Jiang Jing brought Xing’er with her to the opera house.

In the opera house, Song Wan was conversing with Madams Sun, Bai, and Lan. Sitting beside them were the daughters of several madams as well as the young ladies from the estate.

Song Wan looked at Miss Bai and said: “Miss Bai’s embroidery work is truly skillful. I could never compare.”

The young lady had an octagonal bell-shaped sachet hanging from her waist, embroidered with intertwining peony patterns. Though the design wasn’t large, it was extremely exquisite, truly testing a woman’s embroidery skills.

Hearing this, Madam Lan looked up at Miss Bai, nodding inwardly with approval. However, she had come today to assess Jiang Jing, so after a few words of praise, she brought up something else.

“Where is Third Sister? All the young ladies are here—why not let them meet? In the future, they can become close friends and have some pleasant company.”

“Yes, we haven’t yet seen the estate’s Third Miss. Looking at Madam Marquis’s refinement, Third Miss surely won’t disappoint either.”

Several madams around them voiced their agreement. Song Wan turned her head and had Heng Zhi go find Jiang Jing to come pay respects to Madam Lan.

Just as Heng Zhi was about to go find her, they saw Jiang Jing slowly walking over with her maid. The young lady wore an iris blue long dress today, with a cardamom green silk sash tied at her waist, making her appear fresh, charming, and quite endearing.

As soon as she saw her, Song Wan smiled.

She truly liked the young lady’s delicate and charming appearance—so full of vitality.

“Is this the estate’s Third Miss?”

When Madam Lan saw Jiang Jing, her eyes also brightened.

She had no authority over her husband’s youngest uncle’s marriage. After all, as an elder, it wasn’t proper for her to privately discuss marriage matters beyond her position. Fortunately, after careful inquiries these past days, that ancestor who was a dozen years younger than her but a generation higher had finally nodded in agreement. Only then did Madam Lan accept the olive branch extended by the marquis estate.

Seeing Jiang Jing, her heart was finally at ease.

The young lady was so tender, beautiful, and young—she wouldn’t overstep her authority. If Jiang Jing was dutiful, their family would only have reason to dote on her.

The more Madam Lan looked, the more pleased she became. She beckoned to Jiang Jing: “Good girl, come let me have a look at you.”

Seeing Madam Lan’s reaction, Song Wan knew she was very satisfied and couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Jiang Jing.

Everyone was waiting there, but who would have known that Jiang Jing stood in the distance without moving, as if she hadn’t heard Madam Lan’s words at all.

“Heh, she has quite the personality.”

Madam Lan withdrew her hand. The smile on Song Wan’s face also faded as she looked at Jiang Jing with a frown, saying nothing.

Perhaps everyone’s reaction was too cold. Jiang Jing timidly walked before Song Wan, deliberately not looking at Madam Lan, murmuring: “Sister-in-law…”

“Third Sister has arrived? Go play with Miss Bai and the Lan family young lady. They’re not familiar with the estate’s environment, so you should take good care of them.”

“Ah…”

Jiang Jing was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t yet done anything to refuse this marriage—why was Sister-in-law pushing her away?

While she was still puzzled, Heng Zhi led several young ladies away to a small pavilion not far from the crabapple garden.

“This Huanxi troupe was originally a famous opera company from Jiangnan. Little Phoenix Plume has good form and excellent singing skills. Why don’t Madam Lan select a piece for us to listen to?”

Handing the opera booklet to Madam Lan, Song Wan smiled and had someone bring tea and refreshments.

All the madams had witnessed Jiang Jing’s behavior just now. One after another, they shook their heads, knowing that this young lady would be difficult to marry off in the future. Though she was beautiful, she not only lacked propriety but also poor judgment. Marrying her back would likely bring no benefits.

Madam Lan calmly accepted the opera booklet and selected “The Jade Hairpin” with a smile.

As for the marriage between the Lan and marquis estates, no one mentioned it again, as if the two families had never had such intentions.

“Falling leaves startle my lingering dream, idle steps in fragrant dust count the fallen petals…”

As the performer began singing, Song Wan signaled Heng Zhi with her eyes, telling her to investigate what had just happened and why Jiang Jing had suddenly become so impolite.

