Song Wan casually pulled out “Essential Techniques for the Peasantry” and “Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library,” turning to the page on making lip rouge: “Cinnabar, lithospermum, and safflower are all main ingredients for cosmetics. Find a merchant from elsewhere and have him loudly announce he’s buying these items at high prices.”

“How much should he buy?”

Song Wan returned the books to the bookshelf: “Make a great clamor about it, but buy only small quantities of high quality.”

“Miss is so clever.”

“But Miss, won’t doing this incur Imperial Consort Jiang’s displeasure? If your husband finds out…”

“Even if I don’t do these things, would Imperial Consort Jiang be satisfied with me?”

Song Wan smiled faintly and continued working her abacus.

Hearing this, Heng Zhi realized she had asked unnecessarily. Her Miss had been widowed for six years, yet when she first entered the palace, Imperial Consort Jiang wouldn’t even see her. Since even the most basic courtesy wasn’t maintained, why should her Miss continue to endure?

“This servant will find Nanny Zhao and have her handle this matter as well.”

As she headed out, Heng Zhi encountered Concubine Zhou and the marquis estate’s Third Miss coming to find Song Wan. After paying respects, she had Xiang Cao receive the two into the room.

Song Wan was somewhat surprised to see Concubine Zhou and Jiang Jing, as these two were so quiet in the marquis estate that she had almost forgotten about Concubine Zhou.

“First Madam, I’ve come today because there’s something I’d like to ask you to help evaluate.”

Concubine Zhou smiled, revealing two shallow dimples on her face. Her features were beautiful, her speech unhurried, giving a very gentle impression.

Jiang Jing also wore a shy expression. The young girl was at the prime age of fourteen or fifteen when her appearance was most striking—a pair of peach blossom eyes alluring and tender, but still pure and unblemished due to her youth. Her fair skin was as captivating as bright pearls and beautiful jade. When she smiled at people, a pair of shallow dimples appeared and disappeared on her face, naturally evoking a sense of intimacy.

Song Wan rose to offer seats to the two. Concubine Zhou declined politely and sat on an embroidered stool facing west, while Jiang Jing stood obediently behind her.

Seeing this conduct, Song Wan knew these two were proper and respectful.

“Concubine is half an elder to Wan’er. What need is there to speak of requesting favors? If you have something to say, speak plainly. We’re family—why be so formal?”

Concubine Zhou smiled: “It’s about Jing’er. She’s fourteen this year.”

Hearing this, Song Wan understood Concubine Zhou’s purpose. After having Xiang Cao take Jiang Jing to play in the courtyard, she asked: “Has Concubine come about Third Sister’s marriage?”

“Exactly.”

Concubine Zhou nodded: “To be honest, Jing’er’s marriage… is truly a weight on my heart.”

The old marquis had died suddenly, and she only had Jiang Jing as a daughter with no sons to support her. Life for mother and daughter in the estate was very difficult.

Her nature was weak. In her youth she had been thoroughly suppressed by Concubine Liu. Now that the old marquis was gone, she was controlled by several shrewd servants who managed the inner quarters.

If not for Old Madam and Madam being relatively kind, she truly didn’t know how she would survive.

Fortunately, Song Wan had recently dismissed that shrewd servant’s family from the estate, allowing her and Jiang Xing a few comfortable days.

Concubine Zhou thought it over and didn’t dare approach Madam Jiang to mention Jiang Jing’s marriage. First, she was somewhat afraid of Madam Jiang. Second, she understood Madam Jiang’s temperament somewhat—she wouldn’t put her heart into finding a husband’s family for Jing’er.

After much deliberation, she finally gathered courage to bring Jiang Jing to seek out Song Wan.

“Jing’er is grown now. If we delay further, I fear we won’t be able to arrange a good family. So I wanted to ask First Madam to help evaluate prospects.”

As Concubine Zhou spoke, she took out a red velvet box from her bosom and shyly handed it to Song Wan. Her face flushed red as she stammered: “I know First Madam has seen many fine things, but this… is my sincere token.”

Song Wan’s heart ached. She opened the red velvet box.

Inside lay a pearl hairpin—genuine imperial pearls, not only lustrous but beautifully shaped, with a faint pink tinge. Unfortunately these pearls were only fingernail-sized. With such quality, even Heng Zhi and Heng Wu wouldn’t normally regard them highly.

But Song Wan looked at it with great affection, took it out, and had Concubine Zhou help her put it on.

“Just for such a beautiful hairpin, I will certainly find Third Sister a good husband’s family. But I don’t know what kind Concubine Zhou is looking for?”

Concubine Zhou thought for a moment: “I’m not particular about family background or status. Most important is that his character and temperament be good. Jing’er’s nature is like mine—somewhat timid. With this temperament she cannot take charge of a household. If possible, please help find a younger son in an established family. Even if he’s somewhat older or the family somewhat poor, it doesn’t matter.”

Song Wan’s heart softened, knowing Concubine Zhou truly loved Jiang Jing.

“Concubine may rest assured. Leave Third Sister’s marriage to me.”

Concubine Zhou expressed endless gratitude, holding Song Wan’s hands for a long time before reluctantly leaving Lanting Courtyard.

Song Wan touched the pearl hairpin on her head and sighed softly.

Concubine Zhou reminded her of her own mother. Had mother been alive, she would have carefully arranged everything for her just like this.

“Miss, what are you looking for? Let this servant do it.”

When Heng Zhi returned, she found Song Wan half-crouching to search through the rosewood cabinet. She helped Song Wan up, seeing her holding several bolts of fabric: “Is Miss making new clothes?”

“Looking for Third Sister.”

Thinking of what Concubine Zhou and Jiang Jing had been wearing earlier, Song Wan added: “Go to my jewelry box and take two sets of gold filigree gemstone accessories. Send them to Third Sister’s room along with this fabric. She and her mother rarely leave their courtyard. I don’t know what they lack or need, but I imagine their days are difficult.”

Heng Zhi nodded and directed a second-rank maid in the courtyard to deliver them.

After finishing her tasks, Song Wan began looking through a register of capital city aristocratic families. She actually thought there was someone quite suitable for Jiang Jing.

“Heng Zhi, do you know the Lan family of Cangzhou?”

“This servant knows. The Lan family was originally an official family but later became implicated in some matter and had their official position stripped by the late emperor. However, the previous generation’s family head was said to have considerable business talent. Now their business has grown very large and they’re quite prosperous.”

Song Wan nodded: “The Lan family was originally an official family with very proper household customs, not calculating about profit and loss like ordinary merchants. Moreover, the clan’s young men are of decent character. I intend to propose Jing’er to the Lan family.”

“If this servant remembers correctly, they have a concubine-born male of high generation who only recently came of age and has not yet married. He has some connection with the young master. Has Miss taken a liking to this person?”

“Yes, I remember elder brother mentioned this person a few times—someone with some talent. The Lan family is wealthy and prosperous. Since he’s of high generation and carries no burdens, if Jing’er marries into the family she can directly become the family head’s aunt and enjoy blessings.”

“Miss is truly thinking of Third Miss’s welfare. Third Miss is blessed.”

Song Wan smiled faintly: “Who could disappoint Concubine Zhou’s motherly devotion?”

“Grind ink for me. I need to send a card to the Lan family matriarch to see if we can settle the marriage between that Uncle Lan and Jing’er.”

Just as she was enthusiastically writing the invitation, Jiang Xingjian entered. Seeing him, Heng Zhi’s smile vanished entirely. She paid perfunctory respects and silently departed.

Song Wan looked at Jiang Xingjian. Her earlier good mood evaporated completely, even her brushstrokes becoming somewhat stilted.