Chapter 179 - 176: Li Xiu’s Troublesome Admirer

Chapter 179: Chapter 176: Li Xiu’s Troublesome Admirer

At Mrs. Ping’s insistence, Ping’an had been shadowing Li Xiu. Li Xiu understood Mrs. Ping’s intentions, and seeing that Elder Ping didn’t object, he began to put real effort into mentoring the young master of the Ping Family. Mrs. Ping was overjoyed to see her younger son changing almost by the day. As a way of returning the favor, she frequently sent for Zhou Lian to join her at the Imperial Palace.

On this day, Zhou Lian was once again brought to the Imperial Palace. She was now over nine months pregnant. Mrs. Ping had actually stopped inviting her over recently, seeing how far along she was and worrying that something might go wrong in the freezing weather. But today was different. The girl she planned to introduce to her younger son was visiting, and she wanted the two of them to meet and get along. That was why she had sent for Zhou Lian.

"Xiao Zhou, hurry and sit down. Have some hot water to warm up," Mrs. Ping said with a smile, ushering Zhou Lian to a seat. "It’s so cold today, I really didn’t want to make you come. But that young lady rarely gets a few days off, and who knows when we’ll have the chance to see her again! I’m sorry to have troubled you."

Zhou Lian smiled, understanding her good intentions. "Please, Aunt Zhou," she said softly. "It’s no trouble at all. You’re introducing me to a new friend—that’s an opportunity many people would beg for! I’m the lucky one. I should be the one thanking you properly!" Mrs. Ping’s surname was also Zhou, the same as Zhou Lian’s.

"Oh, you," Mrs. Ping said, feigning dissatisfaction. "You just know how to sweet-talk me. If you really want to thank me, then bring Nuonuo over more often. I miss that little girl!" She’d met Nuonuo a few times and had grown genuinely fond of the bright, clever child. For a little girl not even three years old, her manners and upbringing were impeccable!

At the mention of Nuonuo, a gentle smile bloomed on Zhou Lian’s face. "Aunt Zhou, it’s not that I won’t bring her," she said softly. "It’s that she doesn’t want to hang out with me anymore. She spends all day in the study with her father and her Uncle An. Jin Chen has already started her elementary lessons, and she’s at that age where she’s curious about everything."

Mrs. Ping nodded. She’d heard from Ping’an that Li Xiu was using the *Three Character Classic* to begin the education of such a young child. The crucial part was that the little girl absolutely loved it!

As they were speaking, a guard escorted a mother and daughter inside. The younger woman wore a crisp military uniform, giving her a sharp, impressive air. Her mother was a beautiful, still-graceful woman. Seeing them arrive, Mrs. Ping rose to offer them seats. Zhou Lian, slowed by her large belly, moved a bit sluggishly. In that moment, she caught an unmistakable flash of disgust on the young woman’s face. Zhou Lian paused for a second. When Mrs. Ping was making the introductions, she simply smiled, said hello, and then sat quietly to one side.

While she smiled and watched Mrs. Ping chat with this Mrs. Liu, Zhou Lian was lost in thought. ’I’m sure I’ve never met this heiress of the Liu Family, so where is all this blatant disgust coming from? Was she annoyed that I was slow to stand up and greet her? No, that can’t be right. With a belly this big, anyone would be understanding. Besides, a girl Mrs. Ping likes couldn’t possibly be that petty!’

"Wen Jing, you have a nice chat with Zhou Lian," Mrs. Ping said with a smile. "You young people have your own things to talk about, so we won’t intrude!" If the two of them got along, and Wen Jing ended up marrying Ping’an, she would be a great asset to him.

Watching Mrs. Ping and Mrs. Liu retreat to another room, Zhou Lian frowned slightly. ’Chat about what? This Liu Wenjing clearly can’t stand me, and it’s not as if I’m particularly fond of her, either—even if she does end up marrying Ping’an!’

"I heard you managed to get into Beijing University without a single day of formal schooling. You must be quite capable," Liu Wenjing said, looking at Zhou Lian, who was sitting quietly on the sofa. The corners of her mouth lifted in a slight smirk.

