Chapter 76
Fulfillment

Jiang Xingjian’s heart skipped a beat, and Song Wan furrowed her brows in worry.

They hurried to Fuhe Hall, where they found the Old Madam’s bed surrounded by imperial physicians.

“Grandmother.”

Seeing Jiang Xingjian arrive, the crowd made way for him.

The Old Madam’s forehead and arms were covered with silver needles, and an elderly physician with a white beard was continuously inserting needles into her acupoints. The Old Madam, who had been semi-conscious, opened her eyes urgently upon hearing her grandson’s voice.

“Let me… let… speak with Yi’er and his wife…”

“Grandmother, Yi’er and Wan’er are both here. What do you want to say?”

With red eyes, Jiang Xingjian knelt by the bed, and Song Wan obediently knelt beside him.

The white-bearded physician said, “I have a few words to discuss with Madam.”

Mother Jiang hurried forward, and the other physicians left the room, knowing that the Old Madam’s time was near and there were important matters to address.

The room was left with only Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan. The Old Madam held Jiang Xingjian’s hand, her eyes cloudy. “That Lin woman is the root of the family’s troubles… you must… expel her from the mansion.”

Tears filled the Old Madam’s eyes, and Jiang Xingjian felt conflicted, unable to speak.

“Wan’er…”

“Grandmother, I’m here.” Song Wan stepped forward and placed her hand in the Old Madam’s.

The Old Madam held their hands tightly and said with difficulty, “The Marquis Mansion has few descendants. Yi’er has been pampered by his father since childhood… making him straightforward and easily deceived. Wan’er, you… are intelligent and perceptive. With you by Yi’er’s side… I can rest assured.”

Song Wan lowered her eyes, her expression unreadable.

Sensing her thoughts, the Old Madam breathed heavily and tightly grasped Song Wan’s hand.

“Promise me, stay united with Yi’er, and protect the Marquis Mansion’s legacy for a hundred years…”

“Promise… me.”

Song Wan gently stroked the Old Madam’s hand and said softly, “The old Marquis was invincible, and my husband has his blood. How could he be deceived? Grandmother, don’t worry about these things. Focus on getting better.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xingjian turned sharply to look at Song Wan, but she kept her gaze on the Old Madam.

“Wan’er…” A tear rolled down the Old Madam’s cheek, making her look even more aged and frail.

She could hear that Song Wan had completely lost her affection for the Marquis Mansion and Jiang Yi. If she still had any feelings for Jiang Yi, she wouldn’t be evading the topic at this moment.

The Old Madam felt a sharp pain in her chest and sat up abruptly.

How could such a large Marquis Mansion function without someone to manage it?

“Heh…”

A surge of unwillingness made the Old Madam sit up halfway, and Jiang Xingjian quickly helped her up.

“Wan’er… go… call your mother in. I… have something to say to her.”

Knowing that the Old Madam wanted to speak to Jiang Xingjian alone, Song Wan bowed and slowly left the room.

“Grandmother knows you favor Concubine Lin… but she is not a good person. Though she has some talent, she cannot support the Marquis Mansion… Wan’er has completely lost her affection for you. If… you cannot win her back, the Marquis Mansion is in danger. While Grandmother is still… here, quickly consummate your marriage with Wan’er. Once she has a child, she will be bound…”

“A woman with a child… will be tied down. For the sake of the child… she will wholeheartedly… plan for the Marquis Mansion.”

“Do you… understand?”

With red eyes, Jiang Xingjian replied, “I understand, Grandmother.”

“Today… today you will move to Lan Ting Courtyard. We can’t wait any longer… If Grandmother doesn’t make it through this, you and Wan’er will have to mourn for three years, and who knows what might happen during that time.”

The Old Madam’s eyes were cloudy, and she held Jiang Xingjian’s hand with all her strength, pulling him forward despite his strength.

“Promise… Grandmother.”

“I promised I would be with Wan’er tonight. Grandmother, don’t worry about this. Just focus on getting better, and you will make it through.”

“Whether I make it through or not…” A strong sense of unwillingness flashed in the Old Madam’s cloudy eyes, and she forced herself to sit up.

She couldn’t rest easy. How could she trust Jiang’s mother to manage the Marquis Mansion? She also worried that Song Wan would truly give up on the mansion, leaving it in chaos. Moreover, Jiang Man had always used her elder sister’s status to manipulate Yi’er. Her ambitions were great, and without the Old Madam’s supervision, Yi’er might have been dragged into the power struggles of the royal court and used as a pawn.

With this determination, the Old Madam’s face turned ruddy.

“Go, go prepare to be with Wan’er. Grandmother wants to see her great-grandson born.”

She waved her hand, pushing Jiang Xingjian away, breathing heavily.

Jiang Xingjian quickly called the imperial physician to check on her.

The Old Madam waved her hand, signaling him to take care of the important matters.

After a long period of busy activity, the Old Madam fell into a deep sleep. The imperial physician informed the Marquis Mansion that although her condition was critical, she should be stable for the next few days.

Everyone finally relaxed. Mother Jiang told Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan to return to their courtyard while she stayed to take care of the Old Madam.

As Song Wan walked out of Fuhe Hall, Jiang Xingjian suddenly said, “I will stay in the main courtyard of Lan Ting Courtyard tonight.”

Song Wan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Jiang Xingjian felt a pang in his heart, realizing that they had become strangers and could never go back. Although he had thought about this before, now that the moment had come, he was afraid. Afraid that Song Wan would never look at him with the same shy and gentle eyes as before and afraid that she no longer had any feelings for him.

Thinking that even Grandmother’s near-death words couldn’t persuade her, Jiang Xingjian pressed his lips together, feeling desolate.

“I will stay in the main courtyard of Lan Ting Courtyard tonight. I will have Ling Yun bring my things. You… prepare yourself.”

Feeling inexplicably shy, his cheeks warm, Jiang Xingjian hurriedly left after saying this.

Song Wan stood there as if struck by lightning, motionless for a long time.

“Miss…” Heng Zhi stepped forward to inquire, and Song Wan furrowed her brows and looked at her.

“This is a good thing. If Miss gives birth to the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis Mansion, you will have a secure place.”

Heng Zhi’s eyes were red, holding Song Wan’s hand with great concern.

Even she could guess that the Old Madam must have instructed something, which was why the Marquis suddenly wanted to consummate the marriage with Miss. But no matter what, it was ultimately a good thing.

“When Madam Song visited Miss last time, she said that the Song family couldn’t manage married daughters, and her attitude of fearing you would burden the second and third young ladies was infuriating.”

“Miss, nowhere is better than your own home. If you give birth to a young master… you and the Marquis can live peacefully.”

Heng Zhi spoke while crying, probably not even believing her own words.

Song Wan raised her hand to wipe away her tears and smiled faintly. “Don’t cry. It’s not such a big deal.”

She lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. “Heng Wu, find a maid and inform Lin Jiayue that the Marquis will stay in Lan Ting Courtyard tonight.”

Didn’t Lin Jiayue want to be with him forever?

She would give her the chance.

If Lin Jiayue came to stop him tonight and Jiang Xingjian agreed, she would let them be together and no longer care about the Marquis Mansion. If Lin Jiayue couldn’t stop Jiang Xingjian…

She would accept her fate as the matriarch of the Marquis Mansion and Jiang Xingjian’s wife.