He raised his hand to press his brow. His ten fingers were distinctly jointed, slender and refined as jade. The young servant watched with secret envy.

From a pair of hands alone, one could see this person’s grace and nobility.

“Well then, tell me how you plan to repay me?”

Jiang Yan leaned back, his tone carrying a hint of languidness. He didn’t even look at the young servant, yet his gaze swept over that glimpse of pure white several times.

“In answer to Second Young Master, this lowly one only knows that these six years you’ve managed the marquis manor—even without great merit, you’ve worked hard. Why should Young Master Yi be able to claim the ready-made title as soon as he returns? These years, you’ve clearly been the one supporting the manor. Now just as the title is about to be bestowed, Young Master Yi swoops in to snatch it away. It’s truly regrettable.”

Jiang Yan gave a lazy, mocking laugh: “You merely think that since I’ve held control of the marquis manor for six years, I have better prospects than my elder brother, and you want to use this to rise up. There’s no need to make it sound so noble.”

Seeing that eyesore of oiled paper again, Jiang Yan seemed unable to bear it. He extended two fingers and pulled out the handkerchief that still carried a faint cold plum fragrance.

“Truly worthy of being Second Young Master—your actions are so straightforward.”

Jiang Yan paid no mind to his empty words and flattery, only carefully placing that handkerchief to one side.

“Speak plainly. I have no time to waste with you.”

Seeing Jiang Yan’s impatient expression, he hurriedly said: “This lowly one has thought it through. Soon after Young Master Yi returns to the manor, he’ll submit a memorial to inherit the title. As the legitimate son of the marquis manor, his inheritance is proper and justified. But this lowly one truly cannot stand such injustice, so I’ve devised a method to prevent him from smoothly inheriting the title.”

“Everyone knows that Young Mistress was personally raised by her aunt, Consort Yun, who has cherished Young Mistress most dearly all these years. Now Consort Yun enjoys great favor. This lowly one thought that if something were to happen to Young Mistress in the manor, Young Master Yi would certainly be implicated.”

Jiang Yan looked up, unable to suppress a hint of mocking laughter: “Continue.”

“This lowly one thought that if Young Mistress were discovered having an affair with someone in the manor and subsequently punished, it might provoke Consort Yun’s fury.”

“If later Consort Yun investigates and discovers that all these events were orchestrated by Young Master Yi, merely to clear the legitimate wife position for that young lady he brought back to the manor, what do you suppose would happen, Second Young Master?”

“You want me to guess?”

Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, as if truly pondering the scene of Consort Yun furiously punishing Jiang Xingjian.

The young servant’s face was full of delight, as if he had already seen himself commanding wind and rain, becoming the first person at the side of the Marquis of Chengyang.

“You do have some quick wit. Which household are you from?”

Jiang Yan stood up, took the plain handkerchief from the desk, and walked to the washing stand, gently beginning to wash it. The young servant watched with incomprehension but still replied: “This lowly one is not a household-born servant. The head steward bought me into the manor the year before last. This lowly one usually serves in the attendant quarters and is quite familiar with the young servants from various courtyards.”

After washing the handkerchief clean, Jiang Yan removed all the famous calligraphy brush holders from the rack one by one and hung the handkerchief up to dry.

“What is your relationship with that fourth-rank maid from today?”

The young servant answered: “She’s my younger sister. The head steward was kind-hearted and allowed us both to enter the manor together, so we’d have someone to look after each other.”

Jiang Yan bent down halfway and smoothed out the wrinkles on the handkerchief bit by bit. Only when there wasn’t a single crease did he stand up. He walked to the treasure cabinet, took down a chi-dragon patterned bronze incense burner the size of a ball, and viciously smashed it onto the back of the young servant’s head.

With a loud thud, the man collapsed and breathed his last.

Tossing the bronze incense burner on the ground, Jiang Yan called Qing Zhai in.

“Second Young…”

Seeing the pool of blood spreading on the floor, Qing Zhai was frightened out of her wits. However, she dared not cry out and could only firmly cover her mouth.

Jiang Yan washed his hands and said: “Dispose of this carefully. In Old Madam’s courtyard there’s also a fourth-rank maid who’s family with him. Find some pretext to sell her off.”

