Binding Spring Love

Jiang Jing took Xing'er to the opera house.

Inside the opera house, Song Wan was talking with three ladies, Sun, Bai, and Lan, while sitting beside them were the ladies' daughters and their nieces.

Song Wan looked at Miss Bai and said, "Miss Bai's embroidery skills are truly exquisite; I am far inferior to her."

The little girl had an octagonal sachet with bells hanging from her waist. It was embroidered with chrysanthemum patterns, which were small but extremely exquisite, showing great skill in embroidery.

Upon hearing this, Madam Lan looked up at Miss Bai and nodded inwardly. However, since Miss Bai had come to admire the river view, Madam Lan only offered a few words of praise before moving on to other matters.

"Where is Third Sister? All the young ladies are here. Why not let them meet her? That way, they can make some close friends and have some fun."

"Yes, we haven't met the Third Miss of the household yet. Judging from the Lady of the Marquis's grandeur, the Third Miss must be quite remarkable as well."

Several ladies around her chimed in agreement, and Song Wan turned to Hengzhi and asked her to find Jiang Jing to pay his respects to Madam Lan.

Just as Hengzhi was about to go find someone, she saw Jiang Jing slowly walking over with his maid. The young girl was wearing an iris blue dress today, with a green ribbon tied around her waist, making her look fresh, pretty, and very charming.

As soon as she saw the person, Song Wan smiled.

She really liked the little girl's charming appearance and lively spirit.

"Is this the third young lady of the household?"

When Madam Lan saw Jiang Jing, her eyes lit up.

She had no right to decide on her uncle's marriage, as he was an elder and she couldn't presume to discuss marriage matters privately. Fortunately, she had carefully inquired a few days ago, and her ancestor, who was more than ten years younger than her but of a higher generation, finally nodded in agreement. Only then did Madam Lan accept the olive branch extended by the Marquis's mansion.

Seeing Jiang Jing put her mind at ease.

The little girl is tender and beautiful, and she's still young. No one will dare to overstep her bounds. If Jiang Jing is well-behaved, her family will only have the right to spoil her.

Madam Lan was increasingly pleased with what she saw, and beckoned to Jiang Jing, saying, "Good girl, come here and let me take a look."

Seeing Madam Lan's reaction, Song Wan knew she was very satisfied, and couldn't help but smile as she looked at the river view.

Everyone was waiting there, but Jiang Jing stood motionless in the distance, as if he hadn't heard Madam Lan's words at all.

"Heh, she's got character."

Madam Lan withdrew her hand, and Song Wan's smile faded. She frowned and remained silent as she looked at Jiang Jing.

Perhaps because the crowd's reaction was too cold, Jiang Jing timidly walked up to Song Wan, pretending not to see Madam Lan, and murmured, "Sister-in-law..."

"Third sister is here? Go play with Miss Bai and Miss Lan. They are not familiar with the manor, so please take good care of them."

"what……"

Jiang Jing was somewhat surprised. She hadn't done anything to refuse the marriage, so why was her sister-in-law pushing her out?

Just as she was wondering, Heng Zhixiao led several girls to a small pavilion not far from the Begonia Garden.

"This Huanxi Troupe is a famous opera troupe from Jiangnan. Xiao Fengling has a beautiful figure and excellent singing skills. Why don't you, Madam Lan, request a performance for us to listen to?"

Song Wan handed the opera folding book to Madam Lan, and then had tea and snacks brought over with a smile.

The ladies had all witnessed Jiang Jing's actions, and one by one they shook their heads, knowing that this girl would likely be difficult to marry in the future. Although she was beautiful, she was not only unruly but also lacked discernment; marrying her would probably not bring her any help.

Madam Lan calmly accepted the play script and, with a smile, selected "The Jade Hairpin".

Neither the Lan family nor the Marquis's family ever mentioned the marriage again, as if neither family had ever had such an idea.

"Fallen leaves startle my fading dream; I stroll leisurely through the fragrant dust, counting the fallen petals..."

As the singer began to sing, Song Wan gestured to Heng Zhi with her eyes, asking her to investigate what had happened and why Jiang Jing had suddenly become so rude.

