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Jiang Zhanwei told his younger siblings, “Go back and rest. Don’t catch a chill.”
The younger siblings were worried about their sister-in-law but didn’t dare disobey their brother, so they pouted and left.
Jiang Zhanwei bypassed Mama Wang and headed towards the side room, stating, “I have a strong body and am not afraid of catching a chill.”
Mama Wang and Liu Ya didn’t dare stop him and followed inside.
Upon reaching the side room, Jiang Zhanwei tried to push open the bedroom door, but it was locked from the inside.
Realizing that Lu Man’s “illness” was not as simple as it seemed, he turned to Liu Ya and demanded, “Tell me what’s going on. I want the truth.”
Liu Ya, unwilling to hide the truth, whispered, “Third Young Madam returned from the Duke Anguo’s residence and seemed to have cried. I overheard from Tao and Xing that she heard something unpleasant at the Duke Anguo’s residence, but they didn’t specify.”
Jiang Zhanwei sat on the kang bed and said sternly, “Go, bring those two maids here.”
Shortly after, Tao and Xing arrived.
Jiang Zhanwei instructed, “Tell me, what did your Third Young Madam hear today? Leave out no detail.” He punctuated his words by pounding his fist on the kang bed.
The two maids were frightened and knelt down, trembling. They recounted what they overheard, each adding their own details to the story.
In essence, Miss Shu still harbored feelings for Jiang Zhanwei and even considered becoming a nun for him. Jiang Zhanwei admired Miss Shu, and on their wedding night, he left home. Jiang Zhanwei used Lu Man for his military enlistment to advance his career and the separation to become the head of the family. He planned to divorce Lu Man upon his return, with no one able to intervene…
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhanwei was furious. Veins bulging on his forehead, he pounded the kang bed in anger. Through gritted teeth, he cursed, “This is despicable.” He then gestured, “All of you, leave. Keep your mouths shut.”
Several maids bowed their heads and retreated. Mama Wang was livid, bursting into tears, and with boldness and indignation, she cried out, “Third Young Master, by the conscience of heaven and earth, how virtuous and noble is our Third Young Madam, such an excellent woman. She healed the old Marquis and Fifth Young Master and Ninth Young Master, honored the Princess, poured her heart out for Eighth Young Master and Second Miss, and even planned everything for Third Young Master, even creating miracles… How could you treat her like this? You will face retribution for this! Sob…”
Jiang Zhanwei was furious. If it had been any other servant acting so insolently, he would have kicked them out. However, she was Lu Man’s nursemaid, and her words left him speechless. Through gritted teeth, he angrily ordered, “Get out, now!”
Liu Ya came back in and forcibly pulled the still-speaking Mama Wang out. Stubbornly standing in the hall, Mama Wang was determined to protect Lu Man from any further mistreatment.
Jiang Zhanwei approached the door and knocked, saying, “Manman, I know you’re awake. Open the door, I need to talk to you.”
Inside the room, there was silence, with only the sound of the howling wind outside.
Jiang Zhanwei knocked a few more times, but there was no response. Feeling a heavy weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe, he couldn’t bear the burden.
The past was long gone, thoughts he no longer dwelled on, yet those words were mercilessly uncovered.
What goes around comes around. This unfortunate saying was now playing out in his life.
He wanted to explain to her in person, to tell her he had been foolish and blind, that he had changed his mind. He truly cherished her, genuinely cared for her, and couldn’t bear to divorce her… The separation was not just about freeing his siblings from oppression but also for her freedom. Staying separated in the same residence wasn’t solely for his siblings but mainly for her protection under the Princess…
Standing outside the door for over an hour, seeing no response from Lu Man, he spoke in a voice loud enough for the room to hear, “Manman, I’m sorry for hurting you. Initially, I did have vengeful thoughts. However, I realized how unjustly you were treated, how resilient you are. You didn’t resent the injustice but treated me with kindness and understanding. You made me feel ashamed, a small and weak woman shining brighter than me, a grown man… Your grace, beauty, unmatched intelligence all amazed and captivated me… From some point on, I didn’t want to see you suffer, didn’t want to see you cry. I wanted to protect you from harm, to shield you. I regretted my actions, I shouldn’t have gone to battle. If I die, what will happen to you… You are so beautiful, sometimes naive, with such a complex family background… I fear that if I die, you will suffer. My initial intent for separating was indeed to free us from oppression and had vengeful motives. But later, it was truly for your sake. By splitting up, you wouldn’t face others’ wrath. Remaining in the compound, you would still have grandmother’s protection… Also, I have submitted a request for an Imperial decree for you.”
Sobs could be heard from the other side of the door.
Jiang Zhanwei knocked the door twice, exclaiming, “Manman, did you hear me?”
Lu Man choked out, “I’m so foolish, unable to discern which words are sincere, which ‘you’ is the real you…”
Tears welled up in Jiang Zhanwei’s eyes, flowing like a spring. In that moment, he realized his feelings for her were stronger than he had thought. He couldn’t recall the last time he had cried, but this woman had shattered his heart.
Being misunderstood and hurt by the woman he loved was excruciating, making him wish for death.
Choked with emotion, he said, “You foolish woman, I explained everything so clearly, how can you still not understand my heart?”
Lu Man replied, “You’ve lived in this estate for nineteen years, and they still don’t understand you. Even Grandmother, wise as she is, misjudged you… I’ve only known you for a short time, I don’t have the charm to change your nature and see through your complexities… I can’t understand you…”
Jiang Zhanwei, usually eloquent, found himself speechless. Despite his confidence in his words, he felt powerless when faced with the woman’s questions, unable to explain.
With a deep sigh, he stumbled over his words, saying, “Manman, please open the door and let me explain. I’ve had a change of heart, I genuinely cherish you… I am leaving tomorrow, and I have been thinking of you for so long… I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back… Please, open the door…”