Binding Spring Love

However, after walking from Fuhetang back to Lantingyuan, Song Wan felt as if all her strength had been drained. As soon as she returned to her own courtyard, she took off her outer robe and sat on the chaise longue.

The words Jiang's mother had said to her kept replaying in her mind, and every time she thought of a single word, Song Wan felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"Miss, are you alright?"

"It's nothing."

Song Wan took the round fan handed to her by Granny Zhao and gently fanned herself.

Whether it was from the heat of the day or from being exposed to the scorching sun, Song Wan developed a fever in the evening.

"Dr. Ding, what's wrong with our grandmother?"

Granny Zhao carefully placed Song Wan's hand, which was sticking out of the curtain, back into the quilt. Seeing Doctor Ding tidying up his pulse pillow, she stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

"Madam's fever and restlessness are symptoms of yang deficiency. Once the fever subsides, she will be fine. I will prepare some medicine and she will be cured."

Hengzhi and Hengwu were relieved to hear this, while Lvzhu followed the doctor to the pharmacy.

Song Wan was delirious with fever, and Granny Zhao was heartbroken to see her like this. She didn't sleep all night, busy wiping Song Wan's sweat, changing her clothes, and giving her medicine to bring down her fever. After Song Wan's fever subsided, Granny Zhao, with dark circles under her eyes, cried and shed tears to thank the gods and Buddhas.

"Miss, how did you suddenly fall ill? I was so worried about you all night."

"I'm sorry to have worried you, Granny. It's all my fault."

Song Wan spoke in a hoarse voice, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

Although she had been ill, she felt much better.

After being helped by her maid to bathe and change her clothes, Song Wan went to the study.

"Miss is still recovering from her illness, why not rest for a few more days?"

Song Wan shook her head: "My husband is inheriting the title of Marquis and the mansion is going to hold a grand banquet. The guest list and invitations must be prepared in advance."

After writing for most of the day, Song Wan finally handed the completed calling card to Hengzhi, asking her to deliver it to the ceremonial office in the mansion.

The Ritual Office was in charge of all sacrificial rites and rituals within the household.

They were in charge of handling ordinary birthdays of their masters and anniversaries of their ancestors' deaths, as well as sending invitations and gifts to various households on ordinary days. Today's list was sent out, and tomorrow the invitations would be delivered to the invited mistresses of each household. For a grand banquet like the one Jiang Xingjian inherited, the men and women of the inner and outer courtyards would definitely be held separately, so Song Wan alone would definitely not be able to handle it all.

"These three people went to invite them in my name."

Hengzhi opened it and took a look. She could understand the Sun family's wife and the Lan family's mistress, but she was a little confused by the Bai family's wife, who was a junior official in the Ministry of Personnel.

"My brother went to the Ministry of Personnel, but he's only a low-ranking deputy envoy now. This Lord Bai is his superior."

Mentioning Song Fuzhi's name, Hengzhi blushed slightly, nodded blankly, and then walked out clutching the finalized roster.

Seeing this, Granny Zhao felt rather uncomfortable.

Her young mistress is proud and aloof; in the past, she would never have done something so convenient for the Marquis's mansion, seeking personal gain for her young master. Now that she has done it, it's likely that she is completely disillusioned with the Marquis's mansion and no longer wants to maintain any pretense of civility.

Granny Zhao wanted to offer some advice, but her lips opened and closed without uttering a single word.

For Jiang Xingjian's succession banquet, Song Wan was responsible for the invitation list and the cuisine, but she didn't care about anything else. There were precedents for these banquets in the mansion. As long as the stewardess did her job well, she could get away with nothing.

After preparing everything and informing Madam Jiang and Jiang's mother, Song Wan did not inquire further. Even when she heard that Jiang's mother had given Lin Jiayue some of the power to manage the banquet, she remained silent.

Later, when the old women came to report, they vaguely mentioned that Lin Jiayue had changed the household regulations again. Song Wan only asked if the madam knew about it. After hearing that Jiang's mother knew and still let Lin Jiayue take full responsibility, she completely relinquished power and let the old women follow Lin Jiayue's instructions.

