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Chapter 173
Seeing Lu XuanNing defending Li Xia, Li Ming and Mrs. Lu were pleased with him.
Li Xin and Cao Fugui also approached, with Cao Fugui carrying several lanterns. Both future sons-in-law were performing well.
Li Xia said she wouldn't inquire, and true to her word, she didn't ask about the progress of affairs. Li Xia's main concern now was Xu Xinyue's pregnancy.
In the third month of spring, it was the perfect time to eat wild vegetables. Li Xia and Li Xin made plans with An'an, Xu Yiyou, and Feng Zhenzhen to go to the outskirts to dig for wild vegetables. An'an and Feng Zhenzhen, both privileged young ladies, had never experienced foraging for wild vegetables before, and they were very excited throughout the journey.
Xu Yiyou was also happy to go to the countryside. Staying at home all winter had been too boring.
The girls were all very excited on the way. When they arrived, they ran around happily like birds set free. Li Xia was the only one who seriously dug for wild vegetables. She was quick and precise, bringing back a good amount.
Li Xia brought plenty of wild vegetables to the Wang Family to visit Xu Xinyue. Xu Xinyue was eight months pregnant, and the swelling in her legs caused by the pregnancy made her tired after just a few steps.
But the doctor had said that Xu Xinyue had gained a bit too much weight and needed to move more for an easier delivery. Li Xia and Qiu Chan supported Xu Xinyue as she walked for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before helping her sit down.
Qiu Ju used the wild vegetables Li Xia brought to make the spring rolls Xu Xinyue had been craving. Xu Xinyue was hungry, but with Li Xia watching, she put down her chopsticks after eating two.
"It's not that you can't eat, it's that you should eat less more often," Li Xia said as she took away the spring rolls and rolled up her sleeves to massage Xu Xinyue's legs and feet.
Feeling comfortable from the massage, Xu Xinyue's displeasure quickly dissipated. Suddenly, they heard a commotion outside.
"What's happening?" Xu Xinyue looked at Qiu Ju.
Qiu Ju went out for quite a while before coming back to report to Xu Xinyue, "The young master has returned. He passed the prefectural examination and became a 'tongsheng' (child student)."
"That's good news," Xu Xinyue said, happy for her stepson. She started to get up to go see him.
"The old master wants to hold a grand banquet to celebrate. The old madam suggested setting the date for the beginning of the fourth month," Qiu Ju continued, her expression turning to disapproval.
This timing would coincide with Xu Xinyue's due date. What if the crowd disturbed her then?
Xu Xinyue didn't mind, saying, "Let them set it whenever they want." She could just stay in her courtyard and not go out. The child in her belly was more important.
"We should talk to the uncles about this," Qiu Ju said, not wanting her mistress to be at a disadvantage. Li Xia agreed with Qiu Ju, thinking that Xu Xinyue's two uncles would be the most suitable to intervene.
"Don't," Xu Xinyue stopped Qiu Ju, then looked at Li Xia. "Don't get involved in this. I can handle it."
"Mother, you're carrying my little brother. You can't tire yourself out or get upset," Li Xia advised Xu Xinyue.
"Am I the kind of person to be petty? Let them do as they please," Xu Xinyue said, completely unconcerned about the matter. If Wang Dong had any sense at all, he wouldn't put her in a difficult position at this time. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Li Xia returned to Qingyue Street with lingering concerns. The next day, she received a letter sent by Xu Xinyue. The letter said that Wang Dong had stepped in to persuade the old master and old madam. The banquet would be postponed until Wang Xiao passed the county-level examination to become a 'xiucai' (cultivated talent).
The Li family also received a letter from Li Chou, saying that Li Yao had become a 'tongsheng' and was preparing for the academy examination in August. Both Li Chou and Li Guang were studying hard for the provincial examination.
In the fourth month, Xu Xinyue went into labor five days earlier than expected and gave birth to a boy. Xu Xinyue had been convinced it would be a girl and had prepared only girl's clothing. When they learned it was a boy, Qiu Ju searched everywhere and found a set of boy's clothes that Li Xia had sent to dress him in.
