Chapter 44
Overstepping

On the day of the grand banquet at the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence, Song Wan woke up before dawn to get dressed.

As the wife of the Marquis of Chengyang, she not only had to welcome guests but also build relationships with the ladies of the capital. While men fought outside, women had to navigate the social circles of the inner courtyard, handling matters that couldn’t be discussed openly.

Although Song Wan was reluctant to do these things for the Marquis’ residence, she had no choice. Lv Zhu and Xiang Cao helped her with her hair and makeup, taking nearly an hour to get everything ready.

Once Song Wan was dressed, she left Lan Ting Courtyard, supported by Heng Zhi.

Outside Lan Ting Courtyard, Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue were already waiting.

Song Wan saw Lin Jiayue wearing a long gown of cherry purple silk embroidered with gold peonies and a red beaded palace sash hanging from her waist. Her hair was styled in a flying fairy bun, adorned with a red gem phoenix hairpin. Even the white jade skirt weights were top-quality items from the palace.

Song Wan’s gaze swept over the red palace sash and the phoenix hairpin, her expression indifferent. She wondered if Lin Jiayue didn’t understand the rules, not realizing that these items were far beyond her status as a concubine, or if she knew but still wanted to outshine her.

Song Wan looked away, pretending not to see. After all, she was almost hoping Lin Jiayue wouldn’t be too restrained today.

They all went to Fuhe Hall to pay their respects to the old madam who would be attending the banquet.

After greeting and having breakfast, Song Wan went with the ladies to Haitang Garden.

Haitang Garden was filled with rockeries and strange stones, with pavilions and water pavilions scattered throughout.

There was an artificial lake in the garden, with a small island in the middle where the Marquis’ residence’s opera troupe lived. Noble families often had their own opera troupes, and the Marquis’ residence was no exception.

For such a grand banquet, several opera performances were indispensable.

Lin Jiayue reluctantly stood at the back, following the group through the inner courtyard walls. She had thought she understood the Marquis’ residence, but today she realized its grandeur and luxury far exceeded her imagination.

Stepping outside the walls, she saw green willows hanging down, with trees of varying heights on both sides. The ground was paved with large white jade slabs, and a gentle breeze made the summer day feel particularly refreshing. She was surprised she had never been to this place before, seeing countless pavilions and evergreen trees in the distance, much larger than the back courtyard of the Marquis’ residence.

After entering Haitang Garden, they saw a grand opera stage in the courtyard’s center, with nearly a hundred performers lined up in opera costumes. As soon as they saw the old madam, they all bowed in unison.

“Rise, the old madam doesn’t like this formality.” Mother Jiang, her face glowing with joy, had the maids bring red envelopes and distribute them one by one. “The Marquis’ residence hasn’t held a grand banquet in years. Today, don’t embarrass the household. If anyone messes up, I’ll whip you myself.”

The troupe leader accepted the red envelopes with a smile. “Rest assured, madam, we won’t mess up.”

Mother Jiang laughed for a while, then turned to Song Wan. “Wan’er, have you taken care of the other arrangements?”

Song Wan smiled. “Mother, you forgot. I only handled the guest list and the menu for the banquet. Lin Jiayue is responsible for everything else.”

“Lin Jiayue is in charge?”

The old madam’s eyelids twitched. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“This is a small matter, no need to trouble you. I saw that Lin Jiayue has some talent, and handling a banquet for a few hundred people shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, Wan’er and the stewardesses are overseeing everything, so there won’t be any issues.”

The old madam felt a pang in her heart and looked at Song Wan. “Do you know what arrangements Lin Jiayue has made?”

Song Wan lowered her head. “Concubine Lin has reported everything to Mother.”

“So, you don’t know how she handled it?”

Seeing the old madam raise her voice, Mother Jiang laughed. “Mother, don’t worry. Although Concubine Lin is not from a noble family, she is capable. Even if there are some minor issues, Wan’er will help the household manage. One is steady and reliable; the other is bold and meticulous. Together, they complement each other.”

Song Wan remained expressionless and did not respond. The old madam could tell that it was not as simple as Mother Jiang made it seem.

“Bring Concubine Lin over.”

Lin Jiayue walked over gracefully from the crowd and greeted the old madam with a smile. As soon as the old madam saw her attire, she immediately became furious. “Who allowed you to dress like this? Don’t you know what occasion this is?”

“Do you think the noblewomen here are as shallow as you, unable to see through your petty schemes?”

The old madam’s anger made all the women of the Marquis’ residence lower their heads in silence.

Mother Jiang then noticed Lin Jiayue’s outfit and frowned. “Why are you wearing a red palace sash and a phoenix hairpin? These are far beyond what a concubine can use. Go and change.”

Feeling dissatisfied but not daring to show it, Lin Jiayue lowered her head and said, “Consort Jiang bestowed these items.”

Hearing that the consort bestowed them, Mother Jiang said nothing more. Seeing the old madam still angry, she tried to calm her down. “Since Man’er bestowed them, let her wear them. It’s too late to change now.”

“You are foolish.” The old madam glared at Mother Jiang, feeling very displeased.

Today’s occasion was the first time Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan were formally presented to the public. One was the head of the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence, and the other was the mistress, representing the face of the Marquis’ residence. It was far from being about Jiang Yi and Song Wan alone.

Publicly elevating a concubine and humiliating Song Wan in such an event was akin to announcing a break with the Song family to the entire capital. Moreover, everyone in the capital knew that Song Wan had married into the Marquis’ residence with a memorial tablet, having been a widow for six years. The Song family’s daughter was known for her great virtue and exemplary conduct. Now that the Marquis’ residence had risen, the first thing they did was to trample on Song Wan’s dignity. How would the world view the Marquis’ residence? What family values would they have left?

The old madam was so angry that she nearly fainted.

Song Wan hurriedly stepped forward to support her, but the old madam grabbed her arm tightly. “You knew… why… why didn’t you stop it…”

Despite the pain in her arm, Song Wan kept her head down and remained silent.

Seeing her like this, the old madam felt another headache coming on. She understood Song Wan. If it weren’t for some irreconcilable grievance, she wouldn’t be so willful and disregard the future of the Marquis’ residence. It must have been something Mother Jiang said or did while she was ill.

Thinking of this, the old madam regretted letting her son marry Mother Jiang, the daughter of a military general.

“Mother, are you alright? Quickly, call the physician…”

The old madam held Mother Jiang tightly and said intermittently, “Send Concubine Lin… back to Xiu Yan Pavilion. Today… don’t let her come out… to see anyone.”

Mother Jiang quickly said, “That’s not possible, Mother. Today, Concubine Lin is supposed to explain the cosmetics from Huan Yan Zhai to the ladies. She said that if today’s event is successful, Huan Yan Zhai will become famous, and we won’t have to worry about sales in the future.”

Hearing that the grand banquet of the Marquis’ residence had been turned into a commercial event, even Song Wan, who was usually calm, looked up in surprise.

The women of the Marquis’ residence frowned in silence.

Seeing Mother Jiang so stubborn, the old madam was so angry that she fainted.