Binding Spring Love

Madam Sun was moved by Song Wan's words, but she still had worries, so she spoke very formally.

Song Wan knew that marriage was a serious matter that could not be settled in a day or two, so she made a few remarks and then talked about other things. During this time, she also chatted with Miss Sun about her children's zither skills before bidding farewell to the two of them.

Seeing that she was about to leave, Jiang Yan left ahead of time, leaving only Xiao Jiyue in the side room.

Today, I don't know which lady didn't know the rules, but she blocked the foot of the mountain with her carriage. The Marquis's carriage was blocked for half a day, and Song Wan was so hot that she half-lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to let in some fresh air.

Just as he was planning his marriage to the Sun family, he saw a person staring intently at him from the shadows behind Zhitong Temple.

The man stood in the shade. Although his face was not clearly visible, one could sense that he was extremely tall. Amidst the dappled shadows of the trees, a pair of deep, dark eyes, as black as lacquer, were barely visible.

In just a moment of eye contact, Song Wan frowned.

The gaze was too intense, the scrutiny and sharpness within it making her uncomfortable. She frowned and lowered the carriage curtain.

Xiao Jiye's eyes gleamed with amusement, and he smiled freely.

After Song Wan lowered the carriage curtain, she said to Hengzhi beside her, "The weather is getting hotter and hotter. It's really stuffy to use Shu brocade for the carriages in the manor. I'll have the manor change to soft gauze later. That way, the masters of each household won't suffer like I did today when they travel."

Upon hearing this, Hengwu quickly added three points of effort to waving the round fan in her hand.

The master and servants returned to the Marquis's residence and were preparing to go to Fuhe Hall to report the day's events to the old lady when Jiang Yan came out from the middle. Song Wan greeted him, saying, "What a coincidence today, I just returned to the residence."

Jiang Yan asked gently, "Where did my sister-in-law go?"

"I recently selected a few families, and today I visited the wife and daughter of Grand Secretary Sun of the Eastern Pavilion. The Sun family's daughter is gentle and obedient, and she has learned her manners very well. I think she is a good match for you."

Jiang Yan lowered his eyes: "Sister-in-law has excellent judgment; the person you've chosen will definitely be right."

Song Wan smiled faintly: "Don't look down on the Sun family's humble background, but..."

"How could I not understand my sister-in-law's good intentions? The Sun family is a close minister of the Emperor. Although Sun Zhengchun is currently in a lowly position and has a weak official rank, it is only temporary. He is more than a hundred times better than the Qi family, which has declined generation after generation and only has the status of a nobleman."

Jiang Yan's eyes were deep and dark as he said in a low voice, "Aunt Liu is short-sighted. Sister-in-law, don't lower yourself to her level."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan showed a slight expression of relief, which made Jiang Yan's heart tighten.

"My brother trusts his sister-in-law completely. I'll need your help with Jiang Xing's marriage arrangements in the future."

"Why worry about family? Your marriage should go smoothly and you two should have a harmonious relationship. That's what matters most."

Jiang Yan said gently, "What my sister-in-law wishes for will surely be fulfilled."

His words sounded somewhat strange, and Song Wan vaguely felt that something was amiss, so she could only smile and decline, then went to Fuhe Hall.

Jiang Yan stood behind her, but what he was thinking about was Xiao Jiyue's words, "Just hang yourself with a foot of white silk."

He frowned, and a sudden pang of pain shot through his heart.

Song Wan, unaware of Jiang Yan's thoughts, simply dropped the matter.

After arriving at Fuhetang, I briefly told Madam Jiang about the Sun family's attitude. The old lady also valued the Sun family's real power, believing they could be an assistant to Jiang Xingjian in the future. She then smiled and said that Song Wan was a good candidate to manage the household.

After exchanging a few words with the old lady, Song Wan returned to Lan Courtyard.

She rarely went out in the past and had not interacted with people for six years. Suddenly, she felt extremely tired of socializing.

"The maid will go and tell Xiangcao to prepare hot water so that Miss can soak in it and relax in a little while."

Song Wan nodded, and was just about to have Hengzhi choose a bottle of magnolia dew to match when she heard a loud commotion coming from inside the Embroidery Pavilion. She frowned slightly, feeling inexplicably annoyed.

"Miss……"

"Back to the main courtyard."

For some reason, ever since Lin Jiayue solemnly declared yesterday that she would get a divorce, Song Wan has become impatient to think about her complicated and troublesome relationship with Jiang Xingjian.

"Tell me, is it true or false that aristocratic families have never had divorced women?"

When the maids and servants of Xiuyan Pavilion saw Song Wan walk past the door, they all shrank back in fear. They didn't dare to breathe loudly, especially when they heard the word "divorce," for fear of displeasing Song Wan.

After all, the eldest mistress was in charge of the household, and the servants had to be mindful of her mood. So none of them dared to speak up or help, and they just stood there like wooden stakes that could only breathe.

Jiang Xingjian was driven to the brink of despair by Lin Jiayue's antics.

"Jiang Xingjian, you're lying to me, aren't you? Everything you've said is a lie, isn't it?"

Jiang Xingjian pressed his temples, his mind in turmoil.

"You don't say a word, leaving me to guess alone. But what can I possibly guess?"

Lin Jiayue's eyes were red from crying: "You let me like you, you let me come to the capital with you, you let Song Wan humiliate me, and you never even asked me if I wanted to be a concubine..."

"Jiang Xingjian, do you even have a heart?"

"I am an orphan, but what about you? You are born into nobility, with status and position. In the Marquis's mansion, you have a grandmother and a mother, and even a wife from a prestigious family."

"But what about me? I only have you, and I can only rely on you. But what have you done?"

"You let Song Wan bully me, not only did you not help me, but you even lied to me with her? Why didn't you tell me that there was no way you and Song Wan could get a divorce?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Yes, you never lied to me. You just concealed the truth and let me fill in the blanks with my own imagination. All you did was inaction. You're so righteous, so innocent, and I'm the biggest fool here!"

Lin Jiayue cried her heart out, her sobs a mixture of anger at the injustice of the world, resentment towards Jiang Xingjian, and a hint of unwillingness to admit it.

Jiang Xingjian just frowned and looked on, not knowing how to explain.

When he was with Song Wan, he didn't need to clearly explain his thoughts and feelings. But Lin Jiayue... she couldn't see the current situation clearly, nor did she understand his good intentions. All her thoughts were focused on her romantic feelings, which left him feeling confused.

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Xingjian said, "I didn't want to tell you these things, but to avoid you getting entangled in these disputes in the future, I'll make things clear to you today."

Briefly mentioning the history and animosity between the Third and Fifth Princes and the Jiang and Song families, Jiang Xingjian said, "One of the Jiang and Song families will inevitably suffer in the future. Regardless of who wins or loses among the Third and Fifth Princes' factions, I and Song Wan..."

Jiang Xingjian felt a pang of pain in his heart: "Absolutely impossible."

Lin Jiayue didn't notice his expression; instead, there was a hint of excitement in her eyes.

"Is the Marquis's mansion going to get involved in the struggle for the throne? I see."

Lin Jiayue wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with ambition: "As long as the Marquis's mansion wins, Song Wan can go with the Song family..."

"Brother Xingjian."

Lin Jiayue smiled sweetly: "I understand everything you said. Don't worry, I will help you."