On the first day of June, Jiang Lizhu supported Dou Zhao as they made their way to the residence where Jiang Yan was temporarily staying.
Jiang Yan wore a lake-colored silk robe, paired with a snow-white embroidered skirt. Her long, dark hair was elegantly pinned up with a plum blossom silver hairpin, giving her a fresh and graceful appearance, reminiscent of a delicate little daffodil. Dou Zhao couldn’t help but nod in approval.
It took Jiang Lizhu a moment to regain her composure as she murmured, “She looks just like my aunt’s portrait from when she came of age! If it weren’t for the bright daylight, I would think my aunt had come back to see me.”
Hearing this, Dou Zhao felt a stir in her heart and said to Jiang Yan, “Since you’re going to meet your elders, your outfit is a bit too plain. Why not change into that stone blue robe embroidered with pink plum blossoms? It would be more appropriate. After meeting your elders, you can switch back to this one.”
“Stone blue in this heat?” Jiang Lizhu exclaimed in surprise.
However, Jiang Yan obediently replied with an “Oh,” and allowed her maid to assist her in changing clothes.
Dou Zhao turned to Jiang Lizhu and said, “I remember that in the portrait of my grandmother, she wore a stone blue robe embroidered with silver-white plum blossoms.”
Jiang Lizhu suddenly realized, “So my cousin had prepared for this all along!”
“Not exactly,” Dou Zhao replied. “Since I told outsiders that Yan is a widow returning home, I thought it best to prepare a slightly darker outfit to match the occasion. Luckily, I found this fabric.”
Jiang Lizhu sighed, “Perhaps this is fate!”
As they spoke, Jiang Yan emerged from the room, assisted by her maid.
Dou Zhao recalled that in the portrait of Madam Jiang, she wore a golden peony the size of a wine cup at her collar. After some thought, she found a yellow jade osmanthus brooch in her jewelry box and pinned it on Jiang Yan. After a final inspection, they both climbed into the sedan chair.
Throughout the journey, Jiang Yan tightly clutched her handkerchief. Dou Zhao spoke to her in a gentle tone, gradually helping her relax. However, as they approached the gates of Duke Ying’s residence, Jiang Yan’s expression tensed once more. Dou Zhao gently patted her hand and led her down from the sedan.
Song Mo had specifically ordered the gates of Duke Ying’s residence to be opened to welcome Jiang Yan. The household’s prominent stewards and matrons stood lined up inside and outside the flower-draped gate to greet her.
Jiang Yan trembled in fear, her eyes darting around like a frightened deer, but she bravely held her head high and entered the flower-draped gate alongside Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao secretly admired her courage and gave her an encouraging glance. Jiang Yan managed a forced smile as they proceeded to the Xiangxiang Courtyard.
Today, Song Yichun and Song Mo were both on leave. Early in the morning, Song Yichun had been cornered by Song Mo in his room, discussing the estate in Daxing that had been granted by the emperor. He listened absentmindedly until Song Han came to pay his respects, while Song Mo continued to talk about the annual profits from the estate.
Growing impatient, he finally asked, “What exactly do you want to say?”
Song Mo smiled and replied, “I noticed that the estate is only two or three miles from the one the emperor granted me. Father, why not just give me that estate? It would save us the trouble of managing two estates totaling just over two thousand mu.”
Song Yichun was so furious he began to stomp his feet. The estate granted to Song Mo was only fifty mu, while Duke Ying’s estate boasted two thousand two hundred mu, a gift from the late Emperor Taizu. If they were to merge the estates, it should be Song Mo’s estate that was incorporated into Duke Ying’s, not the other way around. Song Mo was trying to seize his property!
His face darkened as he called out to Song Han, “Tian’en, your brother wants me to give him the two thousand two hundred mu estate in Daxing for free. What do you think?”
Song Han looked bewildered and replied, “Isn’t Duke Ying’s residence going to belong to my brother in the future? What’s wrong with giving him the Daxing estate?”
Song Yichun was nearly infuriated to the point of fainting. He had seen foolishness before, but never anything as foolish as this.
Irritated, he retorted, “The court’s laws state that while titles are not divided, family property can be evenly distributed.”
Song Han responded with a simple “Oh,” and asked innocently, “So does that mean Father plans to divide the Daxing estate between me and my brother?”
Song Yichun clutched his chest, speechless for a long moment.
Song Mo observed the exchange with a cold gaze, leisurely sipping his tea.
Song Han, like a little puppy, approached, “Brother, is this tea really good? Can I have a taste?”
“This is the tea from Father’s room,” Song Mo replied indifferently, instructing a maid to pour a cup for Song Han. “If you like it, just ask Father for some.”
Song Han happily replied, “Yes!”
Under his breath, Song Yichun muttered “fool” and stood up to head to the study.
However, Song Mo pressed him for a decision, “What do you say about the estate? Should I just give the order?”
Song Yichun felt a sense of unease. Although his son was clever, he had never cared much for wealth. What was going on today? Was he plotting something again?
Feeling unsettled, he returned to the hall and sat down, saying, “The estate in Daxing was granted to you by the emperor as your private property; Duke Ying’s estate is public property. It’s best not to confuse the two.”
