Xiao Jiye rolled a black game piece between his fingertips, observing Jiang Yan’s expression with considerable curiosity. After years of cooperation with Jiang Yan, his impression of the man was that he was unpredictable in temperament, neither purely righteous nor evil. But this was the first time he’d seen him have the leisure to eavesdrop on women’s conversation through a wall.

He listened for quite a while without discerning anything unusual about the identities of those speaking. Only when he saw Jiang Yan’s expression did he understand this must involve some private matter.

“Has Miss Sun come of age yet?”

Since it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss marriage matters where an unmarried young lady could hear, Madam Sun had a maid lead her away before responding, “She’ll reach the age after the new year. Right now she’s at her most mischievous.”

“We all went through that time. I was just the same in my youth.”

Madam Sun let out an exclamation and said with a laugh that if her daughter could be like Song Wan, she could die with her eyes closed.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Song Wan got to the point. “I wonder what kind of young man the Sun family favors? I might know of someone suitable.”

Madam Sun smiled. “Though my husband’s official position is rather low, our son has some literary talent. So I’m thinking that Xiuxiu’s future husband should ideally also be fond of learning.”

“Regardless of status, someone who is educated, understands propriety, and treats others with gentleness would be the best choice.”

Song Wan smiled. “I actually do know of someone remarkably talented, modest and courteous.”

Madam Sun smiled. “Is the household harmonious? As you know, people like us place great importance on proper conduct and ritual propriety. We’re most afraid of having someone in the family who is morally deficient or behaves outrageously, who might lead her character astray. And if trouble arises in the future, we would inevitably be implicated.”

Song Wan pressed her lips together without speaking.

Madam Sun had made herself clear. The Sun residence didn’t care whether Jiang Yan was legitimate or from a concubine, as long as he was educated, literate, and had a gentle temperament. However, the Sun family was displeased with Jiang Xingjian’s bringing Lin Jiayue back to the marquis residence without proper matchmaking.

“I also know that in such a large clan, it’s hardly possible for everyone to be of upright character. But if the relationship is distant, it’s still manageable. However, if an elder brother or uncle is morally lacking, the only option would be to establish a separate household.”

Song Wan smiled faintly. “When parents are living, one doesn’t divide the family. After all, they are blood relatives—even if bones are broken, the tendons remain connected. How could one leave the residence just because of taking a new wife? Moreover, if outsiders learned that marrying Miss Sun required dividing the clan and establishing a separate household, what would people think of Xiuxiu?”

Madam Sun’s smile diminished. Song Wan continued, “For a young lady, finding a husband who knows warmth and cold is better than anything else. Besides, women typically remain in the inner quarters, so rather than scrutinizing the future husband’s brothers and uncles, one should examine the various madams and sisters-in-law in the household.”

“If the matriarch is kind and the sisters-in-law are gentle in temperament, Xiuxiu will feel at ease in the inner quarters.”

“Ah, what you say is true, but if the household is unsettled—taking in actors today, bringing in concubines tomorrow, the whole inner quarters in chaos, creating endless troubles—that’s truly the most vexing thing.”

Madam Sun sighed. “Besides, if a man constantly sees his own brother attracting women left and right, won’t his mind start to wander too?”

“A household’s moral atmosphere is most important. Someone may be good now, educated and proper, but can you guarantee they’ll remain so for a lifetime? After a woman’s beauty fades, how she’ll fare depends on the man’s character and his bottom line in conduct.”

Song Wan listened quietly, feeling inexplicably troubled.

But remembering this marriage prospect, she spoke with sincere feeling. “Since Madam Sun puts it this way, I’ll speak plainly. Our household’s Second Young Master Yan’s character—I imagine Madam has inquired about it to some extent.”

“What outsiders say may be correct, but as a mother, I’m still uneasy.”

“I dare not say about other matters, but regarding Second Young Master Yan…”

Song Wan’s tone paused slightly, as if considering something. On the other side, Jiang Yan held a white piece, his breathing stopped halfway.

