"Auntie Mei, what should I do today?" An energized Li Xia sat down and allowed Qiu Ling to comb her hair. Auntie Mei came over, took the comb from Qiu Ling's hand, and combed Li Xia's hair.
"You and the young master will paste spring couplets on all the doors and windows in the manor." Auntie Mei was quite skilled at hairstyling and quickly braided Li Xia's hair, taking a red silk flower from Qiu Ju and pinning it into Li Xia's hair.
Seeing Li Xia's unwillingness to wear the red silk flower, Auntie Mei said, "It's the New Year celebration, you can't always wear those two green flowers. Look, doesn't this look much better?" Li Xia glanced in the bronze mirror and agreed it did look nice.
"Alright, now go eat breakfast. After that, find the young master and paste the spring couplets," Auntie Mei tidied Li Xia up and urged her to find Li Hui. She then took Qiu Ju to the kitchen to steam buns and prepare dishes for the family banquet the day after tomorrow, a very busy time.
"Auntie Mei, I'll go to the kitchen and help you and my sister," Li Xia showed little interest in pasting spring couplets. She had heard from Qiu Chan that the kitchen had prepared many delicious foods.
Upon hearing Li Xia wanted to help in the kitchen, Auntie Mei quickly stopped her. "No need for you in the kitchen, go find the young master."
There was a reason why Auntie Mei didn't allow Li Xia to help in the kitchen. Previously, Li Xia had expressed a desire to cook. Seeing that she had been well-behaved lately, and with Li Xin's persuasion, Auntie Mei agreed. However, disaster struck again as Li Xia immediately ruined two pots.
Li Xia claimed the pots were faulty and demanded another try. As she was about to ruin a new pot, Auntie Mei sternly refused, banning Li Xia from entering the kitchen. If she ruined another pot, the entire Li Manor might go hungry.
Li Xin also regretted allowing Li Xia to cook. She wasn't cooking, she was ruining pots!
Unable to enter the kitchen, Li Xia ate a couple of pastries that Qiu Ju passed to her on the way, feeling a little dejected as she arrived at the front courtyard. Li Hui was writing spring couplets. Seeing Li Xia, he put down his brush and asked her to take the maids to paste the spring couplets in the rear courtyard.
Li Xia took the written couplets and led the maids to the rear courtyard, pasting the spring couplets on all the doors and windows.
After finishing, Li Xia went to the front courtyard to find Li Hui. Li Hui had also finished pasting the couplets in the front courtyard. Seeing her return, he said, "Done?"
"Done," Li Xia responded briefly.
Knowing that Auntie Mei and Li Xin had strictly forbidden Li Xia from entering the kitchen, Li Hui took a book from his desk and handed it to Li Xia. "Here, read this newly published novel from the Capital City."
Li Xia took the book 'Three Heroes, Five Virtues' - the title sounded familiar. She recalled that during a mission in her previous life, her squad leader had particularly collected this set of books, saying they were good for leisurely reading. She remembered the title was this one. Previously, Li Xia had wondered why Fourth Miss Lu hadn't taken action despite the commotion she caused. It turned out she was causing trouble here.
Seeing Li Xia's silence, Li Hui asked, "What's wrong?"
"Brother, after tomorrow I'll be 13 years old. I'll be an adult. I won't read novels anymore," Li Xia said. She would read other novels and travel logs, but she had no interest in this particular book.
Li Hui took the book back and handed her another one. "What about this one?"
Li Xia took 'The Geography of the Great Zhou Empire' and flipped through it, seeing records of the local customs and people. "This one is good, I'll read this," she said, carrying the book to a nearby armchair and curling up to read.
Li Hui found Li Xia's cat-like curled-up posture amusing. He couldn't help but think of Zhang Hu's injuries and wanted to ask about them, but thought better of it.
Li Xia noticed Li Hui's hesitation, but since he didn't ask, she didn't volunteer any information.
