Li Xin was pondering over the people she had met since she came to the capital, trying to figure out who could lend a hand.
"Big brother has already gone to the Beining Marquis Manor. I'll go to the Chengen Marquis Residence to seek help from the Cao Family," Li Xin thought, preparing to head to the Chengen Marquis Residence.
After taking a few steps, she stopped. What reason could she give for her visit? Would they agree to help? The favor she owed them had already been repaid. Li Xin was hesitant, and Li Xia pulled her back to sit down.
"As the saying goes, 'before the troops and horses move, the food and fodder go first.' War requires people, weapons, food, and military pay. We can't interfere with the people and weapons, but we can find a way to provide food and military pay."
"You mean we should raise food and military pay. I've saved some silver over the years, a few thousand taels. I'll give it all," Li Xin said, ready to fetch the silver.
"Sis, don't rush. Let's think if there are other ways," Li Xia stopped the anxious Li Xin.
Li Xin turned to look at the calm Li Xia, feeling a bit ashamed and regretful. "Xia Xia, I'm really useless. When something happens, all I can do is cry."
"How can you say you're useless? Your few thousand taels of silver is not a small amount. I'm as clean as a whistle," Li Xia's words made Li Xin laugh. Seeing Li Xin laugh, Li Xia looked around and asked, "Where is Yu sister?"
"I asked her to fetch the doctor. Do you need her for something?" Li Xin was curious why Li Xia was looking for Li Yu.
"Yes, I want to ask her something." Seeing that Li Xia didn't elaborate, Li Xin didn't ask further. She called to Dan Hong who was nearby, "Dan Hong, go to the front yard and check. When Yu sister comes back, ask her to come here directly."
Dan Hong responded and left to wait for Li Yu.
"Xia Xia, even if we donate all our money, it won't be enough. The military pay is a huge sum," Li Xin calmed down and started calculating the family's wealth.
"I'll handle the money," Mrs. Lu, having changed her clothes, walked in from outside. She glanced at Li Xia, marveling at her calmness.
She usually kept a low profile, but she was never vague about important matters. Moreover, her suggestion to raise food and military pay was a good one. The Li family didn't need to give everything; as long as they started, others would naturally follow.
Li Yu walked in and greeted Mrs. Lu, "Madam, the doctor is here." In the morning, Li Xin had noticed that Mrs. Lu looked haggard, pale, and had lost weight. Worried about Mrs. Lu's health, she asked Li Yu to fetch the doctor.
"I'm fine. Xia Xia, what do you need from Li Yu?" Mrs. Lu already knew about Li Yu's situation from the letter Li Xin had written earlier.
Li Xia looked at Li Yu, "Yu sister, if I want to post a bounty in the martial arts world, where can I do it?"
Li Xia's words puzzled Mrs. Lu and Li Xin, "Xia Xia, what do you want to post a bounty for?"
"I've heard that there's a group of assassins in the Tian Yi Pavilion in the martial arts world who take on such tasks," Li Yu pondered for a moment before answering.
"If we post a bounty for the head of Prince YongKang and the rebel generals, would they take it?" Li Xia's words lit up the eyes of Mrs. Lu and Li Xin. If the leaders of the troops were gone, the danger to Liuzhou would be greatly reduced.
"I'm not sure," Li Yu didn't know. She had never heard of bounties for the heads of generals. The martial arts world and the court usually kept to their own spheres.
"Is there a branch of Tian Yi Pavilion in the capital?" Li Xia remembered Zhou Heng saying that Tian Yi Pavilion had a strong presence in the north. She hadn't needed to know about it before, so she hadn't looked into it. Now, she needed to understand Tian Yi Pavilion well.
"There should be, but where the branch is, I don't know. However, you can ask at the Escort Agency," Li Yu suggested. The Escort Agency where he had previously worked had a branch in the capital, so they could inquire there.
