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"Mother, I don't like hearing that. What do you mean Lu XuanNing took good care of me? At the border, I was the one taking care of him!" Li Xia grumbled, displeased with Xu Xinyue's words.

"I can tell from your expression that you've been bullying my son-in-law quite a bit."

"Mother, you're too biased!"

"XuanNing treats you well, so of course I'll favor him," Xu Xinyue defended Lu XuanNing, knowing how good he was to Li Xia.

"Mother, did you come here today just to praise your son-in-law in front of me?" Although Li Xia wasn't in the Capital City, she had been keeping a close eye on Xu Xinyue's situation.

Lu XuanNing's achievements at the border had led the emperor to decree that the title of Marquis of Pingnan would become hereditary. Li Xia had also been granted the title of Super First-Rank Lady.

With the Lu Family's prospects looking bright, Wang Dong thought of asking Xu Xinyue to put in a good word. This year's official assessment was coming up, and Wang Dong wasn't confident about his chances. He wanted Xu Xinyue to speak to the Lu Family and ask for help.

"Of course not. If I praise you too much, you'll get cocky. Praise you anymore, and you'll fly to the moon!" Xu Xinyue didn't want to talk about the Wang Family's affairs. Her attitude was clear – her daughter wasn't someone just anyone could take advantage of.

Since Xu Xinyue didn't bring it up, Li Xia didn't ask further. Over the past four years, Wang Dong had treated Xu Xinyue and Wang Hong quite well. Li Xia was willing to help Wang Dong achieve his wishes.

She wrote a letter and sent someone to deliver it to the Li Manor, asking Li Hui for help. The letter explained that if Wang Dong wasn't suitable for an important position, there was no need for a promotion. Li Hui replied, informing her that Wang Dong was on the list for job transfers.

After staying at the Lu Family for a few days, Xu Xinyue and Wang Hong returned home. Wang Dong got the promotion he wanted and, knowing Xu Xinyue had helped him, became even more cordial towards her. As for the Wang Family matriarch's dissatisfaction with Xu Xinyue and her son staying at the Lu Family, Wang Dong shut that down quickly.

After sending Lu Liucheng to school, Li Xia had the carriage take her to the Chengen Marquis Residence. Li Yu was waiting at the entrance and came forward to greet the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South's carriage.

First, she accompanied Li Xia to see Lady Cao and exchanged a few words. Then Li Xia went to Li Xin's quarters to see the second child, who wasn't yet a year old.

"A few days ago, I saw Xi'er and thought he was cut from the same mold as my elder brother. I didn't expect this second child to look so much like him too," Li Xia said, looking at the little face that was a perfect match.

"I hope my second child not only resembles his uncle in appearance but also in character and scholarship in the future," Li Xin sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"The eldest takes after his father and doesn't like studying at all. Yesterday, he upset the tutor so much that he left." Talking about her almost five-year-old son gave Li Xin a headache. This child was truly the type who would cause trouble if not disciplined for three days.

"Children are lovable when they're mischievous," Li Xia thought this was fine.

"You wouldn't say that if you really experienced it," Li Xin said. Just then, a small figure rushed in.

"Mother, I heard from the servants that Aunt is here. Where is she?" Cao Dabao burst in holding a knife, then saw Li Xia.

"Dabao, why aren't you in class?" At this time, Cao Dabao should have been studying with his tutor.

"The tutor wasn't feeling well today, so he gave us a day off," Cao Dabao said, raising his knife towards Li Xia. "En garde!"

"Dabao!" Li Xin cried out in alarm. How could this child swing a knife at someone?

Li Xia, sitting unsteadily, extended a finger to block the knife's hilt as Cao Dabao swung it, preventing him from advancing further. Cao Dabao gripped the knife with both hands and pushed forward, but Li Xia's finger didn't budge.

"Dabao, let go quickly. She's your aunt," Li Xin stepped forward to try and pull Cao Dabao away. But suddenly, Li Xia flicked her finger, knocking away his knife. At the same time, she shifted her body slightly. Cao Dabao, using too much force, couldn't stop himself and tumbled onto the foot of the bed.

