If Li Xin was accused of not caring about other things, she might accept it. But if someone said she didn't care about Cao Dabao, she couldn't agree. Cao Dabao was the child she had longed for years; how could she not care for and love him?
"Sister, I didn't say you don't care about Dabao," Li Xia handed her a handkerchief.
"Xia, I never thought you'd see me the same way others do," Li Xin was very upset.
"Sister, I shouldn't have said that about you," Li Xia apologized, admitting her mistake to Li Xin.
Seeing his mother cry, Cao Erbao reached out to hit Li Xia. He was making "ah ah" sounds, as if saying Li Xia shouldn't bully his mother.
"You're so protective of your mother, even hitting your aunt," Li Xia pinched Cao Erbao's little nose.
"Erbao, you can't hit your aunt," Li Xin said, about to reach out to hold Cao Erbao. At this moment, Cao Dabao came out of the room, "Aunt, is my cake ready?"
"It's ready, come and eat your cake." Li Xia called Cao Dabao to eat. This was the promised reward for Cao Dabao's diligent martial arts practice. Cao Dabao took the spoon from Li Xia's hand and started eating the cake.
Li Xin watched Cao Dabao eating the cake earnestly, "Eat slowly, don't choke." She said while wiping Cao Dabao's mouth.
Cao Dafu nodded, eating seriously.
Seeing his brother eating deliciously, Cao Erbao reached out and opened his mouth, wanting some too. Li Xia stopped Cao Erbao's movement, not letting him touch.
Li Xin took Cao Erbao from Li Xia's arms and held him, "Erbao, what's wrong?"
Cao Erbao was making "ah ah" sounds. Li Xin smiled and comforted Cao Dafu. Seeing he was hungry too, she asked the wet nurse to prepare some supplementary food for Cao Erbao. The wet nurse brought the food, and Li Xin fed him with a small spoon, not paying any attention to Cao Dabao throughout.
Cao Dabao, with cake on his mouth, called out, "Mother."
"Dabao, be good. Mother needs to take care of your brother, you go play by yourself for now," Li Xin said without looking up.
Cao Dabao didn't say anything, just lowered his head and continued eating the cake.
Li Xia handed over a handkerchief, and Cao Dabao took it, wiping haphazardly, smearing cake all over his face. Li Xin looked up and saw, "Dabao, how did you get cake all over your face? How are you eating?"
After scolding Cao Dabao, she then reprimanded the maid beside him, "How are you doing your job? Don't you know how to take care of the young master?"
"She's just worried about you," Lu XuanNing defended Qiu Shui.
"I know, from childhood to adulthood. Qiu Shui has always made protecting me her top priority," Li Xia didn't mean to blame Qiu Shui.
"I'll go beat up Cao Fugui to make you feel better," Lu XuanNing held Li Xia's hand and suggested.
"Then the next day, the Capital City would surely be buzzing about why the two Li family sons-in-law are at each other's throats," Li Xia chuckled lightly.
Seeing Li Xia laugh, Lu XuanNing also relaxed, "You always have me and Cheng Cheng by your side."
"Having you father and son by my side is my greatest happiness. Don't worry, I'm not angry. I'm not resentful either, just lamenting how easily people's hearts can change," Li Xia mused on how Li Xin, once so cultured, graceful, and beautiful, could become so complaining, angry, and even jealous.
"Xia Xia, you just need to know that I will never change, I will always be by your side," Lu XuanNing said, planting a kiss on Li Xia's head to express his feelings.
"Lu XuanNing, have I ever told you that meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life?" Li Xia was warmed by Lu XuanNing's words. This man had always been fulfilling his promises, taking care of her and being considerate.
"Meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life," A quiet tenderness flowed between the couple. Until Lu Liucheng, returning from the Beining Marquis Manor, interrupted the two.
"Father, Mother, Grandfather said he wants to take me and Uncle hunting on the next day off," Lu Liucheng said excitedly.
"You need a bow and arrow for hunting. Do you have a bow and arrow?" Li Xia wasn't particularly interested in hunting.
"Yes, Grandfather has prepared bows and arrows for me and Uncle, and he'll teach me how to shoot arrows then," Lu Liucheng was still young and hadn't learned how to use a bow yet.
"When you go hunting, listen to your grandfather. Don't run off, and always take someone with you wherever you go," Lu XuanNing instructed Lu Liucheng.
"Father, Mother, aren't you coming?" Lu Liucheng quite wanted his parents to come along.
"Next time, this time we're going to Qingyue Street." Calculating the time, the Chang'an Princess was about to give birth. On Lu XuanNing's next day off, the two of them needed to go to Qingyue Street to check on her.
"Then Mother, please send my regards to Grandmother and Cousin Hui," Lu Liucheng, wise beyond his years, instructed.
"Alright," Li Xia agreed to pass on his message.
"Where's Dabao? Why hasn't he come for dinner?" Lu Liucheng looked around and asked when he didn't see Cao Dabao.