“Your grandmother knows you’ve always been proper, but after all, a woman cannot be too distant from her own husband. When Yi’er returns, you should take tonight to get close and intimate with him properly.”

Song Wan’s face grew even redder at Old Madam Jiang’s words. Seeing her shy expression, the old lady gave her a gentle push: “Go on, go find Yi’er. What’s the point of spending all day keeping two old folks company?”

Mother Jiang also smiled and nodded, urging Song Wan to seek out Jiang Xingjian.

Just as she turned past the jade-green screen, Song Wan heard Mother Jiang say to Madam Jiang: “That Lin family girl is truly laughable—her conduct and speech reek of affected, low-class mannerisms, yet she still dares boast about coming from a reclusive clan. I’d very much like to know which clan behaves so discourteously, and which clan produces young ladies so base and frivolous, with no self-respect.”

Old Madam Jiang sighed deeply: “Though that woman lacks gentle grace and puts on coquettish airs, she is rather loose in character. But you shouldn’t make things too difficult for her. After all, Yi’er brought her back. After not seeing each other for six years, it would be improper for you mother and son to harm your relationship over such a creature.”

Song Wan left the room, unaware of what else the two discussed.

Outside the door, Lin Jiayue, Jiang Xingjian, and Jiang Yan stood together. Song Wan had just reached the main hall when she heard Lin Jiayue say with a mocking smile: “The marquis manor certainly has grand rules. Are these rules so numerous they prevent people from eating? Is that why everyone just licked their chopsticks and left the table?”

Both Jiang Xingjian and Jiang Yan frowned at these words, and even several servants in the courtyard showed disdainful expressions.

They had never seen any young lady speak so crudely.

Seeing everyone’s reaction, Lin Jiayue felt even more uncomfortable. She looked at Jiang Xingjian and said: “Jiang Yi, I didn’t come back to the marquis manor with you to be mistreated.”

That address of “Jiang Yi” made everyone’s eyes widen. Jiang Yan even looked at her with some interest, but upon turning and seeing Song Wan standing behind them with a pale face, he restrained himself somewhat. After thinking briefly, he took half a step back, revealing the figures of Lin Jiayue and Jiang Xingjian.

“You little wench, how dare you address the master by his personal name?”

A plump-figured servant woman stepped forward: “Who taught you to call people by name? In the entire marquis manor, from top to bottom, besides Old Madam and the mistress, who can address the young master by his personal name? You little wench, where did you learn such manners?”

“Between men and women, without a matchmaker’s mediation, they should not know each other’s names. Don’t you understand even this basic principle? If you don’t know proper etiquette, don’t drag our young master down with you.”

“Nanny Li.”

Just as Lin Jiayue was furious at being scolded and wanted Jiang Xingjian to properly discipline this servant, she saw him greeting the old woman cordially. Her nose suddenly stung and tears welled up.

Seeing this, the nanny gave a cold snort: “Coquettish posturing, shameless behavior.”

“You!”

Lin Jiayue rolled up her sleeves and looked at Jiang Xingjian with reddened eyes: “Jiang Yi, tell me—can I address you by your name or not?”

Before Jiang Xingjian could speak, Jiang Yan said: “The Book of Rites states that after one’s capping ceremony, one is addressed by their courtesy name out of respect for one’s personal name. Before one’s lord or father, the personal name may be used, but others should use the courtesy name. Miss, you truly cannot address my elder brother by his personal name—such behavior is tantamount to insult.”

Nanny Li nodded repeatedly at these words: “Any young lady from a literate family would understand this principle. Even if the young master wanted to protect you, he cannot break ancestral rules.”

“Brother Xingjian…”

Tears like large beans rolled down her face. Lin Jiayue bit her lip, turned, and walked away. Jiang Xingjian frowned, wanting to chase after her, but was stopped by Nanny Li.

“Young Master, what are you doing?”

