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"It's quite boring staying indoors all the time during the New Year. Let's see what the Xu Family has to say. Besides, they keep coming every day, which is annoying. Meeting them once will get rid of them for good."

"I'll go see them, you shouldn't," Lu XuanNing didn't want Li Xia to meet the Xu Family, fearing another incident might occur.

"Don't worry, I won't make the same mistake twice," Li Xia said, gesturing for Qiu Kui to bring in the Xu Family.

"I'll accompany you," Lu XuanNing insisted, not comfortable with Li Xia meeting the Xu Family alone.

Knowing Lu XuanNing was concerned, Li Xia didn't object. They went together to the front courtyard to meet the Xu Family. Lu XuanNing supported the pale-faced Li Xia as they entered the room.

The Xu Family members, finally allowed into the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, saw Lu XuanNing carefully supporting Li Xia as they entered. Their hearts sank; after a month, Li Xia's complexion was still so poor, indicating her injury must have been severe.

They began to doubt Xu Yiyou's claim that she hadn't stabbed deeply and that Li Xia's injury wasn't serious.

"Xia Xia," Madam Jiang stepped forward, intending to support Li Xia, but was stopped by Lu XuanNing's fierce gaze.

After Li Xia sat down, she patted Lu XuanNing's hand, signaling him not to be angry.

Looking at the Xu Family members, she said, "Uncle, Aunt, please sit."

Seeing Li Xia's tone was still cordial, the Xu Family members felt slightly relieved and sat down. Madam Jiang said with a smile, "Xia Xia, we've come to see how you're recovering."

"Quite well," Li Xia said, followed by a light cough. Lu XuanNing poured water and helped Li Xia drink, attending to her meticulously. This behavior left the Xu Family men speechless, wondering how a grown man could wait on a woman like this. The Xu Family women, however, were envious.

"Xia Xia, I'm here to apologize on behalf of Yiyou," Madam Jiang said, still feeling sorry for her daughter. This statement made the Xu Family men's faces darken. They hadn't come today to apologize for Xu Yiyou.

"Haven't I already forgiven her?" Li Xia's tone was puzzled. She had already forgiven Xu Yiyou, so what more was there to forgive? Li Xia's confused expression made Madam Jiang unable to continue what she was about to say.

Glancing at Xu Xinyong, Madam Jiang still spoke up, "Xia Xia, we're still family after all. What's wrong with being family? Once we talk things through, it'll be fine. We shouldn't let such a small matter ruin the harmony between us."

"Who's family with you?" Lu XuanNing was clearly angered by Madam Jiang's words. The sound of him slamming down his cup made the Xu Family members jump.

Madam Jiang looked at Li Xia, hoping she would say something. But Li Xia just lowered her head, looking at her fingers, wondering if Qiu Ling had found someone who could dye nails green. Her nails looked unsightly due to her injury; she needed to change their color.

"No need to look at Xia Xia, I'm in charge of this household," Lu XuanNing spoke up, drawing the Xu Family's attention to himself. With a cold gaze, he looked at them, "Your Xu Family has quite a few problems. We've let you off easy for Xia Xia's sake. If you don't know when to quit, I wouldn't mind sending you all back to the frontier."

"You—" Xu Xinyong stood up, slamming the table, about to say something. But Xu Xincheng stopped him.

Li Xia raised her head to look at them, "Uncle, Aunt, I'm not feeling well. The imperial physician said I need to rest quietly, so I won't see you out."

The Xu Family members left in a sorry state, inwardly furious at Lu's family and Li Xia for abandoning them in their time of need, but they dared only curse silently in their hearts.

The Xu Family members then wanted to go to the Wang Family to find Xu Xinyue, but were chased out by Xu Xinyue herself with a big stick. Xu Xinyue's decade-long rose-tinted view of the Xu Family completely shattered at that moment.

Hearing this, Li Xia breathed a sigh of relief. If Xu Xinyue had come to plead for the Xu Family, it would have been quite difficult for Li Xia to handle.

