Chapter 3: Gossip

Song Wan did not react, but Nanny Zhao and the maids in the room were all displeased.

Their young lady was, after all, the daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, who had married holding a memorial tablet and remained a widow for many years. Now, finally, the heavens had shown mercy, and her husband had returned from the dead, yet this was the situation?

Heng Wu pursed her lips, about to speak, but Song Wan interrupted her: “Heng Zhi, take the first master to the dressing room.”

Heng Zhi nodded and led Jiang Xingjian out.

As soon as they left, Heng Wu put her hands on her hips and started cursing: “What is this? Jia Yue, Jia Yue, just a little brat with no manners. How can the first master treat her like a treasure? Wearing a servant’s clothes is inappropriate; I think she’s not even as good as a servant! She doesn’t even know the meaning of propriety!”

“Miss, did you hear what that little fox said to the first master outside?”

“She told the first master she wanted to be with him for life. Who does she think she is? Announcing her name to a man in public, returning home with a man without a matchmaker or betrothal, such shameless behavior is worse than a little prostitute!”

Heng Wu rolled up her sleeves, getting angrier as she spoke: “Which decent family’s girl would have an affair with a man without a name or status? Doing such filthy things, how is it different from eloping with a man? Even if she were brought into the house in a small sedan chair, it would still be a disgrace, let alone in our Marquis’s mansion!”

“Miss, are you just going to let the first master elevate that lowly thing?”

Song Wan listened to Heng Wu’s angry breathing, pressing her temples in frustration.

Nanny Zhao, who was both Song Wan’s wet nurse and governess, immediately scolded: “What nonsense are you spouting? You know that girl is of low birth and can’t be brought to the forefront, yet you want the young lady to stoop to her level? What would that make the young lady?”

“Besides, men taking concubines has always been a common practice. Do you want to incite the young lady to become a jealous wife, despised by everyone? A jealous wife is no different from a home-wrecking thief. Don’t speak such unruly words in front of the young lady again.”

Heng Wu, already feeling stifled, felt even more indignant after being scolded by Nanny Zhao.

“A gentleman does not speak ill of others behind their backs. Do not discuss these matters again in the future.” Song Wan’s calm words immediately stopped their argument.

Nanny Zhao glared at Heng Wu and motioned towards the door. Heng Wu, seeing this, bit her lip and quieted down.

The Marquis’s mansion was not the Song family, and speaking out of turn would only bring trouble to the young lady, giving her a reputation for being unable to manage her servants.

Seeing Heng Wu still fuming, Song Wan smiled and said: “Why are you huffing and puffing here? If you’re bored, go play with Jin Si Hu and the embroidered ball, but be careful not to let it run out of the courtyard and scare the old madam’s parrot.”

Heng Wu knew the young lady cared for her, so she bowed and left quietly. But she had no intention of playing with Jin Si Hu. Instead, she quickly went to the dressing room in the main bedroom. She couldn’t let the first master take the young lady’s things and give them to that little brat.

When she arrived at the dressing room, she saw Jiang Xingjian pointing at a light coral-colored brocade skirt with silver embroidery, saying it was nice.

“This one won’t do.” Before Heng Zhi could speak, Heng Wu snatched the skirt back and hung it in the wardrobe.

“First Master, didn’t you see that the entire wardrobe is filled with plain clothes, except for this brocade skirt? The young lady has been in mourning since she was a child and cannot wear colored clothes or use makeup. The old madam felt sorry for her and gave her this outfit on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony.”

“The young lady has never worn it all these years, and now you want to take it?”

Being rebuked by a maid, Jiang Xingjian was displeased. He narrowed his eyes, about to speak, but Heng Zhi intervened: “Heng Wu is impulsive, First Master, don’t take it to heart. It’s not as serious as she says. Neglecting an honored guest is more disrespectful.”

Heng Zhi took the brocade skirt from the row of plain clothes and also took Song Wan’s only set of jewelry from the dressing box, handing them to Jiang Xingjian.

“A woman needs time to dress up, First Master; please hurry.”

The maid behind Jiang Xingjian took the clothes, and they left.

Seeing her sister give away the young lady’s things, Heng Wu angrily shouted: “You, you, you… Did you have some ulterior motive because the first master returned?”

Heng Zhi blushed and poked her sister’s head: “Nanny Zhao always said you were brainless, and now I see it’s true.”

“I have my reasons for giving the clothes to the first master. Why are you shouting? Hurry back and help the young lady dress.”

Even as they returned to Long Xiang Zhai, Heng Wu kept muttering that the young lady had no clothes to wear except plain ones. Even while combing Song Wan’s hair, she kept grumbling like a chattering bean.

Song Wan smiled and waved them away to dress herself. Once the room was quiet, she sat on the cushion, lost in thought.

Heng Wu had said that Jiang Xingjian knew it was her coming-of-age dress, the only one she could wear to meet guests, yet he still gave it to Lin Jiayue…

Outside, the sun was blazing, but Song Wan felt that Long Xiang Zhai was excessively quiet and empty. She got up and sat on the small couch by the window, looking at the row of zodiac wood carvings, and gently pushed one over with her slender, fair fingers.

Jiang Xingjian had returned, and tonight, Old Madam Jiang had invited everyone from the two branches of the Jiang family to a banquet at Fuhe Hall. Although everyone knew Song Wan had remained a widow and rarely appeared in public, she couldn’t wear plain clothes to such a joyous occasion. She chose a plain long robe and took a light yellow embroidered soft gauze jacket from Heng Zhi’s wardrobe to wear over it. Although it still looked a bit plain, it wasn’t as oppressive as before.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Song Wan took two small pearl hairpins from Heng Zhi’s dressing box and pinned them in her hair.

When Heng Zhi entered the room and saw her young lady like this, she couldn’t help but tear up.

Their young lady had been pampered in the Song family for over ten years, but marrying Jiang Yi had brought her so much suffering. Who could swallow such bitterness?

“Are you crying because you feel bad seeing me wear your clothes and accessories?”

Song Wan saw Heng Zhi secretly wiping her tears and gently comforted her: “I’ll give you a whole set of gold-inlaid jade jewelry in the future, okay?”

“Young lady always teases me.” Heng Zhi was amused but felt even more distressed.

Song Wan knew she was worried but didn’t know how to comfort her. After thinking for a long time, she softly said: “I know your intentions, but the Marquis’s mansion is not like our own home. There are hundreds of people serving in Lan Ting Courtyard, and many mouths to gossip. Be careful not to let Heng Wu give them any reason to criticize. If someone catches us making a mistake, I may not be able to protect you.”

Heng Zhi nodded, understanding her meaning.

A woman marrying out was like leaving her family, having to live under her husband’s family’s rules. If her husband respected her, life would be bearable. However, seeing how the first master favored Lin Jiayue today, the young lady would likely face more hardships.

Thinking of this, Heng Zhi had a rebellious thought.