The grand banquet had ended before it even began. Jiang Xingjian’s face was so dark it could practically drip water.

He strode toward the rear courtyard, just about to find Lin Jiayue to demand an explanation, but as soon as he walked through the inner gate, she threw herself at him.

“Jiang Xingjian, you must control Song Wan!”

Lin Jiayue clutched his sleeve indignantly: “I don’t know if she’s jealous of me, afraid I’ll earn silver for the marquis estate. My event hadn’t even started before Song Wan spoke up and drove all the guests away. I told you she had no good intentions, yet you keep defending her everywhere…”

“Enough.”

Jiang Xingjian grabbed Lin Jiayue’s wrist and said in a low voice: “What did you do with today’s grand banquet? Why were all the estate’s dishes placed in the courtyard, and why were there no tables or chairs?”

“You’re hurting me.”

Shaking off Jiang Xingjian’s hand, Lin Jiayue said: “This is a buffet. Buffets help people communicate and build relationships. Everyone can directly interact with whoever they want to talk to—isn’t that much more convenient than sitting in chairs?”

Jiang Xingjian gritted his teeth: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Lin Jiayue smiled: “I wanted to give you a stunning surprise. How was it? Were all the guests very pleased?”

Jiang Xingjian was about to say that the rules for receiving guests were numerous—how hosts and guests should walk, how to take seats, how to arrange seniority and status all had fixed rules. Who sits east and who sits west, the ethical positions were especially taboo. Her reckless behavior had caused the marquis estate to lose face, which was a minor matter. Being impeached tomorrow would be the major issue.

But before the words could leave his mouth, Song Wan walked over from a distance.

Lin Jiayue’s face darkened. Just as she was about to speak, Song Wan spoke first: “I have something to say. Let’s go to Lanting Courtyard.”

Jiang Xingjian pressed his lips together. When he saw Song Wan, his face suddenly felt intensely hot.

Just days ago, in front of Madam Jiang and her, he had sworn with absolute certainty that Lin Jiayue could handle all the estate’s various affairs. Who could have imagined this slap would come so hard and fast?

Jiang Xingjian took a deep breath and strode after her. Lin Jiayue pouted and reluctantly followed as well.

The three had just arrived at Lanting Courtyard when Concubine Zhou and Jiang Jing followed them in. Concubine Zhou’s heart was anxious. Protecting Jiang Jing, she quietly inquired: “What has happened?”

Having the maids in the room brew tea, Song Wan said: “I asked Concubine Zhou to come today to discuss Third Sister’s marriage with the Lan family.”

“How is Jing’er’s marriage with the Lan family? Is the Lan family dissatisfied about something?”

Song Wan said: “Madam Lan was very satisfied with Third Sister. I just don’t know why Third Sister herself refused this marriage.”

“I… I didn’t.”

Concubine Zhou suddenly grabbed Jiang Jing. Jiang Jing said timidly: “I didn’t refuse this marriage. I just… I just…”

“Third Sister need not be nervous.”

Song Wan said indifferently: “I arranged the marriage with the Lan family. Whether it succeeds or not, I must inform the estate. Third Sister need not be afraid.”

Hearing Song Wan’s words, Concubine Zhou was so angry she forcefully slapped Jiang Jing twice: “Why don’t you apologize to your sister-in-law? The Lan family is such a good household, yet you don’t want it—what kind do you want? Do you know how much effort your sister-in-law made for your marriage with Young Master Lan? A marriage match isn’t so easily arranged. You say you don’t want it just like that—what were you thinking?”

Concubine Zhou’s birth was undistinguished, but Jiang Jing was her only daughter. Ever since she heard that Song Wan had arranged the Lan family marriage for her, she had exhausted all her silver to have people inquire everywhere about the Lan family and that Young Master Lan.

Though she only heard a general outline, she knew this was an extremely good match. If Song Wan didn’t truly care for them, mother and daughter, she wouldn’t have been so attentive in selecting such a family.

Now Song Wan’s words clearly meant she was washing her hands of the matter. Besides her in the estate, who else had the ability to select someone better than the Lan family for Jiang Jing?

Concubine Zhou’s only wish was that her daughter could marry well and not walk her old path. Now with her hopes dashed, she actually burst into tears in front of everyone.

