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"Now that the engagement is settled, when will the wedding take place? Hui isn't getting any younger," Old Madam Lu said, changing the subject away from Mrs. Lin.

Mrs. Lu sighed at this, "I wish we could proceed, but my husband wrote saying the roads are unsafe and we shouldn't return. The Wang Family can't come to the Capital City either, so everything is at a standstill."

"Send someone to inquire again. Hui needs a wife to manage things for him," Old Madam Lu insisted. There were certain matters in Li Hui's social interactions that his mother couldn't handle; a wife was necessary.

Mrs. Lu understood this point. "I'll send someone tomorrow to ask and check on the situation." Despite her dissatisfaction with Li Ming, they had been married for over a decade. If the roads were safe, she did want to return to Liuzhou.

Old Madam Lu nodded, then sighed again, "I'm not worried about Hui's affairs with you managing them. It's The Third's marriage that concerns me."

"The Third is handsome and has been under your guidance for years. There's no need to worry about his marriage prospects, just don't set your sights too high," Mrs. Lu's meaning was clear to Old Madam Lu.

"I have a good nephew from my maiden family in mind, but his mother just won't agree," Old Madam Lu revealed her choice.

After the Lin family's official dismissal and censure, Mrs. Lin had become more restrained, but she was even more focused on the Third Miss Lu's marriage. She was determined to find a good match, hinting that Mrs. Lu should help arrange a connection with the Chengen Marquis Residence. If they could establish a link to the Crown Prince, it would make things easier for the Lu family in the future.

Mrs. Lu could see right through Mrs. Lin's intentions. The Third Miss Lu was good, but not as important as her own daughter. Mrs. Lu clearly understood Lady Cao's interest in Li Xin from the Warm Room Banquet.

Old Madam Lu left without further comment, just sighing. Mrs. Lu saw her off to her carriage.

Upon returning to the Wild Goose Pavilion and sitting down, Chunlu Granny came to report Li Shan's earlier visit.

"She dared to come?" Mrs. Lu slammed down her teacup. Li Shan's behavior today had been disgraceful. If not for the presence of guests, Mrs. Lu would have reprimanded her on the spot. Was she lacking for food or clothing that she had to act so uncouthly, embarrassing everyone? Just like her mother, coming from a humble background with such narrow vision.

The more Mrs. Lu thought about it, the angrier she became. "Go tell her she's confined for three months to copy Buddhist scriptures. Let her temper that personality of hers." The Li family had only recently risen in status; she didn't want Li Shan offending people.

"Please don't be angry, Madam. I'll see to it right away," Chunlu Granny consoled Mrs. Lu before personally leading people to seal off Li Shan's quarters. Aunt Wang could only watch anxiously, unable to do anything. Chunlu Granny had warned that if Aunt Wang objected, she'd be confined as well.

Aunt Wang increasingly felt that staying in the Capital City wasn't good. If they were in Liuzhou with her husband nearby, how would Mrs. Lu dare act like this?

Lady Cao returned home and asked Cao Fugui, "What do you think about me arranging a match for you with the eldest Miss Li?"

Cao Fugui pondered this. Seeing that he didn't immediately refuse, Lady Cao knew he was pleased with the idea.

Mrs. Lu's actions to save her husband had earned her goodwill from many families in the Capital City, and quite a few had their eye on her well-raised daughters.

Cao Fugui didn't hesitate further, "I'll leave everything to Mother's discretion."

With Cao Fugui's approval, Lady Cao began to interact more frequently with Mrs. Lu. The children from both families had met and had no objections to each other. Lady Cao personally invited Ms. Liu to act as the matchmaker. Ms. Liu naturally agreed wholeheartedly, as she cared for Li Xin like her own daughter.

The engagement between the two families was thus settled. Li Shan had just finished her confinement when she received this news, her eyes turning red with jealousy. But these few months had taught her that she couldn't always have her way in the family. As the mistress of the house, Mrs. Lu could punish her at will. She needed to be more cautious in her words and actions. Everyone noticed Li Shan's change but paid it little mind.

Mrs. Lu appraised Auntie Mei, who looked herself over, confused by the scrutiny.

Mrs. Lu handed Auntie Mei a paper from the table. Auntie Mei read it, then looked back at Mrs. Lu, "Madam, you..."

"Your two elder brothers appealed to my husband while in Liuzhou," Mrs. Lu said simply. But hearing this, Auntie Mei couldn't hold back her tears.

"Thank you, Madam, for your years of care," Auntie Mei said, kneeling before Mrs. Lu. Her gratitude was genuine. If not for Mrs. Lu's kindness in keeping her, who knows what would have become of her and Li Xia.

"You deserve it. And don't worry about your second daughter. I've registered her under my name in the family genealogy," Mrs. Lu's words moved Auntie Mei even more.

Auntie Mei had always worried about Li Xia. She never expected Mrs. Lu would register Li Xia under her name, making her a legitimate daughter. This would allow Li Xia to make a better marriage in the future, even without her mother's concubine status.

Not knowing how else to express her gratitude, Auntie Mei knelt again and kowtowed to Mrs. Lu. It was the only way she could show her appreciation.

The household soon learned that Auntie Mei had received her release papers and would be leaving the Li family. With one less person competing for favor, Auntie An was pleased and even began smiling at Auntie Mei. Auntie Mei would stay until the Xu family arrived in the Capital City and settled in. Auntie An made a point of coming to talk with her during this time.

Mrs. Lu had already decreed that Auntie Mei should no longer be called by that name, but instead by her original name from the Xu family, Xu Xinyue.

Li Xia had been registered under Mrs. Lu's name. Li Shan couldn't help but envy her. She also wished to be registered under her mother's name and become a legitimate daughter. In Liuzhou, the difference hadn't been so apparent.

But in the Capital City, the strict rules and the conduct of the nobility made Li Shan acutely aware of the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Although being registered under the mistress's name didn't make one truly legitimate, just having that title would allow Li Shan to marry into a higher social circle in the future.

Li Shan wanted to be registered under Mrs. Lu's name. Aunt Wang knew this would be beneficial for her, but it didn't sit well with her. It would negate all her efforts over the years. Moreover, being under Mrs. Lu's name would mean being at her mercy. Aunt Wang disagreed, feeling that Li Shan was abandoning her birth mother.

Li Shan felt that Aunt Wang was too selfish and didn't consider her own interests. These mother and daughter hadn't thought it through at all. Mrs. Lu would never register Li Shan under her own name.

Xu Xinyue showed Li Xia the letter of release for concubines. With this, she could finally return to the home she had been longing for all these years.

Back in the room, Xu Xinyue took out all the silver she had saved and gave it to Li Xia, saying, "I'm not capable of much. All this money was earned by you." As she spoke, Xu Xinyue pushed the money box towards Li Xia, telling her to keep it.

"Aunt..." Li Xia began, but felt that addressing her as 'aunt' wasn't appropriate. She corrected herself and called out, "Mother."