Liu's grandmother from Buddha for her grandson. Liu Yuanchang's name was engraved on it. The woman this jade together with the suicide note. The hunter learned everything because of this jade piece. It was the most crucial evidence, and he entrusted it to a close friend for safekeeping.
Li Hui had recently tracked down the hunter's friend. He had arranged to meet today to retrieve the jade. But unexpectedly, instead of the friend, he was met by someone who wanted to kill him.
"Buying a gift for An'an was just an excuse," Li Xia snorted, displeased with Li Hui going on this dangerous mission alone.
"I was careless this time," Li Hui admitted, thinking others didn't know and falling into their trap.
"Who is the hunter's friend? I'll send someone to get it," Li Xia didn't want Li Hui to risk himself again.
"No need," Li Hui insisted on handling it himself.
Li Xia didn't argue further, only instructing, "Brother, next time you meet them, bring someone along. And let me know."
"Alright," Li Hui didn't object.
Back at the Li Residence on Qingyue Street, with Li Xia's help, no one discovered the wound on Li Hui's arm.
It was late, and Li Xia had no time to find Zhou Heng. She wrote a letter for Qiu Ling to deliver to Zhou Heng first thing in the morning, asking him to assign Tian Yi Pavilion's top martial artists to protect Li Hui day and night.
Upon receiving the letter, Zhou Heng read its contents and said, "Tell your young lady not to worry, I'll arrange everything."
Li Xia went to the Wild Goose Pavilion to pay her respects and was assigned by Mrs. Lu to manage the household alongside Li Xin. Li Xin was to be married after the New Year, and Li Xia would be married in two years. Previously, they each managed one aspect, but now they were entrusted with handling all affairs of the Li Manor's inner courtyard.
Mrs. Lu's sudden decision caught both Li Xin and Li Xia off guard. Li Xia suspected this was Li Hui's ploy to keep her from monitoring him.
With Li Xin taking the lead, Li Xia assisting, and Mrs. Lu overseeing, the servants didn't dare to misbehave. Even with the approaching New Year and increased workload, the two managed without mishap, keeping the Li Manor in perfect order.
Managing the inner courtyard seemed simple, but each day brought countless small, tedious tasks that consumed much time. This prevented Li Xia from being lazy and lounging around. Li Xia wrote to Lu XuanNing, complaining about how troublesome household management was.
Lu XuanNing replied with words of comfort and sent various delicacies to cheer Li Xia up. Her fiancé's thoughtfulness pleased Li Xia greatly, improving her mood significantly.
She took the initiative to arrange the New Year's Eve dinner, discussing and finalizing the menu with the household manager and the head cook. On New Year's Eve morning, she went to the kitchen to oversee preparations.
However, she was soon pulled away by Li Xin, who had received word of her presence. Li Xia sat watching, but she kept wanting to prepare a dish herself, causing great unease among the kitchen staff.
Li Xin dragged Li Xia to the Fuqing Courtyard, where a warm brazier was set up. A chess set was laid out on the couch. "Play chess with me," she said. Li Xia hadn't played chess in a long while and spent half the day playing with Li Xin.
This year, Li Ming was in the capital, but Li Chou, Li Guang, and Li Yao were absent. The family hadn't been complete for several years now. After dinner, Li Xia and Li Xin watched the servants set off fireworks and firecrackers. After midnight, they returned to their rooms to rest. Li Xia opened the window and climbed onto the roof. Zhou Heng was lying on the roof, drinking and enjoying the cold night breeze.
"Have a drink," Zhou Heng offered an unopened wine flask.
"I'm underage, I don't drink," Li Xia repeated her usual excuse.
"You've had your coming-of-age ceremony, and you still claim to be underage?" Zhou Heng laughed at Li Xia's unchanging excuse.
Li Xia took the flask, opened it, and took a small sip. "It's spicy, not good," she said.
Zhou Heng took a big gulp of wine. "That's exactly what I said the first time I drank. My brother was secretly drinking behind our mother's back, and I caught him. Afraid I'd tell on him, he forced some down my throat. As a result, he got an even worse beating from our mother."
