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"How could I let others bully my sister?" Li Hui's words made Li Xia feel touched and proud to have such a good older brother.

"I'm truly lucky to have been born into the Li family, with such a wonderful mother, older brother, and sister."

"Father also put in a lot of effort," Li Hui said, knowing Li Xia didn't think highly of Li Ming, but feeling it needed to be said.

"I know, Father is not bad," Li Xia replied, aware that Li Ming wasn't an exemplary father, but he hadn't neglected his duties either.

"Don't try to tough it out, if you're in pain, say so," Li Hui said, patting Li Xia's body.

Li Xia's face changed color briefly before quickly recovering. "Brother, when did you start studying medicine?" That pat had hit a sore spot.

Li Hui had been in constant contact with Zhou Heng and knew where Li Xia was hurting badly. He had also borrowed many medical books from the Imperial Academy of Medicine to study. The more he learned, the more his heart ached for Li Xia's endurance.

"Xia Xia, don't bear it alone. I'm here for you."

"Brother, pain is proof that I'm alive." Li Xia's words confused Li Hui; he couldn't understand why she would think that way.

"Auntie!" Cao Dabao burst in, about to throw himself at Li Xia.

"Cao Dabao, don't be reckless!" Li Hui grabbed Cao Dabao's collar.

"Dabao, what's wrong?" Mrs. Lu, who had followed him in, hurried forward to rescue the uncomfortable Cao Dabao from Li Hui's grasp.

Cao Dabao leaned into Mrs. Lu's embrace, not daring to look at Li Hui. The boy feared nothing except his uncle Li Hui.

"Hui'er, Dabao is still young," Mrs. Lu said, causing Li Hui to feel somewhat helpless. Was this still the mother who had strictly taught him since childhood? She seemed to have no bottom line when it came to doting on her grandson and great-grandson.

"Mother, Dabao was about to jump on me just now. I was holding hot tea," Li Xia spoke up to defend Li Hui. Mrs. Lu noticed the hot tea in Li Xia's hand.

"Mom, Dabao isn't little anymore. You can't keep indulging him like this," Li Hui took the opportunity to speak to Mrs. Lu.

"Alright, I understand," Mrs. Lu accepted Li Hui's words, clearly in the wrong. But whether she would actually change was another matter.

"Dabao, if it weren't for your uncle just now, this cup of hot tea would have spilled all over you," Li Xia walked over to Cao Dabao with the cup, lightly touching his finger with the side of the cup.

Cao Dabao's hand was scalded, and he quickly pulled it back.

"It's hot, isn't it? Next time, don't be so reckless, you could hurt yourself," Li Xia placed the teacup on a nearby table.

Cao Dabao knew he had made a mistake and mumbled an acknowledgment.

"So Dabao, your uncle saved you. What should you do?" Li Xia looked at Cao Dabao.

Cao Dabao looked towards Li Hui and walked over. "Uncle, I was wrong. It won't happen again."

"It's good that you recognize your mistake. Don't be reckless in the future," Li Hui grunted. Cao Dabao mumbled in agreement, looking up at Li Hui.

"Good," Cao Dabao responded loudly, then turned to look at his aunt with an expression seeking praise.

"Our Dabao is a good boy who knows how to correct his mistakes. Good children deserve rewards, so Auntie will grant you one wish," Li Xia said, patting Cao Dabao's head.

"Auntie, I want a real knife," Cao Dabao said. Li Xin had only given the children wooden knives to prevent injury, but after seeing how impressive his father's knife was, Cao Dabao wanted a real one.

Li Xia didn't refuse outright, instead asking, "Dabao, why do you want a real knife?" Although Cao Dabao was only five years old, Li Xia spoke to him not as a child, but as an equal.

"Knives are cool, like Father. They're impressive," Cao Dabao said, mimicking wearing a knife at his waist.

"The Yanling knife is a saber that only officials and soldiers can wear. Dabao, you're a child now, so you can't wear a Yanling knife," Li Xia explained. Hearing he couldn't have one, Cao Dabao pouted, "Auntie, you're lying."

"What am I lying about?" Li Xia asked.

"Lying," Cao Dabao kept repeating, pouting. Li Hui frowned, about to say something, but Mrs. Lu stopped him.

"Dabao, are you an official?" Li Xia asked, holding Cao Dabao's hand.

"I'm a child," Cao Dabao said, turning his head away.

"Dabao needs to grow up quickly, or else Auntie will really become a liar," Li Xia said, gesturing to show Cao Dabao's height.

"I'll grow up very, very fast," Cao Dabao said, cheering up at the possibility.

"Let's make a pinky promise. When you grow up, Auntie will give you a Yanling knife, okay?" Li Xia proposed.

"Pinky promise!" Cao Dabao held out his little finger, and Li Xia linked her finger with his to seal the agreement.

"So Dabao, from now on, you need to eat more. Eating well will help you grow taller and older faster."

Mrs. Lu and Li Hui saw Li Xia and Cao Dabao off. Watching the departing carriage, Mrs. Lu remarked, "I never expected Xia Xia to be so good at teaching children."

"Xia Xia has always been impressive, it's just that..." Li Hui didn't finish his sentence, leaving unsaid "she's unwilling to speak or act."

Li Xia took Cao Dabao to pick up Lu Liucheng from school.

Seeing the carriage coming to pick him up, Lu Liucheng ran over and hugged Cao Dabao.

"Dabao!"

"Brother Cheng Cheng!"

Li Xin often took Cao Dabao to visit Lu Liucheng at the Beining Marquis Manor, and the cousins had a good relationship.

Lu Xuanyu walked over and bowed to Li Xia, "Sister-in-law."

"Xuanyu, there's no need for such formalities among family," Li Xia smiled.

"Sister-in-law, we mustn't neglect proper etiquette," Lu Xuanyu insisted.

Seeing this, Li Xia didn't press the matter further. She turned to Cao Dabao and Lu Liucheng, who were huddled together talking. "You two, stop chatting and get in the carriage."

"Okay," they replied in unison. Lu Liucheng helped Cao Dabao into the carriage, then turned to Lu Xuanyu, "Uncle, hurry up and get in."

Lu Xuanyu grunted in acknowledgment and boarded the carriage after the two boys.

On the way, Lu Liucheng and Cao Dabao excitedly discussed school matters. When they smelled something delicious, they pestered Li Xia to get it for them. Li Xia didn't refuse and even took the three of them to a restaurant for a meal.

As the dishes were being served, Lu XuanNing arrived.

"Father, you're so late. We're starving," Lu Liucheng said, clutching his stomach upon seeing Lu XuanNing.

"If you're hungry, let's eat," Lu XuanNing said after washing his hands. He sat down next to Li Xia and urged everyone to start eating.

Lu Liucheng and Lu Xuanyu had been strictly taught by Mrs. Zhou and had excellent table manners.

Five-year-old Cao Dabao was still clumsy with his eating. But Li Xia wouldn't allow the maids to feed him. She put a large cloth bib on Cao Dabao to prevent food from staining his clothes. She also rolled up and tied his sleeves to keep them from touching the food. After that, she let him eat as he pleased.

Lu Xuanyu, seeing Cao Dabao drop food for the fifth time, was about to reach out to help when Lu XuanNing used the serving chopsticks to place some fish in Lu Xuanyu's bowl.

"This fish is quite good, have some more," Lu XuanNing said. Lu Xuanyu looked at the fish in his bowl, then at Lu XuanNing and Li Xia, glanced at Cao Dabao, and then lowered his head to eat the fish.