Song Wan was lost in thought when Heng Wu walked in carrying a Xuande porcelain plate. Behind her followed little maids setting out the meal. The group moved efficiently, and in no time had arranged a table full of dishes. Song Wan had Heng Zhi care for the kitten while she herself sat beside Jiang Xingjian.

On the table were six palm-sized jade-green lotus leaf plates, two white jade soup tureens, and sixteen pink-white Ru ware small dishes.

Six main dishes—four hot and two cold—consisted of sautéed lamb tripe, braised bamboo shoots with chicken, fish maw braised with ham, and wild mountain mushroom chicken stew. For cold dishes, the small kitchen had prepared cold marinated vegetable medley and red oil blanched fresh bamboo shoots.

Song Wan preferred light flavors, so they had specially made her shrimp and fresh bamboo shoot soup, while the other portion was Jiang Xingjian’s conpoy and squab soup.

The Ru ware small dishes came in sets of four, separately holding four portions of pastries, four portions of dried fruits, four portions of preserved fruits, and four portions of palate-cleansing vegetables.

Jiang Xingjian picked up a small crab dumpling and put it in his mouth.

The crab flavor was fresh, sweet, and delicate. Though just a small pastry, it revealed the chef’s skill.

The two did not speak during the meal, and their movements were also light and soundless. Song Wan only ate a couple of bites before Jiang Xingjian knew she had finished, but propriety dictated she could not put down her chopsticks first.

The person beside him had decorum and propriety etched into her bones. Jiang Xingjian looked at the table of delicacies, his mind floating to Lin Jiayue’s embarrassment on the day of the Marquis household’s family banquet.

Those born into aristocratic families, whether male or female, had observed ritual propriety from childhood. In all aspects of clothing, food, housing, and travel, they differed from commoners. Eating in measured amounts—small quantities but many varieties of high quality—was a rule they had observed constantly since birth. Not to mention someone of noble birth like Song Wan, even a first-rank maid in Lanting Courtyard knew these things…

Jiang Xingjian suddenly lost his appetite. He put down his chopsticks and took the hand towel offered by the maid beside him.

After wiping his hands, Lv Zhu and Xiang Cao brought in the mouth-rinsing basin.

After the two rinsed their mouths, Jiang Xingjian walked to Song Wan’s writing desk and casually began flipping through the household accounts. Organized by category, there were approximately thirty to forty volumes. The more he looked, the tighter his brows knitted.

Song Wan said: “Since the Marquis and Husband left, the Marquis household has shown signs of decline. Now six years have passed, household affairs are numerous, expenditures are no less than before, but income has decreased by more than half.”

“Moreover…”

Song Wan paused slightly, took out a red-covered account book from under the desk, and handed it to Jiang Xingjian.

“Since Jiang Fei entered the palace, managing relationships throughout the palace has also been an enormous sum. Now the Marquis household’s framework remains, but internally it’s difficult to sustain.”

The Jiang family’s legitimate eldest daughter, Jiang Man, had entered the palace as an imperial consort seven years ago. When Jiang Xingjian left the capital, she was pregnant with a dragon son. These past years, just the silver spent on managing palace relationships for Jiang Fei and the Marquis’s funeral expenses had already emptied more than half the Marquis household.

However, the Marquis household did have some accumulated wealth. Though it couldn’t compare to its peak period, compared to other official families, it was still passable.

But it could only be called passable.

The Marquis household’s master and servants numbered far over a thousand. Just their ordinary food and drink was staggering, not to mention two people in the palace who absolutely could not be neglected.

During festivals when human relationships required gifts and offerings, silver flowed like water. At this rate, in another three to five years, even the dignity they could barely maintain now would likely be unsustainable.

Song Wan had guessed the Marquis household was struggling, but hadn’t expected it to be this difficult.

Jiang Xingjian said: “How could the estates’ income have decreased so much in recent years?”

“The most productive estates and fields were all used years ago to cultivate relationships with Eunuch Duan, the Superintendent of Ceremonies’ seal-holder.”

Song Wan spoke with some embarrassment.

Speaking of which, the relationship between the Chengyang Marquis household and the Song household had been rather delicate these past years. Her aunt was the current Yun Fei, who was greatly favored. And Jiang Xingjian’s legitimate elder sister had become pregnant with the Fifth Prince within a year of entering the palace. After news of the Marquis and Jiang Xingjian’s misfortune at the border reached the capital, the Emperor, to compensate the Chengyang Marquis household, promoted Jiang Man from Noble Lady to Jiang Fei.