At this point, Zhou Heng laughed again, continuing for a while before stopping. "Little witch, I really envy you," he said, envying Li Xia for having family around her, striving for their happiness.
"You're part of my family too," Li Xia's words made Zhou Heng freeze for a moment. He remained silent and took another large gulp of wine.
"Go back to sleep early," Li Xia said as she gracefully descended and returned to her room to rest. Zhou Heng remained lying there, continuing to gaze at the dark night.
Opening her eyes in the early morning, Li Xia changed into new clothes and went to the Wild Goose Pavilion to wish her parents a happy New Year. Mrs. Lu and Li Ming both gave her red envelopes, and Li Hui and Li Xin had also prepared red envelopes for Li Xia.
On the second day of the New Year, Mrs. Lu took Li Xin and Li Xia to the Lu Mansion. It had been a while since they'd seen Old Madam Lu, who had aged considerably. She had fallen ill recently and seemed close to death, with her eldest son-in-law even preparing her burial clothes and coffin.
Old Madam Lu had pulled through.
She held Li Xin's hand, repeatedly asking about the wedding preparations. She handed Li Xin a brocade box containing items she had prepared for her.
"Grandmother, you've given me so much already. I can't accept this," Li Xin refused.
"Take it, this is your grandmother's wish," Old Madam Lu said, knowing her days were numbered and wanting to distribute her possessions among her children and grandchildren as keepsakes.
Seeing this, Li Xin accepted, lowering her head to wipe away tears with her handkerchief.
"Good child, don't cry. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things. I'm content to have lived this long," Old Madam Lu was at peace with it.
"Grandmother," Li Xin couldn't help but cry. Mrs. Lu beside her was also in tears.
"Stop crying, I'll live on. I'm still waiting to drink tea served by my granddaughter-in-law and grandson-in-law," Old Madam Lu said with a smile, but soon started coughing.
Mrs. Lu helped Old Madam Lu sit up to cough up phlegm. After expelling some, Old Madam Lu felt more comfortable.
Li Xin brought a cup of water and helped Old Madam Lu drink. After drinking, Old Madam Lu felt better and lay down to rest.
On the way back in the carriage, Mrs. Lu remained silent. Li Xin wanted to comfort her but didn't know how. They sat in silence. Li Xia lowered her eyes, saying nothing. Having witnessed too many deaths in her past life, Li Xia considered dying of old age a fortunate thing.
Returning to Qingyue Street, they saw a carriage ahead heading towards the Li Residence.
"That's the Wen'an Marquis Mansion's carriage. Li Shan is only coming now?" Li Xia wondered, seeing the carriage.
Hearing this, Mrs. Lu lifted the curtain to look and saw it was indeed the Wen'an Marquis Mansion's carriage. Knowing Li Shan was supposed to return to her maiden home today, Mrs. Lu was irritated at the prospect of receiving this annoying stepdaughter. She had instructed Aunt Wang to receive Li Shan and had taken the children to the Lu Mansion.
She had calculated that Li Shan should have left by the time they returned. But judging by the current situation, it seemed she had just arrived. What kind of daughter returns to her maiden home at dusk?
The Wen'an Marquis Mansion's carriage stopped, and Li Shan alighted. Turning back, she saw the Li family carriage and the group getting off. She stepped forward, bowed, and greeted them, "Mother, I've come to see you."
"Go on in," Mrs. Lu said, not wanting to know the reason for Li Shan's late visit to her maiden home.
As Mrs. Lu, Li Xin, and Li Xia entered the manor, Li Shan's smile faded, and she watched them coldly.
The second day of the New Year was traditionally when married daughters returned to their parents' homes. Mrs. Zhao couldn't refuse to let Li Shan leave. Having finally gotten out of the house, Li Shan was reluctant to return to Qingyue Street immediately. Along the way, she made excuses of being thirsty or hungry, entering teahouses and restaurants to eat, drink, and while away the time. It was only at this late hour that she finally arrived at Li Manor.