After Jiang Xingjian explained things clearly to Lin Jiayue, she indeed stopped obsessing over Song Wan and instead devoted herself wholeheartedly to studying seduction techniques.

Song Wan was busy negotiating marriages with the Sun family and for Jiang Xing, so she had no mind to concern herself with those two. Only after Madam Sun’s attitude finally softened somewhat could she properly rest.

Having just finished bathing, Song Wan was letting Heng Zhi and Heng Wu apply nourishing fragrant dew to her skin. Lv Zhu also fetched the signature balm from Jinxiu Hall to nourish her hair.

Outside, cicadas droned noisily. Song Wan only felt so hot she was drowsy and unbearably languid.

“Young mistress, this summer is truly too hot. Even wearing cloud-shadow gauze, one feels oppressively warm.”

Song Wan lay half-prone on the beauty couch and drowsily hummed in agreement.

“Young mistress, I heard that Concubine Lin’s ice-making shop has earned quite a lot of silver. Some days ago, Madam even had fine fruits delivered to her courtyard.”

Xiang Cao carefully spoke up while assisting Lv Zhu on the side.

Song Wan opened her eyes, somewhat dazed. After a moment, she said, “She truly has exceptional abilities. I thought she shouldn’t be so mediocre.”

“Young mistress… this servant heard from Old Lady Liang that the ice shop earned one or two thousand taels of silver in just half a month. The capital the young master gave has already been recouped. Now even Madam looks at her differently and no longer calls her base-born and worthless as before…”

“Young mistress, what should we do?”

Song Wan adjusted her garments. Her cheeks were flushed from the heat as she took the silk fan with an embroidered lady pattern and languidly fanned herself.

“What do you mean? If she can earn silver for the marquis residence, isn’t that also a good thing for us?”

“Don’t our clothing, food, and expenses also come from the common household funds?”

“Young mistress…”

Xiang Cao anxiously called out to Song Wan. Song Wan opened her eyes and said, “I know what you’re worried about, but you must understand that dignity has always been earned by oneself. If I’m incompetent and cannot maintain the proper standing befitting the legitimate wife of the marquis residence, how long can I rely solely on Old Madam and Madam’s support?”

“Are we just to watch Concubine Lin show off her power and entangle the young master?”

Song Wan smiled faintly. “When a person has ability, it ultimately commands respect. If she truly has the confidence to come show off before me, I welcome it.”

She rose. Seeing this, Heng Zhi quickly picked up the inner skirt made from the cloud gauze material that Consort Yun had sent some days ago and helped Song Wan put it on.

“It’s merely an ice-making shop. It won’t accomplish much. With Lin Jiayue’s temperament, without someone backing her, it would be quite difficult for her to achieve anything significant.”

“But isn’t the young master supporting her from behind right now?”

Song Wan said indifferently, “I’m not worried about him.”

After dressing, Song Wan went to the study to read. Just as she was absorbed in her book, she saw Nanny Zhao come looking for her.

“Consort Yun has issued an oral decree summoning the young master and Concubine Lin to enter the palace.”

“Was it Her Ladyship’s oral decree, or did the young master bring Concubine Lin along?”

Nanny Zhao’s expression was unpleasant. “It was Her Ladyship’s oral decree specifically requesting to see Concubine Lin.”

Song Wan gripped her book, her brow tightly furrowed.

This was precisely what she had worried about, and now it had come to pass.

Lin Jiayue was extremely excited upon receiving the oral decree. She had always been immensely fascinated by the imperial palace. Moreover, after learning about the struggle between the Third and Fifth Princes, she had been paying close attention to court affairs. Now, combined with what Jiang Xingjian had told her, Lin Jiayue felt she could play no small role.

“How do I look in this dress?”

Lin Jiayue held up a peach-red trailing skirt before her. Seeing this, Jiang Xingjian frowned. “Absolutely not. Entering the palace is no trifle. Not a single point of proper etiquette can be lacking.”

Watching her enthusiastic manner, Jiang Xingjian only felt vexed.

She reluctantly changed into a pale yellow one. Even after entering the palace, she remained sullen. Fortunately, after entering Consort Jiang’s Yanqing Palace, Lin Jiayue put on a full smile.

