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As Lu Man and Madam Jiang left, old Duke Xie turned to Madam Xie and said, “In the future, interact more with Jiang Zhanwei’s young wife. She’s pitiful, slim and small, yet so capable, helping us immensely. I can see that Marquis Jiang’s wife, Lady Hong has ill intentions towards her. If she faces any difficulties, you must assist her.”
It was deliberate to speak those words in front of Madam Jiang.
Madam Xie smiled and agreed, “Indeed, it should be like that.”
Xie Yu chuckled and remarked, “Grandfather, you could have said this to us in private. Saying things in front of the Marquis’s wife might make things harder for Zhanwei’s wife in the future.”
Old Duke Xie scolded, “You little rascal, do I need you to teach me how to act?” He then added, “In that mansion, only three women are capable… But as for Jiang Zhanwei, who knows.” After his scolding, he went to see his great-grandson, who was already being nursed by a nursemaid inside the house.
Xie Yu advised, “Grandfather, it’s best to say these things at home. Offending people. Although the men in their family may not like martial arts, they excel in governance, which is valuable.”
Seeing the elder man’s stern gaze, Xie Yu quickly excused himself. Upon hearing that Lady Xie had been taken out of the birthing room, he hurried inside to check on his wife.
Lady Xie was still unconscious, her hair damp, face pale, dressed and peacefully asleep with her eyes closed.
Reflecting on the cries he had heard earlier, along with Lu Man’s words, Xie Yu was overcome with emotion, his eyes reddening.
On the carriage, Madam Jiang observed Lu Man with a hint of a smile and remarked, “I didn’t expect a young daughter-in-law like you, who hasn’t even given birth, to possess such skills.”
Knowing she disliked her, Lu Man explained, “I read about it in books and wanted to give it a try.”
Madam Jiang coldly snorted, “Life is precious, and you want to ‘give it a try’! You were lucky, and Lady Xie was fortunate. If something had happened to her today, it would have caused a rift between our families. You speak boldly for someone so young, acting without thinking. Our family is not a simple one; one person’s mistake affects the entire lineage.”
Lu Man could only respond, “Yes, I won’t act so rashly next time.”
Upon returning to the Princess’s residence, Lu Man intended to go to Orchid Pavilion for a bath but was redirected to the Crane Hall.
The Princess had been informed and was sitting in the western room, delighted. She pulled Lu Man to sit on the sofa, looking at her with satisfaction, expressing how pleased she was.
The way the Princess looked at Lu Man was a mix of indulgence and pride, typically seen in elders when they see the success of the younger generation—a look that Lu Man’s mother would give her in her past life for achieving good grades.
Lu Man’s heart skipped a beat. Her emotions were conflicted; she wanted the Princess to care for her and provide the life she desired in the future. Yet, she feared the Princess might become too fond of her and restrict her freedom.
However, seeing the Madam Jiang by her side eased Lu Man’s worries. If Jiang Zhanwei achieved success and then abandoned his wife, Eldest Madam Jiang would find a way to help her leave.
Lu Man briefly recounted the childbirth process to the Princess.
The Princess listened with interest, occasionally expressing admiration for Lady Xie’s suffering and delight at Lu Man’s abilities.
On the other hand, Madam Jiang grew increasingly uncomfortable as she listened. Lu Man came from humble origins, lacked refinement, and was shamelessly bold. A young daughter-in-law who hadn’t even given birth yet dared to speak so boldly—how embarrassing. Despite her inner disdain, she refrained from vocalizing her true feelings due to the Princess’s evident curiosity.
After Lu Man left, Madam Jiang relayed old Duke Xie’s words to the Princess.
Upon hearing this, the Princess’s mood soured. She coldly remarked, “That brute, so ugly and uncouth. Ignore him. If he dares to disrespect me, I won’t be lenient…”
While she scolded old Duke Xie, she didn’t direct her anger towards Lu Man.
Madam Jiang, feeling conflicted, added with a smile, “Zhanwei’s wife is good in many ways, and I do feel for her. But, she just doesn’t know how to control her emotions. Crying in front of everyone and demanding that the Xie family treat her well… A little too much, isn’t it?”
Before she could finish, the Princess chuckled and remarked, “That child is truly authentic and kind-hearted. She must have spoken that way out of pity for Lady Xie’s suffering. Judging by how she treats Little Jiu, she seems to be a good person.”
Unable to continue, Madam Jiang concurred, saying, “Yes, I see it the same way.”
After exchanging a few more words, Madam Jiang bid farewell.
Back at Orchid Pavilion, Lu Man hurried to the bathhouse for a bath. Immersing herself in the large wooden tub, she felt both comfortable and content. The few hours of the afternoon had felt like a battle, and though she emerged victorious, she was exhausted and shaken.
After drying her hair and preparing for dinner, the Princess’s rewards arrived. They consisted of two embroidered silk fabrics, an amber Buddha hand ornament, and Lu Man couldn’t help but smile broadly. In her past life, delivering babies or undergoing surgeries yielded no rewards; she would end up exhausted and had to rush to catch public transport back home. It was only after purchasing a car that things became less arduous.
Having just finished dinner, Mama Qian led several women from the Xie residence to deliver gifts. The gifts, loaded onto two carts, included five pieces of patterned brocade and plain satin, a set of sheep-fat jade headpieces, three hairpins with cat’s eye gems and red coral and carnelian ornaments, a Suzhou embroidery screen, and two pink floral vases.
Examining the items in the courtyard, Lu Man marveled at their exquisite craftsmanship, surpassing even her dowry. Looking at the invitation, she realized that the high society events in the Dachun Dynasty were about to commence—something she needed most at the moment.
Considering the Xie family’s accomplishments—a Northern Expedition Grand Marshal, Xie Yu’s promotion to the rank of General before thirty, and even the old Duke’s boldness in front of Marquis Jiang’s wife—it was evident that they were capable and held favor in the imperial court. Their character, especially old Xie’s, was admirable. Cultivating a good relationship with them would provide a valuable support system for the future.