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Lu XuanNing looked at the calm Li Xia, and in that moment he felt some resentment towards her. Why could she remain so composed? But this was Li Xia, the very thing that made his heart flutter. Cool and decisive when facing situations, never getting bogged down.

"I delivered New Year's gifts to two families today, I'm so tired," Li Xia reached out her hand to Lu XuanNing.

Lu XuanNing took Li Xia's hand and helped her sit down. He began to massage her, saying, "There are still a few more families. I'll go, you rest at home."

"Alright," Li Xia let out a comfortable sound.

With the master and mistress reconciled, the servants in the mansion also felt at ease. Lu Liucheng also breathed a sigh of relief. When parents don't get along, it's difficult for a son to know whose side to take.

Privately, Lu Liucheng still found Lu XuanNing and asked him to be more accommodating to his mother. What else could be done? Lu XuanNing couldn't beat Li Xia anyway.

On New Year's Eve, the four of them returned to the Beining Marquis Manor to spend the holiday with Marquis Lu and Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou's goal of strengthening ties with her natal family had not been achieved. She was unhappy and didn't give Li Xia a pleasant face.

Li Xia paid no attention to Lady Zhou's expression.

During the New Year's Eve dinner, Lu XuanNing barely ate anything himself. He was busy taking care of Li Xia the whole time, removing fish bones for her and deboning meat.

Lu XuanNing's attentive care for Li Xia irritated Lady Zhou. She couldn't stand seeing her son being so cautious and meticulous in caring for Li Xia. Angered, she put down her chopsticks and left without eating.

"You all keep eating," Marquis Lu told the others as he got up to comfort Lady Zhou.

"This fish is quite good, have some more," Lu XuanNing said as he placed a carefully deboned piece of fish in Li Xia's bowl.

Li Xia understood Lu XuanNing's intentions and dutifully ate the food he served her.

Lu Liucheng and Lu Xuanyu looked at the food in front of them, feeling somewhat full and unable to eat more. The two lowered their heads to eat, no longer watching the sickeningly sweet couple across from them.

On the first day of the New Year, Li Xia and Lu XuanNing first gave Lu Liucheng a red envelope in the Morning Dew Courtyard. Lu Liucheng was very happy to see the red envelope, which was larger than in previous years.

The family of three headed towards the main courtyard, meeting Lu Xuanyu who was waiting for them on the way.

Lu XuanNing and Li Xia also gave him a thick red envelope.

Arriving at the main courtyard, they found Marquis Lu and Lady Zhou sitting formally, waiting for them to pay their New Year respects. It was unclear how Marquis Lu had placated her, but Lady Zhou showed no signs of anger and even smiled.

While Marquis Lu and Lady Zhou stayed at home, Lu XuanNing and the other three went out to pay New Year visits to relatives and friends. They conveyed their blessings to each household, also making their final farewells.

On the Lantern Festival, Lu XuanNing and Li Xia left others behind to view the lanterns alone. The transparent lantern lights reminded Li Xia of her first meeting with Lu XuanNing. At that time, she was just a little girl who only thought about tricking money from her aunt to buy delicious food.

"What are you thinking about?" Lu XuanNing bought lanterns, preparing for them to release together.

Li Xia leaned against Lu XuanNing, watching the lanterns float away. "Lu XuanNing, I'm very happy to be your wife."

Lu XuanNing held Li Xia's hand tightly. "Being your husband is also my greatest happiness."

"Let's go home," Lu XuanNing said as he stood up and carried Li Xia on his back.

Returning home, they encountered Zhou Heng, whom they hadn't seen in many years.

"Why are you here?" Li Xia was surprised to see Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng didn't speak, but reached out to take Li Xia's pulse.

"My lady, the tangyuan is ready," Qiushui's voice came from the doorway.

"I'm going to eat tangyuan," Li Xia turned and left.