’What an unpleasant thing to say,’ Zhou Lian thought. ’And this is the kind of person Mrs. Ping likes?’ She just smiled and replied softly, "Perhaps. It’s only been a couple of years since the college entrance exams were brought back, so the standards were certainly strict."

Hearing Zhou Lian’s response, Liu Wenjing lowered her gaze and said, "No, really. You’re very capable. A woman from the countryside who easily tested into the best university and even managed to worm her way into the Imperial Palace... that’s no ordinary talent."

Staring blankly at Liu Wenjing, Zhou Lian thought, ’Is this girl an idiot? In a place like this, she’s all but cursing me to my face. Is she just brazen, or is there some inside story I’m missing? She’s in her twenties and in the military, yet she has this cloying, "sweet but stupid" act that’s just so off-putting.’ She took a sip of her hot water, not bothering to grace the girl with a response.

"Hey! I’m talking to you!"

Zhou Lian gently set down her cup. She looked at Liu Wenjing and said slowly, "Is this what passes for manners in the Liu Family?"

"What did you just say?" Liu Wenjing spat, glaring at Zhou Lian. "A woman from the countryside like you dares to lecture me about manners? Who do you think you are?"

"I did. You have a problem with it?" Ping’an strode into the room, holding Nuonuo in his arms. He shot Liu Wenjing an annoyed look. ’What was Mother thinking, picking someone like this?’

Li Xiu, a step behind him, walked straight to Zhou Lian. Seeing that she wasn’t upset, he took Nuonuo from Ping’an’s arms. He then turned to Ping’an and said, "Are your eyes just for decoration? How could you fall for any piece of riffraff that comes along?"

Ping’an knew he was taking the fall for his mother and didn’t dare argue back. He just muttered, "How was I supposed to know she was... like this?"

"You’ve gone too far! Ping’an, how dare you insult me!" Liu Wenjing couldn’t stand them ganging up on her and yelled at Ping’an. But then she turned, saw Li Xiu, and her tone immediately brightened. "And you... Mr. Li, don’t you remember me?" she asked him happily.

Li Xiu frowned, shooting her a sideways glance. He said to Ping’an, "You really are something else. You’d even fall for someone who’s not all there in the head."

"Mr. Li, why would you say that? I have nothing to do with Ping’an, please don’t misunderstand!" Liu Wenjing said, looking at Li Xiu with pleading eyes.

Zhou Lian, who had just taken a sip of water, choked on it and broke into a fit of coughing. Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Ping and Mrs. Liu came out of the other room, only to be struck dumb by the scene. They saw Li Xiu frantically patting Zhou Lian on the back, his face etched with worry. Mrs. Ping closed her eyes for a moment. ’The Liu Family is finished,’ she thought. ’But really, how do they even raise their children? Is that the kind of thing a young lady should say to a married man?’

Mrs. Liu stared at her daughter in shock. "Wen Jing, what on earth are you talking about!" she yelled. "How could you say such a thing?"

"Mom, Mom, he’s the one! He’s the man who saved me!" Liu Wenjing told her mother excitedly. That day, she had been on leave heading home when she encountered a thief. Confident in her skills, she’d tried to apprehend him, only to find out he had a knife. Li Xiu was the one who saved her. It had taken her a great deal of effort to find out who he was, but before she even had a chance to thank her hero, her mother had dragged her to the Ping Family’s home. She hadn’t been against Ping’an before—he was Elder Ping’s son, after all. But with Li Xiu, it was love at first sight. She had planned to just go through the motions of the meeting today, but who would have thought she’d run into that country wife of his here!

Seeing the enigmatic smile playing on Zhou Lian’s lips, a chill ran down Li Xiu’s spine. He quickly blurted out, "Bao’er, I swear I didn’t save any random woman. If I ever actually did something heroic, I’d be the first to tell you so you could shower me with praise!"

When Ping’an heard what Li Xiu said, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ’This Li Jincheng is truly shameless when it comes to his wife!’