Song Mo pressed on, “I remember Mother once said that when Grandfather passed away, he divided part of the public property for Father as private property. This shows that public property is not untouchable.”
A surge of anger boiled in Song Yichun’s chest. “I’m not dead yet! You can wait until I die before you covet the public property!”
“Father, I don’t like what you just said,” Song Mo replied coolly. “How can my family’s property be described as ‘coveting’? You seem fond of labeling people! Last time you called me ‘unfilial,’ and now it’s ‘coveting.’ Is that how you see me?”
As he and Song Yichun exchanged sharp words, Song Han could only stand by awkwardly.
Just then, a servant rushed in, announcing, “Lord Duke, Young Master, Second Master, the lady, and the twelfth Miss Jiang from the Jiang family have come to pay their respects.”
Song Yichun was taken aback. “Which Miss Jiang has come to the capital?”
Song Mo simply replied, “You’ll know when you see her.”
Song Yichun frowned deeply.
However, Song Han’s face turned pale.
Song Mo merely smiled and remained silent, moving to the door to greet them.
Song Yichun couldn’t just leave, so he sat in the grand chair and waited.
Soon, Dou Zhao and Jiang Lizhu arrived, accompanying Jiang Yan to the entrance.
Upon seeing Jiang Yan, who looked weak and on the verge of collapse, Song Mo gently supported her into the hall.
As Song Yichun was about to sip his tea, he froze, and the teacup clattered to the ground.
“Hui Sun,” he stared at Jiang Yan, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “You… how did you come here? I thought you were dead?” He murmured, suddenly jumping up and retreating, “Between the realms of the living and the dead, you are a ghost, and I am a human. Don’t scare me; be careful or your soul might scatter…”
He backed into the incense table in the hall, unable to retreat further, causing the tea set on the table to crash to the ground.
Dou Zhao and Song Mo exchanged glances.
Song Yichun was married to Madam Jiang; even if they were separated by life and death, did he need to be this frightened?
Jiang Yan, however, turned pale.
Although her sister-in-law had not explicitly stated it, the implication was clear: her current situation was entirely her father’s fault. She had hesitated to believe it before, but now her father was avoiding her like a ghost… Her sister-in-law had not lied to her!
Understanding this, she felt a pang of sadness, her eyes reddening as she lowered her head.
Jiang Lizhu, who had been watching her closely, hurriedly took Jiang Yan’s hand and sighed inwardly.
Her uncle, just as her sister-in-law had said, only pretended to be warm towards the Jiang family while harboring disdain in his heart.
Perhaps this was for the best. The Duke Ying’s residence could continue on its path of glory, while the Jiang family could remain as humble gentry, avoiding conflict.
She softly comforted Jiang Yan, “It’s alright; you look too much like your aunt, which probably startled the Duke.”
Jiang Yan nodded numbly.
But then Song Han jumped in.
He grabbed Song Yichun and shouted, “Father, what’s wrong with you? The Jiang family’s cousin is waiting to pay her respects; don’t scare her away!”
Song Yichun was taken aback and snapped back to reality.
His gaze swept over the expressionless Song Mo before settling on Jiang Yan’s face.
The Jiang family had always been confident and proud; how could this girl appear so timid?
Moreover, she looked too young. When she was painted, she had just given birth to Song Mo, and this girl seemed barely of age.
Song Yichun let out a long sigh of relief.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he settled into the grand chair, adopting an air of arrogance, resembling a formidable duke. He reprimanded Song Mo, “Since she is a lady, let Dou Zhao attend to her. What is the meaning of bringing her before me? Hurry and send her away!”
Song Mo exchanged a glance with Chen He.
Chen He quickly led Jiang Lizhu and Jiang Yan away.
The servants in the room hurriedly followed suit, leaving the spacious hall with only Song Yichun, Song Mo, Dou Zhao, and Song Han remaining.
Song Mo smiled and said, “Just so Father knows, this young lady is not surnamed Jiang; her surname is Li, and her given name is Yigui. She is the daughter of Li Tiao.”
Before he could finish, Song Yichun’s face turned pale with shock.
“Not long ago, Li Liang came to find me, claiming that Yigui is my sister and asking me to bring her home. I know that Li Tiao was once your concubine, but you and she severed ties seventeen years ago. How could I suddenly have a sister? When I met Yigui, I was even more puzzled: how could a child born to Li Tiao look just like my mother?”
“What kind of person is Li Liang?” Song Yichun interrupted angrily, “He casually finds someone who resembles your mother and claims her as a sister? Have you lost your mind? And you brought her home? Don’t you fear being ridiculed? I certainly do! Hurry and send her away!” He added, “Where’s Li Liang? Bring him to me; he won’t escape the charge of ‘false kinship’! He extorted me once, and I let him go for Li Tiao’s sake. I never expected him to be so audacious as to come to you! You needn’t bother with him; just beat him to death. I’ll handle the authorities!”
Knowing this would happen, Dou Zhao still felt a pang of sadness upon hearing Song Yichun’s words.
Fortunately, she had advised Jiang Lizhu to take Jiang Yan away beforehand; otherwise, if Jiang Yan had heard Song Yichun’s remarks, she would likely have preferred to follow Li Liang than step into the Song family’s door.