After the group finished their meal, Song Fu escorted Duchess Yingguo, Ming Xiang, and the others back to the residence.

Thinking about how Song Fu and Ming Xiang had interacted earlier, Song Wan smiled faintly.

“I thought from the beginning that elder brother would like such an adorable young lady.”

Hearing this, Heng Zhi smiled with curved lips.

Miss Jiu was indeed a gentle and adorable wonderful person, very well-matched with the eldest young master.

Seeing their tender affection, she was also happy for the eldest young master.

Heng Wu turned her head to steal a glance at Heng Zhi. Seeing that she had let go of her feelings for Song Fu, she felt much more relaxed.

The eldest young master was not someone that servant girls like them could presume to aspire to.

The two efficiently tidied the house, then went to organize the items Song Fu had sent. Their young miss had left the marquis’s residence in haste, and many daily necessities hadn’t made it to this residence. Though they had sent out the valuable dowry items earlier, everything bestowed by Yun Fei was too grand to wear as everyday clothing.

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu selected some fabrics, preparing to make new autumn and winter garments for Song Wan.

The master and two servants lived a secluded life in the small courtyard, unaware that on Shen Qianyu’s side, using Song Wan’s methods, he had already planted many people in the court. Though these were inconspicuous positions, they could play an enormous role in critical moments.

At present, he was attending a memorial service at Marquis Chengyang’s residence under the identity of Xiao Jiye. Looking at the name on the memorial tablet, Shen Qianyu’s expression was solemn as he bowed in worship.

Song Fu stood beside him. Both their eyes brimmed with sorrow, yet they remained silent.

During this period, the capital had held too many funerals, but there were few households like Marquis Chengyang’s that held consecutive memorial services.

Few people came to offer condolences in the mourning hall. Shen Qianyu and Song Fu standing together made them particularly conspicuous.

“I didn’t expect elder brother to come today.”

“I’m not here for you.”

Jiang Xingjian, dragging his injured body, walked over with the support of servants. His injuries were severe—not only were there multiple fractures on his body, but the stab wound Song Wan had inflicted on his abdomen still hadn’t healed.

Thinking of how Song Wan had deliberately committed the act of attempting to kill her husband to eliminate future troubles so she could leave the marquis’s residence, Jiang Xingjian felt both hatred and pain.

“If elder brother has time, could you help this humble one persuade Wan’er to return to the residence soon?”

Song Fu raised his head to look at Jiang Xingjian. “No time.”

“I’ll trouble Brother Xiao to help me offer some more incense.”

Having said this, Song Fu turned and left, not sparing Jiang Xingjian another glance.

However, Shen Qianyu scrutinized him thoroughly from head to toe, secretly pondering that this fool probably still didn’t know just how brilliantly intelligent his wife was.

If only his brain weren’t so hopelessly stupid, Shen Qianyu wouldn’t have any opportunities in this world.

As Shen Qianyu sighed again that fate was destiny, he realized he wasn’t actually the most miserable one.

Looking again at Jiang Xingjian—a marquis with dull, lusterless gray-yellow hair, dry cracked whitish lips, his entire person disheveled and wretched—he couldn’t help but nod secretly.

This whole family had terrible luck.

Remembering that concubine with ordinary looks but extraordinarily formidable methods, Shen Qianyu once again regretted not being able to recruit such a talented strategist under his command.

Being examined from left to right by him, Jiang Xingjian’s expression darkened further. “How should this young master be addressed? Why do you stare at this marquis so?”

“My humble surname is Xiao. The marquis is overthinking—this humble one merely has some knowledge of divination. Just now, observing the marquis’s facial features, I saw that the marquis’s fortune this year is unfavorable, indicating a difficult life path, a fate of loneliness and inability to succeed throughout life. I merely wished to offer a few words of guidance.”

As soon as these words fell, all the servants of Marquis Chengyang’s household immediately straightened their backs. Some guards even rolled up their sleeves angrily, glaring at Shen Qianyu.

Jiang Xingjian’s expression was also ugly as he bit his teeth without speaking.

“This humble one offers the marquis one piece of advice: after remarrying, treat your new wife better.”

Having said this, Shen Qianyu strode away.

Jiang Xingjian was so enraged that his throat tasted of blood, nearly coughing up a mouthful.

