Binding Spring Love

"Mother."

Upon seeing Jiang's mother come out, Song Wan bowed slightly and was about to go to see Old Madam Jiang when she was stopped by her words.

"Wan'er, come here, your mother has something to tell you."

Jiang's mother pulled Song Wan to the side room, and when they were alone, Jiang's mother said, "Actually, I guessed why you came today."

"Does your mother know?"

Song Wan held the gold-threaded powder box in her hand, momentarily stunned.

"Your mother was your age once too, what don't I understand?"

Jiang's mother looked troubled: "I know that Yi'er and Lin Shi have become a bit close, especially since the ice shop and rouge shop in the mansion opened, you've been even more unhappy. But Wan'er, don't worry, no matter what, Lin Shi will never get ahead of you in your mother's and the old lady's eyes."

Song Wan was lost in thought, holding the gold-threaded powder box from Huanyanzhai, when she heard these words and frowned slightly.

Seeing her actions, Jiang's mother sighed slightly: "Although Jiang Man and Yi'er opened two shops for Aunt Lin, all the money will eventually go into the public treasury and has nothing to do with Aunt Lin herself."

"Mother, Wan'er is not jealous of Aunt Lin."

Jiang's mother smiled: "I know you're not easily swayed, so naturally you wouldn't be jealous of someone so lowly. It's just that I'm worried you'll overthink things and drift further and further away from Yi'er."

Jiang's mother's personal maid came in from outside the door, holding a red velvet envelope in her hand. Jiang's mother took it and handed it to Song Wan: "This is from a pastry shop on Chunfeng Street. It was part of my dowry. The business is doing alright. Take it for now."

As she handed the deed to Song Wan, Jiang's mother continued, "In the end, we women are just not as good as those men. We don't usually have much knowledge. Maybe we've read a few more books, but in front of men who are always on the go, we can only spout a few words of pedantry."

"But for men, such women are of little use; they are perhaps not as useful as those who serve them closely. A wife's primary duty is to continue the family line, and secondly, to manage the household so that her husband has no worries."

"Look at the old Lady Zhenguo. She comes from an unremarkable background, merely the daughter of a chieftain of a small border tribe. Yet, she is exceptionally skilled in medicine. Even today, sixty percent of the medical clinics outside are still run by the old Lady Zhenguo's family. For the past hundred years, who in the entire capital has dared to look down on her?"

"So, Wan'er, you see, a woman's background, appearance, and family history are important, but what's even more important is what she can bring to her husband."

"What use is a wife who can't help her husband at all and only knows how to complain?"

"Mother believes that as women, we should have a long-term perspective. We can't write two 'Jiang' characters in the same stroke. No matter who it is, as long as they contribute to the Marquis's mansion, in the end, it's still us women who benefit, right?"

Jiang's mother took the excessively luxurious gold-threaded powder box from Song Wan's hand, smiled, opened it and looked at it: "Although I don't think much of the one from Xiuyan Pavilion, I have to admit that this is a good thing, a good thing that can turn the Marquis's mansion around."

"Wan'er, what do you think?"

Song Wan almost laughed out of anger at Jiang's mother's reprimand.

She lowered her head, feeling both amused and somewhat heartbroken for some reason.

"Mother is right."

Song Wan stood up, said she would go back and reflect on her actions, and was about to leave when she heard Jiang's mother say, "Don't be angry with your mother. It's just that... Yi'er is in love with her, and a mother can never go against her child's wishes."

Jiang's mother stood up and walked to Song Wan, saying each word clearly, "I originally thought that Lin Jiayue was a frivolous woman who only knew how to seduce men, but now it seems she has some talent."

"This woman is capable of making a living and is favored by Yi'er. If you keep arguing with her and being jealous, you will only upset Yi'er and cause unrest in the household."

"Your mother advises you, a woman's body should be supple, don't always argue with Yi'er, and don't always focus on others, think more about yourself. You and Yi'er..."

"You haven't slept together yet, have you?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wan's face turned deathly pale, and her pink lips also turned ashen.

Jiang's mother's words were no different from stripping her naked and throwing her into the crowd. Upon hearing this, all the maids in Fuhe Hall fell silent, quietly retreating. However, they couldn't help but secretly mock Song Wan, the Marquis's wife, for being so pathetic.

"What Mother said today..."

"Does Mother still remember that Wan'er is still in charge of managing the household affairs?"

"Of course, why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Song Wan lowered her eyes: "If Mother doesn't want Wan'er to lose face in front of the servants, then don't linger here. Wan'er understands everything Mother said today, and Wan'er will reflect on herself and examine her mistakes."

After saying that, Song Wan walked out of Fuhe Hall with a pale face.

Seeing that her eyes were terribly red, Jiang's mother realized that she had spoken too harshly today. When she tried to chase after her, she could only see Song Wan's back.

Song Wan strode forward, her mind a complete blank.

She felt a buzzing in her ears, and the road in front of her became distorted.

It wasn't until she bumped into the man's strong chest that she regained a sliver of reason, her eyes red.

Jiang Yan asked in a hoarse voice, "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"

He waited outside Fuhetang Courtyard for a long time. When Song Wan came out of the courtyard, he wanted to find an excuse to go up and ask her something. But he didn't expect that she would not stop and would run straight into him.

The soft, fragrant warmth enveloped him, and Jiang Yan's mind went blank for a moment before he quickly pulled her out of his arms.

His hands touched Song Wan's arms briefly and then left. After she regained her footing, he quickly took a step back.

Despite being extremely reluctant to part, I dared not get any closer to them.

"Sister-in-law..."

Jiang Yan looked up and saw that Song Wan's usually cold eyes were now very red. The tears she was trying to suppress could not be held back and slid down her cheeks when the two of them collided.

Seeing her lapse in composure, Song Wan quickly wiped her face and forced a smile, saying, "I'm sorry for making you laugh, Second Master."

"It was I who was rude to my sister-in-law."

The sight of the person before him, with their flushed cheeks and tearful eyes, made Jiang Yan's waist and abdomen tighten, and his spine burn.

A sudden surge of emotions welled up inside Jiang Yan, and he seemed to see his entire body burning and boiling with turmoil.

Song Wan nodded to him and was about to leave when Jiang Yan called her back.

"Is there something you need, Second Master?"

The woman's soft voice choked with barely perceptible grievances, and Jiang Yan felt a pang of pain and a tickle in his heart, his hands trembling slightly involuntarily.

He put his hands behind his back and clenched them into fists.

"I...I want to ask my sister-in-law about my brother's marriage to Miss Sun."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan smiled and said, "I had some dealings with Madam Sun a few days ago, so I suppose the marriage is settled. Second Master, you can rest assured."

Jiang Yan stared intently at Song Wan's cherry lips, which were gradually regaining their color, his ear tips burning intensely.

As for his marriage to the Sun family, he didn't care at all how it was progressing.