Chapter 55: Guilt

Huang, unaware of Lu Man’s relationship with He Huang, looked perplexed at Lu Ying, unsure of her mistake.

Lu Man scolded Lu Ying with a glance and urged Huang, “Quickly, tell me, what’s the situation with Renhe Hall?”

Upon hearing this, Huang continued, “The original Renhe Hall was one of the best medical clinics in the capital, even more renowned than Tongji Hospital. Many wealthy families sought treatment from the physicians there. After He Huang’s passing, it fell into decline, and I haven’t heard anyone mention its name in a long time.”

Renhe Hall was indeed established by her maternal family!

Encountering Li, the manager, on her first outing was a stroke of luck. She wondered how Li recognized her. Perhaps her late grandfather was watching over her, ensuring their meeting.

Excited by Huang’s words, Lu Man couldn’t contain her eagerness and asked, “Do you know if Renhe Hall is still in operation?”

If she could locate Renhe Hall, she might find clues about the He family. According to Mama Wang, the He family had few relatives and likely sought refuge with distant relatives.

Huang shook her head, “I’m not entirely sure, but I do know Renhe Hall has lost its former prominence. Our master used to have their physician treat him when he was ill, but in recent years, they’ve been calling for imperial physicians or physicians from Tongji Hospital.”

Lu Man inquired further, “Do you know the address of Renhe Hall?”

Without hesitation, Huang replied, “I do. When I was young, I used to accompany my father there to buy medicine. It’s located in the Tachiao Alley on West Street, with the largest storefront on that street.”

Lu Man nodded thoughtfully and had Lu Ying reward her with a string of money.

Huang protested, “Oh, I can’t accept a reward from Third Young Madam. You treated my daughter-in-law without even charging a consultation fee.”

Lu Ying found Huang’s behavior crude and scolded, “If Third Young Madam rewards you, just take it. Why so much unnecessary talk?”

With a heavy heart, Lu Man instructed Lu Ying to watch over Huang’s daughter-in-law in the “treatment room.” detailing which acupoints to focus on and for how long. She then retreated to the corridor to ponder her thoughts.

Having observed the imperial physicians treat the old Marquis at Crane Hall and heard Lu Man’s teachings, Lu Ying had gained some understanding. Lu Man was deliberately grooming her, hoping she could serve as her assistant and lessen her workload.

Considering the limited use of Hong Ling’s services for external errands, Lu Man contemplated sending Lu Ying out as her trusted aide. However, she hesitated, wary of potential risks if someone recognized Lu Ying, especially if Hong Ling was reluctant to acknowledge her openly due to unfavorable associations.

As night fell, Lu Man, desperate for a solution, decided on a plan. She arranged for Lu Ying’s father to take her to Tachiao Alley. To mitigate risks, Lu Ying would remain in the carriage and avoid using the estate’s vehicle, opting for an external one.

After the moxibustion session with Huang’s daughter-in-law concluded, they expressed gratitude and departed through the rear entrance.

Returning to her chambers, Lu Man quietly asked Lu Ying, “When does your father have a day off?”

Lu Ying replied, “My father rests every fourth day of the month.”

With the 24th being his day off and seven more days to go, Lu Man felt an urgent impatience but had to wait. She informed Lu Ying, “On that day, I’ll have your father help me purchase some medicinal herbs.”

Lu Ying nodded in agreement.

On the evening of May 20th, after dinner, Lu Man and Lu Ying returned to Orchid Pavilion from Crane Hall. In the twilight, they spotted the siblings playing with Qichang near the Sunset Pavilion not far from Orchid Pavilion. Surrounding the pavilion were clusters of purple-red bougainvillea flowers, their vibrant hues illuminated by the setting sun, creating a picturesque scene.

Lu Man had a sinking feeling that the young siblings were waiting for her. She couldn’t shake off the guilt of betraying the “bastard children’s group.” Perhaps it was a mix of the residual sadness from the original Lu Man’s exclusion and her own empathy for Little Jiu’s plight. She dreaded witnessing the hurt in the children’s eyes.

Later that afternoon, aside from Jiang Zhanwei’s siblings, the family gathered joyfully at Crane Hall. Lu Man initially didn’t plan to dine there but was persuaded by Princess Changting’s insistence. Reluctant to go against the senior’s wishes, she returned to Orchid Pavilion to freshen up and change before heading back for dinner.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Lu Man faintly heard Qichang’s urgent calls and spotted him leaping high but restrained by Jiang Zhankui.

Lu Man instructed Lu Ying to return to Orchid Pavilion and headed towards the Sunset Pavilion.

Arriving at the pavilion, she saw Qichang anxiously climbing the railings, unable to break free from the grip of the young master. If Qichang exerted full force, he could easily break free, but he hesitated, a clear sign of his respect for the young master.

Jiang Zhankui had his back turned towards her, while Jiang Jiu called out “Sister-in-law” with a mournful tone.

Sitting down in the pavilion, Lu Man first calmed Qichang and then pulled Jiang Jiu into her arms, smiling, “Originally, I wasn’t going to dine at Crane Hall tonight. I had returned to Orchid Pavilion, but your uncles wanted an update on Grandfather’s health, so I was called back.”

To comfort the two children, she decided to tell a white lie.

Jiang Jiu asked, “Wasn’t it my father who asked you to stay?”

The little girl was most concerned about no one but her foolish father.

Lu Man wrinkled her nose, saying, “Your father isn’t as good to me as you think…”

Jiang Zhankui snorted and turned, saying, “Sister, why are you still thinking about that person? He never treated us as his own children. He doesn’t want to see us, and when he does, he’s full of disdain.”

“But Jiu wants to see Father, to be with Grandfather, and play with cousins and nephews… Elder Brother hasn’t been back for a long time. Eighth Brother needs to study, and Qichang will be out for a walk later. If Eighth Brother doesn’t take Jiu out to play, she feels lonely staying in the yard…” The little girl’s voice quivered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jiang Zhankui retorted, “Third Brother says, ‘The sword’s edge is sharpened by grinding, and the plum blossom’s fragrance is born from bitterness. Endure hardship to become an exceptional person. To live a good life in the future, one must first learn to endure and overcome difficulties.'”

Lu Man inwardly criticized him. He was a sadist, enduring hardships himself and finding excuses to make his siblings suffer. Didn’t he realize that individuals like him and Jiang Zhanwei were rare, while most were like Little Jiu, just ordinary people?

She remarked, “Third Young Master, that’s not entirely correct.” Seeing Jiang Zhankui’s indignant look, she added, “To be more precise, that statement isn’t suitable for Little Jiu. Besides Third Young Master, you have a teacher guiding you, several masters who regularly check your studies and offer guidance. Therefore, you understand the meaning of that phrase and work towards it. But what about Little Jiu? She spends her days in the courtyard with the Mama Gu or playing with a few maids, without the opportunity to meet the elders or receive their teachings. How can she understand the meaning of that phrase or develop skills to overcome difficulties?”