After Jiang Xingjian left for Yanqing Palace, only Song Wan remained alone.

Though today was said to be a family banquet, she had arrived early and happened upon other consorts coming to present birthday gifts to Song Yuning. Finding small talk tiresome, she sought out a quiet spot in the garden to peacefully enjoy the scenery.

“Madam of Chengyang Marquis, this servant has brought you tea and refreshments.”

A eunuch she had met a few times before approached carrying a silver-rimmed lacquered tray and arranged the refreshments for her.

“Thank you, Eunuch. You’ve already troubled yourself greatly before, and now I must trouble you again today.”

The young eunuch beamed. “What are you saying, Madam? This is all part of this servant’s duties.”

Seeing Song Wan actually stand up when speaking to him, he felt warmth in his heart. “This servant’s name is Changping. In the future, Madam need only call this humble one by name.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Changping.”

The palace had always been a place where people trampled the lowly and fawned over the high. Though Changping held quite a high position within Changxin Palace and none dared order him about on ordinary days, those beneath him paid lip service while defying him behind his back, and some of the masters were honeyed in words but cold at heart—who knew how many he had seen who showed filial respect to his face but cold eyes behind his back.

Having navigated palace life for so long, saying he had discerning eyes would not be an exaggeration. In just a glance or two, Changping knew Song Wan’s respect for him was genuine, and inevitably he showed her extra attentiveness.

In the corner, one admired flowers while the other kept company.

Just as Changping worried Song Wan might be bored, several young eunuchs entered the courtyard carrying wooden boxes.

“Oh? Madam, look—doesn’t that hunched one look like the young eunuch from the Eastern Palace we met last time?”

Song Wan looked up and indeed found him somewhat familiar. Before she could respond, Changping called him over. “You there, come pay your respects to the Madam of Chengyang Marquis.”

Hearing this, Shen Qianyu bowed and slowly walked over.

“This servant greets the Madam of Chengyang Marquis.”

The young eunuch’s voice was muffled and hoarse, putting Song Wan in an awkward position.

She had no intention of amusing herself at these unfortunate souls’ expense, but she couldn’t refuse Changping’s kindness either, so she could only stand and ask a few polite questions.

Seeing the young eunuch struggle even to answer, Song Wan felt pity in her heart.

Today Heng Zhi and Heng Wu hadn’t accompanied her into the palace, so no one had brought the silver ingots for rewarding servants.

Song Wan’s hand paused slightly before she drew from her sleeve a bank note she had prepared for tipping Changxin Palace’s eunuchs.

“You’ve worked hard. Take this later and buy some tea with the other eunuchs.”

The palm before him was delicate as cream, the fingernails pink and clean—perfect without a single flaw.

Shen Qianyu lowered his head to look at his own fingers, which had been broken by the head eunuch of the Imperial Seal Palace days ago and were now swollen and bruised, momentarily lost in thought.

He instinctively reached out his hand, then suddenly drew it back.

Song Wan didn’t withdraw her hand, holding it out steadily. Shen Qianyu subconsciously wiped both sides of his hand carefully against his hem before pinching a corner of the bank note to receive it.

“Thank you, Madam.”

After bowing, Shen Qianyu followed the other eunuchs out of the courtyard one by one, while Song Wan sat back on the stone stool to continue admiring the scenery.

Before long, two unfamiliar people entered Changxin Palace. The middle-aged woman had sharp eyes and brows, wearing a set of crabapple red cloud-patterned embroidered robes. Her black hair was styled high and towering, her gaze like torches and expression solemn.

Following behind her was a round-faced young girl. Perhaps due to her tender years, the girl’s face showed a faint blush. Though her cheeks wore no powder or rouge, they still resembled rosy clouds against snow—very lovely and pretty.

What Song Wan liked most were those eyes. The young girl’s gaze was pure and clear, her bright eyes revealing girlish charm and innocence at every turn.

The moment that woman entered the courtyard and spotted Song Wan sitting in the corner, she curled her lips in a mocking smile and strode past as if she hadn’t seen her.

The young girl, however, seeing Song Wan stand, stopped quite shyly and bowed to her gracefully.

Neither knew who the other was. Only when the girl entered the inner hall to pay respects to Consort Yun did Song Wan guess she must be the ninth young lady of Duke Yingguo’s manor, Ming Xiang.

Recalling the young girl’s bright, beautiful eyes, pearly teeth, and lovely appearance just now, she suddenly smiled.

Such a delicate, pretty, and endearing girl—Elder Brother would surely like her too.

Continuing to sit to one side, Song Wan waited for someone from Duke Yingguo’s manor to seek her out.

That woman earlier must be the current Duke Yingguo’s wife. Though she seemed rather arrogant and domineering, she shouldn’t be someone who didn’t understand propriety.

