Binding Spring Love

The maidservant said in a panic, "I didn't do anything. Just now, Sister Green Pearl gave me a box of face powder. I liked it so much that I tried it on the back of my hand. I don't know why it turned black in a little while. I don't know anything else."

Green Bamboo asked, puzzled, "Miss, what exactly is going on? Did Aunt Lin become disgusted and try to disfigure you?"

Song Wan shook her head: "It doesn't seem like it."

Lin Jiayue has many ulterior motives, but she can't be called a truly wicked person. Song Wan doesn't believe she has the guts to disfigure someone and kill them.

"Bring the rest of the watercolor over."

Granny Zhao laid out the unused face powders on the table. Ignoring Green Bamboo's attempts to stop her, Song Wan carefully examined each one on the back of her hand. After a while, she frowned and said, "This should be face powder."

"Hu powder?"

Granny Zhao was quite surprised: "This thing was very popular in the previous dynasty, but I remember that no one has used it for a long time."

Green Bamboo asked in confusion, "What is lead oxide?"

Song Wandao said: "Hufen, also known as lead powder, is white and fine, with a glossy appearance. Both the Yu Dong Xu Lu and the Compendium of Materia Medica record that lead is produced in Songyang, and the residents there mostly make hufen. Its lead fumes are toxic..."

Song Wan picked up a few books from the bookshelf in the room and examined them carefully. After a while, she said to the group, "In the previous dynasty, there was a mad Taoist priest. His book, 'Nameless Elixir Prescriptions,' mentions that 'lead powder is also known as lead powder.' Lead is a hot and toxic substance. If women use it for a long time, it will not only make their skin very rough, but over time it will also turn bluish-gray."

"The Compendium of Materia Medica and its supplement also record that lead vinegar has a toxic odor that can melt human muscles and bones, and its nature is dry and strong... Children and adults who are exposed to the poison will often wither, become paralyzed, and die."

Song Wan held the gold-threaded face powder box in her hand, her brows furrowed deeply: "This thing has been missing for many years. I've only seen a few words about it in some local chronicles. Before the previous dynasty, face powder was very popular, and a box of face powder could even sell for a hundred taels of gold and still be in short supply. But since the nameless elixir formula came out, this thing has disappeared without a trace. I don't know where Lin Jiayue found the formula for making face powder."

"Ah, this old servant has just remembered something."

Granny Zhao clapped her hands suddenly: "That little harlot probably didn't find any recipe, but rather found some workshop somewhere that made these."

"You previously instructed me to send someone to investigate what that little prostitute had received. The messenger only reported that the manager she sent out was loitering around Yanshan Street all day. Since that area is not clean, I didn't inquire further. Now that I think about it, that little prostitute must have a black heart, using those low-level craftsmen from Yanshan Street who make rouge and face powder for prostitutes to make the products of Huanyanzhai."

Song Wan frowned and muttered, "Using the most luxurious powder box to store the cheapest and most harmful lead powder is bound to be extremely profitable. She doesn't even need to hire a master."

"Can……"

Does Jiang Xingjian know about Lin Jiayue's actions?

Is this kind of cunning and deceitful behavior something she would agree to with the Jiang Xingjian she knows?

Song Wan held the gold-threaded powder box with a solemn expression.

"I'm going to find the old man; there are some things I need to ask him."

As soon as Song Wan stepped out of Lan Courtyard, she saw Xieyi, Jiang Xingjian's head maid, rushing over with a happy expression.

Before she could speak as she stopped the person, Xieyi said, "Grandma, great news! His Majesty has decreed that the eldest son will inherit the title. He is currently at Fuhe Hall reporting the good news to the old lady. I have come back to inform the eldest madam."

"Has the imperial decree for the succession to the title been issued?"

"Yes, Grandma is overjoyed."

Song Wan nodded, but there was no sign of joy on her face.

After handing the powder box to Hengzhi, Song Wan pondered for a moment and then went to Fuhetang.

The Fuhe Hall was filled with joyous celebration. Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue stood in the main hall, surrounded by people from all the branches of the Marquis's mansion, who offered their congratulations. Jiang Xingjian was in high spirits, while Lin Jiayue wore a sweet smile. The two looked like a perfect couple.

