Binding Spring Love

The grand banquet ended before it even began, and Jiang Xingjian's face was so dark it was almost black.

He strode towards the backyard, intending to find Lin Jiayue and get some answers, but he was caught red-handed by her as soon as he entered the hanging flower gate.

"Jiang Xingjian, you need to control Song Wan!"

Lin Jiayue tugged at her sleeve indignantly, "I don't know if she's jealous of me, afraid that I'll make money for the Marquis's mansion. Before I even started, Song Wan kicked all the guests out. I knew she had no good intentions, but you still defended her at every turn..."

That's enough.

Jiang Xingjian grabbed Lin Jiayue's wrist and said in a deep voice, "What were you doing at today's banquet? Why were all the dishes placed in the courtyard, and why were there no tables or chairs?"

"You're hurting me."

Shaking off Jiang Xingjian's hand, Lin Jiayue said, "This is a buffet. Buffets help people connect and exchange ideas. Everyone can talk directly about what they want to say or who they want to talk to. Isn't that much more convenient than sitting in chairs?"

Jiang Xingjian gritted his teeth: "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Lin Jiayue smiled and said, "I told you I'd give you a stunning surprise, didn't I? How about it? Aren't the guests all very happy?"

Jiang Xingjian was about to say that there were many rules for entertaining guests, such as how the host and guests should walk and sit, and how to arrange the order of seniority and hierarchy. The seating arrangement of who sits on the east and who sits on the west was a major taboo. Her antics had caused the Marquis's mansion to lose face, which was a minor matter, but it would be a major problem if someone reported her to the authorities tomorrow.

Before she could even speak, Song Wan walked over from a distance.

Lin Jiayue's face darkened, and she was about to speak when Song Wan interrupted her, "I have something to say. Let's go to Lan Courtyard."

Jiang Xingjian pursed his lips and saw that Song Wanshi's cheeks suddenly became very hot.

Just a few days ago, he had confidently assured Jiang's mother and her that Lin Jiayue could handle all the affairs of the household. Who could have imagined that this slap would come so swiftly and cruelly?

Jiang Xingjian took a deep breath and strode after him, while Lin Jiayue pouted and followed along unwillingly.

As soon as the three arrived at Lan Courtyard, Aunt Zhou and Jiang Jing followed them in. Aunt Zhou, feeling uneasy, protectively asked Jiang Jing in a low voice, "What happened?"

After having the maidservant in the room brew tea, Song Wan said, "I've summoned Aunt Zhou today to discuss my third sister's marriage to the Lan family."

"How is Jing'er's marriage to the Lan family going? Is there anything the Lan family is unhappy about?"

Song Wan said, "Madam Lan is very satisfied with Third Sister, but she doesn't know why Third Sister rejected this marriage proposal herself."

"I...I didn't."

Aunt Zhou suddenly grabbed Jiang Jing, who stammered, "I didn't refuse the marriage, I just... I just..."

"Third sister, don't be nervous."

Song Wan said calmly, "I was the one who arranged the marriage with the Lan family. Whether it succeeds or not, the household must be informed. Third sister, there is no need to be afraid."

Upon hearing Song Wan's words, Aunt Zhou angrily slapped Jiang Jing twice: "Aren't you going to apologize to your sister-in-law? You don't want such a good family as the Lan family, what else do you want? Do you know how much effort your sister-in-law put into your marriage with Young Master Lan? A marriage isn't so easy to arrange, and you just say you don't want it? What are you thinking?"

Aunt Zhou came from a humble background, but she only had one daughter, Jiang Jing. Ever since she heard that Song Wan had arranged a marriage for her with the Lan family, she had spent all her money searching for people to inquire about the Lan family and that young master Lan.

Although she only heard the gist of it, she knew that this was an extremely good marriage. If Song Wan hadn't been so sincere to her and her daughter, she wouldn't have been so willing to choose such a family.

Now, Song Wan's words clearly indicate that she is abandoning her responsibilities. Besides her, who in the manor has the ability to choose a better match for Jiang Jing than the Lan family?

Aunt Zhou's only wish was for her daughter to marry well and not follow in her footsteps. Now that her wish had been dashed, she burst into tears in front of everyone.

