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Liu Chun entered wearing camouflage attire. The camouflage style of that era was similar to military attire, with colors dyed in green, brown, and black.
He appeared darker and more robust than before, with a long and ferocious scar running from his forehead to his right ear, quite a frightening sight.
He bowed to the Princess and the old Marquis, then presented a package and letters.
The package contained some Northern delicacies like monkey head mushrooms and over twenty preserved flying dragons.
The letters included one for the Princess, Lu Man, and Jiang Zhankui, along with a wooden comb he had carved for Lu Man during his free time. Surprisingly, there were also three letters from Lu Fangrong, one for Lu Man, one for the He Mingzhu, and one for He Cheng.
According to Liu Chun, the mission to burn the enemy’s supplies had to be executed flawlessly. Therefore, Jiang Zhanwei personally led the team. For secrecy, only a few people went, and although the mission was successful, most suffered injuries or casualties. Jiang Zhanwei was severely wounded, stabbed deeply below the shoulder, but several brothers risked their lives to save him. The scar on Liu Chun’s forehead was from that mission. The military physician mentioned that although Jiang Zhanwei’s internal organs were unharmed, the wound was deep and bled profusely. With such a severe injury, it was left to fate. However, using the miraculous medicine sent by Lu Man, it prevented infection and extensive suppuration, allowing him to survive, though he had not completely recovered yet…
Upon hearing about Jiang Zhanwei’s severe injury and near-death experience, the Princess burst into tears, and Jiang Jiu began crying loudly, prompting others to console them.
Lu Man also wept, and Young Madam Han sitting beside her quickly comforted her, allowing her to lean on her and wipe her tears.
The court reports spoke of favorable conditions, but these favorable circumstances were the result of the soldiers sacrificing their lives. Especially for Jiang Zhanwei’s special forces, the tasks were arduous and perilous. Without the “miraculous medicine” she provided, Jiang Zhanwei might not have survived.
Lu Man never expected to feel such intense pain upon hearing about Jiang Zhanwei’s severe injury and near-death experience. Her heart ached, almost trembling all over. It wasn’t just the fear of her child becoming an orphan or the loss of a vibrant life, but also the anguish, the reluctance…
Seeing Lu Man so distressed, a faint smile flickered in the eyes of the eldest Madam, swiftly concealed. You are shrewd, but that illegitimate son is even more cunning than you. You have the ability to charm the Princess and the old Marquis, but that illegitimate son has the skill to manipulate you. Just wait and see, when he returns to marry and have children, for the husband’s honor and the wife’s status…
Liu Chun quickly reassured, “Your Highness, Third Young Madam, Second Miss, please don’t be too upset. Third Young Master is not yet fully recovered, but he can already walk around. Furthermore, the enemy needs time to recuperate, and our forces also require rest. There may not be major battles at the border for some time, allowing Third Young Master ample time to recuperate.”
Marquis Jiang rewarded Liu Chun with ten taels of silver, instructing him to rest for a few days. They prepared some items for Jiang Zhanwei to take back to the border.
Perhaps due to his injuries not fully healing, Jiang Zhanwei’s letter to Lu Man was only two pages long, with less elegant handwriting than before. He expressed his deep thoughts and feelings, joy at the impending fatherhood, and mentioned that regardless of the child’s gender, he would name a boy Jiang Dejing and a girl Jiang Yue.
He hoped for a bright future for his son and happiness for his daughter, aligning with Lu Man’s wishes.
He went on to thank Lu Man for the miraculous medicines that saved him and his soldiers…
After Jiang Zhanwei took ten Huang Ke Lai pills as prescribed by the military physician, he miraculously recovered. Feeling slightly better, he saved three pills for critical moments and gave another three to Xie Yu. Lu Fangrong was hit by an arrow in the back, causing severe injuries, but after taking four pills, he was well on his way to recovery.
Furthermore, the Salicylic Powder proved highly effective, not only for treating colds but also for fever and pain relief from injuries. Due to its effectiveness, all injured soldiers had used it up. They requested more of both medicines from Lu Man, along with some dried beef for snacks.
They also requested more Huang Ke Lai pills as they truly saved lives. Though Lu Man treasured the medicine, she had to provide more. As for the Salicylic Powder, they requested a considerable amount to distribute to other troops.
Upon reading Lu Fangrong’s letter, Lu Man hesitated but decided to open it. Lu Fangrong first expressed gratitude for having a capable daughter who had saved his and his son-in-law’s lives. He then revealed that the old lady Lu had sent a letter, informing him that Mingzhu had returned to the capital and had given birth to a son. Overwhelmed with emotion, he felt tears welling up and was even more determined in battle. He vowed to protect himself for his wife and children, striving to return to the capital alive for a family reunion…
Lu Man scoffed inwardly, finding his words audacious. He had divorced He Mingzhu for over a decade, remarried, and taken a concubine, having three children with them. How dare he refer to He Mingzhu as his wife? The mention of “having a son” was sickening!
Moreover, he was trying to reconnect with her.
She pinched the thick letter he wrote to He Mingzhu. Looking at the envelope with elegant and flowing characters, it read “Mingzhu – Personal Delivery.”
Lu Man shuddered with a chill.
He no longer had any right to address her by her maiden name.
No wonder the naive He Mingzhu had been so easily swayed into defying her father to marry him, he truly was adept at charming women.
He Mingzhu had always maintained that she would have nothing to do with Lu Fangrong, and hopefully, she would uphold that stance.
Due to Jiang Zhanwei’s severe injury, the Princess was distressed and no longer in the mood for entertainment or moon-viewing, so everyone dispersed after the meal.
The younger siblings were also in low spirits, walking slowly with Lu Man back to Donghui Courtyard.
Jiang Zhankui gazed at the full moon in the sky, choked with emotion as he said, “Sister-in-law, seeing that round moon, I miss my brother even more. While we enjoy mooncakes and delicacies, he’s out there enduring hardships.”
Jiang Jiu’s eyes teared up as she spoke, “It’s so terrifying that Brother is so severely injured. If he dies, he’ll never come back. Without him, our nephew would be an orphan… I don’t want him to die.” Saying this, she leaned closer to Lu Man.
Lu Man comforted them, trying to reassure both them and herself, saying, “Don’t be afraid. Your brother has the miraculous medicine, and I’ll bring more to ensure he’s fine.”
Upon returning to Donghui Courtyard, Lu Man went straight to her small window. In the bright moonlight, the three tall stems of the Night Yellow Flowers stood tall and green, although with fewer leaves. The fruit at the top of each stem had grown to the size of longans, with the green bracts already opening to reveal dark brown fruits inside. The maid mentioned that these were seeds, and she added that the fruits would fall off in the coming days.