Blossom

Old Madam Lu noticed the wives of the Marquis Changxing's heir and others gathered cheerfully around Dou Zhao and was reminded of Jiang Yan. She glanced around the crowd but didn’t see her.

She quietly asked Ruo Tong, who was serving her tea, “Why don’t I see Cousin?”

Ruo Tong smiled and replied, “Cousin was here just a moment ago. Perhaps she stepped away for something.” She craned her neck to look around but still didn’t spot Jiang Yan, so she added, “Would Madam like me to go look for her?”

The crowd was noisy, and Jiang Yan might have gone elsewhere.

Old Madam Lu chuckled, “No need, I was just asking.”

No sooner had she spoken than Fifth Madam and Sixth Madam of the Dou family approached with smiles.

Old Madam Lu set the matter aside and exchanged pleasantries with them.

Jiang Lizhu, standing beside Old Madam Lu, took note.

Having not seen Jiang Yan for a while, she grew concerned. After asking several maids, all of whom said they hadn’t seen her either, she thought for a moment and quietly slipped away to Green Water Residence.

Jiang Yan was sitting by the window on the heated brick bed, doing embroidery. When Jiang Lizhu arrived, she flushed with embarrassment and said, “I saw that Sister-in-law had everything well in hand and didn’t need help. Besides, I’m not good with crowds—I stumble over my words when there are too many people. I didn’t want to embarrass Brother and Sister-in-law, so I hid here.”

Jiang Lizhu sighed inwardly.

Thankfully, the Song family had few descendants, and the collateral branches had long since separated. Otherwise, with all the relatives around, someone with Jiang Yan’s temperament might have been completely overwhelmed.

She gently advised, “No one is born comfortable in crowds. The more people you meet, the easier it gets. You wouldn’t believe it—Old Madam Lu was just asking about you!”

Jiang Yan lowered her head, her needle flying silently over the fabric.

Not wanting to overstep, Jiang Lizhu didn’t press further and stood to leave.

But Jiang Yan actually liked Jiang Lizhu. Seeing the faint disappointment on her face, she grew anxious and tugged at Jiang Lizhu’s sleeve. “Sister-in-law has been so kind to me, and I’m not ungrateful. It’s just… they all stare at me, and I… I’m someone who shouldn’t even be seen in the light. Brother and Sister-in-law are such good people, yet I’ve dragged them down…”

Jiang Lizhu froze, suddenly understanding.

Jiang Yan was afraid that others would look down on her because of her past and that she would shame Song Mo and Dou Zhao.

Remembering her own humiliation and frustration when the Jiang family was raided and she couldn’t defend herself against the gossip, and thinking of Jiang Yan’s circumstances, her heart softened. She now regarded Jiang Yan with a sense of kinship born of shared hardship. “Don’t mind them. They’re just curious. Once some new scandal pops up in the Capital, they’ll move on to gossiping about something else.”

Jiang Yan’s heart ached. Jiang Lizhu’s sincere words touched her deepest sorrows, and she couldn’t help saying, “My situation isn’t like others’. They’ll talk about it for decades. And I’m useless, barely clinging to life… I just want to find someplace where no one knows me and live out my days in obscurity…” Her eyes grew moist.

Having endured family tragedy, Jiang Lizhu had more experience than most women and deeply resonated with Jiang Yan’s words. Tears welled up in her own eyes.

Jiang Yan immediately regretted her words and hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Jiang Lizhu’s tears. “Look at me, spouting nonsense for no reason. Now I’ve made Sister upset too.”Jiang Lizhu quickly grasped Jiang Yan's hand and said, "Don't say such things. We are cousins after all."

What had initially been a pretext to deflect others now carried a deep warmth when mentioned again.

The two couldn't help but exchange a smile, easing some of the earlier sorrow.

Jiang Lizhu knew the past had become a knot in Jiang Yan's heart. She wanted to tell her about the misfortunes of the Wei and He families, but recalling how Jiang Yan bore no resentment even toward Li Tiaoniang who had harmed her, she swallowed her words. Instead, she comforted Jiang Yan differently: "Some things are just your own overthinking. Since Cousin brought you into the mansion, he must have considered everything carefully. The Wei-Li woman from Qingyuan County disappeared long ago during the Lantern Festival, while Cousin Jiang Yan of the Duke of England's Mansion was the beloved niece of the late Duchess. Just settle peacefully in the Song household. Even if people stare at you, it's only because you look exactly like your aunt—not for any other reason."

But Jiang Yan proved more perceptive than expected: "These are just words to comfort myself. I look identical to Madam Jiang. Now everyone is saying I'm her biological daughter while Song Han was adopted from outside. There are no walls without cracks—they'll eventually learn who I truly am."

When that time comes, some might pity her, but most would mock and scorn her!

Jiang Lizhu sighed.

Jiang Yan then said, "Today is Yuan Ge'er's celebration. Sister, you should go enjoy the feast and opera instead of letting my matters dampen the mood. If anyone asks about me, just cover for me—I'm afraid Sister-in-law might worry if she can't find me and cause her trouble."

Jiang Lizhu had no choice but to nod. "Once everyone has free time in a couple of days, I'll visit you again."

Jiang Yan escorted Jiang Lizhu to the gate of Green Water Residence.

After Jiang Lizhu left for the Reception Hall, Jiang Yan gazed at the exquisite pavilions and towers of Green Water Residence, suddenly feeling an unreal, dreamlike detachment.

Not wanting to return inside, she parted the flowering branches and stepped onto a pebble path outside the residence.

Yinghong didn't dare stop her, silently following behind.

