The little maid said in a panic, “This servant hasn’t done anything. Just now, Sister Lv Zhu gave this servant a box of face powder. This servant found it quite lovely and tried a bit on the back of my hand. Who knew that after a while, it would turn black in patches. This servant knows nothing else.”

Lv Zhu said in confusion, “Miss, what exactly is going on? Could it be that Concubine Lin harbors evil intentions and wants to ruin your complexion?”

Song Wan shook her head. “That doesn’t seem right.”

Lin Jiayue had plenty of petty schemes, but she couldn’t be called a truly wicked villain. Song Wan didn’t believe she had the courage to disfigure or kill people.

“Bring over the remaining face powder.”

Nanny Zhao arranged the unsent powder from the room in a row on the table. Song Wan ignored Lv Zhu’s attempts to stop her and rubbed each one on the back of her hand to carefully examine them. After a long while, she frowned and said, “This should be lead powder.”

“Lead powder?”

Nanny Zhao was quite surprised. “This substance was very popular before the previous dynasty, but this old servant remembers that no one has used it for a long time.”

Lv Zhu didn’t understand. “What is lead powder?”

Song Wan said, “Lead powder is also called ceruse. It’s white and fine, with a lustrous quality. Both the ‘Yu Dong Xu Lu’ and the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ have records. Songyang produces lead, and many residents manufacture lead powder. The lead vapors are poisonous…”

Taking several books from the bookshelf in the room, Song Wan examined them carefully. After a long while, she said to everyone, “The previous dynasty produced a deranged Taoist priest. In his work ‘Anonymous Dan Formulas,’ he wrote ‘Lead powder, also called ceruse,’ and lead is a hot poison. If women use it long-term, it will not only make their skin extremely coarse, but over time it will even turn it a grayish-blue color.”

“The ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ and ‘Compendium of Materia Medica Supplement’ also have records that the vapors of lead and vinegar are poisonous, capable of melting human muscles and bones, and its nature is dry and fierce… Young and old fumigated by the poison will often waste away with yellow complexions, become paralyzed and withered, and die.”

Song Wan pinched the gold silk powder box in her hand, her brow deeply furrowed. “This thing disappeared quite a few years ago. I’ve only seen scattered mentions in some local gazetteers. Before the previous dynasty, lead powder was popular—one box could even sell for a hundred taels of gold and still be in short supply. But since ‘Anonymous Dan Formulas’ came out, this thing disappeared without a trace. I don’t know where Lin Jiayue found a formula for making lead powder.”

“Ah, this old servant remembers something.”

Nanny Zhao clapped her hands suddenly. “That little harlot probably didn’t find some formula, but rather found a workshop somewhere that manufactures these things.”

“Earlier, when you had this old servant arrange for people to investigate what that little harlot received, those who came back only reported that the steward she sent out has been hovering around Yanshan Street all day. That area isn’t clean, so this old servant didn’t inquire closely. Now thinking about it, that little harlot probably has a black heart and liver, using the low-grade craftsmen from Yanshan Street who make rouge and powder for courtesans to make things for Huanyan Studio.”

Song Wan frowned, murmuring, “Using the most luxurious powder boxes to contain the cheapest, most harmful lead powder—naturally it can yield enormous profits. She doesn’t even need to hire a master craftsman.”

“But…”

Did Jiang Xingjian know about Lin Jiayue’s methods?

This kind of cunning, opportunistic way of doing things—was it really something the Jiang Xingjian she knew would agree to?

Song Wan clutched the gold silk powder box, her expression grave.

“I’m going to find the master. There are some things I need to ask clearly.”

Just as she walked out of Lanting Courtyard, Song Wan saw Xieyi, the senior maid by Jiang Xingjian’s side, approaching hurriedly with joy on her face.

She stopped the person, but before she could speak, she heard Xieyi say, “Madam, great joy! His Majesty has issued an edict commanding the master to inherit the title. Right now, the master is reporting this joyful news to Old Madam in Fuhe Hall. This servant was just coming back to notify Madam.”

“The imperial edict for inheriting the title has come down?”

“Yes, Madam, great joy.”

Song Wan nodded, though her face showed no particular joy.

Handing the powder box in her hand to Heng Zhi, Song Wan thought for a moment before heading to Fuhe Hall.

