“Since we’ve spoken of this today, I also have some words I wish to say to husband.”

Song Wan said, “The marquis estate is not an ordinary household. Temporary gains and losses cannot resolve the root of the problem. Whether opening sources of income or regulating expenditures, ultimately neither is most crucial.”

Having gone sleepless for several days, pondering countless possibilities for the Jiang and Song families, she had finally thought of a foolproof strategy that could preserve their foundation.

“The world says wealth and rank are like honey and sugar, but I think wealth and rank are like frost-edged blades—wealth and rank all the more so.”

As soon as she spoke, Jiang Xingjian understood Song Wan’s meaning.

The power struggle between Consort Jiang, Consort Yun, and the Third and Fifth Princes was like brocade adorned with fresh flowers and oil boiled over raging fire—seemingly infinitely glorious yet unable to say which day it would collapse overnight. Whether they could preserve their lives was still unknown, much less engage in any business ventures. Moreover, the Crown Prince had lingered on his sickbed for years and could die suddenly at any time. The struggle for imperial power was on the verge of erupting. How to preserve the foundation of both estates was of utmost importance.

Jiang Xingjian was also anxious about this but hadn’t been able to think of any good solution.

Preserving a clan’s foundation was truly no easy matter.

He raised his head, very much wanting to know what Song Wan was thinking.

“A clan’s foundation lies in nothing more than the cohesion of descendants, with excellent children multiplying endlessly.”

“Thus, even if in the future the marquis estate truly… encounters some calamity, as long as the foundation and descendants remain, the ancestral bloodline will be preserved.”

Jiang Xingjian said, “As long as the ancestral graves remain, the clan will not scatter.”

“Though the ancestral graves may remain, without provisions they cannot be maintained. If the marquis estate loses this overwhelming wealth, the descendants will likely lack the means for sacrificial rites. Over time, gradually there will be negligence and no one to manage them.”

Jiang Xingjian frowned, knowing in his heart that Song Wan was absolutely right.

“Does Madam have a solution?”

Song Wan said, “Though the marquis estate is gradually declining now, it still has the ability to purchase sacrificial land. If the clan has permanent property, it can ensure the Jiang bloodline does not scatter to various places with nowhere to settle.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xingjian’s brow lifted slightly, and the look he gave Song Wan carried several degrees more gravity.

Sacrificial land could certainly preserve ancestral incense and offerings for the four seasons, but more importantly, the court’s laws explicitly stipulated that ‘grave and burial land shall not be subject to confiscation.’ So in the future, even if the Fifth Prince were defeated and the Jiang clan exiled or their property confiscated, the sacrificial land would not be seized by the state. And if the clan had land, it could ensure clan members would not starve to death.

Jiang Xingjian’s fingertips trembled slightly.

What Song Wan spoke of today was making final preparations for the marquis estate.

“Secondly, we must provide opportunities for the clan’s children to study and become literate, to know honor and shame and understand proper conduct.”

“A clan school.”

Song Wan looked at Jiang Xingjian with a gentle smile.

Jiang Xingjian only felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

The eastern and western branches of the Jiang family, legitimate and concubine-born lines—how could the male descendants number less than several hundred? As long as they could preserve one branch, giving them tiles to shelter their heads and grain to fill their bellies, allowing the men to learn letters and understand human relationships, the clan would not be considered defeated. Who could say there wouldn’t be a day of restoration?

His hands couldn’t help trembling, and the gaze he directed at Song Wan grew increasingly profound.

Song Wan, stared at until she felt quite uncomfortable, smiled lightly, saying she had other matters to handle, and departed gracefully.

With the great weight in his heart lifted, Jiang Xingjian sought someone to handle the sacrificial land matters.

Heaven knew what had troubled him these recent days was precisely how to preserve the clan’s foundation. As for the marquis estate’s temporary income-expenditure imbalance, it didn’t count as a problem at all.

Leaving Lanting Courtyard, he headed toward Yuling Study.

Hearing he had come to visit, Jiang Yan felt somewhat puzzled. Though the two couldn’t be said to be at daggers drawn, their relationship truly wasn’t one of brotherly affection either.

“What instruction does elder brother have?”

