Right after morning court, Jiang Xingjian went to Song Wan’s residence.

The courtyard Song Fu had chosen was excellent—it had a uniquely tranquil feeling of being hidden within the clamor, just like the impression Song Wan gave him: serene and elegant, yet impossible to ignore.

Jiang Xingjian stood at the entrance, his thoughts complex.

He never denied being attracted to her, whether in his youth or now. When he first returned to the capital and saw Song Wan married into the Marquis of Chengyang’s household, he was undoubtedly joyful, yet at the same time rather pained.

He was pained by his uncontrollable attraction to that person. Even if Song Wan did nothing but stand there quietly, he couldn’t suppress the elation in his heart.

Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes, a trace of struggle showing.

During that border expedition, he and his father had been surrounded.

Though those people wore Nanqing clothing and spoke with Nanqing accents, both he and his father knew that those troops who pursued them relentlessly came from the capital.

At that time, Jiang Man had just become pregnant. Before departing, his father had said this journey might be dangerous and told him to stay properly at the residence. It was he, young and hot-blooded, who had developed aspirations to achieve merit and fame in his youth, who secretly followed his father’s troops, leading to his father’s death while trying to save him.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xingjian clenched his fists tightly.

The more he was attracted to that person, the more he hated himself.

Yet when Song Wan truly left the Marquis’s residence and was no longer by his side, he felt everything in the world had lost its vitality—neither laughter nor tears felt satisfying anymore.

Quietly gazing at the vermillion red door before him, Jiang Xingjian took a difficult step forward.

“Marquis of Chengyang?”

Jiang Xingjian turned around to see Wan Xiao with hands tucked in his sleeves, standing lazily to one side.

He frowned slightly and acknowledged him as Chief Wan.

“The Marquis of Chengyang is in fine spirits—are you here admiring the scenery?”

“My wife is recuperating here quietly. I’ve come today to fetch her.”

Wan Xiao said “I see,” then stood rooted to the spot without moving, half-closing his eyelids as if asleep.

Jiang Xingjian raised an eyebrow, unsure of this person’s intentions.

In earlier years when Chief Eunuch Duan concurrently held the position of Dong Chang Director, that group of eunuchs had been quite arrogant and domineering. It wasn’t until Duan Yiting’s health gradually failed and he no longer appeared in public that the Dong Chang was slowly transferred into Wan Xiao’s hands.

Only today had he learned that Wan Xiao and the Crown Prince shared a deep friendship.

But even if the Crown Prince didn’t wish to see the Jiang and Song residences reconcile, it wouldn’t warrant deploying Wan Xiao to prevent him from bringing Song Wan back to the residence.

Unable to fathom the thoughts of the person before him, Jiang Xingjian’s instinct told him this matter should be handled quickly rather than slowly.

“Chief Wan, please do as you wish.”

After speaking, Jiang Xingjian moved past Wan Xiao, walking toward his side.

Who would have thought that the moment he took a step, Wan Xiao would immediately follow and block his path again.

Jiang Xingjian laughed coldly. “What is the meaning of this, Chief?”

Wan Xiao still had his eyelids lowered, looking as if he hadn’t fully woken. “This humble one cannot bear to see couples reunite—it troubles my heart to watch.”

“…”

Jiang Xingjian’s eyelid twitched. For a moment he actually couldn’t find any words to respond.

No wonder people said eunuchs’ minds were devious and dark—seeing it now, it was truly the case.

Jiang Xingjian snorted coldly. “Then let Chief continue being troubled. This Marquis cannot keep you company.”

Just as he was preparing to force his way through, Jiang Xingjian saw Song Fu approaching from the distance, walking straight toward the two of them.

“Chief Wan, what brings you here?”

Song Fu cupped his hands in salute to Wan Xiao. Wan Xiao withdrew his hands from his sleeves, his face full of smiles. “Has Minister Song come to visit the young lady of the Song family?”

“Precisely.”

“Minister Song, please proceed.”

The two smiled and exchanged pleasantries. Seeing this, Jiang Xingjian also spoke up. “Brother-in-law.”

“Perfect that you’re here—I have business with you.”

Jiang Xingjian asked, “What matter does brother-in-law seek me for?”

