With Escort Chief Wang as a witness, Escort Li sold herself to beco Li Xin's female bodyguard. She entrusted Escort Chief Wang to send the money from her sale to her family, as she did not want to face her family mbers.
Li Eri found her na unpleasant and asked Li Xin to give her a new na. After pondering for a long ti, Li Xin nad her Li Yu. With Li Yu by her side for protection, Li Hui naturally agreed.
Li Xin relaxed and pestered Li Xia to teach her carving. She was interested in the carving knife in Li Xia's hand. Because Li Xia said her accurate aim in shooting those river bandits was due to her carving skills.
Although Li Xia's statent sounded a bit far-fetched, everyone at the Li Manor, including the ard escort, believed it.
The people at the Li Manor were reminded by Li Hui. On the ard escort side, Li Hui also instructed Escort Chief Wang.
Escort Chief Wang almost lost his life this ti. This ti, Escort Chief Wang brought more than half of the ard escort's manpower. Most of them were injured here, and the ard escort could no longer operate. Even if Li Hui did not ntion it, Escort Chief Wang would remind his ard escort brothers not to disclose this matter. If disclosed, the ard escort's reputation would be ruined.
Li Xia was bored, so she was more than happy to teach Li Xin, who wanted to learn. Afterwards, on the carriage, she patiently taught Li Xin carving.
However, Li Xin might truly lack talent in this aspect. Additionally, the carriage was a bit bumpy, causing her to injure her hands a few tis. After being persuaded by others, she stopped carving.
Li Xin gazed at the exquisite human figures and floral patterns carved by Li Xia, marveling at them. Looking at her own wounded hands, she sighed, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses."
After half a month, the group finally arrived in the capital city before nightfall. Seeing the short line, they could enter the city before the gates closed.
The towering city walls made one exclaim, "No wonder this is the capital of a nation!"
The line was not long, and they soon reached the front. Li Hui got off the carriage and showed the gatekeeper their travel permit. At this ti of year, many students from various places were entering the city to take the imperial exams. After checking their valid travel permit, the gatekeeper quickly allowed them to pass.
The Li family group entered the city. At the city gate, Lu Steward from the Lu family had been waiting for five days. Seeing the carriages marked with the "Li" character, he approached to confirm if they were from the Li Manor in Liuzhou.
Steward Zhao saw soone approaching and stepped forward to speak. After confirming each other's identities, Li Hui got off the carriage to greet Lu Steward.
"Young Master Li, the Old Madam and Lady have been eagerly awaiting your arrival since receiving the letter from your great-aunt," said Lu Steward, ready to lead the carriages to the Lu Manor.
"Lu Steward, my sister and I have been traveling and are dusty, so it would not be appropriate to et our grandmother and uncle's family right away. Let us first rest at Osmanthus Alley tonight, and we will pay respects to our grandmother, uncle, and aunt tomorrow morning." Before coming, Mrs. Lu had told Li Hui not to stay at the Lu Manor.
The Old Madam Lu and Uncle Lu were fine. However, the current Lu Madam, Li Hui's Aunt Lu, was not an easy person to get along with. Mrs. Lu had told Li Hui that they could visit Old Madam Lu at the Lu Manor, but they should stay at the residence on Osmanthus Alley, which was Mrs. Lu's dowry property.
Lu Steward was aware of this before coming. In her previous letter, Mrs. Lu had ntioned that Li Hui would stay at Osmanthus Alley and not reside at the Lu Manor for long periods, although Old Madam Lu wished for her grandchildren to live at the Lu Manor.
Now, with Lu Madam running the Lu Manor, she did not have much affection for her sister-in-law Mrs. Lu. As Lu Madam's trusted steward, Lu Steward naturally sided with his mistress, so his earlier invitation for them to stay lacked sincerity.
Lu Steward returned to report to his mistress that the Li family had arrived in the capital and would visit the next day. The Li family mbers headed towards Osmanthus Alley.
Since Li Hui was going to the capital to take the imperial exams, Mrs. Lu had written a year earlier to have soone clean and furnish the residence with new furniture, preparing for Li Hui's arrival. This residence on the inner part of Osmanthus Alley was a three-courtyard compound.
The first courtyard housed the study and reception hall. The second courtyard was where the male master rested, held discussions, and accommodated guests. A small garden separated the second and third courtyards, with the third courtyard being the living quarters for the won.
In the central courtyard of the third courtyard, Mrs. Lu and others would reside upon their return. Li Xin would live in the Fuqing Courtyard to the east. Li Xia and Nursemaid i would live in the Plum Blossom Pavilion to the west, which had a well-grown plum tree. Apart from the maids attending to their masters, the other maids and manservants resided in the two rows of houses behind the garden.
It was late when they arrived, so they did not tidy up much and hastily settled in. After resting overnight, the next day after breakfast, Li Hui took Li Xin and Li Xia to the Lu Manor.
Li Xia initially did not want to go, but the Lu Manor was still technically her husband's family, so it would be inappropriate not to visit. It was Li Xin's first ti visiting her grandmother's ho, and she felt a bit apprehensive, hoping Li Xia could accompany her.
Lu Steward and the Old Madam Lu's maid were waiting at the entrance early on. Upon seeing the Li family's carriages, they went to welco them. Lu Steward led the carriages to the back gate, while the maid escorted the three won to the Old Madam Lu's Eternal Bliss Pavilion.
Old Madam Lu had been waiting eagerly. She kept looking outside and asking her attendants if they had arrived, murmuring about the hardships they endured on their journey to the capital.
At one point, she ordered a maid to fetch bird's nest and ginseng from her storeroom to prepare a nourishing soup for the children.
Overhearing this, Lu Madam felt annoyed, thinking the Old Madam was doting too much on her grandchildren by giving them all sorts of precious items.
Li Xia followed Li Hui and Li Xin into the room. As soon as she entered, a warm blend of various fragrances assaulted her nose, almost making her sneeze. Fortunately, she knew this was not her ho, so Li Xia held it in and used her ability to refresh the air in her nostrils, making it easier to breathe.
Li Ming disliked fragrances, so the Li family rarely used powders or heavy scents. With such a strong fragrance now, not just Li Xia with her keen sense of sll, but even Li Hui and Li Xin felt a bit unaccustod. The two paused at the entrance to adjust before proceeding inside.
Maids placed three cushions, and Li Hui knelt first to kowtow to Old Madam Lu, "Grandson/granddaughter pays respects to you, Grandmother." Li Xin and Li Xia followed, kneeling to kowtow.
Old Madam Lu helped Li Hui and Li Xin up with one hand each, "Good children, quick, get up. Let have a good look at you." Her eyes reddened as she gazed at them, "Your mother was so heartless, abandoning for over a decade without a single visit. I don't know if I'll get to see her again."
Li Hui could still hold back, but facing Old Madam Lu's similar appearance to Mrs. Lu and recalling their arduous journey, Li Xin started crying. Li Xia felt awkward, unsure whether she should join in the crying or keep her head lowered, so she opted for the latter, bowing her head very low.
"Mother, Hui and Xin have arrived in the capital city. Going forward, we'll be able to see each other more often. It's a joyous occasion," Lu Madam encouraged everyone with a smile after waiting for a while.
Old Madam Lu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and nodded. "Yes, we should rejoice. You siblings have co to visit , so I should be happy." Saying this, Old Madam Lu personally used the handkerchief to wipe away Li Xin's tears.
With the room full of female relatives, Li Hui didn't linger. After paying his respects, he followed the servants and left for the front courtyard to et Lu's cousins.
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