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This letter was indeed thick, spanning over a dozen pages. Nearly half of it was filled with heartfelt words for Lu Man, especially upon hearing about her pregnancy. He was so thrilled that he even burned incense for his deceased mother, telling her he was finally going to have an heir. He also reminded Lu Man to take care of herself and not to treat others anymore. The last two pages praised the effectiveness of her telescope and camouflage suits, emphasizing how they greatly assisted in their missions. He had been careful to hide and protect his telescope, fearing it might catch the eye of his superiors.
This guy had quite the nerve, not at all in line with his usual demeanor. Moreover, there was no hint in the letter of any significant discord or disagreement when he left.
According to the guard, the northern region was extremely cold, with water freezing instantly and snow reaching up to three feet in some areas. The camp led by Jiang Zhanwei was called the Black Fury Camp, taking routes less traveled due to their unique tasks, often facing harsher conditions than other military outposts.
Upon hearing this, Princess Changting burst into tears once again, followed by attempts at consolation from everyone. Lu Man felt a pang of sorrow as well. Despite being a concubine’s child, he had been raised in comfort and now had to endure such hardships.
However, the Marquis made a sly and spiteful remark, “Serves him right for seeking out hardships. Who can he blame?”
Time flew by, and on the nineteenth of February, Lu Man promptly arranged for Song Mo to be brought back.
Upon his arrival, the first thing Song Mo did was inspect Lu Man’s belly and express disappointment, “Why hasn’t your belly grown yet? It’s so frustrating.”
This playful comment made Lu Man giggle, and she kissed his adorable face, saying, “It will grow bigger by next month.”
Mama Duan chuckled as she told Lu Man, “The boy woke up unusually early today. After paying respects to the old Princess, he eagerly waited at the door for you to send someone to fetch him.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Man playfully pinched his charming face.
Song Mo leaned against her, expressing his concerns, “It’s not fun at home, it’s so quiet now. We used to have Grandmother, Father, me, and two consorts. But now, those two consorts have been sent away, making the home even lonelier.”
This revelation surprised Lu Man. She knew about Concubine Wei’s death but wondered what Concubine Jiang had done to also be dismissed.
After Song Mo and Jiang Jiu went to play in the courtyard, Mama Duan quietly informed Lu Man, “I heard that Concubine Jiang tampered with the Prince’s soup…”
Mama Duan had stayed at Donghui Courtyard for quite some time and had become familiar with Lu Man, allowing her to share some personal thoughts. She mentioned that Concubine Jiang had become anxious upon hearing that the Old Priness He was arranging for the Prince to find new consorts. Desiring to conceive sooner, she had prepared a nourishing soup herself and sent it to the Prince’s study. After he drank it, he lost control and acted impulsively. Later, they discovered the presence of an aphrodisiac when examining the remaining soup. The Prince was furious at being drugged and had Concubine Jiang sent away to another residence…
Lu Man found it somewhat amusing—where there are people, there is always drama. In places where a man can seek multiple partners, it often leads to chaos and conflict, a law of nature.
On the same morning, Sweet Pea returned looking like a mud-covered cat. If not for its distinctive long tail and piercing cry, even Qingqing wouldn’t have recognized it. Despite being away for ten days, there were no reports of any incidents involving animals in the city, leading Lu Man to speculate that it had perhaps ventured out of the city for some fun.
Exhausted, Sweet Pea allowed the maidservant to bathe and groom it with closed eyes. Then, Qingqing carried it to rest, while Song Mo playfully tugged at its ears, failing to wake it up.
After lunch, Song Mo took a nap in the East Wing. Once he woke up, the servants took him and Jiang Jiu to Crane Hall to play.
During her pregnancy, Lu Man experienced increased drowsiness. While she felt embarrassed to sleep in late, she ensured to wake up on time to attend to household duties. However, her afternoon naps were long, often lasting until mid-afternoon, a time when she preferred not to be disturbed.
Just as she was dozing off, Liu Ya suddenly entered and woke her up, exclaiming, “Third Young Madam, Madam and Young Master have arrived!”
Startled, Lu Man sat up immediately, asking, “What did you say?”
Her swift movements startled Liu Ya, who rushed to support her, saying, “Take it easy, Third Young Madam.” She then added, “A messenger from the front courtyard reported that Madam He and Young Master He have arrived. The carriage is parked at the main gate, and Mama Wang has already gone to greet them.”
Assisted by Liu Ya, Lu Man quickly put on a thin coat and skirt before they headed out of the main room.
As they stepped into the courtyard, faint voices could be heard from the front yard. Passing through the hallway, they spotted several people entering through the front gate. Leading the group was a graceful woman in a dark green cotton coat, being guided towards them by Mama Wang.
Without introduction, Lu Man recognized the woman as He Mingzhu due to their striking resemblance. He Mingzhu appeared well-maintained with a radiant complexion and graceful demeanor, looking much younger than her actual age of thirty.
He Mingzhu also spotted Lu Man and rushed towards her, crying, “Manman, my dear Manman, I finally see you.”
Seeing her, hearing her voice, Lu Man felt an instant connection, tears streaming down her face. This was her mother in this lifetime!
Calling out “Mother”, Lu Man hurried towards her, nearly running if not for Liu Ya’s steadying hand.
He Mingzhu reached Lu Man, cupping her face in her hands, tears flowing endlessly like pearls on a broken string.
In a soft voice, Lu Man sobbed, “Mother, mother, you’re finally here to see me. I’ve missed you so much.”
He Mingzhu embraced Lu Man tightly, crying profusely. Amidst tears, she said, “Manman, my dear Manman, I’ve missed you too…”
Mama Wang intervened, urging, “Madam, Third Young Madam, this is a joyous occasion. Please don’t cry.”
A young voice spoke up, “Mother, Sister hasn’t seen her brother yet.”
He Mingzhu released Lu Man and turned to a young man, saying, “Manman, this is your younger brother, Cheng.”
The young man had peach-like facial features, eyes like autumn water, and a picturesque appearance, slender and bearing a striking resemblance to Lu Man. He wore a delicate robe in the color of post-rain sunshine, with a wooden hairpin adorning his head. Despite the slight creases in his robe, it remained spotless. Sporting a gentle smile, his radiance outshone the spring sun, his gaze as clear as a sky after rain.
This was her own biological brother!
Feeling her own appearance paled in comparison, Lu Man was overwhelmed by her exceptionally handsome younger brother. In a surge of excitement, she embraced He Cheng tightly, choked with emotion, saying, “Cheng, my brother.”