Jiang Xingjian’s heart skipped a beat, and Song Wan also furrowed her brows, feeling uneasy. The two hurried to Fuhe Hall, only to find the old lady’s canopy bed surrounded by imperial physicians and府physicians.

“Grandmother.”

When they saw Jiang Xingjian arrive, everyone made way for him. Old Madam Jiang’s forehead and arms were covered with silver needles. An elderly man with a full white beard held the needles, continuously inserting them into the old lady’s major acupoints. Originally Old Madam Jiang had been half-unconscious, but hearing her grandson call for her, she hastily opened her eyes.

“Let me… let… speak with Yi’er and his wife…”

“Grandmother, grandson and Wan’er are both here. What do you wish to say?”

Jiang Xingjian knelt before the bed with reddened eyes, and Song Wan obediently followed, kneeling beside him. The white-bearded physician said, “This old one has a few words to discuss with Madam.”

Hearing this, Jiang’s mother hurriedly stepped forward, and the other physicians also took their leave. They all knew the old lady’s oil lamp was running dry—she likely had many matters to entrust.

For a moment, only Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan remained in the room. Old Madam Jiang grasped Jiang Xingjian’s hand, her gaze turbid: “That Lin woman is the root of the family’s ruin… you absolutely must… expel her from the residence.”

Tears welled in the old lady’s eyes. Jiang Xingjian’s emotions were complex, unable to find words. “Wan’er…”

“Grandmother, Wan’er is here.”

Song Wan stepped forward half a pace, placing her hand in the old lady’s as well. Old Madam Jiang gripped both their hands, saying with difficulty: “The Chengyang Marquis Residence has few heirs. Yi’er has been doted on by his father since childhood… leading to a straightforward temperament that doesn’t know flexibility, easily deceived by others. Wan’er, you… are clever and adaptable. With you by Yi’er’s side… only then can grandmother be at ease.”

Song Wan lowered her eyes, concealing her expression so her thoughts couldn’t be read. But Old Madam Jiang seemed to know what she was thinking. Gasping with breath as rough as a bellows, she desperately clutched Song Wan’s hand.

“Promise grandmother that hereafter you’ll be of one heart and mind with Yi’er, jointly protecting the marquis residence’s century-old foundation…”

“Promise… grandmother.”

Song Wan stroked Old Madam Jiang’s hand, saying gently: “The old marquis was fearless of battle-axe and halberd, brave and invincible. Husband has his blood flowing in him—how could he be deceived by others? Grandmother, don’t dwell on these matters. Focus on recuperating—that’s what’s important.”

Hearing these words, Jiang Xingjian suddenly turned to look at Song Wan, but Song Wan stared at Old Madam Jiang without glancing at him once.

“Wan’er…”

A hot tear rolled from the corner of Old Madam Jiang’s eye. That teardrop seeped into the wrinkles at the corner of her eye, making her appear even more aged and decrepit.

How could she not hear that Song Wan had completely severed her heart and grown cold in her feelings toward the marquis residence? If she still had even half a thread of affection for Jiang Yi in her heart, she wouldn’t evade the topic with irrelevant words at this moment.

Old Madam Jiang felt a pain in her chest and suddenly arched her body upward. This enormous marquis residence—what would happen if no one managed it?

“Ha…”

A breath of unwillingness forcibly propped Old Madam Jiang half-upright. Jiang Xingjian hurried forward to support her.

“Wan’er… go… go summon your mother in. I… have words for her.”

Understanding that Old Madam Jiang wanted to instruct Jiang Xingjian privately, Song Wan curtsied and slowly withdrew.

“Grandmother knows you favor the Lin woman… but that Lin woman is not a good match. Though she has some minor talents, she cannot support the marquis residence… Wan’er has now completely severed her heart from you. If… you cannot salvage this, the marquis residence is in peril. While grandmother is still… still here, you must quickly consummate with Wan’er. Once she has a child, she can no longer… no longer escape…”

“Once a woman has a child… she’s bound. For the child’s sake… she’ll wholeheartedly… plan for the marquis residence.”

“Do you… understand?”

Jiang Xingjian’s eyes reddened: “Grandson understands.”

“Today… today you must move to Lanting Courtyard. Can’t wait any longer… If grandmother cannot survive this ordeal and you observe three years of mourning with Wan’er, with nights long and dreams many… who knows what complications might arise.”

