Being a second wife is difficult

On May 30th, Dong Sinian arrived.

When the carriage stopped outside the Earl's mansion gate, Jiang Wan was waiting in the main hall.

Qinghe and Qiutang were sent to the second gate to greet the guests early in the morning. The tea set and bedding in the guest courtyard were all changed, and the dishes for the welcome banquet in the kitchen were checked three times by Granny Zhou. Everything was in order.

The old lady had stopped Fang from interfering in the welcoming banquet, but she still came to the main hall early this morning, saying she wanted to help greet the guests. Jiang Wan didn't stop her.

"Sister-in-law, do you think my clothes are alright?" Fang stood up and turned around. Today she was wearing a silver-red jacket, which looked more festive than usual.

"All right." Jiang Wan took a sip of tea. "Sister-in-law, you look great today."

Fang sat back down, a smile on her lips, but her eyes kept glancing towards the door.

Jiang Wan knew what she was thinking. She probably still wanted to take this opportunity to show her face in front of the distinguished guests. It wasn't a bad thing. It would be more respectable to have a lively and bustling scene in front of the guests.

Not long after, a commotion was heard ahead.

Qinghe ran in first to announce, "Madam, Young Master Dong has arrived."

Before the words were even finished, a young man had already stepped into the main hall.

The boy was thirteen or fourteen years old, slender, wearing a dark blue long robe with a plain belt around his waist, and no crown.

With regular features, clear eyes and eyebrows, and a natural curve at the corners of his mouth, he didn't look as calm as Lu Zhao, but rather had a gentle and approachable charm.

He bowed to Jiang Wan as he entered, his voice clear and melodious: "Greetings, Aunt. I am Dong Sinian, and I have come to bother you on the orders of my uncle."

He called her "Auntie," not "Mrs. Lu."

Everyone in the main hall understood that he was there because of Jiang Wan's family ties.

Jiang Wan stood up and took two steps to greet him: "Si Nian, you must have had a long journey. Was it smooth sailing?"

"Thanks to my aunt, the journey was relatively peaceful." Dong Sinian straightened up and smiled. "It just rained when we reached Huzhou, soaking half of our luggage, but it didn't matter. My uncle said that my aunt had prepared accommodations, so I came to her residence as soon as I entered the city."

Fang, standing nearby, chuckled and interjected, "Young Master Dong must be weary from your journey. Please sit down and rest." As she spoke, she personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. "I am from the second branch of the family. My maiden name is Fang. Young Master Dong can simply call me Aunt Fang."

Dong Sinian accepted the tea, thanked her, and then turned to Fang Shi and called her "Aunt Fang".

He took the tea but didn't drink it right away. He first asked, "Aunt, I heard there are a few younger members in the family? My uncle mentioned in his letter that the Lu family has a son who is good at his studies."

Jiang Wan glanced at him: "Yes, I'll have Qinghe take you to the guest courtyard to rest, and then I'll have them come to see you later."

After finishing his tea, Dong Sinian put it down and stood up to take his leave. He placed a blue cloth bundle on the table and said, "Aunt, this is what my uncle asked me to bring. He said it was entrusted to him by your father. I didn't dare to delay, so I brought it to you first."

Jiang Wan took it and weighed it in her hand, but didn't open it in front of Qing He. She thanked her and told her to put it away.

The welcome banquet was held in the reception room, with no outsiders present, only family members, but it was an exceptionally grand affair.

The old lady sat in the main seat, with Fang Shi to her left. Lu Huaiyu said he had something to do and couldn't come. Jiang Wan sat to the old lady's right, and Dong Sinian sat opposite her.

The children were all there too. Lu Zhao and Lu Wan sat next to Jiang Wan, and Lu Hui sat next to Lu Zhao. Lu Shan, being young, was already asleep and hadn't come.

Once the meal was served, Dong Sinian was no longer as reserved as before.

He picked up food slowly and deliberately, occasionally speaking in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, yet it sounded friendly.

"Aunt," he put down his chopsticks, "before I left Jinling, my uncle mentioned the Jiang family, saying that Lord Jiang has been doing well in the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation recently, and that he was happy for you, Aunt."

He spoke naturally, as if chatting casually, "If I may be so bold as to ask, is Lord Jiang still in his original post, or has he been transferred?"

