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Third Madam Huang snorted softly, murmuring, “The elder sister-in-law is quite calculating, always trying to play both sides. With the support of the Marquis and the eldest young Master, and the mother-in-law as her ally, she thought she had everything covered. But this time…”
This time, Princess Changting showed no mercy and directly sent Madam Hong back to her maternal home, embarrassing her deeply, even though dismissal was unlikely, she had been thoroughly humiliated.
Lu Man pondered silently, realizing that Madam Hong had underestimated the Princess’s loyalty to her.
Even Lu Man found it puzzling. Princess Changting should prioritize the family’s interests before giving in to emotions, right?
Considering two possibilities, either she deemed Madam Hong worthy of her emotional investment, or the Empress and the Wang family weren’t worth her compromise.
Lu Man acknowledged her limitations, realizing she probably didn’t have the influence, making it likely that the Empress had fallen out of favor with the Emperor, and even the Crown Prince didn’t have a close relationship with her, prompting Princess Changting to take action.
As the night fell, Young Madam Han arrived with her three children. Her eyes were red, indicating that she had likely faced Madam Hong’s wrath. Shortly after, the three Masters and the eldest young Master returned from court, followed by Jiang Zhanwei with Jiang Zhankui.
With everyone almost assembled, Mama Qian went to fetch the Princess from the west wing bedroom. She needed to stay awake, otherwise, she might have trouble sleeping at night.
The Princess, with good physical resilience, arose looking rejuvenated after an hour’s rest.
The old Marquis chuckled, abandoning his special chair for the couch, even pulling Princess Changting’s sleeve as if he hadn’t seen her in ages.
Princess Changting briefly explained the situation to her children and grandchildren, while Marquis Jiang recounted the accusations against Wang Guozhang and his son.
After dinner, Marquis Jiang, along with the other Masters and Jiang Zhanwei, brought generous gifts to thank the Duke Zhou’s residence for their assistance.
In the evening, instead of studying medicine, Lu Man began reviewing deeds and account books. Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu sat beside her, examining their own records. Though Jiang Zhankui struggled to understand, and Jiang Jiu was completely lost, their enthusiasm remained unaffected.
The siblings were very excited. Jiang Zhankui generously said to Lu Man, “If you like any of these things, feel free to take them. Consider it a gift from your younger brother.”
Lu Man happily replied, “Thank you, Zhankui, but I have everything I need. We’ll save these items for when you get married.”
Jiang Jiu also expressed his desire to give Lu Man something, to which she responded, “These are your dowry items, keep them safe. When I earn some money, I’ll add more to your dowry.”
Lu Man was surprised to discover that their one thousand mu of land and estate were located in Shaping County. Five hundred mu of paddy fields were in Dongwa Village and Xiwawa Village, while five hundred mu of sloping land were in Xibei Po Village and Dongbei Po Village, with the estate situated in Xibei Po Village.
The names Shaping County and Xibei Po Village sounded familiar to Lu Man. After a moment of thought, she remembered that Zheng Qiang, who had rescued young Lu Man and Jiang Zhanwei, lived in Xibei Po Village.
She smiled at the coincidence. She planned to visit the estate in the future and catch up with Zheng Qiang and his wife.
As the night grew late, they eventually persuaded the young siblings to rest.
With the room quiet, Lu Man began to worry, wondering if Jiang Zhanwei would visit that night.
She pondered how a proud and arrogant man like him might feel about returning to Orchid Pavilion. If he were to show up again and reiterate yesterday’s request, how would she handle it?
Deciding that resting would be the best way to decline, Lu Man stood up and said, “I’m feeling tired and would like to rest early.”
Disagreeing, Mama Wang stated, “The Third Young Master hasn’t returned yet. How can the Third Young Madam rest before him? If others hear about this, they might criticize you for being disrespectful. The Princess wouldn’t be pleased either. She’s gone to great lengths to protect you. You can’t upset her.” She added quietly, “Third Young Master has done a lot for you, don’t make him feel neglected…”
Lu Man inwardly criticized, wondering if her efforts for him were insufficient. She responded, “It’s quite late now, Third Young Master must have already rested in the outer courtyard. He has to leave early for the camp tomorrow.”
As they spoke, they heard footsteps at the courtyard gate, followed by Jiang Zhanwei’s approaching steps.
Both Mama Wang and Liu Ya looked delighted, one fetching a hot towel while the other prepared tea.
Lu Man’s heart sank, he had indeed returned! This didn’t align with his proud nature.
Jiang Zhanwei strode in like a gust of wind, removing his dark cloak, and sat on the kang. After wiping his hands, he accepted the hot tea handed to him by Mama Wang.
Lu Man instructed Liu Ya to put away the account books, then stood up with a smile, saying, “I’ll prepare the kang for the Third Young Master.”
Jiang Zhanwei’s expression remained neutral as he said, “Sit down. I have something to discuss.”
Mama Wang and Liu Ya’s smiles widened as they quickly bowed and exited the room.
Unable to refuse, Lu Man sat on the other side of the kang, silent and contemplative.
Jiang Zhanwei gazed ahead for a while, as if making a decision, then turned to look at Lu Man. He remained silent, his dark eyes fixed on her. In the candlelight, she appeared ethereal, like a delicate flower bathed in moonlight. Her long lashes fluttered softly, resembling black butterflies perched on a flower.
Seeing her blushing intensely, almost as if blood would drip from her cheeks, Jiang Zhanwei pursed his lips and said, “I’ve asked Grandmother and the three Masters not to blame you if I fall in battle. They’ve agreed. I thought I had everything arranged perfectly. Even in death, I felt at peace. But last night, I realized how selfish I had been. I separated my siblings, entrusted them to you, but what will you do? Your maternal family can’t be relied upon, and our grandparents are getting old. I’ve pondered for a long time, unsure of what to do with you.”
Tears welled up beneath Lu Man’s long lashes and rolled down her cheeks.
She wasn’t afraid of his coldness, she had developed immunity to his icy demeanor. But she feared his warmth, his tenderness. Meeting his gaze through tear-filled eyes, she said, “Then don’t die, under any circumstances. Come back alive. Zhankui, Jiu, and I will be at home every day, waiting for you.”
Jiang Zhanwei’s heart ached. She was so caring, that night, he had been blind.
Shaking his head wryly, he said, “I want to come back now. I don’t want to die. But in war, anything can happen. Even a general can’t guarantee avoiding death once on the battlefield.” Rising from the kang, he continued, “Manman, the biggest regret of my life is forcing you to drink that contraceptive soup. I’ve wronged you and myself. Now, I want you to bear my child. If I don’t return, having an heir will give you hope. If you don’t wish to remarry, raise the child alone. If you don’t want to stay, temporarily entrust the child to Third Aunt. When Zhankui is married, hand over the child to him…”
He had raised the subject once again.