“This… this servant understands.”

Qing Zhai fetched a cushion from the room to wipe up the scarlet bloodstains on the floor, but Jiang Yan seemed completely unconcerned that there was a corpse in his study. He only lifted that handkerchief from the brush rack, carefully folded it neatly, and held it in his palm.

Returning to his bedchamber, Jiang Yan pulled out a white jade box from the bottom drawer of his writing desk and placed the handkerchief inside.

No one knew Jiang Yan’s thoughts. Yuling Study remained as quiet and silent as always, but Lanting Courtyard was quite lively tonight.

Bright red wedding candles, a bright red wedding quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks, scarlet red curtains, dawn-red porcelain vessels, and even silver basins and buckets tied with red silk were continuously sent into Lanting Courtyard.

Song Wan looked at the main hall piled full of items, her face wooden as she had Heng Zhi, Heng Wu, Xiang Cao, and Lv Zhu carry them into the room.

Aside from Nanny Zhao, none of the master and servants of Lanting Courtyard showed any joy on their faces.

“Miss, this bedding…”

Song Wan stroked the belly-up Golden Silk Tiger and said indifferently: “No need to change it. Just store it in the main kitchen.”

“Miss.”

Nanny Zhao picked up the wedding quilt, frowning: “Today is the day you and the young master consummate your marriage. How can you not change to the wedding quilt? If the young master sees this later, he’ll think you’re dissatisfied with him.”

After speaking, she went alone to arrange things on the canopy bed.

Song Wan guessed that Jiang Xingjian wouldn’t come tonight anyway, so she was too lazy to dampen her wet nurse’s enthusiasm.

Seeing that their mistress hadn’t objected, the young maids in the room followed Nanny Zhao’s lead and carried the bright red bedding into the inner hall one by one. Just as they were walking into the room, they encountered Jiang Xingjian head-on.

All the maids and servants in the room came forward to pay their respects, but only Song Wan, holding the listless Golden Silk Tiger, sat on the beauty couch without moving an inch.

“Young Master…”

The young maid held the bright red bedding. With wedding candles mixed with floral fragrance burning in the room, Jiang Xingjian turned to look at Song Wan, only to see her sitting motionlessly in a moon-white gauze robe, showing no intention whatsoever of sharing a bed with him.

His eyes gradually darkened, and suspicion arose in his heart.

Lightly lifting his robe hem to sit before Song Wan, Jiang Xingjian furrowed his brows as if wanting to say something. Yet whether it was the full room of red silk lending an enchanting and ambiguous atmosphere, or the warmly fragrant wedding candles making him feel dazed, the words he wanted to say and ask suddenly stopped at his lips.

He sat too close. The man’s tall frame carried a strong sense of oppression, making Song Wan unconsciously hold the Golden Silk Tiger tighter. Her cheeks gradually showed hints of crimson, and her fair neck also revealed a light cherry pink.

This shy and charming appearance caused Jiang Xingjian’s heart to flutter slightly.

He suddenly recalled the day he left the capital six years ago. He had borrowed his mother’s name to invite her to see him off. Before departing, he had gently inserted a white jade plum blossom hairpin he’d carved himself into her hair.

Song Wan had been just like this then—her face full of shyness but still strictly observing propriety, not daring to approach him even slightly.

In his impression, this person was both obedient and somewhat stubbornly principled, like a child who wanted to ask for candy but was too embarrassed to speak up.

The Golden Silk Tiger, being held too tightly, protested with whimpers. Song Wan felt distressed and quickly placed it on the bed.

Jiang Xingjian looked at the embroidered cat bed beside the pillow and frowned deeply.

“It sleeps here?”

Song Wan stood up to distance herself from Jiang Xingjian and spoke indifferently: “Does my husband have something to tell me?”

Jiang Xingjian said: “This is my room. May I not come?”

Seeing Song Wan not answer, he restrained his expression and said seriously: “I do indeed have a matter to discuss with you.”

“Jiayue doesn’t understand the marquis manor’s etiquette, nor does she know common proprieties. Since you have nothing to do, how about teaching her proper conduct and rules?”