Chapter 13
Differentiation

Song Wan was lost in thought when Heng Wu walked in, carrying Xuan porcelain plates. Behind her followed a few young maidservants setting the table. They worked swiftly and soon had a table full of dishes ready. Song Wan asked Heng Zhi to take care of the cat while she sat beside Jiang Xingjian.

On the table were six palm-sized jade lotus leaf plates, two white jade soup bowls, and sixteen pinkish-white Ru kiln small dishes.

There were six main dishes, four hot and two cold, including stir-fried lamb tripe, braised bamboo shoots with chicken, fish maw stewed with ham, and wild mushroom chicken stew. The cold dishes prepared in the small kitchen were pickled sour vegetables and fresh bamboo shoots in red oil.

Song Wan preferred light flavors, so a separate shrimp and fresh bamboo shoot soup was made for her, while Jiang Xingjian had a scallop and pigeon soup.

The Ru kiln small dishes were arranged in sets of four, each containing four portions of snacks, dried fruits, candied fruits, and palate-cleansing small dishes.

Jiang Xingjian picked up a small crab dumpling and put it in his mouth. The crab flavor was fresh and delicate, and although it was just a small snack, it showcased the chef’s skill.

The two ate in silence, their movements light and quiet. Song Wan only took a few bites, and Jiang Xingjian knew she was done, but etiquette dictated that she could not put down her chopsticks first.

The people around them were naturally dignified and courteous. Jiang Xingjian looked at the table full of delicacies and thought of Lin Jiayue’s embarrassment at the family banquet in the Marquis’s residence.

People from noble families, regardless of gender, adhere to strict etiquette and teachings from a young age. Their lifestyle, including food, clothing, and housing, is different from that of commoners. They eat in limited quantities, with a variety of high-quality dishes, a rule they have followed since birth. Even the first-class maidservants in Lan Ting Courtyard, like Song Wan, know these rules.

Jiang Xingjian suddenly lost his appetite. He put down his chopsticks and took the hand towel handed to him by the maid.

After wiping his hands, Lv Zhu and Xiang Chao brought in a rinsing bowl.

After rinsing their mouths, Jiang Xingjian walked to Song Wan’s desk and casually flipped through the household accounts. There were about thirty or forty volumes, categorized and organized. The more he looked, the tighter his brows furrowed.

Song Wan said, “Since the Marquis and Husband left, the Marquis’s residence has been in decline. Now, six years have passed, and the household affairs are numerous. Compared to the past, the expenses have not decreased, but the income has been reduced by more than half.”

“Moreover…” Song Wan paused, took a red-covered account book from under the desk, and handed it to Jiang Xingjian.

“Since Consort Jiang entered the palace, the expenses for managing the palace have been enormous. Although the Marquis’s residence still maintains its facade, it is difficult to sustain internally.”

Jiang Family’s eldest legitimate daughter, Jiang Man, entered the palace as a concubine seven years ago. When Jiang Xingjian left the capital, she was pregnant with the dragon child. Over the years, the expenses for managing the inner palace and the funeral costs for the Marquis have emptied most of the Marquis’s residence. However, the Marquis’s residence still had some savings. Although it could not compare to its peak, it was still better off than other official families.

But it could only be said to be barely adequate.

The Marquis’s residence had more than a thousand servants, and the daily expenses were staggering, not to mention the two people in the palace who could not be neglected.

During festivals, when gifts and tributes were needed, the money flowed like water. Even the barely maintained dignity would be unsustainable in another three to five years.

Song Wan had guessed the difficulties of the Marquis’s residence but had not expected it to be so troublesome.

Jiang Xingjian said, “Why has the income from the estate decreased so much in recent years?”

“The most profitable estates and lands were given to Eunuch Duan, the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, a few years ago.” Song Wan said with some embarrassment.

The relationship between the Marquis’s residence and the Song family had been somewhat delicate in recent years. Her aunt was the current Consort Yun, who was highly favored. Jiang Xingjian’s legitimate sister entered the palace and became pregnant with the fifth prince within a year. After the news of the Marquis and Jiang Xingjian’s deaths at the border reached the capital, the emperor promoted Jiang Man from a concubine to a consort to compensate the Marquis’s residence.

