Arrogant and domineering because of his good looks: His Majesty always pretends to be righteous

A few days later, Aunt Zhao set off to return home. Old Lady Xia watched her daughter's carriage gradually disappear into the distance, and she cried her heart out. In the end, Xia Zhishu helped her back to the main house.

After that day, Old Madam Xia stopped making things difficult for Madam Lin, but it was impossible to completely reverse the situation in a short time. Moreover, she was concerned about saving face and was unwilling to lower her head and admit defeat. Fortunately, Madam Lin was broad-minded and breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the figures of the mother and son.

In any case, the Xia family will be at peace for the time being.

After her first birthday celebration, Xia Rongliu realized that she was no longer a baby, and she more confidently refused to be breastfed. She also began to think about another thing: moving house.

The Xia family home was a simple courtyard with a main house, east and west rooms, and additional side rooms on the east and west sides. Xia Rongliu had her eye on the west side room of her father's study. Not only was it sunny there, but the window also offered a view of a courtyard full of pear blossoms.

After hearing Xia Rongliu's request, Lin felt a headache coming on.

Her daughter is indeed easy to raise. She is naturally intelligent and quick-witted, precocious and insightful. She doesn't have any of the annoying habits of many children. But the problem is that she is too clever and often acts on impulse.

Lin could only patiently comfort her: "Yinyin is still young and lives alone. How can she take care of herself? What if she falls off the bed at night?"

Xia Rongliu had already made up her mind, "Then let Xiao Lü move in and live with me!"

Xiao Lü was nominally a maid brought by Madam Lin as part of her dowry, but in reality, she was a maid that the Lin family had hastily bought before Madam Lin's marriage. The two did not have much affection for each other. After Xia Rongliu was born, Madam Lin intended to let Xiao Lü follow Xia Rongliu, hoping that the two would grow up together, develop feelings for each other, and then follow Xia Rongliu to her husband's family after marriage.

Lin was unwilling to agree. Just then, Xia Zhishu returned from the academy and, upon hearing her beloved daughter's request, smiled and picked her up onto her lap, coaxing her, "Aren't you afraid to stay alone at night in such a dark room?"

Xia Rongliu said emphatically, "I'm not afraid of the dark, Daddy, please let me live alone! I want to live with Xiao Lü, and then I want to clean the house myself, plant some flowers and plants, and I also want to raise a cat!"

Wow, this was planned all along!

Xia Zhishu and Lin Shi exchanged a glance and smiled, "What should Father and Mother do if they miss you?"

Xia Rongliu tilted her head in confusion: "Why? Yinyin just moved to a different room, but she still lives with her father and mother. It's just," Xia Rongliu counted on her fingers, "just a few steps away!"

Listening to this little girl speak so earnestly, and even putting on such a mature air, she was incredibly charming and adorable. Xia Zhishu laughed a few times and then discussed with Lin Shi, "Why don't we make room for Yin Yin? It's not a bad thing for a girl to tidy up her room from a young age."

Lin had hoped that Xia Zhishu could dispel Xia Rongliu's strange idea, but she didn't expect that this person was even more easily swayed than her. After her daughter coaxed her a few times, she couldn't tell east from west. She was both angry and amused, but helpless: "Fine, but don't put it in the west room. Just put it in the east room next door. I'll make room for her. If there's any noise at night, we can hear it."

Hearing this, Xia Rongliu laughed happily and whispered a few words in Xia Zhishu's ear. Xia Zhishu immediately burst out laughing. Madam Lin pretended to be angry: "What, are you talking bad about me behind my back!"

Xia Rongliu said with a grin, "No, I'm praising Mother!"

"Smooth talker!" Lin glared at the father and daughter, but couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Xia Rongliu secretly wiped away a bead of sweat: Pretending to be young is really hard work...

Before they knew it, it was May. The weather was getting warmer. Behind the Xia family's house was a pond in the town. The lotus flowers were in full bloom. The water vapor helped to cool the summer heat, so the Xia family's house was a rare treat.

Most people stayed indoors to escape the summer heat, but Lin Shi didn't want to stay cooped up all the time. Besides, she was afraid that staying at home all the time would make Xia Rongliu timid and cowardly. Every evening, she would take little Rongliu out for a walk. Today was no exception. She made some pastries and took Xia Rongliu to the clan chief's house.

The town was inhabited by clans, and most of the people in Changshui Town were surnamed Xia. Lin married into the town from the countryside and didn't know many people there. However, she was generous and cheerful by nature, and over time she made friends with several female relatives. The clan chief's wife, Li, got along very well with Lin.

To be honest, Li was not the clan chief's first wife. Her parents sold her to the clan chief as a second wife to raise money for her younger brother's betrothal gifts. In addition, she was young and beautiful, while the clan chief was over fifty years old and had two grown sons. They were the subject of much gossip.

A few days ago, Li became pregnant. Although it turned out to be a girl, it still caused some discord in this already not very harmonious family. Unlike Lin, Li was sensitive, thoughtful, kind and gentle. Because of her pregnancy, she was even more depressed. Lin was afraid that something might go wrong with her, so she often came to visit her.

Upon seeing Xia Rongliu, Madam Li was overjoyed. She held Xia Rongliu on her lap and then had a servant fetch some hibiscus cake, asking Madam Lin, "Can Yinyin eat this?"

Lin said with a smile, "It's ready to eat. You've grown three and a half teeth already."

“It’s four!” Xia Rongliu immediately said. She really didn’t want to be a baby. Ever since she started teething, she had been looking in the mirror every day, exaggerating the size of each tooth, and resolutely refusing to admit that she had three and a half.

Mrs. Lin was both amused and exasperated. "Look at how confused you are!"

Li smiled broadly, saying, "Look at her, she seems to understand what adults are saying."

Lin said gently, "He's just stubborn and won't admit defeat."

Li smiled and handed the hibiscus cake to Xia Rongliu. Xia Rongliu obediently thanked her and then carefully ate the hibiscus cake, looking incredibly well-behaved and spirited.

Li was so captivated by the sight that she exclaimed, "You've raised such a wonderful child! If the one in my belly were as well-behaved, adorable, and intelligent as this, I would gladly shorten my lifespan by ten years."

Upon hearing this, Lin knew that she still harbored some resentment. She sighed and said, "Sister-in-law, we have some friendship, so I won't be shameless and say a few words to you."

"I have never experienced the difficulties of being a stepmother, but I know them. If I can fool people, I really have no other choice. It is not easy for us women in this world. If we are lucky, that's fine, but if we are unlucky, we really have nowhere to turn for help and are not tolerated by heaven and earth."

"But in my opinion, although those two legitimate sons have some opinions about you, they are not completely heartless people. Not to mention, the clan leader is not the kind of person who is confused and single-mindedly wants to torment you. Although they spent money to buy you, they also want to marry you and live a good life. You are both people who want to live a good life. As long as you are kind-hearted, you will naturally be rewarded."