“Miss, there’s been quite a commotion at Xiuyan Pavilion these past few days.”

Heng Wu knelt on the ground helping Song Wan put on her shoes, while Heng Zhi held a large lacquered mother-of-pearl tray containing a soft towel dampened with warm water, waiting at the side.

After Song Wan took the cloth to carefully wash her face, she lazily asked: “After being quiet for several days, what is she busy with now?”

“According to Nanny Liang, Concubine Lin has summoned all the stewardesses from the inner and outer courtyards and gave them a roster.”

Xiang Cao handed Song Wan a thin sheet of paper. Song Wan glanced over it and saw written on it things like absenteeism, early departure, job completion rated as excellent, satisfactory, or poor, and so on.

“What is this thing?”

Xiang Cao shook her head: “This servant also doesn’t know. That Nanny Liang couldn’t explain clearly either. She only said they must fill it out every month. Except for the masters’ courtyards, everyone else has one.”

Song Wan looked it over from top to bottom, back and forth for quite a while, but couldn’t figure out what this thing was for.

“Forget it. In any case, it has nothing to do with us. Let her be.”

Casually crumpling the thin paper into a ball, Song Wan asked: “Has the Marquis still not returned to the residence?”

“A message came at the second watch last night. Since Miss had already retired, this servant didn’t wake you.”

Heng Zhi took out a letter and presented it to Song Wan. Song Wan opened it and frowned slightly: “It says the chickens and ducks raised at the Breeding Office of the Imperial Park Directorate have contracted a plague and most have died. He’ll be staying at the Imperial Park Directorate during this period and cannot return to the residence.”

“This…”

Seeing what Heng Wu wanted to ask, Song Wan said: “The Marquis just took up his post and this incident occurred. Naturally he must handle it personally to show loyal devotion to duty. If he were indifferent, he might be impeached again for disrespect toward superiors and dissatisfaction with his official position.”

As for the remaining matters about household management in the marquis’s residence, gentle reminders, and comforting words, she merely glanced over them before putting the letter away.

“This is actually good.” Heng Wu casually said: “It gives Concubine Lin time to throw the marquis’s residence into chaos.”

Song Wan nodded and ate her breakfast in peace.

The betrothal between the Bai and Lan families had been settled. Madam Lan invited her to visit the residence, wanting to thank her as the matchmaker. Song Wan had agreed early on, and now having just risen, she began styling her hair and applying makeup, changing clothes and preparing gifts.

“Miss, how about this peach-colored silver-patterned upper garment paired with a ruyi pleated skirt?”

Song Wan nodded, allowing Heng Zhi to change her clothes.

Since she was going to see old friends, Song Wan had Lv Zhu arrange a relatively simple hair bun, then casually pinned two Liang-style bamboo joint hairpins with gold-wrapped ends, and prepared to go out. But just as she walked out of Lanting Courtyard, she was stopped by Jiang Jing who had been waiting at the side.

Jiang Jing’s eyes were red with tears flowing as she said: “I’m sorry, Sister-in-law. It was Jing’er who was immature before and misunderstood your intentions.”

“Now Jing’er knows she was wrong. Please forgive Jing’er.”

Hearing this, Song Wan said warmly: “Where is there anything to forgive? You absolutely mustn’t lose the dignity and decorum befitting a young lady of the Duke’s residence like this.”

Taking out a handkerchief to hand to Jiang Jing, she smiled softly again: “A young lady crying and weeping won’t be beautiful.”

Jiang Jing wiped her tears and gathered her courage: “Yesterday at Madam’s place, I heard Sister-in-law is going to see Madam Lan today? Could Sister-in-law give Jing’er one more chance and let Jing’er meet her too?”

When Lin Jiayue introduced Madam Chen to her, when Madam Chen repeatedly inquired about the dowry in front of her, Jiang Jing finally realized how foolish she had been to lose the Lan family marriage prospect.

Concubine Lin kept saying Madam Chen had a straightforward temperament and would definitely not be a mother-in-law who would torment her daughter-in-law. Even discussing dowry and betrothal gifts in front of her, Concubine Lin praised it fully, saying things like talking clearly and thoroughly would leave no worries for the future.

Thinking about it, Jiang Jing suddenly cried aloud: “Jing’er knows that a proper young lady shouldn’t discuss marriage matters, let alone pick and choose her husband’s family, but Jing’er must plan for herself.”

“In the marquis’s residence, only Jing’er and Concubine Zhou depend on each other. If I marry into the Chen residence with its filthy atmosphere and complete chaos, how could Concubine Zhou be at ease in the future?”

“Sister-in-law…”

As Jiang Jing spoke, she was about to kneel, but was firmly held back by Heng Wu and Heng Zhi.