Song Wan suddenly paused, then chuckled.

Without Jiang Xingjian's approval, how could Lin Jiayue, a woman confined to the inner quarters, possibly open such a lousy rouge shop? Even if she were to ask, she would only humiliate herself and appear to lack discernment.

"Grandma...you've arrived."

A maid from Fuhe Hall approached, clutching the red envelope Jiang Xingjian had just given her. The young girl beamed and offered words of congratulations. Song Wan had Hengzhi give some silver coins to the servants in the courtyard before going inside herself.

"Sister-in-law."

Jiang Yan spoke first, and Song Wan smiled gently at him before going to Old Madam Jiang's side.

Madam Jiang hugged Song Wan and said with a smile, "Good, good, good, Wan'er is a blessed person. Yi'er will inherit the title, and you will be the Marquis's wife in the future."

Song Wan smiled faintly and did not speak.

Lin Jiayue, however, looked rather grim. She deliberately walked to Jiang Xingjian's side, took his arm, and said, "Recently, we've had so many happy events. Not only is the ice shop making a fortune every day, but Xingjian has also become a marquis. Once my Huanyanzhai opens, the marquis's mansion will surely be even more prosperous and powerful."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan looked up and saw that Song Wan's expression was calm and she did not show any anger at being provoked. He then looked away with a slight pang of heartache.

"It is indeed the icing on the cake, like adding wings to a tiger."

Jiang's mother stood up and gently stroked Jiang Xingjian's face, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "I thought I would never see Yi'er in court attire in this lifetime."

"Mother……"

Jiang Xingjian looked embarrassed. He pulled his mother's hand down to look at Song Wan, but Song Wan lowered her eyes after noticing his gaze, and there was no joy on her face.

He was about to step forward when Lin Jiayue, who was beside him, held him back tightly.

The joy of wanting to share it with Song Wan vanished instantly. Jiang Xingjian came back to his senses and took Lin Jiayue's hand.

Old Madam Jiang took in all the subtle movements of the people in the room. She sighed slightly and could only pretend that she knew nothing.

Jiang's mother was still talking non-stop about how to entertain guests from all directions, while Song Wan listened quietly, but what she was thinking about was the matter of Huanyanzhai's private sale of lead powder.

If what the maid who delivered the items to Lan Courtyard today said is true, then judging from the pricing of Lin Jiayue's powder shop, what she is after must not be an ordinary commoner or merchant family.

A set of rouge and face powder costs nearly seven hundred taels of silver, which is definitely not something that ordinary officials' wives can afford.

It seems that Lin Jiayue wants to use the Marquis's mansion as a backer to send the items into the palace or into a noble family in the capital.

But if this watercolor powder were an ordinary thing, it would be fine, but lead powder is poisonous.

If it weren't for the fact that the maidservant in Lantingyuan wore a silver bracelet today, causing the lead powder to turn black, she might not have imagined that Lin Jiayue would be so bold as to use face powder to fool the entire capital.

If her trick is exposed as soon as it's released, that's fine. But if it's used by a noblewoman in the palace or a lady in the capital and causes problems, the Marquis's mansion will likely face a great disaster.

Song Wan listened intently as everyone complimented Lin Jiayue, her mind preoccupied. She waited until the crowd dispersed before seeking out Baozhu to ask to see Old Madam Jiang.

Just as Madam Jiang was about to get up, her mother, Jiang, pressed her down.

"I know what Wan'er is worried about. Mother is tired after a long day and asked me to go and persuade her."

Thinking that Song Wan hadn't smiled earlier, Old Madam Jiang guessed that the young woman was probably too proud and unwilling to lose the limelight, so she nodded and said, "Then go and persuade Wan'er. That girl from Xiuyan Pavilion has been a bit arrogant lately. After you persuade her, go and give her a little warning. Don't let Wan'er's heart be broken."

"I understand, Mother. Please rest."

Jiang's mother took a summer blanket and covered the old lady with it, then walked out, not listening to a word Jiang's mother said.