Binding Spring Love

"My husband."

Seeing Jiang Xingjian approach, Song Wan smiled gently at him.

"Have you spoken with your father?"

"Yes."

Song Fu nodded, and seeing the sweet look on Song Wan's face, he couldn't help but smile and say, "There are many rules in the palace. You two have been busy all day, so go back to your courtyard and rest. We'll have a good drink tonight."

"I will follow my elder brother's teachings."

Jiang Xingjian watched Song Fu leave, and the smiles on the faces of the couple both faded.

The two walked on in silence. Song Wan hugged the small box given to her by Song Fu tightly, feeling much more at ease.

After leaving the palace, the shame and grievances that had been lingering in my heart, as well as the vague feelings and the frustration and panic of being rejected, all disappeared after I saw my brother.

"Miss, the courtyard is very clean, which means the manor cleans it regularly. The bedding on the bed has also been changed. If you are tired, you can go to the inner bedroom for a rest."

Hengzhi looked around after entering the courtyard where Song Wan had lived as a child.

The sisters and Song Wan all grew up in this courtyard, and it was no wonder they felt joyful to revisit it.

"The bamboo bell that Miss used to hang herself is still on the veranda."

Song Wan glanced at the faded bell and smiled.

After letting go of her hand, Song Wan never took the initiative to approach her again. Jiang Xingjian felt uncomfortable when he saw that none of the three of them paid any attention to him after they entered the courtyard.

Song Wan had already entered the house, and he inexplicably quickened his pace. However, as soon as they entered her childhood room, they both froze at the doorway.

Six years had passed since she left, and Song Wan had long forgotten what was kept in the room. Now, seeing those things again, she felt only a sense of bewilderment, as if things had changed beyond recognition.

Jiang Xingjian's traces can be seen everywhere in her boudoir.

The two were betrothed since childhood. Even before she could speak fluently, she knew that her future husband's name was Jiang Yi.

The Hou and Song families were old friends and visited each other regularly during festivals. When Jiang Xingjian was little, he liked to give her small gifts, such as a calligraphy book, a clay figurine, or a string of porcelain beads. The gifts were not expensive, but they were mostly exquisite and delicate, which she liked very much.

The set of zodiac wood carvings she brought to the Marquis's residence was her favorite.

Twelve in total, four a year. He carved them for three years, and she treasured them for nine years, witnessing firsthand how the carvings transformed from rough and childlike to lifelike.

"This hairpin..."

The young girl's boudoir exuded warmth and playfulness, with gauze curtains all in pale yellow or moon blue hues, occasionally adorned with one or two pieces of pink and white porcelain, making it appear elegant and refreshing, a stark contrast to her widowed residence, Longxiangzhai, in the Marquis's mansion.

On the most eye-catching mother-of-pearl inlaid dressing table in the room, there is a white jade plum blossom hairpin, and below it is a mother-of-pearl inlaid stand of the same color.

Song Wan's face turned ashen, and she regretted letting Jiang Xingjian into her boudoir.

"Why didn't you take this hairpin to the Marquis's residence?"

On the day he left the capital, he personally placed the plum blossom hairpin, which he had carved over a long period of time, on her head. It was originally intended as a birthday gift for her that year, but Jiang Xingjian was afraid that he wouldn't be able to return in time, so he sent it ahead of schedule.

Now, touching the warm white jade, he felt a slight tightness in his chest.

Even now, he seems to be able to feel the same joy he felt that day.

"A widow should live a quiet and chaste life; these items should not be taken to the Marquis's residence."

Song Wan took the white jade hairpin back from his hand, then found a red velvet brocade box under the dressing table and put it inside. Seeing Jiang Xingjian staring at her, she thought for a moment, then pulled her hand back from the dressing table and turned to hand it to Hengzhi.

"Miss and son-in-law, the quilts and blankets are aired out. Would you like to take a nap?"

"Let's lay it down."

She had risen before dawn to enter the palace, and then been left waiting in the small garden by Consort Jiang for most of the day. Song Wan felt she couldn't take it anymore. Seeing that Jiang Xingjian seemed very interested in her boudoir, she let him observe while she went into her secluded room for a midday rest.

Jiang Xingjian turned around and saw a slender figure under the gauze curtain taking off her hair ornaments. The girl was delicate and graceful, and he felt a flush on his face and looked away.

Hengzhi and Hengwu were at a loss when they saw that he neither went out nor showed any intention of taking a midday rest.

"Go down."

Jiang Xingjian lowered his voice and dismissed the two men.

For a moment, only he and Song Wan remained in the room. However, the other woman seemed extremely tired, as she began to breathe softly and had fallen asleep. Jiang Xingjian smiled faintly, but then his face turned cold again, as if he had thought of something.

When I went to see Song Lan'an just now, he kept asking why I hadn't returned for the past six years and what I had been doing at the border.

Jiang Xingjian sensed that he was acting out of guilt, but he had no choice but to deal with him carefully.

The fleeting thoughts that had just arisen dissipated because of this idea, and his gaze towards Song Wan, who was taking a midday rest behind the gauze curtain, gradually darkened.

"Miss……"

"Um?"

Song Wan's eyes were still half-closed, and when Hengzhi woke her up, she was still a little disoriented.

"The young master said he wants to return to the Marquis's residence and asked me to help you with your hair and makeup."

"How long did I sleep?"

Hengzhi lowered her eyes: "It hasn't been half an hour yet."

"..."

Song Wan frowned as she looked at Jiang Xingjian sitting on the embroidered stool, and suddenly felt an urge to let him go back on his own.

"Alright, help me with my makeup."

Hengzhi redid her hair and makeup, and changed her into the dress sent by Madam Song. After Song Wan was dressed neatly, she bid farewell to Jiang Xingjian, her parents, and her brothers.

"We've prepared wine and food at your residence. Why don't you finish them before you go back? We're only two streets apart anyway, so we won't be too late."

Madam Song tried to persuade him to stay, but Jiang Xingjian said, "The Marquis's mansion is busy, and Awan is still in charge of the household affairs. We can't do without her."

Hearing this, everyone in the Song family felt much relieved. Madam Song had a carriage prepared to carry Song Wan's belongings and dowry to the Marquis's residence. Hengzhi and Hengwu also carried a lot of things. With the additions given by Consort Yun, Song Wan's wealth today was comparable to that of most of the Marquis's residence.

Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, she began to register and record everything that Consort Yun had bestowed upon her, along with her own dowry.

The dowry details needed to be registered in the mansion's archives, and a storeroom also needed to be set up in Lan Courtyard to store these items. There were quite a few things to do. By the time Song Wan and the maids in Lan Courtyard finished their work, it was already so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"Miss, everything is complete, except for one thing."

"What's missing?"

"The painting of the Two Immortals of Harmony bestowed by the Empress."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan blushed, knowing that no one but Jiang Xingjian would take this thing.

Her face flushed red and then turned pale, and she understood the man even less.

"Fine, just record it in the album, and let the son-in-law decide what to do with it later."

Song Wan didn't know what Jiang Xingjian wanted the Hehe Erxian picture for, and Jiang Xingjian himself didn't know either.

He stared at the painting spread out on his desk, his face so somber it seemed as if water could drip from it.

He didn't want to fall in love with Song Wan, but...

Jiang Xingjian rubbed his face hard, utterly dejected.