Recently, thanks to Song Wan, he had gained much. Feeling grateful in his heart, after leaving Marquis Chengyang’s residence, Shen Qianyu felt he had vented some anger on Song Wan’s behalf.

After thinking, he went to a shop in the city to prepare the Six Rites of Discipleship.

Although Song Wan was a woman, in Shen Qianyu’s heart, she was more qualified than anyone to be an emperor’s teacher.

Knowing that Song Wan valued rules and propriety, he took the ceremony of taking a master very seriously. All six ritual gifts were wrapped with red string and red paper, and he specially wrote a formal discipleship letter.

Before putting brush to paper, Shen Qianyu thought for a long time, ultimately writing down the Crown Prince’s name.

After preparing everything properly, carrying red beans, dried longans, lotus seeds, dried meat, and other items, he went to the residence in the capital’s outskirts.

Song Wan’s residence was in an excellent location. Though others lived in the surrounding area, only one residence was relatively close. A few days ago, he had already purchased that residence and placed several Dong Chang sentries inside.

Thinking of how Jiang Xingjian still coveted Song Wan today, Shen Qianyu felt his actions weren’t in vain.

If Song Wan truly returned to the marquis’s residence, it would cost him half his kingdom.

Just as he was pondering how to make Jiang Xingjian abandon the idea of bringing Song Wan back to the residence, Shen Qianyu saw a graceful figure emerge from the residence ahead.

Though the person wore a veiled hat, he recognized her as Song Wan at a glance.

Seeing her board a carriage with Madam Song, Shen Qianyu felt somewhat disappointed.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to entrust the Six Rites to Heng Zhi and Heng Wu first.

“Oh my, Eunuch has come at an unfortunate time. Our young miss just left with the madam.”

Old Lady Lang was all smiles as she welcomed Shen Qianyu inside.

Shen Qianyu casually asked, “I came today to deliver gifts—this is indeed unfortunate timing.”

“It truly is a bit unfortunate. Usually our young miss stays at the residence. Only today the madam came to fetch her, saying that Duke Yingguo’s household invited both the eldest young master and the young miss to gather together. The eldest young master has been waiting in the city for quite some time. If you had arrived a bit earlier, you might have met them.”

“Young Master Song?”

“That’s right. Does the eunuch know our eldest young master?”

Shen Qianyu frowned slightly, gave a perfunctory response, declined Old Lady Lang’s suggestion to come inside for tea, and left on his own.

However, he had barely gone far when he felt something was very wrong.

A household like Duke Yingguo’s would certainly send invitations several days in advance. Today, Song Fu went with him to offer condolences at Marquis Chengyang’s residence—how could he simultaneously have accepted an invitation from Duke Yingguo’s household?

Shen Qianyu frowned and turned back, heading in the direction the carriage had departed.

Inside the carriage, Song Wan sat silently to one side. Madam Song held a handkerchief and lowered her gaze, saying, “It’s truly improper for you to live alone outside now. For instance, when Duke Yingguo’s household extended an invitation today, I, as an elder, had to come fetch you. If word got out, wouldn’t that be unseemly?”

Song Wan didn’t speak, having no desire to discuss such matters with Madam Song.

Madam Song paid her no mind and continued on her own. “Some time ago, I arranged a marriage between Yao’er and the Cui family. What do you think?”

Song Wan said, “The Cui family is noble and pure, moreover a household of benevolence and proper etiquette. If second younger sister marries into it, she will surely live in harmony with her husband like the zither and lute, loving each other till their hair turns white.”

Madam Song said indifferently, “Indeed so, except it’s now fallen through. The Cui family canceled the marriage arrangement with Yao’er because of you. The master also told me to drop the matter.”

“Wan’er, as the eldest legitimate daughter of the marquis’s household, how could you not know that your current conduct of privately fleeing the residence would implicate your clan sisters? Listen to mother’s advice—return to the marquis’s residence.”

As soon as these words fell, before Song Wan could respond, Madam Song lifted the carriage curtain.

The carriage had arrived at a deserted area. Four or five old women from Marquis Chengyang’s household stood ahead.

Leading them was Jiang Fu’s wife. Upon seeing Song Wan, she quickly said, “Madam has stayed at her maiden home long enough. Today, please return to the residence with this old servant. The marquis is already waiting for Madam at the residence.”