The Daily Life of a Female Esper in Ancient Times - Chapter 217

Lu XuanNing received praise from all levels of the court and society. However, he wasn’t particularly happy about it. In Lu XuanNing’s heart, all these achievements belonged to Li Xia. He felt like he had stolen all of Li Xia’s military accomplishments, and considered himself a thief.

“What’s yours is mine,” Li Xia thought, watching Lu XuanNing go to bed later than a dog and wake up earlier than a rooster. Li Xia had no desire to live such a hard life. It was much better to lie back and enjoy everything Lu XuanNing had gained.

“Everything I have is yours,” Lu XuanNing said, grasping Li Xia’s hand tightly. All that he had belonged to Li Xia.

Li Xia and Lu XuanNing spent four years at the border, bringing new hope and vitality to the frontier. Their son, Lu Liucheng, was now 7 years old and had begun studying and practicing martial arts.

At first, Lu Liucheng’s letters were full of mistakes, making them difficult to read. Li Xia complained about this, saying, “Chengcheng must have inherited this from you. I was so smart when I was little.”

Lu XuanNing looked at Li Xia indulgently and said, “Yes, he’s like me. I was slow as a child.”

Of course, Lu XuanNing wouldn’t mention that he had learned from Li Hui that when Li Xia was young, she was most fond of being lazy. When writing letters, she would use circles instead of characters whenever possible. If it weren’t for her strict mother-in-law, who knows when she would have corrected this habit.

As Lu Liucheng grew older and learned more, his spelling mistakes decreased, but his handwriting became increasingly wild and unrestrained. Li Xia, upon receiving a new letter from home, said to Lu XuanNing, “This boy is a bit like me, he likes cursive script.”

“Yes, he’s like you,” Lu XuanNing agreed, not mentioning Li Xia’s inconsistency.

Zhou Heng, who was listening to the couple’s conversation nearby, felt exasperated. He tapped the table to get their attention.

Li Xia put down the letter, and she and Lu XuanNing sat down properly to listen to Zhou Heng.

“I’ve researched a new prescription,” Zhou Heng said, handing the couple his new formula. It contained seven herbs that Li Xia had never even heard of.

“Are you sure these are medicinal herbs? You didn’t just make these up, did you?” Li Xia asked skeptically.

“Don’t question me with your shallow medical knowledge,” Zhou Heng retorted.

“Where can we find these?” Lu XuanNing asked, gripping Li Xia’s hand tightly. Li Xia’s abilities had grown rapidly, but so had her pain. The previously researched formulas were no longer suitable.

Lu XuanNing had been working tirelessly to develop the border region, hoping to stabilize the Lu Family’s position so that he could dedicate more people and energy to finding medicine for Li Xia.

“Of these seven herbs, I know the location of three,” Zhou Heng said, giving Lu XuanNing the addresses. Lu XuanNing took them, intending to send people to search.

“What about the remaining four? Where can we find them?” Lu XuanNing asked.

“I don’t know,” Zhou Heng answered bluntly.

“So you did make it up,” Li Xia said, giving him a look that clearly showed her disbelief.

“I’ve only heard of these. I don’t know exactly where they are. But in this world, the best in medicine, apart from the Imperial Academy of Medicine, is Master Chisongzi,” Zhou Heng explained.

“Does Xiao Changyou know?” Lu XuanNing asked, ready to go find him.

“I’ve already asked him, and he doesn’t know. We’ll need to go back to the capital to check with the Imperial Academy of Medicine,” Zhou Heng said. He had already inquired with Xiao Changyou while researching the formula.

“We’ll return to the capital,” Lu XuanNing said firmly. It was time for them to go back anyway.

“I’ve already asked Tian Yi Pavilion to gather information about Master Chisongzi. The latest news is that he has been seen in the capital,” Zhou Heng added. He had come to discuss their return to the capital with the couple.

“I’ll handle the arrangements. We’ll leave for the capital in half a month,” Lu XuanNing said. Thinking of Li Xia’s constant pain, he wished they could leave immediately.

