Before the great Mid-Autumn banquet, the Chengyang Marquis Residence was busy making mooncakes and fruit offerings, hanging lanterns and changing the silk decorations. Song Wan sat in her room with Heng Zhi and Heng Wu making paper lanterns. Seeing the lantern was plain, she picked up her brush to write a few characters. Just as she was busy with this, a young maid came from outside to report that Madam Song had arrived.

Having someone tidy up everything, Song Wan went to the main hall of Lanting Courtyard.

Yesterday, Song Mother had sent someone with a calling card, but Song Wan didn’t know why she would come visiting before and after this major festival—the Song Residence should also be busy at this time.

After welcoming her inside, Song Wan obediently sat to the side after pouring tea for her.

Song Mother took a light sip and sighed: “I too am unwilling to come seeking you, but truly the residence now has no other solution.”

She fixed her gaze on Song Wan and spoke directly: “Do you know what Fu’er has done in order to get you to leave the Chengyang Marquis Residence?”

Song Wan raised her head to look at Madam Song.

“The marriage arrangement between our family and Duke Yingguo’s residence has already been settled. Your elder brother and the Ninth Young Miss have exchanged betrothal cards, and the marriage contract has also been sent. Your father asked him to pay a visit on Mid-Autumn, but he absolutely refuses to agree no matter what.”

Song Wan furrowed her brows without saying a word.

The Song Residence valued propriety. Duke Yingguo’s residence was Elder Brother’s wife’s clan—during major festivals, one must pay visits. Now that the marriage was settled, he should especially go to the residence to pay respects. If he didn’t go, not only would it lose the Song Residence’s reputation for literary and ritual traditions, it would also be equivalent to publicly insulting Duke Yingguo’s residence.

If it came to this, the two families would end up as enemies instead of forming a marriage alliance.

“You’ve understood propriety since childhood, so you should understand that such behavior is extremely improper.”

“Recently your elder brother has only been searching for a residence in the capital, even defying your father over this. Watching it makes my heart uneasy.”

“Fu’er has just entered the Ministry of Personnel. If people learn he is so rebellious and unfilial, opposing his birth father for his younger sister’s sake, not only will your reputation suffer—even his official career will be buried as a result.”

Madam Song pulled a property deed from her bosom and gently pushed it in front of Song Wan: “The residence Fu’er chose for you is not far from Zhitong Temple in the capital suburbs.”

“I previously had someone inquire about it—it’s an extremely beautiful and peaceful place.”

“I know you siblings have been close since childhood, and I also know you would never agree to him acting so recklessly.”

“Within the Song Residence, anything can be discussed, but losing face outside is another matter entirely. Mother also doesn’t want you to gain a reputation as a married daughter who implicates her maternal clan and father and brothers.”

“Moreover, even if you don’t consider yourself, you must consider your own future children and your elder brother’s future children.”

“Implicating your elder brother’s unborn child with the stigma of having an unfilial father—Mother guesses you surely couldn’t bear it.”

“In a few days will be the great Mid-Autumn banquet. Before entering the palace, your elder brother will also go see the lantern lighting. If you see him, please try to persuade him.”

After Madam Song finished speaking, she rose to leave, but Song Wan said: “Mother, you haven’t finished your tea yet. Why not sit a while longer?”

Knowing she had something to say, Madam Song sat back down.

“Wan’er understands Elder Brother’s temperament best. He would never defy Father. Moreover, Elder Brother has always valued his promises—he would never agree to Duke Yingguo’s residence’s marriage proposal only to go back on it halfway.”

Picking up the property deed before her, Song Wan smiled gently: “It truly is a good place. Elder Brother has put much thought into it.”

Carefully putting away the property deed, Song Wan looked at Song Mother: “Mother is Father’s second wife. You married in late, so it’s natural you don’t understand Elder Brother’s temperament. But as a member of the Song family, saying ‘defiance’ with every breath, saying ‘recklessness’ with every word… isn’t that rather lacking in propriety?”

“Before outsiders even splash dirty water on us, why must you rush to place the hat of unfiliality on Elder Brother’s head?”

“Mother says Elder Brother won’t go to Duke Yingguo’s residence—why not say that the family failed to fulfill what was promised to Elder Brother?”

