Chapter 67
Rumors

Song Wan frowned, “Didn’t anyone tell Lin Jiayue about the identity of the mentally challenged girl?”

Xiang Cao shook her head, “Miss, you don’t know. The mansion is in complete chaos now. Concubine Lin has implemented that ridiculous rotation system, and everyone is fighting for lucrative positions in the kitchen and storerooms. Who has the time to inform her about anything?”

“Everyone is hoping for more chaos in the mansion. It’s impossible to trace the missing items to anyone. I heard from the laundry room maid that things go missing every day, and the accounts are getting more and more confusing. With the constant rotations, it’s impossible to figure out where the problem lies, even if a deity descended to investigate.”

Song Wan’s eyes darkened, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, “Have Nanny Lang find a broker to inquire about the mentally challenged girl. If she is found, buy her and send her to my dowry estate.”

“A loyal servant’s descendant shouldn’t be treated this way.”

Xiang Cao nodded and went to handle it.

“Heng Zhi, prepare some melon stems for use and inform the servants to notify me immediately when the Marquis returns.”

Song Wan stood by the carved window of Long Xiang Zhai, holding a handkerchief, feeling increasingly bored and frustrated with the current situation. She had always disliked dealing with such petty matters, but now she had to face them constantly, which was truly annoying.

“When do the stewardesses report the household affairs to Lin Jiayue?”

“Around the hour of Si tomorrow.”

Song Wan nodded, sat back on the cushion, and resumed reciting the scriptures.

At a quarter past the hour of Si the next day, Song Wan led Heng Zhi and Heng Wu to Xiu Yan Pavilion.

In Xiu Yan Pavilion, seven or eight stewardesses were gathered. Some were holding melon seeds, some were eating snacks, and some were spitting tea foam. The most outrageous was a stranger standing by the door, picking her teeth with something.

The group was chattering non-stop, making Song Wan frown tightly.

“Young Madam.”

The stewardesses stood up abruptly when they saw Song Wan, dropping and spilling melon seeds everywhere, making a mess.

“Where is Concubine Lin?”

One of the stewardesses replied, “Concubine Lin went to the small kitchen to make ice cream for us. She said it would help us cool down and work more efficiently.”

Song Wan lowered her eyes and took a step back, looking at the mess on the floor.

Seeing this, Heng Zhi spoke up, “Do you have any idea how to behave as servants? Although Concubine Lin is a concubine, she is now managing the household and is considered half your master. Who taught you this disrespectful behavior, blurring the lines between master and servant?”

“I told them to do this. Do you have a problem with that?” Lin Jiayue and Qian Bi entered, carrying a lacquer tray with several bowls of ice cream. She had just entered the room when she heard Heng Zhi scolding the stewardesses.

“I told them to do this. Aren’t we all human? Why should there be distinctions? Just because you are willing to kneel and serve others every day doesn’t mean everyone else is. In my Xiu Yan Pavilion, there is no rule that people must kneel to speak or work.”

She couldn’t stand Song Wan’s noble and arrogant demeanor.

“Servants are also human, just helpers. Why treat them so harshly?”

“What nonsense are you spouting…”

Song Wan raised her hand, and Heng Zhi fell silent, stepping aside without speaking further. She didn’t want to waste time arguing with Lin Jiayue. She had only one purpose for coming today.

“I heard you’ve sold quite a few servants?”

“So what? Do you know that the Marquis Mansion doesn’t need so many people?”

Song Wan said, “Since the establishment of the Marquis Mansion, it has never sold servants. Do you know that?”

Lin Jiayue sneered, “This precedent starts with me. What are you going to do about it?”

Seeing Song Wan’s indifferent expression, Lin Jiayue sneered, “It’s not you who is bearing the burden of the Marquis Mansion’s expenses. It’s easy for you to talk. With so many people in the mansion, if we don’t reduce the number, won’t we be dragged down?”

Lin Jiayue actually thought she was supporting the entire Marquis Mansion? With what, her so-called profitable shops?

Song Wan found it amusing. She had always known Lin Jiayue was arrogant, but she didn’t realize she could be this delusional.

But none of this mattered to her.

“I’m just here to tell you that the servants in the mansion cannot be sold. Since the Marquis Mansion has never had this precedent, it cannot be broken now.”

“What gives you the right to tell me this?”

“Because I am the Marchioness of Chengyang.”

Lin Jiayue sneered coldly and took out Mother Jiang’s token, throwing it on the table. She wanted to say more, but Song Wan interrupted, “Are you using filial piety to pressure me?”

With that, she turned and left. She had achieved her goal with that one sentence and saw no need to continue the confrontation.

Song Wan’s sudden arrival and departure left Lin Jiayue frowning, convincing herself that Song Wan was just angry and couldn’t hold on any longer.

“Don’t mind her. Let’s eat first and then discuss business.”

The stewardesses exchanged worried glances. Seeing Song Wan had almost scared them out of their wits, but noticing that she clearly didn’t want to manage things, they were secretly pleased.

“Concubine Lin is kind. No one in the entire Marquis Mansion has a bad word to say about you.”

“That’s right. When have we, as servants, ever had such respect in front of our masters? In other courtyards, we wouldn’t even get a small stool to sit on.”

Everyone flattered Lin Jiayue, but she remained silent, watching Song Wan’s departing figure.

Returning to Lan Ting Courtyard, Song Wan said, “Tomorrow, call the mansion doctor to check my pulse and say that I fell ill after being pressured by Lin Jiayue with filial piety at Xiu Yan Pavilion.”

“Understood.”

From then on, Song Wan used the excuse of illness to avoid everyone, not seeing anyone in the mansion until Jiang Xingjian finished his work at Shanglin Garden.

Jiang Xingjian was unaware of the chaos in the mansion. After controlling the plague at the Breeding Office, he went to report to the court. As soon as he left the court, someone approached him.

“Marquis, you are truly fortunate but don’t seem to cherish your wife, wasting her youth.”

“What do you mean by that, Lord Yu?” Jiang Xingjian’s face darkened, extremely displeased with the mocking tone used to mention Song Wan.

The person chuckled and walked away.

While Jiang Xingjian was still puzzled, Lord Sun approached him, “Marquis, do you have some time today?”

“What advice do you have, Lord Sun?”

“My wife and I previously discussed a marriage proposal with your wife for our daughter. Although nothing was finalized, I think it’s time to settle the matter. Whether it works out or not, we need a conclusion.”

“Of course.”

“There’s no time like the present. My wife is in the carriage right now. Why don’t I invite her to visit your mansion and meet Second Master?”

Jiang Xingjian was slightly taken aback, not understanding why the Sun family was suddenly in such a hurry and not even waiting for a formal invitation. But having already lost the marriage with the Lan family, he couldn’t afford to lose this alliance with the Sun family.

After a brief consideration, Jiang Xingjian nodded and agreed readily.

Lord Sun raised an eyebrow, giving him a meaningful look before swiftly boarding his carriage.