After Song Fu’s engagement with Ming Xiang, the legitimate ninth young lady of Duke Yingguo’s manor, was settled, no one informed Song Wan. It wasn’t until the two families had already exchanged betrothal documents and the marriage was beyond any possibility of reversal that she learned the news. This only came about because Consort Yun invited Song Wan into the palace for a small gathering on her birthday—when a eunuch from Changxin Palace came to relay Consort Yun’s verbal message, she finally learned that Father had chosen such a match for Elder Brother.

Recalling Duke Yingguo Manor’s current situation in her mind, Song Wan couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

Heng Zhi’s expression also looked somewhat unpleasant, her mind dwelling on unknown thoughts.

Heng Wu couldn’t help but speak up. “Miss, do you know about this ninth young lady of Duke Yingguo’s manor?”

Song Wan nodded. “The ninth young lady is essentially a child of her parents’ old age. I’ve heard that Duke Yingguo’s second branch madam was married for many years without bearing children. But she and her husband were deeply devoted to each other—the second master never took concubines. It wasn’t until nearing age thirty that they finally bore the ninth young lady with great difficulty.”

“After the second master passed away from illness, the second madam followed him the next year, leaving the ninth young lady of the second branch to be raised in the old lady’s quarters. I’ve heard she has some speech difficulties. As a child she was mocked by malicious servants in the household, so all these years she’s never come out to receive guests—the Grand Princess has protected her very well.”

Heng Wu’s gaze swept over Heng Zhi as she murmured, “Such a young lady… why would Master arrange this match for Young Master?”

“The ninth young lady’s maternal uncle is Lord Yan Tongfu. Father has his own calculations.”

Song Wan clenched her fists slightly, unable to help feeling disappointed.

She had always known that for someone like her, a daughter of a noble family, her only purpose was to forge a good alliance for the clan. So regardless of what choices Father made, she had never harbored resentment.

Life was difficult for women, but all daughters in this world were the same, so she neither reached above her station nor complained.

But Song Fu was different.

In the future, Elder Brother would have to uphold the household. Whether in court or in the inner chambers, without a capable wife to manage the family, he would likely face more worries than joys.

Though few were as prone to causing trouble as Lin Jiayue, someone with Old Madam Jiang’s temperament would be worrying enough.

Moreover, the ninth young lady wasn’t suited to social interactions, which would deprive Elder Brother of much of the support he’d need in his official career.

Song Wan clutched at her skirt, her chest tight with frustration.

“The Grand Princess is already in her seventies, while the ninth young lady has only just come of age. Her upbringing was likely mostly doting affection—she probably hasn’t learned much about managing a household.”

“Though born into an aristocratic family, she grew up without a strict father or loving mother to guide her. Who knows what her natural disposition is like…”

Song Wan’s birth mother had died early. She herself had grown up without anyone to teach her propriety and discretion. Had it not been for the difficult days as a widow at the Marquis Manor forcing her to study extensively, who knows what kind of temperament she would have developed.

Having suffered such losses from lack of guidance herself, Song Wan did not look favorably upon this marriage.

Even if Father valued the Grand Princess’s status and Lord Yan’s connections, he shouldn’t have traded away the position of Song Manor’s mistress for them. The Grand Princess was advanced in years—after she passed, who knew how much favor the Emperor would still show Duke Yingguo’s manor.

Moreover, Lord Yan was merely the ninth young lady’s maternal uncle. The Yan family had over a dozen unmarried women throughout, and Lord Yan himself had no fewer than three to five legitimate and concubine-born daughters. She truly didn’t know how much attention he would spare for her elder brother.

This marriage offered very limited benefits to the Song clan and to her elder brother.

“I don’t know what Father was thinking.”

A faint sorrow tinged Song Wan’s brow, but now that the engagement was set, everything else was futile.

