Binding Spring Love

Upon hearing this, Song Wan said, "It's getting late, husband, you should rest early. We still need to pay our respects to Grandmother early tomorrow morning."

After she finished speaking, she instructed Hengwu to fetch water to remove her makeup, and then ignored Jiang Xingjian.

Having been rebuffed, he didn't dare bring it up again and left the main room rather unhappily.

After removing her makeup and taking off her hair, Song Wan leaned against the bright red python-patterned cushion, lost in thought.

"Meow..."

The golden tiger jumped up from the ground, and as if it could sense her feelings, it kept tilting its head and rubbing against Song Wan. Its fluffy head rubbed against Song Wan's palm, and every now and then it would gently tap her palm with its warm little nose.

"Have you finished the meat soup? Or would you like me to play with you for a bit?"

The golden tiger was incredibly intelligent, as if it could understand Song Wan's words, and meowed softly twice more. Having been together for many years, they had developed a certain understanding. Song Wan stroked its chubby paws and hugged it close to her chest.

The golden tiger whimpered, found a comfortable spot, and fell fast asleep.

Song Wan smiled as she combed its fur with her fingertips, listening quietly to its purring.

The turmoil in her heart disappeared with a series of muttered words. Song Wan looked at the row of wooden carvings displayed on the window, picked one up casually, and handed it to Hengwu: "Throw it away."

Hengwu exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, you used to cherish..."

"Give me."

Hengzhi took the wooden carving from Hengwu and ran out quickly, casually tossing it into the flower bed.

Looking at the missing wooden carving, Song Wan felt a slight pang of pain in her heart, but the warmth of the golden tiger in her arms brought her a strange sense of peace.

The next morning, she got up early and let Hengzhi and her sister change her clothes and comb her hair. Just as she was putting on makeup, a kind-looking old woman came to the courtyard to ask to see her.

"Granny Hao, you've arrived so early?"

The old woman smiled and said, "We have the eldest mistress's measurements in the embroidery room. I thought that the eldest mistress usually wore mostly plain clothes and not many brightly colored dresses, so I had the maids rush out a few sets overnight. In addition, the old lady and the madam let us open the storeroom and give the eldest mistress the best fabrics to choose from."

Hengzhi took the clothes, shoes, and socks, and then asked Hengwu to bring out a few strings of cash from the house: "Thank you for your hard work, old man. Please take this and use it to buy some tea and fruit for the girls in the embroidery room to appease their appetites."

The old woman smiled, took the money, left a few bolts of fabric that Song Wan had chosen, and then left. Because of dealing with this matter, she and her servants were delayed for a moment when they went out. When they arrived in the courtyard, Jiang Xingjian was already waiting there.

"My husband has been waiting for a long time."

Song Wan gave a slight curtsy and stopped half a step behind Jiang Xingjian: "Husband, please go first."

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, somewhat disapproving of this polite yet distant attitude, but it was already late, and there was no reason to keep his elders waiting, so he didn't discuss anything else.

Paying respects to elders morning and evening is a mandatory task for every junior member of the Marquis's household. If Old Madam Jiang invites them to stay for a meal, it will be delayed until after 9:00 AM.

Lin Jiayue waited for a long time at Xiuyan Pavilion but did not see the two return. She was already a little jealous. When she saw Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan returning together in the courtyard, the sight of the man being handsome and dashing and the woman being gentle and beautiful made her even more jealous.

"Brother Xingjian."

As soon as the two passed through the hanging flower gate, Lin Jiayue shouted loudly.

Huaisu looked up at her and sighed helplessly.

"Brother Xingjian, do you have anything planned for today? If not, how about taking Yue'er to the capital for a stroll?"

She felt suffocated after just one day in the Marquis's residence, and with Huaisu constantly pointing out what she couldn't do and what she couldn't do, she was really annoyed.

Jiang Xingjian had just broken free from Lin Jiayue's arm when Song Wan had already returned to the main courtyard. He pressed his temples and gave Huaisu a look.

