Song Wan smiled gently. “It’s no trouble, I can handle it.”

Seeing Ji Rong’s concern, Song Wan felt warmth in her heart and reminded him, “Jiang Xingjian must have guessed just now that I have some connection with the Eastern Palace. I hope Eunuch can remind the Crown Prince not to let him ruin His Highness’s plans.”

“He won’t be able to ruin anything. In any case, the Crown Prince will be attending court in the next few days, and the world will know that the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is alive and well.”

Song Wan slightly pursed her lips, not expecting the Crown Prince to act so quickly.

Previously, she had thought the Crown Prince would remain dormant for a while longer, but now she didn’t know what had happened to make him change his mind.

As she pondered this silently, Shen Qianyu furrowed his brow slightly. “If the Marquis Estate pressures you too much, Miss Song can seek help from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Song Wan smiled faintly. “Such a small matter doesn’t warrant disturbing His Highness.”

“A woman follows her father, follows her brother, follows her husband. Regarding severing ties with Jiang Xingjian, aside from my father and elder brother, no one else can help. If I really spoke of it to others, it would only trouble them needlessly.”

“Eunuch need not worry yourself over this young lady—it’s no hindrance.”

Song Wan’s eyes carried a reassuring smile. As the young woman’s gaze flowed, her eyes and brows revealed a sweetness and charm rarely seen before.

Shen Qianyu’s eyes deepened, a slight discomfort stirring in his heart.

He suddenly realized that Song Wan was not as clever as he had imagined.

She had considered everyone—the Song family, Song Fu, Song Yuning, Ji Rong whom she had only briefly met in the palace, even the Crown Prince whom she had yet to see.

Yet she had never considered herself, nor had she lived a single day for herself.

She seemed like a person beyond worldly concerns, devoid of joy or sorrow. In her youth, she emanated an almost deathly tolerance, like someone approaching the end of their days.

Shen Qianyu didn’t know why, but in this moment he suddenly felt somewhat angry.

This anger came from nowhere—he couldn’t explain it, couldn’t articulate it.

Song Wan noticed his continuously somber expression and assumed he had encountered some thorny matter today. She didn’t inquire further, only went inside and brought out a stack of books.

“These books should benefit His Highness. I trouble Eunuch to deliver them on my behalf.”

Shen Qianyu’s gaze swept over them. He saw that the books Song Wan handed him were brand new and tidy, the binding cords from the bookshop still untied.

She was avoiding suspicion.

Even with just a few books, she would not give anyone grounds for gossip.

Shen Qianyu accepted them and looked up at the person before him, his heart catching. If she later discovered he was not a eunuch, he wondered what she would think.

This oppressive feeling persisted even after he returned to his own residence.

Wan Xiao only saw him return carrying a stack of books, his complexion ashen. That grief-stricken appearance made Wan Xiao grimace.

“Why are you still here?”

Wan Xiao had someone bring wine and invited Shen Qianyu to join him.

He said nothing, thinking he wouldn’t receive that inexplicable scolding today.

Placing the books in his hands on the stone stool beside him, Shen Qianyu dined with Wan Xiao. When the wine reached its peak, he frowned and recounted Jiang Xingjian’s visit to Song Wan’s residence today.

Wan Xiao picked up a piece of braised meat and said casually, “The Marquis of Chengyang isn’t wrong either. Although the Song family’s legitimate daughter clamored about severing ties, without the consent of both clan patriarchs opening the ancestral shrine, if they refuse to acknowledge it in the future, there seems to be nothing anyone can do.”

He had never seen a woman who truly dared to forcibly sever ties and separate using charges of assault and injury.

This Song Wan could be called the first person in the capital.

“Although there are laws regarding this matter, there are no precedents. It’s hard to say how it will end.”

“Even if Song Lan’an suddenly came over now to send his daughter back to the Marquis Estate, no one could stop him.”

Never mind that his master was the Crown Prince—even the Emperor had no grounds to prevent a husband and wife from reuniting.

Wan Xiao had just lifted his chopsticks and was about to put the braised meat into his mouth when he heard Shen Qianyu say in a heavy voice, “What do you know? All day you only know how to eat and drink. Since you don’t understand, why speak nonsense?”

