Chapter 104: Untangling the Knots

The woman, around thirty years old, was none other than Mrs. Xiao Chen. Bearing a resemblance to Old Madam Lu in certain aspects, her features were decent, although having lived in the city for over a decade and being an official’s wife for many years, she still retained a hint of rural simplicity.

Looking at her coldly, Lu Man remarked, “Indeed, you must be seeing ghosts. I did become a ghost, but my grudges were so heavy that the King of Hell sent me back to settle scores.”

Startled, Mrs. Xiao Chen trembled and quickly fell silent.

Lu Fangrong stared in bewilderment at this daughter who bore such a striking resemblance to Mingzhu. Tears welled up in his eyes as he approached Lu Man slowly, murmuring, “Manman, in the blink of an eye, you’ve grown into a young woman.”

He unexpectedly called her “Manman”, revealing that there were others who used this endearing nickname for her.

The warmth in his address left Lu Man feeling both confused and touched. She looked at him and asked, “You call me Manman?”

Lu Fangrong nodded and explained, “Yes, your name was chosen by Father. ‘The road ahead is long and winding, I will seek and explore above and below,’ this was Father’s lifelong pursuit. Both Father and Mother called you by this nickname.”

In a past life, her mother had explained the significance of this name to Lu Man, emphasizing the idea that in the journey of life, mistakes were inevitable. However, crucial steps must be taken with care, as wrong moves could lead to irreversible consequences.

After a moment of excitement, Lu Man’s heart settled down. She carefully observed the man before her, who had left almost no impression on her memory—her “father”. In his thirties, tall in stature, with rugged features and a bold demeanor, he presented a striking figure.

From outward appearances alone, he seemed like a tall, handsome man who could provide a sense of security to his daughter and make her proud of her father.

Lu Man couldn’t help but feel a sense of indignation. With his physique and skills, why didn’t he work to build the family business instead of allowing his mother to exploit He Mingzhu, mistreat her, and support a large household, including relatives from the old lady’s side? Why did he allow his mother to divorce his wife, marry Mrs. Xiao Chen first, then bring in Bao Qin? Why didn’t he protect his young daughter from bullying, preventing her from feeling so desolate that she resorted to hanging herself?

He Mingzhu had misplaced her affections.

Lu Fangrong couldn’t fully grasp the emotions in Lu Man’s eyes, but he sensed her resentment towards him. Feeling a mix of shame and regret, he continued, “Manman, I’m back now. If there are any unresolved issues you have, tell me, and I will help you untangle them. Stop feeling hopeless.” He wanted to express that Jiang Zhanwei was indeed a good match for her, but his military mission to the desert was confidential and couldn’t be revealed, not even to his family, and he couldn’t bring himself to mention seeing Jiang Zhanwei.

Lu Man softly replied, “I’ve grown up in this house until I was fifteen, with too many unresolved issues that made me feel life had no meaning, driving me to contemplate death. Unfortunately, fate didn’t comply, and I came back to life. I’ve come to understand that death would only bring joy to those who hate me. Living allows me to unravel one knot after another. I’ve grown up, I’ve realized, and I no longer hope for your help.”

Lu Fangrong felt a mix of sadness and embarrassment. He explained, “Manman, are you upset that Father didn’t take you along? I was concerned for your safety, the northern region is harsh, with strong winds and intense sunlight. It’s not suitable for noble families like ours. You’re a young lady, not a boy. Growing up in the city, you blossomed into a lovely and lively young woman, making it easier to find a good match.”

Lu Man sneered, “Did your concubine, Bao Qin tell you that?”

Lu Fangrong nodded, acknowledging Qin’s attention to detail. As a man, he hadn’t considered these aspects.

Lu Man continued, “I remember longing to accompany Father to the north when I was young. After losing Mother and then Father, my only wish was to have Father back. I waited and waited until Father finally returned. But Bao Qin told me that the north was dangerous, close to the Tartars who enjoy eating human flesh and drinking blood. She also mentioned that Father had a terrible temper, often scolding and hitting people. After hearing these things, I was too scared to insist on going with Father to the north.”

Lu Fangrong was puzzled, he didn’t understand why Bao Qin would say such things. However, he speculated that perhaps Bao Qin struggled to reason with the child and resorted to fear tactics. Despite her misguided approach, her intentions were good. He responded, “Well, Qin does have a point. Wucheng is a border town, close to Tartar territories. Moreover, Father’s temper isn’t the best.”

It seemed Bao Qin had truly influenced Lu Fangrong.

Lu Man sarcastically smiled and ignored him, walking back to her seat and sitting down.

Seeing that mocking smile, Lu Fangrong felt a sharp pang, as though he had been publicly slapped. His words of concern for his daughter now seemed paler than the paper they were written on. Despite genuinely caring for his eldest daughter and being concerned about her, he reasoned that scolding Bao Qin would have to be done in private. He needed to maintain her dignity in front of everyone, including his sons.

Lu Fangrong stood there, feeling lost.

Due to Lu Fangrong’s favoritism, the fact that both sons were hers, and that they had earned the affection of both Lu Fangrong and the old lady, Bao Qin had immediately established herself as a distinctive figure upon her return. She was the only concubine in the room with a reserved seat, placed at the far end among the women. While others sat on chairs, she was seated on a cushioned stool.

Bao Qin was both moved by Master Lu Fangrong’s open favoritism towards her and terrified. Seeing his face flush with embarrassment, she felt increasingly uneasy.

She didn’t want to return to the capital now, she preferred to wait until her son grew up and established himself before coming back. By then, with her son’s support and her years of care for Master Lu, her position would be even more secure.

However, at present, her son was still young, and due to the impending border conflicts and Master Lu’s secret mission, they had to return to the capital earlier than planned.

In her mind, Bao Qin cursed Mrs. Xiao Chen a thousand times for her greed and lack of intelligence. She couldn’t even handle an orphan girl who was neglected by everyone, yet Mrs. Xiao Chen managed to survive until now.

She believed that Mrs. Xiao Chen was most afraid of Lu Man continuing to live. As long as Lu Man was alive, Mrs. Xiao Chen couldn’t escape the theft of Renhe Hall. If Lu Man died, Renhe Hall could be rightfully passed to the stepmother, and those past deeds would remain hidden.

Although Old Lady Lu and Lu Fangming knew that Mrs. Xiao Chen had taken over Renhe Hall through deceit, Old Madam Lu had a soft spot for Mrs. Xiao Chen as her niece and cared deeply for her. Therefore, she would never reveal the truth to Lu Fangrong. They lived so comfortably due to Old Lady Lu using the He family’s money to support them. It was said that to silence the First daughter-in-law, Old Lady Lu even gave two hundred acres of the five hundred acres of land left by the He family to the First Branch. Keeping it a secret, the couple naturally dared not speak up…