"If you have nothing else to do, young lady, how about I accompany you for a stroll around the mansion?"

"Why can't I go out?"

Huaisu said, "It is indeed not appropriate for women in the inner quarters to go out and show their faces in public. There is also a rule that women should not peek into the inner gate without a reason. These are the etiquettes passed down from our ancestors that should not be broken."

Lin Jiayue's face stiffened, and she sneered, "Does this mean that none of the women in the entire Marquis's mansion are allowed to leave their courtyards?"

"Unless something major happens, that is indeed the case."

"Brother Xingjian..."

Lin Jiayue pursed her lips and looked at Jiang Xingjian: "Can't you really accompany Yue'er out for a stroll? What if Yue'er wants to go out today?"

Jiang Xingjian did not answer. Huaisu said, "It's not that Miss Lin can't leave the manor, but there are many rules in the inner quarters of the Marquis's manor. The old lady and the madam will not tolerate her having any free time. For the sake of the other women in the Marquis's manor, if Miss Lin leaves, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to enter the inner quarters again."

"Heh." Lin Jiayue sneered, "You keep saying that the Marquis's mansion has many rules, but how come you, a servant, spoke before your master even had a chance to speak?"

Huaisu said, "It was this servant who overstepped her bounds."

After saying that, she stepped behind Jiang Xingjian and stopped talking.

Lin Jiayue, however, did not see any remorse in her.

Jiang Xingjian said unhappily, "Huaisu originally came from the old lady's room. Since she came from the old lady's room, her status is naturally different from other servants."

Logically speaking, Huaisu was Jiang Xingjian's personal maid, and should have been elevated to the status of a concubine. However, due to a sudden change in the household, Jiang Xingjian's status was not officially recognized when he left, so it's not appropriate to bring it up now.

If one were to be particular, Lin Jiayue should still call her "elder sister." However, Huaisu was quick to act and had no intention of being jealous, so she remained silent.

Seeing Lin Jiayue biting her lip, looking wronged, Jiang Xingjian said, "Since you're not used to living in the Marquis's mansion, why don't I buy you a house outside?"

"I do not want."

If she leaves the Marquis's mansion, wouldn't she truly become a mistress?

Lin Jiayue's eyes were red: "Brother Xingjian, don't you want the firearms formula anymore?"

Jiang Xingjian glanced at her and didn't mention buying the house again.

Let's consider this farce over for now.

Having been away from the capital for six years, Jiang Xingjian naturally had many things to take care of. After instructing Huaisu to continue teaching Lin Jiayue the rules of the Marquis's residence, he went out to visit friends.

Huaisu knew that she didn't like him, so he called over Xieyi and Lingyun, two maids.

"Madam has summoned me today. You two stay with Miss Lin and take good care of her."

The two nodded, and Huaisu went to Jiang's mother at Jiangxiang Courtyard.

"One left, but two more came to keep watch."

Feeling irritated, Lin Jiayue found a place to sit down and tried to offer some advice, but Lingyun stopped her.

The two of them were second-class maids serving Jiang Xingjian. They were already very busy these days, and now they also had to watch over Lin Jiayue, who was always causing trouble. Naturally, they were dissatisfied.

Seeing that there was no one else in the courtyard, Lingyun became lazy and secretly hid in the rockery to cool off. Xieyi told her to keep an eye on the other person and went to do other things herself.

After sitting in the covered walkway for most of the day, Lin Jiayue finally felt a little better. Just as she was about to go back to her room to drink some water to cool off, she saw a big, fat orange cat wobbling towards her from the walkway.

The orange cat had round, chubby cheeks, which made it exceptionally cute with its big eyes.

Lin Jiayue was delighted to see the golden tiger and quickly went forward to hug it. Just as she was about to take it back to her room, Lingyun rushed out from the artificial hill.

"Miss Lin, this is the eldest madam's darling, the kind she holds in her arms all day long. Please be very careful not to hurt him."

Her newly recovered mood instantly turned cold again. Lin Jiayue said with a stern face, "Why can't I touch someone she keeps?"