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Tears streamed down Lu Ying’s face as she said, “Third Young Madam, if you return to the Lu family, you’ll be in danger from Second Madam Chen.”
Lu Man hurriedly consoled her, “Don’t worry. I won’t go back to the Lu family. Princess Changting and Marquis Jiang care about their reputation. If I successfully revive the old Marquis and present the He family’s ancestral medical book, they wouldn’t risk tarnishing their names by sending me back to the Lu family. Most likely, they’ll keep me here for a while, then find a reason for me to live on a country estate in the name of Third Young Madam Jiang. Perhaps they’ll think it’s the best arrangement for me… I won’t follow their wishes and will find a way to have them separate me permanently from Princess Changting’s residence.”
Lu Ying responded, “Third Young Madam, even living on a country estate would be better than being separated. That way, you’d still be the legitimate Third Young Madam of Princess Changting’s household, Third Young Master’s lawful wife, with a chance for a better future. That person is getting older, eventually… But if you’re separated, your life will be ruined forever…”
Finding it difficult to explain to a maid, Lu Man said, “Many things aren’t within our control, and this is just my speculation. Regardless, you should mentally prepare to leave this place…”
Upon returning to Crane Hall and seeing the joyful Princess Changting and other servants, Lu Man knew it is because of old Marquis, a good news once again.
According to the imperial physician, when he brought the cup of Xiaochunyang wine to the old Marquis’s bedside, the old Marquis wrinkled his nose and let out a couple of grunts. Unfortunately, the patient couldn’t drink, or they would have given him a sip.
Lu Man chuckled, “Well, consider it a sensory stimulation. However, alcohol isn’t beneficial for patients, it’s best for him to just have a whiff occasionally.”
As she prepared to massage the old Marquis, she noticed his furrowed brow. Lu Man grinned and said, “Oh, getting upset because I said not to smell the alcohol too much. Well, don’t be mad. Everything I do is for your benefit. Once you’re fully awake, I’ll let you have a good drink, maybe even with some spiced beans…” It was said that the old Marquis loved spiced beans.
Princess Changting chuckled beside them, teasing, “The older the Jiang Ping gets, the more he resembles a bickering child. Aren’t you afraid of granddaughter-in-law making fun of you?”
Lu Man chuckled, “When Grandfather wakes up, I really need to tease him. How can he drool at the mention of alcohol in front of us younger ones? It’s quite embarrassing.”
Princess Changting’s laughter grew louder, “Absolutely, once he’s awake, we’ll definitely tease the old man.”
“Oh, Grandfather’s face is turning red for real.” Lu Man exclaimed.
Those around them chimed in, “It really is…”
Amidst Princess Changting and Lu Man’s banter, an hour of massage swiftly passed.
With the current hot weather and no ice allowed indoors, Lu Man was sweating profusely. Lu Ying wiped the sweat from her face, but her back was still damp with sweat, soaking through her clothes.
At that moment, the Young Madam Han arrived with the children, sitting by the window, listening to their laughter.
Seeing the massage was complete, the Young Madam Han approached with folded hands, saying, “May Buddha bless, may Bodhisattva bless, may the heavens bless. Grandfather’s complexion has truly improved.”
Pointing at Lu Man, Princess Changting chuckled, “Zhanwei picked the right bride.”
Young Madam Han, in an exaggerated manner, extended her blessings towards Lu Man, saying, “Thank you, dear sister-in-law, and thank you to my brother for marrying such a good bride. Not only has she helped improve Grandfather’s health, but also brought joy to Grandmother’s heart.”
Her exaggerated gestures and tone brought laughter to everyone in the room.
As Lu Man prepared to leave, Princess Changting took off a jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to her, saying, “Good child, rest well when you get back. Grandmother knows you’ve been working hard these past few days.”
Witnessing Princess Changting giving this frequently worn bracelet to Lu Man, even Young Madam Han was momentarily surprised.
Lu Man was well aware that the jade bracelet Princess Changting gave her was a significant token of appreciation, considering it was a piece the Princess often wore. She kneeled to express her gratitude.
Back at Orchid Pavilion, she had a bath, changing into a light short-sleeved blouse, a long skirt, with only a belly pocket and shorts underneath to stay comfortable.
Previously, due to the vigorous massage for the old Marquis, Lu Man had to wear multiple layers to avoid any wardrobe mishaps. Now, she found relief in the cooler attire.
Sitting on the heated brick bed, Lu Man admired the jade bracelet, its exquisite quality evident in its transparency and green hues with a touch of dark green cloud-like patterns—most likely top-grade jadeite. This bracelet wasn’t just a valuable piece but also a significant honor. It seemed that Princess Changting had genuinely warmed up to her.
Meanwhile, Lu Ying and the other maids were delighted and worked diligently. They all had their ulterior motives, hoping that if Third Young Madam gained Princess Changting’s favor and won over Third Young Master, they could continue residing in the estate long-term.
Lu Man understood their intentions but chose not to address them. Her focus was on pacifying Princess Changting, not to prolong her stay but to ensure that the Princess remembered her goodwill and provided her with a favorable exit strategy.
In Lu Man’s view, among the women in the estate, Princess Changting was likely the most kind-hearted, treating Jiang Zhanwei’s siblings with care and showing appreciation for Lu Man, possibly due to her deep love for the old Marquis.
After dinner, Huang’s daughter-in-law came for moxibustion therapy, signaling the start of Huang’s treatment. Lu Man accompanied her to the treatment room in the backyard.
Observing Huang Niu’s condition and finding no visible injuries, Lu Man asked, “Is your husband still abusive towards you?”
Huang Niu shook her head, shyly admitting, “No, he hasn’t hit me in these past few days.”
Huang chuckled and mentioned how she scolded her son for hitting his wife, warning him that if he dared lay a hand on her again, Third Young Madam wouldn’t treat his wife, depriving them of a child. Frightened, he promised not to harm her again.
Lu Man found the situation frustrating, she had treated Huang’s daughter-in-law but hadn’t guaranteed her the ability to conceive a son. Smiling, she then asked, “Huang, have you heard of Renhe Hall?”
Curious since the younger maids seemed unaware, she turned to the older woman for insights. Surprisingly, Huang was familiar with it, mentioning that it was a renowned large medical clinic established years ago in the capital by the disgraced Physician He Huang…
Lu Ying seemed displeased, interjecting, “Huang, you’re talking nonsense.”