This summer was scorching hot, and several elderly dukes and dowagers in the capital had already passed away from illness.

But receiving news of the sudden death of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Earl of Jinxiang still left Song Wan sighing with emotion.

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Earl of Jinxiang was only five or six years older than her. Before her marriage, she had even come to the Song Estate to deliver flower lanterns to Song Wan. Though the two weren’t close, they had some acquaintance.

So after receiving the news, Song Wan hastily instructed the estate’s matrons to prepare funeral offerings, condolence gifts, and other such matters.

“Is First Madam busy? Is there anything Yue’er can help with?”

Lin Jiayue walked in with a smile, carrying a plate of assorted fruit ice cream. After placing the items before Song Wan, she smiled and said: “These past days I’ve been busy arranging a marriage for Third Sister. Though this family isn’t as wealthy as the Lan family, they’re from a proper official lineage, and their status is considerably higher than the Lan family.”

“Which family has Concubine Lin arranged for Third Sister?”

Song Wan didn’t even raise her head, asking perfunctorily to placate Lin Jiayue.

With Jiang Jing’s marriage to the Lan family fallen through, and Song Wan refusing to find another match for Jiang Jing, this matter fell to Madam Jiang. But Madam Jiang was still ill, and had to help the estate conceal from Old Madam Jiang the fact that Jiang Xingjian had gone to Shanglin Garden. How could she have the energy to manage a concubine-born daughter?

Hearing that Song Wan wouldn’t manage it, she directly threw this matter to Lin Jiayue.

Though Madam Jiang didn’t think well of her, ever since Song Wan had contradicted her that day at Jiangxiang Courtyard, anger had been simmering in her heart. Now promoting a concubine was also meant to admonish Song Wan, to let her know who truly made decisions in this estate.

Though Jiang Xingjian was dissatisfied with Lin Jiayue taking the lead in handling this matter, as an outer male, how could he manage Jiang Jing’s marriage affairs? Helplessly, he could only repeatedly instruct Lin Jiayue to be careful in all matters and to ask Song Wan about anything she didn’t understand.

It was precisely this one statement that irritated Lin Jiayue for a long time.

But since she hadn’t handled the previous few matters well and felt guilty, she could only agree.

However, before Song Wan, she couldn’t lower her head.

“It’s the household of Scholar Chen of the Zhanshi Bureau. His son is only three years older than Third Sister. This age and family background are suitable matches for Third Sister. What do you think?”

The Chen family…

Song Wan frowned upon hearing this.

The Chen family had quite a reputation in the capital. Their family tradition was decent and they’d always taken the path of upright officials—originally not bad.

But by Scholar Chen’s generation, things weren’t so certain anymore.

Song Wan wasn’t familiar with Scholar Chen, but she knew a thing or two about Madam Chen.

One year on Madam Song’s birthday, Madam Chen came to visit the Song Estate and walked off with a set of golden ruyi ornaments. The golden ruyi wasn’t large but was extremely exquisitely crafted. It was said her Uncle Su had acquired it from Ryukyu at great expense. Originally it was only to be displayed that day of Madam Song’s birthday to give the guests something to admire. But unexpectedly, after the guests dispersed, the item went missing.

Much later, her young uncle finally found it at a pawnshop in the capital. After having someone inquire for many days, they learned it was Madam Chen who had pawned it.

Since they hadn’t caught the thief red-handed with the stolen goods, the Song household could only swallow this bitter pill.

What made Song Wan remember this so long was that at the time, Madam Song couldn’t compensate the silver and cried for over half a month. In the end, Father had to take silver from the public funds to make up the loss.

Madam Chen was petty and greedy. Later, after Madam Song investigated from various angles, she learned the woman habitually liked to take shortcuts, not only having unclean hands but also organizing a group of people to lend money at usurious rates in the capital. Though done secretively, there are no walls in the world that don’t let through wind—those well-informed had more or less heard rumors.

Such a household—ordinary people would avoid it at all costs, yet Lin Jiayue had somehow become entangled with them.

Setting down her brush, Song Wan said: “Have you inquired clearly about the Chen household’s character?”

“Of course.”

Lin Jiayue curved her lips, smiling brilliantly: “Madam Chen is a major customer of Huanyan Studio. She’s frank and generous. We hit it off at first sight like old friends despite our age difference. Third Sister marrying into the Chen household will certainly not suffer mistreatment.”

