Binding Spring Love

Song Wan casually pulled out "Essential Techniques for the Common People" and "Secret Essentials from the Outer Terrace," turned to the page on making lip rouge, and said, "Vermilion, purple gromwell, and safflower are all the main ingredients for rouge. Go find a merchant from out of town and have him shout out that he'll buy these things at a high price."

"How much?"

Song Wan put the book back on the table: "Make a big show of it, and buy the high-quality but low-quantity items."

"Miss is so intelligent."

"But, Miss, won't this displease Consort Jiang? What if the young master finds out...?"

"Even if I don't do these things, will Consort Jiang be satisfied with me?"

Song Wan smiled faintly and continued working on the abacus.

Hengzhi knew that her question was unnecessary. Her young lady had been widowed for six years, and when she first entered the palace, Consort Jiang did not even see her. Since she did not even maintain the most basic courtesy, why should her young lady still endure it?

"I'll go find Granny Zhao and ask her to take care of this as well."

As she was walking out, Hengzhi ran into Aunt Zhou, who had come looking for Song Wan, and the third young lady of the Marquis's mansion. After she paid her respects, she had Xiangcao welcome the two of them into the house.

She was somewhat surprised when she first met Aunt Zhou and Jiang Jingsong Wan, because the two of them were so quiet in the Marquis's mansion that she had almost forgotten about Aunt Zhou.

"Grandma, I've come to see you today because I have some questions for you to ask."

Aunt Zhou smiled, revealing two shallow dimples on her face. She had a beautiful face and spoke slowly and gently.

Jiang Jing also blushed. The girl was in her early teens, at the peak of her beauty. Her captivating peach blossom eyes were charming and affectionate, yet because of her young age, they appeared pure and innocent. Her fair skin was as beautiful as a pearl. When she smiled at people, a pair of shallow dimples appeared and disappeared on her face, making people feel an involuntary sense of closeness.

Song Wan stood up to offer the two seats, but Aunt Zhou declined and sat on the embroidered stool on the west side, while Jiang Jing stood obediently behind her.

Seeing this, Song Wan knew that both of them were well-mannered and respectful.

"Auntie is practically an elder to Wan'er, why are you talking about asking for favors? If you have something to say, just say it. We're family, why stand on ceremony?"

Aunt Zhou smiled: "It's Jing'er, she's fourteen this year."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan immediately understood Aunt Zhou's purpose. After having Xiangcao take Jiang Jing to play in the courtyard, she asked, "Aunt, are you here about Third Sister's marriage?"

"Exactly."

Aunt Zhou nodded: "To be honest, Jing'er's marriage... is a real worry for me."

With the sudden passing of the old Marquis and the fact that she only had one daughter, Jiang Jing, the mother and daughter faced great hardship in the mansion without any male heirs to support them.

She was weak-willed and was completely dominated by Aunt Liu when she was young. Now that the old Marquis is gone, she is controlled by the few cunning servants who manage the backyard.

If it weren't for the kindness of the old lady and her wife, she really wouldn't know how she would have survived.

Fortunately, Song Wan had recently sent that unruly servant and his family away from the mansion, and she and Jiang Jing were able to relax for a few days.

Aunt Zhou thought it over and over, but dared not mention Jiang Jing's marriage to Jiang's mother. Firstly, she was a little afraid of Jiang's mother, and secondly, she knew Jiang's mother's personality to some extent and knew that she would not wholeheartedly help Jing'er find a husband.

After much deliberation, she finally mustered the courage to bring Jiang Jingqiu to Song Wan's place.

"Jing'er is getting older, and if we delay any longer, we're afraid we won't be able to find a good family for her. So we'd like to ask Madam to help us find a suitable match."

As Aunt Zhou spoke, she took out a red velvet box from her bosom and handed it to Song Wan with great embarrassment. Song Wan blushed and said shyly, "I know that Madam has seen many fine things, but this... is a token of my appreciation."

Song Wan felt a pang of sadness and opened the red velvet box.

Inside was a pearl hairpin, a genuine Dongzhu pearl, not only lustrous and beautifully shaped, but also with a faint pinkish hue. It was a pity that the pearl was only the size of a fingernail, and its quality was so ordinary that even Hengzhi and Hengwu wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Song Wan took it out with great affection and even asked Aunt Zhou to help her put it on.

"Just for such a beautiful hairpin, I'll definitely find a good husband for my third sister. I just wonder what kind of man Aunt Zhou is looking for?"

Aunt Zhou thought for a moment and said, "We don't care about family background or social status. The most important thing is that the person has good character and temperament. Jing'er is like me, a bit timid. She can't shoulder the responsibility of a family. If possible, please ask the eldest mistress to help choose a young son from the mansion. It doesn't matter if he is a bit old or the family is poor."

Song Wan's heart softened, knowing that Aunt Zhou truly loved Jiang Jing.

"Don't worry, Aunt, leave my third sister's marriage to me."

Aunt Zhou thanked Song Wan profusely and lingered for a long time before reluctantly leaving Lan Courtyard.

Song Wan touched the pearl hairpin in her hair and sighed softly.

Aunt Zhou reminded her of her own mother. She thought that if her mother were still alive, she would also take such careful care of everything for her.

"Miss, what are you looking for? Let me help you."

When Hengzhi returned, she saw Song Wan half-squatting over the mahogany kitchen cabinet. She helped Song Wan up and, seeing her holding several batches of fabric, asked, "Miss, are you making new clothes?"

"Found it for my third younger sister."

Thinking of the clothes that Aunt Zhou and Jiang Jing had just worn, Song Wan said, "Go to my makeup box and take two sets of gold-threaded and jeweled headdresses and jewelry. Send them to Third Sister's room along with this fabric. She and her mother rarely leave the courtyard. I don't know what they are missing or what they are lacking. I suppose they are living a frugal life."

Hengzhi nodded and instructed a second-class maid in the courtyard to deliver it.

After finishing her work, Song Wan flipped through the register of prominent families in the capital. In fact, she really thought there was someone who would be a good match for Jiang Jing.

"Hengzhi, do you know the Lan family of Cangzhou?"

"This servant knows that the Lan family originally held official positions, but they were implicated in some matters and their official positions were stripped by the late emperor. However, I heard that the previous head of the Lan family had some business acumen, and now their business is extremely large and they are very wealthy."

Song Wan nodded: "The Lan family originally had officials and a very upright family style. They are not like ordinary merchants who are concerned with gains and losses. Moreover, the children in the family are of good character. I intend to marry Jing'er to the Lan family."

"If I remember correctly, there is a male descendant of a very high generation in his family, born out of wedlock. He has just come of age and has never married. He also has some dealings with the eldest young master. Miss, have you taken a fancy to this man?"

"Yes, I remember my brother mentioning this person a few times. He's quite talented. The Lan family is wealthy, and he's of a higher generation with no responsibilities. If Jing'er marries him, she can become the aunt of the head of the family and enjoy a life of luxury."

"Miss is truly thinking of Third Miss's best interests; Third Miss is blessed."

Song Wan smiled faintly: "Who could possibly betray Aunt Zhou's loving motherly heart?"

"Grind the ink for me. I need to send a letter to the matriarch of the Lan family to see if we can finalize the marriage between Uncle Tong Jing'er and the Lan family."

Just as she was enthusiastically sending out invitations, Jiang Xingjian walked in. Upon seeing this, Hengzhi's smile vanished, and she bowed before leaving in silence.

Looking at Jiang Xingjian, Song Wan's good mood vanished, and even her writing became somewhat hesitant.