Chapter 50
Angry

“Madam has woken up and wants to see Miss.”

Song Wan had just rested for a while on the chaise longue. Hearing this, she had to get up and change clothes before heading to Jiangxiang Courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue arguing fiercely. However, when they saw her, they both fell silent, looking surprisingly in sync.

“You’re here.”

Jiang Xingjian said coldly, and Song Wan only responded softly before entering Mother Jiang’s room.

“How are you managing the household? That woman has ruined the grand banquet, and you didn’t know or intervene at all?”

Song Wan had just stepped into Mother Jiang’s bedroom when Mother Jiang, propped up on the bed, scolded her harshly. “The household affairs were entrusted to you, and this is how you handle them? You have wasted the trust the old madam and I placed in you. Explain yourself!”

“A perfectly good banquet and you let the guests stand while eating. The hundred-year reputation of the Marquis’ residence is ruined. Can you bear this responsibility?”

Song Wan lowered her head, speechless for a moment.

Mother Jiang, with a cloth tied around her head, looked pale and sickly. She seemed to have realized the seriousness of the banquet’s failure and had indeed fallen ill.

“Mother is right. It is my fault.”

“You…” Her quick admission of guilt left Mother Jiang speechless.

After a long while, Mother Jiang, with a hint of sobbing, said, “Yi’er has suffered at the border for many years. These six years have been so difficult for him. Now that he has finally returned to the Marquis’ residence, why can’t you all make things easier for him?”

“He has just inherited the title and already lost face. How will he establish himself in the court in the future?”

“Men are busy with external affairs, and you can’t even manage the small matters of the inner courtyard? Does he have to worry about these things too?”

“Mother is right.” Song Wan stood obediently by the side. No matter what Mother Jiang said, she only replied, “I know my mistake,” which made Mother Jiang feel even more frustrated and unable to vent her anger.

She was so angry that she couldn’t help but blame Song Wan. “You were raised by the Song family, and you can’t even handle a concubine? Is this the kind of daughter the Song family raised?”

“Mother.” Jiang Xingjian entered from outside and heard his mother criticizing the Song family. He frowned, feeling guilty.

This matter had nothing to do with Song Wan, so how could they blame the Song family?

Jiang Xingjian wanted to explain, but Song Wan said, “I understand Mother’s concern, but there’s no need to worry too much. Although today’s banquet was different from the past, I think Concubine Lin’s actions broke the old conventions and were not boring or tasteless.”

“You…” Mother Jiang frowned, growing even angrier.

A few days ago, Song Wan had indeed said that the household rules should not be broken, and she had insisted on letting Lin Jiayue handle the banquet. But how could she have known that Lin Jiayue would act so recklessly?

Mother Jiang stood up, her face full of anger. “Are you blaming me now?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Song Wan bowed and didn’t rise for a long time.

Jiang Xingjian took a deep breath, apologized to his mother, and pulled Song Wan out of Jiangxiang Courtyard.

As soon as they left the courtyard, Song Wan shook off Jiang Xingjian’s hand.

“Today’s matter has nothing to do with you. Don’t worry about it.”

Song Wan nodded. “I understand.”

Jiang Xingjian said, “You need to put more effort into Third Sister’s marriage with the Lan family. This marriage cannot be broken.”

“The marriage with the Lan family is probably not going to happen. Today, Third Sister embarrassed Madam Lan in front of the other ladies. If the Marquis’ residence insists on this marriage, it will turn into enmity rather than a union.”

Song Wan’s tone was indifferent, making Jiang Xingjian uncomfortable.

Half a month ago, she was still worried and concerned about the future of the Marquis’ residence. How did her attitude towards Jiang Jing become so cold in just a few days?

Jiang Xingjian didn’t understand and could only suppress his unease. “If the Lan family is not suitable, which family in the capital do you think is more appropriate?”

“Have you forgotten…” Song Wan looked up, staring into Jiang Xingjian’s eyes, and said word by word, “I told you I am powerless to arrange Third Sister’s marriage. Why force me?”

“Are you angry?” Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips, unsure how to face this side of Song Wan.

In his mind, Song Wan had always been obedient. Even if she was somewhat cold, she was always reasonable and magnanimous in important matters, never throwing tantrums. Especially when it came to his and the Marquis’ future, she was always cautious and attentive.

“Why do you think I should be angry?” Song Wan chuckled, her eyes growing colder as she looked at Jiang Xingjian’s pale face.

He had delayed consummating their marriage, making her a laughingstock among the servants. Mother Jiang looked down on her because of his neglect. Jiang Man, a married woman, controlled the household affairs, and the entire Marquis’ residence not only accepted it but also supported and indulged a concubine’s interference in family matters.

Jiang Xingjian knew Lin Jiayue was frivolous and incapable of managing the grand banquet, yet he still let her handle the household affairs. Song Wan had painstakingly arranged Jiang Jing’s marriage, only for it to be ruined by a few words from others. Now, he casually said the marriage with the Lan family couldn’t be broken.

And now, he was asking if she was angry?

Song Wan almost laughed out loud at the thought.

“I have things to do, so I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Without waiting for Jiang Xingjian’s reaction, Song Wan turned and left without a trace of reluctance.

After the grand banquet, both the old madam and Mother Jiang fell ill.

The old madam’s health was already poor, and the household had kept the banquet disaster from her. She still didn’t know about the trouble Lin Jiayue had caused. On the other hand, Mother Jiang fell seriously ill because Jiang Xingjian had been impeached.

A censor accused him of erratic behavior, violating etiquette, tarnishing the family’s reputation, and engaging in corrupt practices.

Originally, Consort Jiang had secured a substantial position for Jiang Xingjian, but after the impeachment, the emperor appointed him as the overseer of Shanglin Park.

The overseer of Shanglin Park was responsible for managing livestock, poultry, and the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers—a very idle position.

On the day the imperial decree arrived, the main kitchen didn’t even prepare a meal, and the entire Marquis’ residence was eerily quiet, except for the noise coming from Xiu Yan Pavilion. But Song Wan couldn’t be bothered with it; she was busy with other matters.

Because she had previously spread the word about the connection between Jiang Man and Lin Jiayue, Huan Yan Zhai’s business was surprisingly good. It wasn’t because Lin Jiayue’s cosmetics were particularly excellent but because most people wanted to curry favor with Consort Jiang.

Listening to Heng Zhi report the accounts from the outer courtyard, Song Wan smiled without saying a word.

“Huan Yan Zhai’s revenue is about to surpass the ice shop.”

“No matter.”

Song Wan smiled faintly. “The bigger the business, the better.”

Just as she was planning to find an opportunity to introduce the two ladies from the Bai and Lan families, she heard crying from outside the courtyard. It was Madam Zhou coming to plead again.

Song Wan frowned and, after a moment, said, “Let them in.”

Xiang Cao went to inform them, and soon, Madam Zhou and Jiang Jing entered, followed by Lin Jiayue with a cold smile.