The Daily Life of a Female Esper in Ancient Times

Chapter 199

Looking at the little person in front of her, Chang'an's mind went blank. "Sister Xia, your way of persuading people is always so unique."

"As long as it works," Li Xia's words made Chang'an laugh out loud. The palace maids attending to Chang'an outside the room were surprised to hear the princess laugh so heartily. It seemed that the Marchioness of Pacifying the South was very much to the princess's liking.

Li Xia, carrying Lu Liucheng, accompanied Chang'an until Li Hui returned. Only then did she take Lu Liucheng and Lu XuanNing back to the Orchid Courtyard.

Lu XuanNing wanted to hold Lu Liucheng, but because he had been drinking, Lu Liucheng was unwilling to be held by him. The child dodged the approaching large hands and clung tightly to Li Xia.

"It seems the child takes after me in this regard," Li Xia said with amusement. She didn't like the smell of alcohol either.

Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia plaintively; he hadn't wanted to drink either. He had only drunk so much to shield Li Hui from having to drink more.

Upon returning to the Orchid Courtyard, Lu XuanNing went to take a bath, clearing away most of the alcohol smell. Only then did Lu Liucheng reluctantly allow Lu XuanNing to touch him. However, the child's previously favorite activity of cuddling with his father was now absent.

This amused Li Xia, who gestured for the wet nurse to take away the sleeping Lu Liucheng.

She helped Lu XuanNing to bed. Once he was settled, Lu XuanNing embraced Li Xia.

Li Xia remained still, looking into Lu XuanNing's dark eyes. Since Li Xia's body pain had recurred, Lu XuanNing had been afraid of hurting her and dared not touch her.

Lu XuanNing reached out to caress Li Xia's face, lifting his head.

The next day, Li Xia and Lu XuanNing woke to the sound of Dan Qing knocking on the door. Amidst the servants' hurried bustling, they dressed and prepared themselves, then took Lu Liucheng to the Wild Goose Pavilion. They managed to take their seats before the bride and groom arrived.

As Princess Chang'an was of noble status, when she arrived, Li Ming and Mrs. Lu stood up to pay their respects. However, Chang'an quickly stopped them, saying, "I've married into the Li family, so I'm now a daughter-in-law of the Li family. From now on, we won't stand on ceremony regarding my princess status at home."

Li Ming and Mrs. Lu sat in the seats of honor. Li Hui and Chang'an only needed to offer them tea as a sign of respect. As for kneeling cushions, Mrs. Lu hadn't even had them set out.

After drinking the tea personally offered by Princess Chang'an, Li Ming and Mrs. Lu gave them gift money for the name change.

Li family's younger brothers and sisters came forward to pay their respects to the couple. Chang'an gave them gift money for the name change, while Li Xia's gift was that hairpin.

After breakfast, Li Xia and Lu XuanNing announced their departure. They needed to return to the Marquis's mansion, but before that, they first went to visit Li Xin at the Cheng'en Marquis Cao family's residence.

Li Xin was lying in bed, looking very weak. She was delighted to see Lu Liucheng and wanted to reach out to hold him, but realizing her current condition, she withdrew her hand.

"Cheng'er has grown a bit taller," Li Xin said, gesturing with her fingers to show the difference.

"Has he? I hadn't noticed," Li Xia said, examining Lu Liucheng, who still looked like a tiny tot to her.

"You see him every day, so you can't tell," Li Xin said, touching Lu Liucheng's little hand. Lu Liucheng grasped Li Xin's frail fingers.

"Sister, haven't you been eating since you got pregnant? You've lost so much weight," Li Xia said, distressed at seeing Li Xin so thin.

"It'll get better after these two months," Li Xin replied. She hadn't expected her morning sickness to be so severe.

Dan Ting entered carrying some food. Li Xia saw it was just a bowl of plain porridge.

"Is this all you're giving your mistress to eat?" Li Xia's tone carried a hint of anger. What nutrition could plain porridge provide?

"Xia Xia, don't blame them. Right now, plain porridge is all I can keep down," Li Xin explained, defending her maids.

"Second Young Miss, we've tried many things for the mistress, but she can't eat anything else," Dan Ting said, also feeling distressed for her mistress.