Lu XuanNing brought in a letter and handed it to Li Xia. It was from Luo Shan.

"Oh, he regrets it now," Li Xia's tone was full of disdain; she had no good feelings towards Luo Shan at all.

"It's true that Luo Shan was lax in managing his subordinates," Lu XuanNing was also very displeased with Luo Shan. Fortunately, Luo Shan had voluntarily admitted his fault afterward and put in a great effort. He had helped them deal with the Third Prince as well.

"Qiu Kui has been by my side since she was little. I won't ask her to do anything she doesn't like," Li Xia fully respected whatever Qiu Kui wanted to do.

Qiu Kui knew it was Luo Shan who had leaked the information that harmed Li Xia. After a night of contemplation, she gave up on pursuing Luo Shan further.

"You don't have to do this for me," Li Xia said. She felt it was normal for someone to seek revenge when she had killed people.

"It's not because of you, Miss. Luo Shan's entanglement with Mei Sanniang made me realize that he's not suitable for me," Qiu Kui could have given up serving Li Xia for Luo Shan. But she couldn't forgive the fact that Li Xia was hurt because of Luo Shan.

Luo Shan didn't want to see her either, which was just as well since she didn't need to say anything more. Qiu Kui packed her things and returned to the Marquis Mansion to take care of Li Xia. Qiu Shui was the happiest about Qiu Kui's return. The newly promoted maids weren't always up to par, making Qiu Shui uneasy. With Qiu Kui serving Li Xia, Qiu Shui felt more at ease.

"Luo Shan regrets it now," Li Xia took out the letter Luo Shan had written to her. In the letter, he admitted all his mistakes and was willing to do anything to make amends. He only hoped that Li Xia would let Qiu Kui leave.

Qiu Kui read the letter and instead felt truly at peace, "He never understood me." Returning to Li Xia's side was never forced, but her own willing choice. It was Qiu Kui who had given up on Luo Shan.

"Madam, I've just realized how despicable Luo Shan is. When I liked him, he avoided me every day. Now that I've let go, he pulls this stunt," Qiu Kui's tone carried a hint of resentment, showing she hadn't completely let go of Luo Shan.

"What do you want to do? I'll support you no matter what," Li Xia was always lenient towards those close to her.

"Madam, I don't want anything," Qiu Kui said truthfully. She really didn't want anything at the moment.

Staying in the mansion, constantly managed by Lu XuanNing and Lu Liucheng who wouldn't let her do anything, Li Xia found this New Year extremely boring.

Qiu Ling walked in with a joyful expression. "You look so happy, did Xiao Changning send you something nice?" Li Xia asked.

With a month left until their wedding in March, Xiao Changning had been taken back by his family. After all, who would stay at the bride's house so close to the wedding? He came to the mansion every other day to treat the old Marquis, which was enough.

After returning home, Xiao Changning missed his fiancée terribly and sent gifts to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South every day.

Thinking of Xiao Changning's actions, Qiu Ling felt both sweet and helpless. However, her happiness today wasn't because of Xiao Changning, but because of the task Li Xia had given her before the New Year. "Madam, I've found someone who can dye nails green," she announced.

"Really? Where is this person? Qiu Chan, go prepare the carriage, we're going," Li Xia was eager to go, not wanting to wait a moment longer now that there was news.

"Madam, that person lives in Ten Mile Town. If we leave now, we won't reach Ten Mile Town before dark," Qiu Ling stopped Li Xia.

It was indeed quite far. Blocked from leaving, Li Xia calculated the time and realized it wasn't enough.

"Qiu Chan, doesn't Cheng Cheng have a day off in the next day or two?" Li Xia asked Qiu Chan after some thought.

"Yes, Madam," Qiu Chan confirmed after thinking for a moment.

"Qiu Shui, make preparations. We're going to Ten Mile Town for a two-day trip," Li Xia announced.