"You cheated!" Cao Dabao flipped over and pointed at Li Xia, shouting.

"Dabao, is that how you speak to your aunt? Apologize right now!" This little rascal was too naughty.

Li Xin's stern face made Cao Dabao a bit scared. He lowered his hand and stood properly. "Aunt, I'm sorry."

"He has good bone structure, suitable for martial arts training. Sister, you could have Yu sister teach him. It would add to his skills," Li Xia wasn't bothered at all by Cao Dabao's actions.

"He's already hard to manage without training, if we train him it'll be even harder," Li Xin was quite exasperated with Cao Dabao.

"Aunt, have you been on the battlefield and killed enemies? Teach me how to kill enemies!" As he spoke, Cao Dabao swung his arms a couple of times in demonstration.

"You want to learn from me?"

"Yes, please take me as your disciple, Aunt!" Cao Dabao said, performing a passable apprenticeship salute.

"Alright, come stay at the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South for a few days," Li Xia invited Cao Dabao to stay at their mansion for a while.

"Great, I'll go pack!" With that, he turned and ran off.

"Xia Xia, I'm sorry to trouble you," Li Xin said helplessly. Cao Dabao was spoiled rotten by Lady Cao in the Cao Family. When she and Cao Fugui tried to discipline him, Lady Cao would interfere and not let them. Li Xin saw it all and was worried, but as a daughter-in-law, there were many things she couldn't say.

"I'll take Dabao back with me and have him train with the soldiers for a few days, so he understands what hard work is. Then he'll come back and study properly," Li Xia thought that studying wasn't the only path. Being good at martial arts wasn't bad either. But clearly, Li Xin didn't want Cao Dabao to go down that road.

Cao Dabao left with Li Xia without any reluctance. Although Lady Cao was very reluctant to let him go, Li Xia's current rank was even higher than hers.

Li Xia first took Cao Dabao to a bookstore. After four years of development, this bookstore had bought out the shops on either side and expanded to become one of the largest bookstores in the Capital City.

Seeing the carriage from the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, the shopkeeper hurried forward to welcome them. Li Xia went to the second floor, to the children's section. She picked out a batch of books for Cao Dabao to take back. Passing by Qingyue Street, she also took Cao Dabao to the Li Manor.

Mrs. Lu welcomed Li Xia and Cao Dabao warmly.

"Grandmother, I missed you so much!" Cao Dabao's little mouth was very sweet as he threw himself into Mrs. Lu's arms and showered her with affection.

"Grandmother missed Dabao too. Come, let's wipe off your sweat," Mrs. Lu took out a handkerchief to wipe Cao Dabao's sweat and ordered someone to bring Cao Dabao's favorite snacks to feed him.

"Mother, you chat with Dabao first. I'm going to see my elder brother and sister-in-law," Li Xia said, seeing the two of them talking.

"Go ahead," Knowing Li Xia had come back to see Li Hui about something, Mrs. Lu didn't ask further. She focused on playing with her grandson.

Li Xia went to Songtao Courtyard. The Chang'an Princess had caught a chill from the wind a few days ago. Li Hui was worried and had specially taken leave to stay home and take care of her.

"Sister-in-law, how are you feeling?" Li Xia came in and saw that the Chang'an Princess looked alright.

"It's just a bit of wind, nothing serious. You don't need to worry," the Chang'an Princess hadn't expected that just catching a chill would cause such a fuss.

"You're pregnant now, you need to take care of your health," Carrying twins was very risky.

Li Hui's concern warmed the Chang'an Princess's heart. She urged the two of them to go to the study. "Alright, I understand. You two go to the study to discuss your business."

Li Xia and Li Hui went to the study. "Elder brother, thank you."

Li Xia was forming the Women's Army at the border, and although she had the Token of Women Warriors, there was widespread opposition from the court and society. Especially many scholars, who used the argument that women should stay at home to support their husbands and teach their children as a reason to criticize Li Xia harshly.