Jiang Xingjian said: “Her ignorance of propriety is due to my failure to teach her properly. I’ll instruct her in the future, and when the time comes, I’ll need to trouble you to assist from the side.”

After speaking, he went to find Lin Jiayue.

Jiang Yan watched the two figures’ backs, raising his eyebrows slightly.

“After a day’s hard work, Nanny must be exhausted.”

Song Wan emerged from the room. Nanny Li moved to bow to her but was stopped: “Since you are both Mother’s dowry servant and my husband’s wet nurse, Wan’er cannot accept such courtesy.”

Nanny Li replied: “Young Mistress, you must never say such things—it would be too much honor for this old servant.”

“Mother drank several cups of tea tonight, so she’ll likely be busy during the night. You should take care of yourself and not do everything personally. If you’re tired, call those young ones to take action—don’t wear yourself out.”

Song Wan signaled for Heng Zhi to give Nanny Li one tael of silver, and smilingly said the summer heat had been strong lately, telling her to buy some iced drinks.

Nanny Li accepted with a beaming smile, thanking her profusely: “Everyone in the manor knows that Young Mistress is kind and gentle. No wonder Old Madam and the mistress always praised you endlessly. Those from small, insignificant households truly cannot compare to even a single strand of Young Mistress’s hair.”

Song Wan smiled and had Heng Wu escort her back to Mother Jiang’s Jiangxiang Courtyard, then nodded to Jiang Yan in acknowledgment before walking with Heng Zhi toward Lanting Courtyard.

Seeing her composed expression, as if completely unaffected by Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue, Jiang Yan felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a plain white handkerchief fallen on the ground.

In the marquis manor, only Song Wan used plain-colored handkerchiefs.

He stared at the handkerchief for a long time before saying to a young maid in a stone-blue brocade skirt nearby: “The young mistress dropped something. Wash it clean and send it to her courtyard.”

The little maid nodded dazedly, her small face blushing deeply.

At the banquet, Jiang Yan had drunk several cups of wine. Ordinarily his alcohol tolerance was quite good, and this amount was nothing. But today, after just three to five cups, he felt somewhat dizzy. Not only was his chest racing and pounding excessively, but his head also buzzed from time to time, with a graceful, swaying figure appearing over and over again, leaving him no peace.

Finally making it back to Yuling Study, Jiang Yan removed his outer robe and lay directly on the arhat daybed in the second hall.

“Second Young Master?”

Jiang Yan opened his eyes and saw it was Qing Zhai holding a cloth soaked in hot water to cleanse his face, so he sat up.

“Was I just sleeping?”

Qing Zhai respectfully replied: “You fell asleep as soon as you returned, but not for long.”

“What is it?”

Jiang Yan took the cloth and wiped his face himself. When he lowered his hand, he saw the small embroidered characters on the corner of the handkerchief and somehow became lost in thought again.

After kneeling to collect the copper basin and cloth, handing them to a second-rank maid in the room, Qing Zhai said while helping Jiang Yan change clothes: “A young servant from the outer courtyard came, saying he has urgent business with you. This servant asked several times but he wouldn’t say what it was. Thinking it must truly be important, this servant woke you up.”

“Have him go to the study.”

Jiang Yan frowned, dressed, and went to the study.

Not long after he sat down, a thin-framed servant with darting eyes and a restless air entered. As soon as he entered the room, he pulled an oiled paper package from his chest and placed it on the desk.

The young servant grinned: “Although Young Master Yi is the legitimate son of the marquis manor, my family has relied heavily on Second Young Master’s support these past years. Without you, this lowly one would have been gone long ago.”

“This servant has always kept this kindness in his heart. Now I’ve finally found an opportunity to repay Second Young Master—it truly doesn’t waste this lowly one’s sincere devotion to you.”

Looking at the filthy oiled paper from which peeked a corner of something soft and pure white, Jiang Yan’s temple throbbed, and his forehead began to ache sharply.