Mother Jiang supported her forehead, looking extremely uncomfortable: “What is it this time that has her clamoring not to manage the household?”

“It has nothing to do with Wan’er. It was Jiayue who wrote a mourning ode for Jinxiang Earl’s manor and got the deceased’s name wrong. Jinxiang Earl’s manor sent people today who cursed at Wan’er for over half a shichen.”

Jiang Xingjian raised his hand to pinch the space between his brows, exhausted in body and spirit: “To express my apologies, I will go to Jinxiang Earl’s manor today to apologize in person. As for Wan’er… these next few days she will fast and bathe while copying scriptures and reciting Buddhist sutras for Madam Cheng, seeking that her spirit in heaven will be more forgiving of the Marquis Manor.”

“What?”

Upon hearing this, Mother Jiang rose from her seat with a swoosh: “That little harlot could even get the deceased’s name wrong—has Song Wan gone mad, not stopping this thing from being sent to Jinxiang Earl’s manor?”

“It has nothing to do with Wan’er. Jiayue slipped it into the correspondence herself and sent it to the ceremony office.”

“This fool!”

Mother Jiang trembled all over with rage, her hands shaking violently: “This stupid woman has harmed my son grievously…”

Jiang Xingjian stepped forward to comfort his weeping mother. Seeing that if he didn’t go to Jinxiang Earl’s manor soon he would miss the proper time, he finally said: “Your son likely cannot return home these next few days. I must trouble Mother to take extra care with the manor’s affairs. When Wan’er comes out from the small Buddhist hall, return the household management authority to her.”

“I understand. Go now and properly apologize to Jinxiang Earl’s manor.”

Speaking of this, Mother Jiang felt distressed again: “Our Marquis Manor’s century-old pure reputation has been completely ruined. How could such a foolish, stupid creature exist in this world?”

“Perhaps the ancestors of the Jiang family think me unfilial and deliberately sent such a thing to torment me.”

Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes. After a moment of silence, he left wordlessly.

He had thought the Marquis Manor’s posture was already low enough, but unexpectedly upon arriving at Jinxiang Earl’s manor, Jiang Xingjian was made to suffer considerably. When the other side heard he had come to kowtow and admit fault before the spirit, and that the Marquis Manor’s mistress had also relinquished household management authority and withdrawn to the small Buddhist hall, they were still unsatisfied. They forcefully pressured Jiang Xingjian into agreeing to keep vigil at Jinxiang Earl’s manor for half a month before the matter could be settled.

Jiang Xingjian felt that Jinxiang Earl’s manor was bullying him excessively, but Jinxiang Earl’s manor felt that even if he died in apology at the mourning hall, it still wouldn’t eliminate the hatred in their hearts.

The two sides remained at an impasse until finally Jiang Xingjian conceded.

Having already decided to make amends, it wouldn’t do to put on airs. It would be better to agree readily and perhaps gain a good reputation.

While Jiang Xingjian was detained at Jinxiang Earl’s manor, Song Wan, after finishing copying the transcendence sutras, helped connect the Bai and Lan families.

Without Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue’s interference, she had spent several quite pleasant days. Now seeing that Madam Lan was satisfied with the young lady of the Bai family, her mood became even more cheerful.

“Miss, has the marriage between the Lan and Bai families been settled?”

Song Wan replied: “Until the day the two families exchange betrothal cards, I dare not say it’s certain, but there’s at least an eighty percent chance.”

Xiang Cao sighed: “Third Miss is truly terribly foolish. She could actually push away such a fine marriage as the Lan family herself. Now she’s meeting with some Chen family or other—it’s truly lamentable.”

“Why do you say so?”

“Miss doesn’t know—the day before yesterday, Concubine Lin invited Madam Chen to the manor to appreciate flowers and also called Third Miss over. Madam Chen kept asking about Third Miss’s dowry with veiled words. Third Miss’s face turned deathly pale.”

Xiang Cao frowned: “How can someone inquire about an unmarried young lady’s dowry when not even a single character has been written yet? What’s detestable is that Concubine Lin, right in front of Third Miss, discussed dowry, betrothal gifts, and other wedding matters with Madam Chen at length.”

“This servant heard from a young maid at Yuan’an Courtyard that Third Miss’s face was deathly pale that day, and upon returning to her room, she cried for most of the day.”

