“I didn’t quite hear what my husband said. Would my husband care to repeat it?”

“I…”

Jiang Xingjian looked up, only to see Song Wan’s clear and bright eyes filled with disappointment.

The latter half of his sentence suddenly stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

But Song Wan was unrelenting for the first time, coldly asking: “What did my husband just say? I didn’t hear it clearly.”

Though her temperament was cool, she had always been gentle and docile—never before had she been so aggressive.

Jiang Xingjian thought it over several times before explaining: “When Lin Jiayue and I entered the palace, Her Ladyship…”

“Jiang Xingjian.”

Song Wan stood up, looking down at him from above, her brows cold as frost: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“Imperial Consort Jiang met Jiayue and liked her very much. She has elevated her to the rank of noble concubine. Seeing that Jiayue has some clever talents, she suggested that she manage the inner household of the marquis estate together with you. The estate’s affairs are complicated, and having another person can help share some of your burden. There’s nothing improper about this.”

“How wonderfully ‘nothing improper.'”

Song Wan clutched her handkerchief, her hands trembling violently.

She was a proper young lady from an official family who had lived for eighteen years without suffering any grievances. Now, having been humiliated by Jiang Xingjian time and again, how could she endure it?

“In all the world, you probably couldn’t find another household where, with three generations of legitimate mistresses present, a concubine is allowed to manage the household affairs. Had I known the marquis estate had such collapsed propriety and disregarded human relations, my Song family would never have formed this marriage alliance.”

“Today I will return the household authority tokens to Old Madam. As for who manages the household in the future, it has nothing to do with me—at least this way, when filthy and rotten matters occur, they won’t be blamed on this daughter of the Song family.”

Song Wan turned to leave. Heng Zhi and Nanny Zhao quickly followed. Heng Wu looked at Jiang Xingjian’s face, which had turned red and green with anger, and spat: “Shameless and immoral.”

The maids and servants in the main courtyard of Lanting dispersed completely in a flurry, leaving only the speechless Jiang Xingjian with his bitter grievances.

“Miss…”

Watching Song Wan take up brush and ink to mark account books as soon as she entered the room, Nanny Zhao felt her nose sting terribly: “Miss, what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re really going to hand over the household management authority to that little harlot?”

Song Wan’s hand paused, then after a moment quickly resumed her work.

“Compile all the receipts and authority tokens from these days. Xiang Cao, go fetch my dowry inventory.”

“Miss…”

Song Wan’s eyelids reddened as she said quietly: “Does Nanny think Lin Jiayue can manage the marquis estate well?”

“Certainly not. She acts crazily and doesn’t follow rules. Who knows what trouble she’ll cause in the future.”

“Exactly. That’s why I cannot manage the household together with her.”

The knuckles of Song Wan’s hand gripping the brush turned pink-white. She breathed slightly to suppress her agitation.

“Who in the world knows Lin Jiayue? If the marquis estate’s management shows any flaws, all the blame will certainly fall on me, Song Wan. The reputation of all the young ladies of the Song clan cannot be completely ruined by me.”

“But Miss, if Concubine Lin has both the young master’s favor and manages the household affairs, your days ahead will be even harder. How old are you now? Will you have to suffer that little harlot’s abuse for the rest of your life?”

“Nanny need not worry.”

Song Wan forcefully suppressed the thoughts in her heart: “As the saying goes, the higher one climbs, the harder one falls.”

“This matter was spoken by Imperial Consort Jiang—the marquis estate will not refuse. If I stubbornly hold onto the household management, it would instead arouse suspicion. Better to hand it over and test whether Lin Jiayue truly has the talent for household management.”

“Just because she opened one or two shops, everyone thinks she has great talent. If I don’t let her try, people will instead remember her merits. And no matter how well I do, others will still think Lin Jiayue could do better.”

“I’m giving her this opportunity. Whether she can grasp it depends on her.”