In early years when national power was weak, the Emperor had established the Second Prince, of the most humble origins, as Crown Prince, sending him to a neighboring country as a hostage before he was even five years old. After twelve years as a hostage, when he returned to court, only a half-dead shell remained. Now he had been paralyzed in the Eastern Palace for eight years. If stripping him of his Crown Prince position at this time wouldn’t invite the world’s censure, the Emperor would likely have long since reduced him to commoner status.

The First Prince was legitimate-born to the Empress. Without the hostage matter, the Crown Prince position would have been none other than his. Originally he only needed to wait for the Crown Prince to die of illness to securely sit on the throne, but unfortunately the First Prince’s character was too deplorable—truly unfit for such responsibility.

The Third Prince was born to her aunt and had just passed his ninth birthday. The Fourth Prince died young. The Song family…

Song Wan lowered her eyes, her hand flipping through the account book pausing slightly.

Since ancient times, wealth moved people’s hearts—how much more so supreme power. She didn’t believe the Song family had no designs on that position. Moreover, from her elder brother’s name alone, one could see Father had considerable ambition.

Song Wan glanced at Jiang Xingjian. The two simultaneously avoided each other’s gaze.

After a moment, Jiang Xingjian said: “I know you’ve always preferred quiet and have no patience for managing these trivial matters, but household affairs must trouble you.”

“As for external relations… now that I’ve safely returned to the household, there’s no reason to continue burdening you with external affairs.”

Song Wan said: “Thank you for Husband’s consideration.”

Taking out several red-covered account books one by one, Song Wan organized them properly and handed them to Jiang Xingjian.

The so-called external affairs were merely matters related to Jiang Fei and the Fifth Prince Shen Qianshu. She was happy to relinquish them.

The two had nothing more to say for the moment, but Heng Wu walked in with anger in her eyes: “Reporting to Master, Concubine Lin from Xiuyan Pavilion has business with you. She’s already sent maids to urge you three or five times now—it seems to be some urgent matter.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xingjian’s brows furrowed tightly, quite unable to save face. When someone in his chambers acted without propriety, ultimately he lost face.

“Go tell Concubine Lin that Madam and I have important matters to discuss.”

Heng Wu curtsied and walked out swishing her sleeves.

“Since Concubine Lin has been mentioned, I have something to discuss with Husband.”

Song Wan said: “Concubines in the household receive one tael of silver monthly allowance, two maids to manage personal clothing and jewelry, and four women for sweeping, washing, and starching. Huai Su may enjoy this portion. On Concubine Lin’s side, reduce accordingly by rank. Does Husband have any objections?”

“…”

If Lin Jiayue hadn’t just repeatedly overstepped boundaries by coming to the main house to find him, he might still have been able to say a word or two. Now for Jiang Xingjian to speak up, he truly had no face.

“If Madam acts according to the household’s standard portions, I naturally have no objections.”

Song Wan said: “Though Lanting Courtyard still has empty courtyards, being closed for six years, they must be renovated before anyone can live in them. Huai Su’s status is different from the past—she can’t continue staying in the servants’ quarters, coming and going with the maids. So during this period I’ll arrange for Huai Su to stay at Xiuyan Pavilion. What does Husband think?”

“That won’t do.”

“Then I’ll give up Longxiang Studio for Huai Su.”

“That’s even more improper.”

Jiang Xingjian frowned.

Song Wan had married into the Marquis household carrying a memorial tablet and lived as a widow for six years—everyone in the capital knew this. His bringing Jiayue back to the capital was already extremely improper conduct, no different from openly making things difficult for the Song household.

Now if he made her give up her former widow’s residence to another concubine, just for the Song household’s dignity, the Emperor would question him when he returned from his summer retreat.

Moreover, he himself couldn’t bear the reputation of doting on concubines and neglecting his wife, being muddled and lustful.

“Arrange it as you see fit.”

Having said this, Jiang Xingjian rose and left.

Song Wan was clever as could be—she would naturally not lower herself to compete with Jiayue. She only needed to place the dignity of the Marquis household and Song household, as well as his reputation, on the table, and he would naturally abandon Lin Jiayue.

With just one phrase about “one lifetime, one heart, one couple,” she had turned around and pressed the status of lowly concubine onto Jiayue’s head, then sent Huai Su to Xiuyan Pavilion. Thus Song Wan need not use any schemes to easily divide the two of them.

She had been clever since childhood, striking snakes at their seventh inch with practiced skill. Naturally handling inner household matters was like a fish in water.

Jiang Xingjian smiled helplessly, but quickly suppressed the smile.