Binding Spring Love

"Grandpa, Grandpa is back."

"Grandpa, Grandpa's back..."

A slightly aged and deep voice burst forth from the gatehouse of the Marquis of Chengyang's residence, and immediately the servants in the outer courtyard were thrown into chaos.

Madam Jiang was leading the women of the Marquis's household to listen to a play in the Begonia Garden when she saw the old nanny from the mansion crawling in, tears streaming down her face.

The cries, a mixture of sorrow and excitement, were incredibly poignant. Before Song Wan could even process her thoughts, she saw two people walk in through the door.

The man in the middle was tall and slender with sword-like eyebrows.

He still had that handsome and gentle demeanor, but he had lost the shyness of his youth and gained a more resolute and cold demeanor that only a mature man possesses, like a sharp blade sheathed, concealing its sharp edge.

"Yi'er".

Madam Jiang rushed forward and hugged the eldest grandson of the Marquis's family tightly.

The man whispered words of comfort to his grandmother, but when he looked up and saw Song Wan, he was suddenly taken aback.

Song Wanchao bowed respectfully, his mind filled with many thoughts.

The Jiang and Song families had been on good terms for generations. She and Jiang Xingjian had known each other for twelve years and had been betrothed since childhood. From the age of six when she began to read and write and learn needlework, she was taught by the family's governesses every day, preparing her to become a wife of the Jiang family.

But no one expected that six years ago, Jiang Xingjian and the Marquis of Chengyang went to the border to escort grain and fodder, but were ambushed by the guerrilla army of a neighboring country, and both father and son died.

She became the youngest widow in the capital.

She was only eleven or twelve years old when she married into the Chengyang Marquis's mansion, carrying Jiang Xingjian's memorial tablet. Now, after six years of widowhood, her husband suddenly returned safely, bringing with him a woman.

Song Wan looked at the woman standing not far away. The woman was pretty and delicate, with a pair of lively and charming cat-like eyes. She wore a light green silk gauze dress that trailed on the ground, and her hair was simply adorned with a white jade hairpin inlaid with pearls. She had a charming and lovely appearance.

She looked away and remained silent.

"Yi'er, let your mother take a look."

Jiang's mother held Jiang Xingjian's hand and cried uncontrollably, while Old Madam Jiang silently shed tears beside her.

Seeing that the two women were crying uncontrollably, Song Wan pointed to a maid and ordered someone to fetch the family physician.

"Yi'er, you have been living outdoors for many years, enduring wind and rain, without any maids or servants to take care of you. Your grandmother truly has no idea how you have managed to get through these six years."

Madam Jiang wiped away her tears: "Wan'er became a widow at such a young age and took care of me and your mother for many years. Now that you have returned, my heart is finally at ease. If you and your husband can give me a great-grandson in the future, this old woman's life will be complete."

As Madam Jiang spoke, she placed Song Wan's hand in Jiang Xingjian's hand. Jiang Xingjian's movements stiffened slightly, and Song Wan sighed inwardly as she pulled her hand away.

"Grandma, you're being too harsh. Your husband has just returned home and is probably exhausted. Why don't you let him rest first, and you and your mother-in-law can also calm yourselves down."

Gently patting Old Madam Jiang's back, Song Wan said, "You have a history of heart problems; you shouldn't let your emotions fluctuate so drastically."

After saying this, Song Wan looked at Jiang Xingjian and said, "Husband, you must be tired from your journey and should go and freshen up first. However, you have brought a beautiful guest back to the mansion, so it is not appropriate to neglect you."

Her tone remained unchanged, still calm and indifferent. Jiang Xingjian knew that she had been aloof since childhood, but for some reason, seeing her indifferent attitude now made him quite uncomfortable.

He looked up at Song Wan and scrutinized her carefully.

The last time they met was the day she saw him off as he left the capital. At that time, Song Wan was just over ten years old, her tender little face wrapped in a red fox fur cloak, looking very cute and endearing. The Song family was a prominent and wealthy family that had passed down their traditions through poetry and literature, and they valued rules and etiquette very much. Even at such a young age, she spoke of "womanly appearance" and "womanly virtue" very often, which was quite adorable.

He thought that after six years, he had long forgotten the tender little girl in his memory, but he never expected that seeing her today would bring back all the memories of the past.

The little face that was buried in the fox fur in his memory has become even more beautiful and otherworldly. Even though Jiang Xingjian knew that she had been beautiful since childhood, he never expected that she would grow up to be so stunningly beautiful.

"Brother Xingjian."

The girl's soft, sweet voice interrupted his thoughts. Jiang Xingjian turned around and saw Lin Jiayue clenching her hands, looking at him with a flustered expression.

He came to his senses and introduced her to everyone in the mansion: "This is Miss Lin. I was able to return safely from the border thanks to her."

Lin Jiayue seemed dissatisfied with this simple remark. She opened her smiling eyes and said, "My name is Lin Jiayue. You can just call me Xiaoyue'er."

The little girl pursed her lips, and when she smiled, a pair of dimples appeared on her face.

Lin Jiayue's face was full of smiles, but the smile froze on her face after a moment.

She was surprised that no one answered her at all; even Jiang Xingjian's biological mother gave her a rather subtle glance.

Lin Jiayue blushed deeply, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"I hope Miss Lin is well."

Song Wan casually replied, dispelling her unease.

Lin Jiayue looked at her gratefully. Perhaps because she was a widow, Song Wan was dressed only in white mourning clothes, without any ornaments on her head or body. However, the extremely light white clothes paired with her unadorned face gave her a unique charm, like delicate eyebrows like autumn water and jade skin accompanied by a gentle breeze.

The white robe draped around her waist, and Lin Jiayue suddenly thought of the phrase "shoulders like those of a sculpted figure, waist like that of a graceful maiden."

The other person had delicate features, and her long black hair was held up with only a wooden hairpin. Her fair wrist, which seemed to glow softly, was faintly visible through her plain robe, making even a girl like me feel a little itchy.

Lin Jiayue pursed her lips, looking at Jiang Xingjian uneasily.

"Both the Yinhua Pavilion and the Xiuyan Pavilion in the manor are empty. I wonder where you would like to arrange for Miss Lin to stay?"

Yinhualou is located in the outer courtyard and serves as a lodging place for guests, while Xiuyange is located in Lantingyuan.

Lan Courtyard is the courtyard shared by Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan, one outer courtyard and one inner courtyard. Jiang Xingjian understands that Song Wan is asking about Lin Jiayue's identity.

He frowned slightly, looked at the bewildered Lin Jiayue, and finally said, "Arrange for Miss Lin to stay at the Embroidery Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Jiang frowned slightly, while Jiang's mother gave Lin Jiayue a look of subtle disgust.

Song Wan nodded and instructed the maid beside her, "Prepare Xiuyan Pavilion and send Miss Lin to her room."