Song Wan’s gaze swept across the small square table, then she smiled: “Mother’s health has greatly improved. This puts Wan’er’s heart at ease. If Old Madam knew, she would certainly be very happy and her body would feel considerably lighter.”

Upon hearing this, the corners of Mother Jiang’s lips trembled slightly. Only then did she remember that her mother-in-law was still ill. As a daughter-in-law, she was actually pulling servants together to play around—truly improper behavior.

“The First Madam has arrived! Why haven’t you quickly put those things away?”

Huamei swiftly and efficiently cleared away the items, then said to Song Wan: “First Madam, please forgive us. This servant was greedy for amusement and felt an itch to play, which is why I pulled the two concubines of the manor to play here.”

“Madam’s illness hasn’t recovered yet. This servant thought to let Madam also loosen up her body. This servant knows her error.”

“What are you saying? Relieving Mother’s boredom during her illness is also proper work. You should be rewarded for this.”

Heng Zhi picked out two silver nuggets from the purse at her bosom and handed them to Huamei: “Trouble yourself, elder sister, to buy some sweets for the other younger sisters to sweeten their mouths.”

“Oh my! Then this servant thanks Madam greatly.”

Seeing Mother Jiang nod, Huamei joyfully accepted them and turned to leave.

Song Wan sat on the low stool at the foot of Mother Jiang’s bed, looking at Mother Jiang, who was now wearing a cotton headband and had resumed an expression of illness, and asked: “Is Mother feeling better now?”

Lin Jiayue laughed and interjected: “Madam was indeed feeling better just now, but now upon seeing the First Madam, she’s not feeling quite so well again.”

Song Wan pretended not to hear and said to Mother Jiang: “Although Wan’er no longer manages the household and has leisure time, I still worry about Mother. So I was thinking—if Mother still isn’t comfortable, why not let Wan’er share some of the burden for you for a few more days? What do you think?”

“This naturally would be…”

Just as she was about to agree, Mother Jiang’s words were interrupted by Lin Jiayue.

“First Madam is no longer managing household affairs?”

“Yes. To appease Jinxiang Earl’s manor’s fury, I promised them I would fast and recite sutras for Madam Cheng for forty-nine days.”

Song Wan’s tone was calm and mild, without the slightest transferred anger at being implicated. The corner of Lin Jiayue’s lips twitched as she forced a smile: “No wonder the steward women of the manor have been frequently coming to find me these past few days.”

Hearing the two speaking with hidden barbs, Mother Jiang felt her head ache: “Huai Su, stay and massage my forehead. As for you two, both return. My head aches terribly. I truly have no energy to entertain you.”

“Then Wan’er won’t disturb Mother. If Mother feels uncomfortable anywhere, you must tell Wan’er.”

“I know.”

Mother Jiang turned over with her back toward Song Wan, her intention to send them away abundantly clear.

After bowing, Song Wan quietly withdrew from Mother Jiang’s bedchamber. Seeing this, Lin Jiayue bit her lip and followed out as well.

“What is Concubine Lin laughing about?”

Lin Jiayue frowned: “When did I laugh? And even if I did laugh, so what? You certainly meddle in a lot.”

Song Wan lowered her eyes, her tone cold: “I thought you were truly foolish enough to write Madam Cheng’s name incorrectly, but it turns out your purpose was for today.”

“But even if I don’t manage household affairs, even if I no longer oversee the household, the Marquis would rather return the household management authority to Madam than give it to you. What do you have to be proud and happy about?”

“Heh.”

Lin Jiayue’s eyelid twitched. To respond wasn’t right, and not to respond wasn’t right either. She could only let out a cold laugh.

After speaking, Song Wan returned to Lanting Courtyard with Heng Zhi and Heng Wu. Lin Jiayue, however, stood in the courtyard grinding her teeth in silence for a long while.

“The sun is blazing. Why doesn’t Concubine return to Xiuyan Pavilion?”

“Mm, let’s go back. When we return, I’ll make you some ice cream to cool down in this heat.”

Lin Jiayue took the hand of her personal maid Qianbi, and the two leisurely swayed their way back to Xiuyan Pavilion.

After returning to Xiuyan Pavilion, Lin Jiayue felt quite uncomfortable in her heart.

Song Wan was right. Jiang Xingjian would rather hand the household management authority to the incompetent and muddled Mother Jiang than give it to her. This truly prevented her from laughing.

