Chapter 101: Father Returns

As Lu Man departed, Princess Changting instructed Mama Qian to give fifty taels of silver to Lu Man, as a reward for the loyal servant Mama Wang.

Stepping out of the main hall, Lu Man breathed a long sigh of relief.

The heavy rain continued pouring down, cherry blossoms scattered across the courtyard. Lu Man, accompanied by Xing, walked from the cloister to the Gate, where a sedan chair was already waiting.

Returning to Orchid Pavilion, Lu Man handed the silver to Mama Wang and relayed the words of Princess Changting.

Mama Wang was moved to tears, exclaiming, “Heavens, I only did what was expected of me, yet the esteemed Princess Changting deems me a loyal servant and even rewards me with silver.” After speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed in the direction of Crane Hall.

Overjoyed, Mama Wang later personally bought some ingredients in the kitchen. As the stewardess of Orchid Pavilion, she was entitled to two taels of silver per month. Although she hadn’t received the money yet, with the sum from Lu Man and the generous reward from the Princess Changting, she already had over seventy taels of silver in hand.

After purchasing meat and vegetables, Mama Wang cooked a few dishes that Lu Man enjoyed in her childhood in the small kitchen. She then had the servants fetch the young siblings, celebrating in a small gathering.

Lu Man and the siblings dined on the kang, while Mama Wang and the others ate at a small table on the floor. They even shared a bit of wine.

The young siblings were thrilled, with the heavy rain outside, they could rest here for the night.

Several days of rain brought relief from the sweltering heat. Autumn arrived swiftly, erasing all traces of the brilliant and hot summer with just one heavy downpour.

Two days later, Liu Xin visited Lu Man and reported receiving a letter addressed to General Jin Cheng, making it easier to locate the whereabouts of lady He with the general’s assistance. However, the journey ahead was long, and news might not return for way for three months.

Lu Man was prepared for this and instructed Mama Wang to fetch five hundred taels of silver to aid the search.

Liu Xin declined, “The Master has already provided enough silver.”

Lu Man insisted that he accept the five hundred taels of silver and advised that if they found lady He, it would be preferable to bring her to the capital. If she refused to come, the silver could serve as temporary living expenses for her.

Lu Man believed that with lady He’s extravagant nature, even if she had some silver with her, it was likely running low by now.

Upon hearing that someone was finally going to Shu Region to search for lady He, Mama Wang was moved to tears once again.

On the afternoon of the fifth day of August, while Lu Man was giving old Marquis a massage, the Lu Family suddenly delivered a notice stating that Lu Fangrong, her father, had returned to the capital. She was asked to return the next day for a reunion. The notice also mentioned that Lu Fangrong would be leaving for the camp before sunset the next day and advised Lu Man to return earlier.

Perhaps the Lu family had been frightened by Lu Man’s attempted suicide, or maybe they had never truly cared for this daughter. Since Lu Man’s marriage, no one from her family had come to take her back, nor had they visited her. To inquire about her well-being, they had always paid servants to gather information.

Holding the notice, Lu Man hesitated. She had no desire to see her family or her despicable father.

In reality, she had always harbored a secret wish from her past life—to meet the father who abandoned her and her mother. Especially in her childhood, she often dreamed of her father suddenly appearing, embracing her, and saying, “Daddy has always missed you.” However, after divorcing her mother, her father was transferred back to his hometown and she never saw him again, only hearing that his later wife bore him a son.

In this life, she encountered the same heartless father.

Occasionally, she pondered that perhaps her father was a lover from her past life, and maybe she never married or loved in her previous incarnations, leading to the absence of a loving father in both lives. These thoughts left Lu Man feeling a bit melancholic.

Seeing Lu Man lost in thought with the notice in hand, Princess Changting remarked, “Your father has traveled a long way to return, you should go and meet him. He is your biological father, and respect should be shown. You need not fear your stepmother, as the daughter-in-law of our family, she cannot mistreat you.”

In the minds of primitive people, filial piety always took precedence. Lu Man dared not disobey and nodded in agreement.

Princess Changting then instructed the senior nursemaid, “Tomorrow, have Zhanwei’s wife bring more guards back with her. If that stepmother dares to bully anyone, we will respond with diplomacy and force.”

The senior nursemaid readily agreed with a series of chuckles.

The words of the old lady amused Lu Man. She hugged the old lady’s arm and chuckled, “Grandmother is truly wonderful, with you as my support, I fear no one.”

Upon returning to Orchid Pavilion, Jiang Zhankui, Jiang Jiu, Wang Dou, and Qichang, were playing in the courtyard while Mama Wang was sewing clothes for Lu Man in the corridor.

Seeing Lu Man’s return, the three children and a dog joyfully rushed to greet her.

Lu Man smiled and patted each of their heads before leading Jiang Jiu to Mama Wang, informing her about the notice from the Lu Mansion regarding Lu Fangrong’s return.

Upon hearing that Lu Man was going to visit again, Jiang Jiu quickly said, “Third Sister-in-law, we don’t have any relatives, and we would love to accompany you as guests.”

Although the young girl called Lu Man Third Sister-in-law, she regarded her as a true mother figure. She believed that Lu Man’s family should be considered her own, eager to join as guests.

Lu Man sighed and replied, “Jiang Jiu, my family members are not easy to deal with. It won’t be fun to go there. Wait a couple of days, and I will send a notice to sister Xie Ping and the others to come and visit our home.”

Mama Wang also wanted to go back with her, but the matter of her return to the capital was still confidential, so she had to endure. She instructed Lu Ying to take care of the Third Madam and ensure she wasn’t taken advantage of.

Lu Man comforted her with a smile, “I am not who I used to be, and Lu Ying has grown much stronger. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone bully us easily.”

Lu Ying reassured, “I am now a senior maid in the Princess Changting’s household, with confidence. Tomorrow, I will wear that satin dress that has never been worn before.”

As Lu Man’s capable assistant, she often received small bribes from the women seeking medical help, including a piece of fine silk from Mama Zhu. Delighted, she quickly asked Mama Wang to help with the tailoring, sewed it herself, but hesitated to wear it.

Liu Ya teased, “I thought you were saving it to wear when you become a daughter-in-law. How come you’re willing to wear it tomorrow?”

This banter brought laughter to everyone.

The next day, after breakfast, Lu Man first visited the old Marquis in Crane Hall before returning to Orchid Pavilion to prepare.

She needed to show up at the Lu family with enough presence today. They had to understand that when a daughter married well, her natal family also benefited. Those who resented such a marriage would have their guard up. As they aspired for wealth and status, things wouldn’t be easy.

No elaborate dressing up was necessary, the Lu family was not worth her effort. Even the clothes and jewelry she received as part of the Princess Changting’s household gifts were seen as great luxury in the eyes of the Lu family.