Full House Spring

Chapter 41 Why bother?
Lu Qinghe had originally made up her mind that no matter how beautiful the peony made by Xia Li was, she would pick out the thorns.

But she didn't know that the development of the situation was beyond her control. If she continued to take advantage of Qiao, it would never be her turn to take the flower.

Xia Li said in a gentle voice, "Second Madam, these flowers were originally prepared for the eldest daughter. I'll make some more. Can you pick them up two days later?"

Mrs. Luo always liked objects that symbolized wealth and luxury. The beauty of the peony touched her heart. She just said that just now just to please him. She said generously:
"It doesn't matter if it's a little later. How about you make me a peony hair ornament? This flower will definitely look good when it's pinned in my hair."

This was not difficult for Xia Li. She nodded and said, "That's a good idea. The Second Wife's elegance and grace go perfectly with the peony."

There is no woman who doesn't like to hear flattery. Luo stroked her hair and said with a smile: "Look, look, how sweet this little mouth is. If I had a lovely girl like you to serve me, I could eat two more bowls of rice in one meal."

The old lady rolled her eyes at her and said unhappily, "Are all your dowries useless? Don't even think about taking advantage of Xia Li."

Luo hurriedly shouted exaggeratedly: "Mother, I was just making an analogy. How dare I really steal your favorite. If Xia Li has the energy to spare, it will be enough to guide the little girls below. Only when you are comfortable, your daughter-in-law will be relieved."

The old lady knew that there was some truth in what he said, but she still smiled with her eyes narrowed into slits.

Song felt a little disappointed when she saw this. She was not good at speaking and couldn't say anything to please others, nor was she so embarrassed as to please her mother-in-law. She was not as close to the old lady as her brother's wife. Every time she saw this scene, she couldn't help feeling sad.

Lu Qinghe curled her lips. She couldn't stand Luo's flattering face. Due to her status as an elder, she couldn't say much, so she could only say to Xia Li:

"I'll take the peony bonsai away. I'll have someone send you the five hundred taels of silver later."

Xia Li said politely, "Miss, just take the flowers. Don't worry about the money. Am I afraid that you will run away?"

How could Lu Qinghe not fulfill the promise she made in public? She doesn't need those small things.

Coming out of the main room, Xia Li walked with Bai Shao. She smiled and joked, "You've made so much money, aren't you going to treat the sisters to a drink?"

Xia Li straightened his back and looked forward, saying calmly:

"Sisters, you don't need this dinner. If I make a big show of it, I will inevitably appear unstable and may be suspected of provoking a young lady. Others may not appreciate my kindness, so why bother?"

Bai Shao is straightforward but not stupid. She understood immediately and nodded slightly, saying, "You are right. Some people call each other sisters and act affectionately, but who knows what they are doing behind their backs. You are really insightful."

Xia Li walked lightly with a faint smile on her face. Given her status, while striving for benefits, she also had to minimize the jealousy of others as much as possible. She had enough strength and confidence in her heart and did not need to seek superiority over her peers.

Now, Xia Li's weight in the master's mind is not comparable to that of an ordinary maid. Her status is second only to the stewards who hold important responsibilities, and she belongs to the echelon of those with real abilities.

Although the improvement of soft power cannot change her identity for the time being, she is no longer a puppet at the mercy of others. It is the same as Lu Qinghe who can't stand her but can't get rid of her.

Xia Li is becoming more patient, and everything will be fine slowly...

On the other hand, Lu Lingchuan finally got a formal official position. Although it was only a minor official, he had entered the officialdom. He was very busy these days and had no time to pay his respects to the old lady, so he went to Leshou Hall to have lunch with the old lady.

Compared to her son, the old lady valued her eldest grandson more. She saw him walking towards her in a royal blue home jacket, with a tall and beautiful figure and a loving smile on his face.

"You must have been very busy these days. There is no end to official business. You must not hurt your body because of it."

Lu Lingchuan's eyes were clear, and he smiled as he said, "It's not bad. Although I don't have much free time, my life is more fulfilling than before. My grandson is young and strong, and he has been practicing martial arts since he was young, so it won't be a problem."

The old lady's eyes were filled with relief, and she said kindly, "You look like your grandfather, and you are good in every way. I will be relieved to have you at the helm of the mansion in the future."

Lu Lingchuan's eyes flickered, and he said calmly, "Father and Second Uncle are not bad either. For noble children like us, we just need to have the ability to maintain the status quo."

The old lady shook her head and sighed, "It would be fine if we could maintain the status quo during a peaceful and prosperous era, but once there is turmoil in the court, the slightest mistake could lead to the destruction of the family, and your father would not be able to handle the heavy responsibility."

