Song Fu invited Wan Xiao into the residence. Song Wan was quite surprised to see her own brother bringing an outsider.

Only after learning of Wan Xiao’s identity did she relax her restraint and bow to him with a smile.

“I merely came to beg a cup of tea. Miss Song need not be so polite.”

After a few laughing remarks, Wan Xiao made an excuse about being busy and left Song Wan’s residence.

“Why would Chief Wan concern himself with such trifling matters?”

Hearing that Wan Xiao had helped squeeze out Jiang Xingjian, Song Wan asked in puzzlement.

Song Fu replied, “Perhaps he’s acquainted with that Eunuch Ji Rong. Otherwise, I also cannot think of any reason.”

“In any case, regardless of why, from today onward you are completely severed from the Marquis of Chengyang’s household. Your elder brother is happy for you.”

Song Wan curved her lips in a sweet smile.

She had finally completely severed her relationship with the Marquis of Chengyang’s household—truly gratifying.

Thinking of how Ji Rong had said he would certainly help her achieve her wish before he left, Song Wan’s heart warmed with deep gratitude.

“Chief Wan should have been entrusted by Ji Rong to step forward and help. Though he is a servant, he possesses more courage than ordinary men. His words carry weight, earning people’s admiration.”

She briefly told Song Fu about how Ji Rong had said he would help her handle the Marquis of Chengyang household’s matter. Before she finished speaking, she heard Song Fu say, “It should indeed be this person’s assistance.”

“Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have personally come to the residence to force Father to facilitate this matter.”

After Song Fu finished speaking, he smiled again. “I also came today following Father’s orders to bring you back to the residence.”

Song Wan smiled faintly, though her eyes held little joy.

Seeing this, Song Fu spoke with heartache. “Elder brother knows you are very comfortable here, but for a woman to live alone outside for a long period is truly improper.”

“Elder brother is at home—you need not worry.”

“Wan’er understands. I’ll have Heng Zhi and Heng Wu gather our things.”

Song Fu nodded and sat quietly waiting in the courtyard.

Returning to her room, Song Wan’s face showed several traces of melancholy.

“Miss…”

Heng Zhi inquired gently. Song Wan smiled lightly. “Elder brother has come to bring us back to the residence. Pack up the things we commonly use. The rest are all available at the residence, so just leave them here.”

Old Lady Lang was the first to spring into action upon hearing this.

Jinshu and Luanjian, after all, didn’t understand Song Wan as well as Heng Zhi and Heng Wu. Hearing Old Lady Lang’s instructions, they also became more efficient in their movements.

Heng Zhi stood to the side and exchanged a glance with Heng Wu. Both felt somewhat heavy-hearted.

“Miss, allow this old woman to say something.”

Old Lady Lang said softly, “A woman obeys her father at home and her husband after marriage. Now that Miss has severed her relationship with the Marquis of Chengyang’s household, returning to the residence is proper. This old woman also knows what Miss worries about…”

“Nanny need not say more. Wan’er understands it all.”

Song Wan curved her lips in a sweet smile, stood up, and looked at Song Fu sitting quietly outside the window, murmuring, “With elder brother here, Wan’er will certainly have a good future.”

No matter when, her elder brother would always protect her.

“Go pack the things. Don’t make Father and Mother wait anxiously at the residence.”

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu nodded and turned to pack Song Wan’s personal luggage.

The Song residence was exceptionally quiet today. All the servants dared not even breathe heavily, solely because everyone could see that Madam Song was in low spirits and didn’t appear very happy.

Now Madam Song, Song Yao, and Song Nian were properly dressed and waiting in the room. All three had bland expressions, unable to muster any interest in conversation.

The dowry servant woman by Madam Song’s side, seeing this, spoke in comfort. “It appears it will still be some time before the eldest miss can return to the residence. Madam and the two young misses might as well return to your rooms to rest. When she arrives, this old servant will notify the masters.”

Madam Song lowered her eyelids and gently rubbed her wrists without speaking.

Song Nian, however, said, “It’s better to wait. Propriety cannot be abandoned. If people were to know, they’d say we look down on eldest sister.”

