Chapter 70: Overnight Stay

Lu Man placed two bowls of plain noodles in front of Jiang Zhanyu and Jiang Jiu, then served Jiang Jiu a skewer of chicken and half a piece of tofu, knowing she couldn’t eat much more.

Pouring herself a glass of wine, Lu Man asked Jiang Zhanyu, “Can Eighth Brother-in-law drink?”

Jiang Zhanyu shook his head, “The doctor forbids me from drinking.” He chuckled, “Third Sister-in-law, you are as courageous as my mother.”

Lu Man chuckled and took a sip of the wine, enjoying the taste. Finding an excuse for herself, she remarked, “A small amount of alcohol can relieve fatigue.”

They conversed casually while eating, enjoying the meal without the need for silence. Jiang Zhanyu shared that he had a congenital heart condition, present since birth, requiring constant medication and restrictions on physical exertion.

It turned out he had a congenital heart disease. In her previous life, Lu Man knew there were various types of heart diseases, some of which could be treated with surgery. Although she wasn’t sure about his specific condition, it seemed quite severe based on his description.

Jiang Jiu suggested, “Eighth Brother, Third Sister-in-law has great medical skills. She has been treating Grandfather and even cured Qichang’s leg. Why not let her take a look at you too?”

Jiang Zhanyu smiled wistfully, mentioning the difficulty of treating his condition, even with renowned physicians from the Chu region unable to provide a cure.

Lu Man advised, “Eighth Brother-in-law, don’t lose hope. There may be better physician out there waiting to be found.”

With a hint of bitterness in his smile, Jiang Zhanyu added, “I’ve come to terms with my illness over the years, but I don’t want to cause sorrow to my parents. In the future, I’ll continue to care for them, relying on Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, Eighth Brother, and Second Sister.”

Seeing such a beautiful young man tormented by illness, uncertain of how long he might live, Lu Man felt deeply heartbroken. Her focus was primarily on the old Marquis’s health, relying on her gynecological knowledge and general medical expertise. When time allowed, she planned to study more about heart diseases, despite feeling her efforts might be like a drop in the bucket.

As they neared the end of their meal, a sudden thunderclap rang out, followed by a lightning bolt illuminating the room. Startled, Jiang Jiu let out a scream and sought refuge in Lu Man’s arms.

Jiang Zhanyu stood up hastily, noting the impending rain. “It’s going to pour, I should head back quickly,” he said, hurrying towards the door.

Aware of the need for caution with his heart condition, Lu Man suggested, “Eighth Brother-in-law, don’t rush. Let me have someone fetch a sedan chair to take you back.”

Jiang Zhanyu shook his head and headed outside, regardless of the impending rain.

Concerned, Lu Man urged her maids to get an umbrella for him. Worried about the heavy rain affecting his walk, she instructed Tao and Mama Gu to follow along. If the rain intensified, Mama Gu could carry him while Tao held the umbrella.

After seeing Jiang Zhanyu off, Lu Man turned her attention to the young siblings, who clung tightly to each other, wide-eyed with fear.

Another thunderclap made Jiang Jiu scream again, seeking comfort in Jiang Zhankui’s embrace. As the storm intensified with thunder and lightning, a downpour began fifteen minutes later.

Helpless against the storm, Lu Man decided to let the young siblings stay overnight at Orchid Pavilion. They agreed that Jiang Jiu would share a bed with her, while Jiang Zhankui would sleep on the chaise lounge in the west room. Excited at the novelty of not resting at Qingfeng Courtyard for the first time, both siblings were thrilled, even Qichang joined in with enthusiastic barking.

Despite the rain, Ling Zhi braved the weather to retrieve the siblings’ toiletries and undergarments, accompanied by Mama Gu upon her return.

Mama Gu adamantly protested, “No, no, absolutely not. Second Young Miss has never rested outside or been away from me.”

Jiang Jiu persisted, “Please, I want to sleep with Third Sister-in-law.”

“Miss.” Gu Mama’s tone turned stern, reflecting her growing frustration.

Jiang Jiu was frightened into silence, tears falling like pearls off a broken string, too scared to speak.

Jiang Zhankui’s eyes widened as he bellowed, “How dare you speak to my sister like that? There’s always a first time for everything, especially when staying in my Third Sister-in-law’s courtyard. Stop trembling and leave.”

Although Mama Gu turned red with anger, she dared not defy Jiang Zhankui and left in frustration.

Observing Mama Gu’s behavior, Lu Man began to resent her as well. She had initially thought Mama Gu genuinely cared for Jiang Jiu, ensuring her well-being. However, seeing her narrow-mindedness and lack of respect, especially towards the young girl, raised concerns.

The young siblings, excited after their bath, were attended to by Ling Zhi and Lan Zhi before retiring to their beds.

Once the siblings were settled, Lu Man focused on her own tasks. Practicing pulse diagnosis, acupuncture, and reviewing medical texts for clarity, she remained diligent until late before finally retiring for the night.

With a soft child sleeping beside her, she listened to the gentle snoring, feeling a sense of warmth. In her previous life, she had reached an age where many peers were married with children around six or seven years old. Despite some envy, her fear of marriage due to her father’s influence led to extremely selective romantic pursuits. Even until her death, she had never experienced true love.

In this life, despite having a husband, both desired to dissolve their contractual marriage as soon as possible. Surrounded by more family members than in her previous life, none were reliable, leaving her feeling lonely and abandoned. Even the young girl beside her, who depended on her, would eventually depart from her.

Awakening the next morning, Lu Man found the rain had stopped.

Turning her head, she saw the young girl sleeping peacefully. The morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating her rosy face, soft and delicate like a flower.

Waking up to such a lovely sight brought joy to Lu Man. Silently smiling, she leaned over to give her a kiss but stopped, not wanting to disturb her sleep.

She carefully observed the girl’s features – delicate eyebrows, long eyelashes, slightly pouted lips, and flawless skin. She didn’t resemble Jiang Zhanwei and Jiang Zhankui, who had more rugged features akin to the Second Master. Perhaps she resembled her birth mother, Miss Zhou. The tender girl seemed in need of care, contrasting with the Second Master’s questionable behavior.

Engrossed in her observations, the girl’s long eyelashes suddenly sparkled like black grapes. Jiang Jiu giggled and wrapped her arms around Lu Man’s neck, sweetly remarking, “Waking up to see Third Sister-in-law is wonderful.”

Returning the smile, Lu Man asked, “Why are you up so early?”

Jiang Jiu pouted playfully, “I’m so happy I couldn’t sleep.”

The girl’s sweet words made Lu Man happily lean in to kiss her. Startled, Jiang Jiu had never experienced such affection before. She often saw Young Madam Han and Madam Hong being affectionate with the Young Master and his siblings, longing for the same attention. Curious about the sensation of being kissed, she secretly wondered. Knowing her father and mother would never show such affection, she longed for her brothers to do so, but they never had…

After a moment of surprise, Jiang Jiu leaned in to return the kiss, her eyes sparkling with delight.