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Upon hearing Lu Man’s words, Lu Yuan couldn’t contain his anger and said, “Second Sister, you’re blatantly driving us away. We are guests from your Lu family. How can you dismiss us without inviting us inside first?”
Lu Man’s expression turned cold as she sneered, “Go back and ask your mother how she can have the audacity to send you here as my guests after all the immoral things she’s done.” She had no intention of giving any face to this mother and daughter duo.
The maid who was handling the mule cart, waiting for her reward, was startled by Lu Man’s words and quickly led the mule cart away.
As Lu Yuan tried to speak, Lu Yu quietly stopped her, saying, “Younger Sister, don’t speak out of turn.” She then smiled at Lu Man and said, “Grandmother and Father are thrilled to hear about the old Marquis’s recovery. They know how hard you’ve worked, so they asked us to come and see you.”
Lu Yu felt conflicted. She knew the Lu family had severely offended Lu Man, making it challenging to repair their relationship. However, she hoped that by making amends, they could alleviate some of the animosity Lu Man held towards their family, which would improve her father and family’s situation. Within the entire Lu family, except for her, it appeared that Lu Man harbored deep resentment towards everyone. Therefore, she reluctantly came. However, Mrs. Xiao Chen seemed oblivious. Despite knowing that Lu Man despised them, she insisted on having Lu Yuan accompany her.
Forced, Lu Man forced a smile and said, “Please come inside and have a seat.” She couldn’t outright refuse to let them in at the doorstep. Besides, she wanted to see that annoying girl with shallow eyelids.
Casting a glance at Lu Chang, who remained expressionless, Lu Man thought to herself that he had the demeanor of someone who remained unfazed by honor or disgrace. If guided properly, he could become a talent, but if left unchecked, he would be a disaster.
Looking at the lush bamboo, red flowers, emerald pond, pink walls, blue tiles, and the intricately designed structures in the courtyard, Lu Yuan couldn’t hide her envy and resentment.
Lu Yu remarked, “This place is like a fairyland, Second Sister is truly fortunate.”
Lu Man smiled and teasingly said, “What I have here is nothing compared to the Crane Hall where Princess Changting resides. Now, that is true luxury.”
Unable to hold back, Lu Yuan blurted out, “If it’s so great, why did you leave in the first place?”
Lu Man retorted, “If I don’t intimidate them a little, how will they ever feel fear?”
As they entered the main hall of the upper house, the maid had just served tea but before much conversation could take place, Lu Man stood up and said, “Now that Grandfather has awakened and I have more to attend to, I won’t detain you any longer.”
Lu Yu was a bit slow to react, while Lu Yuan, red-faced with anger, refrained from saying more. Lu Chang, slightly embarrassed, stood up and respectfully said, “Respecting our elders is important. Sister, you go ahead.”
Lu Man asked the servant to escort them to the outer courtyard and proceeded to Crane Hall herself.
Lu Yuan remarked, “We came here by mule cart, it’s quite a distance.”
Ignoring the comment, Lu Man walked away. After treating them with disdain, she wondered if the Lu family would attempt to approach her again.
Arriving at Crane Hall, the old Marquis had just finished his double-boiled milk. Upon seeing Lu Man, he said, “Milk, like… like egg custard.”
Princess Changting chuckled, wiping away his drool, and said, “Oh, the old Marquis is getting a little smarter again.”
Just as they were chatting, a maid arrived to announce that the Crown Prince was coming to visit the old Marquis.
The news delighted Princess Changting, who, with Lu Man’s assistance, went to greet the Crown Prince at the door.
The Crown Prince, Song Xi, who had just turned fourteen, had a fair and refined appearance, exuding elegance and scholarly charm. He wore a long robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon and a crown adorned with precious jewels, accompanied by Marquis Jiang.
Approaching Princess Changting with a bow, the Crown Prince said, “Aunt, no need for formalities.” Despite his voice cracking due to puberty, it remained clear and pleasant.
Princess Changting then introduced Lu Man, who had risen from her kneeling position, saying, “This is Zhanwei’s wife, whose efforts were crucial in the old Marquis’s recovery.”
The Crown Prince inquired, “She is Third cousins’s wife? Well, her filial piety is commendable. Please rise.” Although he was young, he had to show respect to his elders, hence referring to Jiang Zhanwei as Third cousin.
After observing Lu Man standing up, the Crown Prince remarked, “Impressive, with a touch of cleverness.” And proceeded into the upper room.
Internally, Lu Man mocked the mischievous behavior of the young Crown Prince. However, she maintained her composure and quickly followed Princess Changting inside.
From occasional conversations with Princess Changting and the elders, Lu Man had gained insights into some palace affairs. She learned that the Emperor had faced difficulties in producing heirs, having five daughters and two sons, but only two daughters and one son survived in the end.
In particular, the first Crown Prince passed away at the age of seven, leading to the Empress’s subsequent demise, leaving the Emperor in deep sorrow for a long time. When the Emperor was thirty-nine, the Consort finally bore him a son, which brought him great joy. He then honored her as the Empress and named the three-year-old Song Xi as the Crown Prince.
However, the Emperor didn’t allow the Empress to have much contact with the Crown Prince. After the Crown Prince turned five, he was primarily under the Emperor’s guidance and received tutoring from knowledgeable scholars in various subjects, along with key ministers explaining statecraft. The Crown Prince was diligent, excelling in both literary and martial arts.
Lu Man always believed that ancient people were no less skilled in politics than modern individuals. In modern times, she was a simple obstetrician-gynecologist, and if she were to engage in palace intrigues, she would likely meet an unfortunate end. Therefore, even when encountering the mischievous Crown Prince, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
As the Crown Prince approached the old Marquis’s bedside, the old Marquis was sitting with the physician’s support, unable to exert much strength.
The Crown Prince greeted the old Marquis, “Uncle, do you still recognize me?”
The old Marquis looked at him blankly, then turned to Lu Man and mumbled, “Grand… daughter-in-law, who… who is he?” Drool trickled down his mouth.
Lu Man wiped away the drool with a handkerchief and said with a smile, “Grandfather, the Crown Prince has come to see you.”
Still bewildered, the old Marquis called out, “Chang… Ting…”
Princess Changting explained to the Crown Prince, “Even though the old Marquis has awakened, he has forgotten many people and things, only remembering a few individuals.”
Lu Man explained the nature of such patients, emphasizing the need for a long recovery period to regain certain functions.
The Crown Prince nodded, reassuring Princess Changting, “Aunt, don’t worry. According to the royal physician, there have been no records of patients with this condition waking up before. Uncle is the first case, a remarkable feat. With time, he will surely improve. The Emperor and Empress are delighted, and if you need anything, feel free to ask.”
Princess Changting expressed her gratitude, and after the Crown Prince spent about a quarter of an hour there, his eunuch presented a thousand-year ginseng, and he took his leave. Lu Man escorted Princess Changting to the gate, where the Marquis accompanied the Crown Prince to the outer courtyard.