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The name Wang Dong had prepared earlier was for a girl and couldn't be used. They renamed the baby Wang Hong.
Mrs. Lu took Li Xia to the Wang Family to see Xu Xinyue.
With a medical woman taking care of her, Xu Xinyue was recovering well. However, there wasn't much joy on her face. She held Li Xia's hand and said she had lost her little sister. Li Xia found this amusing and consoled her, saying that a little brother was good too. He could protect both of them.
After chatting with Xu Xinyue for a while, the Xu family arrived. Mrs. Lu took Li Xia out to give them space.
On the way back, they heard discussions outside about a case involving the Minister of Works sheltering his only son who had caused a wrongful death. It seemed that Li Hui had uncovered the truth and made it public. Upon returning to Qingyue Street, Li Xia went to find Li Hui, only to learn that he hadn't been home for three days.
That night, Li Xia went to Tian Yi Pavilion and saw Luo Shan sitting next to Zhou Heng, his entire body wrapped up.
"Are you injured that badly?" Li Xia was surprised, knowing that even Zhou Heng was no match for Luo Shan in martial arts.
However, if Zhou Heng used his endless array of poisonous tricks, Luo Shan wouldn't be his match.
"Luo Shan was badly injured in order to capture Liu Yuanchang," Zhou Heng's words made Li Xia scrutinize him. He seemed to be fishing for credit.
"What do you want?" Li Xia didn't waste words.
"Nothing," Zhou Heng replied, making Li Xia narrow her eyes.
"My elder brother is injured."
"No," Zhou Heng answered definitively. If not Li Hui, then... "Is Lu XuanNing injured?"
"His injured leg was cut again. There was a slight hope of healing it before, but now it's completely impossible," Zhou Heng's voice grew quieter as he spoke.
"Is his injury related to Luo Shan?" Li Xia appraised Luo Shan, as if calculating where to start.
"It was my poor arrangement of manpower," Zhou Heng took responsibility for everything.
Li Xia left and went to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, where she saw Lu XuanNing lying injured in bed.
Li Xia walked in and looked at the newly bandaged injured leg.
"Xia Xia, you're here," Lu XuanNing opened his eyes to see Li Xia standing by the bed.
Li Xia helped Lu XuanNing sit up, placing pillows behind him for support.
"Everything you wrote in your letters these past few days was a lie. Lu XuanNing, we're not even married yet and you've already learned to deceive me," Li Xia said. Her sister was right; men's mouths are full of lies.
"Xia Xia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to deceive you. I just didn't want you to worry. Please don't be angry. I promise I'll never lie to you again," Lu XuanNing held Li Xia's hand tightly as he spoke nervously. He was afraid that Li Xia might get angry and refuse to marry him.
Seeing Li Xia remain silent, Lu XuanNing's face showed deep remorse. He regretted listening to Xiao Changyou's advice to keep it from Li Xia.
"Just this once," Li Xia finally spoke.
Lu XuanNing nodded emphatically and promised, "Xia Xia, from now on, no matter what happens, I won't hide anything from you."
"That's what you say. If I find out you've lied to me again, I definitely won't marry you," Li Xia warned. Whether it was a white lie or not, a lie was still a lie.
"It won't happen again," Lu XuanNing said. Through his dreams, he knew that Li Xia wasn't like other pampered young ladies raised in seclusion. But sometimes in their interactions, he would still unconsciously treat Li Xia like a sheltered young lady. This was something he needed to change.
"Is your leg still hurting?" Li Xia looked at the tightly bandaged injured leg.
"It doesn't hurt," Lu XuanNing said, though his words belied the truth. Li Xia reached out and poked his injured leg. Lu XuanNing gritted his teeth, enduring the pain while silently chanting to himself, 'It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt.'
Xiao Changyou entered the room carrying a bowl of medicine. Li Xia took the bowl and helped Lu XuanNing drink the medicine. For the next few nights, Li Xia came every evening to keep Lu XuanNing company, talking with him and helping him take his medicine.