Chapter 54
Digging a pit

This summer has been scorching, and several elderly noble ladies in the capital have passed away due to illness. However, receiving the news of the sudden death of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jinxiang Earl still made Song Wan sigh.

The eldest daughter-in-law of Jinxiang Earl was only five or six years older than her. Before getting married, she had even visited the Song residence to deliver lanterns. Although they were not close, they had some acquaintance.

So upon receiving the news, Song Wan quickly instructed the maids in the residence to prepare for the funeral and condolences.

“Is the Young Madam busy? Is there anything Yue’er can help with?”

Lin Jiayue walked in with a tray of assorted fruit ice cream, smiling as she placed it in front of Song Wan. She said, “I’ve been busy arranging a marriage for Third Sister recently. Although this family is not as wealthy as the Lan family, they are from a proper official background and have a higher status than the Lan family.”

“Which family did Concubine Lin arrange for Third Sister?” Song Wan didn’t even lift her head and casually asked, brushing off Lin Jiayue.

The marriage between Jiang Jing and the Lan family had fallen through, and she refused to find another family for Jiang Jing. This matter fell on Mother Jiang. But Mother Jiang was still ill and had to help the household conceal Jiang Xingjian’s assignment to Shanglin Garden, so how could she have time to manage an illegitimate daughter’s marriage?

Hearing that Song Wan wouldn’t handle it, she directly handed the matter to Lin Jiayue.

Although Mother Jiang didn’t like her, she harbored some resentment after Song Wan contradicted her in the Jiangxiang Courtyard. Now, she intended to elevate a concubine and also wanted to show Song Wan who was in charge in the residence.

Jiang Xingjian was dissatisfied with Lin Jiayue handling this matter, but as an outsider, how could he manage Jiang Jing’s marriage? Helplessly, he repeatedly instructed Lin Jiayue to be careful and to consult Song Wan if she didn’t understand anything.

This instruction had irked Lin Jiayue for a long time. But having failed in her previous tasks and feeling guilty, she could only agree. However, in front of Song Wan, she couldn’t lower her head.

“It’s the family of Scholar Chen from the Ministry of Rites. His son is only three years older than Third Sister. Their age and family background are quite compatible. What do you think?”

The Chen family…

Song Wan frowned upon hearing this.

The Chen family was quite reputable in the capital, with a decent family tradition and a history of upright officials. Initially, it was a good match. However, when it came to Master Chen’s generation, things were not so clear.

Song Wan was not familiar with Master Chen, but she knew a bit about Madam Chen.

One year, during Mother Song’s birthday, Madam Chen visited the Song residence and took a set of gold Ruyi ornaments. The gold Ruyi was small but exquisitely crafted, reportedly brought from Ryukyu (now Okinawa) at a high price by Uncle Su. It was meant to be displayed during Mother Song’s birthday to impress the guests, but after the guests left, the item was missing. It was only much later that her uncle found it in a pawnshop in the capital. After some inquiries, they discovered that Madam Chen had pawned it. Since they hadn’t caught her red-handed, the Song family had to swallow the loss.

What made Song Wan remember this incident for so long was that Mother Song couldn’t compensate for the loss and cried for half a month. In the end, her father had to take money from the public funds to cover it.

Madam Chen was greedy. Later, Mother Song found out through various investigations that Madam Chen had a habit of taking advantage of others. Not only were her hands unclean, but she also gathered a group of people to lend money at high interest rates in the capital. Although she did it secretly, no secrets could be kept forever, and those in the know had heard about it.

Such a family was one that ordinary people would avoid, yet Lin Jiayue somehow got involved with them.

Putting down her pen, Song Wan asked, “Did you thoroughly investigate the character of the Chen family?”

“Of course.” Lin Jiayue smiled brightly, “Madam Chen is a major client of Huan Yan Zhai. She is straightforward and generous. We hit it off immediately, like old friends. Third Sister will not be mistreated if she marries into the Chen family.”

“If you’re not convinced, you can meet Madam Chen yourself when she comes to the residence the day after tomorrow to admire the flowers.”

“It’s just that I wonder if you can tolerate such a carefree person. After all, you… are naturally pretentious.”

With one foot on a small stool, Lin Jiayue leaned against the doorpost, smiling lightly at Song Wan.

For some reason, she just didn’t like Song Wan’s high and mighty, fake demeanor. Song Wan was perfect, but this perfection made her loathe her. She was also very dignified, so much so that every step she took was precise, as if measured.

She never lost her composure. Lin Jiayue had never seen Song Wan lose control of her emotions. Even when her husband, who had been widowed for six years, brought back his beloved, she remained expressionless. She was very affectionate with Jiang Xingjian, yet she remained expressionless. Even when Mother Jiang and Jiang Xingjian ignored and insulted her, she remained as unresponsive as wood.

This false and unflappable dignity, this haughty demeanor that everyone considered the grace of a noble lady, only made her feel disgusted.

Just like her current casual remark, “Did you investigate thoroughly?” could easily ignite anger in someone’s heart.

This attitude made it seem as if Lin Jiayue was naturally inferior to Song Wan, making people uncomfortable.

“Good that you investigated thoroughly.”

Lin Jiayue sneered, “I thought you would say how bad the Chen family is. After all, you firmly said you wouldn’t look for a family for Third Sister, making it seem like the Marquis’s residence couldn’t function without you.”

Song Wan looked up and saw Lin Jiayue’s ungraceful demeanor, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. Then she looked down at the eulogy she had written for the eldest daughter-in-law of Jinxiang Earl and suddenly had an idea.

She ignored Lin Jiayue and continued with her work, not paying any attention to Lin Jiayue’s provocation. But the more she did this, the more Lin Jiayue became angry, biting her lip in frustration.

When Song Wan finished writing, she picked up the eulogy, blew it dry, folded it, and placed it in a white envelope.

“Take these two invitations to the ceremonial room, and give this list of items needed for the roadside memorial to Madam Liang. Have someone arrange everything according to this list.”

“You want me to run errands?”

Holding the invitations, Song Wan smiled faintly and said, “It seems you have never understood the facts.”

“No matter if you have the support of Consort Jiang or the Marquis, you can only be arrogant and domineering in front of the servants of the Marquis’s residence.”

“Once you step out of the Marquis’s residence, you will always be the concubine who climbed up through disgraceful means.”

“Today, you can arrange a marriage for Third Sister not because of your outstanding abilities but simply because I am unwilling to handle it. What is there to be proud of?”

“Whether it’s a happy event or a funeral, invitations from other residences can only be sent to me. I respond on behalf of the Marquis’s residence, and you don’t even have the right to look at them, let alone participate in these matters.”

“It may seem glamorous, but it’s just an illusion. Your constant self-glorification and daydreaming are truly pathetic.” Song Wan’s tone was gentle and calm, without any hint of anger. Her calm and indifferent demeanor seemed to be stating a trivial matter, but it was enough to make Lin Jiayue feel utterly defeated. No matter how she behaved in front of Song Wan, she always ended up looking like a clown.

Her face turned pale, and Lin Jiayue felt a chill down her spine as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. She felt an overwhelming urge to overturn the table in front of her and tear off Song Wan’s calm facade.

But she couldn’t. The more she lost control, the more she would look like a joke.

Suppressing her anger, Lin Jiayue forced a smile and took the invitations from Song Wan’s hand. “Fine, I’ll deliver them for you.”

As she turned to leave, Song Wan said to Heng Zhi, “Have someone keep an eye on the ceremonial room. See when Lin Jiayue delivers the eulogy and if she involves anyone else. Also, find out when the roadside memorial will be held and what kind of mourning clothes are being prepared.”