Jiang Wan paused slightly as she held the teacup. She rarely brought up her father's affairs after marrying into the family, and no one in the household had ever asked about them.

Dong Sinian brought it up so naturally in front of the whole family, as if it were a key that gently pushed open the door to the Jiang family.

"He's still in his original position," Jiang Wan said. "My father is getting older and doesn't cause as much trouble anymore."

"Lord Jiang was one of the students that Master Su liked the most among the students that Uncle took in during his later years."

Dong Sinian spoke in the same tone as before, but everyone at the table heard him: "My uncle often says that Lord Jiang is pragmatic and will be able to go further in his official career in the future."

The entire table fell silent for a moment.

The old lady picked up her tea and took a sip. She didn't say anything, but her gaze lingered on Jiang Wan's face for a moment longer. Fang's chopsticks, which were picking up food, tapped against the edge of the plate, making a soft sound.

Jiang Wan lowered her eyes and accepted those words.

Lu Wan, sitting next to Lu Zhao, had been unable to hold back any longer.

She first hid behind Jiang Wan to peek at Dong Sinian, but Dong Sinian noticed her and smiled at her. She then shrank back and hid.

After a while, she couldn't help but peek out again, only to meet Dong Sinian's gaze. Her ears turned slightly red, as if she were a little shy.

Dong Sinian didn't laugh at her; he just pretended not to see it and continued talking to Jiang Wan.

Lu Wan, hiding behind Jiang Wan, whispered to Lu Zhao, "He saw me."

Lu Zhao didn't even look up: "The table is only this big. Of course he can see you if you're sitting next to me."

Lu Wan snorted and shrank back.

After a while, she sat up straight, as if she had mustered up her courage, and called out, "Big brother."

Dong Sinian turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"

"You...you're from Nanjing. Does Nanjing have any good food?"

Her question was so blunt that Jiang Wan almost couldn't help but laugh.

Dong Sinian thought about it carefully: "Nanjing is famous for its ducks. There are seven or eight ways to eat them, such as braised duck, salted duck, and roast duck."

Lu Wan's eyes lit up: "It tastes better than the roast duck in our manor?"

"Each has its own merits," Dong Sinian said. "If you ever have the chance to go to Nanjing, I'll treat you to a meal."

Lu Wan nodded with a smile, looking nothing like the shy girl she had been before.

Jiang Wan noticed that after asking the question, she shrank back behind Lu Zhao and hid, but then peeked out half her face, her eyes darting around towards Dong Sinian.

Lu Zhao pulled her closer to him, but she refused to go far.

Lu Hui, who had been eating quietly, suddenly looked up and asked, "Big brother, have you ever been to the capital?"

"I went once. I didn't officially enter the Imperial Academy yet; I just audited classes outside for a few days." Dong Sinian looked at him. "You want to go too?"

Lu Hui blushed slightly: "I... I'm not very good at my studies, I'm afraid I won't be able to get in."

"Not everyone who gets into the Imperial Academy is academically gifted," Dong Sinian chuckled. "There are also those who buy their way in, those recommended, and those who get in through connections. If you're not good at your studies, just keep studying; you'll eventually get in."

This surprised Lu Hui. It was probably the first time he had ever heard someone say that "even if you're not good at your studies, you can still improve gradually."

He lowered his head, ate a mouthful of rice, and didn't say anything more.

The atmosphere at the dinner was more harmonious than Jiang Wan had expected.

As expected, Madam Fang asked a few questions about the Dong family, which Dong Sinian answered with a smile. Afterwards, Madam Fang asked a couple more casual questions, but did not delve any deeper.

It was already dark when the party ended. The old lady went back to Songhe Hall first, leaving the others to continue chatting.

Jiang Wan, Fang Shi, and a few children remained in the flower hall.

Lu Zhao stood next to Jiang Wan, while Lu Wan hid behind him. Lu Hui was about to leave when Fang called him back: "Hui-ge'er, don't rush off. Get to know Brother Dong."

It was uncommon for Fang to take the initiative to keep people, and her tone was warmer than usual.