Thinking that Song Wan might be sent back to the Marquis of Chengyang Estate, Shen Qianyu felt inexplicably irritated.

He was someone who respected teachers and valued doctrine. How could he personally watch Song Wan, who had shown him the kindness of a teacher, return to that pit of fire?

Shen Qianyu gripped the wine pot with an agitated appearance.

Wan Xiao sighed helplessly. “Then why don’t you tell me how to resolve this matter?”

Shen Qianyu considered briefly, then said, “What if these two people remarry or wed another?”

“If they both have other marriage arrangements during this period, wouldn’t that tacitly invalidate this relationship?”

Wan Xiao frowned. “There’s no precedent, but it should be so.”

“Only the Marquis of Chengyang Estate’s reputation is already ruined—they shouldn’t do such a thing. Moreover, Master will be preparing to enter court in the next few days. This subordinate speculates that Jiang Fei and Jiang Xingjian will only observe and assess Your true strength in secret, and won’t take any outrageous actions during this period.”

“Moreover, the Marquis of Chengyang Estate cannot find a more suitable candidate than the Song family.”

“If Master truly forms a rival court with the Third Prince, creating a mutually constraining situation, the Marquis of Chengyang Estate will grasp the Song Estate even more tightly. Shen Qianbai is no longer a threat—it’s not impossible for the Song and Jiang families to change from enemies to allies.”

It should be said that Jiang Man would use every method to win over the Song Estate.

Hearing this, Shen Qianyu lightly pinched his fingertips. “Then what if Song Wan remarries?”

Speaking of remarriage, Shen Qianyu’s heart suddenly trembled.

Wan Xiao said carelessly, “Remarry to whom? The Song Estate’s daughter injuring her husband and severing ties is already a shocking scandal. This legitimate daughter remarrying would be even more intolerable.”

“Moreover, given Song Wan’s status, who would, who could, who would dare marry her as a wife?”

“The families in the capital that could match the Song family would not marry a remarried woman, and those who could marry a remarried woman the Song Estate certainly wouldn’t approve of. And who would be willing to offend Jiang Man and the Marquis of Chengyang Estate for a remarried woman?”

Shen Qianyu’s gaze was deep as he said quietly, “What if I married her? If I married her, I could stand together with the Song Estate, and Song Wan is clever and adaptable—her husband would surely gain all her assistance.”

“Then there would be no need to be so furtive, leaving the palace daily to consult with her.”

The more Shen Qianyu thought about it, the more he felt it killed several birds with one stone—nothing could be more perfect.

He had met with Song Wan several times; marrying her as his wife wouldn’t be abrupt. That person valued propriety so much—given his previous behavior, he could only marry her properly to be considered responsible.

Wan Xiao held his wine cup, saying woodenly, “How could you possibly marry an abandoned wife from a noble family as your wife? Even if you wanted to take her as a Crown Prince’s secondary consort it would be impossible, let alone the position of Crown Princess.”

After drinking his wine, Wan Xiao blinked. “Master has worried yourself sick over that Song family legitimate daughter three or four times—could it be you have feelings for her?”

Shen Qianyu scoffed. “The larger situation is not yet settled. How could I waste energy on such petty romantic feelings? What kind of person do you take me for?”

Wan Xiao only looked at him quietly, not saying a word.

Shen Qianyu snorted coldly. “If I cannot marry Song Wan as my wife, I also cannot let her return to the Marquis of Chengyang Estate. Between us there is still some… teacher-student bond. How could I personally witness her return to that pit of fire and remain indifferent?”

“Even if Song Wan remarries, I must personally help her choose someone trustworthy to whom she can entrust her life. Only this would be the best of both worlds.”

Wan Xiao said, “Where would you know any trustworthy people? Apart from one Song Fu, there’s only this group of eunuchs from Dong Chang. Which one could be called the best of both worlds?”

Just as he finished speaking, Wan Xiao suddenly frowned and said, “Actually, if the Song family agrees, I could reluctantly enter into paired eating with that Song Wan. Although I’m a servant, this position of Dong Chang Supervisor is also enough to deter the world, and it would be just right to help you win over the Song Estate.”