How could this be allowed? Li Hui is the eldest brother, and it's unheard of for a younger sister to marry before her elder brother takes a wife. Mrs. Lu was just talking about it now, but when she later realizes she has no say in Li Hui's marriage matters, she'll have no choice but to arrange marriages for Li Xin, Li Gong, and Li Xia first.
Li Hui left the Wild Goose Pavilion and went to Fuqing Courtyard to spend some time with Li Xin, giving her the gifts he had brought back from Liuzhou. Then he went to the Orchid Courtyard to find Li Xia.
The Orchid Courtyard was bustling with activity at that moment.
Qiu Chan, who was sweeping outside the courtyard, saw a woman approaching. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, "Wu Auntie, you've come to the capital?"
"Qiu Chan, is the young lady in the courtyard?" Wu Auntie, whose leg had been cured, walked briskly towards Qiu Chan.
"Yes, yes, yes. Wu Auntie, please come in," Qiu Chan took the bundle from Wu Auntie's hands and called towards the house, "Young lady, Wu Auntie has come to the capital!"
Li Xia, who had been comfortably sunbathing on a lounge chair with her eyes closed, opened them. She saw Wu Auntie, whose facial scars had faded considerably, walking steadily towards her. When she came close, Wu Auntie greeted Li Xia, "Young lady, I've come to the capital."
"Your leg has healed," Li Xia observed, examining Wu Auntie's leg.
"Yes, it has. Doctor Zhou's medical skills are excellent," Wu Auntie replied, still amazed that her leg had actually healed.
"Qiu Chan, take Wu Auntie to get settled," Li Xia instructed.
"Wu Auntie, please come with me," Qiu Chan bounced happily beside Wu Auntie like a child. Wu Auntie looked at Qiu Chan with affection.
"Elder brother, please come sit," Li Xia rose to greet Li Hui when she saw him.
"You seem to be living quite comfortably," Li Hui sat down and took a sip of tea, smiling.
"It's alright," Li Xia smiled and waved for her attendants to move farther away.
"I brought this for you from Liuzhou," Li Hui handed Li Xia a box. Li Xia opened it to find snacks unique to Liuzhou. Although they had brought a cook from Liuzhou, the taste was still different from those made in Liuzhou due to the different ingredients available.
Li Xia picked up a piece, "This is the authentic taste, though it's a bit dry from the long journey." She ate a piece and drank a cup of tea.
"I heard from Mother about Li Shan's situation. You handled it well," Li Hui praised.
"To be honest with you, brother, when I found out what Li Shan did, I wanted to kill her," Li Xia said, looking at her own hands.
"I had the same thought," Li Hui admitted. He never claimed to be a righteous or good person. When it came to harming his family's interests or those close to him, Li Hui wouldn't hesitate.
"I didn't tell Mother, but Li Shan is pregnant," Li Xia revealed to Li Hui.
"Mother already knows," Li Hui replied. Mrs. Lu had given birth before and had managed the household for many years. How could she not notice Li Shan's pregnancy? Mrs. Lu had originally planned to get rid of the child.
"It was my doing. No matter how much I dislike her, an innocent life shouldn't suffer," Li Xia said. The teachings from her past life were still ingrained in her. No matter what, children shouldn't be harmed. Children are the future, but now, she somewhat regretted her decision.
"It's not your fault. And it might not be a bad thing now," Li Hui reassured her.
"Brother, do you mean..." Li Xia didn't finish her sentence, but Li Hui understood her meaning.
"I won't force her, but if she wants to..." Li Hui wouldn't try to persuade her either way.
"If there's anything you need me to do, just say the word, brother."
"Not for now." After discussing Li Shan's situation, Li Hui took another sip of tea and looked at Li Xia.
"During this trip to Liuzhou, I learned something from Father. When Liuzhou was under siege, they received anonymous donations of a large number of weapons, medicines, and silver."
"Oh my, who could this nameless hero be?" Li Xia feigned curiosity, firmly refusing to admit it was her doing.