She turned to Dong Sinian and smiled, "Young Master Dong, you've probably met these gentlemen at the banquet just now, but you haven't formally exchanged names yet. This is our second young master, Lu Zhao, who is eight years old this year and has been studying with Mr. Chen for a year and a half."

As she spoke, she pointed to Lu Wan, "This is Miss Lu Wan, two years younger than Zhao'er, six years old this year."

Finally, he waved to Lu Hui and said, "Hui-ge'er is the eldest son of Aunt Zhou. He is ten years old this year and studies at the prefectural school."

Dong Sinian nodded to each of the three children, then cupped his hands in greeting to Madam Fang: "Aunt Fang, you are too kind. I am Dong Sinian, a native of Jinling, and I am thirteen years old this year. I have been studying with my uncle for a few years. This time, I am going north to the capital to audit classes at the Imperial Academy. I am passing through Huzhou, and my uncle asked me to come to the Earl's residence to trouble you for a few days."

After he finished speaking, he turned to the children and smiled, "We'll probably be seeing each other a lot over the next month. I'm older than all of you, so you can call me Brother Sinian or Big Brother, it's fine."

Lu Zhao looked up at him.

At the age of thirteen, he audited classes at the Imperial Academy. He spoke slowly and deliberately, without any sense of "I am a guest, you must treat me well," which was quite different from the young masters from the capital that he had imagined or read about in stories.

Lu Wan had already peeked halfway out from behind Lu Zhao and called out in a clear, sweet voice, "Big brother!"

Dong Sinian smiled at her and said, "Hello, Sister Wan."

Lu Hui stood next to Aunt Zhou, his lips moved as if he wanted to call out, but he was too embarrassed to speak.

Dong Sinian seemed to notice and nodded to him. Lu Hui was stunned for a moment and whispered "Big Brother," his voice much softer than Lu Wan's, but Dong Sinian still heard him and responded with a smile.

Dong Sinian's gaze finally settled on Lu Zhao: "Mr. Chen, you must be Mr. Chen Wenshan? I've heard of him."

"He said that his commentary on the Great Learning is different from others, and that he has his own unique insights."

He paused, then continued, "I've had no one to talk to on my journey north, it's been quite boring. When we have some free time, let's arrange a time to discuss the interpretations of this book together. I brought several different annotated editions from Nanjing, what do you think?"

Lu Zhao nodded: "Okay."

Lu Hui whispered from the side, "Zhao Di is much better at studying than I am." He scratched his head and added, "I can never recite them, so the teacher always makes me stand as punishment."

"Everyone has times when they can't memorize it," Dong Sinian said. "Memorize one sentence at a time, take it slowly."

Lu Hui was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn't expected him to say that, and lowered his head without saying anything more.

Jiang Wan listened from the side without interrupting.

The children chatted noisily in the flower hall for a while longer, and finally got to know each other well. Lu Wan was no longer shy, and they made an appointment to meet again next time. As it was getting late, they all dispersed, and Dong Sinian was led by a maid to the guest courtyard to rest.

As he left, he glanced back at Lu Wan. Lu Wan was sitting in a chair, swinging her legs, holding a piece of unfinished jujube cake in her hand, with a mouthful still in her mouth. When she saw Dong Sinian looking at her, she quickly put down the jujube cake, pursed her lips, swallowed what was in her mouth, and smiled at him again.

Dong Sinian chuckled as well.

Lu Zhao stood there watching his back for a while before turning around and going back to his own courtyard. Lu Wan followed beside him, chattering about how to play tomorrow, with Lu Hui chiming in.

Lu Zhao didn't reply, but he walked a little slower than usual.

Back in her room, Jiang Wan opened the blue cloth bundle under the lamp.

Inside was a small camphor wood box, about the size of a palm, with an orchid carved on its surface.

She opened the box, and inside lay a bronze token, about two fingers wide, with the character "Jiang" engraved on the front and a smooth, unadorned back.

She weighed it in her hand; the token was twice as thick as a regular bronze token. She then ran her fingernail along the edge, revealing a thin slit on the side.

She took a small knife and gently pried it open along the thin seam. The bronze plaque split open in the middle, revealing a hollow interior. A very thin strip of paper slid onto the table.