Old Madam Jiang’s gaze was clouded as she gripped Jiang Xingjian’s hand with all her strength. Even Jiang Xingjian, a man in his prime, was pulled forward by this force.

“Promise… grandmother.”

“Grandson promises grandmother. Today I will consummate with Wan’er. Grandmother, don’t worry about this matter. Just focus on recuperating—you’ll surely get through this ordeal.”

“Whether I can get through it or not…”

Intense unwillingness burst forth from those turbid eyes. Old Madam Jiang desperately clung to that breath of life, forcing herself to sit up. She wasn’t at ease. How could she be at ease leaving the marquis residence to Jiang’s mother? She also worried Song Wan would truly abandon the marquis residence, allowing that little harlot to stir up chaos. Furthermore, Jiang Man habitually used her elder sister status to manipulate Yi’er. With her overwhelming ambition, without her watching over them, Yi’er would likely be dragged into the power struggles of the imperial court, used as an advance sacrificial banner.

With this surge of determination, Old Madam Jiang forcibly brought color back to her complexion.

“Go, go prepare to consummate with Wan’er. Grandmother still wants to see her great-grandson born.”

Waving and pushing Jiang Xingjian away, Old Madam Jiang gasped heavily. Jiang Xingjian quickly called for the imperial physician to come examine her. But Old Madam Jiang waved her hand, indicating he should attend to proper business.

After much bustle, the old lady fell into a deep sleep. The imperial physician informed the marquis residence’s household that though the situation was critical, there should be no major issues in the coming days. Only then did everyone’s suspended hearts settle. Jiang’s mother told Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan to return to their courtyard while she alone remained to care for Old Madam Jiang.

As Song Wan walked out of Fuhe Hall, Jiang Xingjian suddenly said: “Tonight I’ll stay in Lanting’s main courtyard.”

Song Wan’s eyes widened, looking utterly incredulous.

Jiang Xingjian’s heart ached bitterly. He finally understood that the two of them had become like strangers on different paths, unable to return to what they were. Though he had contemplated this before, now that the moment had truly arrived, he was afraid—afraid Song Wan would never again look at him with that shy, gentle gaze she had at first, and afraid that Song Wan… no longer held him in her heart.

Thinking that even grandmother’s near-deathbed words couldn’t move her to comply, Jiang Xingjian pressed his lips together, desolation in his heart.

“Tonight I’ll stay in Lanting’s main courtyard. I’ll have Ling Yun bring my things over shortly. You… tidy up.”

His heart felt inexplicably bashful, his face somewhat warm. After saying this, Jiang Xingjian hurriedly left.

But Song Wan stood as if struck by lightning, frozen in the courtyard for a long time without moving.

“Miss…”

Heng Zhi stepped forward to inquire. Only then did Song Wan turn to look at her with furrowed brows.

“This is actually a good thing. If Miss gives birth to the marquis residence’s legitimate eldest son in the future, you’ll have a secure place.”

Heng Zhi’s eyes reddened as she grasped Song Wan’s hand, her heart aching terribly. Even she could guess that the old lady must have given some instructions for the marquis to suddenly want to consummate with Miss. But regardless, this was ultimately a good thing.

“Last time Madam came to visit Miss and said those words, wasn’t it just to tell Miss that the Song residence can’t manage married-out daughters? That expression, as if afraid you’d return home and implicate the second and third misses—it was truly infuriating.”

“Miss, no place is as good as your own family. Perhaps… perhaps after giving birth to the young heir… you and the marquis can live peacefully.”

Heng Zhi spoke while crying, likely not believing these words herself. Song Wan raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face, smiling faintly: “Don’t cry. It’s not such a momentous matter.”

She lowered her eyes, pondering for a moment: “Heng Wu, go find a young maid and inform Lin Jiayue that the marquis will stay in Lanting Courtyard tonight.”

Didn’t Lin Jiayue want one lifetime, one pair? She would give her the opportunity.

If Lin Jiayue came to stop him today and Jiang Xingjian agreed, she would fulfill the two of them and never again concern herself with any affairs of the marquis residence. But if today Lin Jiayue couldn’t stop Jiang Xingjian…

Then she would accept her fate as the marquis residence’s principal wife, as Jiang Xingjian’s wife.