Binding Spring Love

After Jiang Xingjian went to Yanqing Palace, only Song Wan remained.

Although it was a family banquet today, she arrived early, and other concubines came to give Song Yun Ning congratulatory gifts. Too lazy to exchange pleasantries, she found a quiet spot in the garden to quietly enjoy the scenery.

"Lady of Chengyang, this servant has brought you tea and refreshments."

The eunuch, whom she had met a few times before, came over with a silver-lacquered tray and set out some snacks for her.

"Thank you so much, sir. I've already troubled you for so long before, and now I have to trouble you again."

The young eunuch smiled and said, "What are you saying, Madam? It's all what a servant should do."

He felt relieved to see that Song Wan had stood up while speaking to him: "My name is Changping. You may call me by my name from now on, Madam."

"I'd like to trouble you, Lord Changping."

In the palace, there is always a tendency to fawn over the lowly and flatter the high. Although Changping has a high status in Changxin Palace and no one dares to order him around, he has seen countless subordinates who are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and even some of his superiors who are hypocritical and treacherous, showing respect in public but cold-hearted in private.

Having spent so much time in the palace, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had a keen eye for detail. With just a glance or two, Changping knew that Song Wan genuinely respected him, and he couldn't help but be more attentive to her.

The two sat in a corner, one admiring the flowers and the other keeping them company.

Just as Changping was worried that Song Wan would be bored, several eunuchs carrying wooden boxes entered the courtyard.

"Hey, Madam, look at that hunched-over guy, doesn't he look like the little eunuch from the Eastern Palace we met last time?"

Song Wan looked up and saw that the person looked familiar. Before she could answer, Changping called the person over: "Come here and pay your respects to the Lady of Chengyang."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qianyu bowed and slowly walked over.

"Greetings to the Lady of Chengyang Marquis."

The young eunuch's voice was muffled and hoarse, leaving Song Wan in a dilemma.

She had no intention of making fun of these unfortunate people to amuse herself, but she had to accept Changping's kindness, so she could only stand up and ask a few questions in a low voice.

Seeing that the young eunuch was having difficulty answering, Song Wan felt sorry for him.

Hengzhi and Hengwu did not enter the palace with her today, so no one brought gold or silver ingots to reward the servants.

Song Wan paused briefly, then took out a silver note from her sleeve that she had originally intended to use to bribe the eunuchs of Changxin Palace.

"Thank you for your trouble. Please take the fathers-in-law to buy some tea later."

The palms before me were smooth and delicate, the nails were pink and clean, and they were so perfect that there was not a single flaw.

Shen Qianyu looked down at his fingers, which had been broken by the chief eunuch of the Jade Seal Palace a few days ago and were now bruised and swollen, and stared blankly into space.

He instinctively reached out his hand, then suddenly pulled it back.

Song Wan didn't retract her hand; it remained raised straight up. Shen Qianyu subconsciously wiped his palms and the backs of his hands carefully at the hem of his clothes before pinching a corner of the silver note and putting it away.

"Thank you, Madam."

After bowing, Shen Qianyu followed the eunuchs in the courtyard and left one by one, while Song Wan sat on a stone stool and continued to enjoy the scenery.

Before long, two unfamiliar faces entered Changxin Palace. The middle-aged woman had sharp features, wore a red embroidered robe with begonia and cloud patterns, and had her black hair combed high. Her eyes were piercing and her expression was solemn.

Following behind was a round-faced little girl. Perhaps because she was still young, the little girl's face had a faint blush. Her cheeks were not made up, but they were still as lovely and pretty as the morning glow reflecting on snow.

What Song Wan liked most about her was her eyes. The girl's eyes were clear and bright, and her innocent and charming gaze revealed a girlish charm.

As soon as the woman entered the courtyard, she saw Song Wan sitting in the corner. She curled her lips into a mocking smile and strode over as if she hadn't seen her.

On the contrary, the little girl saw Song Wan stand up and stopped shyly to give her a graceful bow.

Neither of them knew who the other was until the girl entered the inner hall to pay her respects to Consort Yun. Only then did Song Wan guess that she must be Ming Xiang, the ninth daughter of the Duke of Ying's mansion.

Thinking of the little girl's bright eyes, beautiful smile, and lovely lips, she suddenly smiled.

Such a charming and lovable girl, I think my brother would like her too.

Song Wan continued to sit to the side, waiting for the people from the Duke of Ying's mansion to come looking for her.

