“Madam has awakened and says she wants to see Miss.”

Song Wan had just rested on the beauty couch for a while. Hearing these words, she could only get up, change clothes, and go to Jiangxiang Courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue arguing intensely. But when both of them saw her, they simultaneously closed their mouths, appearing quite in sync.

“You’ve come.”

Jiang Xingjian spoke coldly. Song Wan only responded lightly before entering Madam Jiang’s room.

“How exactly are you managing the household? That creature turned the estate’s grand banquet into such a spectacle—did you not know anything, not ask anything about it?”

Song Wan had barely stepped one foot into Madam Jiang’s bedchamber when Madam Jiang propped herself up and sternly rebuked her: “The marquis estate’s household management was entrusted to you. Is this how careless you are? Old Madam and I placed our trust in you—now tell me, what have you done?”

“A perfectly good grand banquet, yet you made the guests from various estates stand while dining. Our marquis estate’s century-old reputation has been destroyed. Can you bear this responsibility?”

Song Wan lowered her head, momentarily speechless.

Madam Jiang had a bandage wrapped around her head. Her cheeks and lips were an unhealthy white. She must have understood the severity of the banquet’s failure during this time and truly had fallen ill from distress.

“Mother’s rebuke is justified. It is Wan’er’s incompetence.”

“You…”

She admitted fault so quickly that it left Madam Jiang speechless.

After a long while, Madam Jiang said with a sobbing voice: “Yi’er suffered at the border for so many years. These six years—who knows how difficult they were for him. He finally managed to endure until returning to the marquis estate. How is it that you all, one after another, cannot let him be at ease and save him some trouble?”

“He just inherited the title and already lost face. How will he establish himself at court in the future?”

“Men are busy with external affairs. How can you not even handle this bean-sized inner courtyard? He works hard every day—must he also worry about and manage inner courtyard matters?”

“Mother’s rebuke is justified.”

Song Wan stood obediently to the side. No matter what Madam Jiang said, she only replied with “Wan’er knows her mistake,” which blocked Madam Jiang’s chest with frustration—a breath stuck, unable to go up or come down.

With fire in her heart, Madam Jiang couldn’t help but complain about Song Wan: “You are, after all, a daughter raised and taught by the Song family. You can’t even properly handle a mere concubine? The daughters the Song family produces are nothing more than this.”

“Mother.”

Jiang Xingjian entered from outside, just in time to hear his mother disparaging the Song family. His brows furrowed tightly, guilt rising in his heart.

This matter had nothing to do with Song Wan to begin with. What face did they have to attack the Song family?

Jiang Xingjian had intended to explain, but he heard Song Wan say: “Wan’er knows Mother is anxious, but Mother need not worry too much. Although today’s grand banquet differed from the past, Wan’er feels that what Lin Yiniang did also broke the old stale conventions, was even more unconventional, and wasn’t dull or tasteless.”

“You…”

Madam Jiang frowned, growing even angrier.

Days ago, Song Wan had indeed said that estate customs could not be broken, yet this was how she responded to her forceful recommendation that Lin Jiayue handle the grand banquet.

But how could she have known that Lin Jiayue would go so mad?

Madam Jiang stood up, her face full of anger: “Are you now blaming me?”

“Wan’er wouldn’t dare.”

Song Wan curtsied and did not rise for a long time.

Jiang Xingjian took a deep breath, apologized to Madam Jiang, and pulled Song Wan out of Jiangxiang Courtyard.

As soon as they left the courtyard, Song Wan broke free from Jiang Xingjian.

“Today’s events have nothing to do with you. You need not take them to heart.”

Song Wan nodded: “I know.”

Jiang Xingjian said: “Regarding Third Sister’s marriage with the Lan family, I must trouble you to put in more effort. This marriage with the Lan family cannot be broken.”

“The marriage with the Lan family likely cannot succeed. Today, Third Sister stepped on Madam Lan’s face in front of all the madams. If the marquis estate forcefully pushes this marriage alliance, it won’t be forming a kinship but rather forming a feud.”

Song Wan’s tone was indifferent, making Jiang Xingjian feel uncomfortable.

