Binding Spring Love

Jiang Xingjian's heart skipped a beat, and Song Wanyi frowned, her unease evident in her expression.

The two hurried to Fuhetang, where they saw that the old lady's canopy bed was surrounded by imperial physicians and doctors from the imperial family.

"grandmother."

Seeing Jiang Xingjian approaching, the crowd made way for him.

Madam Jiang's forehead and arms were covered in silver needles, and an elderly man with a full white beard was constantly inserting the needles into the acupoints all over her body. Madam Jiang had been half-conscious, but when she heard her grandson calling her, she hurriedly opened her eyes.

"Let me...let me...speak with Yi'er and her husband..."

"Grandmother, both your grandson and Wan'er are here. Is there anything you wish to say?"

Jiang Xingjian knelt in front of the bed with red eyes, and Song Wanyi obediently followed and knelt beside him.

The white-bearded physician said, "I have a few words I would like to discuss with you, madam."

Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother hurriedly followed, and the other doctors also left. They all knew that the old lady was nearing the end of her life and probably had many things to say.

For a moment, only Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan remained in the room. Old Madam Jiang held Jiang Xingjian's hand, her eyes cloudy: "That Lin family is the root of our family's ruin... You must... drive her out of the mansion."

Tears welled in the old lady's eyes, and Jiang Xingjian was filled with mixed emotions, unable to express himself.

"Wan'er..."

"Grandmother, Wan'er is here."

Song Wan took half a step forward and placed her hand in the old lady's hand as well.

Madam Jiang held their hands and said with difficulty, "The Marquis of Chengyang's family has few heirs. Yi'er has been pampered by his father since childhood... which has made him honest and straightforward, inflexible, and easily deceived. Wan'er, you are intelligent and resourceful. With you by Yi'er's side, Grandmother can rest assured."

Song Wan lowered her eyes, concealing her thoughts.

As if she knew what Song Wan was thinking, Old Madam Jiang, breathing heavily like a bellows, gripped Song Wan's hand tightly.

"I promise Grandmother that I will be of one heart and one mind with Yi'er from now on, and together we will protect the century-old foundation of the Marquis's mansion..."

"Promise...Grandma."

Song gently stroked Old Madam Jiang's hand and said tenderly, "The old Marquis is brave and invincible, and his blood flows in my veins. How could he be deceived? Grandmother, please don't think about these things anymore. Taking good care of your health is the most important thing."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xingjian abruptly turned to look at Song Wan, but Song Wan was staring at Old Madam Jiang and didn't look at him at all.

"Wan'er..."

A single hot tear rolled down Madam Jiang's cheek, the tear seeping into the wrinkles around her eyes, making her appear even older and more worn out.

How could she not tell that Song Wan had completely lost touch with the Marquis's family and her feelings had turned cold? If she still had even a shred of affection for Jiang Yi, she wouldn't be beating around the bush at this moment.

Old Madam Jiang felt a sharp pain in her chest and suddenly sat up abruptly.

What would happen to this huge manor if no one managed it?

"Oh……"

A surge of resentment forced Old Madam Jiang to sit up halfway, and Jiang Xingjian quickly stepped forward to help her up.

"Wan'er...go...go and call your mother in. I...have something to say to her."

Knowing that Madam Jiang wanted to give Jiang Xingjian some private instructions, Song Wan bowed and slowly withdrew.

"Grandmother knows you are fond of Lady Lin... but Lady Lin is not a good woman. Although she has some talent, she is not capable of supporting the Marquis's mansion... Wan'er has completely lost her heart to you now. If... it cannot be reversed, the Marquis's mansion will be in danger. While Grandmother is still... still here, you should quickly sleep with Wan'er. Once she has a child, you will be... unable to break free..."

"Once a woman has children... she is bound to them. For the sake of her child... she will devote herself wholeheartedly to planning for the Marquis's mansion."

"Do you... know?"

Jiang Xingjian's eyes were red: "Grandson knows."

"Today...today you will move to Lan Courtyard. We can't wait any longer...If Grandmother doesn't make it through this, you and Wan'er will have to observe three years of mourning. The longer it goes on, the more things might go wrong...who knows what kind of trouble might occur."