The woman just now must be the Duchess of England. Although she seemed a bit arrogant and domineering, she should not be ignorant of manners.

Sure enough, in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Mingxiang came over, accompanied by her maid, her face flushed.

She rarely received guests and was unfamiliar with Song Wan's personality. Moreover, the person in front of her was her future husband's younger sister. Ming Xiang was at a loss as to how to face her.

She was a few years younger than Song Wan, so she should respectfully address her as "elder sister." However, she would be of a higher generation than Song Wan in the future, and yet Song Wan hadn't married into the Song family yet...

As they talked, Mingxiang grew increasingly nervous, her face flushed crimson. Seeing that sweat was beading on her nose from nervousness, Song Wan softly asked, "Is she the Ninth Miss from the Duke of Ying's Mansion?"

Ming Xiang's eyes suddenly widened, sparkling as she looked at Song Wan, as if asking her how she knew.

Song Wan smiled faintly, her expression revealing no emotion, but a hint of worry lingered in her heart.

Miss Mingjiu has not uttered a single word to this day.

Song Wan took out a small, exquisite bat net and handed it to her. The net was intricately and elaborately made, with seven or eight bright and eye-catching colors, and colorful gemstones were inlaid in the bat's eyes.

"I didn't know what you liked, so I just made it according to the book."

Seeing that Luo Ziming's big eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, her joy and shyness overflowing, she blinked and carefully accepted it.

The little girl's voice was soft and sweet: "Thank you...thank you...Chengyang..."

"Miss, please have some tea."

Mingxiang's maidservant picked up a cup of tea from the table and handed it to her.

After being interrupted, Song Wan noticed that the innocent and joyful look in the little girl's eyes gradually faded. She lowered her eyes, took off the collar pendant from her clothes and handed it to the maid behind her, then hung up the small bat net that Song Wan had given her.

After doing all this, she pursed her lips and gave Song Wan a timid smile.

Song Wan felt a sudden tenderness in her heart and pulled the little girl to her side, protecting her gently.

Mingxiang stayed by Song Wan's side until everyone left on Consort Yun's birthday. Unfortunately, the little girl never spoke another word, which made Song Wan feel both heartache and worry.

I feel sorry for her having her instincts suppressed, and I worry that she won't be able to support Song Fu in managing the Song family in the future.

Until the Yunfei birthday banquet ended, Song Wan did not hear the little girl utter a single word again.

When Jiang Xingjian came to pick up Song Wan, the banquet had already ended and everyone had left.

The two left Changxin Palace under Changping's guidance, and the Duchess of Yingguo snorted coldly as she watched their retreating figures.

Only when Mingxiang was seated in the carriage did she soften her tone: "Auntie, it seems you get along quite well with the Lady of Chengyang Marquis?"

Mingxiang smiled and nodded.

That's good.

After returning to the Duke of Ying's mansion and escorting Mingxiang back to her room, the Duke of Ying's wife scoffed, "Master must be out of his mind to have introduced such a family to Xiang'er. I don't know what your mother-in-law has taken a fancy to about Song Fu, she's rushing to find Song Lan'an."

"They had already inquired before and were rejected, but now that Hua Xin is going to marry the daughter of the Golden Guard General, Song Lan'an immediately agreed to the marriage between the two families. How could such a profit-driven family treat Xiang'er well?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a pretty girl beside her said, "Grandmother's judgment should be correct. Xiao Xiang'er is the apple of your eye. Although the Song family is a bit impatient for quick success, Song Fu must be a good person."

"Furthermore, Lord Song values ​​the Yan family's connections and our family's military power through marriage, and Father is also betting on the Third Prince. It's just a matter of each getting what they want, so it's hard to say who is at a disadvantage."

The Duchess of England's expression softened slightly: "Tomorrow I will find someone to teach Xiang'er how to manage the household affairs. Perhaps..."

Ming Shiyi shook his head: "Grandmother has protected Xiang'er all her life, what has she learned now? Instead of wasting time, she should find one or two capable and loyal servants to accompany her in her dowry, so that they can help Xiang'er manage the household in the future and prevent the concubines from overshadowing her. That is the right thing to do."

"We can't let Song's second wife control the household."

Ming Shiyi thought for a moment and then said, "Madam Song's maternal family has an older half-brother who has two daughters who are not yet married. Now that I think about it, these two are probably not intended for Song Fu."

"Mother, instead of praising Xiang'er at the last minute, why don't you first find a way to dissuade the Song family from taking a concubine?"