Binding Spring Love

Jiang Xingjian smiled and lowered his head to fiddle with the abacus.

Lin Jiayue was displeased with his actions and snapped the abacus beads shut. Jiang Xingjian frowned slightly but ultimately did not retaliate.

"I told you I had a way to increase the income of the Marquis's mansion, but you didn't believe me?"

Spurred on by Jiang Xingjian's indifferent demeanor, Lin Jiayue said, "I have managed several shops before, so I have some experience. I may not be better than others, but I should be much better than a sheltered young lady who never leaves her home."

Jiang Xingjian took a deep breath: "Don't mention this again in the future. It is extremely impolite for a woman to show her face in public, let alone when it involves business."

"Why can't women get involved in business? We've seen plenty of women traveling all the way from Suhe to the capital. There are plenty of old women selling milk and face powder on the streets."

"Women from noble families are different from commoners; just remember that."

Seeing that he was impatient to argue with her about these rules, Lin Jiayue pouted. But when she saw Jiang Xingjian's gaze, she suddenly remembered the rhinoceros horn ruler that Granny Li had once slapped at her for "making faces".

Lin Jiayue was inexplicably irritated. She fiddled with the charcoal stick in her hand and finally couldn't help but speak up: "Actually, I have a really good idea that can make the Marquis's mansion a lot of money."

"The Marquis's mansion can open a brothel, and then gather beauties from all over the world. I can help them make a name for themselves, so that all the men in the capital will flock to them and spend thousands of dollars just to see them."

"Not only can you make money in brothels, but you can also gather a lot of intelligence. After all, it's a melting pot of people, with countless officials and commoners coming and going. In this way, all the major and minor events in the capital, as well as gossip and rumors, can be kept in the hands of the Marquis's mansion. At that time, selling this information can make the Marquis's mansion a fortune."

"Of course, the brothel in the Marquis's mansion must be positioned as elegant; it can't be frequented by just anyone..."

That's enough.

Jiang Xingjian slammed his hand on the table, veins bulging on his forehead.

Lin Jiayue blinked, looking completely innocent. "What's wrong?"

"You all go down first."

The artists, their spirits and expressions still lingering on their faces, retreated from the room, their shock and disdain still evident before they left.

Jiang Xingjian pressed his temples, his face full of irritation.

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

"Wha...what's wrong?"

Isn't it perfectly normal for someone of her status to run a brothel? Why is Jiang Xingjian reacting so strongly?

"If I were to exchange my flesh for the riches and glory of the Marquis's mansion, I would rather the mansion crumble to pieces tomorrow. Such words, which are worse than those of pigs and rats, should never be uttered again."

Lin Jiayue's face flushed red: "I didn't say that those women should engage in prostitution. I just said that we could build such a place, a place where officials from the capital could relax, listen to music, and watch dances..."

Jiang Xingjian felt a terrible headache coming on: "As a woman, you keep talking about brothels and prostitutes. What kind of manners did Granny Li teach you?"

"Such a morally reprehensible transaction, you..."

As Jiang Xingjian gripped the pen tighter and tighter, he suddenly understood why his grandmother and mother had such reservations about Lin Jiayue.

He used to think she was a little too lively. Although she didn't know proper etiquette, she was pure-hearted, simple, and kind. Her slightly intimate actions were not out of frivolity or lewdness, but simply because she was moved by love without realizing it.

But today, when she spoke so confidently about opening a brothel, Jiang Xingjian realized that she lacked integrity.

Jiang Xingjian's jaw tightened, and after a long while he finally uttered, "Ill-gotten wealth and honor are like fleeting clouds to me," and then he fell silent.

Lin Jiayue was unconvinced and repeatedly explained that she had no intention of making women engage in prostitution.

Annoyed by her persistent pestering, Jiang Xingjian said, "In the previous dynasty, it was common for officials to frequent prostitutes, and officials were so addicted to pleasure that the government became lax. Therefore, in our dynasty, all brothels are government-run, and all the women there are female relatives of those who have committed serious crimes."

"Our dynasty's laws explicitly prohibit officials from patronizing prostitutes. Anyone who seeks out singing girls to accompany them at banquets, whether public or private, shall be sentenced to two years of penal servitude and eighty strokes of the cane. An official who patronizes prostitutes is guilty of a crime second only to murder. Even if he is pardoned, he shall be dismissed from his post and not be promoted."

"You said, 'All matters, big and small, gossip and rumors, can be controlled by the Marquis's mansion.' Do you know that if even half a word of this is revealed, the Marquis's mansion will be branded as rebellious and treasonous tomorrow?"

"The Eastern Depot is solely responsible for investigating and spying on injustices and illegal activities by officials in various government departments, as well as gathering rumors. Now, the Marquis's residence is overstepping its bounds. What is it trying to do?"

"Lin Jiayue, before you spout nonsense, can you at least consider the safety of nearly a thousand people in the Marquis's mansion?"

Jiang Xingjian's face was ashen, his surging anger trapped in his chest with nowhere to vent.

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to, I really didn't understand."

"I just saw everyone else doing it, so I thought it was okay..."

"These past few days I've had Huaisu teach you what you can say and what you can't say. You're still ill, so it's important for you to take good care of yourself."

After Jiang Xingjian finished speaking, he turned and left.

Lin Jiayue choked up, "I really didn't mean to, I just wanted to help you."

Jiang Xingjian paused, but did not stop for even a moment.

He arrived at the main courtyard of Lanting, where Hengzhi and Hengwu were drying books in the garden. When they saw him coming, they both lowered their heads as if they hadn't seen him.

Despite being treated this way by the maid, Jiang Xingjian didn't know why, but as soon as he entered the main courtyard, most of the gloom in his heart dissipated.

After a moment's thought, he stepped inside.

Song Wan was reading in the study, with a plate of red bean pastries beside her. Jiang Xingjian noticed that the top piece was missing a small half-circle, presumably because she had tasted it earlier.

He coughed lightly, dispelling the slight unease.

"Is something the matter, my husband?"

Song Wan put down her book, stood up, and offered the main seat in the study to Song Wan.

"It's nothing."

Seeing his solemn expression, Song Wan knew he was somewhat displeased, but since he didn't say anything, she had no intention of asking further.

After brewing tea and placing it beside Jiang Xingjian, Song Wan was about to go find something else to do when she heard him say, "There is something I want to ask you."

"About the household?"

She turned around and sat down, but did not sit next to him.

Jiang Xingjian clenched his fist slightly and said in a low voice, "Someone suggested that the Marquis's mansion should increase its income and do some business."

"Is that all?"

"Um."

"If that were all, you wouldn't have reacted this way. Is it because the business that person proposed is rather unreliable?"

Jiang Xingjian did not answer her.

Just looking at Song Wan, he felt all his anxiety and turmoil wash away. Jiang Xingjian suddenly wondered how she would view the matter of open source.

"If you were to suggest, what kind of business should the Marquis's mansion seek next?"

Song Wan pondered for a moment, then said, "Where virtue resides, the world will follow; I think the same applies to profit."

"If you want to do something that will bring you long-term profits, you will likely have to do business that saves people from death, relieves their suffering, helps them out of trouble, and provides relief in times of need."

Jiang Xingjian was startled upon hearing this.

He thought that a woman's character should also be like this.