She unfolded the note; it was in her father Jiang Huaiyuan's handwriting: "This token can be used to contact my old acquaintances in Huzhou. Take this token to Juxian Teahouse in the south of the city and find the manager, Chen Si. He will recognize you."

Jiang Wan stared at that line of text in silence for a long time.

The father did not mention this matter in the letter, but he had Dong Sinian bring the things over.

Juxian Teahouse, Chen Si.

The Jiang family had never mentioned to her that her father had such people here.

She folded the note, put it back in the token, closed the copper plate, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and put it at the bottom of her vanity case. She stood up, walked to the window, stood there for a while, and sighed softly.

The night outside the window was completely dark, with one or two barks of dogs coming from afar, and the night breeze sneaking in through the crack in the door carried the scent of grass from the corner of the yard.

She really should start thinking about her own future.

That same evening, Fang returned to the east wing.

The smile on her face vanished immediately after the curtain was drawn. Lu Huaiyu, who was leaning against the couch flipping through an old book, looked up at her upon hearing the noise: "How did the welcome banquet go?"

"What else can we do? We have to keep a respectable appearance."

Madam Fang sat down at the dressing table, took the hairpin out of her hair and placed it on the table. "That young master of the Dong family is quite the smooth talker. He called her 'Auntie' so affectionately. He also said that Lord Jiang is highly regarded by Grand Secretary Dong. After hearing this, the old lady didn't say anything, but she drank half a cup of tea."

Lu Huaiyu put down his book: "Isn't that a good thing? It will be beneficial for Grand Secretary Dong to be close to our household in the future."

"Benefits?" Madam Fang pulled out another hairpin and placed it on the table with a crisp sound. "All the benefits went to her. Do you know what she said later? 'I'll arrange the welcome banquet myself,' she didn't let me lift a finger."

Lu Huaiyu closed the book: "The old lady knows that you went to her room a few days ago to talk about the dowry. Naturally, she wouldn't dare let you get involved."

After a moment of silence, Fang spoke, her voice lower: "That Jiang is no simple woman; she won't utter a single word. I brought it up twice, and she blocked me both times."

Lu Huaiyu said, "Then forget it. We shouldn't have touched the Gu family's dowry in the first place."

Fang turned to look at him: "Forget it? Do you know where one of the shops in the Gu family's dowry is?"

Lu Huaiyu felt uneasy under her gaze: "Where?"

"Right at the entrance of the alley where my mother's house is." Fang's voice wasn't loud, but each word was emphasized. "Do you know how empty the Earl's mansion's accounts are right now?"

"The old lady is getting old, and her trusted subordinates are all deceiving her superiors and subordinates. She still thinks things are going well in the mansion. We younger generation have seen it, but none of us dare to say a word."

Lu Huaiyu was silent for a moment: "You mean..."

"I didn't mean that," Fang interrupted him. "I meant for you to think about it. The old lady trusted those few confidants who used to be by her side too much, but she couldn't see that people's hearts are fickle. Those confidants may not be worthy of the old lady's trust."

"How much money does the kitchen, purchasing, and storeroom handle in a year? What percentage actually ends up in the public account? Our second branch has received less and less in expenses each year, yet the old lady still thinks the storeroom is full."

Lu Huaiyu did not respond.

"Mrs. Gu's shop is right at the entrance of my mother's alley. I've watched it open and thrive since I was a child, and it's been doing just fine all these years."

"How much money can a shop like this generate in a year? But what did the old lady say? 'Don't touch the late madam's things.'"

Madam Fang lowered her voice a few decibels, "She has no idea what the situation is like in the mansion. Those in charge know much better than she does."

Lu Huaiyu opened his mouth as if to say something.

He glanced at Fang's expression, and after a long pause, he finally said, "So, what do you plan to do?"

Fang turned to face the bronze mirror, raised her hand and removed the last hairpin, placing it on the table with a crisp sound.

She didn't answer his question, her voice calm, as if she were talking about something very ordinary: "You don't understand, everything I've done is for the good of the Earl's family. You'll understand eventually."

A faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips, and the candlelight flickered in her eyes.

The smile floated on the mirror, like a thin layer of oil on the surface of water, looking gentle, but nothing could be seen underneath.

The birds outside the window seemed to be startled by something; they flapped their wings, made a sound, and flew away, and the night fell silent again.