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"Mother, do you think I'm the kind of person who can't let things go?" Li Xia's rhetorical question made Xu laugh. She knew her daughter best - nothing weighed too heavily on her mind.

"Mother, don't worry about me. I'm fine. Take care of yourself and my little brother," Li Xia said, more concerned about Xu and Wang Hong.

According to Qiu Ling's report, Wang's grandparents favored their eldest son Wang Xiao more, having already declared that everything of theirs would go to him. As for Wang Dong, this father initially doted on Wang Hong. But he couldn't withstand his parents' constant nagging, frequently urging him to visit Wang Xiao at the academy.

Wang Dong's mindset had changed over the past six months, putting most of the family's fields under Wang Xiao's name. This was to prevent Xu from fighting for Wang Hong's inheritance.

"I'm not interested in the Wang family's meager possessions," Xu said. She was well aware of the Wang family's intentions, but their entire fortune wasn't worth as much as her annual income. The Wang family worried about her scheming, not realizing Xu had no interest at all.

"There are quite a few retired soldiers at the Lu family estate, all quite capable. Mother, take a few back with you to work in the shops," Li Xia said, concerned that Xu might not have enough help.

Xu didn't refuse. She took back more than a dozen men and arranged for them to work in the shops. With them there, the Wang family couldn't interfere even if they wanted to. Wang Dong still harbored dissatisfaction towards Xu. He became even more reluctant to return home, not even coming back on his days off, instead sending someone to the academy. He spent a rest day with his parents and son.

On the day he was to go to the Hanlin Academy, he only came down from the academy hill and rushed towards the Capital City. On the way, Wang Dong was still thinking about his mother Old Madam Wang's words.

Old Madam Wang believed that since Xu married into the Wang family, she was a Wang family daughter-in-law, and everything of hers should belong to the Wang family. Old Madam Wang had long coveted the shops and wealth in Xu's possession.

Wang Dong originally didn't have such thoughts, but his mother's constant reminders made him waver. Especially since he had recently set his eyes on a calligraphy piece worth 2000 taels of silver. If he had Xu's wealth, he could buy it. However, Wang Dong still hesitated about using his wife's dowry money. If he did so, their marital affection would be gone.

The carriage suddenly jolted to a stop. "What happened?" Wang Dong asked.

"Sir, the axle has broken," the servant said nervously.

"How did the axle break? Is there anyone nearby who can fix it?" Wang Dong said as he stepped out. The surroundings were desolate, with no sign of people. It would be impossible to find help. They couldn't continue with a broken axle.

"Sir, the nearest place is 10 miles away. If we go find someone to fix it, you'll be late for the Hanlin Academy," the servant said, his voice growing softer.

"Go quickly and find someone to fix it," Wang Dong frowned and ordered the servant.

The servant responded and left at a jog. By the time the carriage was repaired and they arrived at the Hanlin Academy, it was already noon. When Wang Dong arrived, his superior's face looked very displeased.

Wang Dong was puzzled and only learned from his colleagues that an elderly member of the Hanlin Academy had a family emergency and had to leave. His position was now vacant, and the superior had originally recommended Wang Dong for it. Today, someone from above had come to assess the candidates, but Wang Dong was inexplicably absent.

Now his opportunity was gone, and because of this incident, his superior was also put in an awkward position. It would be difficult for Wang Dong to have better prospects in the future. Wang Dong never imagined that a single moment could lead to this.

At this point, Wang Dong didn't care about the promotion. He apologized to his superior, admitting his mistake and asking for forgiveness.

The superior had originally thought highly of Wang Dong, but now he just shook his head.

Wang Dong felt regretful and shared the situation with a close friend over drinks.

"You fool, don't you realize that what's in Xu's hands will eventually belong to your son, to your Wang family?" his friend said.

These words awakened Wang Dong. Though Xu's natal family was weak, her biological daughter had married the Marquis of Pacifying the South and was now the young mistress of the Beining Marquis Manor. The Li family, where Xu was a concubine, was also on the rise. Wang Dong should have been thinking about how to win Xu over, but instead, he had distanced himself from her for short-term gains.

As the influence from his parents subsided, Wang Dong soberly reflected on how he had changed over the past six months. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had been misguided.

He stopped listening to his parents and began treating Xu and her children well again. However, Xu had already grown cold-hearted. Her focus now was on taking care of her children. She still provided Wang Dong with the care he was due, but was she attentive? Not anymore.

Wang Dong felt regretful but didn't know what to do. He could only swallow the bitter fruit he had sown.

Li Xia listened to Qiu Ling's words and waved her hand, dismissing her. Wang Dong hadn't even been promoted yet and was already treating Xu poorly. At this rate, he'd better stay put for the rest of his life and not go anywhere.

Lu XuanNing entered the room and began massaging Li Xia's feet. "Next time, let me handle matters like this, alright?"

"Lu XuanNing, I'm pregnant, not dying," Li Xia said, disliking how overly cautious he was being.

"I know you're capable, but I want to share the burden. I want you to rely on me," Lu XuanNing said, his eyes full of deep affection, making Li Xia's heart warm. She gave a soft sound of acknowledgment but said nothing more.

Lu XuanNing was very satisfied and massaged Li Xia's feet with even more care.

As the due date approached, Lu XuanNing grew increasingly nervous. Li Xia, on the contrary, became more relaxed. She walked around the Lu manor twice daily, familiarizing herself with every corner of the estate.

The doctor had examined Li Xia and confirmed that she was in excellent health. He remarked that he had never seen such an energetic pregnant woman before. The midwife, chosen by the Old Marquis, had moved into the manor in advance to wait.

As Li Xia was walking around the manor and reached the corner of the garden, she felt something was off.

"What's wrong, my lady?" Qiu Shui noticed Li Xia's expression change.

"My lady's pants are wet," Qiu Chan, who was following behind, said. She wondered internally if her lady had wet herself.

The expression on Qiu Chan's face was puzzling. Li Xia steadied herself against a nearby rockery and said to Qiu Chan, "Qiu Chan, clear whatever you're thinking out of your mind."

Qiu Shui's face changed dramatically, and her voice altered as she commanded, "The baby is coming. Qiu Chan, quickly carry the lady to the birthing room. Qiu Ling, go inform the Marquis." Following Qiu Shui's words, Qiu Chan picked up Li Xia and ran towards the birthing room. Qiu Ling's feet flew as she ran towards the training grounds.

Lu XuanNing was sparring with someone at the training grounds when he saw Qiu Ling running towards him, looking somewhat flustered.

"What's wrong with Xia Xia?" Lu XuanNing urgently asked, disregarding the sparring match.

"The... the lady is about to give birth," Qiu Ling said, panting.

Upon hearing this, Lu XuanNing dropped his weapon and ran towards the delivery room. As he entered the courtyard and was about to rush into the delivery room, the Old Madam and Old Marquis stopped him. "The midwife and doctor are already inside. You'd better not go in and cause a disturbance."

Lu XuanNing stood at the doorway, peering inside. "Why can't I hear anything? Li Xia, Li Xia, how are you? Are you alright? Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat..."

Inside the room, Li Xia was enduring labor pains, listening to the midwife's instructions to conserve her energy and give birth in one push. Lu XuanNing's constant chatter reached her ears, which she found increasingly irritating. After tolerating it for a while, she couldn't hold back anymore: "Lu XuanNing, shut your mouth. Go wait somewhere else!"