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Upon hearing the second master’s words, Lu Man felt a sharp pain in her chest. If not for Jiang Zhanyu and the second madam, she would have completely disregarded the second master. He was just a fool, and she had no intention of lowering herself to his level.
Madam Lin, however, believed that Angel’s Trumpet might indeed cure heart ailments. Setting aside Lu Man’s character and medical skills, she couldn’t believe she would be foolish enough to harm her legitimate son in such a manner. Before the second master could speak further, she interjected, “Hurry and make preparations, the sooner you leave, the sooner you can return.”
The second master nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll go now.”
After he left, Madam Lin inquired, “Does Angel’s Trumpet truly have this miraculous effect?”
Lu Man, hesitant to immediately use Angel’s Trumpet on Jiang Zhanyu, replied, “The books describe it this way, but I haven’t used it before. I’ll visit Tongren Hall later today and have the flower prepared. I’ll also check the books for any detoxification methods. Unless absolutely necessary, we should avoid using it.”
Seeing Jiang Zhanyu looking weary, the visitors exchanged pleasantries before departing.
Before leaving, Lu Man reminded the maid caring for him to ensure proper ventilation in the room while keeping him warm. She also requested a few prescriptions from Physician Gu, which she planned to study further.
The room finally quieted down. The second madam sat by the brick bed, silently wiping away tears as she watched her beloved son.
Jiang Zhanyu opened his eyes once more, reaching out from under the blanket to hold his mother’s hand. He said, “Mother, I have been unfilial. Not only did I fail to bring joy to my parents’ knees, but I also caused them great distress.”
The second madam tightly grasped her son’s hand, tearfully responding, “Zhanyu, don’t say that. Because of you, I have happiness and hope. You are everything to me, everything… I can’t bear to think about what I would do, how I would live without you…” Her words came out broken and fragmented due to her overwhelming sorrow.
Tears welled up in Jiang Zhanyu’s eyes as well. He didn’t want to die either, he knew he was his mother’s sole source of happiness in this world. He understood the fragility of his body and wanted to make the most of his limited time, excelling in his studies and perhaps achieving the highest academic honors to bring pride to his strong yet helpless mother…
He asked, “Mother, am I an outstanding son?”
The second madam didn’t understand why her son suddenly praised himself in this manner, but she gazed at him once again with sincere admiration. With tears in her eyes, she smiled and said, “Of course. In the eyes of others, my son is handsome, knowledgeable, and exceptionally talented—a truly outstanding individual.” Gently caressing his cheek with her other hand, she softly spoke, “In my eyes, my son is like the heavens, the earth, the gentle breeze, the bright moon, the warmth of spring, the abundance of autumn—he is everything, absolutely everything…” Unable to continue, she covered her mouth and wept in pain.
Jiang Zhanyu chuckled and said, “With such qualities, son must be extraordinary.” Seeing his mother gazing at him with confusion after she stopped crying, he added, “They say exceptionally talented individuals are celestial beings sent down to experience life on Earth. With my virtues, I might indeed be one of those celestial beings.”
The second madam burst into tears again upon hearing this.
Jiang Zhanyu then comforted her, “Mother, please don’t cry like this. Your tears make me sad too.”
Wiping her tears, Madam Lin replied, “Oh, it’s my fault, I couldn’t hold back.”
Motioning for his mother to help him sit up, Jiang Zhanyu leaned against the brick bed and continued, “Mother, although father has his faults, he loves you deeply. In his eyes, there is only one woman, and that’s you. If you were to marry anyone else, their love for you wouldn’t surpass father’s… And grandmother and grandfather as well. Apart from pressuring father to have children with other women, they never let you suffer any grievances.”
Choking up, Madam Lin said, “Mother knows. Over the years, mother has come to understand. Though we may not have a harmonious relationship, your father has provided me with a stable home and, most importantly, the best— you. Mother remembers all the good your father has done.”
Jiang Zhanyu’s smile illuminated his pale face beautifully. He took a deep breath and continued, “Third sister-in-law is a good woman, kind-hearted, understanding, and compassionate. The eighth brother and little Jiu are well-cared for by her and are both affectionate children. Mother, please treat them well, help them when they are in need. In the future, when I’m no longer here, they will take care of you. Please also advise father, so he doesn’t hurt them anymore…”
In what seemed like a final testament, Jiang Zhanyu’s words left Madam Lin’s heart in anguish…
Lu Man informed Princess Changting that she would be visiting Tongren Hall later to have the pharmacist prepare the flower. She instructed Jiang Jiu to accompany old Marquis at Crane Hall, while Jiang Zhankui returned to Orchid Pavilion. She then had the sedan bearers take her directly to the flower room.
Entering the flower room felt like transitioning from a barren winter to a vibrant spring. The room was lush with greenery and colorful blooms.
The guardswoman in charge of the flowers, upon hearing Lu Man’s request, led her to the back of the flower room where several pots of green plants were placed. She pointed and said, “This is the Angel’s Trumpet. It blooms in the summer, and while the flowers are beautiful, the plant is toxic—all parts, from the leaves to the stems, are poisonous. Even if the masters wish to see these flowers, they have to observe from a distance.”
Lu Man nodded and said, “I am aware of its toxicity and will be cautious.” She then added, “In the future, please plant more of these flowers, despite their toxicity, when used properly, they can be life-saving.”
She gave a signal to Xing, who then handed two taels of silver to the guardswoman as a reward.
The guardswoman was delighted with the reward, though it was only two taels of silver. She beamed and quickly knelt down, expressing gratitude and promising to cultivate more of these flowers for the needs of the third young madam.
Lu Man counted the pots, there were a total of eight Angel’s Trumpet plants. She instructed Xing to carry one pot, and the guardswoman to carry another, to be taken to the sedan.
She remembered that Foxglove was a valuable plant where all parts could be utilized, with the leaves, flowers, and pistils being the most beneficial. The most potent effects were found in the leaves harvested before the plant bloomed, typically in early summer.
Returning to Orchid Pavilion around noon, neither Jiang Jiu nor Sweet Pea had returned. After having lunch with Jiang Zhankui, Lu Man prepared to visit Tongren Hall to have the pharmacist prepare the Foxglove. Despite knowing basic pharmaceutical techniques, due to the plant’s toxicity, she preferred to have an experienced pharmacist prepare it to enhance its efficacy and remove some of the toxins.
Although Tongren Hall was not yet fully renovated, they had already hired an accountant, two physicians, and a pharmacist. The pharmacist had brought along his son and grandson. The two physicians were apprentices of He Huang, while the pharmacist was an old associate of He Huang. Upon hearing the call from Manager Li, he promptly left his previous job to join Tongren Hall.
According to Mama Wang, the pharmacist Qin was highly skilled, with even He Huang praising him during his lifetime.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhankui insisted on accompanying them.
So, Lu Man, along with Jiang Zhankui and Qichang, took a carriage to Tongren Hall.
The carriage headed straight to the backstreet, stopping at the back entrance.