Full House Spring

Chapter 43: Being a Companion

Aunt Xie curled her lips, and a smile appeared on her face again after a day of coldness.

In her eyes, Xia Li was naturally outstanding and had the potential to be better than his teacher, but the tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

Madam Xie was used to being cautious, so she said tactfully, "Master, you shouldn't praise her in person. This girl is young and has a long way to go in the future. Her little cleverness is nothing."

The old lady's eyes were deep and broad, as if they could see through everything. She said calmly, "It's rare for Xia Li to be so insightful at her age. None of my granddaughters can compare to her."

Xia Li felt a little ashamed when she heard this. She just had one more life experience, so it was unfair to compare her with those girls.

"Old lady, if you keep praising me, Sister Shi Mi will laugh at me."

Shi Mi waved her hands and said, "Nonsense! I'm not laughing at you. How dare I laugh at such a smart and clever woman?"

The old lady's mood changed from being gloomy to cheerful, and the carriage became much brighter.

When they returned to the mansion, the Duke was already waiting in Leshou Hall. The two ladies had to find a doctor to check the girls' pulses, so they did not go there for the time being.

After Lu Jianxing helped the old lady sit on the Luohan bed, he said to Madam Xie in a deep voice, "Madam, you have worked hard today. Take the maids out to rest. Someone else will serve you later."

Lu Jianxing was always polite to the elderly people around the old lady, and Nanny Xie also abided by her duties and never took advantage of her seniority. She respectfully accepted the order and left with the maids.

Xia Li followed behind Grandma obediently. She was not curious about the most powerful male owner in the mansion. After they arrived outside, Grandma Xie instructed Bai Shao and Qian Cao:

"You two stand guard outside the door. No one is allowed to approach. Be ready to receive orders from the master at any time."

The two maids agreed in unison. Shi Mi glanced at Xia Li and said briskly, "Mammy, if there is nothing else, tell me to go home right away."

Madam Xie nodded slightly, "Come to work earlier tomorrow, and go back and have a good rest."

Xia Li looked at Shi Mi's back as she left, her eyes full of envy. She also wanted to leave. Aunt Xie turned to her and said sternly, "Come with me."

Xia Li had no choice but to follow behind her grandmother obediently. Aunt Xie had a blank expression on her face all the way, and it was obvious that she was not in a very happy mood. When they entered the house, Xia Li took the initiative to admit her fault. She touched her earlobe and said flatteringly:
"Grandma, I know I was wrong, please don't be angry with me."

Aunt Xie sneered: "Oh~ Do you still know that you are wrong? Then tell me where you are wrong."

Xia Li rolled his eyes and asked tentatively, "Shouldn't I act on my own?"

Aunt Xie raised her eyelids and said unhappily, "What else?"

Xia Li scratched his head and said in distress, "I was forced by the situation at the time. I was afraid that something would really happen to the girls. If they were to settle accounts later, I would definitely not be able to explain myself for not taking any action."

Madam Xie said in a serious tone: "Then why would you take the risk alone? You even dared to smash Prince Hui?"

Xia Li touched his nose and said with a smile:
"I was only thinking about helping the second young lady at that time, and I couldn't think of anything else. Anyway, King Hui was unconscious, and he didn't know that I hit him. The second young lady wouldn't tell anyone else about this, so I shouldn't be in trouble."

Madam Xie gnashed her teeth and said, "You simply don't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is. Prince Hui has had a photographic memory since he was young. If he could see your face clearly, he would definitely recognize you as soon as you appeared in front of him."

Xia Li was stunned and murmured, "I can't be so unlucky..."

Madam Xie said angrily, "He is more powerful than you think. Your little cleverness can only fool the old lady. To be on the safe side, don't appear in front of King Hui in the future."

Xia Li nodded hurriedly. When she first met King Hui, she gave him an inkstone without asking any questions. She felt guilty about it, so it would be best if she could not see him.

Madam Xie pounded her aching waist and said meaningfully, "I'm afraid there's still some quarrel between the old lady and the Duke."

Xia Li glanced at Grandma's expression and lowered his voice and said, "The old lady seems to think highly of King Hui. Will the mother and son serve different masters?"

Aunt Xie's gaze was like the mist on the top of a distant mountain, hazy and distant. She said in a calm tone:

"You guessed correctly. Manager Wang did bad things because he embezzled the money that was supposed to be handed over to King Hui. So even if the old lady could spare his life, King Hui would not let him go easily."

Xia Li's expression became serious. "So, King Hui intends to take back the throne. If he fails, won't the old lady be implicated?"

Madam Xie said quietly, "Wealth and honor are sought in danger. The old lady only gave him financial support. Even the Duke didn't know about this. If he fails, the worst that can happen is that he will die to apologize."

Xia Li was terrified when he heard this. The risk of participating in the fight for the throne was too great and it was probably not something that one person could bear.

