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In response to Madam Hong’s words, Young Madam Han kept her head bowed, choking back tears, “It’s my fault, I won’t dare to do it again.”
The Princess was furious. She had intended to reprimand Hong severely but found herself unexpectedly in the wrong. Seeing Hong’s stubborn attitude, the Princess suddenly lost interest in scolding her.
This woman was beyond reprimand.
As the empress dowager bestowed the marriage between her eldest son and Hong, they were unable to divorce, she needed to explain things clearly to the eldest and third sons. Not only did she have to watch over her, but before her own death, she also needed to find a way to manage this disruptive woman.
Princess Changting coldly stated, “He Cheng is not a physician, he was just helping treat Deyu. You are the elder and the mistress of the house, treating him this way not only damages your reputation but also your status. Your actions will not only harm yourself but also the younger generations. I won’t say much more. Take care of yourself from now on.”
Madam Hong, red-faced, replied, “I was anxious.”
Lu Man further explained, “The salicylic pills we prepared are different from other pills. Those pills are made by condensing the essence of herbs, containing both effective and ineffective components. Salicylic pills, on the other hand, isolate the most effective component, pure without any impurities. Even a small amount may be more potent than a large bowl of other medicines, so overdosing is not advisable. Young Master Deyu’s fever may be slow to subside due to the nature of his illness. Indiscriminately giving him medication like this will only cause suffering for the child.”
It took some time for Madam Hong and Young Madam Han to comprehend why other pills required larger doses compared to salicylic pills.
Young Madam Han stammered, “I understand now, thank you.”
Madam Hong chuckled awkwardly, “Ah, that makes sense. Zhanwei’s wife should have informed us of this earlier.”
Thus, Lu Man’s role in the situation was also acknowledged.
The Princess “hmphed” and was escorted out by Mama Qian, with Lu Man and He Cheng following closely behind.
Madam Hong, seeing Han still tearful and aggrieved, furrowed her brow, “How have I wronged you? Who are you putting on this show for? Ancient people could cut flesh to save their mothers, but you…” She bit back the rest of her words and turned away.
After the commotion, Lu Man felt exhausted and went back to Donghui Courtyard to rest. Along the way, she told He Cheng, “Did you see that? Even providing medicine and help can lead to being treated this way. And this is just in a large estate, imagine what could happen in the palace.”
He Cheng, initially confused but gradually realizing the situation, became visibly frustrated. He responded to his sister, “I understand now. I’ll be more cautious next time.”
Lu Man continued, “Out of respect for the Marquis and the heir, Princess Changting won’t excessively punish Madam Hong.”
He Cheng replied, “I see. The Princess has been kind to me.”
Lu Man added, “However, Madam Hong won’t fare well. Overdosing Young Master Deyu and claiming it as carelessness may be foolish, but blatantly shifting blame, deceiving elders, and harming younger generations is a matter of character. The Princess won’t tolerate it. She will face consequences sooner or later.”
That evening, the Princess generously rewarded Lu Man with some nourishing supplements and gifted He Cheng with a few sets of premium stationery. She instructed the maid delivering the gifts to tell He Cheng, “I know you’ve been wronged. I thank you on behalf of Deyu.”
Subsequently, the Marquis and Zhanju also sent gifts to He Cheng in appreciation.
With Deyu no longer feigning illness, his fever subsided, and three days later, the acute phase passed, and he resumed his lively activities.
Grateful for Lu Man and her brother, Young Madam Han felt remorseful and, to show the Princess, she arranged for a significant amount of gifts to be sent to Donghui Courtyard as an apology.
While Lu Man outwardly accepted the apology, inwardly, she was already planning her retaliation against Madam Hong.
Having endured mistreatment and deception several times, especially the recent mistreatment of He Cheng, Lu Man was not one to forgive eldesdt Madam easily.
In mid-July, the hospital ward of Tongren Hall had accommodated fifty-six patients, with twenty-two still in residence. The majority were heart patients, along with four suffering from wind-cold ailments.
These wind-cold cases were severe, with wealthy families seeking admission upon hearing of Tongren Hall’s miraculous medicine known for rapid fever reduction and pain relief.
Many medical establishments envied and resented Tongren Hall, including the prominent Jishi Hall. However, due to Tongren Hall’s owner being the Princess Changting’s granddaughter-in-law, they dared not provoke her, or they would have faced consequences.
Lu Man had recovered well, but Princess Changting forbade her from visiting Tongren Hall before childbirth, a request she obediently followed.
However, she planned to visit the Prince He’s residence to have the old Princess He checked by the midwife. This was primarily to thank Song Ming for helping He Cheng and to address the grievances faced by He Cheng. Additionally, there was an important matter that only Song Ming could handle.
After discussing with Princess Changting, Lu Man went with caution, opting for a sedan chair instead of a carriage for safety. The old Marquis insisted on accompanying her as a guest, and Lu Man agreed, considering it an opportunity for him to spend time with Song Mo.
On the morning of the sixteenth of July, Lu Man, accompanied by the old Marquis, He Cheng, Jiang Jiu, and carrying various treats and gifts, visited the Prince He’s residence.
Song Mo greeted them warmly, delighted by the presence of many guests, including the pets. He gestured graciously, “Welcome, honored guests, please, please…”
Lu Man smiled, holding his little hand, and entered the house with the old Marquis.
During this period, Lu Man focused on teaching He Cheng about treating heart conditions, especially the conditions of the old Princess He and Jiang Zhanyu, in great detail. She instructed him to conduct regular check-ups, administer acupuncture, and adjust medications only after her approval. Lu Man had her own motives in this, aiming to strengthen He Cheng’s friendship with Jiang Zhanyu and solidify his connection with the Prince He’s residence.
Old Princess He sat on a couch, with Song Mo beside her. After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Lu Man expressed gratitude to Song Ming for his assistance, acknowledging the trouble he had faced. She then apologized to old Princess He, feeling remorseful.
As Lu Man finished speaking, He Cheng respectfully bowed to Song Ming and then humbly bowed to the old Princess He, expressing his gratitude. Song Ming helped He Cheng up, smiling at Lu Man, “I reprimanded Wang Haobai not just because of Cheng but for other reasons as well. This incident just provided a vent for me. My conflict with the Wang family is inevitable, but it simply arrived sooner than expected.”