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In the courtyard, He Cheng opened the door slightly, allowing Sweet Pea to slip out and swiftly dart across the path, leaping onto the opposite courtyard wall, disappearing from sight.
Under the starlight, He Cheng gazed at the small door across, lost in thought for a moment before closing the door slit and returning to his quarters in the East Wing.
Every time Sweet Pea delivered medicine to Liu Xirui, it never returned with an empty package. Sometimes it carried snacks made by Miss Liu, other times homemade rouge and balm, or embroidery items like flower ornaments, shoe insoles, purses, forehead bands, and small dolls. The embroidery work was exquisite and beautiful, while the rouge and balm had delicate colors and fragrances.
Not only did He Mingzhu appreciate them, but even Lu Man admired them. Lu Man praised Miss Liu’s intelligence and creativity, attributing it to her previous learnings in the nunnery.
He Cheng knew these items were intended for his sister and mother, so he would distribute them accordingly.
Eventually, among these items, there began to be items intended for men. Starting with handkerchiefs embroidered with bamboo patterns suitable for men, then purses with dark floral trim suitable for men, and even fragrant pills for men.
He Cheng guiltily hid these items away.
Returning to his bedroom, unable to sleep, He Cheng took out the pouch containing the fragrant pills. The scent of the pills was faint and refreshing, enclosed in a pouch of dark silk embroidered with golden cloud patterns.
He took a fragrant pill, tasting slightly bitter, cool, and astringent at first, gradually transforming into a sweet fragrance lingering between his lips and teeth. Bitter before sweet, that seemed to be the way of things, right?
Thinking of Miss Liu enduring the pain of her illness, He Cheng put away the fragrant pills and retrieved various medicines from a small box. Placing a bowl of herbal soup on the table, he took out a prescription from the pouch and stared at the items in contemplation.
The prescription was for “Soul-Stealing Powder”, but two ingredients were missing. The herbal soup contained the missing ingredients suggested by his sister but still proved ineffective…
Suddenly, a distinctive meow from Sweet Pea outside the window caught He Cheng’s attention, followed by a colorful figure climbing in through the open window. Startled, He Cheng shielded the bowl of herbal soup, cradling it protectively in his arms.
Usually, when Sweet Pea visited Liu Xirui, it would stay for a day or two, yet today it returned within less than a quarter of an hour.
Thinking about the idea of letting Sweet Pea roam for ten days, He Cheng smiled as he took off the backpack from its back, remarking, “Already back so soon, missing the outdoor playtime?”
Sweet Pea meowed twice and then leaped out of the small window.
Inside the backpack was a set of little girl’s clothing, a forehead band suitable for a middle-aged woman, and a moon-white silk handkerchief. The handkerchief, larger than those for women, was embroidered with two jade birds standing on a pear blossom branch surrounded by cloud patterns.
Seeing the jade birds seemingly poised to fly out, He Cheng felt a peculiar sensation in his heart. Each time, he hoped for something meant for men in her returned gifts.
He felt uneasy about this inclination and somewhat embarrassed. Engaged in healing with his sister, he shouldn’t always anticipate reciprocation from her. Yet, he couldn’t help but entertain such thoughts…
Taking out the handkerchief, He Cheng planned to give the other two items to his mother and sister the next day.
On the ninth day of the eighth month, news arrived of the untimely death of Song Ji, the eldest grandson of Prince Shuo.
Princess Changting.’s mansion prepared mourning gifts for the occasion. Due to Lu Man treating the young prince and the efforts of the Donghui Courtyard, He Cheng and Liu Xin also readied mourning offerings.
Lu Man felt deeply saddened. Despite being a skilled healer capable of saving lives, she could only watch helplessly as the child passed away.
The child was innocent and had a strong lineage. Yet, he became a sacrificial pawn in political maneuvering and perished at such a tender age.
Lu Man’s mood remained somber. Whenever she had free time, she would check on the Night Yellow Flower in the rear courtyard. To ensure the flower’s growth, Princess Changting had even assigned the flower room’s maid to Lu Man, along with the servant contract.
During these days, the maid diligently stayed in the rear courtyard, guarding the Night Yellow Flower seedlings meticulously, fearing even the slightest loss. By the end of August, all seventy-two seeds from the thirty-six pots had matured and fallen. The maid soaked and planted the seeds, which sprouted green shoots a few days later.
Lu Man felt a sense of relief. If these flowers thrived, there would be a total of one hundred and eight Night Yellow Flowers, enabling the production of more medicine and the potential to save more lives.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the fifteenth of September.
Today is Jiang Yue’s first birthday. Whether due to Princess Changting’s influence, Lu Man’s current connections, or Jiang Zhanwei’s remarkable achievements on the frontlines, many families will come to congratulate them.
Anticipating Lu Man might struggle with the influx of guests, Princess Changting had the Eldest Young Madam come over a few days prior to assist with preparations. Despite their previous conflict, Young Madam Han put in extra effort to help out, not only decorating the Donghui Courtyard but also tidying up other things, as many guests would visit there.
In the morning, Lu Man dressed up Jiang Yue. The little girl not only possessed a beautiful appearance but was also tall and robust, even taller than many boys of her age. She could walk steadily while being guided by adults and could manage a few steps on her own.
She could not only say “daddy” but also “mother”, “lady”, “in-law”, “aunt”, “uncle”, and even “beat”. “Mother” referred to her great-grandparents rather than the usual use of the term. In short, she was an incredibly intelligent and charming child.
As expected by Lu Man, many unexpected guests arrived, including some with whom they had minimal contact in the past.
Surprisingly, the Shu family also sent representatives. However, Shu Mingwei was absent, and instead, her third aunt came to offer gifts.
Third Madam Shu praised Jiang Yue, saying, “Oh, what a beautiful little girl, she looks just like her father. Mr. Jiang occasionally visited our mansion a few years ago, and I had the pleasure of meeting him. Handsome, polite, and now, he has achieved so much…”
Before she could finish, Lu Man stood up and greeted the old Princess He and Prince He, who had entered the room, saying, “My daughter is blessed to have you personally come to celebrate her birthday.”
Emerging from behind the old Princess, Song Mo smiled and added, “And my father and I are here too.”
Lu Man responded with a welcoming smile.
The old Princess He playfully interacted with Jiang Yue for a few moments before being escorted to the rear East Wing. Concerned about noise, Princess Changting had retreated there. Women of high status among the guests would gather there to chat with Princess Changting.
Seeing that Lu Man was no longer engaging with her, Third Madam Shu had no choice but to sit elsewhere. Most of the guests were from prestigious families, and apart from Mrs. Ding and Lu Yu, Third Madam Shu’s status was relatively lower among them.