Chapter 18
Blood feud

Leaving Changxin Palace, Song Wan still felt her cheeks burning, feeling quite restrained.

Jiang Xingjian, whether he forgot or not, kept holding her hand and never let go.

Song Wan understood her aunt’s intention. Jiang Xingjian had already taken two concubines, but they had never consummated their marriage. If a legitimate son were to appear in the marquis’s household, it would cause chaos in the future. Her aunt felt sorry for her and didn’t want her or her child to suffer.

However…

Song Wan looked down at their clasped hands, feeling a mix of emotions.

If he hadn’t gone to the frontier or hadn’t met Lin Jiayue, they could have been a harmonious and respectful couple. But now, she didn’t know what the future held.

Song Wan’s nose tingled, and she tried to pull her hand away.

As soon as she moved her fingers, Jiang Xingjian held her hand tightly.

The man neither turned back nor spoke, just held her hand even tighter.

“Husband…”

Jiang Xingjian stopped, and the eunuchs and maids following them, as well as the eunuch sent by Consort Yun to look after Song Wan, also stopped.

“The wall on the east side of the main courtyard, where the incense burner is placed, is it empty?”

Song Wan nodded blankly.

With a stiff face, Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips and said, “It could hang a masterpiece.”

Song Wan’s eyes were flustered, not knowing how to respond. The girl’s face was full of shyness, looking a bit silly. Jiang Xingjian suppressed his joy and led Song Wan to Consort Jiang’s Yanqing Palace.

It wasn’t until they entered Yanqing Palace’s gate that Song Wan regained her composure.

Yanqing Palace was quiet, without the lively and warm atmosphere of Changxin Palace.

“Young Master Jiang, the consort has been waiting for you.”

The head eunuch of Changxin Palace arrived late. Jiang Xingjian was about to take Song Wan to see his sister when the eunuch said, “Madam Jiang, please wait.”

“Recently, the Imperial Astronomer said that the consort has been unwell and cannot see those born in the year of the rabbit, snake, sheep, or dog. To avoid offending the consort, please wait in the small garden.”

Jiang Xingjian frowned while Song Wan sighed silently. The eunuch from Changxin Palace behind them also squinted his eyes.

“Husband, go ahead, don’t keep the consort waiting.” Song Wan let go of their clasped hands and smiled as she stood outside Yanqing Palace.

Jiang Xingjian, still worried, instructed the eunuch beside him to take good care of Song Wan before going to see Jiang Man alone.

In the sleeping quarters of Changxin Palace, Jiang Man was dressed in a crescent white palace satin dress, with only a silver bat pearl hairpin in her hair. Although not as plain as Song Wan’s widow attire, it was still quite simple for the palace.

Only a few of Jiang Man’s trusted attendants were inside the sleeping quarters.

“Sister.”

Jiang Man’s eyes were slightly red. “These past few years have been hard on you.”

“It’s my incompetence that I couldn’t ease your worries, sister.”

Jiang Man extended her slender fingers, her nails glowing with a soft pink hue, looking exceptionally smooth and glossy. A maid supported her hand as she approached Jiang Xingjian.

“The gunpowder formula that woman holds, is it really as powerful as she claims?”

“I’ve seen it, and its power is considerable.”

Jiang Man covered her mouth. “Your years of planning at the border were not in vain. With this person and this formula, father’s great revenge can be achieved.”

“…” Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, his face turning slightly pale.

Jiang Man had sharp eyebrows and eyes, a rare heroic appearance among women. In terms of facial features alone, she was less charming and gentle compared to the mild-tempered Song Yunning, but Jiang Man had a pair of unparalleled eyes. Those eyes were bright and affectionate; even when looking coldly at someone, they carried a seductive charm of unspoken words.

If such eyes were on an ordinary woman, they would give an impression of frivolity, but on her, they inexplicably added a desire to conquer.

If she didn’t have exceptional qualities, she wouldn’t have given birth to the fifth prince just a year after entering the palace.

Having lived in the palace’s treacherous environment for a long time, she had become increasingly perceptive of human nature, especially when it came to her younger brother, whom she had watched grow up.

With just one look, she knew what Jiang Xingjian was thinking.

“You want to ask me why I didn’t tell you about Song Wan marrying into the marquis’s household?”

Jiang Xingjian straightened his back, his hands and feet stiff.

“Come with me.”

They walked to the side room of the hall, where Jiang Man moved the white jade Guanyin statue from the small shrine, revealing the memorial tablets behind it.

“Kneel.”

Jiang Xingjian looked at his father’s name and knelt without hesitation.

“When I unexpectedly entered the palace and became pregnant with the dragon child, you and father were immediately sent to the frontier to escort grain. This task shouldn’t have fallen on you two, should it?”

“Yes.”

“Father died, the marquis’s household quickly declined, the eldest prince’s virtue was lacking, the crown prince had been paralyzed for years, and Qianshu’s birth posed the greatest threat to the third prince, Shen Qianbai, is that right?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Man’s eyes reddened. “We both know that a prince without external support is like a boat adrift in the waves, unable to move even without wind. Don’t tell me you can’t see Song Lan’an’s ambition, Song Yunning’s schemes, and who was behind the plot against you and father!”

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, the light in his eyes slowly fading.

“Yi’er, I know you have feelings for Song Wan.”

“The palace lanterns, wood carvings, and bracelets you gave her when you were young were all made by me, one cut at a time. I know you’ve been waiting to marry her since childhood. But what does it matter?”

“The blood feud of our father’s death cannot be forgotten. If you must blame someone, blame her for being born into the Song family. Blame Song Lan’an and Song Yunning for their ambitions.”

Jiang Man grabbed Jiang Xingjian’s shoulders so tightly that her fingernail broke without her noticing.

The maid beside her stepped forward but was waved away by Jiang Man.

“If the Song family is destroyed one day and only Song Wan remains, I will allow you to be with her. But if Song Lan’an and Song Yunning remain, I won’t hesitate to use Song Wan as a pawn.”

“I…” Jiang Xingjian closed his eyes in pain, then said in a low voice, “Sister, I know what to do.”

Seeing his determination, Jiang Man, though reluctant, gently patted his shoulder. The siblings then slowly caught up, seemingly forgetting about Song Wan waiting outside the hall.

Song Wan stood outside Yanqing Palace, feeling dizzy from the sun, while the young eunuch who came to take care of her was anxiously stomping his feet.

“Madam Jiang, please return to Changxin Palace with me.”

“No.” Song Wan smiled. “If I leave without the consort’s permission, I might be accused of disrespecting the imperial consort. I know you are kind-hearted and don’t want me to suffer in the sun.”

Looking at the garden of Yanqing Palace, Song Wan pointed to the rockery and said, “Why don’t you accompany me there to cool off?”

How could the eunuch refuse? He quickly led Song Wan to the shady part of the garden. But before they could enter, they heard rustling sounds from the corner. A group of young eunuchs was bullying a wounded cleaning eunuch.

Song Wan frowned slightly as she looked at the figure on the ground.