On the day of the grand banquet at Chengyang Marquis’s manor, Song Wan rose to dress and apply makeup before dawn had even broken.

As the wife of the Marquis of Chengyang, she not only had to welcome and entertain guests today, but also build good relationships with the wives and female family members of various households in the capital. While men struggled outside, women also had to maneuver among the wives of various households in the inner quarters. Many matters that couldn’t be discussed or brought to the surface depended on the capabilities of each household’s mistress.

Although Song Wan was reluctant to do these things for the Marquis’s manor, she had no choice but to do them.

Lv Zhu and Xiang Cao—one helping her arrange her hair, one helping her apply makeup—were busy for nearly an hour before everything was prepared.

Once properly adorned, Song Wan, supported by Heng Zhi, left Lanting Courtyard.

Outside Lanting Courtyard, Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue were already waiting.

Song Wan saw that Lin Jiayue wore a long cherry-purple gauze dress embroidered with gold peonies, with a pomegranate-red beaded palace sash hanging at her waist. Her hair was styled in a Flying Immortal bun, with ruby phoenix hairpins with kingfisher feather inlay swaying at her temples.

Even the white jade walking ornament weighing down her skirt was a superior item from the palace.

Song Wan’s gaze swept over the red palace sash and phoenix hairpins, her eyes indifferent.

She didn’t know whether Lin Jiayue didn’t understand the rules and didn’t realize these items were far beyond what her concubine status could use, or whether she knew full well she was overstepping boundaries yet insisted on outdoing her.

Song Wan withdrew her gaze, acting as if she hadn’t seen anything. After all, she was precisely afraid Lin Jiayue wouldn’t be arrogant enough today.

The group went together to Fuhe Hall to pay respects to Old Madam Jiang. For today’s grand banquet, the old lady would naturally attend.

Everyone paid their respects and had breakfast. Song Wan followed the female family members to Haitang Garden.

Inside Haitang Garden, artificial mountains and strange rocks stood in great numbers, with pavilions and waterside pavilions throughout.

Within the garden was an artificial lake. In the lake was a small island where the troupe members supported by the Marquis’s manor resided. All aristocratic families had a few regularly used opera troupes, and households like the Marquis’s manor permanently supported their own troupe.

For today’s grand banquet, several major operas were indispensable.

Lin Jiayue stood at the back reluctantly and unwillingly, following everyone through the dividing wall between the east and west inner courtyards. She had thought she already understood the Marquis’s manor quite well, but only today did she discover that the manor’s size and luxury far exceeded her imagination.

Exiting the dividing wall, she saw green willows hanging all around outside, trees of varying heights on both sides, and large white jade stone slabs underfoot. Being here, one could feel a gentle, cool breeze that was especially refreshing and comfortable in the summer. She was just surprised that she had never been to this place before when she saw pavilions dotting the distance in the distance, countless verdant pines and green cypresses—many times larger than the Marquis’s manor’s back courtyard.

After entering Haitang Garden, in the center of the courtyard stood a towering opera stage. Nearly a hundred performers dressed in opera costumes stood in a row. Upon seeing Old Madam Jiang, they all bowed in unison.

“All rise. The old lady doesn’t like these formalities.”

Jiang’s mother had a ruddy complexion and eyes full of smiles. She had a maid at her side bring red envelopes and bestowed them one by one. “The Marquis’s manor hasn’t held a grand banquet in many years. Today you must not lose face for the manor. If anyone performs poorly, watch out—I’ll whip you later.”

The troupe leader accepted the red envelope and laughed. “Madam, rest assured, we absolutely won’t perform poorly.”

Jiang’s mother covered her lips and laughed for a long while, then turned to ask Song Wan, “Wan’er, have the other matters been handled properly?”

Song Wan smiled. “Mother has forgotten—for the banquet affairs, Wan’er was only responsible for the guest list and menu. All other matters were Concubine Lin’s responsibility.”

“Concubine Lin’s responsibility?”

Hearing this, Old Madam Jiang’s eyelids twitched violently. “How is it that no one told me about this?”

“Such a trivial matter—how could it trouble you, old lady? This daughter-in-law saw that Concubine Lin has some talent. Managing a banquet for a few hundred people shouldn’t produce any errors. Moreover, the manor still has Wan’er and those managing matrons overseeing things, so there won’t be any problems.”

Old Madam Jiang’s heart seized. Looking at Song Wan, she asked, “Do you know what Concubine Lin has arranged?”

