abcnovels
Chapter 256
Chapter 256
Lu Xuanyu watched from the side, envying the intimate relationship between his brother and sister-in-law. He also envied the closeness between Lu Liucheng and his parents. These were things he couldn't obtain from the Zhou family and Lord Lu.0
As he thought about this, a beautiful silhouette flashed through Lu Xuanyu's mind.0
"Your brother seems to have his eye on someone," Li Xia whispered to Lu XuanNing, noticing Lu Xuanyu's expression.0
"He's taken a liking to Yu Yu," Lu XuanNing directly stated who Lu Xuanyu was interested in.0
"That will be difficult for him," Yu Yu was definitely not a daughter-in-law candidate the Zhou family would approve of.0
"Xuanyu will figure out a way himself," Lu XuanNing had no intention of interfering in this matter.0
"Can you really bear to stay out of it?" After several years in the Southern Frontier, Li Xia could see that Lu XuanNing had been raising Lu Xuanyu like a son.0
"I can bear it," if one couldn't even marry the person they liked, what was the point of liking someone?0
"Uncle, let's leave here," Lu Liucheng really didn't want to watch his parents being lovey-dovey.0
The next day, Lu XuanNing and Li Xia went to the jade shop and selected suitable jade for carving Buddha statues. Li Xia also picked out some other pieces she liked and had them sent back to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South.0
As they were still in mourning, the couple headed home after selecting the jade, without lingering to browse.0
With Lu XuanNing's assistance, Li Xia quickly completed carving the jade Buddha.0
Many people attended Mrs. Lu's birthday banquet. Li Xia presented her gift and wished Mrs. Lu blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity like the ancient pines of Nanshan Mountain. Mrs. Lu was very pleased with Li Xia's jade Buddha and had it placed in the family shrine.0
"The fifteenth is in two days. I've arranged to go pray with your mother. You should come too," Mrs. Lu hoped Li Xia would join them to pray and dispel some of the violent energy she had acquired from years of fighting alongside Lu XuanNing.0
Li Xia agreed.0
Li Hui called Li Xia to his study and fell silent, looking at her. "Big brother, what's wrong?" she asked.0
"Master Chisongzi passed away a year ago."0
"And?" Li Xia didn't understand what Master Chisongzi's death had to do with her.0
"Before he died, he asked me to give this to you," Li Hui said, taking a box from his drawer and handing it to Li Xia.0
"What's inside?" Li Xia didn't take it.0
"I don't know." Li Hui hadn't opened it. When he received the box, he had a bad feeling about it. He hadn't sent it to Li Xia while she was at the border.0
Even after Li Xia returned to the capital, he had been reluctant to give it to her. Even now, Li Hui was hesitating whether to give it to Li Xia or not.0
Li Xia reached out and took the box but didn't open it. Instead, she smiled and said, "I've never even met him, yet I've received two gifts from him."0
Back at the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South, Li Xia put the box in a drawer, not wanting to open it.0
On the fifteenth, she went to the Li family early to accompany her two mothers to pray at Qingan Temple. The Chang'an Princess and Li Xin also brought their children along. The group traveled by carriage to the temple outside the city.0
Lu Liucheng and Cao Dabao, unable to sit still, rode ahead on horseback.0
"I wish Xi'er could be more like Chengcheng and Dabao," sighed the Chang'an Princess, watching the distant figures.0
"Xi'er is so good at his studies and well-behaved. How is that not better? Look at Chengcheng, asking him to study is like pulling teeth," Li Xia quite liked Li Xi's calm temperament.0
"Exactly. Dabao is the same. His handwriting is truly painful to look at," Li Xin added, also exasperated with Cao Dabao.0
"If Dabao isn't doing well, at least Erbao is good. Look how well-behaved he is," Li Xia said, admiring Cao Erbao who sat quietly reading a book.0
"Erbao is very obedient," Li Xin admitted, though sometimes he worried the boy was too obedient.0
