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Jiang Zhanwei said, “Back then, I said if I died and you wanted to remarry, go ahead, if you didn’t want to, then stay single. But truth be told, deep down, I didn’t want you to marry anyone else, didn’t want you to be another man’s wife. If I were to die first, I hope you’d always think of me, stay faithful to me. I’ll wait for you in the afterlife, even in the depths of hell enduring torture, I’ll grit my teeth and wait for you. When you pass away, we’ll be reborn together, as husband and wife. I’ll be good to you from the start, never hurt you again, never leave you early… Manman, you can’t imagine how much I adore you, you can’t imagine…”
His arm tightened around her, making Lu Man feel short of breath. His voice was soft and deep, almost as if it were stuck in his throat.
Lu Man’s body relaxed, leaning into his embrace. She was touched but didn’t agree with his ideas. This man, looking so icy but speaking such cheesy words. Yet, talk of life, death, hell, it all seemed so ominous.
Moreover, he was selfish and domineering, wanting such a young wife to remain widowed for him. She was only seventeen, even if she lived to her seventies, five or six decades felt too long. Their emotional foundation was too weak, a bit of yearning couldn’t sustain them for so many years. Even if she didn’t remarry, it wouldn’t be to mourn him but because she hadn’t met the right man.
And all this talk of waiting for her and being reborn together, was the afterlife his family business? Besides, if she time-traveled again, who knew where she’d end up, she might not even reach the afterlife, how could they meet then…
She thought all this but wasn’t foolish enough to say it out loud, just responding with a vague “Mmm.”
At that moment, they heard the faint footsteps and laughter of a few children approaching the main hall, prompting them to separate.
Song Mo was the first to run in, with bright eyes, saying, “Sister-in-law, I’ve been craving the golden chicken nuggets you make with your own hands for so long.”
Jiang Yue also happily exclaimed, “Golden, chicken, great, let’s eat!”
Jiang Zhanwei’s mouth twitched a bit as he asked, “What kind of dish is this now?”
Jiang Jiu chuckled, “It’s part of the golden series, incredibly delicious.”
Song Mo, being observant, reminded Jiang Yue, “Yue, don’t say ‘chicken’ like that, it’s not appropriate for a young lady.”
Jiang Yue corrected herself, “Oh, okay, not ‘chicken.'”
Before Song Mo could continue, Jiang Zhanwei lifted Jiang Yue, diverting the conversation elsewhere.
Lu Man personally cooked in the kitchen and sent for He Mingzhu and He Cheng. Song Mo and the children all adored He Mingzhu.
The old Marquis came to pick faults on his own, still with the ointment Lu Man had sent over earlier on his face.
As long as Jiang Zhanwei was around, Lu Man didn’t want the old Marquis to stay for meals, fearing his loose tongue might hurt Jiang Zhanwei’s sensitive heart. If his mood soured, the atmosphere in the Donghui Courtyard would darken.
The old Marquis had grown more astute, trying to please his daughter-in-law, promising, “As long as Zhanwei doesn’t cause trouble, I won’t scold him.” He tried to appease further, “Now, Zhanwei isn’t the person I dislike the most anymore, it’s that old man Wang, he often leads people to curse at Changting.”
At night, Jiang Zhanwei sent the children back to their rooms early, focusing on intimate activities with his wife.
Lu Man, unsure if she was being sensitive, felt that Jiang Zhanwei was different from the past few days. Previously, he was like a flame, gently igniting her bit by bit until she was consumed. But today, he was like a blazing fire, overwhelming her, causing her to sob and plead for mercy…
After a night of turmoil, Lu Man was genuinely upset and didn’t show Jiang Zhanwei a smile the whole next day.
That night, Jiang Zhanwei didn’t dare to be as unrestrained as the previous day, returning to his usual self. However, his robust physique and high energy levels led to almost nightly activities that left Lu Man feeling overwhelmed.
Lu Man resisted, but he kept showering her with compliments, his shamelessness boundless. Lu Man was speechless, the Jiang Zhanwei of the night was a stark contrast to the one during the day, almost like two different people.
During the day, Lu Man had dark circles under her eyes, frequently yawning from fatigue. He Mingzhu, who visited the Donghui Courtyard, noticed this issue and felt immense pity.
She gathered her courage to privately remind Jiang Zhanwei, “Manman is only seventeen, delicate and young…” Her face turned crimson before she could finish her sentence.
Jiang Zhanwei, not one to miss a beat, quickly understood. He nodded and said, “Thank you for the reminder, Mother-in-law, I understand.” Then hurriedly escaped to the study in the front courtyard.
That day, seeing the way Song Ming looked at Lu Man made him particularly unhappy. Song Ming was an elder and a gentleman. While he didn’t dare assert that Song Ming had any ill intentions towards his wife, the impurity in his gaze was undeniable.
Furthermore, Lu Man’s lack of defenses and her happiness around Song Ming made him uncomfortable. She was a naive woman, did she not know that she should only look at a man in a certain way—him, Jiang Zhanwei.
Lu Man was the precious gift bestowed upon him by the heavens, even a single glance from someone else left him feeling unsettled.
In a panic, he felt that only by blending with Lu Man time and time again could he truly feel that she belonged completely and solely to him.
He waited until He Mingzhu left before daring to return to the backyard, carefully noting Lu Man’s signs of fatigue, feeling immense pity. That night, he simply held Lu Man tightly in his arms, refraining from any other actions.
Jiang Zhanwei was like a ball of fire.
Lu Man was uncomfortable with her upper body held against him and her legs squeezed between his. “Third Young Master, I’m really hot and can’t breathe properly.” She said, squirming in discomfort.
“Okay.” Jiang Zhanwei loosened his arms and legs slightly, warning, “Don’t move around too much. I’m finding it hard to control myself.”
Feeling a searing heat against her, Lu Man was too scared to move again. This was better than enduring his vigorous advances.
As Princess Changting celebrated her sixty-second birthday, the occasion was lively. Not only were esteemed families invited, but also influential figures from the military. Even Lu Fangrong, Jiang Zhanwei’s subordinate and Lu Man’s biological father, was invited, excluding him would have been unjustifiable.
It was Lu Fangrong’s first time attending such a grand banquet in a prestigious household, knowing it was not a place for recklessness. He refrained from bringing other family members from the Lu household to avoid causing a scene and refrained from any mischief. Despite considering striking up a conversation with He Cheng, seeing He Cheng’s reluctance to engage, he dropped the idea.
Sometimes, the old Marquis’s memory was sharp, upon seeing Lu Fangrong, he wanted to confront him, prompting Lu Fangrong to quickly move away.
On that day, Princess Chang’an also came to offer her birthday wishes. Later, when others were engrossed in a play, she pulled Princess Changting aside in a secluded corner, whispering, “Fourth Sister, today I’m causing a bit of trouble to do a good deed.”