Binding Spring Love

"Grandmother knows you've always been proper, but a woman shouldn't be too distant from her husband. Now that Yi'er's back, take advantage of tonight to spend some quality time with him."

Song Wan blushed even more as Old Madam Jiang spoke to her. Seeing her shy expression, the old lady gently pushed her twice: "Go, go find Yi'er. What kind of person are you, spending all your time with the two of us old folks?"

Jiang's mother smiled and nodded, telling Song Wan to go find Jiang Xingjian.

Just as Song Wan turned past the emerald screen, she heard Jiang's mother say to Madam Jiang, "That Lin family girl is truly laughable. Her behavior and speech are so affected and petty. She even dares to boast that she comes from a reclusive clan. I'd like to know which clan behaves so rudely, and which clan's girl is so lowly and frivolous, not knowing how to cherish herself."

Madam Jiang sighed softly, "Although that woman lacks gentleness and has a petite and pretentious manner, she is indeed a bit frivolous, but you shouldn't embarrass her. After all, she was brought back by Yi'er. It's been six years since we last saw her. It would be really wrong for you and your son to ruin your relationship over something like this."

Song Wan went outside, unaware of what the two had discussed.

Lin Jiayue, Jiang Xingjian, and Jiang Yan stood together outside the door. As Song Wanfang walked into the main hall, she heard Lin Jiayue say with a half-smile, "The rules of the Marquis's mansion are too many. Is it because these rules are so numerous that people can't eat, that everyone just licked their chopsticks and left the table?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xingjian and Jiang Yan both frowned, and even the old women in the courtyard showed disdain on their faces.

They had never seen a girl speak so rudely.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Lin Jiayue felt increasingly uncomfortable. She looked at Jiang Xingjian and said, "Jiang Yi, I didn't come back to the Marquis's mansion with you to be bullied."

Jiang Yi's name made everyone's eyes widen. Jiang Yan even glanced at her with interest, but when he turned around and saw Song Wan standing behind him with a pale face, he restrained himself a bit.

After a moment's thought, he stepped back, making way for Lin Jiayue and Jiang Xingjian.

"You little hussy, how dare you address me by my full name?"

A plump old woman stepped forward: "Who taught you to address people by name? In the entire Marquis's mansion, apart from the Old Madam and the Madam, who else is allowed to call the Master by his name? Where did you learn such manners, you little hussy?"

"Men and women should not know each other's names unless they are introduced by a matchmaker. Don't you understand such a simple principle? If you don't know manners, don't drag our master down with you."

"Granny Li."

Lin Jiayue was furious at being scolded and was about to tell Jiang Xingjian to deal with the servant properly when she saw him greeting the old woman kindly. Suddenly, her nose stung and tears welled up in her eyes.

The old woman snorted coldly upon seeing this: "How shameless and coquettish!"

"you!"

Lin Jiayue rolled up her sleeves, her eyes red as she looked at Jiang Xingjian: "Jiang Yi, tell me, can I call you by your name?"

Before Jiang Xingjian could speak, Jiang Yan said, "According to the Book of Rites, one should wear a cloud-shaped hat and address the person by their courtesy name, as a sign of respect. One should address one's father or lord by their given name, and others by their courtesy name. It is indeed inappropriate for a young lady to address her brother by his given name directly; such behavior is tantamount to insult."

Upon hearing this, Granny Li nodded repeatedly: "Any girl from a literate family would understand this principle. Even if the master wants to protect you, he cannot break the ancestral rules."

"Brother Xingjian..."

Large tears rolled down her cheeks. Lin Jiayue gritted her teeth, turned around, and left. Jiang Xingjian frowned and wanted to chase after her, but was stopped by Granny Li.

"Sir, what are you doing?"

Jiang Xingjian said, "It's my fault for not teaching her the rules properly. I will teach her in the future, and I will need your help then."

After saying that, he went to find Lin Jiayue.

Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow slightly as he watched the two figures disappear into the distance.

"Thank you for your hard work, Granny."

Song Wan came out of the house, and when Li Mama bowed to her, she was stopped: "Since you are both my mother's dowry maid and my husband's wet nurse, Wan'er cannot accept this courtesy."

Granny Li replied, "Please don't say that, Madam. You're making me feel so ashamed."

"Mother, you've had a few cups of tea tonight. I imagine you'll be busy tonight. Please take good care of yourself and don't do everything yourself. If you feel tired, ask someone to do something small. Don't overwork yourself."

Song Wan gestured for Hengzhi to give one tael of silver to Granny Li, and then said with a smile that it was very hot recently, so she should go and get some iced drinks.

Li Mama accepted the gift with a beaming smile, expressing her gratitude profusely. "The eldest mistress is kind and gentle, which is known to everyone in the mansion. No wonder the old lady and madam used to praise her so highly. Those from humble families are truly not even a hair on the head of the eldest mistress's head."

Song Wan smiled and asked Hengwu to escort her back to Jiang's mother's Jiangxiang Courtyard. Then she nodded to Jiang Yan before walking towards Lan Courtyard with Hengzhi.

Seeing that her expression was normal, as if she was not affected by Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue at all, Jiang Yan felt inexplicably disappointed. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a simple and elegant white handkerchief lying on the ground.

In the Marquis's residence, only Song Wan wore a plain-colored handkerchief.

He stared at the handkerchief for a long time before saying to a young maid in a dark blue brocade dress beside him, "Madam Yi has left something behind. Wash it clean and take it to her courtyard."

The little girl nodded blankly, her face flushed pink.

Jiang Yan drank a few cups of wine at the banquet. Normally, he could hold his liquor, so this amount wouldn't be a problem. But today, after only three or five cups, he was already feeling a bit dizzy.

Not only was his chest pounding with excitement, but his mind was also buzzing with thoughts of a graceful figure that kept appearing in his head, disturbing his peace.

Having finally returned to Yulingzhai, Jiang Yan took off his outer robe and lay down directly on the daybed in the second hall.

"Second Master?"

Jiang Yan opened his eyes and saw that Qingzhai was washing his face with a towel soaked in hot water, so he sat up.

"Did I just fall asleep?"

Qingzhai respectfully said, "You went to sleep as soon as you came back, but you didn't sleep for long."

"What's up?"

Jiang Yan took the handkerchief and wiped his face. When he put it down, he noticed the small characters embroidered on the corner of the handkerchief and became lost in thought for some reason.

Kneeling, Qingzhai collected the copper basin and handkerchief, then handed them to the second-class maid in the room. While helping Jiang Yan change his clothes, she said, "A servant from the outer courtyard came and said he had something important to discuss with you, sir. I asked him several times, but he wouldn't say. It must be something really urgent, so I called you to get up."

"Tell him to go to the study."

Jiang Yan frowned, got dressed, and went to the study.

Not long after he sat down, a thin, restless servant boy with shifty eyes entered the room. As soon as he entered, he took an oiled paper package from his bosom and placed it on the desk.

The servant grinned and said, "Although Master Yi is the legitimate son of the Marquis's family, my family has relied heavily on Second Master's help these past few years. If it weren't for you, I would have been nowhere to be found long ago."

"I will always remember this kindness. Now I have finally found the opportunity to repay you, Second Master. It is truly a testament to my sincere devotion to you."

Seeing a corner of soft, pure white peeking out from the filthy oil paper, Jiang Yan felt a throbbing pain in his forehead and a sudden, sharp pain in his veins.