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Chapter 171
Li Hui narrowly escaped danger, which infuriated Liu Yuanchang, who sent people after Li Hui again. The commotion alerted Liu Jie, who also learned about Liu Yuanchang concealing the jade pendant incident.
If this matter came to light, Liu Yuanchang would face certain death, and Liu Jie would likely lose his official position. Liu Jie made a move to lure Li Hui into a trap, intending to kill him. If it weren't for Zhou Heng secretly dispatching the two most skilled assassins from Tian Yi Pavilion to protect him, Li Hui might not have returned alive.
Zhou Heng looked at Li Xia, sighing inwardly that the Li siblings were both trouble-makers.
Li Xia noticed Zhou Heng's gaze and snorted, "What's with that look?"
"Nothing," Zhou Heng naturally wouldn't say, knowing that if he did, Li Xia would use it as an excuse to spar and beat him up.
"Madam Ning's half-sister is Prince YongKang's concubine, and the Ning family supports the Second Prince. Could there be a connection between the Second Prince and Prince YongKang?" Li Xia suddenly mused, putting down the book.
Li Xia's words made Zhou Heng ponder. It wasn't impossible, as the Crown Prince's supporters included many military officials. If the Second Prince wanted military support, the best way would be to instigate a war and insert his people among the military officials.
"A fox will always show its tail eventually," Li Xia didn't want to think too much about it. It was too troublesome. It would be simpler to just fight it out.
Concerned about Li Hui's safety, Li Xia asked Zhou Heng to send more people to protect him. To cover the Li Xia pulled out a roll of banknotes from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
Zhou Heng opened it and saw it contained 100,000 taels of silver. Standing up, he looked down at her and asked, "Did you go gambling again?"
"I earned it selling books," Li Xia's answer surprised Zhou Heng.
"What kind of books are so profitable?" Zhou Heng didn't believe it. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"High-definition illustrated versions of erotic manuals," Li Xia said as she opened the package she had brought. "I brought a copy for you."
Zhou Heng coughed violently, "You're an unmarried lady, how can you sell such things?"
"Why are you so shocked? I've been selling these for a while, didn't you know?" Li Xia didn't understand Zhou Heng's dramatic reaction.
"Lu XuanNing should see what kind of bold girl his fiancée is," Zhou Heng snorted loudly.
"He knows I'm selling these. He even introduced me to booksellers in Jiangnan," Li Xia's words left Zhou Heng speechless again. This engaged couple - one daring to sell, the other daring to introduce. They truly deserved each other.
Li Xia remembered another matter to discuss, "I came here to do some business with you as well."
Hearing this, Zhou Heng sat down, saw the book on the table, and pushed it out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind.
"I want to buy those aphrodisiac drugs from you in bulk. To sell along with the erotic manuals."
Li Xia's words made Zhou Heng choke on his tea again. Gritting his teeth, he whispered, "Li Xia, how could you?" Zhou Heng couldn't finish his sentence, too shocked by Li Xia's audacity.
"There's an old saying, 'Food and sex are human nature.' If courtesans can use these drugs, why can't married women..."
"Alright, say no more. I'll have someone deliver them to you tomorrow. It's late, go get some rest," Zhou Heng raised his hand to stop her, not wanting to discuss such matters with Li Xia late at night. Seeing Zhou Heng's reaction, Li Xia shook her head in boredom and got up to leave.
This year's Lantern Festival would be the last one Li Xin spent at her maiden home. Mrs. Lu and Li Ming discussed taking Li Xin and Li Xia to see the lantern show.
Li Xin still had some psychological trauma from the Lantern Festival, although nothing happened last year, it didn't mean nothing would happen this year. Li Xin wanted to say they didn't need to go, but this was her last Lantern Festival at her maiden home.
The Lantern Festival was very lively, with lanterns covering the main street. Walking into it felt like entering a sea of lights. Li Xin held Li Xia's hand tightly as they walked into the sea of lanterns, gradually relaxing as they looked at the various lantern designs.
