Fuhe Hall was Old Madam Jiang’s courtyard and the most prestigious place in the entire Chengyang Marquis Estate. Located at the very center of the estate, it not only occupied the best position but also covered an extremely vast area. Though the younger generation in the estate came daily to pay morning and evening respects, a scene like today’s with both legitimate and concubine-born branches from the eastern and western households all present was quite rare.

As the legitimate eldest grandson’s wife of the marquis estate, Song Wan was required to help her mother-in-law manage such occasions, so she arrived earliest.

Just as she entered Old Madam Jiang’s courtyard, she encountered other concubine-born children from the estate who had come to pay respects.

Seeing the handsome young men and adorable young girls in the room, Old Madam Jiang couldn’t help but feel delighted from the bottom of her heart. She called Song Wan over and had the group of young ladies and boys come before her to introduce them one by one.

“The child at the front is Yi’er’s younger brother Jiang Yan, only two years younger than Yi’er. This boy is well-behaved and knows propriety—he’s never been mischievous and annoying like other boys.”

“The smaller one is Jiang Ang, just turned ten this year. He can be considered an adult now, but he’s not as refined and scholarly as his two elder brothers.”

“These three girls are your Third Sister, Fifth Sister, and Sixth Sister. When you have time in the future, you must guide and look after them. If they can develop your gentle and soft temperament, only then will I be at ease.”

Song Wan smiled and agreed, then looked at Jiang Xingjian’s several younger siblings.

In the past, as a widow, it had been improper for her to meet the male members of the household. Old Madam and Madam Jiang had exempted her from morning and evening respects, so in the six years since marrying into the marquis estate, she wasn’t very familiar with these younger siblings of Jiang Xingjian. Only Jiang Yan had she met once or twice.

Jiang Yan was two years younger than Jiang Xingjian. By rights, he should have reached his capping ceremony age, but she hadn’t just heard Old Madam mention his courtesy name—perhaps his birthday hadn’t arrived yet.

“Greetings to Sister-in-law.”

“Second Brother, Third Sister, Fourth Brother, Fifth Sister, Sixth Brother—my greetings.”

Song Wan returned the courtesy, then gestured for Heng Wu to bring forth a large lacquered mother-of-pearl tray and distribute the auspicious items on it to each person one by one.

When Jiang Yan received his red envelope, he lifted his head to glance at Song Wan, then quickly lowered it again.

The masters inside were conversing merrily when suddenly a commotion arose outside. Song Wan looked out to see Jiang Xingjian arriving at Fuhe Hall with Lin Jiayue.

Lin Jiayue wore precisely that light coral-colored brocade-trimmed silver-embroidered gauze skirt. The skirt’s color was elegant, and the matching jewelry was all primarily plain and light. Though it appeared refined and tasteful, it didn’t suit Lin Jiayue’s age.

Though the children were young, having been born into noble households unlike common people, they already understood things by age seven or eight. Seeing the two arrive, they fell silent one by one.

Lin Jiayue paid no mind to the atmosphere that had grown cold because of her. She generously walked before Old Madam Jiang with a gentle, smiling face. Jiang Xingjian also seemed intent on having her grow closer to Old Madam, so he sat nearby accompanying them.

Unable to bear watching these two, Song Wan led Heng Zhi and Heng Wu to retreat to the doorway, quietly admiring the flowers and plants in Old Madam’s room.

“Sister-in-law.”

Song Wan looked up to see Jiang Yan standing beside her. She smiled slightly and made room for him at her side.

Jiang Yan didn’t move, stopping at a position one step away from her.

Looking at the dignified, radiant woman before him with starry eyes that seemed to contain reproach, Jiang Yan felt all the blood in his veins heat up. That surging passion made his hands tremble slightly.

But he had always been restrained. The excitement flowing through his bones and blood was all suppressed deep in his heart, transforming only into two words that lingered tenderly on his tongue.

“Sister-in-law…”

Song Wan nodded with a smile, her bearing carrying obvious distance.

Jiang Yan didn’t mind. He shifted his gaze away from Song Wan, but his voice still carried a barely detectable hoarseness. “This year I’m having my capping ceremony and should also choose a courtesy name. These past few days I just thought of the two characters ‘Yu Chi’—I wonder what Sister-in-law thinks?”

