Chapter 67: Heart-Wrenching Agony

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiu’s cries intensified as she pleaded, “Grandmother, if Qichang is taken away, Jiu will be heartbroken.”

The Second Master bellowed, “Troublemaker, how dare you speak to the Grandmother in such a manner! Be quiet!”

Jiang Jiu’s sobbing choked up as she looked at the Second Master, tears streaming down her face even more. Jiang Zhankui tightly held Jiang Jiu’s hand, his body trembling.

Lu Man glanced at the Second Master, seething with anger. She couldn’t fathom why these siblings had provoked him so. As a father, he lacked any hint of compassion for his children, instead rubbing salt into their wounds.

Ignoring the Second Master, Lu Man addressed the Princess, “Grandmother, do you know that Eighth Young Master and Jiu were waiting with Qichang on the veranda because they were waiting for me to bring them to the Crane Hall? They wanted to see their father, you, and all their relatives, to feel the warmth and love of family… Today, I didn’t dare stay for dinner here, fearing Jiu’s sadness, afraid she might feel abandoned even by me. She’s only six years old, utterly unaware of the complexities of the adult world. She doesn’t understand why I, as an illegitimate daughter-in-law, can dine at the Crane Hall, while she, as an illegitimate daughter, cannot. All she desires is to be loved by her father, grandmother, and all her relatives, to be accepted…”

Lu Man’s words left everyone in the hall stunned, even the typically disinterested Second Madam turned to look at her.

Continuing, Lu Man said, “Since my earliest memories, I knew I had no birth mother, a disgraced step-grandfather, and was disliked and ignored by my elders. I had no siblings, my father was far away, and in that large family, I felt incredibly lonely. The feeling of being excluded and disregarded was truly heart-wrenching, more painful than hunger… As I grew a bit older, my stepmother sent away my nursemaid, halted my education, and led me into improper activities, tarnishing my reputation. Faced with difficulties, with no one to confide in, lacking proper guidance from elders, unsure of how to cope, I felt so helpless that death seemed like the only way out.”

Tears welled up in Lu Man’s eyes, a mixture of her own and those of the original Lu Man. She wiped them away with her sleeve and continued in a choked voice, “Attempting suicide was truly a point of no return, harming not only oneself but also bringing shame to Third Young Master and his family. Fortunately, divine intervention spared my life, and I had a complete awakening, a change of heart. What is there to fear when death cannot solve anything? Only through living can we unravel each knot. I am grateful for the compassion of the Princess, giving me the chance to reform… Whenever I hear Jiu express her longing for her father and desire for a lively atmosphere, it reminds me of my childhood yearning, the deep sense of exclusion and inferiority. Jiu and Eighth Young Master are different from me, though not born as a pure noble, they still carry noble blood and have their father close by. I believe they would rather have less material comfort and food than feel neglected and excluded by their loved ones. Legitimacy versus illegitimacy was determined at birth. People can’t choose their origins, but they can choose the kind of person they become. As long as they don’t dwell on what doesn’t belong to them, avoid wrongdoing, and receive the love they deserve from the family, especially for girls who are confined within the courtyard, lacking communication and respect, their character development will suffer. Like I once was, weak and powerless, putting on a facade of strength, contemplating death in the face of challenges…”

Lu Man poured her heart out, articulating thoughts she had harbored for days, moving even herself with her words.

Madam Hong, displeased, spoke coldly, “Is Zhanwei’s wife implying that we elders are unkind and mistreat the illegitimate children?”

Lu Man thought to herself, “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m implying.” But she dared not admit it, instead saying, “I don’t mean that. I’m just sharing my personal experiences, hoping the elders will show more kindness to little Jiu. Despite being an illegitimate daughter, she is still the Princess’s granddaughter. If her disposition is not nurtured well, it won’t just affect her personally but also have repercussions in the household…”

At that moment, Jiang Zhanyu walked out, his eyes red and teary. He bowed deeply to Lu Man, tears in his eyes, and said, “Thank you, Sister-in-law. They are Zhanyu’s siblings, yet you are the one standing up for them. Zhanyu is grateful.”

Then Jiang Zhanyu walked over, took Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu’s hands, and gently said, “Younger Brother, Jiu, it’s Fifth Brother’s fault for not caring for you before. In the future, whenever Fifth Brother is home, we siblings will gather together. You don’t want Qichang to be harmed, right? Don’t worry, Five Brother won’t let anyone kill it or take it out of the inner courtyard. Fifth Brother will intercede for you.”

Hearing Jiang Zhanyu’s words, Lu Man’s nose tingled even more. Despite his young age, he displayed true gentlemanly behavior.

The Princess’s eyes welled up with tears as she beckoned, “Zhankui, Jiu, come here to Grandmother.”

Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu hesitated, a bit fearful to approach. Jiang Zhanyu guided them forward, presenting their hands to the Princess.

In the hearts of the two children, the Princess had always been held in high regard. Previously, they had kept a distance of three meters from her, but now, she was holding their hands, a mix of fear and joy in their expressions.

The Princess kindly stated, “Grandmother neglected you both before, causing you distress. Zhanwei’s wife is right. Although you were not born from Lin, you carry noble blood, part of the family’s heritage. In the future, whenever the family gathers, you will be included.” She gently smoothed Jiang Jiu’s tousled hair and sighed, “Ah, the young ladies of our household should be esteemed. How did things come to this? It took Zhanwei’s wife to stand up for them… Zhanwei’s wife has done well, reminding me.” She then turned to Young Madam Han and said, “Remember to include them if I forget, remind me.”

Young Madam Han quickly nodded and smiled, “Yes, granddaughter-in-law will remember. I also care for them.” Realizing she had spoken too much, she glanced at Madam Hong.

The Princess reassured, “Don’t be afraid. That dog, oh, it’s called Qichang, right? No one will dare to harm it.” Then she turned to the Second Master, “Isn’t that right?”

The Second Master blushed. As the father of these siblings, he felt responsible for their distress and for excluding them from gatherings. It seemed he should show some form of acknowledgment, especially as Jiu kept expressing her longing for her father. His heart ached, but he struggled to express it.