Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Mrs. Lu went to the Gongshun Marquis Manor to visit Ms. Liu. Ms. Liu had also learned about the situation in Liuzhou from the Gongshun Marquis. "Sister Wan, I've spoken to the Duke, as well as Father and Elder Brother. They will help."

Although Mrs. Lu had been away from the Capital City for many years, she still knew quite a few people from the past. Recently, she sent out invitation cards to them one by one. However, most people were unwilling to meet her. Such is the way of the world - few offer help in times of need, but many flock to those who are prospering.

Ms. Liu handed Mrs. Lu a booklet. Mrs. Lu took it and opened it. The booklet contained detailed records of the personalities, preferences, and relationships among the ladies of various families in the Capital City.

This was exactly what Mrs. Lu needed at the moment. After leaving the Capital City for more than a decade, many people's preferences had changed. It wasn't easy for Mrs. Lu to grasp these changes immediately.

"Sister Liu, I don't know how to thank you enough," Mrs. Lu said gratefully, holding the booklet.

"If it weren't for you and your husband back then, I wouldn't have known where to find my child," Ms. Liu said. She would remember the kindness that allowed her and her son to reunite for the rest of her life.

"In a couple of days, I'll host a banquet and invite all the prominent ladies in the Capital City..." Ms. Liu shared her plan.

"Sister Liu, with this booklet, I can manage the rest myself," Mrs. Lu said. She couldn't let Ms. Liu take the lead in handling these matters.

Mrs. Lu actively went about visiting and establishing connections with the ladies. There was much gossip about Mrs. Lu's interactions with various families shortly after her arrival in the Capital City.

Some said that husband and wife are like two birds from the same tree, but they fly off in different directions when faced with great adversity. Some even made severe accusations, like the Ning Family using the phrase "imprisoning a woman to stop her from misbehaving," questioning how Mrs. Lu could abandon her husband's principles.

Many families refused to accept the invitation cards sent by Mrs. Lu. Some received her but treated her with disdain, mocking her efforts to rescue her husband as a joke. The one who mocked her the most harshly was Madam Wu. Even before her marriage, Madam Wu had been at odds with Mrs. Lu.

However, some listened earnestly to Mrs. Lu's words. The more emotional ladies were touched by Mrs. Lu's actions to rescue her husband and promised to speak to their husbands about it.

Once the court set the date for dispatching troops, Mrs. Lu brought her family to the city gates to bid farewell. Watching the great army depart, a heavy burden was lifted from Mrs. Lu's heart. But the strain caused her to collapse from illness.

Upon learning of Mrs. Lu's illness, the Empress specially dispatched imperial physicians to diagnose her. They determined that Mrs. Lu had fallen ill due to excessive worry and exhaustion, and they prescribed medication, instructing her to rest well and avoid overexertion, or it could impact her lifespan.

After receiving the physicians' report, the Empress granted Mrs. Lu numerous medicinal herbs to aid her recovery. When word spread of Mrs. Lu's illness, many came to visit her, and upon seeing her haggard appearance, they sighed and encouraged her to take care of herself.

After receiving a group of visitors, Mrs. Lu would close her doors, citing the need to rest and recover.

With Mrs. Lu ill, Li Hui kept a close watch on the Liuzhou situation from the outside. Li Xin had to manage all affairs within the residence.

When Li Xia had no duties, she accompanied Auntie Mei to attend to Mrs. Lu. Aunt Wang did not come to the Main Courtyard, using the excuse of caring for the ill Li Yao and the injured Li Shan. Auntie An came twice, but her clumsiness annoyed Mrs. Lu, who asked her not to come again.

As Li Xia left the Main Courtyard, she could hear the sounds coming from the West Wing Courtyard even from a considerable distance. It was as lively as a theater performance every day.

Li Xin had visited once but couldn't stand it. She suggested that Li Xia move to her residence instead. Li Xia refused. If she went there, Li Shan would undoubtedly insist on going too. With Li Shan's petty personality, both of them would cause a lot of trouble.

Although the West Wing Courtyard was noisy, Li Xia didn't mind being able to watch the show. More importantly, the reincarnated Li Yao had a habit of whispering to herself ever since she could speak. Despite her constant babbling, Li Xia had learned some interesting information from Li Yao's self-murmuring.

For instance, the late Heir Apparent Lu had died young in Liuzhou. Later, she married the deceased Heir Apparent Lu and became a chaste widow. Afterward, she went to the frontier to fight in battles and even earned the title of Female General. That sounded quite impressive.

Li Xia also heard that she [Li Shan] was actually betrothed to Cao Fugui, which seemed truly unimaginable. However, this cheap fiancé was later taken away from Cao Fugui by Li Shan with the help of Li Yao. Li Shan married into the Chengen Marquis Residence, making the situation quite interesting. If Li Yao was telling the truth about his previous life self not swapping bodies, Li Xia was confident that she would not have allowed Li Shan to successfully steal someone else's husband, unless she herself was unwilling.

Next, Li Xia heard that Li Xin's marriage was not going very well, and she was having a difficult life. Li Xia thought that Cao Fugui seemed decent for the time being, so why not pair him up with Li Xin? Li Xia felt that the calm Li Xin and the lively Cao Fugui were well-suited for each other. As for Li Shan, since she had taken Li Xia's husband anyway, it would only be fair for Li Xin to take him back.