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Chapter 11

Marquis Zhou brought an imperial physician who confirmed Zhou Dingxing had recovered well enough to return to the capital. The Zhou family was preparing to go back. Li Ming and Mrs. Lu took Li Xin, Li Hui to send off Marquis Zhou's family.

"Sister Liu, are you going back to the marquis manor this time?" Ms. Liu had previously told Elder Sister Liu about the situation. Ms. Lu was worried that if she returned to Gongshun Marquis Manor, Ms. Cao would cause more trouble.

Elder Sister Liu lowered her voice and told Ms. Lu, "Father has built an ancestral hall in the manor and confined her there for life. Ms. Cao's daughters have all been sent away and are not allowed to come back."

Hearing this, Ms. Lu was happy for Elder Sister Liu. Looking at Marquis Zhou not far away holding Zhou Dingxing, she couldn't help but advise, "Sister Liu, don't have conflicts with the marquis. Xing'er is still young."

"I understand. Sister Wan, I'll wait for you in the capital," Elder Sister Liu understood Ms. Lu's meaning. For Xing'er, she would also get along well with the marquis.

"Yes, I will definitely go back to the capital," Ms. Lu believed that it wouldn't be long before she could return to the capital in glory to see her family and old friends.

After sending off Marquis Zhou's family, the Li family also received the official order for the transfer. The moment they received the order, Li Ming who was usually indifferent, smiled with eyes narrowed into slits. If not for keeping up appearances, he almost wanted to shout out loud twice to vent his excitement.

From Aunt Wang's intentional words, Li Ming felt that this was good fortune brought by Li Yao.

In addition, Li Yao looked more and more like Li Ming. Li Ming was more and more fond of Li Yao. Every day after finishing work and returning to the rear courtyard, he would first go hug Li Yao. Of course, good things were also sent non-stop to Aunt Wang's courtyard like flowing water.

This made Auntie Mei and Auntie An who were in the manor very envious. But the two envied different things. Auntie An envied Li Ming's favoritism towards Aunt Wang. Auntie Mei envied those things, if sold, they could fetch quite a sum.

Although Ms. Lu said she had let go, she still felt a little unhappy deep down. After all, it was Li Xia who first discovered the human trafficking case, and Li Hui made the biggest contribution. But the reward Li Hui got was less than half of Li Yao's. Li Ming's favoritism towards his youngest son made Ms. Lu a little unhappy. What made Ms. Lu most unhappy was that relying on having a son, Aunt Wang hadn't come to pay respects for half a month, always using the excuse of matters with her child. Even if she did come, Ms. Lu might not have wanted to see her in her heart.

But Aunt Wang doing this was slapping the principal wife in the face. Relying on Li Ming going to her more often, ordering the kitchen to cook separately many times, her food expenses for one courtyard this past month exceeded the entire rear courtyard's.

Li Ming was just waiting for the new magistrate to take over before leaving. At this time of unsteady hearts, if rumors of the principal wife and concubine's discord in the county magistrate's rear courtyard spread out, it would be a joke for the Li household. If Aunt Wang didn't restrain herself after arriving in Liuzhou, don't blame her for taking action.

During this time, because of Li Ming's favor, Li Shan was also very happy. Except for a few people in the Li manor who couldn't be provoked, Li Shan looked down on everyone else.

Li Xia had been secluding herself in her room cultivating for many days without going out. Worried that she would feel stifled, Auntie Mei came to the garden and told Li Xia to cut some newly bloomed flowers to take back and put in a vase. Li Xia brought Qiu Shui to the garden to choose which flower branches to cut.

Li Xia picked a bunch of pink hibiscus flowers, "How about this bunch of hibiscus?"

"The lady doesn't like hibiscus flowers," Qiu Shui's words made Li Xia put the scissors back. She moved her footsteps to the gardenia bushes nearby. The yellow tinged with pink gardenias were very beautiful. Just as she was about to cut them, she heard Li Shan's petulant voice.

"Second sister, you really don't appreciate flowers." Li Shan stopped three steps away from Li Xia, as if there was something dirty on the other that she didn't want to get close to.

"Is third sister talking to me?" Li Xia pretended to have just noticed, making Li Shan stamp her feet in anger.

"Flowers are for viewing, not cutting." No matter when, Li Shan did not like Li Xia.

"There are plenty of these flowers. Cutting two branches won't affect enjoying them," there was a whole row of gardenias in the fence, meticulously cared for by the gardeners, blooming very lush. As she spoke, Li Xia cut a fully bloomed branch, and two half bloomed ones.

Seeing Li Xia ignore her advice and insist on cutting the flowers, Li Shan's expression was very ugly. But she couldn't say anything, there was no rule in the manor against cutting flowers. She snorted at Li Xia twice before leaving.

Li Xia was completely indifferent to Li Shan's actions. But Qiu Shui behind Li Xia was unhappy.

"Little girl, your young miss isn't angry, why are you angry?" Li Xia said with a smile.

"Young miss, she is third young miss's elder sister. She doesn't respect you at all, and you're not angry at all," Qiu Shui couldn't help but ask.

"Qiu Shui, you have to learn from me more, don't take things to heart. She's just a little girl, what's the point of minding her?" Li Xia said indifferently. Compared to life and death struggles in her previous life, being slapped in the face like this was nothing to Li Xia.

"Young miss, with your temperament, you will suffer greatly," Qiu Shui was anxious about Li Xia's attitude of not taking anything seriously.

"What is Qiu Shui saying?" Qiu Ju walked over and heard Qiu Shui's words. Her face tightened, how could a servant talk to the young miss like this. Seeing Qiu Ju come over, Qiu Shui's expression changed drastically.

Li Xia switched the topic, "Aunt Qiu, did you come over just now to pass on instructions from the lady?"

Qiu Ju looked at Li Xia, wanting to say something but swallowed it back, "The lady has arranged carriages and horses. Tomorrow some of the large luggage will be sent to Liuzhou."

Li Xia only then remembered she hadn't packed yet. Returning to her room, she saw Auntie Mei waiting for her. She handed over the flowers.

"Auntie, I'll pack right away," Li Xia said, waving her hand to hurry Qiu Shui to pack. Auntie Mei sighed and helped Qiu Shui pack Li Xia's luggage with Qiu Ju. They first sorted and packed the clothes, shoes, and socks that couldn't be worn this season, as well as some collectibles into boxes.

After finishing packing, looking at the four large boxes in the room, Li Xia was surprised, "I have this much stuff?"

Auntie Mei had people come move the boxes out. Turning back, she saw Li Xia looking at clothes she couldn't wear. Childhood clothes, and some old ones that couldn't be worn anymore, packed neatly into three large bundles.

"Auntie, what should I do with these clothes?" Li Xia felt a headache looking at the bundles.

"The lady said these old clothes will be donated to the mercy hall, given to orphaned and widowed children there. It's also doing more good deeds for Bailang County," Auntie Mei greatly admired Ms. Lu. Donating these old clothes to the mercy hall not only solved their own troubles, but also left the Li family a good reputation in Bailang County. For an official's family, this reputation was also their political achievement.