Binding Spring Love

He raised his hand and pressed his brow; his ten fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles, which the servant secretly envied.

One's hands alone are enough to reveal a person's elegance and nobility.

"Then tell me how you plan to repay me?"

Jiang Yan leaned back, his tone languid. He didn't even glance at the servant, but his gaze repeatedly swept over that pure white figure.

"In response to Second Master, I only know that you have worked hard in managing the Marquis's mansion for the past six years, even if you have not made any great contributions. Why should Master Yi be able to pick up a ready-made title as soon as he returns? You have clearly been supporting the mansion these past few years. Now that the title is about to be awarded, Master Yi has interfered. It is truly a pity."

Jiang Yan chuckled lazily: "You just think that I have been in charge of the Marquis's mansion for six years and have a better chance of winning than my brother. You want to use this to rise to the top. There's no need to make it sound so high-sounding."

Jiang Yan seemed unable to bear seeing that unsightly oiled paper again. He stretched out two fingers and pulled out the handkerchief, which still carried a faint scent of cold plum blossoms.

"As expected of the Second Master, he really knows how to do things smoothly."

Jiang Yan ignored his empty words and flattery, and carefully placed the handkerchief aside.

"Just say what you want to say. I don't have time to waste with you."

Seeing Jiang Yan's impatience, he hurriedly said, "I've thought about it. Master Yi will soon submit a memorial to the throne to request the title of Marquis. He is the legitimate son of the Marquis and it is rightful for him to inherit the title. However, I really can't stand this injustice, so I came up with a way to prevent him from inheriting the title smoothly."

"Everyone knows that the eldest mistress was raised by her aunt, Consort Yun, and Consort Yun has been the one who has been most fond of her over the years. Now that Consort Yun is enjoying great favor, if anything happens to the eldest mistress in the mansion, Master Yi will surely be implicated."

Jiang Yan looked up, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Continue."

"I think if the eldest mistress is found to be having an affair and is subsequently punished, it might provoke Consort Yun's wrath."

"If Consort Yun later discovers that all of this was actually orchestrated by Master Yi, solely to make way for the position of principal wife for the girl he brought back to the manor, Second Master, what do you think will happen then?"

"I guess?"

Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly pondering the scene of Consort Yun's furious punishment of Jiang Xingjian.

The servant was beaming with joy, as if he could already see himself commanding the wind and rain, becoming the most important person by the side of the Marquis of Chengyang.

"You're quite quick-witted. Which company are you from?"

Jiang Yan stood up, picked up the plain handkerchief on the table, walked to the washstand, and gently began to wash it. The servant looked puzzled but still said, "I am not a servant born into the household; I was bought into the household by the head steward two years ago. I usually serve in the attendants' quarters and am quite familiar with the servants in each courtyard."

After washing the cloth clean, Jiang Yan took down all the famous calligraphic works from the brush rack and hung them up to dry.

"What is your relationship with that fourth-class maidservant from today?"

The servant replied, "She is my sister. The head steward is kind-hearted and allowed the two of us to enter the mansion together, so that we can look after each other."

Jiang Yan bent down slightly and smoothed out the wrinkles on the handkerchief, making sure there wasn't a single trace left before standing up. He walked to the Treasure Pavilion, took down a bronze incense burner about the size of a football with dragon patterns, and slammed it hard on the back of the servant's head.

With a loud thud, the man collapsed to the ground and died instantly.

Jiang Yan threw the bronze incense burner on the ground and called Qingzhai in.

"two……"

Seeing the pool of blood on the ground, Qingzhai was terrified, but she dared not scream and could only cover her mouth tightly.

Jiang Yan washed his hands and said, "Handle it carefully. There's a fourth-class maid in the old lady's courtyard who's from the same family. Find a reason to sell her off."

"This servant...this servant understands."

Qingzhai took a soft cushion from the room and wiped away the crimson bloodstains on the floor, but Jiang Yan didn't care at all that there was a dead body in the study. He simply lifted the handkerchief from the pen holder, carefully folded it, and held it neatly in his palm.

Back in his bedroom, Jiang Yan pulled out a white jade box from the bottom of the desk and put the handkerchief inside.

Jiang Yan's thoughts were unknown to anyone, and Yu Ling Zhai remained as quiet as ever, while Lan Courtyard was quite lively tonight.

Bright red wedding candles, bright red wedding quilts embroidered with mandarin ducks, pomegranate red curtains, dawn red porcelain utensils, and even silver basins and buckets tied with red silk were continuously delivered into Lan Courtyard.

Looking at the main hall filled with food, Song Wan blankly instructed the angelica, fragrant herbs, and green bamboo to be moved into the room.

Apart from Granny Zhao, none of the servants in Lan Courtyard showed any joy on their faces.

"Miss, this bedding..."

Song Wan stroked the golden tiger, which was lying on its back, and said calmly, "No need to change it, just keep it in the kitchen."

"Miss."

Granny Zhao took the wedding quilt and frowned, saying, "Today is the day you and your husband consummate your marriage. How can you not change the wedding quilt? If your husband sees this later, he might think you have some kind of dissatisfaction with him."

After saying that, she went to the canopy bed to make arrangements by herself.

Song Wan guessed that Jiang Xingjian wouldn't be coming over tonight, so she didn't bother to spoil the wet nurse's mood.

Seeing that her mistress had not spoken, the maid in the room followed Zhao Mama's instructions and carried the bright red bedding into the inner room one by one. Just as she was walking into the room, she ran into Jiang Xingjian.

A room full of maids and servants came forward to greet them, but Song Wan, holding the listless golden tiger, sat on the chaise longue without moving an inch.

"uncle……"

The little girl was holding a bright red quilt, and the room was lit with wedding candles infused with the scent of flowers. Jiang Xingjian turned to look at Song Wan and saw her sitting there quietly in a moon-white gauze robe, not moving an inch, showing no sign of wanting to share a bed with him.

His eyes darkened, and a sense of suspicion arose in his heart.

He gently lifted his robe and sat down in front of Song Wan. Jiang Xingjian frowned as if he wanted to say something, but whether it was the red silk filling the room that made the atmosphere romantic and ambiguous, or the warm fragrance of the wedding candles that made him feel dazed, the words he wanted to say and ask suddenly stopped on his lips.

He sat too close, and the man's tall figure exuded a strong sense of oppression, causing Song Wan to unconsciously hug the golden tiger tightly. A blush gradually appeared on her cheeks, and her fair neck also turned a light cherry pink.

Her shy and charming appearance stirred a slight flutter in Jiang Xingjian's heart.

He suddenly remembered the day he left the capital six years ago, when he asked his mother to invite her to see him off. Before leaving, he gently placed the white jade plum blossom hairpin that he had carved himself into her hair.

At that time, Song Wan was the same, her face flushed with shyness, but she still maintained proper etiquette and dared not get any closer to him.

In my memory, this person was both obedient and somewhat stubborn, like a child who wanted to ask for candy but was too ashamed to ask.

The golden tiger was held tightly and whimpered in protest. Song Wan felt sorry for it and quickly put it on the bed.

Jiang Xingjian frowned deeply as he looked at the embroidered cat bed beside his pillow.

"It's resting here?"

Song Wan stood up, moving away from Jiang Xingjian, and said calmly, "Does my husband have something to tell me?"

Jiang Xingjian said, "This is my house, can't I come here?"

Seeing that Song Wan did not answer, he composed himself and said seriously, "I do have something to discuss with you."

"Jia Yue is unfamiliar with the etiquette of the Marquis's residence and knows nothing of ordinary manners. Since you have nothing else to do, why don't you teach her the proper conduct?"