Chapter 20: Retrieving Books

Jiang Zhanyu bowed to Lu Man and smiled, “Sister-in-law. You attend to Grandfather’s bedside every day, so I’m here to thank you.”

Lu Man quickly returned the gesture and said, “It’s nothing, it’s my duty.”

Without further ado, Lu Man went straight to the bedside to massage the old Marquis. In reality, two maids had already learned the massage technique and could have done it without Lu Man’s presence. However, the Princess insisted on Lu Man personally administering the massages, believing it would be more beneficial for the old Marquis’s recovery.

In these past days, although the old Marquis showed no signs of awakening, his condition had not deteriorated either. This result was unimaginable, even for the imperial physicians and court physicians.

One of the physician bowed to the Princess and said, “It’s rare for a soul-separation patient to remain in this state for so long. This is the first time I’ve witnessed such a case. Today, the old Marquis’s complexion appears slightly improved compared to before, his pulse is steady, almost like he’s in a peaceful slumber.”

The Princess was delighted to hear this and chuckled, “Thank you both for your efforts.” Her gaze towards Lu Man softened slightly.

Lu Man glanced gratefully at the physician, he must have noticed the Princess’s unfavorable treatment towards her and decided to offer his assistance.

After finishing the massage, Fifth Young Master had already bid his farewell. Perhaps he had an illness that was hard to cure and had sought treatment from Physician Qiu. If even the court physician couldn’t help, he had to seek a renowned physician from the private sector – indicating a complex condition. Thinking about this young man, gentle and in his prime, Lu Man couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sorrow.

Before leaving, she quietly thanked the physician, to which he replied with a smile, “These days, I’ve learned a lot from Third Young Madam. The word ‘thanks’ should come from me.”

That evening, Lu Ying returned after a stroll, mentioning that Jiang Zhanwei’s official records had been transferred to the Ministry of War, and he was stationed at the Jingjiao Camp on the outskirts of the capital as a seventh-grade deputy officer.

It was said that Second Master was furious, feeling embarrassed to have a refined man like himself raise a rough and uncouth person, tarnishing his reputation once again. The Marquis of Jiang was also displeased, as the old Marquis had never wanted his descendants to join the military. However, with the Princess’s approval, Jiang Zhanwei had entered the military, leaving them frustrated but powerless to change the situation.

During the night, Lu Man found herself unable to sleep, consumed by her thoughts as the gentle spring rain fell outside.

Unexpectedly, the turmoil caused by marrying Lu Man and her suicide attempt had stirred up Third Young Master Jiang’s suppressed assertiveness for over a decade, leading him to break free from his family and enlist in the military. However, with his departure, Lu Man found herself in an unfortunate situation once again.

Considering that the next day was the tenth day of the fourth month, all the gentlemen who usually attended court and school would be at home resting, likely paying respects at the Crane Hall. Given Jiang Zhanwei’s recent enlistment, Lu Man was reluctant to encounter those individuals, especially the three Masters. It was a time of great anger for them, and showing up would only invite trouble.

After much thought, Lu Man finally came up with a reason – she was feeling unwell and too weak to perform massages.

Moreover, she needed to quickly retrieve the items left behind by the He family and several large boxes of medical books. She couldn’t rest easy until these items were back in her possession. As the Eldest Master of the Lu family was at home the next day, it would be better to approach him directly rather than face the older ladies from the Lu family. However, she wasn’t ready to return to the Lu family just yet and face them head-on. So, she decided to send Lu Ying along with a few maids to handle the task.

In the early morning, despite having applied light makeup, Lu Man still appeared tired and worn out.

Her appearance startled two maids. Lu Man reassured them, “It’s nothing, I just had trouble sleeping.”

At the hour of Dragon (7-9:00 AM), Lu Man and Lu Ying set off for the Crane Hall. Lu Man wanted to avoid meeting the people who paid respects to the Princess and the old Marquis, so they left early.

Along the way, Lu Man shared her plan for Lu Ying to retrieve the books in the Lu family. She avoided discussing it in front of Hong Ling, fearing she might insist on accompanying them. Lu Man couldn’t risk Hong Ling and Mrs. Xiao Chen meeting before the truth came out, she absolutely couldn’t let them cross paths. Furthermore, she wasn’t ready for her family to know about her current situation.

Lu Man also couldn’t shake off her concern for her wet nurse, Mama Wang. She remembered Mama Wang had been sent to live on a farm in the southern county, which was part of Mrs. Xiao Chen’s dowry estate, suggesting a difficult situation. Since Mama Wang’s departure, Hong Ling had been reassigned to be by Lu Man’s side, becoming more disruptive and argumentative. Lu Man asked Lu Ying about Mama Wang’s current situation.

Lu Ying sighed, “I saw her about a year ago. She had given some money to the steward to accompany her when she went to deliver some land property to the Second Madam. She didn’t dare to see the Second Madam and asked the steward to tell me to meet her at the back door. At that time, the Third Young Madam had just had an argument with the Third Miss and was crying bitterly. Hong Ling was causing trouble by your side, so I didn’t dare disturb you and went to meet Mama Wang at the back door myself.” Her eyes welled up, and she continued, “Mama Wang had become very thin, she was upset to hear that the Third Young Madam favored Hong Ling and cried. She said Hong Ling’s mother was a confidante of the Second Madam and that Hong Ling not only served as the Second Madam’s informer but also her weapon. It’s a pity for the Third Young Miss…”

Moved by Lu Ying’s words, Lu Man’s nose tingled with emotion. She squeezed Lu Ying’s hand and said, “Wait a little longer. Once I’ve firmly established myself, I’ll bring Mama Wang back by my side. You’ve advised me countless times, and it was my foolishness that led to loyalty to the wrong people and making so many mistakes.”

Lu Ying replied, “It would be great if Mama Wang could come back to serve Third Young Madam. She not only treats Third Young Madam well but is also skilled, capable, and formidable. Unlike me, who is clumsy with words, can’t win arguments, and lacks cunning.”

Lu Man chuckled.

Upon arriving at the Crane Hall, the Princess had already finished her breakfast and was watching as someone fed rice soup to the old Marquis. Being of advanced age and feeling weary, she rose early every day.

Seeing Lu Man looking fatigued, the Princess inquired, “What’s wrong with you?”

Lu Man replied, “Today, my body isn’t feeling well, so I’m afraid I might not massage with enough strength, which could affect Grandfather’s recovery.”

Thinking Lu Man was aware of Jiang Zhanwei’s enlistment and feeling fearful, the Princess coldly remarked, “Now you’re afraid. Why did you do such foolish things back then? Jiang Zhanwei comes from a distinguished background and excels in every aspect, yet he married a daughter like you who can’t keep things straight. Ah, my good grandson has been forced to join the military…”

As she scolded Lu Man, the old Marquis vomited some of the rice soup. Lu Man hurried over to assist the maid in feeding him.

Once the feeding was done, the Princess waved her hand, saying, “Go, I feel annoyed having you around here.”

Lu Man sought permission, “Granddaughter-in-law’s maternal family left several large boxes of medical books at their home, but due to the rush of my marriage, I didn’t bring them over. I’d like to send a maid to retrieve those items and look through the medical books to see if there are any records on treating soul-separation illness. I’m afraid if I delay, they might get lost or given away.”