Binding Spring Love

After leaving Yanqing Palace, Jiang Xingjian questioned Lin Jiayue about why she had acted on her own initiative.

Lin Jiayue chuckled and said, "Do you not believe I can manage the Marquis's mansion well, or do you not believe I can earn more money for it?"

"You saw the success of the ice shop, didn't you? Even the Empress trusts me and gave me five thousand taels of silver to open a new shop. What do you have to worry about?"

Jiang Xingjian's face darkened: "Do you know that once you've taken the Empress's money, this business must be profitable?"

"How can you guarantee a profit in business? Your Majesty isn't that kind of unreasonable person."

Smiling, Lin Jiayue linked arms with Jiang Xingjian and said sweetly, "But I'll handle this business; it's bound to succeed. Don't worry."

Jiang Xingjian shook off Lin Jiayue's hand and strode away.

When Jiang Man first met her, he must have thought, just like he did at first, that Lin Jiayue was clever and intelligent. But such cleverness couldn't withstand the test of time. If she made any mistakes in the Marquis's mansion, he would cover for her. But under the imperial power, if she made any mistakes, he didn't know if she could bear the consequences of overthrowing the entire Marquis's mansion.

Jiang Xingjian's face was grim. Thinking of Consort Jiang's words about letting Lin Jiayue and Song Wan jointly manage the Marquis's mansion, he was even more troubled.

Jiang Man was not only his elder sister but also the birth mother of the Fifth Prince. While concubines in the harem did not need to run shops to earn money, princes needed powerful maternal families. Now that Consort Jiang had spoken up, the matter of managing the household was no longer just a private matter of the Marquis's mansion, and he simply could not refuse.

Seeing Lin Jiayue clutching the five thousand taels of silver, Jiang Xingjian grew increasingly annoyed.

Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, Lin Jiayue immediately went to her room to ponder business matters, while Jiang Xingjian went to Fuhe Hall with a cold expression.

"Your older sister has always been a strong-willed person. Shu'er is not even five years old yet, and she moves so quickly. Isn't she afraid of stretching her arms out too far?"

Old Madam Jiang half-closed her eyes, slowly fiddling with the sandalwood beads in her hand.

Jiang Xingjian knelt to the side and said in a low voice, "The palace is full of dangers, and my sister is having a hard time in it. Our family will help her as much as we can. Besides, we can't disobey the imperial concubine's order."

"You've been completely controlled by your older sister since you were little..."

Old Madam Jiang stood up, and Jiang Xingjian quickly helped her up. Old Madam Jiang said, "It's good that you two siblings support each other, but Man'er is impulsive. I didn't agree to her entering the palace back then. If she hadn't entered the palace, you and Song Wan wouldn't have ended up like this today."

"With a virtuous and intelligent girl like Song Wan as your capable wife, coupled with your natural talent and temperament, it's not impossible to maintain the Marquis's family's glory for another hundred years. Yet now you're taking the risk to snatch that worthless flower in the mirror, the moon's reflection in the water..."

"I'm afraid that in the future I won't earn wealth and glory, but instead end up with a bad reputation."

Jiang Xingjian kept a straight face, but in his heart he thought that things had come to this point and there was no turning back.

"Fine, fine. Now that the Marquis's mansion is in your hands, you shall be in charge of its affairs. How many more years do I have left to live? I don't want to interfere now and cause discord between you and your siblings in the future, making me the one who commits the crime."

Madam Jiang waved her hand, instructing her head maid, Baozhu, to see Jiang Xingjian out.

After everyone had left, Old Madam Jiang sighed softly, "Countless princes and grandsons of emperors throughout history have died young. Now, for the sake of a five-year-old child, she is willing to risk the entire Marquis's mansion to become an enemy of the Song family. I'm afraid Song Lan'an would laugh out loud if he knew how stupid Jiang Man is."

"Since the old lady knew it was inappropriate, why didn't she try to persuade the old man?"

An old woman helped Madam Jiang sit down and whispered words of comfort.

Madam Jiang said, "You watched Jiang Man grow up, don't you know her temperament? Back then, I only said that she was arrogant and not good at marrying into a high-ranking family as a wife, and she turned around and seduced the emperor to enter the palace."

"Now that she wants to interfere in the affairs of the manor, if I stop Yi'er, it will only make her resentful and distance herself from the Marquis's manor."

"She is from the Jiang family. If she really causes trouble, can the Marquis's mansion really escape responsibility? It would be better to let Yi'er keep an eye on things from the sidelines."

The old woman sighed as well, unable to think of any other solution besides offering a few words of comfort.

After leaving Madam Jiang's room, Jiang Xingjian went to the main courtyard of Lanting with a troubled expression.

When he arrived, the old women in the mansion were reporting accounts to Song Wan. They were all extremely respectful, and the accounts in their hands were written clearly, standardly, and in great detail. Song Wan looked at them for a while, then smiled and signed the mansion's receipt.

"Madam, this is the household kitchen's expenses for this month."

Song Wan took the documents and examined them one by one. She saw that she had already saved several thousand taels of silver before the whole month was even over.

"The eldest mistress manages the household well, and everyone in the inner and outer courtyards praises her."

Granny Liang said, "Yes, yes, it was terribly hot a few days ago. If it weren't for the eldest mistress making mung bean soup to cool the servants in the outer courtyard, several of them would probably be sick now."

"It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

Song Wan quickly manipulated the abacus, and seeing that the changes she had made to the prefectural regulations had indeed saved a lot of money, she finally felt relieved.

"Madam, how should we account for the painting 'Autumn Moon over the Mountains' that you sent to the Sun residence yesterday?"

Song Wan didn't even raise her head: "No need to go in. Consider it a private gift to Madam Sun."

"An authentic work by Zhang Shaoqing?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xingjian stepped forward, and a group of stewardesses bowed to him. He waved his hand, and they fell silent.

"There's no reason to use a woman's dowry to supplement her husband's family. I'll convert that original painting into cash for you the day after tomorrow."

"It's fine if my husband makes the decision."

Song Wan smiled faintly at him and then went back to tidying up the accounts. Jiang Xingjian thought for a moment, dismissed the old women, and sat down in front of Song Wan.

"Does my husband have something to say?"

"There are indeed some things I need to discuss with you..."

Jiang Xingjian frowned, unable to speak for a long time. Song Wan noticed his predicament and knew it must be related to Lin Jiayue. She didn't urge him but simply lowered her head to organize the receipts in the mansion, without any intention of inquiring.

After a long pause, Jiang Xingjian finally asked, "How is Jiang Yan's marriage to the Sun family progressing?"

"Madam Sun still has some concerns. Although she hasn't agreed yet, the discussion is almost complete. Perhaps it can be finalized after Miss Sun's coming-of-age ceremony."

"What concerns are there? Jiang Yan and Miss Sun are a good match. The Sun family should not refuse this marriage."

Song Wan said calmly, "Madam Sun dislikes families that act out of line and do not follow the rules, and she is also afraid that too many people in the backyard will cause trouble for Miss Sun."

"The Marquis's residence..."

After uttering just a few words, Jiang Xingjian awkwardly shut up.

I had originally intended to suggest that Lin Jiayue and Song Wan manage the household together, but now it's difficult to bring it up.

Even after Song Wan finished settling the accounts today, Jiang Xingjian still hadn't revealed his intentions.

She felt a vague unease: "Having waited so long, it must be something important. I might as well just say it directly."

Jiang Xingjian touched his nose and said in a low voice, "I want Jia Yue to manage the household with you."