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Jiang Jiu had always craved her father’s affection, but the second master hadn’t shown any special attention. Later, she received love from the elderly like the old Marquis and He Mingzhu, which gradually eased her heart. Now, seeing her father proactively buying her jewelry, she was ecstatic, truly surprised by the unexpected gift.
She walked over with Jiang Yue, took the box from the second master, and thanked him, “Thank you, Father. I really like it.”
Second Master Jiang chuckled, patting her head gently, “You haven’t even seen it yet, and you already like it.”
Jiang Jiu added, “Whatever Father gives me, I will like.”
Jiang Yue had never been close to the Second Master before, but she was still happy to receive a gift. Not knowing how to bow properly, she awkwardly held the box with both hands and shook it up and down, saying, “Thank you, thank you.” Mama Li took the box from Jiang Yue.
The Second Master patted her head playfully and said, “Little Yue hasn’t called me ‘Grandfather’ yet. Call me Grandfather.”
Jiang Yue didn’t know how to say “Grandfather” or differentiate between two different words. However, she often heard her mother and younger uncle and aunt refer to this person as “Second Master.”
Cleverly, she called out, “Second, Second.”
Second Master Jiang frowned, “What’s ‘Second’? Call me Grandfather.”
Jiang Yue, with wide eyes, loudly exclaimed, “Second!”
The old Marquis sitting at the head of the table also joined in, unhappy with the Second Master, shouting, “If Yue doesn’t call you grandfather and calls you ‘Second’, what’s wrong with that?”
Mama Li quickly explained, “Reporting to the Second Master, the child only knows simple short words.”
The Second Master, resigned, said, “Alright, alright, ‘Second’ it is then.”
Jiang Zhanyu chuckled, “What kind of jewelry is it? If it’s lovely, I’ll have someone go to the Silver Pavilion tomorrow to buy matching ones for He and Zhen, gifts from your Fifth Uncle and Fifth Brother.”
Madam Huang joined in, smiling, “Second Brother has such excellent taste in these things. Anything he picks must be beautiful.”
Jiang Jiu took out a small jade hairpin adorned with paired deer and a pair of pearl-inlaid bright red flowers from the box. They were truly beautiful and unique, earning praise from everyone.
Initially, Princess Changting frowned slightly, finding her second son always lacking in handling things properly. With Jiang He and Jiang Zhen, the two young girls at home, if gifts were to be given in public, they should each receive one as well. Otherwise, it would be better to give them privately.
Seeing her grandson help his father out of the situation, she felt content. Despite the second son’s shortcomings, all his sons were intelligent.
She sighed and advised the Second Master, “You are their father, Grandfather. Some things should have been done long ago. Nevertheless, it’s never too late. We are all family, we should get along well, peacefully.”
Second Master Jiang chuckled, “I’ll heed your advice, Mother.”
Princess Changting then gestured to Jiang Zhanyu, “Good child, come, help your grandmother to dinner.” She then remarked to everyone, “This grandson of mine excels in his studies, has a good temperament, and is handsome. I must find him a worthy wife in the future.”
Everyone readily agreed.
Later that night, after the children retired to rest, Lu Man began reviewing some medical cases from the Renhe Hall. Recently, He Cheng had passed the examination at the Imperial Hospital, officially becoming a qualified physician and starting his “internship” at the Renhe Hall. Occasionally, he would accompany Lu Man to consult special patients. He often compiled complex medical cases for discussion, bringing them back for review.
Near the end of the evening, Jiang Zhanwei unexpectedly returned. Accompanied by him was a chilling coldness that made Lu Man, wrapped in a thin overcoat, sneeze.
His dark cloak was dirtied to a shine, and his blue brocade robe inside was also dirty. His nose and face were red from the cold, eyebrows and a strand of hair hanging down covered in frost. Dusty and weary, he appeared fatigued.
Lu Man quickly set aside the medical cases and helped him remove his cloak. Pouting, she complained, “Didn’t you say you would be gone for eight to ten days? Why are you back so soon? How are the injuries on your back? Riding fast horses every day, the wounds won’t heal easily. Also, your younger siblings and daughter are unhappy, clamoring to see you every day… Oh, I’ll have someone prepare dinner for the Third Young Master.”
Jiang Zhanwei particularly enjoyed seeing her scold him with her pouty lips.
During the war, his comrades who had wives often mentioned how women loved to nag, even over the smallest things. They seemed quite disapproving, yet the warmth in their eyes betrayed them. At that time, he wondered why his future wife didn’t like to nag or be verbose, even writing letters so simply, more straightforward than he, a grown man.
Now, he was pleased to hear his wife nagging him, feeling content.
He began, “No need to prepare dinner, I’ve already eaten.” With a furrowed brow, he asked, “You don’t miss me, only the siblings and daughter do?”
Lu Man wasn’t sure if she missed him, but seeing him in this state made her heart ache. Despite being an illegitimate child, he was from a prestigious family and very clean at home, always immaculate. Now, he was in this state. At the border, he must be even more disheveled.
The more he suffered, the more his family enjoyed blessings.
Handing his cloak and robe to a servant, she softly said, “I don’t want you to toil so hard in this horrible weather.”
Jiang Zhanwei smiled, pulling her into his arms and nuzzling her fair neck with his nose.
Lu Man first felt as if she had fallen into an icy hole, then as if an ice cube had dropped down her neck, making her shiver.
She quickly freed herself from his embrace, playfully scolding, “Oh, stop it, it’s so cold!”
Seeing her reaction, Jiang Zhanwei chuckled and headed to the bathing room.
Lu Man took out a set of inner garments and a thin cyan cotton robe for him, not involving the servants, and personally placed them in the bathing room.
Through her peripheral vision, she noticed Jiang Zhanwei sitting in the large tub. Blushing, despite their intimacy over the past few nights, she had never clearly seen his body before.
Jiang Zhanwei spoke again, “Manman, come help your husband bathe.”
Blushing, Lu Man quickly retreated.
After Jiang Zhanwei finished bathing and changed into a white inner garment and trousers, with a slight blush on his face, his silky long hair clean and neat, he looked like the refined scion of a noble family once more.
Lu Man personally dried his hair.
After dismissing the servants, Jiang Zhanwei spoke softly, “These days, I not only visited the families of our fallen comrades but also looked into some old matters.” Lowering his voice, he continued, “Of those six individuals, five have passed away. Two died shortly after the Crown Prince’s birth. Two others died in accidents soon after being released from the palace. Another was a female official surnamed Shi who, unable to bear the loss of the late Empress Dowager, threw herself into the river while accompanying the Empress Dowager’s coffin to the imperial tomb. Unfortunately, her body was never found due to the fast-flowing river. Now, only Eunuch Cai is alive, the steward of the Kunning Palace and a trusted confidant of Empress Wang.”