"Wasn't it you?" Li Hui asked directly. Li Xia just grinned and didn't respond, continuing to eat her snacks. Her silence confirmed Li Hui's suspicion.
"Zhou Heng's identity isn't simple," Li Hui reminded her.
"I know," Li Xia replied. Of course she knew Zhou Heng's identity wasn't simple. But neither was hers.
The Wen'an Marquis Mansion had invited imperial physicians to diagnose and treat Zhao Decheng. After treatment, the injury was set. However, they were told that having children would be difficult - a euphemism. The reality was that everyone knew that particular part wouldn't function anymore, making it impossible for him to have children in the future.
Mrs. Zhao recalled how in the past, when some of Zhao Decheng's lovers had become pregnant, they had relied on their family's high status to prevent these women from entering their household. They had forcibly terminated those pregnancies. Now that her son couldn't have children, both Mrs. Zhao and Old Mrs. Zhao regretted their actions, but it was too late.
When Li Shan learned of all this, she remembered what Cui Liu had found out - that her father, Li Ming, had already arranged a marriage for her in Liuzhou. It was with an honest and kind scholar whose family was quite well-off. But compared to Li Xin's betrothed, the difference was too great.
Thinking about how her family had arranged for Li Xin to marry into the powerful Chengen Marquis Residence, while for her they had chosen a country family, Li Shan was dissatisfied. How could such a man be worthy of her? She completely failed to realize that it was she who wasn't good enough for a better match.
After weighing the pros and cons, Li Shan decided she didn't want to return to Liuzhou and marry just anyone. She resolved to marry Zhao Decheng. She had also discovered her own pregnancy.
But now she was under house arrest and couldn't leave. To accomplish her plan, she needed someone's help. She sent Cui Liu to ask Aunt Wang to come.
When Aunt Wang heard Li Shan's idea, she raised her hand to slap her.
Li Shan lifted her face, ready to receive the slap. Seeing Li Shan's unrepentant expression, Aunt Wang lowered her hand and collapsed into a chair. What sin had she committed to deserve this?
Seeing that Aunt Wang didn't slap her, Li Shan felt relieved inwardly but maintained her expression outwardly. She carefully explained the pros and cons to Aunt Wang, "Mother, this is the only path left for me now. If you don't help me and Mrs. Lu finds out, I'll have no choice but to hang myself. Do you want to see me die?"
Aunt Wang couldn't bear it, so even though she knew it was wrong, she had no choice but to help Li Shan pass on the message. This matter was soon discovered by Li Yao, who had been following Aunt Wang.
Li Xia sensed someone outside and went out to see Li Yao lingering outside the Orchid Courtyard.
"Fourth brother, what are you doing here?" Li Xia called out to Li Yao.
"Second sister, can you help third sister?" Li Yao pleaded with Li Xia, his voice on the verge of tears.
Since birth, having witnessed the various behaviors of his birth mother and elder sister, Li Yao knew they weren't good people. But Li Shan was still his sister by blood. Li Yao didn't want to see Li Shan jump into the fire pit.
"Did you come to find me on your own, or did Li Shan send you?" Li Xia looked at the little Li Yao.
"It was my own idea. I..." Li Yao didn't know how to explain. With memories from his past life, he felt that Li Xia was capable of anything.
"There's a saying that goes, 'Good words can't persuade a doomed ghost.' Li Shan won't listen to me. If I try to dissuade her, she'll only become more determined to marry into that family," Li Xia's words made Li Yao stumble back two steps and fall to the ground. Li Shan had always been jealous of Li Xia, so if Li Xia were to try and persuade her, it would truly turn out as Li Xia said.
Stepping forward to help Li Yao up, she brushed the dust off his clothes. "If you truly care for her, then work hard and better yourself. As her full-blooded brother, the better you become, the better Li Shan's life will be."
"But I'm only three years old," Li Yao said, revealing his age. He then saw Li Xia's understanding gaze and involuntarily shuddered.
