Binding Spring Love

Before she got married, Song Wan had already read all the books in Song Fu's study.

She thought managing the Chengyang Marquis's mansion would be as simple as drinking tea and enjoying a meal. She never imagined that simply managing the household affairs would leave her so exhausted.

She used to pride herself on her peaceful nature, but since meeting Lin Jiayue, she has become increasingly impetuous and restless, and her mind has become unstable.

"You two go back first. I will write the book for Xiangmei tomorrow."

"Thank you so much, Grandma..."

Jiang Xingjian's appearance just now terrified Aunt Zheng and Xiangmei. Seeing that their big problem was solved, the two of them fled Lan Courtyard as fast as they could.

Lin Jiayue wanted to stop him, but she was scared off by a single look from Jiang Xingjian.

"As for Aunt Zhou and Third Sister... the Lan family already has a new bride in mind, so you don't need to be so fixated on the Lan family anymore. I can't do anything about Third Sister's marriage either. In a few days, I will ask Madam to help Third Sister find a suitable match."

Just as Aunt Zhou was about to cry, Song Wan said, "Hengwu, see the guest out. I will not see Aunt Zhou again until Third Sister's marriage is settled."

Only Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue remained in the room. Song Wan pondered for a moment, then said coldly, "It's an old custom to take in men into the household, and it has nothing to do with the Fourth Master's character. Whether it's a young master, young lady, concubine, or maid, everyone in the household has a fixed monthly allowance. The sooner you promote someone to a concubine, the sooner Concubine Zheng's courtyard can receive an extra allowance from the household."

"Once they ask, as long as it's not an unreasonable request, no matter who it is or which household's mistress, she will agree."

"As for your claims of cruelty, they are utter nonsense."

Song Wan frowned, and after a moment her face turned slightly red as she said, "From the moment a man in a noble family becomes sexually active, he will be assigned a maidservant or personal attendant."

"Firstly, it will allow the men in the manor to understand matters of love and pleasure, so that they will not indulge in prostitutes outside the manor in the future and become immersed in the pleasures of women in their boudoirs. Secondly, it will also ensure that they have the ability to continue the family line."

"Thirdly, once a male has a concubine, he will change his identity from a child to a young boy and will no longer appear as a child."

"What you are blocking is not just a concubine, but Jiang Ang's right to take over the clan and government positions."

These things are known to any girl from a prominent family, even if she is a concubine's daughter or a favored maid.

If Lin Jiayue hadn't dodged quickly, Aunt Zheng's hairpin might not only have pierced her arm, but after a few more words, she might have been riddled with holes by Aunt Zheng.

After saying these few words, Song Wan felt extremely tired.

Lin Jiayue wasted a whole day, but the miscellaneous and chaotic matters in the manor would not disappear, and just thinking about it was extremely annoying.

"Whether Aunt Lin is unhappy about Fourth Master taking people into his household or about him holding a position in the manor, it is none of my business as a woman in the inner quarters. Now that the Marquis is with you, you can ask him yourself."

"You two are busy today, so you should go back to the hospital to rest early."

Chao Jiangxing bowed slightly, and Song Wan went into the dressing room by herself.

Lin Jiayue's shrill voice came from outside, and Song Wan took off the jade hairpin from her hair and threw it onto the dressing table.

"Miss, I've had the kitchen prepare some lily bulb soup for you. Would you like to have a bite before resting?"

Hengzhi brought over desserts, but Song Wan silently shook her head, indicating that she had no appetite.

Green Bamboo tenderly helped her take off her hair. Song Wan closed her eyes and said, "I don't want to follow Lin Jiayue around every day cleaning up the mess she makes, or explaining all that nonsense about 'rules' and 'household regulations' to her anymore."

"Spending all day doing one thing while being dragged along by others is not only a waste of time and energy, but also adds a lot of frustration. With this energy, you should plan more for your brother and aunt."

Song Wan pressed her temples: "We need to think of a way to make Lin Jiayue cause another major disaster..."

It would be best to bring down that person in the palace as well, only then can the Song family be guaranteed peace.

If the Song family is safe, she doesn't need to worry about the Marquis's mansion. As long as her father and brothers are alive, the Marquis's mansion will have to support her, so why suffer unnecessary hardships?

Hengzhi bit her lip: "But after these few chaotic incidents, I'm afraid the Marquis will no longer trust Consort Lin. With the Marquis watching over her, it will be difficult for her to cause any major trouble."

"That makes sense."

With her slender fingers tapping on the dressing table, Song Wan said after a moment, "Existence and non-existence give rise to each other; difficulty and ease complement each other; long and short define each other; high and low incline towards each other..."

"All things in the world are interdependent."

"Strength and weakness, advance and retreat, offense and defense, fortune and misfortune are all interrelated and cannot be discussed in isolation."

"All things are born from existence, and existence is born from non-existence. Fortune is within misfortune, and misfortune is within fortune. If you want Lin Jiayue to commit a great disaster, you must first give her what she wants and elevate her to a high position, so that she can fall as high as she can."

"She has an outspoken personality. Once she has power and influence, she becomes incredibly arrogant and complacent. But when people are complacent, they become dangerous."

Song Wan rested her chin on her hand and said lazily, "I'll find an opportunity or excuse to hand over all the household management to her and let her go wild for a while."

Granny Zhao said worriedly, "If you have no power at all, wouldn't you...?"

"Don't worry."

Song Wan said, "Lin Jiayue is a worldly and profit-driven person. Although she has some crooked talents, she is extremely arrogant. She has never taken me seriously. Although I don't know where her confidence and certainty come from, I know that even if she holds great power, she will not do anything to me."

"After all, she never respected me."

Lin Jiayue's arrogance and superiority were quite puzzling to her. She had previously thought that the other person was acting this way to mislead others, but now she was certain that this person was just stubborn, arrogant and conceited.

"Given her personality, once she gains power, she will certainly not take me seriously, and will most likely make sweeping changes to the Marquis's mansion according to her own ideas."

"Given her limited knowledge, her unprecedented sense of awe, who knows what trouble she might cause."

If Jiang Man had only been making things difficult for her, Song Wan wouldn't have abandoned the Marquis's mansion so quickly. But Jiang Man shouldn't have interfered with the Ministry of Personnel.

What's more, Jiang Xingjian's decision to ask her, as the principal wife, to explain household regulations to a mere concubine is utterly ridiculous.

If a husband can't even show respect, it's better to leave his family.

Song Wan casually tied up her long, black hair and said nonchalantly, "I also want to see what kind of mess Lin Jiayue will make of the Marquis's mansion after she takes power, and what kind of situation she will implicate those two in the palace."

Granny Zhao and Hengzhi exchanged a glance. Although they were worried, they both believed in their young mistress.

"Miss, do whatever you want. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."

Song Wan smiled charmingly: "How could I bear to let you take the blame? Even if I cause trouble, I still have my father and brother. At worst, I'll just cut my hair and go back to the Song family temple to become a nun. What can the Marquis's mansion do to me then?"

"Pah, pah, pah, Miss is talking nonsense again."

Zhao Mama gently nudged Song Wan, and seeing her smiling face, she felt a pang of jealousy.

How could such a wonderful young lady have married into the Marquis of Chengyang's household?

Song Wan was unaware of what Zhao Mama was thinking. She was preoccupied with figuring out what excuse to pass the household management duties to Lin Jiayue.

But unexpectedly, a perfect opportunity came within half a month.