The Chengyang Marquis Mansion is a hereditary title, and Jiang Xingjian was supposed to be the last generation, but unexpectedly he and his father were killed in the border crossing. The current emperor couldn't bear what happened to the Jiang family, so he granted a favor to the Marquis Mansion for another generation.
However, in Chengyang Marquis Mansion, there was only one direct descendant, Jiang Xingjian, and although there were several concubines left, when Jiang Xingjian and the Marquis died, the concubines had not yet matured, so the title was retained and no candidates were decided.
Now that Jiang Xingjian is back, he may be the first to succeed Xi Jue and become the new rich man in Beijing.
The purpose of such a happy event was to go to the palace to express gratitude and inform the Song Dynasty, but the emperor went to the summer resort with the concubines in the harem and Song Wan's father and brother, so the matter of entering the palace was delayed.
Jiang Xingjian walked into Song Wan's room and saw her writing. She guessed that she was writing a letter to Song Lan'an and Song Fu.
He said nothing and looked around the room alone.
It is said that Song Wan should have lived in the main courtyard of Lanting, probably because he did not want to move his "relics", so after getting married, he lived together in Lonxiangzhai to the east of the main courtyard. Now the place is empty, except for books on the entire wall. The only thing that seems interesting is a row of zodiac wood carvings placed on the window.
Jiang Xingjian raised his eyebrows slightly.
He stepped forward and picked up a toy, only to see that the wood carving method was unfamiliar and rough traces were vaguely visible. But because it was often put in someone's hands and rubbed, the scratches on it became rounded and shiny. His heart moved, and he turned to look at Song Wan. Sure enough, he saw that the tips of her ears were reddish, as if they were dyed with a layer of crimson. .
Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes and put the wood carving back into place after a moment.
"You still have it."
Song Wan's cheeks became even hotter when he heard this, but he didn't say a word.
Somehow, seeing her like this, Jiang Xingjian suddenly had some indescribable thoughts, but thousands of thoughts were tumbling in his heart, and when he blurted out, they turned into a simple "I didn't know you would marry me."
Song Wan was a little dazed, and after a long while he lowered his eyes and said: "The husband has the obligation to marry again, and the wife has no right to marry. The Jiang and Song Dynasties are family friends, and the marriage between the two families was decided before we were born. No matter for the sake of Whether it's the reputation of the Song Dynasty or the reputation of a woman, I have only one way to go."
She raised her head and looked at Jiang Xingjian, said "You shouldn't be unaware" and continued writing. Jiang Xingjian's return to Beijing was a big event for both houses, and she had to write a letter to her father and brother.
After writing three or two strokes, Song Wan sealed the letter and handed it to the maid beside him to send it away.
Jiang Xingjian was still in the room, and the two of them didn't know what to say, and the scene became cold for a while.
Fortunately, a fat cat with smooth fur and a big body ran in outside the door, and Song Wan could only smile when he saw it. That smile was like melting winter snow, lighting up the entire Liaoxiangzhai.
The big fat cat meowed and rubbed its furry head in Song Wan's arms. Song Wan called the maids around him and asked them to get the meat soup.
"Eat more."
"Meow..."
After eating, the big fat cat turned over and exposed its white belly for Song Wan to stroke. If it felt uncomfortable, it would scream a few times in protest.
Just when Jiang Xingjian was looking at it interestingly, he saw Heng Wu coming in with the bead curtain drawn up.
"Uncle, Miss Lin wants to see you."
Song Wan touched the cat's hand and Jiang Xingjian frowned and walked out.
Lin Jiayue stood outside the door and looked inside the room curiously. However, there were two elderly women in front of her and a teenage girl with a maid's bun staring at her. She was embarrassed and could only look away. He curled his lips and turned away.
When Jiang Xingjian came out, he saw her pinching her fingers in boredom and looking very impatient.
"Brother Xingjian."
Seeing Jiang Xingjian, Lin Jiayue laughed: "The Hou Mansion is indeed luxurious and worthy of being a noble. But why did your mother call you Yi'er, but you told me that your name was Xingjian? Could it be a fake name? Bar?"
"Jiang Yi is my name, and Xingjian is my cousin."
Jiang Xingjian saw her eyes full of smiles, and his tone softened: "Are you not used to it? If you find it inconvenient, I will ask my grandmother to send two more girls to your courtyard."
"No need, I'm not used to someone waiting on me personally."
Seeing that the other party didn't speak, Lin Jiayue blinked and joked: "I really didn't expect that you have such a beautiful lady in your house. If I had known earlier, I would not have come back with you. After all, I want to be a couple for the rest of my life. Really I have no interest in intervening in other people’s marriages and being a third party.”
Jiang Xing was silent, as if he didn't know what to say.
His reaction made Lin Jiayue a little dissatisfied, but she really liked the handsome and elegant man in front of her, so she couldn't bear to say too much.
"Now, I just want to ask you what you said to me before and whether the agreement you made still counts?"
Jiang Xingjian nodded: "Of course."
At that time, he really didn't know that the Song Dynasty would honor this engagement, especially after he found out the truth about the death of his father and himself.
Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes and thought deeply, but Lin Jiayue said: "That's fine if you say so. It won't be in vain for me to follow you all the way to Shangjing."
She looked at Jiang Xingjian and touched his hand lightly, as if intimately, or accidentally: "Actually, I came to see you for something."
"Just now, the maid next to Mrs. Cai Jiang came to give me clothes and jewelry, and asked me to go to the banquet with you tonight. But the clothes they sent were too fancy, either green or bright red. I really don't want to wear them, so don't you? Can you help me find another skirt?"
"I'll have someone tell the embroidery room to make a set for you."
Lin Jiayue bit her lip: "How can I get enough time in only half a day? I see that your wife is very plain in what she wears. Can't you ask her to lend me a skirt?"
Jiang Xingjian frowned in displeasure.
It was impossible for his grandmother to give her red clothes. It was not that he could not understand Lin Jiayue's little thoughts.
"Brother Xing Jian?"
The little girl pursed her lips and her face turned a little red. Thinking that she was alone without a father or mother, Jiang Xingjian softened her heart.
"I see."
After he finished speaking, he returned to Longxiangzhai.
Song Wan was teasing the cat with a brightly colored cloth ball in his hand. Her maid Hengwu stood in front of the bead curtain. When Jiang Xingjian returned, she nuzzled disdainfully at her sister Hengzhi.
Heng Zhi glared at her, walked up to Song Wan and took the fat cat away.
After Mao'er left, Song Wan's face felt a little light.
Jiang Xingjian said: "Jia Yue wants to borrow a dress from you. Is it convenient?"
"Since Miss Lin wanted to borrow it, why didn't she ask for it herself?"
Song Wan's wet nurse, Aunt Zhao, stood aside. Seeing her young lady's cold attitude, she hurriedly smiled and smoothed things over: "It is a great joy for my uncle to return home, but before today, my wife was still a widow. How can I give this wardrobe full of plain clothes?" Wear it for distinguished guests in the mansion? If you really take it, you will be neglecting them."
"If that girl doesn't mind, there are some newly made dresses in the mansion over there at Heng Wu Heng Zhi. Why don't I bring them to you to take a look at?"
Jiang Xingjian looked at Song Wan, who had a cold expression, and felt inexplicably unhappy: "It's okay to wear plain clothes, but it's not appropriate for Jiayue to wear the servant's clothes."
