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Because he had been fighting for two years, Jiang Zhanwei’s skin was no longer as fair as before, but it was definitely not dark, still shimmering with a jade-like luster.
Lu Man remembered a saying from a close friend in her past life: men who don’t turn red or green in the face when drunk are lustful. Thinking of this, Lu Man couldn’t help but smile.
Due to the alcohol, his thin lips appeared even redder, as if he had applied lipstick. His facial features were well-defined, his nose prominent, and his thick, sword-like eyebrows slightly raised. However, there were actually a few faint wrinkles between his brows.
She gently smoothed those wrinkles, muttering, “You’re still so young, how did you get wrinkles? It must be because you’re too cunning, too many thoughts, too many worries…”
Suddenly, those two black lines turned into a pair of fiery red eyes.
Lu Man was startled, feeling the shame of being caught peeping. She tried to get up, but Jiang Zhanwei had already wrapped his arms around her waist.
Staring at Lu Man, Jiang Zhanwei said, “Manman, wait and see, I will bring you even greater glory.”
Lu Man shook her head and leaned against his chest, saying, “What we have now is enough. I just want you to be well, for our family to be safe and sound…”
Jiang Zhanwei chuckled softly and said indistinctly, “Safe and sound? It’s not that easy!” His hand gently caressed Lu Man’s cheek as he said, “My wife is so wonderful. Only by achieving a higher position can I protect you. Right now, it’s because of Grandmother that no one dares to…” He mumbled a few unclear words in his throat, and the next moment, snoring could be heard.
His words kept Lu Man awake for a long time. In the eyes of some people, she, an exceptionally beautiful physician with divine medicine in her hands, was indeed a rare piece of exquisite jade. Her previous thoughts of divorcing and starting a business single-handedly were still too naive…
In the middle of the night, Lu Man was sleeping soundly when she was suddenly awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
Both Jiang Zhanwei and Lu Man were roused from their sleep. It was a nursemaid from Minghe Hall, saying that the First Madam was not doing well and that the heir had invited Third Young Madam to take a look.
For Lu Man to be called to see a patient at this hour, the First Madam must be seriously ill. In this kind of weather, even healthy people could easily fall sick, let alone the First Madam, who had been “sick” for a long time.
However, considering the Wang and Hong families, Lu Man did not want to rush over immediately. She was afraid that if the First Madam really died, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself.
Jiang Zhanwei shared the same concerns. He held Lu Man back as she tried to get up and said, “You go back to sleep. I’ll go out and take a look.”
He put on his clothes and went to the main room, asking the nursemaid, “Has an imperial physician been called?”
The nursemaid replied, “The Eldest Master and Eldest Madam have already sent someone to invite one.”
Jiang Zhanwei said, “Good, I understand. Later, I will accompany Third Young Madam there.”
After the nursemaid left, neither Jiang Zhanwei nor Lu Man could sleep. They dressed and sat in the room talking, and they also had Tao wake up Lu Ying, Xiao Zhong, and Xiao Xi, making various preparations.
After waiting for about half an hour, thinking that the nearest imperial physician should be arriving soon, Jiang Zhanwei accompanied Lu Man out.
During this time, Jiang Zhanju sent someone to urge Lu Man twice, but Jiang Zhanwei sent them away.
In the vast night, with snow flying and the cold wind howling, Lu Man, wrapped in a thick cloak and holding a hand warmer, shivered from the cold. Jiang Zhanwei held her tightly in his arms, giving her a bit of warmth. When they arrived at the east side gate, two small sedan chairs were already waiting there. The servants carrying the sedan chairs had been waiting for a long time, freezing as they jumped and paced back and forth.
The south courtyard was brightly lit with people coming and going. Jiang Zhanju was so anxious that he was spinning in circles. The last time he had invited Lu Man to see the First Madam, the First Madam had suspected that Lu Man would harm her, and Lu Man had left without treating her. Now that they had called for her, Lu Man was undoubtedly afraid of getting into trouble and did not dare to arrive before the other physicians.