In the early years, the country’s strength was weak, and the emperor made the second prince, who had the most humble background, the crown prince. Before he was five years old, he was sent to a neighboring country as a hostage. After twelve years as a hostage, he returned to the court with only a half-dead body. He has been paralyzed in the Eastern Palace for eight years. If not for the fear of public outrage, the emperor would have demoted him to a commoner long ago.

The eldest prince was born to the empress. If it weren’t for the hostage situation, the position of crown prince would have been his. Originally, he only needed to wait for the crown prince to die to secure the throne, but the eldest prince’s character was too unworthy, making him unsuitable for the role.

The third prince was born to her aunt and had just turned nine. The fourth prince died young. The Song family…

Song Wan lowered her eyes, her hand pausing slightly as she flipped through the account books.

Since ancient times, wealth has moved people’s hearts, let alone supreme power. She didn’t believe the Song family had no ambitions for that position, and her father’s ambition was evident from her brother’s name.

Song Wan glanced at Jiang Xingjian, and they both quickly looked away from each other.

After a moment, Jiang Xingjian said, “I know you prefer peace and are not inclined to manage these trivial matters, but the household affairs still require your attention.”

“As for external matters… now that I have safely returned to the residence, there is no reason to trouble you with them anymore.”

Song Wan replied, “Thank you for your consideration, Husband.”

She found and organized several red-covered account books and handed them to Jiang Xingjian. The so-called external matters were related to Consort Jiang and the fifth prince, Shen Qianshu, which she was happy to relinquish.

The two were silent for a while, but Heng Wu walked in with anger in her eyes. “First Master, Concubine Lin from Xiu Yan Pavilion has something urgent to discuss with you. She has sent maids to urge you three or five times already, so it must be important.’

Jiang Xingjian frowned upon hearing this, feeling somewhat embarrassed. The improper behavior of the people in the house reflected poorly on him.

“Tell Concubine Lin that I have important matters to discuss with my wife.”

Heng Wu bowed and left, her sleeves swaying.

“Speaking of Concubine Lin, I have something to discuss with you,” Song Wan said. “The concubines in the household receive one tael of silver per month, with two maids to manage their personal belongings and four servants for cleaning and laundry. Huai Su can enjoy this allowance, but Miss Lin’s allowance should be reduced accordingly. Do you have any objections?”

“…”

If Lin Jiayue hadn’t repeatedly overstepped her boundaries by coming to the main room to find him, Jiang Xingjian might have said something. But now, he had no face to speak.

“You should handle the household matters according to the established rules. I have no objections,” Jiang Xingjian said.

Song Wan continued, “Although there are still vacant courtyards in Lan Ting Courtyard, they have been closed for six years and need to be repaired before they can be inhabited. Huai Su’s status is different now, so she cannot stay in the servants’ quarters and come and go with the maids. Therefore, I have arranged for her to stay in Xiu Yan Pavilion for the time being. What do you think?”

“That is not appropriate.”

“Then I will give Huai Su the Long Xiang Zhai.”

“That is even more inappropriate,” Jiang Xingjian frowned.

Song Wan had married into the Marquis’s residence with a spirit tablet and had been a widow for six years, known to everyone in the capital. Bringing Jiayue back to the capital was already a disgraceful act, openly embarrassing the Song family. If he were to let her give up her former widow’s residence to another concubine, even for the sake of the Song family’s reputation, the emperor would hold him accountable when he returned from his summer retreat. Moreover, he could not bear the reputation of favoring a concubine over his wife and being foolish and lecherous.

“As you arrange,” Jiang Xingjian said, then got up and left.

Song Wan was wise and would not lower herself to argue with Jiayue. She only needed to present the dignity of the Marquis’s residence and the Song family, as well as his reputation, and he would naturally abandon Lin Jiayue. With just a few words, she could easily divide them without any effort. She had been clever since childhood, easily handling household matters.

Jiang Xingjian smiled helplessly but quickly suppressed it.