Chapter 11
Unwilling

“What are you talking about, child? Just speak directly to Grandmother.”

Song Wan softly said, “Since Miss Lin is now a lady of the marquis’ household, her conduct and manners cannot be as free and easy as before. I would like to ask Grandmother and Mother to assign one or two people to teach Huai Su and Miss Lin the proper etiquette for ladies.”

Mother Jiang said, “Wan’er, what you said is quite proper. In the past, it was hard to say anything without a proper status. Now that she is Yi’er’s concubine, any disgraceful incident would bring shame to our household.”

Old Madam Jiang also nodded, though she had her own plans and didn’t mind much. She casually said to Jiang Xingjian, “That girl doesn’t sit or stand properly. It’s indeed inappropriate. We need to arrange for a few governesses to teach her proper conduct. I can’t spare many people from my side, so how about letting Qi Shun’s wife and your wet nurse, Nanny Li, teach her? The other two can come from your mother’s quarters. This way, it maintains the bond between you and your mother without being too harsh.”

If all four governesses came from the old madam’s quarters, it might seem like interfering in other household matters. Jiang Xingjian understood his grandmother’s good intentions and quietly agreed.

Old Madam Jiang nodded secretly and looked at Song Wan, who was sitting obediently beside her, and said, “You know that your mother has been unwell for years due to excessive longing for her son. There hasn’t been anyone capable of taking on this responsibility in the household. Now that Yi’er is back, you don’t need to stay in the courtyard. I was thinking of entrusting the management of the Marquis household to you. How about it?”

“It won’t be too tiring for you. After all, your mother and I will be supporting you.”

“Yes, Wan’er, with you assisting your mother, she can also have some relief.”

Handing over the household management power to Song Wan was both a compensation for Jiang Xingjian bringing people back and a way to appease the Song family. Song Wan knew that she had no choice but to accept, so she nodded obediently.

Now that Jiang Xingjian had returned, Old Madam Jiang and Mother Jiang were increasingly pleased with Song Wan. As soon as she agreed to take over the household affairs, Old Madam Jiang asked the stewardess to bring the household token to her.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask Jiang Fu’s wife.”

“Wan’er understands.” Taking the token, Song Wan handed the enamel-inlaid nanmu box to Heng Zhi.

After having a meal at Fuhe Hall, Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan headed to Lan Ting Courtyard. They walked in silence for a long time, and when they saw the courtyard gate, Jiang Xingjian finally said, “Jiayue won’t pose any threat to you, so why are you in such a hurry to give her the status of a concubine?”

Song Wan raised her eyebrows slightly but did not speak.

“In the future, when I inherit the title, I will elevate Jiayue to the status of a secondary wife.”

Song Wan smiled faintly, “Husband, you have been away for many years and seem to have forgotten the rules and etiquette. Not to mention that Miss Lin lost her reputation by eloping with you, making it impossible for her to become a secondary wife of the marquis’ household. Even today, Grandmother and Mother personally decided her status, so how can you change it in the future?”

“The rules of the capital may be forgotten for a moment, but if you forget filial piety, it will shame the ancestors of Marquis Chengyang.”

As they were talking, Jiang Fu’s wife approached with a group of stewardesses. Song Wan lowered her eyes and said, “Husband, it’s a small matter if you lose face over a concubine, but the century-old reputation of Marquis Chengyang and my Song family cannot be tarnished. I hope you won’t bring shame to both families.”

“Jiayue, she…”

Before he could finish, Song Wan turned to greet the stewardesses. Jiang Xingjian’s words about her unusual status were left unsaid as the lady in front of him walked away. He frowned in silence, feeling a surge of anger.

In just one day, Song Wan had disrupted his plans. Jiang Xingjian pressed his temples as he entered the Xiu Yan Pavilion, contemplating how to break the news to Lin Jiayue. As soon as he entered the room, he was embraced tightly.

The young girl wrapped her arms around his waist and said softly, “Brother Xingjian, do you know that every time you’re with another woman, it hurts me deeply?”

“We agreed that you would marry me when we returned to the capital, but now there’s a legitimate wife in the household, like a great Buddha, and what have I become? If I had known, I would have stayed in Suhe. It would have been better than this.”

Jiang Xingjian pulled Lin Jiayue away, feeling that her behavior was inappropriate.

In the past, when they were outside, Lin Jiayue, being young, occasionally showed some coquettishness, but she never acted out of line. Now, perhaps due to her insecurity, she couldn’t help but want to be close to him to prove their mutual affection.

However…

Jiang Xingjian pressed his forehead, feeling quite tired. “The old madam has arranged for governesses to teach you the rules of the marquis’ household. You must pay attention when they instruct you. If you continue to act recklessly, you will suffer in the future.”

Upon hearing the word “governess,” Lin Jiayue’s face stiffened. “I don’t want to learn those oppressive rules. Do you want me to become like that wooden Buddha?”

Jiang Xingjian pretended not to hear. “If you want to stay in the marquis’ household, you must learn the rules. Song Wan is my legitimate wife and the future mistress of Marquis Chengyang’s household. Even if you don’t want to call her ‘madam,’ you cannot be so disrespectful.”

Lin Jiayue stood up, her previously gentle and lovely demeanor gone. “She only has a title, and she should be placed above me? Brother Xingjian…”

“Today, Grandmother has already recorded your name and birthdate in the household register. You are now a concubine in the household, and Song Wan indeed ranks above you.”

“Concubine? I refuse to be a concubine. How could they record my name without my consent? I don’t even know my own birthdate. How could they make decisions for me? How could I possibly be a concubine? Brother Xingjian, you know I want to be with you forever.”

Feeling a headache from Lin Jiayue’s complaints, Jiang Xingjian said, “If you don’t want to be a concubine, I will send you out of the household today.”

“………”

Lin Jiayue bit her lip, feeling extremely unwilling.

She couldn’t leave the Marquis’ residence. Ever since she inexplicably woke up in this era, she had finally managed to escape the impoverished family where the original owner had to live off grass roots and tree bark. And Jiang Xingjian was the most noble person she had encountered.

Moreover, she genuinely liked Jiang Xingjian, a man born into a wealthy and noble family with outstanding looks, a tall and upright figure, and gentlemanly and graceful manners. She wasn’t sure if she could ever meet such a man again, and even if she did, she might not like him.

Lin Jiayue lowered her head, biting her lip in hesitation.

Although she was a concubine, she could be promoted in the future, right? As long as she firmly held Jiang Xingjian’s heart in her hands, she didn’t believe she couldn’t surpass an ancient woman who was like a piece of wood.

‘You know I can’t bear to leave you, and I won’t leave the Marquis’ residence. You’re just bullying me because you know I like you.’

Lin Jiayue’s tears fell pitifully, and Jiang Xingjian sighed softly when he saw this.

Wiping away her tears, Jiang Xingjian said, ‘When I inherit the title in the future, I will promote you to a secondary wife. You don’t need to worry.’

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiayue thought to herself that a man’s words couldn’t be trusted at all.

She couldn’t possibly become a secondary wife, and as someone who had received a proper modern education, how could she be willing to become a concubine in a feudal era?

How laughable.