Lu XuanNing didn't answer Li Xia's question, but just held her and hoarsely called "Xia Xia" in her ear.
"I'm here, what's wrong?" In the darkness, Li Xia's eyes were bright, radiating warmth.
"Xia Xia," Lu XuanNing called Li Xia's name again.
"I'm here," Li Xia seemed to understand something and kept responding to Lu XuanNing.
Opening her eyes in the morning, she saw her parents standing by the bed. "Mother, Father."
"Now that you're awake, get up," Li Xia said as she pulled back the covers to let Lu Liucheng get out of bed. The maid helped Lu Liucheng dress. They went together to the training ground, where Lu XuanNing instructed Lu Liucheng, Lu Xuanyu, and Cao Dabao in spear techniques. Among the three, Lu Liucheng was the most attentive and diligent learner.
This was because his father had told him that only by becoming strong could he not fear any monster, and only then could he protect those who needed protection. So he had to become even stronger.
After the training session, the family had a meal together. A new food item appeared on the table.
"Mother, what's this?" Lu Liucheng asked curiously, looking at the large bowl on the table.
"This is hand-pulled noodles, it's very tasty," Li Xia said as she mixed the noodles and served a small bowl to Lu Liucheng. Cao Dabao also stretched his neck wanting some, so Li Xia gave him a bowl too. "Xuanyu, try some too, it's delicious."
Lu Xuanyu grunted in response and took a bowl to eat.
After breakfast and seeing off Lu XuanNing, Lu Xuanyu took Lu Liucheng and Cao Dabao to the study to read books.
Li Xia called for Wu Auntie.
"You've made your decision," Li Xia said, looking at Wu Auntie as she approached. It was a bowl of hand-pulled noodles that had brought Wu Auntie to the Orchid Courtyard years ago. Seeing the noodles this morning, Li Xia knew Wu Auntie had made her decision.
After careful consideration, Wu Auntie decided to take her son's memorial tablet and accompany Wu Dazhuang to the frontier. She wanted to urge Wu Dazhuang to become a good person, hoping to accumulate blessings for their son so that in his next life, he might be reborn into a good family. And she would no longer leave her second brother.
"My lady, I've disappointed you," Although she had made her decision, Wu Auntie still felt some shame facing Li Xia. It was the lady who had pleaded for her to stay when she was about to be driven out of the mansion. It was also the lady who paid to cure her leg so she could live comfortably. Moreover, she had given her great authority to manage the kitchen.
"Wu Auntie, I respect your decision. But remember, you are the cook of the Marquis Mansion, and you're always welcome to come back here," Li Xia's words brought tears to Wu Auntie's eyes.
"Qiu Shui, see how generous I am? You should hurry and find someone too. When the time comes, I'll give you double the dowry," Li Xia finished laughing and looked at Qiu Shui, urging her to get married soon as well.
"Young miss, I've told you before, I'll stay with you for life," Qiu Shui repeated her usual response.
"Alright, alright, if you don't want to leave, I won't force you. But don't blame me in the future," Li Xia said as she leaned back in her lounge chair, closing her eyes to rest.
Qiu Shui quietly left, not wanting to disturb Li Xia's rest.
Cao Dabao had been at the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South for almost a month. Lady Cao couldn't bear the longing for her grandson anymore. She hinted to Li Xin that she should go and bring the child back.
Li Xin, carrying gifts prepared by Lady Cao, brought Er Bao to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South.
She saw Cao Dabao washing a horse together with the mansion's guards, soaking wet but playing happily. Upon seeing Li Xin, he shouted "Mother!" and ran towards her, but stopped short.
"Mother, please sit, I'll go change my clothes," he said, calling for a maid to quickly help him change. Clothes and hot water had already been prepared nearby, and they took Cao Dabao into the room to bathe and change. Li Xin followed, worried.
Inside the room, Cao Dabao obediently let the servants help him wash and change. He didn't hesitate to drink the ginger soup that Qiu Chan brought in.
Li Xin watched all of this in amazement, wondering when her son had become so agreeable.
Outside, Li Xia was holding Er Bao, trying to make him laugh. Er Bao truly took after Li Hui in appearance, and seemed to have a similar personality too. No matter how she tried to amuse him, he wouldn't smile.
"Little old man," Li Xia said to Er Bao, and to her surprise, he actually smiled.
Qiu Shui, watching from the side, sighed inwardly that Er Bao was becoming more and more like Li Hui.
"Xia Xia, how did you teach Da Bao? He's become so obedient?" Li Xin walked out, incredulous. She really couldn't believe how well-behaved Cao Dabao had become.
"Da Bao has always been well-behaved and obedient," Li Xia didn't think she had done anything special.
"When Da Bao was at home, he was always causing trouble," Li Xin said, getting a headache just thinking about it.
Li Xia waved for the servants around them to step back, and said to Li Xin, "Sister, I think you've been focusing most of your attention on Er Bao. Sometimes when Da Bao is too boisterous, it might not be because he really wants to cause trouble, but because he wants to get your attention."
"Da Bao is my own flesh and blood, how could I not care about him? Everything Er Bao has, he has too. It's my mother-in-law who always tries to take Da Bao away from me, she..." Li Xin refuted, her emotions running high and unable to control herself.