Having to enter the palace with Jiang Xingjian for Consort Yun’s birthday made Song Wan even less interested. Seeing both her mistress and Heng Zhi dispirited, Heng Wu dared not speak much, only organizing the clothing to be worn for Consort Yun’s birthday celebration.

That evening after Song Wan went to bed, Heng Wu finally pulled Heng Zhi aside to the embroidered daybed in the outer room to quietly inquire.

“Elder Sister, Young Master is getting married. Are you…”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Never mention such words again.”

Pulling the blanket over Heng Wu, Heng Zhi curled up alone in a corner, secretly wiping away tears.

Women’s hearts were tender. It was only natural to develop feelings for a gentleman as refined as jade like Young Master.

But she had always known that however base a scoundrel might be in this world, none would take their own sister’s maidservant. So Heng Zhi had always understood that all the feelings in her heart were merely empty talk.

Pulling the blanket over her head, after secretly crying for a while, Heng Zhi thought no more of it.

On the day they entered the palace, the weather had grown cool. After arranging her hair and makeup, Song Wan saw Jiang Xingjian waiting for her outside the door.

Come to think of it, the two hadn’t seen each other for some time. Only today did she discover that Jiang Xingjian had grown quite thin—she didn’t know what difficulties had reduced him to such a state.

She had no intention of inquiring, and Jiang Xingjian had no inclination to mention it. The two remained silent throughout the journey, their cold demeanor making them seem like strangers who had never met.

Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes, seeing only Song Wan’s ramrod-straight back and her hands folded on her knees in a cautious, guarded posture. He suddenly recalled the last time they entered the palace together, when their knees had touched in the carriage.

That day, passion had steamed within the carriage, making his heart surge restlessly.

But now Song Wan avoided him like a venomous creature, no longer showing the gentle consideration of that day.

The same carriage, the same road, yet their states of mind were entirely different.

Only upon entering Changxin Palace did the two simultaneously break into smiles, as if they were a loving couple of many years, inseparable and harmonious as phoenixes in song.

The Song couple arrived rather early. After paying respects to Consort Yun, Jiang Xingjian followed a eunuch from Yanqing Palace to see Consort Jiang. He had originally invited Song Wan to come along, but she declined.

“Today is ultimately Aunt’s birthday. If you’re not here, that’s one thing, but it wouldn’t do for neither of us to be present.”

“You rarely find opportunities to reminisce with Consort Jiang. Why not take this chance to spend more time with Her Ladyship? No need to hurry back—Aunt won’t take offense.”

Jiang Xingjian fell silent for a moment before turning to leave.

Jiang Man was waiting for Jiang Xingjian at Yanqing Palace. Last time when Song Yuning had humiliated her in front of everyone, it had been truly unbearable. Were it not for the bigger picture, she would have liked to find an excuse to discipline that person.

“How is Grandmother?”

Jiang Xingjian shook his head. “I fear she can’t hold on more than a few days. Does Your Ladyship have any methods to delay matters?”

Jiang Man waved her hand somewhat irritably.

Deep in the palace, how could she manage Grandmother’s life or death?

But seeing that Jiang Xingjian had grown quite thin recently, her heart softened. “Try to delay a few more days. If that fails, hide the old lady’s body in the ice cellar. When conducting the funeral rites later, find an excuse not to open the coffin.”

“I also have some arrangements in the palace. Song Yuning and Shen Qianbai…”

Jiang Man lowered her eyes, leaving her words unfinished.

“Don’t worry yourself too much either. If you harm your health, that would be Elder Sister’s fault.”

Jiang Xingjian said, “I should be saying those words to Elder Sister.”

The siblings smiled knowingly. Jiang Man said indifferently, “I know Miss Lin is with child. Ordinarily this child shouldn’t be kept, but since it’s your first child, if you want it, then keep it.”

“Find some remote location to send her away to carry the pregnancy. Once the situation is settled, it won’t be too late to summon her back.”

But Jiang Xingjian replied, “I know what to do. Your younger brother has his own predetermined course in mind.”