Lu Lingchuan was not in a position to mention what the old lady could say. He didn't know many old things, so he had no idea where to start.

Madam Xie said at the right moment: "Master, can we serve the food now?"

The old lady nodded slightly, "Serve the food. Let Lingchuan have a good rest after lunch."

After that, maids came in one after another carrying dishes. Lu Lingchuan subconsciously searched for Xia Li. The maids on duty in the room were all familiar to him, but Xia Li was nowhere to be seen.

After all the dishes were served and the old lady started eating, Lu Lingchuan retracted his gaze and slowly picked up the chopsticks. The person standing next to him serving the dishes was Xiangru. She was not originally on duty today, but when she heard the old lady say that the young master was coming for lunch, she deliberately found an excuse to switch positions so that she had the opportunity to serve closely.

Xiangru had a very good eye. She would pick up whatever dish Lu Lingchuan looked at with her chopsticks and served him very attentively.

Although she was happy in her heart, she did not show it on her face. After all, she was under the old lady's nose. If she dared to do anything seductive, she would be asking for her life.

Before she came, she deliberately changed into a scented dress. The subtle sweet scent was neither overbearing nor pungent. Lu Lingchuan had a keen sense of smell and could smell it as soon as he sat down.

He raised his eyes and glanced at Xiangru coldly, with no expression on his face. It was obvious that he didn't know her. When Xiangru met his eyes, her expectations seemed to be poured with a basin of cold water, and her enthusiasm was swept away.

The strong disappointment in her heart almost made her unable to keep a straight face. Fortunately, Lu Lingchuan quickly looked away. She breathed a sigh of relief, cheered herself up and continued to work.

Lu Lingchuan had a very good appetite, and even the old lady ate half a bowl of rice more. After the meal, he accompanied the old lady to drink a cup of tea before leaving.

After coming out of the main room, Lu Lingchuan did not go directly to the front yard, but went to the servants' quarters of Leshou Hall. Shi Hu lowered his voice and reminded him, "Master, that's the servants' quarters. You've gone the wrong way."

Lu Lingchuan said slowly: "I'll go to the servants' room to look for someone, you don't have to bother me."

Shihu was also smart, and lowered his voice and said, "Miss Xia Li lives very close to Madam Xie, not here."

Lu Lingchuan paused, turned around and looked at him, "Why don't you lead the way quickly? I have something to discuss with her. If you delay the important matter, I'll have to take care of you."

Shihu hurried forward to lead the way. Xia Li was making peony with Mai Dong in the yard under the sun. The three of them were talking and laughing in a good mood. As soon as Lu Lingchuan appeared, Mai Dong was startled and stood up to greet him. Xia Li looked in the direction of the voice. Lu Lingchuan's eyes were deep and calm. He raised the corners of his lips and said calmly, "No need to be polite. I am sorry to bother you."

Xia Li frowned slightly and said respectfully, "My Lord, you have something to ask me. My place is so simple and I am afraid I cannot serve you well. How about we talk about it somewhere else?"

Lu Lingchuan said leisurely, "No need to bother. I'll just say a few words and leave. I heard that the peonies you made with tongtuo wood are lifelike. I want to ask for two pots to give as gifts. The price is according to your setting."

Xia Li suddenly realized and said in a gentle voice, "If the prince wants to spend money, just send someone to tell him. There is no need for you to come in person. The old lady sent someone to find this tongtuomu for me. How can I accept money from you?"

Lu Lingchuan's eyes were as gentle as the spring breeze, and he said seriously:

"You deserve this money. This ingenuity alone is worth it...

Qing He has caused you trouble, right? If she becomes unreasonable in the future, come find me."

Xia Li hurriedly said politely, "Not really. The girl is just a little childish. She was just playing with me and had no intention of harming anyone."

The corners of Lu Lingchuan's mouth curled up just right, and he said frankly:
"I know very well what kind of person my sister is. You don't have to make up for her."

Xia Li smiled awkwardly and changed the subject, "The second wife also wants this Tongcao Mudan, but I'm afraid it won't be ready so quickly. Are you in a hurry?"

Lu Lingchuan shook his head gently, "I'm not in a hurry, you can send it to me whenever you're done."

After finishing the business, Lu Lingchuan had no reason to stay any longer, so he turned around and left with steady steps.

Xiangru happened to come to find Maidong. When she saw Lu Lingchuan, she was surprised and subconsciously took a step back and bowed. Lu Lingchuan ignored her and walked straight past her.

It was not until his figure disappeared that Mai Dong excitedly said, "I didn't know that the prince was so approachable. His every move was graceful and elegant, and he was majestic without even getting angry. He is really rare in the world!"

Xia Li joked, "You are using all the idioms you learned, right? We are locked up in this mansion all day, and you have seen a few young men. How do you know that he is rare in the world?"

