Chapter 51
Bedchambermaid

“Hurry and apologize to your sister-in-law!” As soon as Madam Zhou entered, she pushed Jiang Jing, who knelt before Song Wan, holding back tears.

The young girl cried, “It was my fault for being willful, sister-in-law. Please forgive me.”

“Yes, Young Madam, please don’t hold it against her. A girl’s marriage is of utmost importance. If she can’t find a good match, her life will be ruined. Please be generous and don’t hold a grudge against a child.” Madam Zhou’s legs gave way, and she was about to kneel, but Heng Zhi quickly pulled her up.

Heng Zhi, who had been holding back her anger for days, couldn’t contain it any longer when she saw Lin Jiayue walking in nonchalantly. She sarcastically said, “It’s fine for Third Miss to kneel to our lady. After all, the mistress’s status is higher. But Madam Zhou, you’re practically half a senior to our lady. Are you trying to give our mistress a reputation for being harsh to her father-in-law’s concubine, or are you secretly trying to bring bad luck to our lady?”

“Madam Zhou, please don’t cry. Third Sister, you can get up. I don’t deserve this kneeling.” Song Wan helped them up and asked Lv Zhu to bring them handkerchiefs and calming tea.

“Is there something you need, Concubine Lin?”

Lin Jiayue smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She had been arguing fiercely with Jiang Xingjian for days, and he had even moved out of Xiu Yan Pavilion. All because she organized a buffet, and he had given her the cold shoulder for over half a month. She was furious.

But no matter how angry she was, she couldn’t let Song Wan take advantage of the situation.

“Young Madam, Consort Jiang has ordered me to assist you in managing the household. I’ve been busy with Huan Yan Zhai recently, but now that the business is thriving, I have time to help you.”

“I’m not very capable, so please don’t hold it against me if I make any mistakes.”

Heng Zhi glanced at Lin Jiayue with a strange look but didn’t curse her. Her fiery temper being held back surprised Lin Jiayue.

“Prepare a seat for Concubine Lin.”

Lin Jiayue looked at Song Wan’s calm and indifferent expression and suddenly felt as if this person had been waiting for her to arrive.

“Madam Zhou…”

Seeing Madam Zhou’s swollen, tearful eyes, Song Wan’s tone softened. “Third Sister’s marriage with the Lan family is definitely off. There’s no need to be so upset. It was never confirmed in the first place, so just consider it as if it never happened.”

“Heh.” Lin Jiayue sneered from the side, but no one in the room paid her any attention.

“Can’t you help Jing’er find another way? I asked her, and she didn’t do anything wrong that day. She just didn’t respond when Madam Lan called her. If you explain it to Madam Lan, she won’t hold it against Jing’er.”

Song Wan’s expression turned colder. “And how does Madam Zhou suggest I explain it?”

“Just say Jing’er didn’t hear that day or that she’s young and didn’t know the proper etiquette but has been learning the rules at home recently…”

“The Lan family may be merchants but come from an official background. Lan Yunhe, as the uncle of the Lan family patriarch, holds a high rank. Do you think Madam Lan would accept a girl who only starts learning etiquette right before marriage to be her aunt?”

“It’s just a man you’ve never met. If this marriage falls through, we’ll find another one. Third Sister is a girl, and she’s not ugly. I’ve never seen a girl ruin her family’s reputation.”

“Bah.”

As soon as Lin Jiayue finished speaking, Madam Zhou spat in her face. “Do you think all the girls in the world are as shameless as you, meeting a man without a matchmaker and living together? If it weren’t for you, my Jing’er wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Madam Zhou’s eyes were bloodshot from crying for days. “Who is Young Master Lan? The Lan family is extremely wealthy. If my Jing’er marries into the Lan family, she will have the highest status in the entire Lan family. She has no mother-in-law or sisters-in-law, and even the Lan family patriarch would have to call her ‘aunt.'”

“Young Master Lan bought a five-courtyard house in Guangqumen early on to establish his own household after marriage.”

“If Jing’er marries into the Lan family, she will be a wealthy lady. Such a good fate has been ruined by you!”

“You’re only thinking about the Lan family’s wealth. Have you ever thought about what kind of person Young Master Lan is? No matter how wealthy he is, if he has many concubines in the future, Jiang Jing won’t be happy even if she marries him!”

“Bah.” Madam Zhou shouted, “The balance of yin and yang is the way of heaven and earth. Which man in this world doesn’t take concubines? If my Jing’er marries into the Lan family, she will be the main wife. Even if Young Master Lan takes concubines, no one can surpass my Jing’er.”

“I know it. You, with your lowly background and status as a concubine, can’t stand to see my Jing’er become the main wife. That’s why you maliciously incited her to lose the marriage. I’ll tear your skin off!”

“You’re crazy.” Lin Jiayue glared at Madam Zhou, too lazy to argue with her.

Song Wan sipped her tea, completely unfazed by the commotion.

The noise in Lan Ting Courtyard was loud, and a woman stood at the door with a young maid, looking embarrassed and unsure of how to speak.

“Madam Zheng.”

Heng Zhi greeted her, and Madam Zhou immediately fell silent, pulling Jiang Jing to stand aside.

Madam Zheng walked in gracefully, followed by a young maid with a silver hairpin. The maid looked timid but very pretty.

Seeing her, Madam Zhou fell silent, feeling both angry and embarrassed at being seen in such a state. Years ago, she was favored by the old Marquis. If Madam Zheng hadn’t used tricks to steal her favor, she wouldn’t have only one daughter, Jiang Jing. Thinking of Madam Zheng’s children, Madam Zhou felt a pang of jealousy.

“Greetings, Madam. I have something to trouble you with today.”

Song Wan replied gently, “Please speak, Madam Zheng.”

Adjusting the gold hairpin on her head, Madam Zheng smiled and said, “It’s about my son, Jiang Ang. He’s ten years old now, and I think it’s time to arrange someone for his bedchamber. I’ve chosen a clever young maid to be his concubine.”

“In our household, concubines must be registered. I wanted to inform you and ask when you have time to add this maid’s name to the register.”

Raising a concubine or a bedchambermaid meant receiving a monthly allowance. As Madam Zheng spoke, she handed the maid’s birth certificate to Song Wan with a smile.

Song Wan was about to nod when Lin Jiayue suddenly stood up, her voice sharp. “A bedchambermaid? A concubine?”

She snatched the birth certificate from Song Wan’s hand, carefully checking the birth date, and her face turned pale. “Are you all crazy? Letting a ten-year-old child take a concubine, marrying a thirteen or fourteen-year-old maid? This is insane. I don’t agree.”

With that, Lin Jiayue tore the birth certificate into pieces.