Lin Jiayue held Jiang Xing, crying and laughing at the same time. After venting her emotions, she helped Jiang Xing comb her hair and change her clothes. Qing Wei was temporarily managing the household affairs in the manor, but because she wasn’t a master of the household, she found Lin Jiayue’s unreasonable behavior extremely vexing.

Seeing Lin Jiayue clamoring to have clothes tailored and shoes made for Jiang Xing, Qing Wei checked the account books and discovered that clothing had clearly already been distributed to the second branch, yet she still had to have several new sets made.

Jiang Xing tugged at Lin Jiayue’s hand and said quietly: “The manor did make them, but Mother took them all away.”

Most of the clothing and other items distributed by the manor would be taken by Concubine Liu and given to Liu Chengxiang for him to pawn for money. Sometimes clothing worth eight or five taels of silver would only get her two or three hundred coins from Liu Chengxiang, yet she never tired of it.

Her older brother said Mother was stupidly thick-headed, and she felt her brother was right.

Thinking of Jiang Yan, Jiang Xing’s eyes reddened with sadness.

“Don’t worry about those things. From now on, I’ll look after you.”

Lin Jiayue pulled Jiang Xing along, looking at everything in the marquis manor with calm eyes.

As the two were walking toward Xiuyan Pavilion, they saw Madam Jiang with a pale face, striding over aggressively with Steward Qi’s wife. Lin Jiayue frowned slightly and pulled Jiang Xing back to Xiuyan Pavilion.

“Jiang Xing, you must remember that curiosity killed the cat. The less an unclever person knows, the longer they live.”

Jiang Xing nodded and returned to Xiuyan Pavilion with Lin Jiayue.

As soon as Madam Jiang entered the main courtyard gate, she dismissed all the servants. Even Huai Su was sent away by her.

“What matter does Mother have?”

With only mother and son remaining in the room, Madam Jiang’s eyes were bloodshot: “No wonder that wretched woman would rather injure you than privately flee the manor—she already had a lover outside, yet you still protect her everywhere.”

“What nonsense is Mother talking about?”

Madam Jiang said sternly: “Nonsense? You have Steward Qi’s wife tell you what good deeds that wretched woman has been doing outside.”

Steward Qi’s wife stepped forward with a wooden expression and recounted to Jiang Xingjian what she had seen at night—a tall man entering and leaving Song Wan’s residence.

“Wan’er would never do such a thing.”

“Never?”

Madam Jiang pressed her forehead: “You still protect her even now, but how has she treated you? And what wouldn’t she do? If she truly followed wifely conduct, she wouldn’t have preferred to stab you rather than absolutely insist on severing ties and leaving the manor.”

“Given Song Wan’s learning and character, she would absolutely never do such an improper thing. Mother need not speak further—the Chengyang Marquis Manor cannot withstand another storm like this.”

Madam Jiang gritted her teeth, hating his lack of ambition.

Jiang Xingjian had Steward Qi’s wife escort Madam Jiang back to Jiangxiang Courtyard while he closed his eyes to ponder this matter.

From his understanding of Song Wan, she absolutely was not the type to degrade herself or lose her head. Nor did he believe any man could catch her eye.

But Steward Qi’s wife would certainly not lie, so…

Jiang Xingjian summoned Song Yan and had him send people to watch Song Wan’s residence.

He now suspected that residence might just be a smokescreen—either someone else was living there, or that man’s identity was problematic.

Just as Song Yan left, Tao Hong entered.

Tao Hong was also a servant at Jiang Xingjian’s side, except he usually traveled outside gathering information for the marquis manor. He hadn’t returned for quite some time. Today, as soon as he entered the manor, he hurried to find Jiang Xingjian.

“My lord, it’s done.”

“Now in five locations—Ningshan City, Qingnan County, Raohe Ancient Village, Zha River, and Jiangdong Town—rare and precious pearls have appeared in the world. The local magistrates have already sent the items to the capital by express horse. This humble one has also spread related matters everywhere according to Master’s instructions.”

