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"I'll heed your advice, Aunt Liu," Li Xia obediently replied.

"This is the wife of the Marquis of Pacifying the South," an elderly lady next to Liu said, looking at Li Xia.

"Yes, she is Lu XuanNing's wife," Liu respectfully told the older woman. She then introduced Li Xia, "This is the Old Lady of Duke Xu's Mansion."

Li Xia curtsied to the elderly lady, "Greetings, Old Madam."

"Such a beautiful young lady, no wonder the Lu boy is smitten," Old Madam Xu remarked as she appraised Li Xia.

"Thank you for your kind words, Old Madam. I do think I'm quite pretty. Lu XuanNing has good taste in marrying me," Li Xia's response made Old Madam Xu laugh.

"Oh my, what an interesting beauty. It's a shame you married Lu XuanNing," Old Madam Xu said with a regretful expression. She then gestured for Li Xia to sit beside her.

Li Xia, taking a liking to her, moved over to sit next to her. Old Madam Xu examined Li Xia up close and exclaimed, "The more I look at you, the more beautiful you appear. If I had met you earlier, I would have surely taken you as a granddaughter-in-law."

Old Madam Xu's words left Liu at a loss for words. Li Xia, however, laughed and asked, "Is your grandson skilled in martial arts?"

Old Madam Xu sighed, "The children all take after their grandfather, they're not martial artists."

"That's a pity then. I prefer those skilled in martial arts. It's no fun if they're too easy to bully and get knocked down in two or three moves," Li Xia's words made Liu beside her snort softly.

Old Madam Xu, however, nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. When my father was arranging my marriage, I didn't want to marry a weak scholar. But alas, one can't disobey one's parents' wishes. I ended up marrying one. A frail scholar who would quote the classics all day long. I couldn't out-argue him or beat him up. It was such a headache."

"I'm luckier than you. Although Lu XuanNing has a slight leg problem, as a military official, he's physically fit and can endure rigorous training," Li Xia said with a satisfied expression, making Old Madam Xu laugh even more heartily.

"I like you, girl. Come visit me at the Duke's Mansion sometime, and we'll have a good chat."

"I'd love to," Li Xia replied, also taking a liking to Old Madam Xu.

Not far away, Madam Zhou's face darkened as she watched Li Xia and Old Madam Xu chatting happily. Mrs. Lu and Li Xin were surprised to see Li Xia gaining such favor with the old lady.

"The Empress has arrived!" a shrill voice announced. Li Xia returned to her original seat.

The Empress entered with her entourage of consorts. Everyone curtsied, and after the Empress was seated, she called out, "You may rise." Everyone returned to their seats.

The Empress spoke a few words about peace in the New Year. Palace maids served the food. The exquisitely prepared palace feast tasted quite good, though it got a bit cold if left too long.

Since becoming pregnant, Li Xia's appetite had improved. While others watched the dance performance, Li Xia, not particularly interested in the dance, focused on eating. Old Madam Xu was pleased to see Li Xia eating so earnestly.

Separated by Liu, Old Madam Xu chatted with Li Xia about which dishes were delicious and which were not. Some who were accustomed to looking down on Li Xia wanted to criticize her, but seeing her happily conversing with the Old Lady of Duke Xu's Mansion, no one dared to cause trouble.

The Crown Princess was surprised to see her grandmother chatting happily with Li Xia. It was rare for any of the Xu family's young ladies to gain Old Madam Xu's favor.

The Empress also noticed this scene below. Due to her daughter An'an's relationship with the Li family, the Empress had a good impression of them and was familiar with Li Xia. Seeing Li Xia chatting so happily with Old Madam Xu, she ordered some desserts from her table to be sent to Li Xia. Li Xia stood up to thank the Empress. With the Empress's gesture, Madam Zhou, who had been preparing to say something, swallowed her words and dared not speak.

As the banquet ended and they exited the palace gates, Li Xia saw the carriage of the Marquis of Pacifying the South. Lu XuanNing was standing by the carriage waiting for her. When he saw Li Xia, he quickly stepped forward, but his large strides revealed his unsteady gait. Li Xia hurried to support him.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Li Xia said, but how could Lu XuanNing not worry? He was concerned for both Li Xia and the child in her womb. Only after examining her carefully and seeing she was alright did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"My, what a sweet couple," Old Madam Xu's carriage stopped beside them.

"Old Madam," Lu XuanNing bowed to Old Madam Xu, who was respected even by the Emperor.

"Young Lu, marrying Xia girl is your greatest fortune," Old Madam Xu remarked.

"It is indeed my blessing," Lu XuanNing fully agreed with Old Madam Xu's words. Being able to marry Li Xia was the greatest fortune of his life. Seeing the deep affection in Lu XuanNing's eyes as he looked at Li Xia, Old Madam Xu smiled and left. In her carriage, she said to her maid, "The Zhou family has lost its scholarly integrity."

Lu XuanNing and Li Xia respectfully saw off Old Madam Xu's carriage.

"Thank you," Li Xia whispered in Lu XuanNing's ear. Old Madam Xu was no simple person. Her attentiveness at the banquet was not merely out of admiration for Li Xia.

"Old Madam Xu and grandmother are old friends," Lu XuanNing explained. Old Madam Lu, unable to attend the palace banquet, had specially asked Old Madam Xu to look after her pregnant granddaughter-in-law.

"Tomorrow, let's visit grandmother," Li Xia said, feeling genuine affection and respect for Old Madam Lu.

"Stop chatting at the palace gates, you two," Li Xin called out, lifting the curtain of the carriage that had just arrived with Cao Fugui.

"Let's go home," Lu XuanNing said, coming to his senses. He carefully helped Li Xia into the carriage.

On the way, the two carriages traveled side by side for a while. Li Xia and Li Xin exchanged a few words before the carriages separated, heading in different directions.

Upon returning to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, they found Old Marquis Lu and Old Madam Lu waiting. Worried about Li Xia, the elderly couple couldn't stay at the Beining Marquis Manor. They had come to wait for the young couple, focusing particularly on Li Xia to ensure she was alright.

"I'm so fortunate to have such wonderful elders," Li Xia sighed as she watched the two elderly people leave.

"I'm fortunate and blessed too," Lu XuanNing said, embracing Li Xia.

"Alright, let me take a look at your leg," Li Xia said, breaking the sweet moment and turning her attention to Lu XuanNing's leg.

After being married for a while, Li Xia was well aware of Lu XuanNing's leg injury situation. At the palace gate, when Lu XuanNing strode towards her, Li Xia noticed a slight change in his expression.

Lu XuanNing rolled up his trousers. Li Xia saw bruises on Lu XuanNing's leg.

"What happened?" Li Xia's voice was filled with concern. It was clear that someone had kicked him hard.

Lu XuanNing didn't hide anything from Li Xia and explained the situation. At the grand banquet of the former dynasty, a martial officer accompanying the Second Prince had a physical altercation with him, resulting in his injury.

Seeing Li Xia's stern and angry face, Lu XuanNing lowered his trousers and tried to comfort her, "It's just a minor injury. Applying some medicinal wine will take care of it."

Lu XuanNing was right that his injury would heal with some medicinal wine. However, the injury he had inflicted on the other party wouldn't be resolved so easily with just medicinal wine.