"You're not allowed to go," Mrs. Lu forbade Li Xia from going. Such a place, even without asking, was clearly not a good place. If Li Xia went, her reputation as a young lady would be ruined.
"I'll go," Li Hui, who came in later, spoke up.
"Hui'er, you can't go. You have to take the Imperial Examination," Mrs. Lu said. How could Li Hui get involved with the rough men of the martial arts world?
"Mother, I will handle it well and it won't delay the Imperial Examination," Li Hui said firmly.
Seeing the determined Li Hui, Mrs. Lu hesitated before agreeing, "Alright, go ahead." Li Hui was the eldest son of the Li family. With Li Ming not around, he was the head of the household.
"Mother, I'll go handle it first," Li Hui said, leaving with Li Yu. Li Xia signaled to Qiu Ling, who was standing at the door. Understanding, Qiu Ling followed them.
"Mother, the doctor has arrived. Let him come in and check your pulse," Li Xin said, worried about Mrs. Lu's health.
"Alright, let the doctor come in," Mrs. Lu agreed, not wanting to worry Li Xin. Li Xin went out and called the doctor in to check Mrs. Lu's pulse. After checking her pulse, the doctor prescribed some medicine.
Li Xia took the prescription, "I'll take someone to get the medicine. Sister, you stay with mother."
As she left the main courtyard, she ran into Auntie Mei, who was bringing breakfast to the main courtyard with some servants.
"Where are you going?"
"The doctor prescribed some medicine for mother. I'm going to get it," Li Xia stopped.
"Go quickly and come back quickly," Auntie Mei said, untying her money pouch and handing it to Li Xia. Li Xia took the money pouch and left to get the medicine.
When she returned, Auntie An and Aunt Wang, who had freshened up, brought several young masters and young ladies back to the main courtyard. Seeing Mrs. Lu calmly drinking morning tea, Li Xin felt relieved. They looked at each other, wanting to speak but not knowing what to ask.
"Serve the meal," Mrs. Lu ordered Auntie Mei.
Auntie Mei complied and arranged for the servants to serve breakfast.
Mrs. Lu ate very seriously. Only by eating well and maintaining her strength could she do things better, like asking people to save Li Ming and Liuzhou.
After breakfast and taking her medicine, Mrs. Lu didn't have time to rest. She went to Lu Mansion to see her own mother.
When Old Madam Lu heard the servant's report, she thought it was a joke. How could Mrs. Lu come back at this time? But when she saw Mrs. Lu who came in later, she couldn't help but slap Mrs. Lu several times, "You heartless girl, you finally decided to come and see me."
"Mother, I'm sorry for making you worry," Mrs. Lu hugged Old Madam Lu and cried.
"I was really afraid that one day I would close my eyes and not wake up, and I wouldn't be able to see you again," Old Madam Lu cried out.
"That won't happen, mother. You will live a long life," Mrs. Lu said, feeling even more heartbroken.
The mother and daughter cried bitterly for a while before stopping. Old Madam Lu wiped her tears and controlled her emotions, "You suddenly came back. What happened?"
Mrs. Lu didn't want to worry her mother, so she just said it was nothing. But as Mrs. Lu's mother, how could Old Madam Lu not see her daughter's concealment? Old Madam Lu sternly said, "I am your mother. What can't you tell me?"
Hearing the concerned words of Old Madam Lu, Mrs. Lu held back her tears and told the truth. Old Madam Lu swallowed her heartache for her daughter and commanded Xin Qiao to bring over a box.
"Here are the deeds to two estates and three shops, take them and sell them to gather some money." It's impossible to ask for help without money.
"Mother, I can't accept this," Mrs. Lu didn't come for Old Madam Lu's fortune. If all of this was given to her, how would Old Madam Lu survive in the future?
Although she hasn't been in the capital for many years, she knew from the remaining few deeds and house deeds in the box that Old Madam Lu had been using her private savings to supplement the family expenses. She remembered that there were at least twenty deeds in the box when she was still in her boudoir.