"Miss, aren't you afraid that little hussy will cause some trouble?"

No sooner had the head maid left than Granny Zhao, unable to sit still, earnestly advised, "You've let that little harlot manage everything. If something really goes wrong that day, wouldn't Miss's lifelong reputation be ruined?"

Song Wan, holding the book, smiled faintly: "You went to Jiangxiang Courtyard with me yesterday, did you see Madam's attitude?"

Recently, due to the heat, Old Madam Jiang has been feeling unwell all day, with no appetite and feeling extremely tired. Apart from Song Wan and Jiang Xingjian occasionally seeing each other, the old lady has exempted everyone from their morning and evening lessons. All matters in the mansion are handled by Jiang's mother, and Song Wan, not wanting to trouble the old lady with trivial matters, could only inform Jiang's mother.

Lin Jiayue's Huanyanzhai had a lot of business as soon as it opened, and the considerable income made Jiang's mother and Jiang Xingjian more confident in her, and they were more confident in her hosting the grand banquet.

Song Wan had barely mentioned that old practices were difficult to change when Jiang's mother retorted with a dismissive comment that they were outdated, boring, and tasteless.

"It's no use for me to say anything now. If I say anything more, I'll just be seen as petty and jealous, unable to bear seeing the Marquis's mansion doing well."

"cough."

As soon as Song Wan finished speaking, Jiang Xingjian stood in the room with a subtle expression. Granny Zhao glared angrily at Xiangcao, who was about to reply when Jiang Xingjian said, "I told her not to announce it..."

He didn't expect Song Wan to bring up his relationship with Lin Jiayue in the room.

Song Wan lazily raised her eyes, showing no embarrassment at being caught talking in private.

Her indifferent demeanor made Jiang Xingjian feel somewhat awkward, as if he were superfluous.

"Consort Jiang bestowed something upon you, and I brought it over for you."

Jiang Xingjian placed the wooden box on the table and sat down.

During this period, he intentionally distanced himself from Song Wan and had not visited Lan Courtyard for a long time. He thought Song Wan would resent him, but to his surprise, she did not care at all.

"If you feel that Jia Yue has done anything wrong, you are free to refuse her. After all, you are the legitimate heir of the Marquis's mansion..."

"To let a mere concubine manage the household affairs is to completely disregard the ancestral rules, ethics, and etiquette of the Marquis's mansion. What can I possibly say?"

Song Wan put down the "General Principles of Literature and History" in her hand and said indifferently, "People should value self-respect. If the Marquis's mansion doesn't respect itself, how can it expect others to force it to comply?"

"I'm tired, my husband, let's go home."

However, he was immediately told to leave as soon as he sat down, and Jiang Xingjian looked embarrassed but had no face to argue. From the moment he decided to give up on Song Wan, he could no longer stand up straight in front of her, nor did he have the face to say a harsh word to her.

In the end, he was the one who let her down.

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and left Lan Courtyard.

"Miss, this old servant believes that the young master has feelings for you. Now that Consort Jiang has bestowed such generous gifts, it seems he intends to ease the tension between you and the young master."

"If the Marquis repents and changes his ways, Miss, you should heed Madam's advice and soften your stance a bit..."

Song Wan glanced at the nanmu box on the table and said indifferently, "It's not about easing any tensions. It's just that they seem satisfied that I told Second Master and Third Sister about the marriage between the Sun and Lan families."

If she does well, she will be given one or two playthings to keep her busy and planning for the Marquis's mansion. If she is useless, she will be allowed to enter the palace and never see him again, just like before.

In the end, Consort Jiang only treated her as a servant to run errands and do manual labor. Perhaps in Consort Jiang's heart, she was not even as good as a low-ranking female official in Yanqing Palace.

Picking up the nanmu box, Song Wankai handed it to Granny Zhao without even opening it, saying, "Put it away."