Song Yao glanced at Song Nian, concealing the anger in her eyes.

A woman who dared to sever her marriage ties and义绝—now instead of being ashamed, upon returning home she required the entire household to give her face. Who knows where Father’s favoritism has gone?

Looking at Madam Song, she gripped her handkerchief slightly tighter.

Because of the previous incident, Mother had been copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall. If not for welcoming Song Wan, even today Father probably wouldn’t have allowed Mother to come out and receive guests. It was clearly Song Wan’s fault, yet now it seemed as though it had become the fault of their mother and daughters.

Song Yao felt unwilling, yet she also dared not say anything.

“Oh my, sister-in-law is here! This saves your younger sister-in-law the effort of going outside to find you.”

Yang Pianzhi, wife of Song Cangshun from the Song residence’s third branch, strolled leisurely in from outside the door.

She wore red and green, extremely garish.

Seeing her appearance, Madam Song smiled with some detachment. “Rare for third sister-in-law to grace us with your presence. Dressed so festively—is there a joyous occasion?”

“Can’t call it joyous. There is one vexing matter though.”

Yang Pianzhi said, “It’s none other than Song Zhao. In another two years she’ll come of age for the hairpin ceremony, yet her marriage isn’t settled yet.”

“My husband isn’t as capable as the eldest master, nor is his fate as good as the eldest master’s.”

“Naturally our Zhao Zhao is also different from sister-in-law’s Yao’er and Nian’er. They aren’t daughters of the Song clan’s patriarch, so naturally their marriage prospects aren’t as easily arranged.”

“Moreover, now elder brother has invited such a great Buddha back from outside. Who knows how we’ll have to worship her daily? Elder brother is capable and can be an official, so naturally he speaks with confidence. We have nothing to say about the first branch providing incense offerings on their own, but there’s no reason to make the other branches contribute sacrificial offerings together.”

“Our Zhao Zhao cannot be delayed.”

Madam Song smiled. “Third sister-in-law, your words are quite amusing. What do you mean by ‘great Buddha’ and ‘sacrificial offerings’?”

“Are you perhaps referring to when Third Master was cavorting with prostitutes some days ago, fighting and scrambling to take the hundred-treasure tripod that the old madam left behind to give to a prostitute?”

“If you ask me, you shouldn’t have interfered. After all, Third Master already has over ten concubines in his quarters. What difference does one more or one less make? After so many years, haven’t you seen through it yet?”

Yang Pianzhi’s expression instantly darkened. “Sister-in-law really knows how to jest. What does discussing Zhao’er’s marriage have to do with my husband?”

“Zhao’er’s marriage?”

“What’s wrong with Zhao’er’s marriage? Third Master doesn’t hold office at court, so Zhao’er’s marriage has far more options to choose from than Yao’er and Nian’er. Even a great local magnate like third sister-in-law’s maternal clan could be easily arranged. How has this become difficult for you?”

“Sister-in-law really knows how to joke.”

Yang Pianzhi answered with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, casually chatted about this and that, then leisurely departed.

The servant woman by Madam Song’s side said, “The third madam becomes increasingly outrageous, actually coming to the first branch to pressure Madam. She’s merely a merchant’s daughter—she wants to rely on Madam to find Song Zhao a match with a high-ranking family, yet she can’t stand to see Master bring the eldest miss back. Acting as though she has any say in this household now.”

Madam Song pressed her lips tightly and laughed coldly. “Who says otherwise? In the past she was respectful and deferential when she saw me. Now even this thing who can’t be brought to the table dares to squeeze me out to my face.”

After speaking, she sighed deeply. “But what can we do? Isn’t it… because our own conduct isn’t proper, giving people something to gossip about? If our own family’s reputation were upright, would such people have grounds to speak?”

“Just you watch. In the future, who knows what these ignorant wretches will say or how they’ll squeeze us out.”

“After all, this is all because Master he…”

Just as she was about to swallow back the words “brought it upon himself,” Madam Song heard a servant woman report from outside that the eldest miss and eldest young master had returned to the residence and were heading toward the first branch’s quarters.