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Upon hearing that Lu Man was pregnant, the Princess was ecstatic but also scolded her for not sharing the news earlier to bring her joy sooner. She worried about sending Lu Man to the Lu family at night, fearing what might happen.
Insistently, she had Lu Man write a letter to be sent to the border for Jiang Zhanwei the next day. Lu Man was instructed not to treat others before giving birth and not to leave the mansion for three months. She was also warned not to easily agree on Lu Man’s behalf and had the Princess remind her.
Seeing Princess hangting happily instructing people around, Lu Man felt a headache coming on. This child’s arrival was ill-timed, lacking any joy within her. She had no desire to write a “joyful” letter to Jiang Zhanwei and stopped, saying, “Grandmother, the frontline warfare is intense, it’s not right to distract Third Young Master.”
Princess Changting waved her hand, saying, “This isn’t a distraction, it’s about making him happy, ensuring he cherishes his life and returns to see his son.”
Unable to argue further, Lu Man reluctantly agreed.
Jiang Jiu, upon hearing her third sister-in-law was expecting, was moved to tears by the thought of having a nephew.
The old Marquis was also delighted, expressing, “Let my granddaughter-in-law bear a girl, I fancy a daughter.”
Lu Man retorted, “If I have a son, won’t you like that?”
Princess Changting interjected, “Having a son is better, Zhanwei would have an heir.”
The old Marquis shook his head, saying, “A granddaughter is good, I prefer Zhanwei’s wife to have a girl.”
Song Mo then proposed, “Sister-in-law, if you have a son, he shall be my brother, if you have a daughter, she shall be my wife, agreed?”
Embracing him, Princess Changting chuckled, “Nephew, you’ve confused the generations. They are your niece and nephew, how can they be your brother or wife?”
Song Mo persisted, “I don’t want nieces or nephews, I want a brother or a wife.”
When the Second Madam, Third Madam, and eldest Young Madam arrived, they all congratulated Lu Man with joyful expressions on their faces.
Princess was delighted and arranged for Lu Man and a few others to dine at the Crane Hall, sending for Jiang Zhankui as well. The young lad, knowing he would become an uncle, beamed with joy, feeling the weight of responsibility increase significantly.
Unexpectedly, when the Second Master returned and heard the good news, his eyes welled up with excitement, repeatedly saying, “Am I going to be a grandfather? I’m really going to be a grandfather?”
Princess Changting chuckled, “Look how happy you are, can there be any mistake?” She then earnestly advised, “You’ve never shown much care for Zhanwei’s siblings before. Be kind to this grandson, and let go of any past grievances.”
Second Master Jiang hastily agreed, “Alright, alright, I’ll heed your words.” Then glanced at the Second Madam, relieved to see her pleased.
The Second Master had always believed that although Jiang Zhanyu had improved in health and was likely to marry, the ability to have children, especially healthy ones, was uncertain. Despite his dislike for Jiang Zhanwei, he was certain that his son’s child would be healthy. He hoped for a robust grandchild, fearing the heartache of a frail child like Jiang Zhanyu, whose life often hung by a thread. He harbored a secret thought that if Zhanyu remained childless and Zhanwei had multiple children, perhaps one could be adopted by Zhanyu…
After dinner, shortly after Lu Man and others returned to Donghui Courtyard, the Second Madam’s maid, Mo Yu, arrived with two embroidered boxes, gifts from the Second Master and Second Madam, intended to help ensure a safe pregnancy for the Third Young Madam.
One box contained a pair of jade bracelets, while the other held a catty of bird’s nest.
Following this, the Princess arranged for several pieces of satin, two boxes of pearls, a catty of bird’s nest, and a ginseng root to be sent. Subsequently, gifts arrived from the Third and Main Households as well.
Lu Man obediently wrote a letter to Jiang Zhanwei, informing him of her pregnancy, the well-being of Zhankui and Jiu, advising him to stay safe, all in less than a hundred words. However, due to her bold calligraphy, the letter ended up quite lengthy.
Reflecting on her current luxury and Jiang Zhanwei’s hardships at the border, Lu Man felt a pang of guilt. Deciding to delay the messenger, she arranged for some delicious jerky to be sent to the border.
The next day, Lu Man informed the Princess of her plan, which was approved. They decided to purchase half a cow to make even tastier jerky. Despite the difficulty of acquiring beef during that era, if the Princess Changting’s household wished to buy, they could obtain it. The beef was bought, sliced, and marinated with various seasonings.
On the following day, Madam Lu and old Madam Lu personally brought generous gifts to the Crane Hall, expressing gratitude on behalf of Second Madam Lu and the Sixth Madam (Lady Liu) to the Princess and Lu Man, while also apologizing on behalf of the Second Madam. Seeing the extent of their sincerity, and with a good relationship with old Madam Lu, the Princess instructed Lu Man to accept the gifts.
After soaking the beef for a day and night, it was cooked and slowly dried over low heat. To make it both warming and delicious, chili powder and sesame were sprinkled over it.
Once the beef jerky was ready, along with Lu Man’s letter, letters from Princess Changting, Jiang Zhankui, the Second Master, and others, as well as some other items, were sent to the border by guards from the Princess Changting’s household.
Subsequently, Lu Man began focusing on nurturing her pregnancy at home. Besides checking Song Mo’s pulse and adjusting his medication, she also occasionally examined and prescribed medication for Madam Chen and Madam He, who visited for treatment. Additionally, she eagerly awaited the arrival of He Mingzhu and He Cheng in the capital.
Madam Chen and Madam He, aged twenty-nine and twenty-three respectively, had sought treatment from many physicians without success and had resorted to having children with concubines. Learning of Lu Man’s reputed skills, especially in treating Lady Min resulting in her pregnancy, renewed their hope.
Particularly, Madam Chen, nearing thirty, which in ancient times was close to middle age, felt anxious. Each visit, she would quietly confide her family’s troubles to Lu Man—issues with her illegitimate child, her husband’s and mother-in-law’s favoritism, and more.
Listening to Madam Chen’s woes, Lu Man felt grateful for her separate household. Life as a wife in the main residence was challenging, especially without sons. While sympathetic, Lu Man knew that her ability to conceive depended not only on her medical expertise but also on fate.
Due to her expertise in treating noblewomen, who often rewarded her generously, and the frequent requests for help from other servants, Lu Ying had become quite prosperous. With skill and wealth, many families sought her assistance, not only from their own household but also from the Princess Changting’s household and even commoners.
Both Lu Ying and Liu Ya were indispensable assistants to Lu Man and were planned to remain unmarried until they were nineteen. However, matches were being arranged for them in advance to avoid delays.
Liu Ya had recently been betrothed, a decision made by her parents. She had grown up well, working in the Princess Changting’s household’s accountancy department, with her father serving as the Third Master’s close attendant. Previously, Liu Ya’s family could not have dreamed of such a prestigious match, but due to Lu Man’s favor and her good work, the match was proposed by Liu Ya’s family.