Seeing his birth mother weeping, Jiang Jing's eyes also reddened: "Auntie, don't cry. Don't you think about it? How could such a good marriage from the Lan family possibly fall to me? And why should such a good marriage fall to me?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wan paused, her hand holding the teacup still. Hengwu, however, was furious at Jiang Jing's words: "What are you saying, Third Miss? Are you implying that my young lady deliberately chose a lowly family to humiliate you? How much face does Third Miss have that my young lady would value so much?"

"What happened? The marriage between Jiang Jing and the Lan family has fallen through?"

Jiang Xingjian frowned, while Song Wan looked up and smiled, saying, "Why don't you ask Aunt Lin directly?"

Lin Jiayue snorted coldly upon hearing this: "Yes, it was me who made my third sister cancel the marriage with the Lan family. So what?"

"I'll tear your mouth off!"

Aunt Zhou, still weeping, suddenly rushed to Lin Jiayue and grabbed her with a ferocious expression. It is said that a mother's love makes her strong, and this woman, who had been weak all her life, finally showed some courage today.

Lin Jiayue, terrified, hid behind Jiang Xingjian: "Are you out of your mind? Song Wan only connected Jiang Jing with the Lan family to do Song Fu a favor. Do you really think she's doing it for Jiang Jing's own good?"

"What are you talking about? Are you crazy?"

Seeing Jiang Xingjian and Lin Jiayue arguing again, Song Wan coldly said, "There's no point in saying more. I've only brought you all here today to inform you that the marriage between the Lan family and Lin Jiayue is off. You don't need to ask me about it again. As for my third sister's marriage..."

"I apologize for my incompetence, but I really can't find anyone better than the Lan family."

"As for whether you want to argue or make a scene, please do so as you see fit, just don't do it in my yard."

After setting down her teacup, Song Wan said she was seeing the guest out and then returned to her bedroom alone.

Outside, Aunt Zhou was still crying and pleading, while Jiang Jing tried to persuade her. Lin Jiayue shouted that she would find Jiang Jing a better marriage. Jiang Xingjian watched the farce unfold before him, feeling a vein throbbing on his forehead. For a moment, he didn't even know whose matter he should deal with first.

With a stern face, Hengwu dismissed those who needed to leave and persuaded those who needed to go away. When she returned to Song Wan's side, Song Wan was already lying on the chaise longue, resting with her eyes closed.

"Miss, what should we do now that Aunt Lin has caused such a scene today?"

Song Wan raised her head, pressed her temples, and said, "The Marquis's mansion... is doomed."

"I thought that although Lin Jiayue was stupid, she would only make some harmless jokes. But I didn't expect that the trouble she caused would become more and more troublesome."

Green Bamboo stepped forward and gently massaged Song Wan's head and neck.

"After this incident, I'm afraid the son-in-law will no longer trust Consort Lin, and Consort Jiang... probably won't support her anymore either, right?"

Song Wan pursed her lips, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, she murmured, "Madam Bai said that my brother is having a hard time in the Ministry of Personnel. Apart from Jiang Man, no one would make things difficult for a mere Vice Minister of Personnel who hasn't even made it into the ranks yet."

Looking at the crooked wooden carvings placed by the bed, Song Wan paused for a moment and said, "Spread the word that Consort Jiang has promoted Lin Jiayue and that she has put Lin Jiayue in charge of managing the household affairs of the Marquis's residence. Make sure to tie the two of them together tightly."

"Miss."

Granny Zhao disagreed, saying, "You should take this opportunity to win over Consort Lin in one fell swoop, and it would be best to inform the Old Madam so that she can kick that little harlot out of the mansion. Only then can you and your son-in-law live happily ever after."

"Why tie that little harlot to Consort Jiang? Wouldn't that only embolden her?"

Upon hearing this, Hengzhi murmured, "Miss...it's for the young master."

Song Wan held Hengzhi's hand and smiled gently.

She did it not only for her brother, but also for her aunt and the third prince.

Lin Jiayue is a troublemaker. Tying her to Consort Jiang will only implicate the Marquis's mansion and Jiang Man in the future, especially since the matter of Huanyanzhai using face powder has not yet been exposed...

If Consort Jiang is not well, then her aunt and brother will be well.

As for what will happen to her and Jiang Xingjian in the future...

Song Wan lowered her eyes, deciding it was best not to mention it.