Binding Spring Love

On the day of the grand banquet at the Marquis of Chengyang's mansion, Song Wantian got up and dressed before dawn.

As the wife of the Marquis of Chengyang, she not only had to greet guests today, but also cultivate good relationships with the ladies and women of various families in the capital. While men struggled in the outside world, women also had to navigate the complexities of relationships with the ladies of various families in the inner quarters. Many matters that were difficult to discuss and could not be discussed openly depended on the skill and tact of each lady.

Although Song Wan was reluctant to do these things for the Marquis's mansion, she had no choice but to do them.

Green Bamboo and Fragrant Grass helped her with her hair and makeup, respectively, and it took them nearly an hour to finish getting everything done.

After getting dressed, Song Wan left Lan Courtyard with Heng Zhi's help.

Outside the Lan Courtyard, Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue were already waiting.

Song Wan saw that Lin Jiayue was wearing a long cherry-purple silk dress embroidered with gold peonies, with a red beaded sash hanging from her waist. Her hair was styled in a flying fairy bun, and she wore a red phoenix hairpin with kingfisher feather ornaments in her hair.

Even the white jade pendant that held down her skirt was a top-quality item from the palace.

Song Wan's gaze swept over the red palace sash and phoenix hairpin, her eyes indifferent.

It's unclear whether Lin Jiayue was ignorant of the rules and didn't understand that these things were far beyond what a concubine could use, or whether she was knowingly overstepping her bounds but still insisted on being superior to her.

Song Wan withdrew her gaze, pretending not to have seen anything. After all, she was just afraid that the girl wasn't arrogant enough today.

The group went together to Fuhetang to pay their respects to Madam Jiang, who was naturally expected to attend the grand banquet today.

After exchanging greetings and having breakfast, Song Wan went to the Begonia Garden with the women.

The Begonia Garden is filled with artificial hills and strange rocks, and there are pavilions and waterside terraces throughout.

There is an artificial lake in the garden, and a small island in the lake. The island is where the opera troupe disciples raised by the Marquis's mansion live. All aristocratic families have several opera troupes that they regularly use, and families like the Marquis's mansion support their own opera troupe year-round.

Such a grand banquet today would be incomplete without a few theatrical performances.

Lin Jiayue stood at the back reluctantly, following the others through the walls of the east and west inner courtyards. She thought she knew the Marquis's mansion well, but today she discovered that its size and extravagance far exceeded her imagination.

Stepping outside the gate, she saw drooping green willows all around, with trees of varying heights on either side. Under her feet were large white jade slabs, and a gentle breeze blew through the air, making it exceptionally refreshing and comfortable in the summer. Just as she was wondering why she had never been here before, she saw pavilions dotting the distance, with countless ancient pines and cypresses, many times larger than the Marquis's mansion's backyard.

Upon entering the Begonia Garden, a magnificent opera stage stands in the center of the courtyard, where nearly a hundred actors dressed in theatrical costumes are lined up. As soon as they see Madam Jiang, they all bow in unison.

"Get up, everyone. The old lady doesn't like these things."

Madam Jiang's face was rosy and her eyes were full of smiles. She had her maid bring over red envelopes and distributed them to everyone: "The Marquis's mansion has not held a grand banquet for many years. Today, you must not embarrass the mansion. If anyone messes up, I will whip you when I get back."

The troupe leader accepted the red envelope and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Madam, the performance will definitely not be a disaster."

Jiang's mother covered her mouth and laughed for a while, then turned to Song Wan and asked, "Wan'er, have the other matters been taken care of?"

Song Wan smiled and said, "Mother, have you forgotten? I was only in charge of the guest list and the cuisine for the banquet. Everything else was handled by Aunt Lin."

"Was it Aunt Lin who was in charge?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang's eyelids twitched violently: "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"This is such a small matter, why would I need to trouble you, sir? Your daughter-in-law thinks Aunt Lin is quite talented; she won't have any problems organizing a banquet for a few hundred people. Besides, Wan'er and the other stewardesses are here to keep an eye on things, so there won't be any issues."