Now the princes of Emperor Yongping have grown up and are constantly fighting in private. She has never seen the Third Prince, but she is openly tied to him in the palace, which is tantamount to having the cake and eat it too.

Xia Li didn't dare to think too deeply. She pursed her lips and said in a slightly cold voice:

"We have never enjoyed the splendor and wealth of the mansion, so there is no reason for us to lose our heads with them. Grandma, shouldn't we find a way to escape slavery and leave the mansion?"

Aunt Xie looked at Xia Li with some pity, and she told the truth:
"I'm afraid you can't leave now even if you want to. You've discovered some clues and you're so capable, the old lady won't let you go."

Xia Li felt like she was falling into an ice cellar. Yes, her master was high above her and had the final say over her life and death. Now that she was of use, how could he let her go so easily? She showed an expression that was uglier than crying and said dejectedly:
"So what should we do? Are we just going to sit there and wait for death?"

Madam Xie comforted her, "You don't have to be so frightened. If your heads really come to an end, it won't be our turn. At most, we will be sold out again. And it's still a long way to go. We can always find a chance to escape. Even if I can't leave, I will find a way to get you out."

Xia Li quickly shook his head and said, "No, if we want to go, we can go together. At worst, I can just keep a low profile and not get close to the old lady anymore."

Nanny Xie felt a little warm in her heart, but based on her understanding of the old lady, she was afraid that once he caught her eye, she would have no choice.

"You don't have to be afraid of the consequences. The old lady is already half buried in the ground. Even if she wants to do something, her energy is limited. She just wants to leave a trump card for her children and grandchildren, so she won't take risks easily."

Xia Li smiled bitterly and said, "Now I can only think positively..."

Since she traveled through time, she has been like a puppet led by fate, always helpless and unable to break free.

On the other hand, after Lu Qinghe returned home, Song took her directly to Yize Hall. Not only did she call Doctor Zhong from the mansion over, she also took a name card from the Duke's Mansion to invite the imperial physician. Lu Lingchuan also returned home early, and the imperial physician had just finished treating her. The dose of medicine Lu Qinghe drank was not large, but the effect was extremely strong, so she had to carefully recuperate for a period of time before she could recover.

Lu Lingchuan thanked the imperial physician and without saying anything more to Qing He, he personally sent the imperial physician to see Lu Zhiyao.

Unlike the situation in Yize Hall, here in Chunshanju, in Lu Zhiyao's room, only her mother was sitting in front of the bed and crying. Luo had already gone back to her room to drink tea.

Not long after Lu Zhiyao woke up, she frowned, had a splitting headache, and said in a hoarse voice: "Little girl, I'm fine, you don't have to worry."

Cheng Xiaoniang had already learned from Luo what had happened. She choked up and said, "My son, you have lost your reputation now. What will happen if the old lady is so cruel as to send you to the family temple to end your life?"

Lu Zhiyao said in a low voice, "No, don't worry, young lady. I am also a victim. There are so many people watching me. How can I just send it to the family temple and let it go? Grandmother will definitely not agree."

Although Cheng Xiaoniang has a resourceful father, she herself is weak in character and can only cry when something happens. Lu Zhiyao only learned a lot of things after reading the notes left by his grandfather. He can be said to have inherited his grandfather's talents from the previous generation.

Just as Cheng Xiaoniang was about to speak, she saw Lai Xi running in in a hurry.

"Miss, the prince has brought the imperial physician here, please tidy up your clothes quickly."

Cheng Xiaoniang stood up subconsciously. Lu Zhiyao straightened his clothes calmly, and then signaled Lai Xi to invite people into the house. After a while, Lu Lingchuan came with the imperial physician.

The brother and sister nodded and greeted each other. Lu Lingchuan seldom interacted with his second sister, and he would not pay much attention to her even when he saw her at a family dinner. Today, he was surprised to find that she was even more outstanding than Qinghe. Her beautiful face was as crystal clear as the morning dew, and there was a faint light in her eyes. She looked like a poem and a painting.

Compared with Qing He, she is not domineering and appears to be as gentle as water, but she is also tough yet gentle. These two characteristics are contradictory yet harmonious.

After the imperial physician took her pulse, Cheng Xiaoniang didn't care about anything else and hurried forward to ask.

Lu Lingchuan shouted to Shihu outside: "Later, you personally send Doctor Chen back home, I will talk to the second young lady for a while."

The others tactfully withdrew. Lu Zhiyao lowered his eyes and remained silent. Lu Lingchuan sat in Cheng Xiaoniang's previous seat and said in a gentle tone, "Although I don't know the details of this matter, I still thank you for rescuing Qing He."

Lu Zhiyao raised the corners of his lips slightly, and said calmly:
"Brother, you are too kind. We are all family members. No matter how incompetent I am, I cannot watch my elder sister get hurt."

Lu Lingchuan nodded gently and said in a calm voice:
"I will do my best to take care of your affairs. I will never give up the position I have secured for you. Have you thought about it?"

