Full House Spring

Chapter 63 Focus on the heart
The weather has warmed up in recent days, and spring is everywhere. Even the wind has become gentler, and my mood in summer has also become much brighter.

She was sitting under the eaves doing needlework. In the past, Bai Shao was her companion, but now there was no maid in the courtyard who was good at embroidery, so she had to take care of the old lady's clothes for all four seasons by herself.

There is more work to do, but I don't have to report to the old lady for work, nor do I have to meet Xiangru all day long. It is relatively freer.

Although she seldom showed up in front of the old lady, Xia Li did not have to worry about falling out of favor. Firstly, her embroidery skills were irreplaceable and there was no one in the mansion who was better than her. Secondly, with Nanny Xie around, the old lady would never ignore her.

Whenever there was a good thing, she didn't have to take the initiative to step forward, as Nanny Xie would arrange everything clearly. Xia Li enjoyed this rare freedom.

When Lu Lingyan came over, he saw the sunlight shining through the leaves, the mottled light and shadows reflected on her face, and the colorful threads dancing in her hands, making her look even more beautiful.

There is no shortage of beauties around Lu Lingyan, and his wife Tao Yao is an even more top-notch beauty. However, he never felt that such a beauty was attractive. He originally thought that all women were just like that. Until he saw Xia Li, he was surprised to realize that there were girls with such a transparent and lively inner self.

He had no intention of possessing her, but just wanted to get to know her better. He stood at the gate of the yard and watched for a while, but Xia Li was too focused on her needlework and didn't notice him at all, so he had to walk up to her.

Suddenly, she was covered by a large shadow. Xia Li raised her head suspiciously. Seeing that the person coming was Master Yan San, she frowned, stood up calmly, bowed to him, and said politely:

"I greet the Third Master. I wonder what business you have in the servants' quarters. If you have taken the wrong road, I will lead you out right away."

Lu Lingyan showed a playful smile at the corner of his mouth, and said lazily:

"I'm not stupid enough to take the wrong path. I came here specially to find you. How is it? Are you flattered?"

Xia Li placed the needlework basket in his hand on the round stool, straightened his back and said calmly: "Third Master, you are joking. This is the lower courtyard of Leshou Hall. I am afraid it will pollute your eyes. Please go somewhere else to play."

Lu Lingyan raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing a cynical look. He said loudly: "If you are willing to chat with me for a while, you can stay anywhere."

Xia Li felt that this person was difficult to deal with. She was not a young girl who had no hair left. If she was not careful, her saliva would drown her. She could not deliberately provoke a person like Master Yan San who had a bit of a crazy nature. She could only say calmly:
"Since the Third Master has something to say to me, then just go ahead and say it. I will do my best to help you in any way I can."

Her businesslike attitude made Lu Lingyan narrow his eyes. He said dissatisfiedly, "Do you have to be so distant with me? Last time, you gave me advice. Why are you like this this time? Could it be that I am not as important as the prince in your heart?"

Xia Li frowned slightly, a hint of irritation creeping up her brows. She suppressed her temper and said, "Please be careful with your words, Third Master. Whether you or the Young Master, you are the master, and I can only obey your orders."

Lu Lingyan smiled and said, "You think I don't know? On New Year's Eve, the prince specially sent you food. Could it be that you two have a secret relationship?"

Xia Li's expression became serious, with a hint of coldness in her eyes. She said sternly, "What evidence do you have, Third Master? I have always been law-abiding and have never done anything to offend Third Master. I don't know why you want to throw dirty water on me."

Whoever advocates should provide evidence. Xia Li does not need to prove his innocence. Lu Lingyan smiled playfully and said with a burning gaze:

"You are calm. It's been too long since this happened, so the evidence can't be produced. But the facts are the facts. As long as I am willing, I can let everyone in the mansion know without evidence. My good elder brother is discussing marriage with Prime Minister Gao's family. In order to prevent Miss Gao from feeling uncomfortable, how do you think the first wife will deal with you?"

He wanted to deliberately provoke Xia Li to see how she would react. However, after he said this, Xia Li did not panic at all. She stroked her hair calmly. She was clearly smiling, but there was a coldness in her eyes. She said calmly:
"I am the meat on the chopping board. No matter if I have broken the rules or not, the First Madam can punish me easily without any reason. However, Third Master Yan slaughtered the maids in the mansion wantonly. Didn't he consider his own future?"

Lu Lingyan frowned, his eyes full of alertness, and said in a cold voice:
"You are so bold that you dare to throw dirty water on me. Aren't you afraid that I will destroy you?"