“Commoner Lin Jiayue pays respects to Consort Yun.”

“Rise. Thanks to you, Yi’er was able to keep his life. This palace has yet to properly thank you.”

Jiang Man wore palace attire with an otherworldly air, her features gentle and graceful. Combined with those amorous eyes, Lin Jiayue was utterly charmed by this gentle elder sister.

“Your Ladyship is too kind. Xingjian is also Yue’er’s beloved. To save one’s own beloved…”

Lin Jiayue’s face flushed. “It’s only natural.”

Jiang Man smiled faintly and granted seats to both Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue. In the palace, they enjoyed a family banquet with just the three of them.

During the meal, Lin Jiayue exerted all her skills, greatly pleasing Jiang Man.

“You’re a good girl. Yi’er has wronged you. That ice-making method is truly remarkable. I didn’t expect someone so young to have such ability.”

“It’s merely an ice-making shop. If this commoner wished, I could earn even more silver.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xingjian unconsciously frowned. Jiang Man, however, merely uttered a faint “Oh?”

Lin Jiayue’s face was full of certainty. “It’s not that this commoner is boasting, but if the marquis residence were entrusted to this commoner’s management, within half a year it would certainly turn losses into profits. Businesses like the ice shop—if this commoner wished, opening ten or eight more would be no problem.”

Under the table, Jiang Xingjian’s hands clenched tightly. If Consort Jiang hadn’t been present, he would have stuffed Lin Jiayue’s entire mouth with an osmanthus cake.

Though Jiang Man was his elder sister, once she entered the palace, she became part of the imperial family. Anything connected to imperial power—where was it ever so simple?

Speaking so boastfully today meant that in the future, if the marquis residence could accomplish this, they would need to do even better.

If they couldn’t… their lives would likely be forfeit.

Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes, filled with increasing regret.

Having her own schemes, Lin Jiayue naturally paid no attention to what Jiang Xingjian was thinking. Only today did she understand that whether love or power, one must fight for them oneself. And Jiang Man was the backing she was securing for herself.

“It’s just a pity that this commoner is insignificant and has no voice in the marquis residence. Even when I see… the mistress’s errors, it’s inappropriate to offer guidance. I can only fret in vain.”

Picking up a piece of candied date, Jiang Xingjian said, “You’ve always loved sweets. Why not taste the imperial kitchen’s craftsmanship?”

Lin Jiayue smiled shyly and grasped Jiang Xingjian’s hand.

“Is that so? What errors has the mistress of the marquis residence made? Why don’t you tell me about them?”

Jiang Man spoke indifferently. Jiang Xingjian only felt his heart grow cold.

“Though this commoner isn’t from a prestigious family, I’m quite knowledgeable. Managing an inner household naturally requires thunderous methods. Only thus can one establish the dignity befitting one in authority. Merely seeking a good and pure reputation leads to being restricted and hampered.”

Jiang Man nodded in agreement. “Seeking empty reputation is undesirable. What you say has some merit.”

After thinking briefly, Jiang Man said, “You’ve also rendered service to the marquis residence. A lowly concubine position is indeed too insulting. Today I’ll write to Mother to elevate you to noble concubine. As for…”

Glancing sideways at Lin Jiayue, Jiang Man said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “If you render great service to the marquis residence in the future, I might petition His Majesty to grant you the position of equal wife.”

Equal wife…

Hearing these two words, Lin Jiayue felt thoroughly refreshed.

The Song residence and Song Wan would surely fall in the future. Yet she couldn’t forget how Song Wan had coldly called her laughable that day.

She wanted to see what expression Song Wan—who had sworn she would be the legitimate wife of the marquis residence for life—would have on the day she became Jiang Xingjian’s equal wife.

“Thank you, Your Ladyship. This commoner will henceforth exert all efforts to assist the marquis residence and assist Your Ladyship.”

Jiang Man smiled gently. “That’s good. The marquis residence cannot be controlled entirely by outsiders…”

“Yi’er, when you return to the residence today, tell Song Wan to let Jiayue manage the household provisions together with her. With the two of them complementing each other, it should be twice as effective.”