After explaining Song Wan’s matters regarding sacrificial land and the clan school to Jiang Yan, Jiang Xingjian said, “This is a major clan matter. I wanted to consult with you. In these years you’ve managed the marquis estate, do you know which branch of the eastern or western estates has children of good character who could shoulder the responsibility of managing grain provisions?”

Jiang Yan contemplated for a moment, also understanding the importance of this matter.

After carefully considering several people and briefly relating their conduct and life stories to Jiang Xingjian, he couldn’t help sighing, “Elder brother’s deep thought and far-reaching concern, thorough in every aspect—younger brother admires this.”

“It wasn’t actually my idea…”

Jiang Xingjian curved his lips slightly, “It was your sister-in-law who thought it through thoroughly and told me today.”

Mentioning Song Wan, Jiang Yan’s throat moved slightly, his fingertips giving rise to a tingling, itching sensation.

He said hoarsely, “Sister-in-law is intelligent, truly a model among women of the inner chambers.”

Watching Jiang Xingjian smile with reflected glory, Jiang Yan’s heart filled with envy.

That person was too pure and beautiful—so beautiful that even though he felt Jiang Xingjian didn’t know how to treasure her and was unworthy in various ways, he dared not harbor even half a thought of improper intimacy.

“A Wan, she…”

Smile reaching deep to his lips, yet pressed down again by Jiang Xingjian. He looked at Jiang Yan and said, “You’ve reached the age of capping this year. Marriage matters should naturally be put on the agenda. That they’ve been delayed because of me—I truly feel guilty.”

Jiang Yan’s marriage shouldn’t have been postponed until now without being settled, but because he was concubine-born yet previously had the possibility of inheriting the title, there was difficulty regarding the status of his bride-to-be.

Those of high status didn’t value him, while those of lower status the marquis estate looked down upon, which was why it had been dragged out until now.

Now that he had returned to the estate, this matter was even more troublesome.

“I wonder what sort of young lady you prefer? If there’s someone your heart is set on, you might as well tell your sister-in-law. She regularly interacts with women from aristocratic families now. With her consideration, it can certainly be handled properly.”

Jiang Yan smiled warmly, “If we could find someone like sister-in-law, that would be best of all.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xingjian froze, then suddenly laughed aloud.

After laughing, he murmured, “A woman like A Wan—I’m afraid she won’t be easy to find.”

Jiang Yan’s smile also faded by three degrees, his gaze becoming somewhat profound.

“If you have time, go speak with her about it. With her help in judging, it certainly won’t go wrong.”

“Younger brother understands.”

Jiang Yan’s marriage shouldn’t have fallen to Song Wan’s responsibility, but Old Madam Jiang’s heart only held the returned-from-death Jiang Xingjian, and Jiang Mother was someone who didn’t much manage affairs.

Though Jiang Yan had a birth mother, she was merely a concubine whose status in the estate was lower than that of a steward with any standing. After going round and round, this task fell to Song Wan.

So when Jiang Yan sought her out, she wasn’t at all surprised.

“If not for elder brother’s orders, younger brother wouldn’t dare disturb sister-in-law. I hope sister-in-law won’t take offense.”

Jiang Xingjian had gone to the clan today to discuss the clan school and sacrificial land matters and wasn’t at Song Wan’s side. Jiang Yan waited in the front courtyard of Fuhe Hall for a long while, yet showed not the slightest trace of impatience.

“How could it be called a disturbance? Young uncle speaks too seriously.”

Song Wan stood to one side, apparently pondering suitable young ladies from aristocratic families. Jiang Yan stood quietly beside her, looking at their elongated shadows on the ground with a slight smile.

Watching and watching, he suddenly shifted a step.

The two shadows on the ground overlapped due to his movement, appearing as if the two people were leaning intimately together, whispering closely.

Jiang Yan stared blankly, his smile increasingly difficult to conceal.

“I haven’t attended banquets outside for too long. Though I’ve thought of one or two suitable families, I don’t know what the young ladies’ characters are like. If young uncle isn’t in a hurry, allow me two more days to consider and meet them.”

“After all, it’s a marriage matter—it mustn’t be handled carelessly.”

Listening to Song Wan’s soft, gentle voice, Jiang Yan raised his head, his eyes full of tender affection.

He looked into Song Wan’s eyes and said softly, “I leave everything to sister-in-law’s decision.”