"And the twins are so adorable," the Chang'an Princess's boy-girl twins were greatly favored by the Empress Dowager. As soon as Mrs. Lu's birthday was over, she had eagerly summoned them to the palace.0
"Chengcheng is good at martial arts and has a strong body. Xi'er just reads all day and doesn't exercise. He catches a cold as soon as the weather turns. It worries me to death," the Chang'an Princess fretted over her children.0
"Let's stop bragging about our kids," Li Xin said with a laugh. The three women exchanged glances and smiled. For a moment, it felt like they were back to their unmarried days, going out together.0
At Qingan Temple, led by the abbot, they paid respects to Buddha, offered incense, and donated a generous sum. The group then toured the temple grounds. Due to a murder case that had occurred years ago, guards were now stationed throughout Qingan Temple.0
While walking in the temple, Li Xia encountered Master Hui Zhen. "Master, it's been a long time," she greeted casually.0
"It has indeed been a while, benefactor," he replied.0
Li Xia stepped aside to let Master Hui Zhen pass, but he invited her, "This humble monk has recently acquired some excellent lotus seed tea. Would the benefactor care to sample it?"0
Surprised by Master Hui Zhen's invitation for tea, Li Xia followed him to a pavilion. She drank a cup of the lotus seed tea, finding it somewhat bitter and not particularly tasty.0
After bidding farewell to Master Hui Zhen, she rejoined her family and they returned home.0
Two days later, news came that Master Hui Zhen had passed away.0
Upon hearing the news, Li Xia took out two boxes from her drawer and opened them. One contained the Buddhist prayer beads Master Hui Zhen had once given her. The other held the bracelet Master Chisongzi had sent.0
Lu XuanNing walked in holding a box, and seeing Li Xia deep in thought, felt a sudden unease. However, he spoke in a light tone, "Xia Xia, look what I found!"0
"What is it?" Li Xia looked up as Lu XuanNing opened the box. Inside, pearls emitted a soft glow.0
"Night-shining pearls," years ago, Li Xia had dived into the sea on Lu XuanNing's birthday to find night-shining pearls but hadn't succeeded. Lu XuanNing had always remembered and wanted to find some to give Li Xia as a gift.0
Heaven rewards the persistent, and Lu XuanNing had finally found some. He eagerly brought them to Li Xia, seeking her approval.0
"They're beautiful," Li Xia admired the egg-sized night-shining pearls, surprised by their size.0
As Li Xia examined the pearls closely, Lu XuanNing noticed the two well-worn bracelets in the other box, which he had never seen before.0
"This one is from Master Hui Zhen, and this one is from Master Chisongzi," Li Xia set down the night-shining pearls and put Master Hui Zhen's bracelet on her own wrist, then placed Master Chisongzi's on Lu XuanNing's.0
Remembering what Li Hui had once said about Li Xia falling unconscious after meeting Master Hui Zhen, Lu XuanNing hurriedly tried to remove the bracelet from Li Xia's wrist.0
"Lu XuanNing, the time has come," Li Xia's words were calm. So calm that Lu XuanNing found it cruel. How could she be so serene?0
"You promised you'd stay with me forever. You promised you wouldn't leave me. You promised me," Lu XuanNing held Li Xia tightly, as if this could prevent her from leaving.0
Suddenly thinking of something, Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia. "Let's go find Zhou Heng. He must have a way. He cured you before, he must be able to cure you again."0
"Zhou Heng has already done more than enough for me. This time, there's nothing he can do," Li Xia's words made Lu XuanNing disbelieve.0
"Lu XuanNing, I want to leave happily. You need to smile," Li Xia's words were too much for Lu XuanNing, and he turned and left.0
"My lady, what's wrong with the master?" Lu XuanNing's strange behavior worried Qiu Shui.0
"He'll be fine. Qiu Shui, the New Year is coming soon. How are the preparations going?" Li Xia's calmness reassured Qiu Shui, who began to discuss the New Year preparations.0