Song Wan pressed down her trembling hands in anger and took out her dowry inventory to mark and check: “Aside from these bedding, fabrics, furniture, and ornaments I’ve selected that should remain untouched, have all the medicinal materials, silver, fields, and shops sent to my elder brother.”

“What is Miss doing?”

“Tell elder brother to purchase all the shops in the capital that he can, even if it’s ten to twenty percent above market price.”

Though Nanny Zhao still didn’t understand, she began taking action.

Song Wan pulled out another list containing all the precious jewelry given to her by Consort Yun.

Items bestowed by the palace could not be privately sold, and she was reluctant to part with them anyway. After examining them briefly, Song Wan casually set them aside.

Managing a household was no easy task. Lin Jiayue was a person with small talents who had not seen the great Way of the gentleman. Letting her take charge—within three months the marquis estate would certainly fall into chaos. She had to prepare for herself in advance.

After organizing everything properly, Song Wan had Heng Zhi carry the box of household authority tokens and account books to accompany her to Fuhe Hall. Passing by the embroidery couch, she glanced at the eight wooden carvings placed on top, casually picked one up, and tossed it out the window.

In Fuhe Hall, both Old Madam Jiang and Madam Jiang were present. Seeing Song Wan arrive carrying account books, they both sighed slightly.

“Good child, you’ve been wronged.”

Song Wan smiled: “What grievance is there? Now that my husband has returned to the estate, Wan’er only has blessings to enjoy—where are these grievances?”

Old Madam Jiang pressed her lips together silently. Madam Jiang’s face flushed red with embarrassment.

“Grandmother.”

Song Wan turned back to see Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue entering together. Lin Jiayue gave her a sweet smile, then gently paid respects to Old Madam Jiang and Madam Jiang.

Song Wan’s gaze was indifferent as she had Heng Zhi place the account books on the table.

“Even Imperial Consort Jiang, far away in the palace, knows that your granddaughter-in-law manages the household poorly. Wan’er truly feels deeply ashamed. Since there are capable people in the estate, Wan’er is happy to yield to the worthy.”

Looking at the smug Lin Jiayue, Old Madam Jiang felt a knot of anger stuck in her chest, making her extremely uncomfortable.

If only this thing truly had talent, that would be one matter…

“What nonsense are you speaking?”

Madam Jiang frowned tightly: “How can there be such a thing as bypassing three generations of legitimate mistresses to let a concubine manage the household? If word of this gets out, people will think all the legitimate women of our marquis estate have died.”

A vein throbbed on Jiang Xingjian’s forehead. Old Madam Jiang sighed deeply.

“I’m not unaware of the situation in the estate. Wan’er, you manage the household excellently. You need not mind what outsiders say.”

Madam Jiang took Song Wan’s hand: “Mother knows your suffering, but the estate is in difficulty now. This is absolutely not the time for you to be willful.”

“It’s not that Wan’er is being willful…”

“Enough.”

Old Madam Jiang spoke up to interrupt. She raised her hand to beckon Song Wan closer, speaking earnestly: “Grandmother understands all your concerns. Your mother has one point correct—you know the difficulties the estate faces. Even if not for others, just for the sake of grandmother treating you like her own granddaughter these six years, you cannot abandon the marquis estate.”

Song Wan’s heart ached. Looking at Old Madam Jiang’s temples full of white hair, she felt reluctant.

These years, the old madam had indeed treated her extremely well. She could always distinguish between genuine and false affection.

“Grandmother is advanced in years and cannot handle the exertion of these trivial matters. There’s no reason for a household to have two masters managing affairs, but Her Ladyship has given an edict that we cannot refuse.”

Old Madam Jiang said to Jiang Xingjian: “The estate should still be managed by Wan’er. As for Concubine Lin… let her observe from the side, assist Wan’er, and serve as her right-hand assistant.”

Hearing this, Madam Jiang nodded: “This is excellent. Concubine Lin can be of some use. In the future, working together with Wan’er to find more businesses like the ice shop will also help resolve the marquis estate’s urgent needs.”