Lu Zhiyao looked calm and said calmly, "I have thought it through. If King Hui had not suffered a great disaster, I might not have had the opportunity to get close to him. This fate is a gift from God, and I will take it well."

Lu Lingchuan understood that even if they were cousins, they still had to be careful about the difference between men and women. He couldn't stay for long, so he stood up and said:

"Everything will be as you wish. You should have a good rest and get your body in good shape before we can talk about the future."

Lu Zhiyao nodded slightly, sat up and watched Lu Lingchuan leave, then lay down again. Her decision was not wrong, and she just needed to wait for good news.

When Lu Lingchuan was about to leave Chunshanju, Luo came slowly and said in a fake tone:
"Why bother the prince to come here for such a small matter? Zhiyao is in good health and will not suffer any harm. You can relax."

Lu Lingchuan bowed to her and said in a cold tone:
"Aunt is my second sister's biological mother after all, so she should be more kind to her. She did this to save Qing He. I will discuss with my mother and will give my second sister some compensation. Please don't stop me."

Luo dared to set a trap for Qing He, but did not dare to do anything to Lu Lingchuan. He was the next head of the family, and Wan Qiao would have to rely on this cousin for support in the future. Therefore, Luo would listen to what he said, and would not refute it even if he was not happy about it.

She forced a smile and said, "This is a good thing. I thank you on behalf of the second girl."

Lu Lingchuan nodded reservedly, then turned and left. Luo looked at his back with a frown.

She didn't know the inside story. Even if Lu Zhiyao's reputation was ruined, for her it was just like bringing a concubine's daughter into Prince Hui's palace as a concubine, and the impact would be minimal.

But she could tell from the old lady's reaction that the matter didn't seem that simple. She had to ask Lu Zhiyao again, perhaps she could get some clues from this girl.

When the Duke came out of Leshou Hall, his face looked extremely ugly and he was in a very bad mood. On the second day, news came from the mansion that the second young lady was sensible and had the overall situation in mind, and the first wife felt sorry for her situation and wanted to adopt her.

The second girl went from being a concubine of the second wife to the legitimate daughter of the Duke, and Luo Shi didn't even have the right to object.

Then the matter was brought to the attention of the Emperor. Prince Hui and the Duke of Liang's Mansion brought Princess Zhaohua to the imperial court. Even though the Emperor loved the eldest princess very much, he had to make his attitude clear. He directly demoted Yao Dizhu from Princess to County Princess.

The culprit was punished, but it was an indisputable fact that Lu Zhiyao's reputation was ruined. Duke Liang begged the emperor for an explanation, and Lu Lingchuan also knelt on the ground and cried about his sister's difficult situation.

After the incident, Prince Hui found out about the second girl's situation in the Duke's Mansion. How could he be willing to marry a concubine's daughter? But the emperor was happy to see this happen, so he forced Prince Hui to ask for the marriage by half force and half persuasion.

Originally, with Lu Zhiyao's identity, the position of concubine was already the limit. Unexpectedly, Lu Lingchuan said that his mother had adopted Lu Zhiyao, and now she is the legitimate daughter of a duke.

The emperor was very happy to hear the news. He waved his hand and directly appointed her as Prince Hui's principal wife and set an date for the wedding. Prince Hui had no room for objection, and the matter was settled.

Suddenly a princess appeared in the palace. Even if she was the unpopular Prince Hui, she was still a princess. Luo had to pay her respects when she saw her. Only then did she understand the situation and she was so angry that her heart ached.

If she had known that Lu Zhiyao could become a princess, she would not mind registering her under her own name. Wan Qiao has a biological sister who is a princess, which would be beneficial to her marriage. It's a pity that the eldest wife got there first.

The matter was settled, but only three days had passed since the plum blossom viewing banquet. Lu Zhiyao was very excited when she received the imperial edict. She changed into decent clothes and went to thank the old lady.

In the main room of Leshou Hall, the two grandmothers sat opposite each other. Lu Zhiyao's eyes were full of energy. Xiangru stepped forward to serve tea. The old lady took a sip from the teacup and said calmly:
"Now that you have got what you wanted, I will not treat you badly in terms of dowry. But after entering the palace, you have to rely on your own abilities to make a living. I am afraid that the palace cannot be relied on."

Lu Zhiyao was mentally prepared. She smiled and said:

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I will not let you down. But... can you please make Xia Li my concubine?"

Xia Li's heart trembled, and he looked up at the old lady with eyes full of resistance.

The old lady frowned slightly and said, "The maids and servants around you have been serving you since they were young. They are loyal to you and are perfect for you to be your companions. Why do you want more?"

　My dears, it’s not that I will break the chapter, but when I get to the exciting part, I see that it’s exactly 4,000 words. Don’t scold me, hahahaha…

　　
　
(End of this chapter)