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Lu Man whispered to the younger siblings, “If these seeds can take root, sprout, and bloom, we can produce more miraculous medicine. It will not only save your brother but also benefit more soldiers.”
Mrs. Wei mentioned that Night Yellow Flowers, like Rose Flowers, were semi-evergreen shrubs. This meant they would stay green in suitable temperatures and lose their leaves in colder conditions.
As the weather cooled down, after October, the flowers wouldn’t grow leaves if left outside. To produce more Salicylic Pills, it was best to move the flowers to a warmer greenhouse. However, these flowers were precious, and if not kept in sight, they might be stolen or damaged. Lu Man planned to discuss with Princess Changting about setting up a small, secure room within the flower house to house these pots. The room would be locked and guarded by a designated person.
That night, Lu Man dreamt of Jiang Zhanwei sitting on a vast grass field, gazing silently at the full moon in the sky. His expression remained stern, stubborn, and proud, standing like an icy sculpture, just as she remembered him from their first encounter…
In the North, Jiang Zhanwei indeed sat on the grass, looking up at the full moon. However, his posture was not as upright, slightly hunched due to his injuries. His face was not stern, he had a blade of grass in his mouth, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Suddenly, the shadow in the moon transformed into a cassia tree, beneath which stood an otherworldly fairy resembling Lu Man. Instead of a white jade rabbit, she cradled a yellow kitten in her arms…
He chuckled at the sight of this moonlit fairy, finding it rather amusing.
At that moment, a tall man approached and sat cross-legged beside Jiang Zhanwei, who paid no attention to him, maintaining his posture.
Seeing Jiang Zhanwei smile in such an unusual manner surprised Lu Fangrong, as he had never seen him smile like that before. This warm smile was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor, even after victories or commendations from the Emperor. Even when he laughed heartily, the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
In the Black Furry Camp, Lu Fangrong held a position just below Jiang Zhanwei, making him the de facto second-in-command. As older than Jiang Zhanwei and the father-in-law, their relationship should have been excellent, with Lu Fangrong having significant influence.
Contrary to expectations, Jiang Zhanwei and Lu Fangrong had a very strained relationship, distant and formal. Jiang Zhanwei often teased and mocked Lu Fangrong, asserting his authority in the camp where Lu Fangrong had little influence. The majority of their comrades were unaware of their familial ties.
Lu Fangrong felt frustrated and resentful. He was no match for Jiang Zhanwei in terms of rank, strategy, background, or connections. Despite his martial prowess and knowledge of the North, he had no chance of entering the Black Furry Camp, let alone advancing in rank. For the sake of his future, he had to endure and bear Jiang Zhanwei’s authority without challenging it, refraining from asserting his position as the father-in-law.
Their relationship slightly improved after the mission to burn the enemy’s supplies. Lu Fangrong led the team protecting the arsonists, successfully completing the task, despite sustaining an arrow wound while protecting Jiang Zhanwei.
After a long silence, Lu Fangrong broke the tension, mentioning, “Liu Chun should have delivered the letters to Manman and Mingzhu by now. Unfortunately, I couldn’t give Mingzhu the jewelry and fox fur I had prepared for her.” Jiang Zhanwei only allowed three letters to be delivered, forbidding anything else.
The only aspect where Lu Fangrong could challenge Jiang Zhanwei was in addressing Lu Man by her maiden name. When Jiang Zhanwei angered him, Lu Fangrong deliberately used Lu Man’s name several times in front of him to provoke a reaction, successfully defusing Jiang Zhanwei’s temper.
He understood that Jiang Zhanwei’s dissatisfaction stemmed from the belief that he had allowed Lu Man to suffer due to the actions of the Lu family and due to his protection of Bao Qin. Lu Fangrong felt aggrieved, Lu Man was his beloved daughter, born to Mingzhu, and he loved her deeply. He couldn’t understand why Jiang Zhanwei didn’t appreciate this.
Leaving Lu Man in the capital was intended to provide her with a better life. It was all due to the malicious actions of Xiao Chen that Lu Man had suffered, and he had already dealt with her. As for Bao Qin, he viewed her as a gentle soul who had made a mistake. He had disciplined her, believing that his son-in-law should not hold onto grudges or seek revenge.
To his surprise, Mingzhu had returned and given birth to an intelligent and handsome son. Mingzhu was a beautiful, gentle, kind, and sensible woman. With her return, he believed that his relationship with Lu Man would improve, which would also thaw the icy relationship with his son-in-law.
Regarding Mingzhu and Cheng’s refusal to acknowledge the Lu family, Lu Fangrong was unworried. If he survived and returned, he was confident he could win Mingzhu over. With the accomplishments in the Black Furry Camp, he was certain of a promotion, ensuring a good life for Mingzhu…
Jiang Zhanwei heard Lu Fangrong use “Manman” and even mention “Mingzhu”, causing the smile to vanish from his face. Giving him a cold look, he stated, “General Lu, my mother-in-law seems to have no connection with you anymore. You must not address her by her maiden name, it is inappropriate. Furthermore, this is the last time you will send her letters, so don’t expect anything else.” With that, he stood up and left.
Enraged, Lu Fangrong watched Jiang Zhanwei walk away and shouted, “Although you are my superior and my son-in-law, whether Mingzhu has any ties with me is none of your concern.”
Jiang Zhanwei turned back, coldly remarking, “If any rascal dares to harass my mother-in-law, I’ll have his legs broken!” He smirked and added, “Although General Lu’s wife passed from illness, he still has a concubine. If you have thoughts, go find her. Stop thinking about harassing respectable women, or you’ll be stripped of your title.”
With those words, he strode away.
Fuming, Lu Fangrong exclaimed, “My Manman is as gentle, virtuous, beautiful, and intelligent as her mother. How did she end up with such an arrogant and overbearing husband? My poor daughter, what suffering she’ll endure in this lifetime.”
Jiang Zhanwei paused briefly, then continued walking without acknowledging him.
Lu Fangrong kicked a stone in anger, upset at how his son-in-law treated him. It was unfilial, truly unfilial. Reflecting, if he had been more respectful and obedient, he wouldn’t have been Jiang Zhanwei.
The next morning, while He Cheng was teaching in the front yard, Lu Man had someone invite He Mingzhu over. She also arranged for beef to be bought to make beef jerky and instructed Master Qin, at Tongren Hall, to produce more Salicylic Powder.