He did not respond directly to Xia Li. Xia Li did not take these threatening words to heart. She sneered and said calmly:

"Since Third Master has such a reaction, it means that my inference is correct. Then Zhao Xiaohui must have been killed by you and Xiangru together."

Lu Lingyan looked at her with eyes as sharp as an eagle, and said in a cold voice: "If I can kill Zhao Xiaohui, I don't mind killing you as well. It's just that there are not many girls as outstanding as you, so I really can't bear to do it."

Xia Li was silent, then suddenly smiled distantly, and said slowly:

"My life is worthless. It will do you no good whether I live or die. But the old lady can't live without my craftsmanship, and grandma is counting on me for her old age. The prince treats me differently. If I am killed inexplicably, they will not stop. I'm afraid the third master will not live so comfortably..."

She was full of confidence, and the self-confidence in her eyes showed that she was fundamentally different from Zhao Xiaohui. Lu Lingyan's cold eyes were captivating. He stared at Xia Li, and the two of them confronted each other in silent gazes.

Xia Li didn't mind showing her hidden talents, she just wanted to let Lu Lingyan know that she was not a soft persimmon that could be bullied by anyone. She was too firm and courageous, and Lu Lingyan couldn't do anything with her.

Although he was defeated, his eyes revealed an unquenchable heat, and he asked in a deep voice: "How did you find out that I killed Zhao Xiaohui?"

Xia Li kept his distance from this kind of crazy man and didn't want to have anything to do with him. He said indifferently:

"I guessed it from Xiangru's reaction. She had no contact with you before. When she saw me talking to you, she nervously told me to stay away from you. This reaction was too big and too unusual. Besides, Zhao Xiaohui died in the second house. You have enough time and conditions to take action. But I don't understand, did Zhao Xiaohui also annoy you?"

Lu Lingyan showed a scornful smile on his face and said indifferently:

"I have never seen what she looks like, so how could she have the chance to annoy me? The reason I killed her is because I fell in love with Elsholtzia."

Xia Lidan curled his lips into a cold smile and said unceremoniously: "If you like her, why don't you just ask the old lady to give her to you? Why persecute others?"

Lu Lingyan sneered, "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't want her to warm my bed. I just think she is ambitious and resourceful, and I can use her for my own benefit."

Xia Li said in a cold voice: "You two are really birds of a feather. I guess her promotion this time was also your doing. She has not yet settled the score with me. Are you going to continue to protect her?"

Lu Lingyan laughed happily and said casually, "Why is she worthy of my protection? Just deal with her and keep her alive. I still have other uses for her."

Curiosity kills the cat. Xia Li did not plan to live in the mansion for retirement, nor did she want to know too many private matters. She picked up the sewing basket again and said in a distant tone: "Third Master, if you have nothing else to do, please go back. I have a lot of work to do, so I'm sorry I can't keep you company."

She just sat on the round stool and started sewing. Lu Lingyan was dumbfounded and asked, "You just left me aside?" Xia Li lowered her eyes, her fingers nimbly moving the needle, and said nonchalantly, "I'm very busy, you can see that Xiangru should be free now. If you have nothing to do, you might as well go and chat with her."

Lu Lingyan sneered and said, "What qualifications does she have to talk to me? She is just a stupid fool. You really think too highly of her."

Xia Li glanced at him and said with a half-smile, "Since she is so unbearable, what do you like about her? Can she really do a good job for you?"

Lu Lingyan said complacently: "Fools have their own uses. If you want to know my plan, it's okay for me to tell you."

Xia Li raised the embroidery frame and muttered to herself, "What color is suitable for this lace? Let's try Begonia Red first..."

Lu Lingyan was infuriated by her poor acting skills and reached out to grab her embroidery frame, but Xia Li would never let him do so. While the two were fighting for it, Lu Lingchuan's furious voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Lu Lingyan, what are you doing?"

When he shouted, the two of them let go of their hands at the same time, and the embroidery stretcher fell straight to the ground. Lu Lingchuan walked forward briskly, stretched out his hands to protect Xia Li behind him, and confronted Lu Lingyan.

Lu Lingyan withdrew his hand, raised his eyebrows, and said nonchalantly:

"Brother, why are you so excited? I was just joking with Xia Li. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Lu Lingchuan said with a stern face: "You turned a deaf ear to the old ancestor's teachings just now, and even ran here to argue with Xia Li. How can you be so disrespectful?"