Song Wan lowered her head. “Concubine Lin reported everything to Mother.”

“So you don’t know how she’s handling things?”

Seeing Old Madam Jiang’s volume rise, Jiang’s mother smiled. “Mother needn’t worry. Though Concubine Lin doesn’t come from an aristocratic family, she does have capability. Even if there are some minor details handled improperly, Wan’er will help smooth things over for the manor. One of these two children is steady and reserved, handling matters reliably, while the other is bold and meticulous with many clever ideas. The two working together will naturally add splendor.”

Song Wan’s face was expressionless, and she didn’t respond. With one look, Old Madam Jiang knew it was absolutely not as simple as Jiang’s mother said.

“Have Concubine Lin come here.”

Lin Jiayue walked over leisurely from the back of the crowd, smiling as she bowed to Old Madam Jiang. As soon as Old Madam Jiang saw her outfit, she immediately erupted in fury. “Who permitted you to dress like this? Don’t you know what occasion this is today?”

“Do you think those noble ladies are all as shallow-sighted as you, unable to see your sordid little schemes?”

The old lady was furious. The female family members of the Marquis’s manor all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Only then did Jiang’s mother notice Lin Jiayue’s entire outfit. Frowning, she said, “How did you end up wearing a red palace sash and phoenix hairpins? These are far beyond what a concubine can use. Go change quickly.”

Being publicly rebuked, Lin Jiayue felt dissatisfied in her heart, but didn’t dare show it on her face. She lowered her head and said, “These items were all bestowed by Consort Jiang.”

Hearing they were bestowed by the consort, Jiang’s mother stopped speaking. Seeing Old Madam Jiang still looked furious, she couldn’t help but try to mediate. “Since Man’er bestowed them, let her wear them. At this hour, there’s no time to change anyway.”

“You’re being foolish.”

Old Madam Jiang glared at Jiang’s mother, extremely displeased in her heart.

On today’s occasion, this was the first time Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan were formally appearing before people. One was the master of Chengyang Marquis’s manor, the other was the mistress of Chengyang Marquis’s manor—they represented the face of Chengyang Marquis’s manor, far beyond just Jiang Yi and Song Wan as individuals.

To publicly elevate a concubine and humiliate Song Wan on such an occasion—how was this different from announcing to all of the capital that Chengyang Marquis’s manor had broken with the Song family?

Moreover, everyone in the capital knew that Song Wan had married into the Marquis’s manor holding a memorial tablet, that she was a widow who had observed mourning for six years. Miss Song’s great benevolence and virtue, her exemplary womanly conduct—everyone in the capital knew this. Now that their Marquis’s manor had turned its fortunes around, the first thing they did was rush to trample Song Wan’s face. How would the world view the Marquis’s manor? What family traditions could the manor claim to have?

Old Madam Jiang was so angry her head spun, and she nearly fainted.

Song Wan hurried forward to support her, but the old lady gripped her arm tightly. “You knew… why… why didn’t you stop this…”

Her arm ached sharply, but Song Wan only lowered her head without speaking.

Seeing her like this, Old Madam Jiang felt another wave of headache.

She understood Song Wan. Unless she had suffered some unbearable great grievance, she wouldn’t be so willful, not putting the Marquis’s manor’s future in her heart. During the period when she was ill, Jiang’s mother must have said or done something.

Thinking of this, Old Madam Jiang felt another wave of regret—regret that she had let her son marry a military general’s daughter like Jiang’s mother.

“Mother, are you alright? Quickly summon the manor physician…”

Old Madam Jiang gripped Jiang’s mother tightly, saying intermittently, “Send Concubine Lin… back to Xiuyan Pavilion. Today… absolutely do not let her come out… to see people.”

Hearing this, Jiang’s mother hurriedly said, “That won’t do, Mother. Today Concubine Lin still needs to explain the rouge and powder of Huanyan Studio to the female family members of various manors. Concubine Lin said if today is successful, Huanyan Studio will definitely become famous overnight and never worry about sales channels again.”

Hearing that the Marquis’s manor’s grand banquet had actually been arranged as a vulgar merchant selling session reeking of copper, even Song Wan with her unruffled temperament raised her head in surprise.

The female family members of the Marquis’s manor frowned in unison without speaking.

Seeing Jiang’s mother so impervious to reason, Old Madam Jiang was so angry her eyes rolled back, and she actually fainted.