“Moreover, the stone stele with the character ‘Shu’ appeared out of nowhere in East Dragon City, which has also caused much speculation among the common people.”

“Now white auspicious deer, golden carp, or temples displaying seven-colored auspicious light have appeared in various places.”

Jiang Xingjian asked: “That thing she gave can really display seven-colored auspicious light?”

“Replying to Master, this humble one followed what Concubine Lin said and placed that thing under the sun. It indeed displayed seven-colored auspicious light.”

Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes. After a moment of silence, he had Tao Hong continue spreading the news in the capital.

News of auspicious omens appearing in various places quickly spread throughout the capital, and rumors said these auspicious signs were all related to the number “five.”

Song Yuning sat in Changxin Palace, her heart aching as she looked at Shen Qianbai with medicinal cloths applied to his face.

Entering the imperial family, sometimes certain matters weren’t things they were willing to compete for or wanted to compete for. But if they didn’t compete, what would be sacrificed was themselves, or even the lives of their entire clan.

Raising her hand to change the medicinal cloth on Shen Qianbai’s face, Song Yuning carefully wiped away the blood scabs for him.

“This servant sees that the Third Prince has improved considerably. Now only the area under his eyes is still somewhat obvious—his face shows very few traces.”

Song Yuning nodded: “Indeed so.”

Seeing this, Cai Jia knelt on the ground and said in a low voice: “Your Ladyship, everyone outside is saying that the Fifth Prince is a true dragon descended to earth. Although they’re currently wary of His Majesty, the important court ministers and the common people of the realm all…”

“No need to say more.”

“Qianbai cannot compete with him, nor can he compete anymore.”

After covering Shen Qianbai with the quilt, Song Yuning murmured: “The Song clan has already given up on Qianbai. Although I know this is the best way to preserve the Song family, I cannot accept it in my heart either.”

“Yet I must also admit that Qianbai, he…”

“If I still want to leave Qianbai with his life, I cannot continue pushing him to pursue that impossible dream.”

She, Song Yuning, could afford to fight, and naturally could afford to lose.

“Jiang Man’s scheming and methods are only so much. At the Lantern Festival, she borrowed the First Prince’s power to injure Qianbai. In the future, I won’t give her another chance.”

“I will protect Qianbai as he grows up. When he is enfeoffed as a prince and leaves the palace, this palace will have accomplished its mission and can retire.”

Song Yuning smoothed Shen Qianbai’s disheveled hair that had become damp with sweat, saying gently: “Being a carefree prince may not necessarily be a bad thing.”

“Will Your Ladyship just allow Shen Qianshu to ascend and let Jiang Man ride over your head?”

Song Yuning said: “I also don’t want to let him ascend, but could it be that someone in this rear palace can still give birth to a Sixth Prince?”

After speaking, she laughed coldly: “Moreover, what does it matter if Shen Qianshu ascends? His victory doesn’t represent Jiang Man’s victory.”

If there was truly no other way, she didn’t want to watch her enemy’s son ascend the throne as emperor either.

As the two were conversing in low voices, a palace maid came from outside to report that a young eunuch was requesting an audience.

“What sort of thing can gain an audience with Her Ladyship these days? Why haven’t you sent him away?”

“That eunuch presented this item and said it must be shown to Your Ladyship.”

Cai Jia received the item and presented it before Song Yuning.

Song Yuning opened it. Seeing the lustrous, pink pearl inside, she quickly said: “Invite the person in.”

Shen Qianyu hunched his body as he followed a palace lady into the sleeping chamber of Changxin Palace. Song Yuning’s gaze looked him up and down, then she said to Cai Jia: “All of you withdraw.”

“Your Ladyship…”

“Withdraw.”

After dismissing everyone in the hall, Song Yuning frowned and said: “You are not a palace eunuch. Who are you?”

Shen Qianyu raised his eyebrow slightly, thinking to himself that women who navigated the rear palace were indeed all extraordinary.

He stood up, his tall frame appearing before Song Yuning. Just as he raised his head, he saw the pearl in her hand.