Xia Li sighed helplessly behind him, tugged at the corner of his clothes, and whispered, "My Lord, you misunderstood. The Third Master heard that I was good at embroidery and wanted to come and take a look. He was discussing the color matching of the lace with me. It's not what you think."

Lu Lingchuan's body stiffened slightly. He pursed his lips, turned around and asked, "He really didn't bully you?"

Xia Li raised the corners of her lips and whispered softly, "This is Leshou Hall. If I shout, someone will come. How can I be bullied? You really misunderstood."

Lu Lingchuan showed a slightly confused and surprised look, and he said in a deep voice: "I'm glad you're fine. If he comes to harass you again, you should report it directly to the old lady, and she will not let him off easily."

Xia Li nodded slightly. There was an indescribable feeling in the atmosphere between the two of them. Lu Lingyan was displeased and sneered:

"Brother has already discussed marriage with Miss Gao. You treat Xia Li so differently. Do you want to take her as a concubine? This is a bit too greedy."

Lu Lingchuan was holding his breath and said unhappily:
"It is not your turn to comment on my affairs. If you have time, you might as well study hard to gain fame. If you also want to get married soon, you might as well discuss it with Second Aunt."

Lu Lingyan chuckled and said, "I do want to get married, but it's a pity that Xia Li doesn't agree. I still have a long way to go."

Lu Lingchuan was struck by lightning, and said in disbelief: "What do you mean by that? Are you going to marry Xia Li?"

Lu Lingyan said confidently, "I am just the second son of the second wife. I am a loser. Although Xia Li is a maid, she serves my grandmother. At least she has been taught by the old lady. It is not a loss for me to marry her."

Lu Lingchuan could not accept such words. He suppressed his anger and said, "You are talking nonsense. Marrying a maid is ignoring the laws of our ancestors. You are unworthy of being a member of the Lu family!"

Lu Lingyan pretended to be angry and said, "Brother, this is prejudice. Does it mean that Xia Li is not worthy of being a wife? Except for her inferior family background, she is not as good as the daughter of an official."

Lu Lingchuan's brows were solemn, and he said firmly: "If I say no, then it's no, unless you want to be expelled from the family..."

Xia Li had never known that in the eyes of the prince, she was so lowly. She didn't want to listen to the two brothers' meaningless quarrel anymore, so she raised her voice and said:

"I still have work to do. Please move to another place to discuss this, sirs."

After saying that, she walked into the house without looking back, slammed the door shut, and ignored anyone.

Lu Lingchuan suddenly woke up when he saw the door. He grabbed Lu Lingyan by the collar and dragged him out until they were out of the Leshou Hall. He punched him hard in the abdomen and said through gritted teeth:

"You didn't really want to marry Xia Li, you deliberately induced me to say those words. When did you realize what I was thinking?"

Although Lu Lingyan was beaten, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He said happily:

"Brother, you misunderstood. You should know Xia Li's goodness better than me. Why shouldn't I want to marry the woman you want to possess? With my status as a bastard, can I marry a woman as virtuous and talented as Miss Gao?
Rather than marrying someone who looks good, I'd rather choose someone who can support me. Xia Li is very smart. As long as the man who marries her is not a piece of shit, he can live a good life with her. What do you think?"

Lu Lingchuan warned with a dangerous look in his eyes: "Don't let your imagination run wild. If you spread this matter, I will never forgive you. Since you know how good she is, you shouldn't put her on the fire."

Lu Lingyan said with disdain: "Is it possible that if she is willing to take her as a concubine like you, she should be grateful? You are really too arrogant."

Lu Lingchuan was already feeling uncomfortable during this period, and after hearing his words, he felt even more heartbroken. He said in a deep voice:

"Do you think I don't want to do what I want? I am responsible for the glory of the whole mansion. If I make a mistake, the consequences will be disastrous. I don't see how you really care about Xia Li. If you want to provoke me, then you have done it. If you are dissatisfied with me, come to me directly. Don't harm Xia Li. She just wants to live a peaceful life."

Lu Lingyan raised his eyebrows slightly, with a hint of disdain in his eyes, and said with a smile: "Brother, don't be afraid. I appreciate that Xia Li won't do anything to her. You'd better not provoke her, lest Miss Gao is dissatisfied, and then all your efforts will be in vain."

A hint of anger flashed across Lu Lingchuan's cold eyes. "I have my own considerations. I don't need your advice. Just remember what you said. If Xia Li's reputation is damaged, I will not forgive you."

After saying that, he turned around and left. Only he knew the pain in his heart.

(End of this chapter)