Chapter 26
Embarrassment

“Miss…”

Song Wan had just woken up when she saw Heng Zhi standing by the embroidered couch with a troubled expression. She glanced at the maids in the room, who were silent and fearful, and asked with a smile, “What happened with the first master?”

“First Master had Ling Yun send his personal belongings to Xiu Yan Pavilion last night. This morning, even the bedding and his personal maid were moved there.”

“Miss…” Heng Wu’s eyes were red, with large tears hanging in them, but she didn’t dare to cry.

“First Master… he’s too much of a bully.”

Her mistress was the legitimate wife, carried into the marquis’s residence in a grand sedan chair, having properly bowed to the ancestors and heaven and earth. The Song family hadn’t fallen yet, so how could the marquis’s residence dare to humiliate them like this?

Although there were families in the capital that favored concubines, it was unheard of for a master to refuse to consummate the marriage with his legitimate wife for the sake of a concubine.

If this were to be known by outsiders, they would think her mistress had some terrible disease or was extremely unattractive.

“Miss, what does the first master mean by this? Is he preventing you from giving birth to the marquis’s first son so that the child of that little harlot can take his place?”

“Miss…”

“Enough, Heng Wu, you’re giving me a headache.”

Song Wan smiled to comfort her, but her face was terribly pale.

Heng Zhi’s eyes were also red, and she spoke indignantly, “On the day in the palace, the first master clearly said he would consummate the marriage with you and even said he would hang the picture of the two immortals. What is he doing now? Did Concubine Lin say something to the master to make him act like this?”

Xiang Cao gritted her teeth and said, “No, we can’t let them continue like this. I’ll go find the old madam. If she doesn’t care, I’ll go back to the Song mansion and find Master Song…”

After saying this, Xiang Cao tried to run out, but Song Wan stopped her.

“What should we tell the old madam?”

“Should we have the old madam force him to consummate the marriage with me? Wouldn’t that be even more humiliating?”

“Miss, what should we do now? If that little harlot gives birth to the first son, what will you do in the future?”

“The first son is still just a concubine’s son. At worst, we can adopt a child from the clan.”

Seeing their red eyes, Song Wan smiled and said, “Let’s get ready. If we delay any longer, we’ll miss the time.”

The four maids, with their rabbit-like eyes wide open, helped her get ready. Song Wan had been holding back her smile, but when she noticed they weren’t paying attention to her, a trace of anxiety appeared on her face.

The book says that a husband is like heaven. Heaven cannot be defied, and a husband cannot be left, but it never mentioned what to do in her situation.

Her mother hadn’t taught her, and she didn’t dare to discuss these matters with her aunt. Although her father and brothers treated her very well, it wasn’t proper for a daughter to complain about her marital issues.

She had married into the marquis’s residence wearing white, and on her wedding day, no one had told her how to get along with her husband. She had to figure everything out on her own.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Song Wan pursed her lips slightly.

After getting ready, Song Wan, Heng Zhi, and Heng Wu left the room. Jiang Xingjian was waiting for her in the courtyard as usual, but for some reason, she suddenly remembered the day she had taken the initiative to hold his hand, only to have it shaken off.

The familiar feeling of shame swept over her, making her feel stiff and her throat tight.

She had lived for eighteen years and had never felt so ashamed of her actions that day.

Walking two steps behind Jiang Xingjian, Song Wan composed herself, feeling uneasy.

“Please go ahead, husband.”

Seeing the distance between them, Jiang Xingjian’s brows furrowed slightly. He took a step forward, and Song Wan quickly stepped back.

Jiang Xingjian suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.

“You…”

“Grandmother is probably already waiting. It’s not good to delay.”

After saying this, she stood behind him. Jiang Xingjian was silent for a moment, then turned and went to the old madam Jiang’s Fuhe Hall.

Although Song Wan was now in charge of the household, the real power in the marquis’s residence still lay with the old madam Jiang.

Matters with established precedents in the household could follow old rules, but things like increasing the monthly allowance for servants or allowing them to return home still required the old madam’s approval. Song Wan had informed her in advance, but to implement them, she still needed to report to the old madam.

This back-and-forth took time. Jiang Xingjian, accompanying her, saw that she was speaking so much that her mouth was dry, so he handed her a cup of tea.

Looking at the man’s hand, Song Wan was momentarily stunned and didn’t reach out to take it.

Jiang Xingjian raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and then placed the teacup on the table. Song Wan didn’t want to drink it, but seeing the old madam and Jiang’s mother both staring at her, she blushed slightly and took a sip.

“What are you thinking about? So lost in thought?”

Lin Jiayue saw that Jiang Xingjian seemed distracted after returning from Fuhe Hall and couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Xingjian came back to his senses but didn’t mention that he found Song Wan’s behavior strange today, making him hard to understand.

“You’ve been looking at the account book all morning. Is there something difficult? Why don’t you tell me, and I can give you some advice.”

Jiang Xingjian thought that she usually had some clever ideas and wanted to humor her to pass the time, so he roughly explained the current situation in the household to Lin Jiayue and mentioned the results of Song Wan’s recent handling of matters.

After listening, Lin Jiayue took the account book and found a thin charcoal stick wrapped in several layers of cloth from the room, quickly calculating on the paper.

“My goodness, the marquis’s residence is currently spending more than it earns. How can such a small income support such large expenses? At this rate, we’ll be bankrupt in a few years.”

Jiang Xingjian smiled faintly, “Indeed.”

Lin Jiayue slightly curled her lips, “I have a way to turn a profit. Do you believe me?”

“You have a way?”

“Of course, but… I’m not telling you.”

Lin Jiayue threw down the charcoal stick and said with a half-smile, “Anyway, the marquis’s residence isn’t under my control now. Since the old madam and the madam trust the one in the main courtyard so much, let her figure it out herself.”

Jiang Xingjian smiled faintly and said nothing.

“What, you don’t believe I have a way to turn a profit? Or do you think Song Wan is doing a great job?”

Her voice was slightly raised. Jiang Xingjian said, “You’re still not fully recovered. Go rest.”

Lin Jiayue propped her chin with one hand, blinking her round eyes and smiling at Jiang Xingjian, “Do you know what it means to increase income and reduce expenditure?”

“A wise ruler must carefully nurture harmony, reduce expenditure, increase income, and adjust accordingly…”

Jiang Xingjian put down the account book and asked, “This is from Xunzi’s ‘Rich Country’ chapter. Why did you suddenly bring it up?”

“…”

Lin Jiayue paused, somewhat surprised. She had always thought that the concept of increasing income and reducing expenditure came from modern economics. Hearing Jiang Xingjian say this, she felt a bit embarrassed.

Then, Lin Jiayue snorted, “You know, but Song Wan probably doesn’t. If she knew, how could she come up with such a foolish method? Instead of reducing expenditure, it’s better to increase income. Besides, look at her petty savings of a few taels here and there. When will that ever fill the marquis’s residence’s deficit?”