Old Madam Jiang's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Song Wan, saying, "Do you know what Concubine Lin has arranged?"

Song Wan lowered her head: "Aunt Lin has already informed Mother."

"So you don't know what she did?"

Seeing that Old Madam Jiang's voice rose, Jiang's mother smiled and said, "Mother, there's no need to worry. Although Aunt Lin is not from a prominent family, she is still capable. Even if she doesn't handle some minor details properly, Wan'er will help the family smooth things over. One of these two children is calm and reserved, and reliable in handling affairs, while the other is bold, meticulous, and full of ingenious ideas. The two of them working together will only add to the family's success."

Song Wan remained expressionless and did not respond. Old Madam Jiang could tell at a glance that it was not as simple as Jiang's mother had described.

"Bring Aunt Lin over."

Lin Jiayue walked gracefully from behind the crowd, smiling and bowing to Old Madam Jiang. Upon seeing her attire, Old Madam Jiang immediately erupted in anger, saying, "Who gave you permission to dress like this? Don't you know what kind of occasion this is?"

"Do you think all those women are as narrow-minded as you, unable to see through your filthy thoughts?"

The old lady was furious, and all the women in the Hou family lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.

Only then did Jiang's mother notice Lin Jiayue's attire, and frowned, saying, "Why are you wearing a red palace sash and a phoenix hairpin? These are far beyond what a concubine like you can use. Change them quickly."

Being publicly reprimanded, Lin Jiayue was displeased, but dared not show it on her face. She lowered her head and said, "These things were all bestowed by Consort Jiang."

Upon hearing that the Empress had bestowed it, Madam Jiang fell silent. Seeing that Old Madam Jiang still looked angry, she couldn't help but speak up and advise, "Since it was bestowed by Man'er, let her wear it. It's too late to change it now."

"Are you confused?"

Old Madam Jiang glared at Jiang's mother, feeling extremely displeased.

Today's occasion marks the first time Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan have officially appeared in public. As the head of the Chengyang Marquis's Mansion and the mistress of the Chengyang Marquis's Mansion, they represent the face of the Chengyang Marquis's Mansion, far more than Jiang Yi and Song Wan.

In this setting, publicly praising a concubine to slap Song Wan in the face is no different from announcing to the entire capital that the Marquis of Chengyang's mansion has broken ties with the Song family.

Moreover, everyone in the capital knows that Song Wan married into the Marquis's family carrying a memorial tablet, and that she has been a widow for six years. The Song family's daughter is renowned throughout the capital for her great virtue and exemplary conduct. Now that the Marquis's family has risen in status, their first act is to humiliate Song Wan. How will the world view the Marquis's family? What family tradition will remain?

Madam Jiang was so angry that her head spun and she almost fainted.

Song Wan rushed forward to help her up, but the old lady grabbed her arm tightly: "You know... why... why didn't you stop it..."

A sharp pain shot through her arm, but Song Wan simply lowered her head and remained silent.

Seeing her like this, Old Madam Jiang had another headache.

She knew Song Wan well; unless she had suffered some insurmountable injustice, she wouldn't be so willful and disregard the future of the Marquis's mansion. It must be that during her illness, Jiang's mother had said or done something...

Thinking of this, Madam Jiang felt a pang of regret, regretting that she had let her son marry Jiang's mother, the daughter of a military general.

"Mother, are you alright? Quickly, summon the royal physician..."

Old Madam Jiang held onto Jiang's mother tightly, saying haltingly, "Send Concubine Lin...back to Xiuyan Pavilion. Today...don't let her come out...to see anyone."

Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother hurriedly said, "No, Mother, today Aunt Lin is going to explain Huanyanzhai's rouge and face powder to all the women in the household. Aunt Lin said that if things go well today, Huanyanzhai will definitely become an instant hit and will never have to worry about sales again."

Upon hearing that the Marquis's grand banquet had been turned into a money-grubbing affair with merchants selling their wares, even Song Wan, usually so calm and collected, looked up in surprise.

The women of the Marquis's household all frowned and remained silent.

Seeing that Jiang's mother was so unyielding, Old Madam Jiang was so angry that her eyes rolled back and she fainted.