His expression was grave, his body slightly curled and motionless. Beside him, Xiao Jiye raised his eyebrows high, his eyes full of amusement.

The household’s Second Young Master Yan… so today was for Jiang Yan’s marriage prospects.

But looking at Jiang Yan’s appearance, he didn’t seem particularly concerned about who his future wife would be. Instead, he seemed more focused on that young lady with the soft, gentle voice.

Xiao Jiye picked up black pieces from the table and tossed them into the game box. The slight rattling sound drew Jiang Yan’s displeasure.

Outside the wall, Song Wan spoke, and Jiang Yan turned his head to listen.

“I have some understanding of him…”

“These past years, Second Young Master has managed all the household’s external affairs. Whether among the household servants or outsiders, no scandalous words involving him have been heard. Second Young Master appears to be someone well-versed in human relations and adept at handling matters.”

“In the inner quarters, he hasn’t been seen indulging in powder and rouge or dallying with maids. His chambers are also spotlessly clean with nothing objectionable to be found.”

Song Wan paused slightly, thinking through her few interactions with Jiang Yan. Aside from that one time when she had just arrived at the marquis residence to live as a widow—which was rather special and not worth mentioning—on all other occasions, Jiang Yan had presented himself as refined and courteous, modest and gentle.

“I’ve been married into the marquis residence for six years and haven’t interacted much with Second Young Master, but I’ve seen him several times during holidays and ancestral rites. If Madam trusts me, I believe he would make a good husband. At the very least, he would be someone who respects and honors his wife with kindness and warmth.”

Listening to this, Jiang Yan’s face flushed deeply red, tender affection flowing through his eyes before gradually dimming.

Xiao Jiye narrowed his handsome eyes and said with a furrowed brow, “Your sister-in-law?”

Jiang Yan came to his senses, his eyes full of tender smile. “Yes, my sister-in-law.”

The way he pronounced those two words—”sister-in-law”—was lingering and ambiguous, making Xiao Jiye’s hair stand on end. After a long silence, he coldly uttered, “You truly are inhuman.”

The smile quickly faded from his face. Jiang Yan’s complexion turned from red to white, then became desolate and ashen. His grip on the game box tightened, clearly barely maintaining his current appearance of upright gentleman.

Xiao Jiye curved his lips in a shallow smile, leaning back lazily, murmuring in a low voice, “Your sister-in-law is here.”

The next second, Jiang Yan’s emotions stabilized and his breathing gradually calmed.

“Tsk, truly interesting.”

Jiang Yan carefully rearranged the game board he had disturbed earlier and asked in a low voice, “Don’t you find me disgusting?”

Xiao Jiye scoffed. “Are sordid affairs rare among aristocratic clans? What’s so disgusting about merely coveting your sister-in-law? I’ve witnessed countless cases of fathers and sons sharing women, the ugliness of such depravity. What does yours amount to?”

Jiang Yan murmured, “But she must find it disgusting.”

Next door, Madam Sun was still pressing Song Wan, but both Jiang Yan and Xiao Jiye could hear that Song Wan thought highly of the Sun family’s daughter and was speaking with considerable humility.

For Jiang Yan, it was like drinking both honey and vinegar—his heart a mixture of sweet and sour.

In the residence, he dared not reveal even half a hint, yet he couldn’t help wanting the world to know that she treated him differently from others. Thinking it over, such a transgression of propriety could only be confided to someone like Xiao Jiye, who cared nothing for conventions.

“Even if she doesn’t find it disgusting, what then? You surely can’t intend to have some affair with your own sister-in-law, can you? If it were just coveting her beauty for a moment, that would be one thing, but looking at you, it doesn’t seem like something you could just play around with and be done.”

Xiao Jiye raised his eyebrows, saying carelessly, “In such matters, it’s ultimately the woman who suffers disgrace. If things come to light, at worst the man gains a reputation for being dissolute and licentious. Your sister-in-law, however, would have to hang herself with a white silk cord. It all depends on whether you can bear to see that happen.”

Jiang Yan’s eyes grew dark and gloomy, his face deathly pale.