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By the time of the hour of the Xu (7-9 pm), Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu had finished washing up and were ready to rest, but Jiang Zhanwei showed no intention of returning to the front courtyard.
After ensuring the siblings were settled in bed, he went to the cleansing room. Lu Man, not wanting to enter the bedroom, chose to sit in the chair in the side room, engrossed in reading medical texts. She instructed Liu Ya and others to prepare the heated brick bed in the East room.
When Jiang Zhanwei emerged, he was dressed in white embroidered undergarments, his ink-black hair cascading down, cheeks slightly flushed, and a hint of chest exposed. An invigorating scent of cold plum lingered in the air, faint yet familiar.
Still brimming with excitement, he sat on the heated brick bed, carefully studying the camouflage and backpack designs she had drawn.
The bright candlelight on the table illuminated his chest with exceptional clarity, revealing a solid and robust chest against his pale skin. In that candlelight, he appeared less stern and more gentle, with lips slightly curved like dew-kissed petals—soft, moist, and rosy.
Truly, a person engrossed in their work is quite endearing!
Lu Man recalled the eyes from her dream, feeling a sense of unease and anxiety.
Quickly lowering her head, she hurried into the bedroom with her medical book.
Sitting on the bed, she tried to read but found her mind restless, unable to focus, with Jiang Zhanwei’s image persistently appearing in her mind’s eye.
That man, he might have dissociative identity disorder. Multiple personalities, unsure which one was the real him. Not just Lu Man, even those who had watched him grow up might have misjudged him… For safety and to prevent further emotional harm, it was best to maintain a distance. Lu Man felt ashamed of her fleeting thoughts.
Glancing at the sound of Jiang Jiu’s exuberance nearby and Jiang Zhankui in the West room, these two little ones seemed intent on staying with her. With them here, it was inconvenient for herself, and Jiang Zhanwei naturally stayed on Orchid Pavilion upon his return.
Feeling quite helpless, she had hinted several times, but the siblings paid no heed. Considering the situation, she contemplated having them move to the East Cross Courtyard. This way, it wouldn’t be seen as pushing them away, and it would also create some distance between them and herself…
Late into the night, the light seeping through the door crack still glowed. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the peering eyes from her dream were fixed firmly on the other side of the door.
The next day, when Lu Man woke up, Jiang Zhanwei had already left. Upon hearing about his departure, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Mama Wang mentioned that he had left for the front courtyard even before dawn.
Whenever Jiang Zhanwei’s name was brought up, Mama Wang’s face lit up with a smile. Seeing Jiang Jiu head to wash up, she whispered, “Third Young Madam, Third Young Master is a good person. Not only did he save you and your family, but he also sent people to search for Madam in Shu Region. Yesterday, when he forced the removal of those vile women, Xiao Chen and Bao Qin, it was truly satisfying for me… Before leaving today, he instructed me and Liu Ya to take good care of you. I noticed that his attitude toward you seemed softer and genuinely caring. Even the Princess and the old Marquis treat you so well. In the future, stop overthinking things and live well with the Third Young Master…” She continued to praise Jiang Zhanwei and the Princess for their kindness.
Lu Man also sensed a change in Jiang Zhanwei’s attitude towards her. It wasn’t just a display of one of his multiple personalities, perhaps it was also a form of gratitude for her care and protection for his siblings?
Then, Mama Wang added, “Third Young Madam and Third Young Master have already consummated their marriage. Even if they were to separate, she wouldn’t find a better man…”
Upon hearing the term “consummated their marriage”, Lu Man was reminded of that night, feeling a sharp pang in her body subconsciously. She crossed her arms tightly around herself. Their relationship had begun in such a way, causing not just emotional but also physical discomfort. It was a severe psychological barrier.
She replied, “Mama, don’t think of Third Young Master in such a positive light. He’s unpredictable and deceptive, with deep scheming. Even those close to him who watched him grow up can’t decipher his true intentions, let alone us who barely know him.”
Thinking about how to leave the situation, Lu Man felt conflicted. Initially, she had focused on how to awaken the old Marquis and ensure her survival, striving to secure more time here and prepare for future life better.
However, now it seemed like her efforts had gone too far, with the returns exceeding expectations. Not only were the two grandparents reluctant to see her leave, even that scoundrel Jiang Zhanwei seemed to have had a change of heart. Perhaps his change of heart was mostly due to her “intelligence”, wanting her to continue fulfilling the contract and taking care of his siblings in his absence.
In this household, except for the First Madam’s reluctance to let her stay, it seemed that everyone else had changed their minds, at least temporarily…
After the meal, Lu Man gave Mama Wang sixty taels of silver and instructed her to take the two maids and two guards from the Princess’s residence to the countryside in Nan County to fetch Mama Wang’s daughter, Wang Xiaojuan. Previously, to prevent Mrs. Xiao Chen from knowing that Mama Wang had returned to the capital, she had only allowed Liu Xin to check on Wang Xiaojuan and discreetly gave her a few taels of silver.
Upon Liu Xin’s return, he reported that Wang Xiaojuan’s in-laws were very poor, her husband was a cripple with a violent temper who often physically abused her. On the day he saw her, half of her face was bruised. Wang Xiaojuan not only managed household chores and served her husband but also tended to their two-acre barren land, leading a harsh life. Due to exhaustion or perhaps her husband’s poor health, she hadn’t conceived a child yet, which became a reason for his frequent abuse.
Lu Man decided that such a toxic family and husband were not worth keeping. She arranged for Wang Xiaojuan to divorce her husband and offered the man fifty taels of silver. With this sum, he could remarry and improve their living conditions. If he refused, her guards would negotiate on her behalf, ensuring the divorce. However, they wouldn’t offer more money as the family was despicable.
Mrs. Xiao Chen was indeed wicked, intentionally leading Wang Xiaojuan into such a dire situation. Divine retribution was imminent. According to Lu Fangrong, she was likely to meet a violent end the day after tomorrow.
At the time of the hour of the Si (9-11 am), Lady Min arrived, and Lu Man administered acupuncture to her. Knowing that Lu Man intended to pay respects to the old Marquis, Lady Min didn’t linger, having a brief tea break before hastily departing.
After seeing her off, around noon, Lu Man took Jiang Jiu and Qichang to the Crane Hall. Sweet Pea, unable to contain his excitement, had already run ahead.
Crane Hall bustled with activity, with Young Madam Han and three children already present. Perhaps hearing that Jiang Jiu had played there all day yesterday, she brought the children over that morning.
Princess Changting was in a good mood now, unperturbed by the children’s commotion, hoping they would divert the old Marquis’s attention and not overly rely on his granddaughter-in-law.