novelzi Chapter 199
Chapter 199
Looking at the little person in front of her, Chang'an's mind went blank. "Sister Xia, your way of persuading people is always so unique."
"As long as it works," Li Xia's words made Chang'an laugh out loud. The palace maids attending to Chang'an outside the room were surprised to hear the princess laugh so heartily. It seemed that the Marchioness of Pacifying the South was very much to the princess's liking.
Li Xia, carrying Lu Liucheng, accompanied Chang'an until Li Hui returned. Only then did she take Lu Liucheng and Lu XuanNing back to the Orchid Courtyard.
Lu XuanNing wanted to hold Lu Liucheng, but because he had been drinking, Lu Liucheng was unwilling to be held by him. The child dodged the approaching large hands and clung tightly to Li Xia.
"It seems the child takes after me in this regard," Li Xia said with amusement. She didn't like the smell of alcohol either.
Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia plaintively; he hadn't wanted to drink either. He had only drunk so much to shield Li Hui from having to drink more.
Upon returning to the Orchid Courtyard, Lu XuanNing went to take a bath, clearing away most of the alcohol smell. Only then did Lu Liucheng reluctantly allow Lu XuanNing to touch him. However, the child's previously favorite activity of cuddling with his father was now absent.
This amused Li Xia, who gestured for the wet nurse to take away the sleeping Lu Liucheng.
She helped Lu XuanNing to bed. Once he was settled, Lu XuanNing embraced Li Xia.
Li Xia remained still, looking into Lu XuanNing's dark eyes. Since Li Xia's body pain had recurred, Lu XuanNing had been afraid of hurting her and dared not touch her.
Lu XuanNing reached out to caress Li Xia's face, lifting his head.
The next day, Li Xia and Lu XuanNing woke to the sound of Dan Qing knocking on the door. Amidst the servants' hurried bustling, they dressed and prepared themselves, then took Lu Liucheng to the Wild Goose Pavilion. They managed to take their seats before the bride and groom arrived.
As Princess Chang'an was of noble status, when she arrived, Li Ming and Mrs. Lu stood up to pay their respects. However, Chang'an quickly stopped them, saying, "I've married into the Li family, so I'm now a daughter-in-law of the Li family. From now on, we won't stand on ceremony regarding my princess status at home."
Li Ming and Mrs. Lu sat in the seats of honor. Li Hui and Chang'an only needed to offer them tea as a sign of respect. As for kneeling cushions, Mrs. Lu hadn't even had them set out.
After drinking the tea personally offered by Princess Chang'an, Li Ming and Mrs. Lu gave them gift money for the name change.
Li family's younger brothers and sisters came forward to pay their respects to the couple. Chang'an gave them gift money for the name change, while Li Xia's gift was that hairpin.
After breakfast, Li Xia and Lu XuanNing announced their departure. They needed to return to the Marquis's mansion, but before that, they first went to visit Li Xin at the Cheng'en Marquis Cao family's residence.
Li Xin was lying in bed, looking very weak. She was delighted to see Lu Liucheng and wanted to reach out to hold him, but realizing her current condition, she withdrew her hand.
Seeing the two men enter, Li Xia handed Lu Liucheng to Lu XuanNing. Lu Liucheng fell into Lu XuanNing's arms, ignoring his naughty mother.
Cao Fugui sat down next to Li Xin. Li Xin's smile faded slightly. Cao Fugui reached out to take the fish from Li Xin's hand. Li Xin let go and moved closer to Li Xia to talk.
"Xia Xia, the fish is almost done," Li Xin said. Li Xia brought it closer to inspect and saw that it was indeed cooked. She held the fish to Li Xin's mouth, saying, "Try it. Has my cooking improved?"
Li Xin took a small bite. Cao Fugui watched anxiously from the side.
Li Xin chewed carefully, waiting for the nausea to hit. When it didn't come, she said, "It tastes great."
"If it's good, eat more," Li Xia said, handing the fish to Li Xin. Li Xin took it and ate half the fish.
As she was about to eat more, Cao Fugui stopped her. "You've been eating only plain porridge lately. Eating too much fish at once might upset your stomach."
Li Xin put down the grilled fish. Li Xia had grilled two more, which she shared with Lu XuanNing, one each. Li Xia deliberately brought the fish close to Lu Liucheng, and when he opened his mouth, she cruelly pulled it away. After being teased a few times, Lu Liucheng had enough and was about to cry.
Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia indulgently. As Lu Liucheng was about to cry, he stood up to comfort him and stop his tears.
"I once thought we would be like them," Li Xin said, her eyes flashing with envy.
"Of course we will be," Cao Fugui answered with certainty.
Li Xin didn't respond, instead gesturing for Li Yu to help her back to her room. Cao Fugui wanted to follow, but a glance from Li Xin made him stop in his tracks.
"What have you done to wrong my sister?" Li Xia's cold voice sounded from behind him.
"I haven't done anything to wrong Xin'er," Cao Fugui answered firmly, but his response didn't satisfy Li Xia. She exchanged a glance with Lu XuanNing before walking into the room, intending to ask Li Xin directly.
Inside the room, Li Xin drank some water and leaned back on the bed, her expression somewhat dejected.
Li Xia entered, while Li Yu and Dan Ting withdrew, leaving the sisters space to talk.
"What's wrong? Tell me," Li Xia said, sitting down in front of Li Xin.
Li Xin sighed and explained. The root of the issue was her pregnancy. Lady Cao had subtly hinted to Li Xin about arranging a concubine for Cao Fugui.
While Li Xin was still undecided about whether to arrange a concubine for Cao Fugui, her personal maid Dan Qing had developed her own designs.