"Sister, is there anything you want to eat?" Li Xia asked Li Xin if she had any cravings.

Li Xin, who had only managed to drink two mouthfuls of porridge before stopping, leaned back against the bed. She thought for a moment, hesitating.

"Sister, whatever you want to eat, I'll get it for you." Li Xia's determination suggested that even if Li Xin wanted dragon liver or phoenix marrow, she would somehow procure it.

"I want to eat the grilled fish you make," Li Xin's words made Li Xia pause for a moment. "Did I ever make grilled fish?" she couldn't remember.

On the way to the capital, when Li Xin was feeling down because of the Zhang family affair and couldn't eat, Li Xia had caught a fish and grilled it for her to cheer her up. Although it was a bit burnt, Li Xia's thoughtfulness had dispelled the gloom in Li Xin's heart.

Li Xia finally remembered, "I'll go grill some fish."

Hearing that Li Xin had something she wanted to eat, Dan Ting went to the kitchen to give instructions. Soon, the kitchen sent up firewood, fish, and various seasonings. The fish had already been prepared, and Li Xia, recalling from memory, rubbed on the seasonings. Li Yu lit the fire.

Li Xin sat next to Li Xia, offering suggestions, saying she wanted it a bit spicier. Li Xia added some chili peppers.

Cao Fugui and Lu XuanNing, who had arrived after hearing the news, walked in to see Li Xia and Li Xin sitting together grilling fish. They each held skewered fish over the fire.

Lu Liucheng, held in Li Xia's arms, was making excited noises and trying to reach for the fish. Li Xia mischievously extended his hand towards the fire, but the heat scared him, and he hugged Li Xia, pulling back. Li Xin laughed continuously at the mother and son's antics.

Seeing the two men enter, Li Xia handed Lu Liucheng to Lu XuanNing. Lu Liucheng fell into Lu XuanNing's arms, ignoring his naughty mother.

Cao Fugui sat down next to Li Xin. Li Xin's smile faded slightly. Cao Fugui reached out to take the fish from Li Xin's hand. Li Xin let go and moved closer to Li Xia to talk.

"Xia Xia, the fish is almost done," Li Xin said. Li Xia brought it closer to inspect and saw that it was indeed cooked. She held the fish to Li Xin's mouth, saying, "Try it. Has my cooking improved?"

Li Xin took a small bite. Cao Fugui watched anxiously from the side.

Li Xin chewed carefully, waiting for the nausea to hit. When it didn't come, she said, "It tastes great."

"If it's good, eat more," Li Xia said, handing the fish to Li Xin. Li Xin took it and ate half the fish.

As she was about to eat more, Cao Fugui stopped her. "You've been eating only plain porridge lately. Eating too much fish at once might upset your stomach."

Li Xin put down the grilled fish. Li Xia had grilled two more, which she shared with Lu XuanNing, one each. Li Xia deliberately brought the fish close to Lu Liucheng, and when he opened his mouth, she cruelly pulled it away. After being teased a few times, Lu Liucheng had enough and was about to cry.

Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia indulgently. As Lu Liucheng was about to cry, he stood up to comfort him and stop his tears.

"I once thought we would be like them," Li Xin said, her eyes flashing with envy.

"Of course we will be," Cao Fugui answered with certainty.

Li Xin didn't respond, instead gesturing for Li Yu to help her back to her room. Cao Fugui wanted to follow, but a glance from Li Xin made him stop in his tracks.

"What have you done to wrong my sister?" Li Xia's cold voice sounded from behind him.

"I haven't done anything to wrong Xin'er," Cao Fugui answered firmly, but his response didn't satisfy Li Xia. She exchanged a glance with Lu XuanNing before walking into the room, intending to ask Li Xin directly.

Inside the room, Li Xin drank some water and leaned back on the bed, her expression somewhat dejected.

Li Xia entered, while Li Yu and Dan Ting withdrew, leaving the sisters space to talk.

"What's wrong? Tell me," Li Xia said, sitting down in front of Li Xin.

Li Xin sighed and explained. The root of the issue was her pregnancy. Lady Cao had subtly hinted to Li Xin about arranging a concubine for Cao Fugui.

While Li Xin was still undecided about whether to arrange a concubine for Cao Fugui, her personal maid Dan Qing had developed her own designs.