Binding Spring Love

The carriage drove out of the city gate and headed straight for the outskirts of the capital. Song Wan stroked the land deed in her sleeve, and her panic gradually subsided.

Whenever her brother was around, she was never afraid or flustered.

Hengzhi and Hengwu sat blankly in the carriage, listening to the constant wailing and crying behind them, and couldn't help but feel sad.

"Miss, what's going on in the city?"

Song Wan put the land deed back into his sleeve and said sadly, "Since ancient times, the struggle for power has always been like this. One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. No one who has risen to power has not climbed up mountains of corpses and piles of bones."

She dared not listen, nor dared to think about the terrible suffering the people in the city had endured. Song Wan pursed her lips and gently pressed down the carriage curtain, as if this would shut out the cries of those who had lost their loved ones.

"Miss, we've arrived."

"Thank you, Granny Lang."

Granny Lang was originally the nanny who took care of her elder brother, but her brother was worried about her, so he sent Granny Lang to her side. Originally, she was supposed to accompany him to the Marquis's mansion to be a widow, but Granny Zhao had treated her like her own daughter since childhood, and she really couldn't leave her, so she went to the Marquis's mansion with her.

Later, Granny Lang was arranged by Song Wan to work outside, helping her take care of her dowry, shops, estates, and other things. Over the years, she and Granny Zhao have taken very good care of her inside and out.

Meeting Granny Lang today brought Song Wan a sense of peace, as if she had seen Song Fu.

"What are you saying, Miss? I've wanted to rescue you from that wretched Marquis's mansion for a long time."

After being helped down from the carriage, Song Wan finally saw the house that Song Fu had prepared for her.

Just seeing the newly repaired courtyard wall made her eyes well up with tears and her heart soften.

The tall wall was almost twice her height, and there were houses all around, neither too close nor too far away.

It won't leave her feeling lonely and scared, nor will it get too close and annoy her.

The main gate of the house was made of very thick cypress wood and painted with vermilion tung oil. As Song Wan entered, Granny Lang quickly pulled up the three bolts.

The two-courtyard house was bright and spacious, and kept clean and tidy. Song Wan walked through the courtyard and through the central hall to reach her boudoir.

The inner courtyard was small, with only two side rooms, but Song Wan smiled faintly as she looked at the beaded curtain hanging on the door and the soft pillows on the bed that smelled of flowers.

"These are all things I liked when I was a child."

The room was filled with curtains and draperies, all in fresh colors. Looking at them, Song Wan felt as if her heart, which had long since withered, was beating again.

Hengwu clapped her hands excitedly upon seeing this: "Beautiful, beautiful! At least we don't have to look at that room full of white anymore. It was really unlucky."

Granny Lang smiled and said, "These things were all purchased by this old servant with money given by the young master. I don't know if Miss will like them."

"Thank you, Granny, I like it very much."

Song Wan hooked the beaded curtain in front of the door, looked at the empty bookshelves in the room, and suddenly remembered her collection of rare books that she had never had the chance to take with her.

But the thought had barely crossed her mind before she dismissed it.

She no longer wanted to mention anything related to the Marquis's mansion.

"From now on, this old servant will stay in this house to accompany Miss. The young master said that this house is small, and it would be unsafe if there were too many people. In addition, the young master originally found a few maids who knew some martial arts to protect you, but they can't leave the city now."

Song Wan shook her head: "It's alright, this is fine."

Granny Lang went to the kitchen to boil water. After Hengzhi and Hengwu helped Song Wan remove her makeup and hair, the three of them sat on the canopy bed in the room, their eyes red and laughing foolishly.

After laughing, Hengwu wiped away her tears and said, "Miss, did we really escape from the Marquis's mansion? It feels like a dream."

Hengzhi's nose was red: "Miss, will we be sent back again in the future?"

"Won't."

Song Wan touched the orange silk quilt with golden lotus flowers beneath her, her tone joyful: "Now that I've gone through so much trouble to get out of the Marquis's mansion, my brother and aunt won't let me go back."

"Hengzhi, Hengwu, we will never go back."

The three women, mistress and servant, huddled together on one bed, none of them sleepy. They recounted the events of the past few years, their voices growing increasingly wistful.

In the dead of night, Song Wan couldn't sleep, so she went to her room to find pen and ink and sent the good news to Granny Zhao, Xiangcao, and Luzhu.

The next morning, Granny Lang made rice porridge and pickles for the group. Seeing Song Wan eating with relish, she choked up and turned away to wipe her tears.

"This house has everything, but it lacks grain and oil. We can't go into the city for the next few days. This old servant will go and take a walk around to see if there are any farmers carrying loads."

"Granny, you don't need to trouble yourself. Just eat whatever you have."

Hengwu nodded repeatedly: "Miss is right. Everything tastes delicious here. Even if the nanny brings raw rice, I won't get indigestion."

"When you're in a good mood, everything you eat goes well."

Song Wan pursed her lips and smiled faintly.

With the city gates closed, the three of them, master and servant, began to live in this small house. They no longer had to attend to the morning and evening greetings of the madam and the old lady, nor did they have to handle accounts and chores in the evening. In just six or seven days, Song Wan's complexion became rosy and her figure charming.

On the day the city gates were wide open, Song Fu came to see Song Wan and was greatly pleased to see her healthy appearance, with her skin as smooth as jade and her cheeks flushed, even without makeup.

"Brother."

Song Wan wore a crab-shell red embroidered jacket, paired with a light blue silver embroidered skirt, and her hair was adorned with two pearl hairpins and even silk flowers.

Even around her neck hung a bright red, gilded, gem-encrusted necklace in the shape of pomegranate seeds.

Her embroidered shoes were also inlaid with pearls and bells, which jingled as she walked.

Song Fu looked her over carefully and smiled, "Why are you dressed so brightly? It's not like your usual style."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Fu realized he had said the wrong thing.

"You look great in this outfit, brother likes it."

Song Wan smiled shyly: "Hengzhi and Hengwu chose this outfit because they thought it looked festive."

"Qianbai's injuries have healed, and I'm in a good mood too."

A few days ago, Song Wan received a letter from Song Fufei Nu, which put her mind at ease after several days of worry. Today, she was finally able to ask the Third Prince about his situation in person.

"Did Qianbai cry out in pain after his injury? What kind of scars or marks did he get?"

Song Fu lowered his eyes, then smiled and said, "Everything is alright, you don't need to worry."

Although Shen Qianbai's life was not in danger, someone had placed explosives in the lanterns that day, which disfigured half of his face. Song Yuning couldn't bear to let Song Wan suffer the same pain and sadness, so she repeatedly told her not to tell her about it.

His sister had finally managed to enjoy a few days of happiness, and neither he nor his aunt wanted to let these troublesome matters of the court bother her.

"I brought you some food and books from home; you can read them to pass the time if you have nothing to do..."

As Song Fu spoke, he walked towards the inner hall, while Song Wan stood there blankly, frowning as she said, "Brother is lying."

"Brother wouldn't lie, and he certainly couldn't deceive Wan'er. Qianbai is in trouble, isn't he? How did he get hurt? Where is he injured? Is it life-threatening? Or... is it jeopardizing his position?"