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Lu Man returned to the main room, coaxed Jiang Yue to sleep, and had just laid down on the bed when He Mingzhu arrived.
He Mingzhu said urgently, “Just now, someone from Tongren Hall came to say that Lu Xin went to Tongren Hall and took Cheng back to the Lu family.”
Lu Man immediately sat up and asked, “Why would my brother, who has always disliked the Lu family, go with them?”
He Mingzhu sighed, “That person has returned to the Lu family. Lu Xin said his leg was severely injured and he asked Cheng to take a look at it. Since Cheng is a physician and that person is his biological father, how could he refuse?”
Indeed, there was no way to refuse such a reason.
Lu Man comforted He Mingzhu, saying, “Mother, don’t worry. My brother may seem gentle, but he is actually very stubborn. He won’t be swayed by the Lu family. Once he’s finished examining that person’s injury, he’ll come back.”
Unable to sleep, she got dressed and sat chatting with He Mingzhu in the side room. In fact, she wanted to say that Lu Fangrong might bother her more than He Cheng in the future, but she held back. The ancient people’s way of thinking was different, and she was afraid that saying too much would cause He Mingzhu to worry even more.
Around the time of the afternoon, He Cheng returned. As soon as he arrived, he said, “Sister, I haven’t eaten yet, I’m hungry.”
His complexion was not good, his hair was a bit disheveled, and his bright blue robe was wrinkled and had several stains on it.
This beautiful younger brother had a cleanliness fetish and was particularly fond of keeping himself neat and tidy at all times.
Lu Man was startled and quickly had someone go to the kitchen to prepare food for him. She took his hand and asked, “What happened? Did Lu Fangrong give you a hard time?”
He Cheng looked at his anxious mother and sister, then smiled and said, “It’s nothing, don’t worry.” After sitting down, he described what had happened at the Lu family.
Lu Fangrong’s left thigh had been severely injured by the enemy’s blade, cutting deep into the bone. Fortunately, they used dozens of Huang Ke Lai pills to save his leg, and now the injury was much better, but he still couldn’t walk properly and needed crutches.
As soon as He Cheng arrived, Lu Fangrong embraced him and wept loudly. Old Lady Lu also came over and hugged her son and grandson tightly, weeping. He Cheng couldn’t break free at all.
He Cheng had no choice but to wait until the mother and son had finished crying before examining Lu Fangrong’s injury. He found that it was no longer a serious concern and that the rest was just a matter of recuperation.
He left ten Huang Ke Lai pills and a bottle of Willow Bark Pills, as well as prescribing several packets of medicinal powders, and then got up to leave. However, one of his hands was held by Lu Fangrong and the other by the old lady, and they refused to let him go no matter what.
When it was time for the meal, He Cheng said he needed to use the restroom and managed to escape from the two of them, sneaking out of the Lu family’s main gate…
Later, when they discovered he was gone, Lu Xin and two servants chased him to the alley entrance before catching up with He Cheng. Lu Xin did not force him back to the Lu family but instead told him, “Grandmother and Uncle are just too nostalgic for you, Cheng. It’s an involuntary reaction. Please don’t blame them. Let Uncle calm down a bit more, and then we’ll invite you back for a detailed discussion.”
“That person and Old Lady Lu, they are really, too speechless. How can they be so unreasonable!” He Cheng sighed and shook his head, then advised He Mingzhu, “No matter what happens in the future, Mother, you must not go to the Lu family. We can’t even guess what tricks they might pull.”
Lu Man, having heard about Lu Fangrong and Old Lady Lu’s behavior, was almost sickened. She fully believed that because He Mingzhu was present, He Cheng was reluctant to say exactly what kind of shameless things the mother and son had said.
She was also afraid that He Mingzhu might be coaxed back to the Lu family, and Lu Fangrong might resort to force, which would be disastrous. She also advised, “Mother, He Cheng is right. No matter what Lu Fangrong says or does, you must not return to the Lu family. Who knows what they might do.”
He Mingzhu was not too concerned and said, “I have been divorced, and they wouldn’t dare force me back to the Lu family. As for you two, you are his biological children and cannot openly defy him too much.”
Seeing He Mingzhu’s worried expression, Lu Man said, “Mother, don’t worry about me and my brother. No matter how shameless Lu Fangrong is, he still has Jiang Zhanwei above him. You don’t know your son-in-law, when he becomes shameless, Lu Fangrong is no match for him.”
He Mingzhu gave her a reproachful look and said, “How can you talk about your own husband like that? Son-in-law is an upright gentleman, a great hero praised by the Emperor’s golden words. How could he be shameless?”
Lu Man chuckled twice and did not say anything more.
Mentioning Jiang Zhanwei, He Cheng also became spirited. He excitedly said, “I heard at Tongren Hall that your husband rode a fine horse alongside several other young generals at the front of the Xie family’s army, looking extremely impressive. They also said he is incomparably handsome and most favored by the ladies…”
Lu Man waved her hand and laughed, “That’s an exaggeration. No matter how handsome he is, he’s not as handsome as my brother. And what’s with ‘incomparably handsome’…”
Before she could finish, she was glared at by He Mingzhu again.
Mama Wang entered with a tray, smiling, “Young Master must be starving. Come and eat.”
Mama Wang placed a dish of bean sprouts stir-fried with meat, a plate of fragrant tofu stir-fried with pickled meat, a dish of cold mixed wood ear mushrooms, and a bowl of chicken broth dumplings on the kang table, along with a small pot of warmed osmanthus wine.
Since He Cheng turned fifteen, he had also started learning to drink alcohol.
After washing his face and hands and eating his fill, He Cheng and his mother returned to the Yuling Courtyard. Actually, He Cheng really wanted to wait at the Crane Hall to see his heroic brother-in-law sooner, but He Mingzhu wouldn’t allow it. She said that since they were not part of the Jiang family, it would be inappropriate to intrude during their family reunion.
When Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu arrived at the main room, looking sharp and cheerful, Jiang Yue had also woken up. Lu Man tidied herself and her daughter, and they all went to the Crane Hall together.
Well-rested, Jiang Yue was even more energetic. Knowing that her father was coming back, she couldn’t sit still and played noisily in the main hall with Dewen, a cat, and two dogs. The children’s laughter and the sounds of the cat and dogs barking merged into one.
Jiang Zhen also wanted to play and fussed, whining. Her nursemaid, who was holding her, didn’t dare to go near. She had been instructed to keep a distance from the mischievous and combative Jiang Yue.
Lu Man and the others chatted and laughed with the Princess and the old Marquis in the east side room. Everyone was happy, except for the old Marquis, who couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. He felt quite sad, as Zhanwei was so annoying, yet he couldn’t scold him. If he did, Zhanwei’s wife, little Yue, and Changting would all be unhappy.
The winter days were short, and by the time it reached the Hour of the You (around 5- PM), the sky began to darken. Although it wasn’t completely dark, the hall and side rooms were lit up with glass palace lanterns, illuminating the rooms brightly. Throughout the residence, the red lanterns hanging on the corridor trees were all lit up, creating a scene of “fire trees and silver flowers, all in red”, more grand than any previous Lantern Festival night.
It seemed that the Princess and the gentlemen had put in a lot of effort to welcome Jiang Zhanwei’s return.
Suddenly, there was the sound of Jiang Yue’s excited loud voice in the hall, “Daddy, fly, bye-bye. Daddy, fly, bye-bye.”
The sound of kissing was exceptionally loud.