Heng Zhi carried the basin of ashes out to dispose of it cleanly. Song Wan sat on an embroidered stool, silently calculating palace affairs. Whether the Crown Prince’s awakening was due to physical improvement or a final rally before death was still unknown. If it was a final rally followed by sudden death, there would certainly be strife in the palace. If his health had improved, who knew what turmoil would arise. The First Prince had the Empress and her maternal clan backing him, and the First Prince’s consort also came from a prestigious family with an illustrious background.

However, the First Prince himself could not stand firm, but even so, the two clans behind him would push him to compete. And whether the Crown Prince lived or died, the Third and Fifth Princes would also be thrust into the eye of the storm.

Song Wan lowered her eyes and touched the table before her, then said: “Heng Zhi, go fetch my dowry list.”

Previously, when she purchased shops in the capital, she had already sent everything that could be converted to silver to Song Fu. What remained now, difficult to move, were those things bestowed by her aunt in the palace. Among them were countless precious jewels, gold and silver trinkets—truly priceless. And she naturally would not keep her aunt’s gifts to fill the marquis residence’s coffers.

“Find an excuse to send the things aunt bestowed, bit by bit, to Nanny Lang. Have her find a safe manor to store them.”

“Miss, what are you…”

Song Wan sighed: “Regardless of what happens to the Crown Prince, Lady Jiang Fei and aunt will compete. If Lord Jiang and I were of one heart, perhaps the marquis residence could retain a thread of goodwill and wouldn’t use me as a target.”

“But now, if Lady Jiang Fei falls into disadvantage or wants to suppress aunt, she will certainly use me as bait.”

“Miss, what can be done?”

Heng Wu knelt before Song Wan in a panic, grasping her hands with worry written all over her face. Song Wan touched her hair and smiled gently: “If such a day truly comes, I will certainly be able to protect you two.”

She would find a way to send the Heng sisters out of the marquis residence, allowing them to spend the rest of their lives in peace. Heng Zhi’s eyes reddened as she was about to say something, but Song Wan waved her hand to stop them: “Keep your indenture contracts safely. If in the future… my dowry will be given to you two.”

“Miss, this servant doesn’t want it. This servant won’t go anywhere. Even if there truly comes a day when the marquis residence captures us to threaten Her Ladyship, this servant will die before Miss does, and will never let Miss go alone.”

“Bah, bah, bah!”

Heng Zhi glared angrily at Heng Wu and pinched her arm: “What inauspicious words are you speaking before Miss?”

Touching Heng Wu’s arm with distress, Song Wan said: “You two need not worry. This is merely preparing for the worst. Though I feel it won’t come to that, it’s always good to leave a backup plan.”

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu knew their miss’s temperament and could only agree with reddened eyes. There were still some items brought from the Song residence in the room, and the two began to slowly organize them.

“Miss, where should we put these books Second Master sent you?”

Only when Heng Zhi spoke did Song Wan remember that Jiang Yan had sent her things. She stepped forward to look through them and suddenly exclaimed in surprise: “There are actually two rare editions.”

Heng Zhi said: “This Steward Liu is considerably better than Concubine Liu. He even knows about rare editions.”

Song Wan nodded: “Second Master’s literary talent, learning, character, and bearing are all superior among noble family young masters. Steward Liu’s discernment naturally wouldn’t be too poor either.”

“It’s just that these books must have cost quite a bit. Later, take two hundred taels of silver and find an excuse to send it to Steward Liu.”

The books in her hands were all ones she usually liked but had been unable to find. She didn’t know how Steward Liu had learned of this. These books truly touched her heart.

Carefully placing them in her box of collected rare editions, Song Wan locked it. “Miss, how should these things be handled?”

Heng Wu pointed to several wood carvings, white jade hairpins, and some faded lantern bracelets and other items in the vanity, asking Song Wan. Song Wan glanced at them and pointed: “Store them all in that chest in the corner.”

That chest held things without value that were also difficult to dispose of, such as Lady Jiang Fei’s previous gifts, as well as some tea bricks and fine paper that Madam Song had brought. Casually selecting a wooden box, Heng Wu swept everything into it with one motion. With a click, she tossed it into the corner of the chest.

The room instantly felt much more refreshing. Song Wan sat on the beauty couch, feeling relaxed. She didn’t know why, but although she knew she might possibly become a target used by Lady Jiang Fei to control the Song family and her aunt, she wasn’t afraid. Instead, she felt somewhat open and carefree, as if finally about to be liberated.

“Let’s walk in the courtyard.”

Song Wan changed into a fresh, simple long dress and went out with Heng Zhi and Heng Wu. Perhaps because her mood was good today, even seeing Lin Jiayue sitting in the courtyard didn’t stir a ripple in her heart.

Qian Bi and Qing Hong were attending her on the side. Song Wan only heard Qing Hong say: “Why is the concubine still embroidering? Do you know that last night the marquis went to…”

“What are you doing!”

Lin Jiayue suddenly stood up, her temper flaring quite abruptly: “Don’t you see I’m embroidering here? Why do you keep muttering and disturbing me? Don’t tell me anything—you’re bothering me.”

Only after she finished speaking did she see Song Wan looking at her with some bewilderment. Lin Jiayue’s heart trembled. Clutching the embroidery hoop in her hand, she walked toward Xiuyan Pavilion. In a fleeting glimpse, Song Wan only saw that the hoop had a messy tangle embroidered on it, strange in both shape and color, completely unrecognizable.

Song Wan frowned slightly and said in a low voice: “Go ask the night-watch woman what the marquis did yesterday.”

Heng Zhi nodded, left, and quickly returned: “The night-watch woman said yesterday the marquis drank with Second Master, and after getting drunk, the marquis stayed in Huai Su’s chambers.”

“No wonder she was so distraught.”

Song Wan suddenly recalled Lin Jiayue’s appearance when she first entered the marquis residence, loudly proclaiming she wanted one lifetime, one world, one pair of people. She lowered her eyes and suddenly understood why Concubine Zheng had reacted that way when Concubine Zhou died.

“Let’s return. In a few days I must enter the palace to pay respects to the ladies. I should also prepare festival gifts for them.”

Song Wan lost interest in appreciating the scenery and turned back to her room. On the day of entering the palace, Song Wan had Heng Zhi help her select a goose-yellow gauze palace gown. She wore a cloud-coiffure enamel hairpin on her head. Her entire appearance wasn’t particularly opulent, but was quite elegant.

Today was not the Mid-Autumn grand banquet, so Jiang Xingjian did not accompany her. Song Wan was pleased to be at ease. The palace was usually stern and solemn, but in the eighth month it revealed festive joy everywhere. The undercurrents of the past had all been replaced by joyful harmony.

Before even reaching Changxin Palace, melodious sounds of strings and zithers could be heard. Song Wan found it pleasant to the ear, and her mood became more cheerful. “The Lady of Chengyang Marquis has arrived.”

The little eunuch delivering the message had a joyful expression. Song Wan smiled gently at him. It was he who had led her to pay respects to the ladies in various palaces during her last palace visit. Seeing him again now felt very warm.

“This one greets you, Eunuch.”

“My lady need not be so formal. Her Ladyship has been waiting for some time. Please go quickly.”

Having said this, the little eunuch ushered Song Wan into Changxin Palace.