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Amidst their busy schedules, Imperial Physician Fu, with a red face, approached Lu Man to inquire if he could borrow “He Family’s Medical Case Notes” for two days. Notes like these were traditionally kept within the family and not shared with outsiders.
Lu Man agreed but set a condition: he could only read it there and not take it home, mainly to prevent any suspicions of forgery. She aimed to foster a good relationship with Imperial Physician Fu for future consultations.
Delighted, Imperial Physician Fu agreed, exclaiming, “Sure, I’ll read it here.”
Subsequently, Imperial Physician Wang also asked to borrow the book. Being Fu’s assistant in his twenties and of good character, Lu Man found it difficult to refuse and allowed him to read it there.
Upon learning of this, Princess Changting suggested having a new copy transcribed, keeping the original with Lu Man for safekeeping. Lu Man agreed, hoping to share the medical knowledge to benefit more people.
They remained busy at the Crane Hall until evening when the three Masters returned from their duties.
Upon hearing of Lu Man’s contribution of the ancestral notes for treating soul-separation illness, they were pleased and verbally praised her.
The Marquis nodded, acknowledging, “Master Xinghai is truly insightful, and Lu Man’s involvement in treatment has been beneficial. Your active participation will aid in Father’s recovery. If he awakens, your efforts will be remembered. However, being young, do not be careless, seek advice from the physicians.”
Even though most credit was attributed to Master Xinghai, Lu Man appreciated the sentiment.
The Marquis, stroking his chin, smiled, “The He family boasts a lineage of medical expertise spanning generations. Lu Man’s initiative in presenting the ancestral notes is duly noted.”
Indeed, the Marquis had a way with words.
The Second Master, with a stern expression, cautioned, “Maintain your focus and diligence, avoid laziness, and remember, mistakes will not be taken lightly, with old and new mistakes being equally penalized.”
Internally rolling her eyes, Lu Man thought to herself, “The Second Master is truly difficult to please, no wonder even his own son faces his harsh words. Lacking achievements, lacking ability, and speaking unpleasantly – if not for his uncle, the Emperor, he wouldn’t even hold a minor official position. Even in past lives, any organization with such a leader would be criticized by their employees behind closed doors.”
Despite her inner thoughts, Lu Man respectfully accepted their words.
As she departed from the Crane Hall, Lu Ying handed her a mahogany box containing a pair of white jade bracelets and a golden phoenix hairpin adorned with pearls, a reward from Princess Changting.
Throughout the day, Princess Changting had been exceedingly kind and had praised Lu Man several times. Her demeanor was gentle, reasonable, and unlike a typical princess, more akin to a kind-hearted elderly lady.
Walking back, the sky ablaze with the evening glow, casting a golden hue on the path, Lu Man felt unusually at ease. The road ahead seemed clearer. Hopefully, the Old Marquis would awaken, and she could smoothly make her exit…
Passing by the peony garden, Lu Man paused, taking a deep breath. The peonies were in full bloom, their vibrant colors and fragrant scent carried by the gentle breeze.
Usually passing this spot four times a day, Lu Man had never truly stopped to appreciate the picturesque scenery until today. Feeling uplifted, she savored the moment.
Seeing Lu Man’s delight, Lu Ying remarked, “Madam enjoys it, I’ll pick a few peonies to place in a vase at home.” Handing over the jewelry box, she ventured into the garden to pick flowers.
After plucking a few blooms, an older servant approached, displeased, “Where did you come from, little troublemaker? You’ve picked all the flowers, what’s left for others to see?”
In a retort, Lu Ying replied, “I only picked a few, they’re not all gone. Besides, I often see the young maids from Madam’s and the Young Madam’s courtyards picking flowers here. If they can, why can’t I?”
The servant sneered, “You mentioned those girls are from Madam’s courtyard, the Young Madam’s courtyard…” Her words trailed off as she glanced at Lu Ying, realizing the lack of support. She then added, “Those girls who come to pick flowers always give a few coins to the old servants for drinks.”
Lu Man found the situation amusing, troublesome individuals tended to act high and mighty, especially those with lower status. Her master was looked down upon, even requiring payment for flower-picking, or rather, demanding gratuities so confidently. With a stern expression, she instructed, “Lu Ying, ask the Madam if it’s true that her people have to pay for picking flowers. If so, inquire about the price, and we’ll pay accordingly.”
Startled, the servant realized the situation could escalate. Frustrated with her recent gambling losses and feeling unappreciated, she attempted to capitalize on Lu Man’s generosity, but hadn’t anticipated her intentions to involve the Madam. Facing potential consequences, she hastily backtracked, pretending it was all in jest.
Lu Ying sarcastically remarked, “It’s not that you’re blind, your eyes are on your forehead.” She then plucked a few vibrant flowers and intentionally stepped on a few peony stems while leaving.
Infuriated, the servant’s face contorted in anger, scolding, “You wicked girl! You’ve picked so many flowers and now you trample my seedlings…”
Suppressing a laugh, Lu Man praised Lu Ying and encouraged her to continue.
For now, she had to be strategic, standing up against weak adversaries while treading cautiously around the troublesome Second Master. Although he was her temporary guardian, she didn’t want to provoke him unless absolutely necessary.
Recalling Jiang Zhanwei’s words, she understood that despite his straight-backed demeanor, he couldn’t change his status as an illegitimate son and a low-ranking military officer. To truly stand tall in this household, she would need the support of Princess Changting and the still-unconscious Old Marquis. As Princess Changting’s attitude began to shift, Lu Man aimed to leave a positive impression for a smoother departure. At the very least, she hoped not to return to the Lu residence or be relegated to living in a separate courtyard under the title of Jiang’s third Young Madam. Ideally, she could leave with a recognized status…
She wasn’t the oblivious original Lu Man, she wouldn’t explode at the slightest provocation or engage in foolish actions.
Upon returning to Orchid Pavilion, Tao took the flowers to arrange in a vase. After freshening up, Lu Man found the meal laid out on the table.
After dinner, Liu Ya brought out a cloth bundle and some silver pieces, saying, “Madam, my father purchased silver needles and moxibustion sticks from Qiao Li Zhai, a top-quality set costing eight taels and four ingots in total. The silver needles alone cost eight taels and one ingot.”
She opened the bundle, revealing nine types of needles, each varying in quantity. The set included fifty fine needles, commonly used for acupuncture, and a small pack of moxibustion sticks.
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