“If you’re worried, you can also meet her yourself when Madam Chen comes to the estate. I’ve arranged for her to come the day after tomorrow to admire flowers.”

“I just don’t know if such a forthright person will suit your taste. After all, you… are fond of affectation.”

With one foot on a small stool, Lin Jiayue leaned against the doorframe, laughing as she looked at Song Wan.

She didn’t know why, but she simply disliked that lofty, pretentious air about the other woman.

Song Wan was perfect, but this perfection filled her with loathing.

She was also very dignified—dignified to the point where every step she took was identical, as if measured with precision.

She never lost composure. Lin Jiayue had never seen Song Wan lose emotional control. When her husband who’d been a widower for six years brought back his beloved, her face was expressionless. When she and Jiang Xingjian displayed affection, her face was also expressionless.

Even when Madam Jiang and Jiang Xingjian disregarded and insulted her, she remained like wood without reaction.

This false and inscrutable dignity, this haughty bearing that everyone considered the grace of a noble lady—it only made her feel disgusted.

Just like now, one casual statement of “have you inquired clearly” could easily kindle fury in one’s heart.

This bearing made it seem as if Lin Jiayue was naturally a rank lower than Song Wan, making one uncomfortable.

“As long as you’ve inquired clearly.”

Lin Jiayue sneered: “I thought you’d say something about how the Chen household is no good. After all, you decisively said you wouldn’t arrange viewings for Third Sister anymore, acting as if the Marquis Estate couldn’t function without you.”

Song Wan raised her eyes. Seeing Lin Jiayue’s posture that showed no regard for propriety, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Looking down again at the eulogy she’d written for the eldest daughter-in-law of the Earl of Jinxiang, Song Wan suddenly had an idea.

She no longer paid Lin Jiayue any mind and continued with her own affairs, completely ignoring Lin Jiayue’s provocation. But the more she acted this way, the angrier and more resentful Lin Jiayue became, biting her lip hard in silent fury for a moment.

After Song Wan finished writing, she picked up the eulogy, dried the ink, folded it neatly, and placed it in a white envelope.

“Send these two cards to the Ceremony Office, and give this list of funeral offerings to Matron Liang. Have someone arrange things according to what’s written here.”

“You’re asking me to run errands?”

Song Wan held the cards, smiling faintly: “You seem to have never grasped the facts.”

“No matter if you have Imperial Consort Jiang or the Marquis backing you, you can only be domineering and arrogant before the servants of the Marquis Estate.”

“Beyond the Marquis Estate’s gates, you’ll forever be that concubine of illicit origins who cannot be presented in proper company—the one who lay with a man first and married after.”

“That you can arrange a marriage for Third Sister today isn’t because of your outstanding abilities, but simply because I’m tired of managing this matter. What do you have to be proud of?”

“Whether happy occasions, funerals, births, or festivals, calling cards from other estates can only be sent to me, and I represent the Marquis Estate in replying and responding. You don’t even have the qualification to glance at them, much less participate in such matters.”

“Seemingly glorious and limitless, but in reality merely illusory. Your daily practice of gilding your own face and weaving impossible dreams is truly pitiful.”

Song Wan’s tone was mild and light, without any hint of anger. That cold indifference seemed to be stating an insignificant trifle, yet it was enough to make Lin Jiayue collapse utterly.

This was it—before Song Wan, no matter how she performed, she would ultimately be set off to look like a clown.

The color instantly drained from her face to her feet. Lin Jiayue only felt her spine turn ice-cold, as if someone had poured a basin of cold water over her. The chill made her entire body clamor with the desire to overturn the desk before her and tear away the calm mask on Song Wan’s face.

But she couldn’t. The more she lost control and went mad, the more she would appear a laughingstock.

Forcefully suppressing the violent rage in her chest, Lin Jiayue smiled without mirth and snatched the calling cards from Song Wan’s hand: “Fine. I’ll deliver them for you.”

Seeing her turn to leave, Song Wan said to Heng Zhi beside her: “Have someone watch the Ceremony Office. See when Lin Jiayue goes to deliver the eulogy and whether she sought anyone else in the process. Also find out which day the funeral ceremony will be held. Additionally, investigate what regulations were followed in preparing the mourning garments in the list of funeral offerings sent.”