Inside the room, silence reigned.
Jiang Bairou nestled against Song Wenling’s side, her face deathly pale.
“The Song family values rules above all?” Jiang Yunniang arched a brow at Nanny Wang. “Is this the ‘rule’ you speak of? Committing adultery with an unmarried sister‑in‑law on his wedding night—excellent rules indeed.”
Nanny Wang was struck dumb. No matter how she thought, she never imagined the woman in Second Young Master’s bed would be Jiang Bairou.
Speaking of Jiang Bairou, the First Madam had once been satisfied with her.
The Jiang and Song families lived side by side, their status similar. Madam Lu, however, came from a military family and had married beneath her station into the Jiangs. The First Madam valued the Lu family’s power, so she arranged a childhood betrothal between the two households’ children.
Who could have guessed that the Jiang family’s wet nurse secretly switched Madam Lu’s child? Jiang Bairou was not of Jiang blood at all. Though the Jiangs, out of sentiment, kept her, Madam Lu never again showed her the same affection.
In recent years, the Lu family has won repeated military victories and gained great prestige at court. The First Madam no longer wanted Second Young Master to marry the useless Jiang Bairou. She conspired with Madam Lu to replace the bride with Jiang Yunniang.
Even after the Jiangs agreed, the First Madam remained displeased. Jiang Yunniang had grown up in the countryside, traveling openly with her foster parents as escorts, with none of the bearing of a noble daughter.
“Nanny Wang, why so quiet?” Jiang Yunniang’s lips curved coldly.
“Second Young Madam,” Nanny Wang’s voice had weakened, “this must be some misunderstanding. Please, don’t be rash. Let’s step outside, wait until they’re dressed, and then ask.”
Her words were meant only to placate. Second Young Master’s behavior was disgraceful, but she could only send Second Young Madam away and later deny everything. The scandal must not erupt—otherwise the Song family’s face would be lost.
Jiang Yunniang understood perfectly. She turned and picked up a pink bellyband from the floor.
“What are you doing?” Song Wenling demanded irritably. He felt no guilt. He and Jiang Bairou were childhood sweethearts; she was the only one he loved. If not for his mother pressing him with the Lu family’s power, he would never have married Jiang Yunniang. A coarse woman like her—he couldn’t even bear to look.
“Why, taking a token of proof. Otherwise, you’ll deny it later. None of you here can be trusted.” Jiang Yunniang refused to watch Song Wenling dress; it would only soil her eyes.
At the doorway, seeing Nanny Wang’s nervous gaze fixed on the bellyband, Jiang Yunniang added, “Do me the favor of summoning Father and Mother. Such a scandal cannot simply be brushed aside.”
“What?” Nanny Wang’s eyes widened.
“If Nanny Wang won’t go, then Qiuyue will.” Jiang Yunniang had not come merely to witness adultery and leave. In her past life, she had been deceived by Song Wenling’s sweet words, believing he truly loved her and chose to marry her. She had entered the Song family full of joy, only to spend a year alone in an empty room, poisoned, and at last discover his affair with Jiang Bairou.
Now Qiuyue trembled with fury. Hearing her mistress’s command, she agreed at once.
Seeing Qiuyue about to leave, Nanny Wang hurried to stop her, trying to persuade Second Young Madam again. But when she met Jiang Yunniang’s icy gaze, she faltered and went herself toward the main courtyard.
At that moment, in the main courtyard, Madam Zhang was helping Song Qingbai undress.
“Don’t look at me like that. Everything I do is for Wenling. You wouldn’t want the Second Branch to gain the upper hand, would you?” Madam Zhang lifted her eyes to her husband. They had been married for over twenty years; she already had white hair, while he remained handsome. Thinking of the concubines in the household, her heart ached.
At the mention of the Second Branch, Song Qingbai sighed. “I only worry that if you don’t let them consummate, the Jiang family will be angry.”
“Rest easy. I’ve already prepared an excuse. Come spring, Wenling must sit for the palace exam. The Jiangs naturally hope he achieves first rank; they won’t cause trouble now.” Madam Zhang had planned everything from the moment she chose Jiang Yunniang. “Once Wenling earns his title, we’ll use the Lu family’s power to rise. In two years, when Wenling is secure at court, this marriage can be severed.”
From the first time she saw Jiang Yunniang, Madam Zhang noticed her eyes never left her son.
With Jiang Yunniang’s infatuation, Madam Zhang was certain: whether consummation or household rules, she would never complain to Madam Lu. Even if she did, Madam Zhang could smooth it over.
Once Wenling had his title, she would toss Jiang Yunniang a few favors, stringing her along to pave Wenling’s path. Of course, even if they consummated, she would never allow Jiang Yunniang to bear the Song family’s heir.
Do not blame her for being ruthless—blame the Jiang family’s wet nurse for her treachery. The elder son of the Second Branch had married a marquis’s daughter; her own son’s wife could not be inferior.
Song Qingbai said no more, tacitly approving his wife’s schemes. After decades of marriage, Madam Zhang had managed the household flawlessly. He trusted her.
The couple had just lain down when Nanny Wang’s panicked voice rang outside: “Master, Madam—it’s terrible! Something has happened in Second Young Master’s quarters!”