Song Wan froze, not understanding why Jiang Yan would bring this up with her.

“Yu Chi?”

She repeated softly. Jiang Yan’s heart trembled, then he revealed an extremely restrained smile.

“What are Second Brother and my wife discussing?”

Jiang Xingjian had somehow appeared beside the two of them. He looked down, scrutinizing Jiang Yan, privately noting that the other had changed considerably.

When he left the estate that year, Jiang Yan had been only twelve or thirteen. Though mature for his age, he had been far from possessing today’s bearing.

He wore a purple-gold patterned arrow-sleeved outer robe, his feet in Xiang-colored court boots, his black hair bound with a silver hairpin—his entire person appeared exceptionally sharp and handsome. Only his complexion was too pale, and he was slightly thin. Though at first glance he had a kind of refined, scholarly air like warm jade, Jiang Xingjian could detect in those ink-black eyes both ambition and inexplicable fervor.

“Your face is flushed red. Are you feeling unwell?”

Jiang Xingjian’s brow slightly raised, his expression indifferent.

Jiang Yan bowed slightly. “Thank you for Elder Brother’s concern. I’m fine—it’s just that with so many people crowding the room, I came here to get some air.”

The two spoke with peaceful tones, presenting an appearance of brotherly harmony. Yet Song Wan suddenly thought that if Jiang Xingjian hadn’t returned, the position of Marquis of Chengyang would inevitably have fallen to Jiang Yan. But now that was absolutely impossible.

Thinking that in the future the estate might see a drama of fraternal conflict, she felt it was rather distasteful.

“Husband and younger brother-in-law should chat first. I’ll go help Mother arrange the meal.”

Song Wan had no heart for small talk with them, so she led her wet nurse and maids to the inner hall. Old Madam Jiang, Madam Jiang, and Lin Jiayue were in the room. Madam Jiang looked at the outfit Lin Jiayue wore with both anger and anxiety. Her ancestors had been military generals, and she herself had learned little of rules and propriety from childhood. Only after marrying into the marquis estate had she cultivated her temperament somewhat, but she couldn’t remain as composed as Old Madam Jiang and Song Wan.

She swept her gaze over Lin Jiayue once, then asked coldly, “Old Madam sent you clothing—why did you insist on seizing Wan’er’s coming-of-age outfit?”

Lin Jiayue didn’t understand what a coming-of-age outfit was, but guessed the clothes she wore must have some significance. She only wanted to prove that in Jiang Xingjian’s heart, she was more important than that wife who existed only in name. As for Old Madam Jiang and Madam Jiang, she had never thought of offending them.

Therefore, Lin Jiayue smiled apologetically. “The clothing Old Madam Jiang sent was naturally excellent, but it didn’t quite fit me. Brother Xingjian helped me find another set.”

“Before Old Madam, constantly saying ‘you’ and ‘I’—who knows what kind of family raised such manners.”

Madam Jiang frowned at Lin Jiayue, feeling increasingly stifled. The maid beside her, seeing her mistress’s displeasure, stepped forward. “It’s not entirely Miss Lin’s fault. Coming from a small household, naturally she doesn’t understand our estate’s rules. Madam needn’t worry—when this servant first entered the estate, she was also this rash and ignorant of propriety. In the future, we just need to find a nanny to teach and guide her.”

Lin Jiayue had been smiling apologetically all day. Hearing these words now, she finally couldn’t bear it. She looked at that maid and laughed coldly. “Though my family isn’t some illustrious scholarly household, we are a hidden clan of China. It’s normal that you haven’t heard of us, but I cannot bear the label of ‘small household.'”

As she said this, Song Wan was just coming toward the inner hall. Though dressed plainly and simply, her overall dignified bearing and temperament were completely incomparable to ordinary people.

Lin Jiayue looked on feeling stifled, but thinking that this person was also a victim of feudal times, the thorns in her heart dissipated somewhat.

She took a deep breath and said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “My family specializes in various ingenious arts and techniques, beneficial to scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants alike. Jiang Xingjian invited me to the marquis estate because he knows my capabilities and specifically requested my presence.”