When Li Xin turned her head to speak to Li Xia, she found that Li Xia had disappeared at some point. Standing beside her now was Cao Fugui.
"Where's Xia?" Li Xin worried that something had happened to Li Xia.
"Lu XuanNing is with her," Cao Fugui said as he handed Li Xin a carefully selected lantern. "This is for you."
Li Xin reached out to take the lantern, and the two walked side by side. The sweet atmosphere between them was too precious to disturb. Not far away, at a snack stall, Li Xia watched the couple with a smile. She turned back to see a table full of delicious food.
"You really know me best," Li Xia's words made Lu XuanNing smile. His persistent use of scar-removing ointment had significantly reduced the scars on his face, making him look less frightening. In the soft glow of the lanterns, he was quite captivating.
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"Have some soup," Lu XuanNing ladled a small bowl of soup for Li Xia.
Li Xia took it and drank a mouthful, then picked up her chopsticks to eat the delicacies. Lu XuanNing ate very little, mainly focusing on feeding Li Xia. Seeing Li Xia eat happily, his smile grew even sweeter.
"You should eat too," Li Xia picked up a large chicken leg and placed it in Lu XuanNing's bowl.
"Alright," Lu XuanNing took a bite of the chicken leg his fiancée had given him. He then picked up a pan-fried dumpling for Li Xia.
After eating, the two looked at lanterns while digesting their food.
Li Xia looked at the lanterns, while Lu XuanNing quietly watched Li Xia, all the while making sure that no one or nothing bumped into her.
"No one can hurt me," Li Xia felt warmed by Lu XuanNing's attentiveness.
"I know, but I want to protect you," Lu XuanNing said, holding Li Xia's hand tightly. Li Xia pressed her lips together to control her smile as she walked forward. Lu XuanNing followed, and they passed by a small alley.
"In Liuzhou, I was lying deep in an alley like this, filled with resentment and despair," Lu XuanNing looked at the alley and shared with Li Xia his feelings of bitterness and hopelessness at that time.
"I wish I had found you earlier," Li Xia's voice was tinged with heartache. If she had discovered Lu XuanNing earlier, he wouldn't have suffered such severe injuries.
"It's not too late. Now I'm full of gratitude, because it led me to you," Lu XuanNing's near-confession of love unusually caused Li Xia to feel a hint of shyness.
Footsteps in the small alley interrupted the couple's tender moment. Three people emerged one after another: Li Hui, Xiao Changyou, and Zhou Heng. How did these three end up together again? Li Xia sized up the three, her eyes landing on Xiao Changyou.
"It was your brother who found me first," Xiao Changyou quickly explained, his speed of confession causing Li Hui and Zhou Heng to glance at him.
Xiao Changyou ignored their looks. The Li Xia before him was his beloved's mistress. He feared that if he delayed in confessing, Li Xia might be displeased and marry Qiu Ling off to someone else, leaving him with nowhere to cry.
Li Xia didn't speak, but her fingers moved slightly. Two thuds sounded behind the three men as bodies hit the ground. Zhou Heng reacted quickly, pouncing on the two fallen figures and restraining them. He whistled for his men to take them away.
Seeing this, the group decided not to wander the main street anymore and went to Xiao Changyou's residence. Xiao Changyou watched Lu XuanNing serve tea to Li Xia, feeling both bemused and envious. He wondered when he and Qiu Ling could be like that.
"What did you do tonight?" Those two followers were able to hide from Zhou Heng, indicating their strength was not low.
Zhou Heng and Xiao Changyou both took a step back, giving space to the brother and sister.
Li Hui glanced at the movements of the two and stepped forward to explain what had happened.
After Li Hui was injured, he sought Zhou Heng's help. They decided not to wait for the hunter's friend to contact them and instead took the initiative. Taking advantage of the bustling city during the Lantern Festival, Li Hui and Zhou Heng led their people to the residence of the hunter's friend.