Chapter 10: Apology

The Third Master, Jiang Yuanchong, was thirty-four years old and held the position of a fourth-rank magistrate in Jingzhao as a successful scholar. His wife, Madam Huang, was also a refined and cherished person. This couple received the greatest affection from the Princess Changting.

The Eldest Young Master, Jiang Zhanju, was twenty-three years old and was the son of the current Marquis of Hengchang, Master Jiang Yuanhong, also the heir of the title Marquis of Hengchang. He served as a sixth-rank official in the Grand Court of Revision. His wife, Young Madam Han, also help the household works and being trained of running a household well, as she is the wife of the future Marquis, and they had two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son, Jiang Deyu, was four years old, the second son, Jiang Dewen, was one year old, and their daughter, Jiang He, was three years old.

It seems there was also a Second Young Master, the legitimate eldest son of the Second Master Jiang Yuanzhao, who died shortly after birth.

The Third Young Master, Jiang Zhanwei, studied at the Imperial Academy for a few years and recently became engaged to the eldest granddaughter of the Grand Censor. He was reticent, unremarkable, and had not excelled in the imperial examinations. It was only last year that the Marquis of Jiang helped him secure a minor official position as an eighth-rank officer in the Ministry of Astronomy. Despite its insignificance, with the support of the Princess Changting, he was ensured a prosperous life. However, due to the old Marquis’s recent accident, the family decided not to proceed to the original plan of him marrying Miss Shu, but rather they withdraw the engagement of this illegitimate son and someone replace his supposed to be wife. He was furious but dared not resist. Furthermore, the new bride attempted suicide, causing him even greater embarrassment. As a result, the day after the wedding, he angrily left the estate and stayed at a friend’s house.

Princess Changting, the Marquis (First Master/son), the Second Master and the Third Master were all deeply agitated, which further fueled his resentment to Lu Man.

The Fourth Young Master, Jiang Zhankun, and the Fifth Young Master, Jiang Zhanyu, were both studying at the Imperial Academy. It was said that the Fifth Young Master resembled his birth mother, Madam Lin, and was extraordinarily bright, excelling in his studies. He was expected to be the second successful imperial examination candidate in their estate, following the Third Master, who achieved this at the age of twenty-one.

The Seventh Young Master, Jiang Zhanpeng, the Eighth Young Master, Jiang Zhankui, and the Ninth Young Master, Jiang Zhanyan, were still young and received lessons from private tutors in the estate. There was also the six-year-old illegitimate daughter, the Second Young Miss, Jiang Jiu, while the legitimate eldest daughter, the Eldest Miss, Jiang Ling, had already been married…

Feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles, Lu Man was worried about further angering Jiang Zhanwei and causing the household members to resent her even more. She had no idea what she would face next, there was nothing more terrifying than this.

Continuing to wait like this wasn’t a solution. She needed to do something for herself. After breakfast one day, Lu Man noticed that the bruise on her neck had faded somewhat, which prompted her to decide to proactively apologize to Princess Changting.

It was her first time visiting her in-laws, so she couldn’t dress too plainly. However, she had made a serious mistake and couldn’t dress too flamboyantly either. She didn’t have many clothes, she only had five sets to choose from.

She wore a rose-red embroidered jacket with a treasure flower pattern, paired with a moon-white pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms. She only adorned her head with a jade lotus hairpin and two small pearl flowers, and wore a pair of pearl drop earrings.

She applied a light makeup on her own, also adding some white powder to the bruise. The reflection in the mirror showed a beautiful woman with powdered face and delicate cherry lips, her eyes full of charm.

Once she finished dressing, she took Lu Ying and headed to the Crane Hall where the Princess Changting resided. Seeing that Hong Ling was resentful, Lu Man said, “You are stronger than Lu Ying. You take care of our courtyard, and I trust you.”

Hong Ling found it hard to respond.

As they walked along the path towards the building, they were surrounded by colorful flowers and willow trees, ornate railings, and luxurious surroundings. It seemed that even the breeze carried a hint of sweetness.

While Lu Ying went to the kitchen to fetch the meal, she had already inquired about the approximate location of the Crane Hall.

