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However, faking a pregnancy was too difficult and not easy to cheat. Moreover, if He Huang discovered the deception, why not eliminate him earlier instead of letting him live to the point of leaving behind a “small copper pendant” that seemed linked to his death? This hypothesis seemed somewhat illogical.
Lu Man’s head began to ache as she felt like she was in a complicated web of conspiracies.
She considered herself simple-minded and unsuitable for palace intrigue, grateful she hadn’t time-traveled into the palace. Without the strong protection of Princess Changting, not only would she be in danger, but Renhe Hall itself would be vulnerable to malicious intent.
Touching the copper pendant in her hand, she felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the conspiracy behind it, involving not only Empress Wang but also the Empress Dowager, the deceased Concubine Li, royal heirs, court officials’ power struggles… It was a burden she couldn’t bear.
At present, she lacked the capacity to delve into this secret. Within her household, Princess Changting was aging and unwell lately. Old Marquis was ill, Marquis Jiang might not be willing to intervene, and there were others like the conniving Hong, as well as the low-ranking Second Master and Third Master Jiang. Even if these individuals were willing to help, such a significant matter would be beyond their control…
Ultimately, Lu Man decided that she would only broach the subject with Princess Changting when her health improved or when Jiang Zhanwei returned.
At that moment, she found herself yearning for Jiang Zhanwei. She wished he were present to take on the burdens she couldn’t comprehend, allowing her to delegate matters she didn’t want to deal with. While she used to dislike his scheming nature, she now appreciated having a clever and resourceful person in the family, ensuring they wouldn’t be taken advantage of.
Struggling to fall asleep in the late hours, she dreamt of being heavily pregnant and giving birth in a hospital from her past life. A colleague assisted with the delivery, while her mother anxiously paced outside the room.
After successfully delivering the baby, who cried loudly, the colleague joyfully announced, “Dr. Lu, congratulations, it’s a girl.”
Tears of joy streamed down her face as she softly exclaimed, “A daughter, how wonderful. I love having a daughter.”
The colleague kissed the baby and cooed, “Come, give your grandma a kiss.”
Lu Man glanced at the baby, seeing a red and wrinkled face, yet bearing a striking resemblance to Jiang Zhanwei, wailing loudly with a wide-open mouth.
The colleague handed the baby to Lu Man’s mother, waiting at the door. Overwhelmed with emotion, Lu Man’s mother tearfully repeated, “Grandma’s granddaughter is so beautiful…”
Suddenly, the crying ceased as the child opened eyes resembling Jiang Zhanwei’s, calling out, “Grandma, Grandma…”
The soft voice was remarkably clear.
The scene shifted to Lu Man’s past life home, where her mother lay on her bed with closed eyes, tears streaming down her face. Abruptly sitting up, she exclaimed, “Manman, I had a dream. I dreamt you got married and had a daughter… I have a granddaughter now, where is my granddaughter…”
Lu Man woke abruptly, her eyes wide open, the cry of “granddaughter” still echoing in her ears.
Without hesitation, Lu Man placed her right hand on her left wrist, carefully discerning the faint changes in her pulse. She confirmed it—she was indeed carrying a girl. Overjoyed, she cherished the thought of having a daughter, a comforting presence akin to a snug cotton coat.
Reflecting on the vivid dream and its strangeness, Lu Man considered if her mother in her past life had dreamt the same dream. Her mother once said that as long as she was alive, Manman would live within her heart, thus existing in that world too. If her mother dreamt of her granddaughter being born, this joy might have sustained her through tough times.
Tears streamed down Lu Man’s face. How long had she neglected thoughts of her mother? Over the past six months, she was preoccupied with her unborn child, the upbringing of Jiang Zhanwei’s siblings, plans with He Mingzhu and He Cheng, Princess Changting’s health, even Jiang Zhanwei miles away, medical texts, pharmaceutical preparations… These tasks consumed her time and energy, leaving no room to think of her mother.
Having fully adapted to her new role, she dedicated herself to the well-being of her child, herself, and her loved ones in this life. Meanwhile, her mother from her past life remained trapped in the sorrow of her loss. If her mother could cherish the memory of her deceased daughter, seeking happiness anew, it would be truly wonderful.
As she wiped her tears and sat up, Xing entered the room. She smiled, “Tao said Third Young Madam seemed restless at night, sighing until the late hours. Hence, the servants didn’t wake her on time. Eighth Young Master and Second Miss have already had breakfast and left for school.”
Lu Man suddenly noticed that the sky was bright, indicating it was almost midmorning.
Ignoring Xing, she found herself thinking about the child from her dream. If the child looked like her, she would be even more beautiful. While resembling Jiang Zhanwei was appealing, the unique beauty of her current form surpassed his. Yet, she chuckled at the thought, realizing it was just a dream, who knew whom the child would resemble.
As evening approached, after He Cheng left Liu’s residence holding Sweet Pea, he made his way directly to Donghui Courtyard.
“I conveyed my sister’s sentiments to Miss Liu. She said she knows what to do and will endure until that day.” He Cheng reported.
Lu Man nodded inwardly. Though brief, his words held deep meaning, reflecting a resilient and intelligent young woman who had grown up in adversity.
He Cheng handed Lu Man a prescription. “This is the detoxification formula.”
What he was embarrassed to say was that he didn’t look good when he went to Miss Liu’s courtyard today, and his attitude was very detached. It seemed Miss Liu had noticed something, humbly expressing her gratitude to him, saying, “Young Master He, your great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten.”
He Cheng shook his head. “I am just a convict’s descendant, with no ability to show kindness to Miss Liu. I hope you can stay strong and achieve your goals.”
Without waiting for further explanations from Liu Xirui, he turned and left.
After He Cheng departed, Lu Man examined the prescription. It contained familiar herbs, including White Crane Herb, and a few unfamiliar ones.
At that moment, Lu Ying’s voice could be heard outside, “Third Young Madam, Third Young Madam…”
Frowning, Lu Man asked, “What’s the matter, why the urgency?”
Lu Ying, with a flushed face, whispered excitedly, “Madam, something has happened in the main courtyard.”
Curious, Lu Man inquired, “What kind of incident?”
Third Madam had been having trouble sleeping recently. Lu Man had prescribed herbal medicine for her and instructed Lu Ying to administer moxibustion, but Lu Ying seemed to have overheard something troubling in the main courtyard.