Chapter 45
Backing

“Quick, call the physician.”

Mother Jiang was panic-stricken. Song Wan pulled her away and instructed a few maids to carry the old madam to the side room in the pear garden.

After the physician administered acupuncture to the old madam, she slowly regained consciousness.

“Send Concubine Lin back… back to Xiu Yan Pavilion.”

Mother Jiang, with tears in her eyes, hurriedly nodded. “Don’t worry, I will send her back to Xiu Yan Pavilion.”

With a weight lifted off her chest, the old madam left Bao Zhu and Fei Cui by her side and dismissed Mother Jiang and Song Wan, telling them to focus on the grand banquet. Mother Jiang and Song Wan left the side room, both looking tense, but their thoughts were entirely different.

“Wan’er…”

Song Wan snapped back to reality. “Mother, please speak.”

Mother Jiang looked troubled. “What should we do about Concubine Lin?”

Song Wan lowered her eyes and didn’t speak for a moment.

“Say something.”

Song Wan said, “Mother, do you know why Grandmother wants Concubine Lin to return to Xiu Yan Pavilion?”

“Yes, the old madam has always been fond of you and doesn’t want you to be wronged. But compared to the future of the Marquis’ residence, I believe you won’t mind this small grievance… right?”

Mother Jiang looked at Song Wan anxiously. She had managed the household accounts and knew exactly how much money was in them. Now that Jiang Xingjian had returned, the expenses for his activities outside were enormous. The household expenses hadn’t decreased; in fact, since Jiang Xingjian’s return, they had sent even more money to the palace and the Eastern Depot. After all, the Marquis’ residence still hoped to secure a substantial position for Jiang Xingjian. All this back and forth made her so anxious that she couldn’t sleep. She had even used up all her dowry, but it was like a drop in the bucket. If the Marquis’ residence wasn’t in such dire straits, she wouldn’t have elevated someone like Lin Jiayue.

Mother Jiang sighed deeply. “Mother knows you’re in a difficult position, but you understand the situation of the Marquis’ residence. Now that Lin Jiayue has found a way to make money, we should be happy and not hold her back.”

Song Wan lowered her head, swallowing her words.

After a while, under Mother Jiang’s urging, she said softly, “I can’t make decisions about Concubine Lin. Mother should decide what to do.”

“I’m asking you because I can’t make up my mind.”

“Then it depends on what Mother thinks is more important. Between two evils, choose the lesser. I can’t make this decision.”

Whether Jiang Xingjian’s reputation and the family’s future were more important or the immediate income was more important, she couldn’t decide and left it to Mother Jiang.

“You’re right. I’ll have Concubine Lin prepare, and everything will proceed as planned.” Mother Jiang patted Song Wan’s hand and then hurriedly left.

In Mother Jiang’s mind, she couldn’t think that far ahead. To her, Song Wan’s temporary loss of face was less important than Lin Jiayue’s promise of a substantial income today. As for the old madam, Mother Jiang had already made up her mind. When the old madam saw that today’s earnings were equivalent to five or even ten years of the estate’s income, she would calm down.

“……” Song Wan stared blankly at Mother Jiang’s departing figure for a while.

“Miss, guests have arrived.” Heng Zhi whispered in Song Wan’s ear, and Song Wan went to the entrance to welcome the ladies from other households.

When Madam Sun arrived with her daughter, she saw Song Wan chatting happily with Madam Lan, and beside her stood a simply dressed lady she had never seen before.

Madam Sun approached and greeted them, and Song Wan smiled as she introduced the three of them.

Madam Lan and Madam Bai had also brought their daughters, who were all very gentle and well-mannered.

“There is an opera stage set up in Haitang Garden. Shall we go and have a look?”

Madam Bai smiled and said, “That sounds good. I haven’t listened to opera in a while. What performances are there today?”

The Bai family was not as prominent as the Sun and Lan families, and Madam Bai knew whose favor she had relied on to enter the Marquis’ residence. Being a tactful and intelligent woman, she quickly shared what she knew about Song Fu.

Song Wan, unsure how to thank her, quickly said, “They should be performing ‘Parasite Grass’ now. If Madam Bai has any favorites, you can request a few performances later.”

The group chatted and laughed as they walked towards Haitang Garden. As they entered the garden, they saw Lin Jiayue holding a set of cosmetics, approaching the wealthy ladies one by one. She enthusiastically explained something while holding the cosmetics.

Madam Sun, curious, asked with a smile, “Whose wife is that? She seems very lively.”

Due to Lin Jiayue’s attire, everyone assumed she was the main wife of one of the Marquis’ households. Although some were annoyed, they thought the Marquis’ residence lacked proper etiquette but didn’t say anything. However, those familiar with the Marquis’ residence knew that apart from Jiang Yan, the other young men were not yet of marriageable age, and they had never heard of Jiang Yan being married. They began to whisper and inquire about Lin Jiayue’s identity.

After everyone asked around, they still didn’t know whose wife she was. Now, hearing Madam Sun ask Song Wan, they all perked up their ears.

Song Wan looked at Lin Jiayue, who was enthusiastically promoting the cosmetics, and blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed. In her eighteen years of life, she had never heard of any noble family behaving this way. Even families of merchants who had read a few books and understood propriety wouldn’t be so abrupt with their guests.

After a while, Song Wan finally said, “She is Concubine Lin of our household.”

“……”

Everyone in the capital knew that Jiang Xingjian had brought back a woman who caused unrest in the household. Now, hearing Song Wan say this, they immediately understood Lin Jiayue’s identity.

The matriarchs of more conservative families frowned deeply, seeing the Marquis’ residence allowing a concubine to cause such a scene. Those who carefully observed Lin Jiayue’s attire and bold behavior frequently cast sympathetic and pitying glances at Song Wan.

After speaking, Song Wan didn’t look up and continued greeting the ladies as usual.

Seeing that no one paid attention to her after all her efforts, and now everyone gathered around Song Wan, Lin Jiayue was so angry that her hands trembled. However, everyone acted as if they didn’t see her, happily taking their seats and enjoying the opera.

As soon as the first act ended, Chief Eunuch Chang from Yanqing Palace arrived with a message from Consort Jiang, praising Song Wan and bestowing many gifts. Song Wan accepted them with a smile, thanked Chief Eunuch Chang, and returned to the crowd.

Consort Jiang’s gesture was not to elevate Song Wan but to let the Sun and Lan families know that the Marquis’ residence had the backing of the Fifth Prince, Shen Qianshu. Song Wan understood this well and accepted the gifts without much thought.

The other ladies also understood the purpose of this gesture, offering simple compliments before moving on. Only Lin Jiayue felt a deep sense of jealousy seeing this scene.