Binding Spring Love

Even after leaving Changxin Palace, Song Wan still felt her cheeks burning and was quite reserved.

Whether Jiang Xingjian forgot or not, he held her hand tightly and never let go.

Song Wan understood her aunt's meaning: Jiang Xingjian had already taken two concubines, but the two of them had never consummated their marriage.

If a concubine's eldest son were to appear in the Marquis's mansion, there would surely be chaos in the future. Her aunt felt sorry for her and did not want her or her child to suffer any injustice.

only……

Song Wan looked down at the two holding hands, her heart filled with unspoken emotions.

If he hadn't been to the frontier, or had never met Lin Jiayue, the two of them would surely have been a harmonious and respectful couple. But now, who knows what the future holds?

Song Wan felt a lump in her throat and tried to pull her hand away with a slight effort.

She had barely moved her fingers when Jiang Xingjian grabbed them tightly.

The man neither turned around nor spoke, but simply tightened his grip on her hand.

"My husband..."

Jiang Xingjian stopped, and Hengzhi and Hengwu, who were following behind him, as well as the eunuch sent by Consort Yun to take care of Song Wan, also stopped.

"Is the spot on the east side of the main courtyard where the incense burner is kept empty?"

Song Wan nodded blankly.

Jiang Xingjian's face stiffened, and he pursed his lips, saying, "It would be suitable to hang a masterpiece here."

Song Wan's eyes darted around nervously, unsure how to answer him. The girl's face was flushed with shyness, and her dazed expression made her look somewhat silly. Jiang Xingjian suppressed his joy and pulled Song Wan toward Consort Jiang's Yanqing Palace.

It wasn't until she entered the gates of Yanqing Palace that Song Wan came to her senses.

Yanqing Palace was quiet, showing none of the lively and bustling atmosphere of Changxin Palace.

"Your Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time."

The head eunuch of Changxin Palace arrived late. Jiang Xingjian was pulling Song Wan along, preparing to go see her sister, when the eunuch said, "Madam Jiang, please wait."

"The Imperial Observatory said a few days ago that Her Majesty is unwell and cannot be seen by those born in the years of the Rabbit, Snake, Sheep, or Dog. To avoid offending Her Majesty, you should wait in the small garden."

Jiang Xingjian frowned, while Song Wan sighed silently, and the eunuch from Changxin Palace following behind him also narrowed his eyes.

"My lord, go now, do not keep the Empress waiting."

Song Wan loosened her grip on their hands and stood smiling outside Yanqing Palace.

Jiang Xingjian was worried and instructed the eunuchs around him to take good care of her before going to see Jiang Man alone.

In the Yanqing Palace, Jiang Man wore a crescent-shaped white satin brocade dress, with only a silver bat-shaped pearl hairpin in her hair. Although not as plain as what Song Wan wore when she was widowed, it was still a rare sight of her in the palace.

Only one or two of Jiang Man's trusted confidants were in the palace.

"Sister."

Jiang Man's eyes reddened slightly: "You've had a tough time these past few years."

"It is because my younger brother is incompetent that he has failed to relieve his elder sister's worries."

Jiang Man stretched out her slender fingers, her cherry-pink nails appearing exceptionally smooth and glossy. A palace maid beside her held her hand and led her to Jiang Xingjian's side.

"Is the firearm in that woman's hand truly capable of moving mountains and leveling seas, as she claims?"

"My younger brother has seen it; it's quite powerful."

Jiang Man covered her lips: "It wasn't in vain that you plotted for so many years at the border. With this person and this item, Father's great revenge can surely be avenged."

"..."

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, his face turning slightly pale.

Jiang Man had sharp features, a rare and striking appearance among women. In terms of facial features alone, she lacked the gentle charm and grace of the mild-mannered Song Yuning, but Jiang Man possessed eyes that were unparalleled in the world.

Those eyes were bright and affectionate; even when looking at people coldly, they carried a captivating charm that seemed to hold back unspoken words.

If such eyes were on an ordinary woman, they would only give the impression of frivolous behavior, but on her, they inexplicably added a touch of desire to conquer her.

Having lived a life of intrigue and deceit in the palace for a long time, she had gained a clearer understanding of human nature and people's hearts, let alone her younger brother whom she had watched grow up since childhood.

With just one glance, she knew what Jiang Xingjian was thinking.

"You want to ask me why I never told you about Song Wan marrying into the Marquis's household?"

Jiang Xingjian straightened his back, his hands and feet slightly stiff.

"Come with me."

The two walked to a side room in the main hall. Jiang Man moved the white jade Guanyin statue enshrined in the small Buddhist hall, revealing the memorial tablet behind it.

"Kneel down."

Jiang Xingjian looked at his father's name and knelt down without hesitation.

"When I became pregnant with the dragon's child, you and Father were immediately assigned to the border to escort grain supplies. This task should not have fallen to you two, should it?"

"Yes."

"Father died, the Marquis's mansion declined rapidly, the eldest prince is morally flawed, the crown prince has been paralyzed for many years, and Qian Shu's birth makes the third prince, Shen Qianbai, the most threatening, isn't that right?"

"Yes."

Jiang Man, her eyes red, said, "We both know perfectly well that a prince without the support of his maternal family is like a small boat adrift in the waves; even without wind, he can't sail. Don't tell your sister that you can't see Song Lan'an's ambition, Song Yun Ning's intentions, or who is behind all this plotting to kill you and Father!"

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, and the light in his eyes slowly faded.

"Yi'er, your elder sister knows you are in love with Song Wan."

"The palace lanterns, wood carvings, and bracelets that you gave her when you were young were all made by your older sister, one cut at a time, with your help. Your older sister also knew that you had been waiting to marry her since you were a child."

"But so what?"

"The hatred for killing one's father cannot be forgotten. If you want to blame someone, blame her for not being able to be reincarnated and being born into the Song family. If you want to blame someone, blame Song Lan'an and Song Yun Ning for their ambitious nature."

Jiang Man gripped Jiang Xingjian's shoulders so tightly that she didn't even notice her index fingernail snapping.

The palace maid beside her stepped forward, but Jiang Man waved her away.

"If the Song family is destroyed and only Song Wan is left, I will allow you to be with her. But if Song Lan'an and Song Yun Ning do not fall, I will not mind using her as an example when necessary."

"I……"

Jiang Xingjian closed his eyes in pain, and after a moment said in a deep voice, "Sister, I know what to do."

Seeing that he seemed to have made up his mind, Jiang Man, though reluctant, still gently patted his shoulder. The two siblings then slowly began to reminisce, seemingly having deliberately forgotten about Song Wan, who was still waiting outside the hall.

Song Wan stood outside Yanqing Palace, feeling dizzy from the sun, while the little eunuch who came to take care of her was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

"Madam Jiang, please return to Changxin Palace with me."

"No."

Song Wan smiled and said, "If I left without Your Highness's permission, I might be accused of disrespecting the Imperial Concubine. I know that you are kind-hearted and would not want me to be exposed to the sun here."

Looking up at the Yanqing Palace Garden, Song Wan pointed to the artificial hill and said, "Why don't you accompany me there, Father-in-law, to escape the heat?"

How could the eunuch refuse? He hurriedly beckoned Song Wan to go to a shady spot in the garden, but before they even got there, they heard rustling in the corner. A group of young eunuchs were bullying and teasing a sweeping eunuch who was covered in injuries.

Song Wan looked at the person's back on the ground and frowned slightly.