In the study, one person read a book while the other pondered, until Qiu Shui came in to remind them it was dinnertime. Li Xia then realized an entire day had passed.
The dinner table was set with dishes from the Capital City and Liuzhou styles. Li Hui sat at the head, with Li Xin and Li Xia on either side. Li Hui noticed Auntie Mei standing nearby and said, "Since there are no outsiders, Auntie Mei, please sit." Auntie Mei then took a seat beside Li Xia.
After dinner, everyone returned to their respective courtyards to rest.
Zhang Hu, who had rested the entire day, changed his clothes and waited in his room. A pebble struck his window, and he opened it to see Li Xia standing nearby. Upon seeing Zhang Hu, she casually said, "Let's go."
Zhang Hu closed his door and followed Li Xia out of the Li Manor and Osmanthus Alley. Today, they weren't heading to Sanhui Lane. "Aren't we going to Sanhui Lane tonight?" he asked.
"Tonight, we're going somewhere more interesting," Li Xia said, leading Zhang Hu through various turns until they arrived at a dilapidated mansion gate. From the signs of disrepair, it was clear no one had been here for a long time.
"This is the largest haunted house in the Capital City," Li Xia's words caused Zhang Hu to take two steps back.
"Miss, what are you planning to do?" Zhang Hu involuntarily stepped back, unable to help his fear of ghosts.
This phobia stemmed from a childhood incident when he accompanied his father, a constable, to the magistrate's office and saw a corpse, becoming terrified. To help him overcome his fear, his father took him to the morgue to view corpses. However, the old caretaker loved telling ghost stories, curing Zhang Hu's fear of corpses but leaving him with a fear of ghosts.
However, Li Hui was unaware of Zhang Hu's fear of ghosts. How did Li Xia know? Zhang Hu looked at her questioningly, but she showed no intention of explaining.
With a wave of her hand, the creaking gate opened. Li Xia motioned for Zhang Hu to enter. He considered fleeing, but Li Xia's gaze made it clear - if he ran, she would throw him inside.
Should he walk in himself or be thrown in? Zhang Hu didn't need to think, he would choose the former. He inched forward slowly, while Li Xia patiently watched him approach the entrance.
At the doorway, Zhang Hu turned to Li Xia, "Miss, aren't you coming in?"
"I'll wait for you outside," Li Xia's words made Zhang Hu shudder. Seeing she had no intention of entering, he trembled as he walked inside.
The gate remained open, and Li Xia stood outside without moving. Zhang Hu clenched his fists and ventured further inside.
Soon, a scream echoed out, but Li Xia remained calm. She walked in unhurriedly and arrived at the second courtyard of the haunted house, where she found Zhang Hu lying on the ground, with Zhou Heng standing nearby.
"You didn't have to be so harsh," Li Xia said with a smile as she approached.
Zhou Heng didn't speak, instead extending his hand. Li Xia revealed her wrist, allowing him to take her pulse. Zhou Heng's brow furrowed as he looked at Li Xia and sighed, "You haven't listened to me."
"I did listen to you," Li Xia's words didn't seem to convince Zhou Heng. He was unaware of Li Xia's severe injury on the road until he unexpectedly learned about it while treating injured escorts at the courier station.
Li Xia's ability was peculiar. As her power increased, the damage to her body grew greater. Having sustained severe injuries, Zhou Heng was concerned that Li Xia's body might not be able to endure it, so he rushed day and night to the Capital City. Upon arriving in the Capital City, he heard about some righteous hero who had discovered Li Xia leading a group to participate in a life-and-death match at Sanhui Lane the previous night.
This truly made Zhou Heng feel that his worries on the journey had been superfluous. Li Xia was living too lavishly.
Knowing that Zhou Heng was concerned for her, Li Xia sincerely thanked him, "Thank you."
Zhou Heng froze for a moment, is this still the little witch? She's actually thanking him.
"Little witch, I didn't expect you to praise me like this."
