Chapter 71: Unexpected

Lu Man pinched Jiang Jiu’s little nose, sat up, and said, “It’s only the beginning of the morning. You can sleep a bit longer. I need to go to the Crane Hall.”

Jiang Jiu also sat up, saying, “Sister, I can’t sleep and feel like getting up too.”

The maids, Liu Ya and Xing, entered upon hearing the commotion to assist.

They hung up the curtains and helped Lu Man and Jiang Jiu with dressing.

Noticing the odd expressions on Liu Ya and Xing’s faces and their frequent glances towards the door, Lu Man found it suspicious. After dressing up, she saw Liu Ya subtly gesture towards the door, prompting her to head there with suspicion.

Peeking outside, she gasped in surprise as she saw Jiang Zhanwei sitting on the Kang bed in the eastern room.

Jiang Jiu also noticed Jiang Zhanwei and excitedly rushed into his arms.

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Zuankui from the west room, upon hearing his sister call for “Third Brother” and hearing his voice, hurried over without even dressing. Qichang joined them too.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhanwei, Lu Man’s mood soured, she felt uncomfortable. However, considering Mama Wang’s situation, she couldn’t afford to offend him and forced a smile, saying, “Third Young Master is back.”

This time, Jiang Zhanwei’s attitude towards her was acceptable. Though not smiling, he wasn’t cold or hostile. Dealing with the six little mischievous hands, he nodded at her.

Lu Man went to the washroom to freshen up, with Liu Ya and Xing following to assist.

In a hushed tone, Liu Ya apologized, “Third Young Madam, I’m sorry. Third Young Master didn’t want to wake you. He arrived at Orchid Pavilion about fifteen minutes ago. It seems he went to Qingfeng Courtyard first and then heard that Eighth Young Master and Second Young Miss were here, so he came over.”

Lu Man nodded, taking a deep breath to clear her mind and calm her emotions. Seeing him always made her feel particularly uneasy.

Liu Ya and Tao, who were serving nearby, kept their heads down, assuming Lu Man was startled by Jiang Zhanwei.

After about a quarter of an hour, Lu Man finally regained her composure and stepped out of the washroom.

As she emerged, she overheard Jiang Jiu joyfully announcing some great news, “Just now, Third Sister-in-law kissed Jiu, and Jiu also kissed Third Sister-in-law. Oh my, Third Sister-in-law’s face is so soft and fragrant.”

The emphasis on “soft” and “fragrant” was particularly exaggerated, as if describing an exquisite delicacy.

Jiang Zuankui, feeling envious, tried to save face by saying, “Sisters and sisters-in-law can kiss each other because they are women. Us brothers can’t do such things, it’s embarrassing.”

These two troublemakers were truly exasperating.

Speechless, Lu Man sat in front of the vanity mirror while the maids styled her hair. The maids struggled to contain their laughter, trying not to let Lu Man catch on.

Jiang Zhanwei, hearing their conversation, twitched his mouth, unsure how to respond. He thought back to that night, filled with hatred and resentment, where he didn’t even share a moment of intimacy. Reflecting on Lu Man’s despair and tears from those days, he felt a sense of self-blame for mistreating her.

The previous night, Jiang Zhanwei returned to the study in the front courtyard instead of entering the inner courtyard due to the late hour. He listened to what Liu Xin and Liu Qing had to say about the recent events in the household. As they were servants residing in the outer courtyard, their knowledge was limited to a general overview. During his two-month absence, Lu Man had conducted herself properly, primarily focusing on caring for the old marquis and avoiding any foolish actions or mishaps.

The only significant incident involved her intervention to save Qichang’s life, where she boldly confronted the maids trying to take Qichang away and pleaded on his siblings behalf, ultimately securing Qichang’s safety. Surprisingly, following this incident, the Princess agreed to include the younger siblings in future gatherings and showed more kindness towards Lu Man.

Jiang Zhanwei was unimpressed with the Princess’s decision to include the younger siblings in gatherings.

However, after such a long time, Lu Man exhibited almost no inappropriate behavior, which contradicted Jiang Zhanwei’s perception of her impulsive and volatile nature. Was he mistaken, or had she truly changed?

In the morning, as he headed to Qingfeng Courtyard, Mama Gu hinted that Lu Man displayed some cunning and manipulation, often providing improper food, like “teppanyaki”, to win over the younger siblings. They found the food unappetizing, dirty-looking, and unrecognizable, unlike the dishes prepared by the servants. Yesterday, their outing to Orchid Pavilion for teppanyaki ended up being disrupted by heavy rain.

Although he was grateful for Lu Man’s intervention on behalf of Qichang, he couldn’t help but feel some resentment towards his brother. He had advised him not to interact excessively with Lu Man, yet now he not only had close dealings with her but also stayed at her place.

Observing Lu Man’s demeanor at breakfast, composed and elegant, Jiang Zhanwei wondered if this was her true nature. Could it be that all her previous reputation was orchestrated by her stepmother? Was she truly forced into such behavior rather than being naturally cruel and willful?

Breakfast was served on the Kang bed in the eastern room, with the four of them dining together. Jiang Zhanwei and Lu Man sat on either side of the Kang bed, while the younger siblings sat closer to the center.

Lu Man ate silently, contemplating how to ask Jiang Zhanwei for help. If he refused, she would have to muster the courage to seek assistance from the Princess. If even the Princess declined, she would be at a dead end.

The younger siblings, respecting their brother’s presence, maintained a quiet mealtime. Especially Jiang Zuankui, who stood straight, fearing any reprimand from his brother.

Breaking the silence, Jiang Zhanwei thanked Lu Man for saving Qichang. Despite not looking at her, he expressed his gratitude. Feeling relieved that he initiated the conversation, Lu Man replied, “Third Young Master is too kind. I care for Qichang and wouldn’t want to see him harmed.”

Feeling uneasy facing Jiang Zhanwei, Lu Man hesitated to speak but eventually opened up about her plan to seek his help in finding Mama Wang.

“…Mama Wang’s son couldn’t have committed theft. The urgency with which Mrs. Xiao Chen dismissed them indicates a hidden agenda. Mama Wang has been kind to me, and I wish to reunite her family, no matter the cost.” Fearing rejection, she added, “I helped Qichang. Could you assist me in this matter?”