“You…”
Lin Jiayue had just opened her mouth when Song Wan turned her head. The two looked at each other, both with complex expressions in their eyes.
Song Wan observed Lin Jiayue wearing plain cotton skirts with only a white jade hairpin on her head, and felt somewhat uncomfortable.
She had changed greatly.
Not in appearance, but as if she had become a different person.
After a moment, Lin Jiayue smiled softly. “Miss Song.”
For some reason, upon hearing this address “Miss Song,” Song Wan felt a wave of sourness in her heart.
“I’ll go add betrothal gifts for Miss Bai first. If you have time, you can wait for me here.”
Song Wan nodded with a faint smile and pointed to the end of the covered corridor, indicating she would wait there.
When Lin Jiayue emerged from the room, she headed straight for where Song Wan was.
In truth, she had nothing particular to say to Song Wan, but seeing her today, she suddenly felt like reminiscing.
“Are you well these days?”
Song Wan nodded, said she was in good health, and didn’t speak further.
She truly didn’t know what she could say to Lin Jiayue.
The two were silent for a long while before Song Wan smiled faintly. “How is your health recovering now?”
“My health has recovered quite well.”
Lin Jiayue had become much more composed. The spirited vitality that once showed in her brows and eyes seemed to have been completely devoured by the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence, no longer visible in the slightest.
Song Wan thought for a moment and said gently, “I didn’t expect you would come today.”
Lin Jiayue said, “I shouldn’t have come. With the Old Madam and Second Master passing away one after another in the residence, my coming to add betrothal gifts isn’t really proper.”
“But…”
She wanted to come see. She wanted to see what Bai Ruizhu, who was marrying Lan Yunhe, looked like today. She also wanted to see if Young Master Lan was someone worth marrying.
Today she had seen, but her heart felt only more guilty and regretful.
“Second Master passed away?”
Song Wan looked shocked. “When did this happen?”
“You didn’t know?”
Lin Jiayue said, “It’s been some time. He was severely injured on Lantern Festival day and didn’t survive.”
Song Wan’s mouth opened slightly, words stuck in her throat, unable to make a sound.
That child covered in wounds who cried saying no one in the world loved or cared for him—to save her elder brother, he died from his severe injuries…
Why had no one told her?
Song Wan frowned, her heart aching painfully.
When Second Master was mentioned again, what she could still remember was that day—covered in mud and blood, his face full of pinch marks, calling out “Sister-in-law, please teach me.”
“I truly didn’t know.”
Song Wan’s tone carried surprise and heartache. “Since leaving the Marquis’s residence, no one has spoken to me about matters there.”
“Your family cares for you and couldn’t bear to mention those disgraceful past events again.”
After speaking, Lin Jiayue smiled faintly again. “You were very right.”
“About what?”
Still immersed in the news of Jiang Yan’s death, Song Wan looked up blankly, only to see faint redness in the other’s eyes. “You were very right—Lan Yunhe is a good husband.”
“If he weren’t good, Madam Bai and Miss Bai wouldn’t be smiling with such joy today, so happy beyond measure.”
“There’s no trace of reluctance on Madam Bai’s face about her daughter marrying away. I imagine she must be extremely satisfied with this son-in-law.”
The deaths of Jiang Jing and Concubine Zhou seemed like a thorn in Lin Jiayue’s heart—untouchable, unbearable to look at.
Hearing these words, Song Wan somewhat understood what was in her heart.
Lin Jiayue couldn’t and wouldn’t forgive herself.
Song Wan raised her head, looking at the faint darkness beneath the other’s eyes that even powder couldn’t conceal, and sighed softly.
Once inner demons took root, she didn’t know how to resolve them either.
The two stood in the corner of the covered corridor watching guests shuttle through the courtyard. For a moment, they seemed separated from all the festivity filling the courtyard—their faint dejection made even the large red lanterns on the corridor seem less brilliant and vibrant than before.
“Jiang Xingjian took Qing Wei as a concubine…”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Lin Jiayue frowned. “You probably don’t want to know these things.”
Song Wan smiled and shook her head. “Qing Wei is a palace attendant. Managing the Marquis’s residence isn’t difficult for her, but with her status unclear, she faces many inconveniences in her actions. Taking her as a concubine is normal.”
“Mm.”
Lin Jiayue didn’t know why, but perhaps because Song Wan had seen a different version of herself, she felt an indescribable sense of closeness. Or perhaps it was because Song Wan truly had a gentleman’s character that she genuinely admired.
After thinking, Lin Jiayue added, “Second Master passed away, Concubine Liu was driven from the residence, and Jiang Xing is now being raised in my quarters.”
After speaking, seeing Song Wan’s brow furrow tightly, Lin Jiayue smiled faintly. “I know it’s improper, but Madam doesn’t care. I couldn’t bear to see that child kicked around, so I’m raising her.”
“You don’t know how well-behaved Jiang Xing is.”
Song Wan said, “She must take after Second Master.”
“Can I ask you for something?”
Lin Jiayue blinked away the mist in her eyes. “In the future, when Jiang Xing grows up, could you help arrange a marriage for her?”
“Something like the Lan family would be fine. I don’t seek wealth and glory or a high-ranking family—only that the man treats Jiang Xing well and cherishes her.”
“Even if the family status is lower, it doesn’t matter. I have some profitable businesses that can save up a dowry for her.”
Her voice became somewhat choked. “Your judgment is better than mine. You surely won’t choose poorly.”
“Of course.”
Suppressing her sadness, Song Wan smiled and agreed. “In the past at the Marquis’s residence, I received kindness from Second Master. Even just for his sake, I will definitely choose someone suitable for Jiang Xing. You needn’t worry excessively.”
“Thank you.”
“No need for such courtesy.”
After this exchange, the two had nothing more to say.
Lin Jiayue turned to leave, her frail back appearing exceptionally desolate and forlorn.
Her steps were slow and dignified, but each one seemed to step on Song Wan’s heart.
At this moment, Song Wan suddenly remembered when she first returned to the Marquis’s residence—Lin Jiayue loudly declaring she wanted to be with Jiang Xingjian for life, one husband and one wife, her eyes lively and spirited.
“Miss.”
Heng Zhi came forward. “Young Master Lan has come to receive the bride. We should return.”
Song Wan nodded and boarded the Song residence carriage.
As the carriage left the Bai residence, Song Wan lifted the curtain and happened to see Jiang Xingjian helping Lin Jiayue into a carriage on the street. She lowered the curtain and didn’t move again.
Only after the Song residence carriage passed did Jiang Xingjian finally turn back to look.
“Xingjian gege.”
Lin Jiayue smiled sweetly at Jiang Xingjian. He came back to his senses, nodded, and boarded the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Lin Jiayue leaned in his embrace, appearing very affectionate.
Jiang Xingjian didn’t know what he was thinking. Lin Jiayue’s expression was numb, yet her tone was sweet as if she were acting coquettishly.
“By the end of this month, we’ll be opening the seventh general goods shop in Baoding Prefecture. Yue’er never imagined these shops would be so profitable.”
“Although the Fifth Prince has lost many supporters, Yue’er believes money makes the world go round. As long as there’s enough silver, there will surely come a day when he can rival the Crown Prince again.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Xingjian responded faintly, not even knowing if he had heard what Lin Jiayue was saying.
Lin Jiayue wasn’t annoyed either. Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his waist and said quietly, “Xingjian gege, what would you like to eat today? Shall Yue’er make it for you?”
“Xingjian gege, in this world, only you could make Yue’er willing to wash her hands and make soup…”