The capital sent military commanders and administrative officials to take over. They also brought the emperor’s decision regarding the 1000 Female Soldiers. The female soldier system would be permanently maintained in Crane City at the border. Every year, young women between 13 and 20 years old could apply to join. After serving for 5 to 10 years, they could retire and return home.

Li Xia stepped down from her position as the leader of the Female Soldiers, with Da Mei becoming the new female general. Da Mei had been the first to volunteer to follow Li Xia, and over the years, under Li Xia and Lu XuanNing’s guidance, she had become a qualified female leader. Li Xia felt at ease leaving the female troops in Da Mei’s hands.

After completing the handover, the Lu family prepared to return to the capital. Unlike their hurried journey to the border, they took their time on the return trip, carefully appreciating the mountains and rivers of their homeland.

It took four months to reach the capital. At the city gate, Lu XuanNing and Marquis Lu were summoned by the emperor’s men.

Li Xia led the rest of the group to the Beining Marquis Manor.

Old Marquis Lu and Lady Zhou were waiting there with Lu Xuanyu and Lu Liucheng. Seeing Li Xia arrive without Marquis Lu and Lu XuanNing, Lady Zhou looked a bit disappointed.

“At the city gate, my husband and father were taken away by men sent by His Majesty,” Li Xia explained as she approached Old Marquis Lu.

“Grandfather, your daughter-in-law has returned,” she said, giving a military salute.

Old Marquis Lu looked over his granddaughter-in-law, whom he hadn’t seen in four years. She had changed a lot, yet seemed unchanged at the same time. “It’s good that you’re back,” he said, then asked to be helped away. He wanted to tell his wife that their grandson and granddaughter-in-law had returned. The family was reunited.

Lu Xuanyu and Lu Liucheng looked at Li Xia curiously. Although they had been told she was their mother, Lu Liucheng didn’t approach her, instead sitting to the side and secretly watching her.

Lady Zhou asked Li Xia many questions about life at the border, mainly wanting to know how Lu XuanNing had fared. Although he had written about it in his letters, many things couldn’t be fully explained in just a few words.

Li Xia explained in detail, while keeping an eye on Lu Liucheng, noticing his small movements.

After lunch, when they returned to their rooms to rest, Li Xia finally had time to talk with Lu Liucheng. “Chengcheng, come here,” she called.

Lu Liucheng walked over to Li Xia with small steps. Li Xia took his hand and looked him over carefully.

“You’ve grown so much,” Li Xia said, her voice tinged with a hint of regret. When she left, this child couldn’t even speak, and now he was so big.

These words touched Lu Liucheng, and he called out, “Mother.”

“Oh, my son has grown so tall,” Li Xia said, reaching out to hug Lu Liucheng. He was still soft and adorable.

Held in her arms, Lu Liucheng reached out his small hands to hug Li Xia back, feeling her warmth and softly calling, “Mother.”

After a while, Lu Liucheng became restless. He was a big boy now. His teacher had said that boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven. Although he loved his mother’s embrace, he felt he shouldn’t be held by her.

Just as Lu Liucheng was about to struggle, Li Xia let go.

In the afternoon, the Lu father and son returned. The family of three bid farewell to their parents and grandfather and returned to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South. Lu Liucheng stayed close to Li Xia’s side, looking at her. So this was what having a mother felt like? It was wonderful. Lu Liucheng loved it.

Early the next morning, Lu Liucheng woke up and went to Chaolu Court. He felt disappointed when his parents weren’t there. Had yesterday been a dream?

“Young Master, the Marquis and his wife are at the training ground,” Qiushui, who was following Lu Liucheng, reminded him.

Hearing this, Lu Liucheng went to the training ground, where he indeed saw Li Xia and Lu XuanNing practicing martial arts.

Lu XuanNing was practicing the Lu Family’s ancestral spear technique, which Lu Liucheng recognized. His great-grandfather had taught him. However, he couldn’t understand what Li Xia was practicing, and watched curiously.

Li Xia had discovered at the border that her killing intent had become stronger. To calm herself, she had started practicing Tai Chi.N/nêw n0vel chap/ers are published o/n n0v/e/(lb)i(n.)co/m