They walked along the main path of the residence, passing through a peony garden, a rose garden, expansive lawns, bamboo groves, and several courtyards, eventually reaching the back entrance of a large courtyard, which was the Crane Hall.

Unlike other princess estates where their partners lived separately, the Princess Changting and the old Marquis had been deeply in love for decades, always residing together. Even the current Marquis (1^st son) needed permission to see the Princess.

Continuing along the pink walls, they arrived at the Hanging Flower Gate. Lu Ying smiled at the gatekeeper and said, “This is the Third Young Madam, here to see the Princess Changting”, and handed her a purse containing silver ingots.

The gatekeeper took the purse, glanced at Lu Man, and said with a smirk, “Her Highness the Princess Changting has been in a bad mood. The Third Young Madam should tread carefully.”

It was astonishing that even a lowly gatekeeper could say such things to her.

Lu Man responded with a smile, “Thank you for the reminder.”

The scenery here was even more beautiful, filled with exotic flowers and fragrant scents, and the sound of running water. Passing through two courtyards via a veranda, they arrived at the main hall. The first courtyard was incredibly spacious, filled with over a hundred peony pots, each competing to outshine the other, spreading a delightful fragrance. It was said that the Princess Changting enjoyed playing matchmaker, and each year, the Peony Banquet would match numerous young couples. However, it hadn’t taken place this year due to the old Marquis’s injury.

Many birdcages hung under the eaves of the side rooms, filling the air with the sounds of birds chirping, exuding a lively atmosphere.

The main building consisted of five rooms with two side rooms, each window surprisingly made of glass, separated by carved wooden grilles into various shapes. Two maids specialized in drawing curtains stood in front of the main door.

Lu Ying stepped forward and smiled, “Both sisters, the Third Young Madam seeks an audience with Her Highness, Princess Changting.”

The two maids were momentarily taken aback, and one hurried to draw the curtain to report to the Princess. Lu Man was unlike other madam, the Princess Changting might not grant an audience.

After a moment, the maid returned and knelt, smiling at Lu Man, “Her Highness, the Princess Changting, invites the Third Young Madam inside.”

Another maid drew back the crimson embroidered gold soft curtain.

Entering the main hall, she was greeted by a luxurious double-sided embroidered screen, with a large floral Persian wool rug on the floor. A maid guided her through the grand hall to an eastern chamber.

At the entrance of the eastern chamber, one of the maids drew back the colorful beaded curtain and smiled, “The Third Young Madam has arrived.”

The room fell silent as Lu Man nervously entered the eastern chamber. She saw an opulent room with a sandalwood canopy bed, where a well-dressed elderly woman sat with a little boy and girl in her lap.

The elderly woman is Princess Changting, and the two children were the Eldest Young Master Jiang Zhanju’s son, Jiang Deyu, and his daughter, Jiang He. Seated around were the Marquis’s wife, Madam Hong, the Second Master’s wife, Madam Lin, and the Third Master’s wife, Madam Huang, along with Young Madam Han, Zhanju’s wife, and a group of maids and eunuchs holding feather dusters.

Lu Man lowered her head and approached the canopy bed, where a maid placed a cushion at the feet of the Princess Changting. Lu Man knelt and bowed deeply, expressing her sincere and fearful apology, “I, your granddaughter-in-law, pay respects to Her Highness, the Princess Changting. I am truly blessed to marry into such a distinguished family with such honorable elders. The Eldest Master is also a remarkable individual. This is the fortune I have accumulated from my past life. To bring fortune to my esteemed grandfather-in-law is a great blessing. However, I foolishly committed a grave mistake, causing disgrace to Her Highness and the Eldest Master. I have been self-reflecting these past days, and the more I think, the more I realize the depth of my transgression. I almost wish to die to atone for my sins. However, I am here for my esteemed grandfather-in-law and cannot afford to bring further trouble to Her Highness and the Eldest Master. I must continue to live in hopes of my esteemed grandfather-in-law’s recovery and longevity. I beseech Her Highness to forgive my transgressions, considering my lack of maternal guidance and my sincere repentance.”

After her plea, she bowed repeatedly, displaying a deep sense of contrition.