Half a month ago, when she brought up the marquis estate’s future, she still appeared deeply concerned and caring. How had her attitude toward Jiang Jing become so cold in just these few days?

Jiang Xingjian didn’t understand. He could only forcefully suppress the unease in his heart and say: “If the Lan family doesn’t work out, which other family in the capital do you think would be more suitable?”

“Has Husband forgotten…”

Song Wan lifted her eyes, staring directly into Jiang Xingjian’s eyes and enunciating each word: “I said that I’m powerless regarding Third Sister’s marriage. Why must Husband force me to do the impossible?”

“Are you angry?”

Jiang Xingjian pressed his lips together, momentarily not knowing how to face this version of Song Wan.

In his heart, Song Wan had always been obedient. Though somewhat cold, she had always been understanding and magnanimous in important matters, never throwing tantrums. Especially when facing his and the marquis estate’s future, she had always been cautious and attentive in every detail.

“What does Husband think Wan’er should be angry about?”

Song Wan laughed lightly, watching Jiang Xingjian’s face alternate between pale and flushed, her eyes gradually growing cold.

He delayed sharing a room with her, making her a laughingstock among the estate’s servants, causing Madam Jiang to look down on her due to his disregard. Jiang Man, a married woman, reached in to control the estate’s household management. Not only did everyone in the marquis estate show no resistance, they actually defended and indulged a consort’s interference in her natal family’s affairs everywhere.

Jiang Xingjian clearly knew Lin Jiayue was frivolous and could never properly manage the estate’s grand banquet, yet he still allowed her to hold power over the inner estate. She had painstakingly planned Jiang Jing’s marriage, only for it to be ruined by a few instigating words. He casually said “the marriage with the Lan family cannot be broken”…

Now, he came to ask her if she was angry?

As Song Wan thought about it, she almost laughed out loud.

“Wan’er has matters to attend to. I won’t disturb Husband any longer.”

Without caring about Jiang Xingjian’s reaction, Song Wan turned and left, without a trace of reluctance.

After the grand banquet, both Old Madam Jiang and Madam Jiang fell ill.

Old Madam Jiang’s health had never been good to begin with. Everyone in the estate had concealed the banquet matter from her, so she still didn’t know that Lin Jiayue had caused a great disaster. Madam Jiang’s prolonged illness was because Jiang Xingjian had ultimately been impeached.

A censor impeached him for acting perversely, tampering with propriety and ritual, ruining the reputation of noble families, falsely cultivating a clean reputation while actually associating with wolves and tigers, and embezzling wealth to advance improperly, among other charges.

It was said that originally, Consort Jiang had requested an actual position for Jiang Xingjian from His Majesty. After being impeached, Jiang Xingjian was granted by His Majesty the position of Director of the Shanglin Park Administration.

The Shanglin Park Administration was in charge of raising cattle, sheep, and pigs; breeding chickens, ducks, and geese; planting flowers, fruit trees, seasonal vegetables, and melons—an extremely leisurely sinecure.

The day the imperial decree arrived, the estate’s main kitchen didn’t even prepare meals. The entire marquis estate was silent, save for Xiuyan Pavilion where there seemed to be some kind of argument.

But Song Wan was too lazy to care. She was currently busy with other matters.

Because she had previously sent people everywhere to spread word of the relationship between Jiang Man and Lin Jiayue, Huanyan Pavilion’s business was actually quite good.

It wasn’t because Lin Jiayue’s rouge and powder were particularly well-made, but rather because most people wanted to use this opportunity to curry favor with Consort Jiang.

Listening to Heng Zhi report the outer courtyard’s accounts, Song Wan smiled without speaking.

“That Huanyan Pavilion’s revenue is almost catching up to the ice shop.”

“No matter.”

Song Wan smiled faintly: “The bigger this business spreads, the better.”

Just as she was calculating when to find an opportunity to introduce the two madams from the Bai and Lan families, Song Wan heard tearful crying sounds from outside the courtyard. It was Concubine Zhou coming to plead again.

Song Wan frowned, then after a moment said: “Let them, mother and daughter, come in.”

Xiang Cao went outside to announce them. Before long, Concubine Zhou and Jiang Jing walked in. Behind them also followed Lin Jiayue with a cold, mocking expression on her face.