Seeing her birth mother crying in pain, Jiang Jing’s eyes also reddened: “Yiniang, don’t cry. Won’t you think about it—how could such a good marriage with the Lan family possibly fall upon me? Why would such a good marriage fall upon me?”

Hearing this, Song Wan’s hand holding the teacup paused. But Heng Wu was filled with anger by Jiang Jing’s words: “What kind of talk is this, Third Miss? Do you mean my young lady deliberately selected a lowly family to humiliate you? What kind of face does Third Miss have to deserve such attention from my young lady?”

“What’s going on? The marriage between Jiang Jing and the Lan family has fallen through?”

Jiang Xingjian frowned. Song Wan looked up and smiled: “Why don’t you ask Lin Yiniang directly about this?”

Hearing this, Lin Jiayue snorted coldly: “Yes, it was I who told Third Sister to refuse the Lan family marriage. So what?”

“I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Concubine Zhou, who had been crying in pain, suddenly rushed before Lin Jiayue, her face contorted as she pulled and tugged at her. As they say, mothers are strong for their children. This woman who had been weak all her life finally showed some backbone today.

Lin Jiayue was so frightened she hid behind Jiang Xingjian: “Have you lost your mind? Song Wan arranged the match between Jiang Jing and the Lan family only to do a favor for Song Fu. Do you really think she cares about Jiang Jing’s wellbeing?”

“What are you saying? Have you gone mad?”

Watching Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue start arguing again, Song Wan spoke coldly: “More words are useless. I called you all here today merely to inform you that the marriage alliance with the Lan family cannot be formed. Don’t ask me about it again in the future. As for Third Sister’s marriage…”

“I’m afraid I lack the ability to select anyone better than the Lan family.”

“As for whether you want to argue or cause a scene, please do as you wish. Just not in my courtyard.”

Setting down the teacup, Song Wan said “see the guests out” and returned alone to her bedchamber.

Outside the room, Concubine Zhou was still crying and begging, Jiang Jing was advising from the side, and Lin Jiayue was shouting at the top of her lungs that she would find an even better marriage for Jiang Jing. Jiang Xingjian looked at the farce before him, feeling the veins on his forehead throbbing. For a moment, he didn’t even know which person’s which matter he should handle first.

Heng Wu, with a stern face, sent away those who should be driven away and persuaded those who should leave to depart. When she returned to Song Wan’s side, Song Wan was already lying on the beauty couch with her eyes closed, resting.

“Miss, with Lin Yiniang causing such a scene today, what should we do?”

Song Wan lifted her head and pressed her brow: “The marquis estate… is finished.”

“I originally thought that although Lin Jiayue was foolish, at most she would only cause some harmless jokes. I didn’t know the disasters she creates would be more thorny each time.”

Lü Zhu came forward to gently massage Song Wan’s head and neck.

“After this incident, the young master probably won’t trust Lin Yiniang again. Consort Jiang… shouldn’t continue supporting her either, right?”

Song Wan pressed her lips together, thinking about something. After a long while, she murmured: “Madam Bai said Elder Brother is having difficulties at the Ministry of Personnel. Besides Jiang Man, no one would make things difficult everywhere for a Deputy Director who hasn’t even entered the ranks yet.”

Looking at the crudely carved wooden figure placed by the bed, Song Wan was silent for a moment before saying: “Spread word that Consort Jiang promoted Lin Jiayue and had her manage the marquis estate’s household affairs. Make sure to bind the two of them tightly together.”

“Miss.”

Nanny Zhao disapproved: “You should take this opportunity to completely take down Lin Yiniang. It would be best to report to Old Madam and have her drive that little harlot out of the estate. Only then can you and the young master live harmoniously and lovingly together in the future.”

“Why bind that little harlot together with Consort Jiang? Won’t that only increase her arrogance even more?”

Hearing this, Heng Zhi murmured: “Miss… is doing this for the eldest young master.”

Song Wan took Heng Zhi’s hand and smiled gently.

She was doing this not only for Elder Brother, but also for Aunt and the Third Prince.

Lin Jiayue was a disaster. Binding her together with Jiang Man would only implicate the marquis estate and Jiang Man in the future, especially since the matter of Huanyan Pavilion using lead powder hadn’t yet been exposed…

If Consort Jiang fared poorly, her aunt and Elder Brother would fare well.

As for how she and Jiang Xingjian would be in the future…

Song Wan lowered her eyes. It was truly better left unmentioned.