Sure enough, in less than the time to drink half a cup of tea, Ming Xiang approached with her maid’s company, her small face flushed red.

She rarely received guests on ordinary days and wasn’t familiar with Song Wan’s temperament. Added to the fact that the person before her was her future husband’s legitimate sister, Ming Xiang momentarily didn’t know how to conduct herself.

She was several years younger than Song Wan, so by rights should address her as “Elder Sister.” Yet her own future seniority would be slightly higher. But now she hadn’t yet married into the Song Manor, so…

Going back and forth, Ming Xiang grew increasingly nervous, her small face flushing crimson. Seeing her so tense that beads of sweat formed on her nose, Song Wan gently spoke. “Are you the ninth young lady of Duke Yingguo’s manor?”

Ming Xiang’s eyes suddenly widened, looking at Song Wan with sparkling brightness, as if asking how she knew.

Song Wan smiled faintly. Though her face showed nothing, inwardly she felt some concern.

Young Lady Ming hadn’t yet uttered a single word.

Song Wan took out a small, delicate bat-shaped pendant and offered it to her. The pendant was exquisitely and intricately crafted with seven or eight vivid, eye-catching colors, and the bat’s eyes were even inlaid with colored gems.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I made this following a pattern from a book.”

Looking at the pendant, Ming Xiang’s large eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, the joy and shyness in them impossible to contain. Blinking, she carefully accepted it.

The young girl’s voice was tender. “Th-th-thank… you… Chengyang…”

“Miss, have some tea.”

The maid beside Ming Xiang lifted a cup of tea from the table and held it before her.

Song Wan only saw that after being interrupted, the innocent and joyful expression in the young girl’s eyes gradually faded. She lowered her eyes, removed the pendant collar from her person and handed it to the maid behind her, then hung up the small bat pendant Song Wan had given her.

Having completed all this, she pressed her lips together and smiled shyly at Song Wan.

Song Wan suddenly felt her heart soften. She drew the young girl to her side and carefully sheltered her.

Until Consort Yun’s birthday celebration ended and everyone departed, Ming Xiang stayed by Song Wan’s side the entire time. Unfortunately, the young girl never again opened her mouth to speak, stirring both heartache and worry in Song Wan.

Heartache that she had been forcibly suppressed from her natural impulses, and worry that she would be unable to support Song Fu in managing the Song Manor in the future.

Until Consort Yun’s birthday banquet dispersed, Song Wan never heard the young girl make another sound.

When Jiang Xingjian came to fetch Song Wan, the feast had already ended and guests dispersed.

The two left Changxin Palace under Changping’s guidance. Duke Yingguo’s wife watched their retreating figures and snorted coldly.

Only when Ming Xiang sat in the carriage did she show some softness. “Aunt-in-law saw you seemed to get along quite well with that Madam of Chengyang Marquis?”

Ming Xiang smiled radiantly and nodded.

“That’s good then.”

After returning to Duke Yingguo’s manor and sending Ming Xiang back to her room, Duke Yingguo’s wife finally let out a scornful laugh. “Master has lost his mind to arrange such a match for Xiang’er. I don’t know what Mother-in-law saw in that Song Fu to eagerly seek out Song Lan’an.”

“Previously she tested the waters and was rejected. Now because Huaxin is marrying the daughter of the Golden Guards General, Song Lan’an immediately agreed to the marriage between the two families. How could such profit-driven people treat Xiang’er well?”

Just as she finished speaking, a refined-looking young lady beside her said, “Grandmother’s judgment shouldn’t be wrong. Little Xiang’er is Grandmother’s precious treasure. Though the Song family is somewhat opportunistic, this Song Fu must be a good person.”

“Besides, Lord Song values connections with the Yan family and our manor’s military authority through marriage. Hasn’t Father also been betting on the Third Prince? It’s merely mutual benefit—hard to say who suffers more.”

Duke Yingguo’s wife’s expression softened somewhat. “Tomorrow I’ll find someone to teach Xiang’er household management. Perhaps…”

Ming Shiyi shook her head. “Grandmother has protected Xiang’er her whole life—what could she have learned by now? Rather than waste that time, better to find one or two capable loyal servants to accompany her as part of her dowry. Having them help Xiang’er manage the household in the future and not letting concubines suppress her would be the real priority.”

“We can’t let the Song family’s second wife control the household authority.”

Ming Shiyi thought for a moment and added, “Madam Song’s maternal family has a cousin with two unmarried daughters. Thinking about it now, those two were likely prepared for Song Fu.”

“Rather than Mother making last-minute efforts to elevate Xiang’er’s position, better to first think of ways to discourage the Song Manor from taking concubines.”