Old Madam Jiang's eyes were cloudy. She gripped Jiang Xingjian's hand tightly, pulling him forward despite his robust physique.

"Promise...Grandma."

"Grandson promises Grandmother that he will share a room with Wan'er today. Grandmother, don't worry about this. Just take good care of yourself and you will get through this."

"Can I survive this...?"

With intense resentment flashing in her cloudy eyes, Old Madam Jiang forced herself to sit up.

She was worried. How could she entrust the Marquis's mansion to Jiang's mother? She was also concerned that Song Wanzhen would abandon the mansion and let that little harlot cause chaos. Furthermore, Jiang Man was used to using her status as the elder sister to manipulate Yi'er. She was ambitious, and without her supervision, Yi'er might be dragged into the power struggle and used as a sacrificial lamb.

With this burst of energy, Madam Jiang managed to force her complexion to become rosy.

"Go, go prepare to consummate the marriage with Wan'er. Grandmother is waiting to see her great-grandson born."

She waved and shoved Jiang Xingjian, breathing heavily.

Jiang Xingjian hurriedly called for the imperial physician to come forward and examine him.

Madam Jiang waved her hand, signaling him to go and attend to his business.

After a long period of busy work, the old lady fell into a deep sleep. The imperial physician informed everyone in the Marquis's mansion that although the situation was critical, they should be out of danger in the coming days, and everyone's worries were finally relieved. Jiang's mother asked Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan to return to the courtyard, while she stayed behind to take care of the old lady.

As Song Wan walked out of Fuhe Hall, Jiang Xingjian suddenly said, "I will stay at the main courtyard of Lanting tonight."

Song Wan stared wide-eyed, looking incredulous.

Jiang Xingjian felt a pang of sadness, finally realizing that the two of them were now like strangers and could never go back.

Although he had thought about it before, when the moment actually came, he was afraid. He was afraid that Song Wan would no longer look at him with that shy and gentle gaze she had shown him at the beginning, and he was also afraid that Song Wan... no longer had him in her heart.

Thinking of how she had stubbornly refused even her grandmother's dying words, Jiang Xingjian pursed her lips, feeling a deep sadness in her heart.

"I'll be staying at the main courtyard of Lanting tonight. I'll have Lingyun deliver my things there in a bit. You... pack your things."

Feeling inexplicably shy and her cheeks warm, Jiang Xingjian hurriedly left after saying this.

Song Wan was struck dumb, and stood frozen in the courtyard for a long time.

"Miss……"

Hengzhi stepped forward to ask, and Song Wan then frowned and looked at her.

"That would be a good thing. If Miss gives birth to the eldest son of the Marquis's family in the future, you will have a place to settle down."

Hengzhi's eyes reddened as she held Song Wan's hand, feeling extremely distressed.

Even she could guess that the old lady must have given some instructions for the Marquis to suddenly want to consummate his marriage with the young lady. In any case, it was ultimately a good thing.

"When Madam visited Miss last time, all she said was to tell Miss that the Song family couldn't control married daughters. Her face, as if she was afraid that your return would bring trouble to the second and third young ladies, was really infuriating."

"Miss, nowhere is as good as home. Perhaps... perhaps after the birth of the young prince... you and the Marquis will be able to live a peaceful life."

Hengzhi cried as she spoke, probably because she herself didn't believe what she was saying.

Song Wan raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face and said with a faint smile, "Don't cry, do you think it's something serious?"

She lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment: "Hengwu, go find a maid and tell Lin Jiayue that the Marquis will be staying at Lan Courtyard tonight."

Isn't Lin Jiayue supposed to be a one-woman man for life?

She gave her a chance.

If Lin Jiayue tries to stop Jiang Xingjian today, and Jiang Xingjian agrees, she will allow the two of them to no longer concern themselves with anything related to the Marquis's mansion. However, if Lin Jiayue cannot stop Jiang Xingjian today…

She accepted her fate and became the wife of the Marquis's family and Jiang Xingjian.