Wandering aimlessly, Jiang Yan soon lost track of where she was, her feet beginning to ache.

Surveying her surroundings, she spotted an empty pavilion nearby and turned toward it.

Just then, a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth in a lilac-colored linen Taoist robe appeared on the path ahead—clearly not one of the inner courtyard pages.

Yinghong startled and shouted, "Where did this reckless boy come from? This is the inner courtyard of the Duke of England's Mansion! Retreat at once!"

The terrified youth immediately turned to flee.

But Jiang Yan's sharp eyes recognized him as Huzi from Chen Jia's entourage.

"Hu Zi," she called out, "what are you doing here?"

The youth turned and, seeing Jiang Yan, visibly relaxed as he hurried forward to bow. "I came with the Lord to congratulate the Young Lord on his newborn son. The Lord is drinking with several officers from the Divine Machine Battalion and Five Armies Battalion in the outer courtyard's Reception Hall. Having nothing to do, I was chatting with Wuyi's companions when the Young Lord ordered Steward Peng to serve Shaodao liquor. Steward Xi instructed them to fetch more wine. Since I was idle anyway, I helped carry some. Before we finished, a matron from the inner courtyard said Ruo Zhu from Madam's household requested several jars of the imperial-gifted Pear Blossom White. I volunteered to get the keys from Steward Peng but got lost instead!"Jiang Yan couldn't help but laugh. "Why don't you ask someone where the accountant's office is?"

After Chen Jia found her, it was Huzi who had carefully attended to her all the way to the capital. Seeing Huzi again, she felt a sense of familiarity and thus spoke casually.

Huzi grinned sheepishly.

Yinghong, however, understood the situation.

Most likely, the pages in the mansion couldn't stand Huzi stealing the spotlight and deliberately gave him the wrong directions.

She pointed to the eastern pathway. "Follow that path ahead, and when you see a flower-walled alley, turn in—that's where the accountant's office is."

Huzi thanked her respectfully.

Yinghong quickly stepped aside.

Jiang Yan then asked him, "How is Lord Chen doing?"

Huzi beamed. "Our lord has been promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guards."

Jiang Yan had no idea what rank that was, but hearing that Chen Jia had been promoted, she thought it must be good news. Smiling, she asked Huzi to pass on her congratulations.

Huzi nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Yan chuckled. "Then you'd better hurry and get the keys. Be careful not to delay Steward Peng's business—you wouldn't want to pat the horse's leg the wrong way."

Huzi grinned and dashed off.

Running into an old acquaintance had lifted Jiang Yan's spirits. She returned to Green Water Residence with Yinghong, smiling.

※※※※※

Wang Ge, who had been summoned by Song Mo to the small study, was in a terrible mood.

He had originally come just to join the festivities. Never did he expect Song Mo to corner him and press him about Song Han's marriage.

Which little brat from the Palace of Heavenly Purity had betrayed him?

Yesterday, at the Third Imperial Grandson's full-month celebration, all the imperial relatives had entered the palace to offer congratulations. Third Princess's husband, Shi Chonglan, had slipped him a stack of silver notes, saying the Duke of Yingguo wanted his second son to marry into the imperial family and asking him to sound out the Emperor.

Less than twelve hours later, Song Mo already knew!

If he found out who had tipped Song Mo off, he'd skin the bastard alive—or he wouldn't be surnamed Wang!

Though he hadn't considered that he wasn't actually surnamed Wang to begin with...

But facing Song Mo, whose hostility toward Song Han was unmistakable, Wang Ge let out an awkward chuckle and shifted all the blame onto Third Princess's husband. "This humble servant did advise Third Princess's husband. This is the Song family's private matter. Since the Duke has such intentions, why not sound out the Emperor himself? But Third Princess's husband insisted, 'One must be loyal to the task entrusted.' So this humble servant had no choice but to reluctantly ask on his behalf."

Song Mo smirked and said, "Oh?" Then he added, "You're right, Eunuch. This Third Princess's husband is far too meddlesome. It seems I'll have to find him something to do—perhaps then he won't have time to poke his nose into other people's family affairs."

Wang Ge sneered inwardly.

This empire doesn't belong to the Song family. Third Princess is the Emperor's most beloved daughter, and her husband has always been held in high esteem by the Emperor. What can a mere Young Lord of the Duke of England's Mansion do to him?

He chuckled but didn't respond.

Song Mo had long wanted to teach Wang Ge a lesson, and now was the perfect opportunity to deal with them all at once.

Otherwise, they might mistake a tiger for a sick cat if it never showed its claws.

Song Mo smiled as well.

But his smile was restrained.

As he smiled, he raised his teacup to Wang Ge. "This is Big Red Robe tea, a gift from the Emperor. Knowing you enjoy it, I had it specially brewed for you."

What an absurd idea Father had.

With mixed bloodlines, once the truth came out, Song Han would have only one fate—death.Father was playing dumb, wanting Song Han to marry the princess. Did he think that if things went south, the Emperor would spare Song Han for the princess's sake?

Looking back now, wasn’t Song Han’s insistence on marrying no one but Jiang Shi’s daughter the same kind of scheme?

He felt as if he had swallowed a fly—utterly disgusted.

Wang Ge’s eyes flickered.

Indeed, didn’t Song Mo rely solely on the Emperor’s favor?

But he himself served by the Emperor’s side. Could Song Mo really compete with him?

Wang Ge also smiled.

A fox-like grin.

Song Mo had money.

Not just him—his wife was even wealthier.

If he didn’t make Song Mo’s scented sachet bleed dry, Wang Ge would be doing himself a disservice!