Binding Spring Love

"I didn't hear what you said clearly, my husband. Would you like to repeat it?"

"I……"

Jiang Xingjian looked up and saw that Song Wan's clear, bright eyes were full of disappointment.

The second half of the sentence suddenly got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say it anymore.

For the first time, Song Wan persisted, coldly asking, "What did my husband just say? I didn't hear clearly."

Although she has a cold temperament, she has always been gentle and compliant, and has never been so aggressive before.

After thinking it over, Jiang Xingjian explained, "When I entered the palace with Jia Yue, Your Majesty..."

"Jiang Xingjian".

Song Wan stood up, looking down at him with an icy expression: "Do you even know what you're saying?"

"Consort Jiang took a great liking to Jia Yue after meeting her and has already promoted her to the rank of Noble Consort. Seeing that Jia Yue has some talent, she suggested that she and you jointly manage the inner quarters of the Marquis's residence. The affairs of the residence are numerous and complicated, and having more people can help you share the burden, so there is nothing wrong with it."

"Well said, there's nothing wrong with it."

Song Wan's hands trembled violently as she gripped the handkerchief.

She was a young lady from a respectable official family, and had never suffered any grievances in her eighteen years of life. Now, however, she was humiliated by Jiang Xingjian time and time again. How could she bear it?

"I doubt you can find another family in the whole world where three generations of mistresses are alive, yet a concubine manages the household affairs. If we had known earlier that the Marquis's family had fallen into moral decay and disregarded ethics, my Song family would never have formed a marriage alliance with them."

"I will return the household register to the old lady today. As for who will manage the household in the future, it is none of my business. I don't want any dirty or messy things to be pinned on my daughter, Song."

Song Wan turned and left, and Hengzhi and Granny Zhao hurriedly followed. Hengwu looked at Jiang Xingjian, whose face was flushed and pale, and spat: "Indecent."

The maids and servants in the main courtyard of Lanting all dispersed, leaving only Jiang Xingjian, who was suffering in silence.

"Miss……"

Granny Zhao watched as Song Wan entered the room and immediately began sketching in the account books with pen and ink. Her nose stung with tears. "Miss, what are you doing? Are you really going to hand over the reins of the household to that little harlot?"

Song Wan paused for a moment, then quickly got back to work.

"Compile a list of all the receipts and matching tokens from these past few days. Xiangcao, go and get my dowry list."

"Miss……"

Song Wan's eyelids reddened, and she said in a low voice, "Does Granny think Lin Jiayue can manage the Marquis's mansion well?"

"Of course not. She acts erratically and doesn't follow the rules. Who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause in the future?"

"That's true, so I can't run this business with her."

Song Wan held the brush, its knuckles gleaming pinkish-white, and took a few deep breaths to calm her agitated heart.

"Who in the world knows Lin Jiayue? If there is any mistake in managing the Marquis's mansion, I, Song Wan, will bear all the blame. I cannot allow myself to tarnish the reputation of all the young ladies of the Song family."

"Miss, if Concubine Lin gains the master's favor and takes charge of the household affairs, your future will be even more difficult. How old are you? Are you going to have to suffer the wrath of that little harlot forever?"

"Don't worry, Granny."

Song Wanqiang suppressed his thoughts: "As the saying goes, the higher you climb, the harder you fall."

"Since Consort Jiang spoke up, the Marquis's mansion will not refuse. If I insist on controlling the household affairs, it will only arouse suspicion. It would be better to hand it over and test whether Lin Jiayue has the ability to manage a household."

"She's only opened one or two shops, yet everyone thinks she's quite talented. If I don't let her try, people will only think about her good deeds. And no matter how well I do, others will think Lin Jiayue could do even better."

"I'm giving her this opportunity; it's up to her to seize it."

Song Wan pressed her trembling hands, picked up her dowry list, and ticked off items: "Besides the bedding, fabrics, furniture, and decorations that I selected, which are left untouched, all the medicinal herbs, cash, land, and shops have been sent to my brother."

"What are you doing, Miss?"

"Tell my brother to buy up any shops in the capital that he can acquire, even if it's 10% or 20% above the market price."

Although Granny Zhao still didn't understand, she had already started moving.

Song Wan then pulled out another list, which contained all the valuable jewelry that Consort Yun had given her.

Things bestowed by the palace cannot be sold privately, and she was also reluctant to part with them. Song Wan examined them for a moment and then casually put them down.

Managing a household is no easy task. Lin Jiayue has some talent but lacks the principles of a gentleman. If she were to take power, the Marquis's mansion would be in chaos within three months. She has no choice but to prepare herself in advance.

After everything was arranged, Song Wan asked Hengzhi to carry the mansion's game box and account books and go with her to Fuhe Hall. As they passed the embroidered couch, she caught a glimpse of the eight wooden carvings displayed there, picked one up casually, and threw it out the window.

Inside Fuhe Hall, both Old Madam Jiang and Jiang's mother were present. When they saw Song Wan carrying the account books, they both sighed slightly.

"Good child, I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Song Wan smiled and said, "What grievance is there? Now that my husband has returned to the manor, only I, Wan'er, can enjoy the good life. Where is there any grievance?"

Old Madam Jiang pursed her lips and remained silent, while Jiang's mother blushed with embarrassment.

"grandmother."

Song Wan turned around and saw Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue walk in together. Lin Jiayue smiled sweetly at her and then gently greeted Old Madam Jiang and Jiang's mother.

Song Wan's eyes were indifferent as she instructed Hengzhi to place the account book on the table.

"Even Consort Jiang, far away in the palace, knows that her granddaughter-in-law is not managing the household well. I am truly ashamed. Since there is a capable person in the household, I am happy to step down."

Looking at the smug Lin Jiayue, Old Madam Jiang felt a lump in her throat, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

If this thing is truly talented, then so be it...

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Jiang's mother frowned deeply: "How can a concubine be allowed to manage the household after three generations of matriarchs? If word gets out, people will think that all the legitimate female members of my Marquis's mansion are dead."

Jiang Xingjian's forehead vein throbbed, and Old Madam Jiang sighed deeply.

"I am well aware of the situation in the manor. Wan'er, you manage the household perfectly. There is no need to care what others say."

Jiang's mother held Song Wan's hand and said, "I know your suffering, but the household is in dire straits right now, and this is not the time for you to be willful."

"It's not that Wan'er is being willful..."

"alright."

Old Madam Jiang interrupted, beckoning Song Wan to her side and saying earnestly, "Grandmother understands your concerns. Your mother is right about one thing: you know how difficult things are in the manor. Even if it's not for anyone else, but just because Grandmother has doted on you like her own granddaughter for the past six years, you can't abandon the Marquis's manor."

Song Wan felt a pang of sadness, looking at Old Madam Jiang's graying hair and feeling a pang of pity.

The old lady had indeed treated her very well over the years, and she could always tell whether it was genuine or feigned.

"Grandmother is getting old and can no longer handle these trivial matters. There is no reason for two masters to manage a household, but we cannot disobey Her Majesty's decree."

Madam Jiang said to Jiang Xingjian, "Wan'er should still be in charge of the household. As for Concubine Lin... let her stay on the sidelines, assist Wan'er, and be her right-hand woman."

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang nodded: "That's excellent. Aunt Lin is quite useful. In the future, she and Wan'er can work together to find a few more businesses like the ice shop, which will solve the Marquis's urgent problem."