Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Qiu Chan nodded repeatedly, indicating that she would definitely listen to the lady's words. The two of them came to Wu Auntie's room and knocked on the door. "Wu Auntie, are you inside?"

From within the room, Wu Auntie heard the voice and got up, dragging her feet to open the door. "Qiu Kui, Qiu Chan, why have you come?"

"Lady, we were asked to come and check on you. How is your leg?" Qiu Kui and Qiu Chan helped Wu Auntie to sit down.

"Thank you for your concern, ladies. I'm fine, it's just my old ailment. A bit of rest and I'll be alright." Wu Auntie said this, but beads of sweat were forming on her face from the pain in her leg.

"Wu Auntie, this won't do. We should take you to see a doctor," said Qiu Kui, seeing how much pain Wu Auntie was in. She asked Qiu Chan to carry Wu Auntie on her back.

"No need," Wu Auntie struggled, unwilling to go. But her strength was no match for Qiu Chan, who carried her to see the doctor.

Qiu Shui returned and saw Li Xia lying on a reclining chair with her eyes closed, resting. The others were not around, and she frowned, wondering where Qiu Kui and Qiu Chan had gone, as she had instructed them to guard the courtyard.

Li Xia didn't open her eyes, but recognized Qiu Shui's footsteps. "Qiu Shui, there's a box on the table inside. Go and fetch it."

Qiu Shui went into the room and brought the box to Li Xia.

Li Xia gestured for Qiu Shui to open it. Qiu Shui opened it and saw two rows of silver coins inside, looking at Li Xia questioningly. "Lady, what is this?"

"Keep these silver coins. In the future, if the Orchid Courtyard needs money, let them come to you to withdraw it. Keep a record of the accounts, and when the money runs out, come to me for more," Li Xia said casually.

It seemed that the lady was entrusting Qiu Shui with the management of the entire Orchid Courtyard. Qiu Shui felt both honored and anxious. After a while of emotional turmoil, she finally calmed down and said solemnly while holding the box, "Lady, rest assured, I will manage the affairs of our courtyard well."

Seeing Qiu Shui's solemn expression, Li Xia smiled. "Don't be so tense, just do as you've always done."

At the current market rate of one tael of gold for ten taels of silver, 300 taels of gold would be equivalent to 3,000 taels of silver.

With a wave of Li Xia's hand, the gold on the table vanished before Wang Tao's eyes. His mouth fell open. What sorcery was this? Even more astonishingly, she disappeared from Wang Tao's sight. All that remained were the mountain delicacies, the ginseng root in his hand, and the bundle it had been wrapped in was gone as well.

"This must be a celestial being," Wang Tao muttered in a low voice. He lost all sleepiness and carefully put away the mountain delicacies and ginseng root. He would guard these items until daybreak, then report the matter to his boss.

Li Xia returned to the Orchid Courtyard, placed the gold in a corner, and lay down to meditate and rest. At daybreak, she opened her eyes, got up, and washed. Together with Auntie Mei, she went to the Wild Goose Pavilion to pay her respects. Mrs. Lu's expression was not very good, while Auntie An could barely conceal her smile.

Li Xia glanced at Li Xin, whose expression was also unsatisfactory. What was going on?

"Mother, I had no choice," Li Shan said helplessly.

"Enough, I'll handle this matter myself," Mrs. Lu didn't want to hear Li Shan's excuses.

After leaving Mrs. Lu's courtyard, Li Xia walked alongside Li Xin. "Sister, what happened?"

"I'll tell you when we get back," Li Xin said, and only after they reached her own courtyard did she explain the situation. Li Hui had become a ranked scholar, and Mrs. Lu and Li Ming had planned to hold a grand celebration. At that time, the officials and ladies of Liuzhou, both great and small, would bring their daughters and sons. It would be an excellent opportunity for Li Hui and Li Xin to meet potential matches.

Li Xia had made preparations in the needlework room in advance, so there was no need to worry about that. Li Xin had also made preparations in the kitchen early on, and Mrs. Lu had arranged everything else as well. They were just waiting for Li Hui to return. But that morning, Li Shan had come to pay her respects and reported that the arrangements for the garden were not going to work.

During the last banquet in the summer, the garden was in full bloom, which was beautiful. But now it was autumn, and there were no flowers in the garden. It was too late to order chrysanthemums. At that time, all there would be to see were the water and trees.

This was unacceptable. This celebration was for Li Hui, a major event. How could there be no flowers in the garden? Mrs. Lu was angry at Li Shan for concealing this until the last minute, only revealing it when it could no longer be hidden.

"Li Shan did it on purpose."