How could one discuss marriage matters in front of an unmarried young woman? Lin Jiayue might not understand, but Madam Chen certainly would. For her to act this way was simply because she didn’t regard Jiang Jing highly.

Song Wan lowered her eyes and said softly: “With three generations of the manor’s mistresses all refusing to come forward to arrange her marriage, only sending a concubine to handle this matter, how could Madam Chen think highly of Jiang Jing? Directly asking about the dowry is merely because in this marriage arrangement, this is the only thing the Chen family values.”

“Miss, since the Chen family is so unsuitable, should you…”

Before Xiang Cao could finish speaking, Heng Zhi interrupted: “Do you think Miss stopped managing Third Miss’s marriage out of spite? But I must tell you—Miss cannot manage Third Miss’s marriage.”

“On the day of the grand banquet, Haitang Garden was full of madams from various families. Who couldn’t see that the Lan family came to view Third Miss? But how did she behave? She directly rejected both Madam Lan’s and Miss’s face. Those madams are all experienced people—how could they not see Third Miss’s thoughts?”

“When an unmarried young lady publicly picks and chooses her future husband’s family in front of everyone, which madam would allow her to enter their family?”

“When Miss said she was powerless, she was speaking the truth. In the capital, Third Miss won’t be able to marry into a good family. If we forcefully arrange her marriage to some family, wouldn’t that be rushing to have people curse Miss behind her back?”

“But if we find a family of lower standing, that long-armed one definitely won’t be satisfied. With pearls and jade before her, how could she tolerate losing a golden ruyi only to find a fire poker instead? When that time comes, there will inevitably be another round of complaints.”

Heng Zhi sighed: “Since nothing we do will be right, we might as well not manage it at all and let those willing to be overly capable and push themselves forward take charge. In any case, the long-armed one and the pushy one are in cahoots and happy to stir things up together.”

Xiang Cao’s eyes widened at this explanation: “So that’s how it is. Then Miss not managing it is the right approach.”

Song Wan listened to the two bickering and smiled faintly: “Heng Zhi is right. I truly cannot manage it.”

Moreover, compared to Jiang Xing, naturally her brother’s future was more important.

“Has Madam handed over the authority tablets to Lin Jiayue?”

Lv Zhu replied: “Not yet. Concubine Lin has been busy lately with matters concerning her shop outside. This servant only found out that she’s searching everywhere for workshops that make firecrackers. As for the household management authority in the manor, she hasn’t gotten her hands on it yet.”

Song Wan was puzzled: “Making firecrackers? She wants to open a firecracker shop?”

Everyone shook their heads. Song Wan propped up her chin, also full of confusion.

“Forget it. We’ll eventually know what she wants to do. Right now, the important matter is getting her to obtain the household management authority.”

Song Wan said: “Xiang Cao, go find out when Lin Jiayue visits Jiangxiang Courtyard.”

Presumably, before Jiang Xingjian left the manor, he had given instructions for Mother Jiang to temporarily manage household affairs. But now four or five days had passed, and Jiang Xingjian would probably return to the manor soon. If she didn’t make a move now, there might not be another opportunity.

Xiang Cao nodded in acknowledgment and ran out like a gust of wind. She didn’t return to Lanting Courtyard until the first quarter of the hour of shen.

“Miss, Concubine Lin and Huai Su are both at Jiangxiang Courtyard. Should we go now?”

“Let’s go. It’s been a long while since I paid respects to Madam. Today I should also go see how Madam’s illness is progressing. Besides, since Lin Jiayue has been making no moves, I should lend her a helping hand.”

After changing clothes, Song Wan went to Jiangxiang Courtyard with Heng Zhi and Heng Wu.

In Mother Jiang’s room, both Huai Su and Lin Jiayue were present. When Song Wan entered, several people were sitting around a table playing with flower cards. Laughter periodically came from the room—the appearance of masters and servants mingling together with no distinction between high and low was quite jarring to the eye.

However, this cheerful laughter instantly disappeared upon Song Wan’s arrival.

Huai Su stood up to bow to her. Lin Jiayue kept her head down, fiddling with the flower cards in her hand, pretending not to see. Mother Jiang, meanwhile, pulled a long face, her eyes full of displeasure at being interrupted.