Mai Dong raised his chin and said, "Of course I know, but I don't know which family the future Crown Prince's wife will be from."

Xia Li chuckled and said, "No matter which family the young lady is from, she is our master. We just need to show respect to her when we see her. The rest has nothing to do with us."

Xiangru walked up to the two of them and said with a subtle expression, "Don't you want to fly up to the tree and become the master? I see that the prince treats you differently."

Xia Li scolded in a low voice: "What are you talking about? Is it unusual for the prince to be kind to his servants? Then shouldn't the maids in Linfengju be treated as masters?"

Xiangru looked at her, a little flustered for a moment, "That's not what I meant, I just think it's unfair for you to be inferior to others..."

Xia Li's pupils were filled with emotions that Xiangru couldn't understand. She turned her head and said indifferently: "You don't have to worry about my affairs. Just remember, I will never be a concubine in this life..."

After hearing this, Elsholtzia felt as if her heart was pierced by needles, and she felt so sour that she couldn't breathe. Maidong didn't understand what the two people meant, so he said, "Stop chatting, both of you, and get back to work. We have two more pots of peonies, and we need to prepare a lot of petals."

Xia Li came back to her senses immediately. She said in a brisk voice, "Don't panic. There's still time. Just go get the core and get a piece of paper."

Xiangru didn't have time to think too much and nodded in agreement. She took the razor blade and paper swiftly, as if the previous conversation was blown away by the wind...

The next day was the day when the female members of the family went to the Dongyang Marquis's mansion to attend a plum blossom viewing banquet. Xia Li had never accompanied the old lady out of the mansion before, and thought it would not be her turn this time. However, the old lady specifically asked to take her out to broaden her horizons.

Xia Li was naturally happy to go out and play. With her grandma around, she only needed to go out with Shi Mi and stay by the old lady's side.

Occasionally, Xia Li would stay in a house in the back alley. She also wandered around the streets and alleys, but this was a different experience from going to Dongyang Marquis Mansion to see the world.

This time, everyone left the mansion in a horse-drawn carriage. The airtight carriage was very warm. Along the way, they listened to the old lady chattering about the past of the mansion. Xia Li learned a lot of secrets.

She and Shi Mi are both tight-lipped and don't need anyone to remind them. If they hear anything, it will just rot in their stomachs.

When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Marquis' Mansion, they saw that it was the carriage of the Duke of Liang's Mansion, and the steward immediately led it to the backyard. Xia Li supported the old lady so that she could not lift the curtain to look around, and they walked for a long time before stopping. From a distance, they saw the eldest lady of the Marquis' Mansion coming to greet them.

Xia Li watched everyone greeting each other silently. When she entered the garden, she looked up and saw the yellow petals of the wintersweet standing proudly in the cold wind, exuding a unique fragrance. She was immediately attracted to it.

The old lady was of distinguished status, and all the women from Beppu came to pay their respects to her. Xia Li and Shi Mi stood beside the old lady, not daring to leave without permission. The two ladies took the girls to socialize. Even in the cold winter, this lively scene could not be stopped.

The old lady of the Dongyang Marquis's Mansion also called her eldest granddaughter in front of everyone and praised her to the sky. Her intentions were self-evident. The old lady's face showed admiration, and although she kept agreeing with them, she did not utter a word of practical significance. She was flawless.

Xia Li listened with great interest. He was amazed at the old lady's social skills and impressed by the means of these old ladies. It turned out that women who could stand at the top of the class should not be underestimated.

She was listening to the exciting part when she suddenly heard a faint voice calling her.

"Sister Xia Li... Sister Xia Li... Please come here quickly..."

The voice sounded like she was about to cry. Xia Li frowned slightly and subconsciously turned around to look for her. She saw the maid who called her standing under the wintersweet tree. She seemed to be from the second room. Xia Li was afraid that there was something urgent, so she leaned over and whispered a few words to the old lady. Seeing her nod in agreement, she followed the voice to look for her.

Lai Xi quickly ran to Xia Li, took her arm and whispered, "Sister Xia Li, I'm Lai Xi, the maidservant of the second young lady. There's something wrong with the young lady, and I need your help!"

Xia Li was very alert. Although Lai Xi looked familiar, she didn't know him. How could she trust him so easily? She said seriously, "Since the second young lady is in trouble, the second lady, the legitimate mother, should be the one to be found. I'm just a maid. How can I help?"

She was about to leave, but Lai Xi quickly stopped her and said earnestly:

"Sister Xia Li, besides our daughter, the eldest daughter is also in trouble. It's too late to call the mistress over. Please be kind and come with me to take a look..."

(End of this chapter)