Imperial Physician Li and Lu Man arrived at the south courtyard one after the other. Not only were Jiang Zhanju and his wife, as well as Jiang Zhanxun, present, but even Marquis Jiang had come.
Imperial Physician Li lived relatively close to the Princess Changting’s Residence, so he was usually the one called when there was an emergency in the middle of the night at the Princess’s Residence.
Seeing the First Madam with her eyes closed, her face covered in red sores, and nothing but skin and bones left, Lu Man sighed inwardly. After half a year without seeing her, the First Madam had “fallen ill” to such an extent. For political and family reasons, the head of the family, the Princess, and Marquis Jiang might have been waiting for this day.
Before winter, Lu Man had quietly reminded the Princess that if the First Madam’s health was not good, the medicine might need to be stopped for a while.
The Princess only said that she knew. Lu Man didn’t know whether they had stopped the medication or not, but now it seemed they hadn’t.
After force-feeding medicine and applying acupuncture to Madam Hong, a flurry of activity ensued, but Imperial Physician Li shook his head. Lu Man, as the assistant to Imperial Physician Li, helped him with the treatment, but they were unable to save Madam Hong’s life. Lu Man did not slack off, as a physician, she had done her best.
Madam Hong died at the second hour of the morning on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month of the twenty-second year of the Zhenkang era. She had tormented herself into this small courtyard and had also tormented away her own life. She died without leaving a single word of last advice.
Jiang Zhanju and his brothers, along with Young Madam Han, wept inconsolably.
Marquis Jiang quickly sent someone to inform the First Madam’s maiden family, the Hong family, and the Princess Changting’s Residence began to prepare the funeral hall.
Seeing Madam Hong’s miserable state after death, the Hong family was furious.
In the funeral hall, they berated Marquis Jiang for mistreating his wife. Marquis Jiang defended himself, saying that he had sought out the best imperial physician in the Dachun Dynasty, which the Imperial Medical Office could attest to. He had also provided her with daily ginseng and bird’s nest, which everyone in the household could attest to. He had done his best, but still couldn’t save Hong.
The Hong family then accused Lu Man of negligence, saying that as a divine physician, she had saved so many lives, so why didn’t she save the First Madam.
Lu Man was speechless, but Jiang Zhanwei was not happy. With a cold face, he said, “My wife is a physician, not a god. How could she possibly cure every illness? If she really had such abilities, wouldn’t I be able to live forever?”
Marquis Jiang also helped to explain, “Zhanwei’s wife specializes in gynecology and heart diseases. She did her best for Hong. Jiang Zhanju and Jiang Zhanxun can attest to this.”
In fact, apart from Jiang Zhanju, Jiang Ling, and Jiang Zhanxun, who were genuinely sad, no one else in the Princess Changting’s Residence felt sorrowful about the First Madam’s death. Some even secretly felt relieved, including Marquis Jiang himself.
Because of Madam Hong’s death, the Princess Changting’s Residence did not celebrate the New Year well. The Princess went to the small Buddha hall to chant sutras every day, and the old Marquis ran to Donghui Courtyard to play from morning till night. The masters of the first branch were guarding the spirit in the funeral hall, while other adult masters were busy receiving condolences. Only Donghui Courtyard, which had been separated and lived independently, remained relatively normal. Although there was no festive atmosphere for the New Year, apart from Jiang Zhanwei who had to go over to help, everyone else stayed indoors, doing what they needed to do.
Sweet Pea went to the county Prince He’s estate. Song Mo had someone send a message to Lu Man, saying that he was on vacation, that his home was not fun, and that it was not appropriate to visit during the days before the New Year, so he asked Sweet Pea to come and play with him for a few days.
However, on the first day of the New Year, the men could not avoid going to the ancestral hall to pay respects to their ancestors. Early in the morning, Marquis Jiang, with a face full of grief, still mustered his spirits and, together with the old Marquis, led the men into the ancestral hall to pay their respects. At the same time, Marquis Jiang also added Concubine Zhou, who had already been conferred a title, into the family genealogy.