When the song ended, Madam Lan excused herself to go downstairs to rest. Madam Sun also went to greet other noble family matriarchs who had arrived later, leaving only Madam Bai. Madam Bai looked at Song Wan and suddenly smiled: “Speaking of ‘a tiger father has no dog son,’ I think ‘a tiger elder brother has no dog younger sister’ also applies.”

Seeing Madam Bai bring up Song Fu again, Song Wan knew she had something to say, so she invited Madam Bai to the Moon-Gazing Pavilion in the crabapple garden.

“I heard from my husband that Young Master Song going to the Ministry of Personnel was unusual to begin with—it’s truly a waste of his talents.”

Song Wan smiled: “My elder brother dotes on me. He thought that by going to the Ministry of Personnel he could support me, so he defied Father’s wishes. Otherwise, he naturally would have stayed at the Imperial Academy.”

She spoke these words sincerely, which startled Madam Bai, who then became serious.

“Young Master Song is a good elder brother. For a daughter to have such an elder brother, her life is already complete.”

Although women married and followed their husbands, how could husbands and fathers and brothers be the same? A woman without natal family support could not hold her head up high in her husband’s family. Moreover, in Song Wan’s case, with two confused elders in the estate and a cold-hearted, disloyal husband, if she had no father or brother to support her, who knew what kind of life she would live in the future.

No wonder today, even though that Lin Yiniang had stepped all over her, Song Wan showed no sign of anxiety.

She must have known that if the Song family learned of today’s events, they would never let it pass, so naturally Song Wan didn’t need to hysterically step forward to seek face for herself.

Madam Bai’s thoughts were many, and she became emotional for a moment.

“You are good, and Young Master Song is also excellent. It’s just that the Ministry of Personnel really isn’t suitable for him. If Minister Song has a way, why not have Young Master Song transferred back to the Imperial Academy? That would be better than wasting his time at the Ministry of Personnel.”

Hearing this, Song Wan lowered her eyes slightly.

She knew Madam Bai was showing goodwill, and she also knew that Elder Brother would face many more difficulties at the Ministry of Personnel than at the Imperial Academy. But Madam Bai’s words clearly had hidden meaning.

Although Madam Bai’s husband was only a minor Fifth Rank Vice Director at the Ministry of Personnel, hardly worthy of the Song family’s attention, Madam Bai’s birth father was the teacher of Guo Qing, the Left Vice Minister of Personnel. Guo Qing had always respected his teachers and held Madam Bai’s father in high esteem, visiting him during ordinary festivals and holidays.

What Song Wan had her eye on from the very beginning was Guo Qing’s connection. She wanted to help Song Fu establish a relationship with Guo Qing.

Elder Brother’s personality was proud—he disdained doing such things. But she had no choice but to plan for Song Fu.

After thinking for a moment, Song Wan said: “Is someone making things difficult for my elder brother?”

Madam Bai smiled faintly and did not answer.

Song Wan didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled and brought up Miss Bai: “Miss Bai is born graceful and has such a gentle temperament. That godlike embroidery skill of hers makes even me envious. I don’t know which estate will have the good fortune to marry such a young lady as Miss Bai.”

Madam Bai laughed heartily: “In previous years, quite a few families came to propose marriage, but I truly couldn’t bear to part with her. I wanted to keep her a few more years, but with one delay after another, the marriage matter was postponed.”

“I wonder what kind of family Madam Bai favors? If I know someone suitable, perhaps I could help recommend them.”

Madam Bai held Song Wan’s hand intimately: “It doesn’t matter what official position the family holds. I only hope the man has higher seniority, so that after marrying over, she won’t have to be constrained. Though my daughter has a gentle temperament, she’s also rather timid. She strictly observes propriety in ordinary matters and only knows to play with needles and thread in her room every day. If the man has higher seniority, is a few years older, and is more steady, that would be even better.”

“…”

So she had her eye on the Lan family.

The Bai family’s status was truly rather low. Without someone to act as matchmaker, even though the Lan family was currently just a merchant household, it would be very difficult to catch their eye.

Song Wan frowned slightly. After a long while, she said: “My elder brother does know such a man. I’ll need to ask my elder brother about this matter.”

Madam Bai’s face showed delight: “Of course, of course. If Young Master Song can pull this red thread for my Zhu’er, he would be the great benefactor of our Bai family. This kindness—our Bai family will certainly repay it.”

Song Wan’s lips curved slightly. It seemed that the marriage between the Bai and Lan families could only succeed and must not fail.