When the music ended, Madam Lan excused herself to go downstairs to rest, and Madam Sun also went to greet the other newly arrived mistresses of prominent families, leaving only Madam Bai behind. Madam Bai looked at Song Wan and suddenly smiled, "If you say a tiger father begets no dog son, I think the same applies to a tiger brother begets no dog sister."

When Madam Bai mentioned Song Fu again, Song Wan knew that she had something to say, so she invited Madam Bai to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion in the Begonia Garden.

"I heard from my husband that it was unusual for Young Master Song to go to the Ministry of Personnel; it's truly a waste of his talent."

Song Wan smiled and said, "My brother loves me. He thought that going to the Ministry of Personnel would help Wan'er, so he disobeyed our father. Otherwise, he would have stayed at the Imperial Academy."

Her words were so sincere that they startled Madam Bai, who then became serious as well.

"Young Master Song is a good elder brother. A girl would be content to have such an elder brother in her life."

Although it is said that a woman follows her husband after marriage, how can a husband be the same as a father or brothers? A woman without the support of her maternal family cannot stand up straight in her husband's family. Take Song Wan, for example. She has two muddle-headed elders in her household and a cold-hearted and heartless husband. If she didn't have her father and brothers to support her, who knows what kind of life she would have to live in the future.

No wonder that Aunt Lin was riding all over her today, yet Song Wan didn't seem anxious at all.

If the Song family knew about today's events, they would certainly not let it go easily, so there would be no need for Song Wan to hysterically step forward to save face for herself.

Madam Bai was filled with many thoughts and became sentimental for a time.

"You are a good person, and Young Master Song is also quite good. However, the Ministry of Personnel is really not suitable for him. If Lord Song has a way, it would be better to transfer Young Master Song back to the Imperial Academy. It would be better than wasting his time in the Ministry of Personnel."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan lowered her eyes slightly.

She knew that Madam Bai was trying to curry favor, and she also knew that her brother would have a much harder time in the Ministry of Personnel than in the Imperial Academy, but Madam Bai's words clearly had a hidden meaning.

Although Madam Bai's husband was merely a minor official of the fifth rank in the Ministry of Personnel, far from being worthy of the Song family's attention, Madam Bai's biological father was the teacher of Guo Qing, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Guo Qing always respected his teachers and held Madam Bai's father in high esteem, visiting him regularly during festivals.

From the very beginning, Song Wan had her eye on Guo Qing's connections, and she wanted to help Song Fu get in touch with Guo Qing.

Her brother was proud and disdained doing such things, but she had no choice but to make plans for Song Fu.

After a moment's thought, Song Wan asked, "Is someone making things difficult for my brother?"

Madam Bai smiled faintly and did not reply.

Song Wan didn't press further, but instead smiled and brought up Miss Bai: "Miss Bai is beautiful and gentle. Her exquisite embroidery skills are something I envy. I wonder which family is lucky enough to marry a girl like Miss Bai."

Madam Bai laughed heartily: "In previous years, quite a few families came to propose marriage, but I really couldn't bear to part with her and wanted to keep her for a few more years, so the marriage was delayed."

"I wonder what kind of family Madam Bai prefers? If I know anyone, perhaps I can recommend one or two."

Madam Bai held Song Wan's hand affectionately and said, "It doesn't matter what official position the man holds in the household, I just hope that the man is of a higher generation, so that she won't be restricted after marriage. Although my daughter is gentle, she is also a bit timid and usually follows the rules very strictly. She only knows how to do needlework in her room every day. If the man is of a higher generation, a few years older than her, and more mature, that would be perfect."

"..."

They actually set their sights on the Lan family.

The Bai family's social standing is simply too low. Even if the Lan family were just a merchant family now, without a matchmaker, it would be difficult for them to even consider them.

Song Wan frowned slightly, and after a long while said, "My elder brother does know such a man. I need to ask my elder brother about this."

Madam Bai beamed with joy: "Of course, of course. If Young Master Song helps my Zhu'er find her match, he will be a great benefactor to our Bai family, and we will surely repay this kindness."

Song Wan smiled slightly. It seemed that the marriage between the Bai and Lan families could only succeed, not fail.