Chapter 6: Threat

“Grandmother knows you have always been respectful, but a woman should not be too distant from her husband. Now that Yi’er is back, take this opportunity to get closer to him tonight.”

Song Wan blushed even more at Old Madam Jiang’s words. Seeing her shy expression, the old madam gently pushed her twice, “Go, go find Yi’er. Spending all day with us old folks is not right.”

Mother Jiang also smiled and nodded, urging Song Wan to find Jiang Xingjian.

Just as she turned past the green screen, Song Wan heard Mother Jiang say to Old Madam Jiang, “That Lin family girl is truly laughable; her behavior and speech are so pretentious and petty, yet she dares to boast about her hidden noble lineage. I wonder which family acts so rudely and which family’s girl is so shameless and lacks self-respect.”

Old Madam Jiang sighed, “That girl may lack grace and act coquettishly, but you shouldn’t embarrass her. After all, Yi’er brought her back. You and your son haven’t seen each other for six years; letting this girl ruin your relationship wouldn’t be right.”

Song Wan walked outside, not knowing what else they said.

Outside, Lin Jiayue, Jiang Xingjian, and Jiang Yan stood together. As Song Wan approached the main hall, she heard Lin Jiayue sneer, “The Marquis’s mansion has too many rules. Is it because of these rules that people can’t even eat properly, just licking their chopsticks before leaving the table?”

Jiang Xingjian and Jiang Yan frowned simultaneously, and even the older women in the courtyard looked disdainful. They had never seen a girl speak so crudely.

Seeing their reactions, Lin Jiayue felt even more uncomfortable. She looked at Jiang Xingjian and said, “Jiang Yi, I didn’t come to the Marquis’s mansion to be mistreated.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sound of “Jiang Yi,” and Jiang Yan even looked at her with interest. However, when he saw Song Wan standing pale behind them, he stepped back slightly, revealing Lin Jiayue and Jiang Xingjian.

“You little brat, how dare you call the first master by his name?” A plump older woman stepped forward, “Who taught you to call people by their names? In the entire Marquis’s mansion, only the old madam and the madam can call the first master by his name. Where did you learn your manners?”

“Men and women should not know each other’s names without a matchmaker. Don’t you understand this basic principle? If you don’t know proper etiquette, don’t drag our young master down with you.”

“Nanny Li.”

Lin Jiayue was furious and wanted Jiang Xingjian to deal with this servant, but she saw him greeting the older woman kindly, making her nose tingle and tears well up.

Nanny Li snorted coldly, “Shameless.”

“You!” Lin Jiayue rolled up her sleeves and glared at Jiang Xingjian, “Jiang Yi, tell me, can I call you by your name or not?”

Before Jiang Xingjian could speak, Jiang Yan said, “Etiquette dictates that one should use a courtesy name out of respect. Calling someone by their given name in front of elders is like an insult.”

Nanny Li nodded repeatedly, “Any girl from a literate family would understand this. Even if the first master wants to protect you, he can’t break ancestral rules.”

“Brother Xingjian…” Tears rolled down Lin Jiayue’s cheeks as she turned to leave. Jiang Xingjian frowned and wanted to follow her, but Nanny Li stopped him.

“First Master, what are you doing?”

Jiang Xingjian said, “She doesn’t know the rules because I didn’t teach her well. I’ll teach her in the future, and I’ll need your help.”

With that, he went after Lin Jiayue.

Jiang Yan watched them leave, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“Thank you for your hard work today, Nanny.”

Song Wan walked out of the house, and Nanny Li bowed to her, but Song Wan stopped her, “You were my mother’s maid and my husband’s wet nurse; I don’t deserve such courtesy.”

Nanny Li replied, “Please don’t say that, young madam. It humbles me.”

“Mother drank several cups of tea tonight, so she might be busy later. Please take care of yourself and don’t overexert. If you feel tired, ask the younger ones to help. Don’t wear yourself out.”

Song Wan signaled Heng Zhi to give Nanny Li some silver and suggested she get some iced drinks to cool off.

Nanny Li accepted with a smile, thanking her profusely, “Young madam is kind and gentle; everyone in the mansion knows this. No wonder the old madam and madam praise you so much. Those from lesser families can’t compare to you.”

Song Wan smiled and had Heng Wu escort Nanny Li back to Old Madam Jiang’s courtyard. She then nodded to Jiang Yan and walked towards Lan Ting Courtyard with Heng Zhi.

Jiang Yan watched her, feeling inexplicably disappointed that she seemed unaffected by Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue. As he was about to leave, he noticed a simple white handkerchief on the ground.

In the Marquis’s mansion, only Song Wan used plain handkerchiefs.

He stared at the handkerchief for a long time before telling a young maid in a stone-blue dress, “The young madam dropped something. Wash it and return it to her courtyard.”

The young maid nodded, her face blushing.

Jiang Yan had a few drinks at the banquet, and although he usually held his liquor well, he felt dizzy after just a few cups. His chest felt overly excited, and his mind buzzed with a graceful figure, making him restless.

Finally returning to Yu Ling Studio, Jiang Yan took off his outer robe and lay on the Luohan bed in the second hall.

“Second Master?”

Jiang Yan opened his eyes and saw Qing Zhai bringing a hot towel to clean his face. He sat up.

“Did I fall asleep?”

Qing Zhai respectfully replied, “You did, but not for long.”

“Is something wrong?” Jiang Yan took the towel and wiped his face, noticing the small embroidered characters on the corner of the towel, feeling distracted.

Kneeling to collect the copper basin and towel, Qing Zhai handed them to a second-class maid and said, “A servant from the outer courtyard came with urgent news. He wouldn’t say what it was, so I woke you.”

“Send him to the study.” Jiang Yan frowned, dressed, and went to the study.

Shortly after sitting down, a thin, shifty-eyed servant entered, placing an oil paper package on the desk.

The servant grinned, “Although First Master is the legitimate heir, my family has relied on you for years. Without you, I don’t know where we’d be.”

“I’ve always remembered your kindness, and now I’ve found a way to repay you.”

Seeing the soft white corner of the package, Jiang Yan’s veins throbbed, and his head ached.