Chapter 38: Awaiting

The two sat in silence for a while. Lu Man felt extremely uncomfortable, this man clearly harbored deep resentment towards her, and she reciprocated it. Why did he insist on irritating her when he clearly disliked her presence?

Just as she was about to leave, Jiang Zhanwei took out a silver note from his pocket and placed it on the table, saying, “Even though you are an illegitimate daughter-in-law, you are still the granddaughter-in-law of Princess Changting. You should carry yourself with grace and elegance, and wear better clothes. Don’t worry about expenses, if it runs out, I will provide more. Although I don’t have much money and my salary isn’t high, it’s enough to support you… If Grandfather wakes up, your days in the residence will be much better. If, unfortunately, Grandfather doesn’t wake up, don’t worry about your future. I will ensure your well-being and security.”

These words surprised Lu Man. This man’s behavior was baffling, why the sudden shift from aloofness to warmth? With no one else present, who was he putting on this act for? She struggled to understand his unpredictable nature and intentions.

Despite the silver note’s value of one thousand taels, in a world devoid of emotional attachments and reliance, money was more precious than anything else. However, she hesitated to accept his offering.

Seeing Lu Man’s puzzled expression, Jiang Zhanwei, who was slightly embarrassed by her reaction, frowned and asked, “What’s wrong with you, woman? Can’t you understand plain words?”

Sarcastically smiling, Lu Man retorted, “Third Young Master, are you treating me like a fool? If the old Marquis doesn’t wake up, I’ll be a discarded pawn. With your current stance, what ability do you have to protect me?”

Jiang Zhanwei’s expression darkened further. He responded, “If that day comes, my grandmother and uncle won’t openly let you perish for the sake of their reputation. Most likely, they’ll send you back to your maternal home to deal with you. I won’t fulfill their wish, my wife won’t be someone they can easily discard. They wanted to dismiss you before, but now that you’ve entered the household, they won’t be able to get rid of you so easily.”

Wasn’t he dreaming of getting rid of her? Lu Man couldn’t quite grasp his thought process and said with a tinge of sadness, “If that day truly comes, I still hope you’ll divorce me. Staying in this household, I fear…” dying even sooner.

She didn’t finish her last words, but Jiang Zhanwei understood her implication. Sternly, he stated, “Do you not trust me? Rest assured, if I say I can protect you, I can. Wait and see.”

If that day truly arrived, besides tragically meeting her end, she had no other options. Lu Man didn’t wish to argue further with him and simply replied, “Fine, I’ll wait and see.”

Jiang Zhanwei nodded and continued, “I straightened my back in front of everyone today, I don’t want my wife to bend it again. As a married couple, if you’re looked down upon, it reflects poorly on me. Moreover, you entered as the granddaughter-in-law who brought fortune to Grandfather. Your filial piety is commendable, and you shouldn’t lower yourself compared to other daughters-in-law. Apart from showing respect to Grandmother, Uncle, and Third Uncle, don’t let others bully you.”

The implication was clear: she shouldn’t tolerate being mistreated like today and could rely on his and the old Grandfather’s influence? The key point was that among the respected elders, her own father was excluded! Despite Second Master being despicable, Jiang Zhanwei constantly emphasized his filial piety. This man was truly cunning and could be labeled a scoundrel without hesitation.

Lu Man had endured enough grievances, especially from that so-called old Madam, which infuriated her. The individuals she had to respect were influential figures in the household, controlling her fate, so she had to show respect. Besides these few, she didn’t want to be bullied or insulted casually by anyone else.

She responded promptly this time, “Alright.”

Afterward, an awkward silence ensued, with the birds’ chirping outside sharply breaking the quiet.

Feeling uncomfortable, Lu Man reached out to grab a medical book on the table, but Jiang Zhanwei was quicker, already holding it in his hands. His hands were fair and slender, well-proportioned, resembling the hands of someone playing the zither, not those of a military officer wielding a sword.

In her past life, Lu Man not only admired physical beauty but also had a fascination with hands. Unfortunately, those “beautiful hands” were attached to a scoundrel.

After scanning the book for a while, Jiang Zhanwei broke the silence and asked, “Do you think Grandfather will wake up?”

Lu Man replied bluntly, “I don’t know.” Seeing Jiang Zhanwei’s demeanor turn cold again, she hastily added, “They all say Master Xinghai is a high monk. If the Master says my marriage can bring good fortune to Grandfather, then maybe it can.”

Jiang Zhanwei remained silent, staring at the medical book. Whether he was truly reading it or not, he hadn’t turned a page.

From the corner of her eye, Lu Man observed Jiang Zhanwei sitting there like a statue, exuding a powerful aura. Frustrated, she cursed internally, he already acted so imposing as a low-ranking official—what would he be like if he rose higher in the ranks? She wished the old Marquis would wake up sooner, allowing her to leave this place and never have to see him again.

Lu Man suddenly realized that this man was cunning and intelligent, and perhaps he could offer some advice. Since they were currently in a contractual marriage, tied together by mutual interests, Jiang Zhanwei likely desired Grandfather’s awakening just as much as she did. It would prove that he hadn’t married her, an unconventional bride, in vain, and it would also earn him more respect from the Princess.

Carefully choosing her words, Lu Man spoke, “Third Young Master, my maternal grandfather left behind many medical books and notes, which I’ve enjoyed reading and learning from since childhood. The massage technique I used on Grandfather came from those medical books. You’re aware of its effectiveness, even the Imperial Physicians and Court Physicians praised it.” Seeing Jiang Zhanwei set down the medical book and look at her with interest, she continued, “There’s a book called ‘Records of Revival’ that details a method for treating soul-separation illness. This book was compiled by the ancestor of the He family based on notes left by Sun Wa, but Sun Wa’s reputation is tarnished…”

She went on to discuss the He family ancestor’s documentation of Sun Wa’s life and the current medical community’s rejection of Sun Wa. Lu Man then emphasized, “However, the massage technique I use is from ‘Records of Revival,’ which has proven to be effective, hasn’t it? I believe in the He family ancestors, Sun Wa was definitely framed. It’s just that Sun Wa was labeled as a witch physician, and for years, no one in the medical community has dared to advocate for his vindication. The He family ancestor later saved countless patients, with many medical techniques originating from ‘Records of Revival.’ Several notes left by He family members are also derived from ‘Records of Revival.'”

Jiang Zhanwei’s slender fingers lightly tapped on the table as he furrowed his brow in contemplation. Instead of continuing about “Records of Revival” and Sun Wa, he shifted gears and asked another question, “What do you think of your maternal grandfather?”

Without hesitation, Lu Man replied, “He’s a good person.”