Binding Spring Love

Although she had long since lost feelings for Jiang Xingjian, Song Wan felt as if she had insulted her childhood sincerity when she thought about how she had once admired such a person.

Hengzhi also understood the key to the matter and couldn't help but feel sorry for her young mistress.

"Miss, was all of this arranged by the Marquis?"

Song Wan shook her head: "He doesn't even need to make any arrangements."

"Lin Jiayue is simple-minded, flamboyant, and never hides her desires. Her joys and sorrows are all written on her face, making her easy to manipulate."

"Once you know what she's thinking and understand her heart, you can easily win her over by simply giving her what she desires and wants, and vice versa."

"Jiang Xingjian knew that she loved him and must cherish the child in her womb, which is why he forced her to abort the child. If he hadn't harbored hatred, he wouldn't have needed to waste such effort."

Slightly annoyed, Song Wan smoothed her hair and continued, "He wants both fame and fortune, so he suppresses her while not wanting her to hate him completely."

Song Wan subconsciously touched her chest.

"Are you feeling unwell, miss?"

"No, I'm going to write a letter to my brother."

Suppressing the chill and suffocation in her heart, Song Wan wrote down the fact that Lin Jiayue had miscarried. After thinking for a moment, she added a few more strokes, telling Song Fu that the ninth young lady of the Duke of Ying's mansion was an extremely lovely and beautiful girl.

In the last sentence, Song Wan wrote about Ming Xiang's speech impediment and said that she might be afraid of communicating with people. She suggested that Song Fu find a few young, well-behaved, and kind-looking maids in advance so that they could accompany Ming Xiang and prevent her from being worried and afraid when she first married into the Song family.

Although Song Wan was worried about the rest, she was already a married woman and couldn't interfere in her family's affairs, so she didn't say a word.

The letter was delivered to Song Fu, and a reply was received seven or eight days later.

Song Wan's eyes reddened slightly as she read the instructions in the letter.

In his letter, Song Fu explained that he had persuaded his father to bring her back to the manor, but there were still obstacles preventing him from doing so for the time being. However, he still told Song Wan to pay more attention to her safety and to protect herself in the manor.

Secondly, it states that the letter of gift had already been sent to the Duke of England's mansion, and only briefly mentions Ming Xiang and Song Fu.

In aristocratic families, marriages from matchmaking to the wedding ceremony typically take one or two years, and sometimes three to five years. She had almost never seen a marriage proceed so quickly as her brother's. If a marriage is arranged too hastily, it usually gives the impression that the woman is not reserved enough and is eager to get married, especially in a family like the Duke of England's.

In just a few words in Song Fuxin's letter, she could tell that he was eager for the marriage. After a little thought, she realized that the urgent marriage was probably related to her.

Song Wan's eyes were red, and her heart ached.

Girls from ordinary families often bring help to their fathers, brothers, and clans, but she, on the contrary, caused trouble for her brother and aunt at every turn, making them worry and compromise for her sake.

She had disliked falling behind others since childhood, and now that she had become a burden to her closest person, Song Wan felt inexplicably sad.

"Miss, what did the young master say in his letter?"

Seeing Song Wan's pale face, Hengwu hurriedly stepped forward to ask what was wrong. Song Wan folded the letter and whispered, "My brother said he wants to take me back to the manor."

Hengwu blinked, her round eyes widening in surprise: "Isn't this a good thing?"

"It may be a good thing for me, but it was obtained by my brother compromising with our father."

"Enough said, there's no point in saying more, let's get down to business."

Hengwu brought out a booklet, which Song Wan carefully examined. It contained records of people who had bought Huanyanzhai rouge, mostly from aristocratic families. Although not detailed, it was enough for her to write about.

"The old woman serving Madam Tan has been to Huanyanzhai four times in a month. There seems to be something wrong with her. I wonder if she has been poisoned by lead."

"If you use face powder for a long time, it will cause bluish-black marks on your skin. You can only cover it up by increasing the dosage, but other face powders cannot cover up these bluish marks. If that is the case, Huanyanzhai must have already run into problems. I'm afraid the manager is afraid to say it, and the Tan family doesn't want to make a fuss."

Song Wan held the account book and said softly, "When my aunt mentioned Huanyanzhai in the palace last time, I'm sure someone took it to heart."

There are no innocent people in the palace. Who knows when someone might have already done something underhanded, but they've been keeping quiet and waiting for the right opportunity.

"Tomorrow, spread the word that Consort Jiang is a generous and magnanimous woman. She has never used any of the expensive cosmetics sent to the palace from the Marquis's residence, and has given them all to her servants."

"Find a few more women to go out into the streets and spread the word that a relative of theirs works as a servant in a wealthy household and has had problems using the face powder that the wealthy man gave them as a gift."

Song Wan tossed the account book in her hand into the copper basin to soak it: "Let's see if anyone will make a move. If someone does, I'll send her a favorable wind. If no one does, I'll find someone to contact the Tan family."

Hengzhi nodded, but Hengwu said, "Miss, these are turbulent times. Why not wait for the eldest young master to take you back to the manor? Why risk provoking those two heartless bastards?"

Ever since she learned that Jiang Xingjian was heartless and ruthless, even scheming against Lin Jiayue, she refused to call him "Lord Marquis" anymore.

The two of them were usually very affectionate, one always saying they were a couple, and the other always talking about love. Who would have thought that they would commit such a heinous act after only a short time?

When they first returned to the manor, they were incredibly protective of each other, even willing to step on their young mistress to save face for their beloved. How come they've suddenly turned on each other and now seem to want to kill each other?

Hengwu grew increasingly frightened and gripped Song Wan's hand tightly: "Miss, I'm afraid he'll harm you. If he's so cruel to his own flesh and blood, who knows what he might do to you?"

"Why don't we just wait for the young master to come and pick us up, since he said it'll only take a year or two anyway?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wan's eyes curved into a gentle smile: "Silly Hengwu, even if my brother wants to save me from this fire pit, I need to reach out my hand first. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll only drag others down with me instead of saving myself."

Seeing Hengwu obediently nod after hearing her words, Song Wan smiled faintly.

If her brother were truly confident, he would have simply stated when and where he would bring her back to the manor, without mentioning any obstacles. By informing her in this way, her brother is likely uncertain, wanting to reassure her yet fearing disappointment.

It is important to know that power is hard to come by and even harder to maintain. As long as the situation remains unclear and the person sitting on the highest chair in the nine-room imperial palace remains undecided, her father will not easily offend the Jiang Mantong Marquis's mansion.

Life is unpredictable. In the court, people come and go. Who knows if today's purple robe will turn into tomorrow's prisoner?

Even if the Marquis's family suffers a severe defeat, it doesn't necessarily mean they can't recover.

Song Wan lowered her head, her mouth feeling bitter.

She didn't resent her father for abandoning her; she was only worried that her brother would become estranged from their father because of her, and if that happened, she would be unfilial and disrespectful to her brother.

"If I can escape from this prison on my own, I will try my best not to burden my family, otherwise I will not be at peace."

Hengzhi and Hengwu felt a pang of sadness, and the three of them, master and servant, sighed in unison.