“Sister-in-law… Jing’er begs you, just ask Sister-in-law to let me meet Madam Lan once. Whether it succeeds or not, Jing’er will never disturb Sister-in-law again.”

Quite a few servants had gathered outside Lanting Courtyard. For some reason, Song Wan felt the marquis’s residence was especially disorderly today. It seemed everyone didn’t know what they should be doing—wandering around here and there in an idle, scattered manner.

Song Wan frowned. Seeing Jiang Jing crying like a tearful mess before her, she sighed: “Wipe your tears. I’ll take you to the Lan residence.”

Only by letting Jiang Jing see with her own eyes that the Lan family already had a new candidate would she give up. Otherwise, no matter what she said, the other party would only think she was deliberately making things difficult.

Song Wan wasn’t afraid of being misunderstood, but she was truly tired of these constant unexpected disturbances.

Throughout the journey, Jiang Jing organized her clothing and makeup with Heng Zhi’s help. Song Wan sat quietly beside them without saying a word. Occasionally when Jiang Jing felt uneasy and asked in a small voice, she would comfort her with soft, gentle words.

After entering the Lan residence’s main gate and being invited into the rear courtyard by the host family, Jiang Jing finally released the handkerchief she’d been clutching the entire way and put on a smile that was both sweet and charming.

“Paying respects to Madam of the Marquis.”

Upon seeing Song Wan, Madam Lan immediately came forward with a beaming smile to welcome her. When she noticed Jiang Jing following beside her, she paused, her gaze quickly sweeping from top to bottom.

Seeing the young lady’s red eyes, the handkerchief clutched full of wrinkles, and the inappropriate creases on her clothing, she knew she hadn’t been brought voluntarily by Song Wan, but had likely come along forcefully without permission.

She had also heard that Madam Chen had gone to the marquis’s residence to discuss matchmaking matters with a concubine. As families who frequently interacted in the capital, who didn’t know about whom?

Madam Lan thought briefly and understood the young lady regretted her decision and now wanted to come make amends.

“Madam, please just call me Wan’er. That would be more intimate.”

Taking the octagonal treasure-inlaid bird and flower tiered food box from Heng Zhi’s hands, Song Wan presented it to Madam Lan: “I made several tea pastries by hand. Today, let all the ladies try them.”

The two exchanged pleasantries with smiles. Song Wan pulled Jiang Jing along to enter the Lan family garden together with Madam Lan.

The Lan family was wealthy, and their residence was also extremely grand. In the garden was a heated pavilion with fortune character glazed windows on all four sides. When sunlight passed through, light and shadow floated, beautiful as rosy clouds.

Jiang Jing’s gaze touched upon this, and her heart felt slightly bitter.

The marquis’s residence couldn’t afford such expensive glazed windows either.

“Paying respects to the Madam of Marquis Chengyang.”

Madam Bai led the Bai family’s young lady forward to pay respects to Song Wan. The Bai family young lady’s eyes were full of bashful shyness and gratitude. Madam Bai was also very enthusiastic in introducing several ladies to Song Wan.

Given her origins, it was normally very difficult to become familiar with high-born noble ladies like Song Wan. But because of Song Fu’s consideration, Song Wan had actively formed a friendship and even arranged a good marriage for her family. Madam Bai naturally understood how to repay kindness with kindness.

The several ladies who came today, although of similarly unremarkable origins like herself, either had husbands serving in the Ministry of Personnel, or their natal fathers and brothers had considerable influence in the Ministry of Personnel.

Song Wan accepted Madam Bai’s goodwill.

She was already tactful and accomplished. After several exchanges, the group had become extremely familiar, and before long they were laughing together. Seeing this, Jiang Jing could only smile dryly at the side, occasionally helping Heng Zhi serve tea and water to Song Wan, appearing quite virtuous.

“This isn’t something young ladies should do. Go on, go play with your elder and younger sisters.”

Madam Lan smiled and called over her two daughters, having them pull Jiang Jing away.

The two young girls were only about twelve or thirteen years old, at a lively age. Jiang Jing deliberately tried to please them, carefully complimenting them all the way. By the time the three reached the greenhouse full of rare and exotic plants, they had become quite intimate and close.

Before the three could push open the door, they saw through the glazed window a young lady bending down to smell a pot of golden cup cymbidium orchids.

The seventh Miss of the Lan family covered her mouth and smiled: “This must be future Ninth Uncle’s wife, right? Such a delicate appearance, quiet and gentle. She seems to have a soft temperament and is perfectly matched with Ninth Uncle.”

The slightly older Miss Lan glared at her: “Making fun of your elders—if Mother hears this, she’ll box your mouth.”

The young girl seemed frightened, shaking her head and begging for mercy. But Jiang Jing felt her vision go dark, her heart filled with painful regret.

The Lan family truly had a new candidate?