Chapter 200

Dan Qing slipped into the study while Cao Fugui was passed out drunk. Although Cao Fugui had thrown the naked Dan Qing out, Li Xin was still very upset about it. Her bad mood seemed to affect the baby in her belly, making her morning sickness worse.

"Xia, for years etiquette has told me I should arrange for a concubine. But I don't want to and I'm unwilling to share my husband with other women," Li Xin said as tears fell.

Li Xia handed a handkerchief to Li Xin. "If you don't want to share, just say it plainly."

Li Xin took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. "But I'm afraid," she said. She was afraid Cao Fugui wouldn't agree, afraid outsiders would call her a jealous woman. She was also afraid people would say Mrs. Lu hadn't raised her daughter well, affecting the next generation of Li family girls.

"Fear and avoidance won't solve the problem," Li Xia said. Li Xin understood her words, but because she understood, she felt even more at a loss about what to do.

"Xin," Cao Fugui said, pushing open the door as he entered. Li Xia made way, walking to the doorway where she saw Lu XuanNing holding Lu Liucheng waiting for her.

"Let's go home," Li Xia said, taking Lu Liucheng. The two of them returned to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South.

Inside the room, Cao Fugui grasped Li Xin's hand tightly. "Xin, I've already spoken with Mother. No concubines or mistresses. It's enough for me to spend this life with you and our child."

Li Xin was moved by Cao Fugui's words, but asked, "What if the child in my belly is a girl?"

"Then we'll try again for a little brother for her. In the future, us father and son will protect you two," Cao Fugui said. His words made Li Xin cry and laugh at the same time as she leaned into his embrace. In that moment, the barrier between husband and wife dissolved.

Still concerned about Li Xin, Li Xia brought Lu Liucheng to visit her two days later. She found Li Xin in good spirits. Though her morning sickness was still severe, she was able to eat.

"Xia, thank you," Li Xin said, grasping Li Xia's hand earnestly.

"What are you thanking me for?" Li Xia replied with an expression that suggested she hadn't done anything.

Li Xin smiled softly. She knew Li Xia would think this way. If it weren't for Li Xia, Li Xin would have been like Mrs. Lu. No matter how uncomfortable she felt, she would have taken concubines for her husband, watching him enter other women's rooms. She would have endured lonely nights, telling herself it was a wife's duty.

Li Xia's various actions made her understand that there could be another kind of marital relationship in this world. If you don't like something, you can say no. You don't have to be burdened by worldly customs.

Li Xia didn't understand what Li Xin had realized, but seeing her happy was enough. "Sister, are you going to see Second Sister-in-law off tomorrow?" she asked.

Zhang shi had originally planned to leave the day after Li Hui's wedding, but Li Pan'er had caught a cold. With her daughter ill, Zhang shi was worried and delayed for a few days.

Upon investigation, they discovered that Auntie An had deliberately caused Li Pan'er's fever. Taking advantage of the chaos as Zhang shi prepared to leave these past two days, she intentionally reduced Li Pan'er's medicine, causing her fever to recur.

When presented with the evidence, Mrs. Lu was so angry she immediately confined Auntie An to a year of house arrest, forbidding her from coming out.

However, Zhang shi was no longer at ease leaving Li Pan'er in the capital and insisted on taking her along. Mrs. Lu couldn't say anything more. Once Li Pan'er recovered, she added more servants to escort the mother and daughter as they left.

"Even a tiger won't eat its cubs. Pan'er is her own granddaughter," Li Xin said. Since becoming pregnant, she had grown increasingly tenderhearted. Thinking of her little niece suffering so much made her cry with sympathy.

"It's a bit surprising that Auntie An's mind could come up with something like this," Li Xia remarked, causing Li Xin to stop crying. She and Mrs. Lu both looked at Li Xia.

"Xia, what do you mean? That's impossible. Pan'er is Jia Rui's own daughter. Why would she do such a thing?" Li Xin couldn't believe it and didn't want to believe it.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it," Li Xia said, not elaborating further. Mrs. Lu carefully reconsidered the incident and realized it was more likely that Zhang shi had orchestrated it herself. Considering the personalities of Auntie An and Zhang shi, it was more probable that Zhang shi was behind it.

"I'm getting old," Mrs. Lu sighed.

"Mother, you're not old at all," Li Xin said, having also figured it out. But at this point, there was no use in saying more.

On the way back to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South after leaving the Li family home, they passed a bookstore. Li Xia suddenly realized she hadn't visited a bookstore since getting married.

"Qiu Ling, tell the bookstore owner I'll come by tomorrow to take a look," Li Xia instructed Qiu Ling, who was playing with Lu Liucheng nearby.

Qiu Ling acknowledged the order, stopping the carriage and getting off to notify the bookstore owner.

The next day, after seeing off Lu XuanNing as he left for work and handling the affairs of the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, Li Xia's wet nurse brought in Lu Liucheng. The little one had just woken up and wasn't in high spirits. Seeing Li Xia, he reached out to be held.

Li Xia stood up and took Lu Liucheng, holding him as they rode in the carriage to the bookstore. The owner had been waiting since early morning. Seeing Li Xia arrive, he came forward to greet her and led her into a private room.

As the servant who had left earlier re-entered to bring tea, it turned out to be Zhou Heng, his face covered with a full beard.

"You're not dead yet?" Li Xia's inauspicious words fell on deaf ears as Zhou Heng ignored them. He reached out to check Li Xia's pulse, his brow relaxing.

"Better than I expected," he said, taking out a bottle of medicine from his bosom and placing it on the table. Then he extended his arms, intending to hold Lu Liucheng.

Lu Liucheng opened his eyes wide, staring at the unfamiliar uncle before him, and reached out to grab Zhou Heng's beard.