"Is there really no way at all?" Lu XuanNing looked at Zhou Heng with hope in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Zhou Heng truly had no solution. Li Xia's body couldn't hold on much longer. The fact that she had lived safely for these few years was already beyond Zhou Heng's expectations.

Li Xia brought in three bowls of tangyuan. "Where's Zhou Heng?"

"He went to the guest room to freshen up," Lu XuanNing sat down and took a bowl of tangyuan. The two sat down to eat.

Zhou Heng soon arrived and picked up a bowl of tangyuan to eat.

"Qing Niang is such a good girl, why did you let her go?" Li Xia was very dissatisfied that Zhou Heng and Qing Niang hadn't ended up together.

"Our age difference is too great, it's not suitable," Zhou Heng's words made Li Xia roll her eyes at him. It was all just excuses.

"Fortunately, Cheng'er took you as his master. Otherwise, you'd be a lonely old man in the future," Li Xia's words made Zhou Heng choke a bit. Lu Liucheng taking Zhou Heng as his master was an arrangement forced by Li Xia.

Besides, Zhou Heng didn't think there was anything wrong with being alone.

"Father, Mother, Master, how could you eat tangyuan without waiting for me?" Lu Liucheng returned with a lantern, his face full of joy, only to see the three elders eating tangyuan.

Qiushui brought out tangyuan, and Lu Liucheng took it and sat down to eat.

"Lu Liucheng, what's going on with your face?" Sitting closer, Li Xia noticed a rouge mark on Lu Liucheng's face.

"It's nothing," Lu Liucheng said as he wiped his face, turning away to avoid Li Xia's gaze. In his mind, he thought of the young girl he had met at the lantern festival.

"Did you go to a brothel?" Li Xia's words made all three men cough simultaneously.

"No, Mother, what are you saying?" Lu Liucheng nearly choked on Li Xia's words. Lu XuanNing patted Lu Liucheng's back.

"Then what's that mark on your face?" Li Xia wouldn't let Lu Liucheng off the hook.

Seeing that Li Xia wouldn't drop it, Lu Liucheng had to explain that on the street, he saw someone harassing a young lady and intervened to save her. He was accidentally bumped during the incident.

This matter could affect the young lady's reputation, so he didn't want to speak of it. He hadn't expected Li Xia's imagination to be so vivid.

"Which family's young lady? Did you take a liking to her?" Li Xia could tell from Lu Liucheng's expression that there was more to the story.

"Mother, don't, don't say such things," Lu Liucheng waved his hands to deny it. But his expression betrayed him.

"Tell us, which family is she from?" Li Xia was curious to know. Lu XuanNing and Zhou Heng also had expressions that encouraged him to speak.

"The daughter of the Minister of War," Lu Liucheng couldn't resist his mother's inquiry and revealed the girl's identity.

"The Minister of War, Wen Yuke, is a capable official favored by the new emperor as a pillar of the state," Lu XuanNing knew who the Minister of War was, but wasn't familiar with his daughter's situation.

"My son has excellent taste," Li Xia praised, causing Lu Liucheng to run away in embarrassment. He couldn't stay in the room any longer.

Late at night, Zhou Heng couldn't sleep. He got up and lay on the roof, gazing at the full moon of the fifteenth day. Li Xia walked to his side and handed him a jug of wine. "Have a drink with me."

Zhou Heng took it and had a sip. "If you have something to say, just say it."

"Please take good care of Cheng'er for me," Li Xia sat down beside him.

"As you said, I'm relying on him to support me in my old age," Zhou Heng's words made Li Xia laugh.

"Zhou Heng, having a friend like you has been worth it," Li Xia said. Zhou Heng didn't respond, just continued drinking.

After accompanying Zhou Heng to finish a jug of wine, Li Xia floated back down.

Returning to the room, she found Lu XuanNing waiting for her.

Leaning in Lu XuanNing's arms, Li Xia closed her eyes to rest.

As the two rested, they didn't notice the faint glow emitted by the bracelets on their wrists, absorbing the moonlight.