Fuhe Hall was filled with jubilant celebration. Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue stood in the main hall, while members of various branches of the Marquis’s manor surrounded them, repeatedly offering congratulations. Jiang Xingjian was in high spirits, Lin Jiayue had a sweet smile on her face, and the two appeared intimate—truly a perfect couple.

Song Wan’s steps suddenly paused, then she let out a scornful laugh.

Without Jiang Xingjian’s approval, how could Lin Jiayue, a woman of the inner quarters, open some rouge shop outside? Even if she asked about it, it would only bring humiliation upon herself, making her seem lacking in perception.

“Madam… you’ve arrived.”

A maid from Fuhe Hall came over clutching the red envelope Jiang Xingjian had just given, her face full of smiles as she continuously offered words of congratulation. Song Wan had Heng Zhi take out some silver to reward the servants in the courtyard, then she walked inside herself.

“Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Yan spoke first. Hearing this, Song Wan turned to him with a gentle smile before going to Old Madam Jiang’s side.

Old Madam Jiang embraced Song Wan and laughed, “Good, good, good. Wan’er is blessed. Now that Yi’er has inherited the title, from now on you’ll be the Marquis’s wife.”

Song Wan smiled faintly without speaking.

Lin Jiayue’s expression looked rather unpleasant. She deliberately walked to Jiang Xingjian’s side, taking his arm and saying, “There’s been so much good fortune recently. Not only is the ice-making shop earning money hand over fist, but Xingjian has also become a marquis. When my Huanyan Studio opens, the Marquis’s manor will surely be even more splendid, like a tiger with wings.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yan raised his head. Seeing Song Wan’s calm expression without any anger at being provoked, he withdrew his gaze with a slight pang of sympathy.

“Truly adding splendor to brocade, like a tiger with wings.”

Jiang’s mother stood up and gently stroked Jiang Xingjian’s face, her eyes brimming with tears. “I thought I would never see Yi’er wearing court robes in this lifetime.”

“Mother…”

Jiang Xingjian looked embarrassed. He pulled down his mother’s hand to look at Song Wan, only to see Song Wan lower her eyes indifferently after noticing his gaze, her face showing not a trace of joy.

He was about to step forward, but was firmly held back by Lin Jiayue at his side.

The joy he had wanted to share with Song Wan instantly dissipated. Jiang Xingjian came back to his senses and grasped Lin Jiayue’s hand.

Old Madam Jiang took in everyone’s small movements. She sighed softly, only able to pretend she knew nothing.

Jiang’s mother was still talking endlessly about how to entertain guests from all quarters. Song Wan just listened quietly, but in her heart she was thinking about the matter of Huanyan Studio secretly selling lead powder.

If what the little maid who delivered things to Lanting Courtyard today said was true, then judging by the pricing of Lin Jiayue’s powder shop, what she sought must not be ordinary common people or merchant families.

A set of rouge and powder costing nearly seven hundred taels of silver could certainly not be afforded by the female family members of ordinary officials.

Lin Jiayue probably wanted to use the Marquis’s manor as backing to send these items into the palace or to the aristocratic families of the capital.

But if this powder were ordinary goods, that would be one thing—but lead powder is poisonous.

If it weren’t for the rough work maid in Lanting Courtyard today wearing a silver bracelet that caused the lead powder to turn black, she might not have realized that Lin Jiayue had such audacity to use lead powder to deceive all of the capital.

If these items were exposed as soon as they were released, that would be fine. But if they were used by noble persons in the palace or by some lady in the capital and problems arose, the Marquis’s manor would face great disaster.

Song Wan listened with a heavy heart as everyone flattered Lin Jiayue. She waited until the crowd dispersed before seeking out Baozhu to say she wanted to see Old Madam Jiang.

Old Madam Jiang was just preparing to rise when she was pressed down by Jiang’s mother at her side.

“This daughter-in-law knows what Wan’er wants to discuss. Mother, you’ve been tired all day. Let this daughter-in-law go persuade her.”

Thinking of how Song Wan had shown no smile earlier, Old Madam Jiang guessed that the young woman probably had high spirits and felt overshadowed, feeling unwilling in her heart. She nodded and said, “Then you go and counsel Wan’er. That one from Xiuyan Pavilion has been rather arrogant lately. After you counsel her, go admonish her as well. Don’t chill Wan’er’s heart.”

“This daughter-in-law understands. Mother, please rest first.”

Jiang’s mother covered the old lady with a summer blanket, then walked out, not having listened to a single word of Old Madam Jiang’s instructions.