Song Fu took several documents from his sleeve and handed them to Jiang Xingjian. “The Marquis of Chengyang’s household favored a concubine and destroyed the wife first, acting without righteousness. My Song residence cannot aspire to such a marriage alliance. From today forward, my Song family daughter has no relationship whatsoever with the Marquis of Chengyang’s household.”

These few thin documents felt like they weighed a thousand pounds in his palm.

What met his eyes were merely three to five sentences about being incompatible, turning against each other in disgust, and such, yet they made his heart ache so he dared not continue reading.

“What is the meaning of this, brother-in-law? Father-in-law must have some misunderstanding. Please allow me to explain to him.”

Before Song Fu could speak, Wan Xiao said with a smile, “Some time ago, I heard that in the Marquis of Chengyang’s household, a concubine overstepped the legitimate wife to manage the household affairs. Such an absurd matter couldn’t possibly happen when you think about it. The Marquis really should explain properly—how could you allow all under heaven to misunderstand you so?”

Song Fu snorted coldly. “Please review this carefully, Marquis of Chengyang, lest you later shamelessly renege on it.”

Jiang Xingjian clutched the document of severed ties that Song Lan’an had written personally, his voice dark and hoarse. “I do not agree.”

Wan Xiao continued, “I’ve heard the Marquis maintains his chastity like jade for the concubine in his household—such purity and virtue is truly rare in this world. This matter is also too absurd. Don’t forget to explain this matter properly as well.”

Jiang Xingjian’s expression turned livid. He looked coldly at Wan Xiao. “If Chief Wan has the leisure to manage the trivial matters of others’ households, you’d be better off washing away that rapacious and greedy stench from the Dong Chang people.”

Hearing this, Wan Xiao wasn’t angered. He even lifted his arm and sniffed under his nose. “This Chief doesn’t detect any foul odor. Rather, the Marquis of Chengyang carries a strong scent of cosmetics and perfume—quite pungent indeed.”

“You…”

“Jiang Xingjian, enough.”

Song Fu interrupted their exchange. “Wan’er kept widow for you for six years. If you have any conscience left, and if you still possess even three parts of a man’s backbone, you shouldn’t think of tormenting her further.”

“A woman’s life is not easy. Give her a way to survive.”

After speaking, Song Fu extended his hand toward Wan Xiao, inviting him into the residence for tea.

Wan Xiao smiled. “My throat is indeed dry from all that talking. It would be good to rest.”

The two departed, leaving Jiang Xingjian standing woodenly outside the courtyard.

The autumn wind whipped at the documents in his hand, making them rustle loudly. He lowered his head and saw just a few characters flash before his eyes.

“Our fated karma could not be fulfilled; witness this separation.”

“Signed and written, each returns to their own path…”

“Each returns to their own path…”

Jiang Xingjian murmured these words lowly. Then his heart suddenly ached, causing his eyes to sting and his mouth to taste bitter.

“My lord, Her Ladyship said that today you must bring Madam back to the residence no matter what, whether by binding or tying her.”

Looking at the tightly closed door before him, Tao Hong spoke urgently.

“Forget it.”

Jiang Xingjian smiled faintly, his voice hoarse. “Forget it.”

“A woman’s life is not easy. What does it matter to give her a way to survive?”

He was reluctant, couldn’t bear it, and was unwilling, yet he was afraid.

He feared sinking into that person’s soft and gentle words. He also feared that once again, unable to face the guilt of his father’s unavenged death, he would torment her and torment himself.

He feared Jiang Man would use Song Wan as a pawn in the struggle between the two households in the future, and he also feared he would be unable to bear hurting her.

The person he’d admired in his youth—he dared not hate her, nor dared he love her.

Perhaps now was already the best outcome for them both.

Jiang Xingjian touched the broken white jade plum blossom hairpin in his breast, then slowly walked away.

The youthful vow of mandarin ducks—what should have been a wonderful marriage was unable to travel hand in hand for a hundred years together because of power and profit.

He couldn’t regret it, couldn’t resent it, couldn’t feel the pain, couldn’t hate it, and naturally couldn’t love it either…

Song Fu was right—as long as he still possessed even a shred of a man’s backbone, he should let her go, and let himself go as well.

Jiang Xingjian looked back at that vermillion red door one last time, then departed with a bitter smile.