Chapter 1: Return

“Old Madam, First Master has returned.”

“Old Madam, First Master has returned…”

An old, deep voice boomed from the gatekeeper’s room of the Chengyang Marquis’s mansion, and the servants in the outer courtyard immediately became chaotic. The news of the first master’s return disrupted the entire mansion.

Old Madam Jiang was leading the ladies of the mansion in listening to a play in the Begonia Garden when she saw the old maid crawling in, tears streaming down her face.

“Old Madam, First Master has returned; he has returned unharmed.”

Song Wan, sitting beside Old Madam Jiang, felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

“Yi’er, Yi’er he…”

“Old Madam, First Master has returned.” The old maid’s tearful and excited voice was heart-wrenching. Before she could gather her thoughts, Song Wan saw two people walking in from outside, one of whom was a tall man with sword-like eyebrows.

He still had the handsome and elegant appearance of a young gentleman, but he had lost the shyness of his youth and gained the firmness and coldness of a grown man like a sheathed sharp sword restraining its sharpness.

“Yi’er.” Old Madam Jiang rushed forward and tightly embraced her grandson.

The man softly comforted his grandmother, and when he looked up and saw Song Wan, he was suddenly stunned.

Song Wan bowed to him, her mind filled with thoughts.

The Jiang and Song families had been friends for generations, and she had known Jiang Xingjian for twelve years, having been betrothed since childhood. From the age of six, she had been taught by the mansion’s governesses to read, write, and learn women’s crafts, all in preparation for becoming a wife in the Jiang family. But no one expected that six years ago, Jiang Xingjian and the Marquis of Chengyang would be ambushed by enemy troops while transporting grain to the frontier, and both father and son would die.

She became the youngest widow in the capital at eleven or twelve, holding Jiang Xingjian’s memorial tablet as she married into the Chengyang Marquis’s mansion. Now, after six years of widowhood, her husband returned safely and brought a woman with him.

Song Wan looked at the woman standing not far away. She was delicate and beautiful, with cat-like eyes that were lively and charming. She wore a light green silk dress and a simple white jade hairpin, looking quite lovely.

She withdrew her gaze and remained silent.

“Yi’er, let your mother take a look at you.” Mother Jiang pulled Jiang Xingjian, crying uncontrollably, while Old Madam Jiang silently shed tears beside her.

Seeing them cry so much, Song Wan instructed the maid to call the mansion doctor. Once Old Madam Jiang and Mother Jiang calmed down, they brought Song Wan to Jiang Xingjian.

“Grandmother and mother have suffered greatly. There are many people in the mansion to serve them, but you and Wan’er have suffered the most. You have endured hardships outside for many years without a maid or servant to take care of you. Grandmother truly doesn’t know how you survived these six years.” Old Madam Jiang wiped her tears and held Song Wan’s hand tightly.

“Wan’er became a widow at a young age and has taken care of me and your mother for many years. Now that you have returned, Grandmother’s heart is at ease. If you and your wife can give Grandmother a great-grandson, my life will be complete.”

As Old Madam Jiang spoke, she placed Song Wan’s hand in Jiang Xingjian’s. Jiang Xingjian’s movements stiffened, and Song Wan sighed inwardly as she withdrew her hand.

“Madam, your words are too heavy. My husband has just returned and must be tired. Let him rest first, and you and Mother should also calm your minds.”

Gently patting Madam Jiang’s back, Song Wan softly said, “You have a heart condition, and your emotions should not fluctuate so greatly.”

After saying this, Song Wan turned to Jiang Xingjian and said, “Husband, you should wash up after your long journey. However, you brought a guest with you, and it would be impolite to neglect her.”

Song Wan’s tone remained unchanged, still calm and indifferent. Jiang Xingjian knew she had been cold and aloof since childhood, but for some reason, seeing her indifferent attitude now made him feel uncomfortable. He looked up at Song Wan and carefully examined her.

The last time they met was when he left the capital, and she came to see him off. At that time, Song Wan was just over ten years old, her tender little face wrapped in a red fox fur cloak, looking very endearing. The Song family was a prestigious family known for its scholarly traditions, and they were very particular about rules and etiquette. Even at a young age, she was taught to speak and behave like a proper lady, which was quite adorable. He thought that after six years, he would have forgotten that soft little girl from his memory, but seeing her today, all those past scenes came flooding back. The little face buried in fox fur in his memory had now become even more beautiful and extraordinary. Even though Jiang Xingjian knew she had been delicate and pretty since childhood, he didn’t expect her to grow up to be so stunningly beautiful.

“Brother Xingjian.” The soft and sweet voice of a young girl interrupted his thoughts. Jiang Xingjian turned around and saw Lin Jiayue nervously clutching her hands and looking at him.

He came back to his senses and introduced her to everyone in the mansion: ‘This is Miss Lin. It is thanks to her that I was able to return safely from the frontier.’

Lin Jiayue seemed dissatisfied with this brief introduction. She smiled with her eyes and said, “My name is Lin Jiayue. You can call me Xiaoyue.”

The young girl pursed her lips, and when she smiled, a pair of dimples appeared on her face. She thought that after introducing herself, the people in the mansion would no longer treat her as if she were invisible. Lin Jiayue’s face was full of smiles, but in just a moment, her smile froze.

She didn’t expect that no one would respond to her. Even Jiang Xingjian’s biological mother, Madam Marquis Chengyang, gave her a rather disdainful look.

Lin Jiayue’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“Greetings, Miss Lin.” Song Wan’s calm response eased her unease.

Lin Jiayue looked at her gratefully. Perhaps because she was a widow, Song Wan was dressed in plain white, with no accessories on her head or body. But the extremely light plain clothes, paired with her unadorned delicate face, gave her a unique charm as autumn water and jade skin accompanied by a gentle breeze.

The plain white robe accentuated her waist, and Lin Jiayue suddenly remembered a phrase: ‘Shoulders as if carved, waist as if bound by silk.’

Her features were exquisite; her long black hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and a section of her fair wrist, seemingly glowing softly, peeked out from the plain robe, making even a girl like Lin Jiayue feel a bit envious.

Lin Jiayue pursed her lips and looked at Jiang Xingjian uneasily.

“The Yin Hua Pavilion and the Xiu Yan Pavilion in the mansion are both vacant. Where does my husband plan to arrange for Miss Lin to stay?”

The Yin Hua Pavilion in the outer courtyard was for guests, while the Xiu Yan Pavilion in the Lan Ting Courtyard was in the inner courtyard.

The Lan Ting Courtyard was where Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan lived. One was in the outer courtyard, and the other in the inner courtyard. Jiang Xingjian understood that Song Wan was asking about Lin Jiayue’s status. Looking at the bewildered Lin Jiayue, he frowned slightly and finally said, “Arrange for Miss Lin to stay in the Xiu Yan Pavilion.”

As soon as he said this, Old Madam Jiang frowned slightly, and Mother Jiang gave Lin Jiayue a look of disdain.

Song Wan nodded and instructed the maid beside her, “Prepare the Xiu Yan Pavilion for Miss Lin to stay in.”