But she herself was too embarrassed to tell Jiang Xingjian directly that she wanted to manage the household.

“Qianbi, there’s a carpenter in the manor, right?”

“Of course there is. Does Concubine want to make flower cards again?”

“No. I want to make mahjong.”

Lin Jiayue pinned up her hair and pulled out a charcoal pencil, rapidly sketching on paper. Since she could use modified flower cards to become close to Mother Jiang, she could use the national pastime of mahjong to win back Mother Jiang’s heart.

Nothing brought people closer together than at the gaming table.

Having drawn out a rough prototype of mahjong, Lin Jiayue hastily had Qinghong deliver it to the manor’s carpenter. That very evening, as soon as it was made, she went alone under cover of darkness to Jiangxiang Courtyard.

Mother Jiang had initially been quite unwilling to be enticed into playing such useless things, but after hearing the rules and reluctantly playing two rounds, she became completely addicted, playing with great enjoyment, unable to sleep at night.

Even in her dreams, she thought about how to win hands and how to build her tiles.

Lin Jiayue was always sweet-tongued and enjoyed feeding Mother Jiang winning tiles. Within just a few days, she had coaxed Mother Jiang into complete compliance, and the two seemed like actual mother and daughter.

After playing all night for many consecutive days, Mother Jiang truly became so exhausted she fell ill and couldn’t rise from bed. Lin Jiayue took this opportunity to propose helping Mother Jiang manage the Marquis Manor.

“She wants to manage the household. Though I verbally declined, I truly have no patience for handling these trivial matters. Old Madam has been ill for much of this summer, and now she spends more than half of each day dozing, muddled and not knowing what day it is.”

Mother Jiang said to Huai Su: “That day, Song Wan said she could manage the household again, but a few days ago she was clamoring that she wouldn’t manage this and wouldn’t manage that. Now that authority has actually been handed out, she can speak such soft words—isn’t it just that she’s unwilling to let go?”

“Moreover, I don’t want to return it to her so easily, as if the Marquis Manor can’t function without her. Besides, she’s useless anyway. She still hasn’t shared a bed with Yi’er. I suppose Yi’er truly doesn’t like her.”

“As for Concubine Lin… she handles matters quite improperly. I’m not at ease.”

“You came from Old Madam’s household and have cared for Yi’er since childhood. In this manor, you’re the one I trust most.”

“Tell me, into whose hands should this household management authority be given?”

Huai Su lowered her head, massaging Mother Jiang’s legs. Upon hearing this, she smiled softly: “If this servant may say, it would be better to give it to Concubine Lin.”

“Oh? Why?”

“The Marquis dotes on Concubine Lin. Eventually, the household management of this manor will fall into her hands sooner or later. And though Concubine Lin has made some mistakes before, the more she does so, the more cautious she’ll be in the future.”

“The Marquis has also figured out Concubine Lin’s temperament and will guide her from the side.”

Mother Jiang nodded: “What you say has some merit.”

“Moreover, with Concubine Lin managing the household in the manor, with you above her overseeing, Madam, she surely won’t cause any more trouble. As for those small coming-and-going mistakes, having a few is ordinary. Over time, after suffering a few setbacks, she’ll slowly learn.”

Mother Jiang pressed her lips together: “Then what do you say should be done about Song Wan in the future?”

Huai Su said: “The First Madam is right here in the manor. If Concubine Lin truly can’t be helped up, we can simply return household management to the First Madam. But if Concubine Lin can independently manage the household, it would be beneficial to both Madam and the Marquis Manor.”

“At that time, we also won’t have to be controlled or threatened by anyone.”

Mother Jiang nodded repeatedly: “If Concubine Lin truly learns to manage the household, she and Song Wan can also balance each other. Then we won’t have to fear these two stirring up any schemes.”

Looking at the gentle and soft Huai Su, Mother Jiang sighed: “Good child, every sentence speaks to my heart.”

Having Baozhu take out a jade bracelet of excellent quality from her cosmetics box, Mother Jiang forcefully pushed it onto Huai Su’s hand.

After serving Mother Jiang to sleep, Huai Su returned to Xiuyan Pavilion holding the jade bracelet.

In the room, Shizhu, who had grown up with her since childhood and now served as her personal maid, asked in a low voice: “Elder sister, why did you let that person manage the Marquis Manor? Not a single servant in the household likes her.”