“Since the residence broke the agreement first, Elder Brother acting thus is only human nature.”

Upon hearing this, Song Mother’s brows knitted tightly: “The meaning of your words—do you agree with your elder brother taking you away from the Marquis Residence? Do you know that in the Song and Su families’ hundred-year history, there has never been a woman divorced or granted peaceful separation?”

Song Wan clutched her handkerchief, pressing her lips tightly together. Seeing her like this, Madam Song’s tone softened somewhat: “When a woman marries, encountering some difficulties is quite ordinary. Never mind you—even those of higher status have times when things don’t go smoothly.”

“Right now you and the Chengyang Marquis don’t yet have offspring. Once you have offspring, things will improve in the future.”

Song Wan lowered her eyes without saying a word.

“What woman in this world can have everything go smoothly? If everyone clamored for their fathers and brothers to take them home over every little dissatisfaction, wouldn’t the world fall into chaos?”

“Mother advises you to endure a bit more.”

“This child understands.”

Song Wan rose to see Song Mother out of Lanting Courtyard.

Heng Zhi carefully attended from the side but didn’t dare come forward.

Heng Wu had an impatient nature and hurriedly asked: “Miss, will we just let this be?”

“Let it be?”

Song Wan murmured: “In the past, I was singularly afraid of implicating the residence and the reputation of the clan’s children, so I endured everywhere and kept to my proper place. But now, because I’m concerned about this empty reputation, Elder Brother is being controlled by others.”

“As long as I remain in the Marquis Residence for one day, Elder Brother won’t be at ease for one day, and will be controlled by others for one day.”

“Worrying about my life and death, my safety—having Elder Brother led around by the nose for his entire life, I truly cannot accept it.”

“I did it for reputation, for the clan, yet I’ve only harmed my closest legitimate elder brother. What kind of reasoning is this?”

Song Wan picked up the property deed on the table and laughed lightly: “The residence knows I value reputation and care about the family clan, so they use this to manipulate me. They also know Elder Brother values relationships and promises, making us two siblings implicate each other, mutually restrain each other, and serve as each other’s shackles. They’ve truly calculated everything perfectly.”

She handed the deed to Heng Zhi: “Investigate where this location is.”

Heng Zhi took the property deed and left the courtyard to inquire.

In Lanting Courtyard, most of her dowry had already been sent away. Now the only thing she couldn’t bear to part with was that room full of books.

Looking at the study, Song Wan reluctantly packed up some rare editions that were truly difficult to find.

She was sorry to the Song Residence and the young ladies of the Song clan, but Elder Brother and Aunt were more important than anything or anyone else in this world. If worldly society truly couldn’t tolerate her, she would cut off her hair and become a nun, thereby giving the Song Residence an explanation.

In any case, even if she died, she would never again give anyone the opportunity to coerce Elder Brother by threatening her.

Song Wan picked up her brush again, peacefully inscribing characters on the flower lantern, thinking of nothing else.

After making the flower lanterns and hanging them throughout Lanting Courtyard, the day of the great Mid-Autumn banquet arrived.

Song Wan rose early and began preparing the clothing and accessories needed for the evening’s banquet. Because they would first go before Dengtian Tower to watch the Third Prince light the lanterns, then go to the palace for the banquet, she prepared two sets of headdresses.

“Miss, this clothing sent by the embroidery workshop—how did it come unraveled?”

Heng Wu brought the garment over, only then discovering there was a mark about an inch long on the front, pulled by who knows what.

“See if it can be mended. If not, change to that auspicious treasure and floral pattern brocade skirt that Aunt sent previously.”

“This servant will take a look.”

Song Wan had just nodded when she suddenly felt a twisting pain in her abdomen, extremely unbearable.

In just a moment, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Heng Zhi’s eyes were full of worry, and she hurriedly had the residence’s young maids fetch the residence physician.

“The First Madam has consumed something incompatible, which is why this has happened.”

The residence physician had Heng Wu bring over the food Song Wan had eaten earlier. After examining each item one by one, he pointed at one of the dishes: “This is veratrum.”

“Veratrum is bitter and cold, and toxic. The First Madam mistakenly ate this substance, which is why her abdominal pain won’t stop.”

“Who has such audacity to actually dare poison our Miss?”