Jiang Yunniang only rose once she had slept comfortably. Seeing Song Wenling’s dark expression, she ignored him entirely and walked out with Qiuyue.
“Wait.” Song Wenling had sat for an hour, not even offered a cup of tea. His anger simmered. Was Chunxi Courtyard deliberately slighting him? His mother had said Jiang Yunniang’s anger meant she cared for him. But looking at her now—did she care at all?
Jiang Yunniang didn’t stop, not even sparing him a glance.
“Jiang Yunniang, do you even see me as your husband?” Unable to bear it, Song Wenling rushed forward and grabbed her wrist. Her blatant disregard unsettled him.
Jiang Yunniang looked down at his hand, then pulled free with force. “Before asking that, Second Young Master, perhaps you should ask yourself—do you see me as your wife?”
Song Wenling froze. Jiang Yunniang pressed further: “Second Master, why did you marry me? For what purpose?”
They both knew the answer.
Song Wenling turned his head away. “No matter what, you are now my wife. You should honor me. A woman must obey her husband—did your mother not teach you this?”
“She did. But I no longer wish to live that way.” Jiang Yunniang’s amber eyes flickered with regret. “If you despised me all along, you should never have agreed to marry me. You should have insisted on marrying Jiang Bairou. To wed me, yet cling to her, calling it ‘true love’—that is hypocrisy and selfishness.”
If not for the Songs claiming Song Wenling wanted Jiang Yunniang, Madam Lu would never have agreed, and Jiang Yunniang would never have harbored illusions.
It was Madam Zhang who had come, praising Jiang Yunniang’s simplicity and virtue, saying that as the Jiang family’s eldest daughter, she should marry first. Both Madam Lu and Jiang Yunniang had believed Song Wenling favored her. But they had been wrong. In the end, she had been used as a stepping stone.
Song Wenling regretted it now, but the deed was done. He could only take Jiang Bairou as a lowly concubine—yet that felt too unjust for her.
Before he could speak, Nanny Wang arrived. “Second Young Master, the First Madam bids you hurry. It is time to pay respects.”
Song Wenling shot Jiang Yunniang a glare. A gentleman should not quarrel with women. He flung his sleeve and strode toward Hui’an Hall.
Jiang Yunniang followed at her own pace. Nanny Wang spoke of Jiang Bairou, but Jiang Yunniang showed no objection.
“The First Madam only thinks of your good. If you return to the Jiang family today, people will ask questions. Better to wait until the formal visit home. I will accompany you then, so matters can be discussed.” Nanny Wang’s tone was gentler than usual. The First Madam had ordered her to soothe Jiang Yunniang, hoping she would calm down in a few days and stop fussing. After all, if she made a scene, her bond with Song Wenling would be severed completely.
They believed Jiang Yunniang loved Song Wenling deeply and was desperate to win his heart back. To them, her defiance was only a fit of temper. In her own mind, she must know her upbringing was unworthy of him.
Jiang Yunniang’s cold gaze pierced Nanny Wang. “Tell Mother to rest assured. I will remember this matter well.”
Reborn, Jiang Yunniang did not intend to fight the Songs to mutual destruction. She would grow stronger—and watch them fall. If Song Wenling and Jiang Bairou’s adultery spread, it would indeed stain her reputation.
In her past life, she had not understood the ways of great families. She thought innocence was enough. But in Shengjing, she became a laughingstock, burdening her mother with endless worry. If she tore away the veil, it would only be when she was ready to leave the Song family entirely.
Nanny Wang wanted to explain further, but they had reached Hui’an Hall—the patriarch’s domain. Better to hold her tongue.
Song Wenling entered first. The Third Branch was already present. Only the patriarch, matriarch, and Jiang Yunniang remained absent.
Second Madam Xu glanced at Song Wenling and curled her lips. “Well, Second Young Master, why so early today?” Her smile was sweet, but everyone heard the mockery.
Song Wenling, though disgusted, bowed respectfully to his elders. When he straightened, Jiang Yunniang arrived at last.
The hall was full of familiar faces. Jiang Yunniang offered Madam Zhang a token bow. In front of the other branches, Madam Zhang shed last night’s severity, taking Jiang Yunniang’s hand warmly and introducing her around.
“This is your Second Uncle and Aunt. Your Second Aunt is the gentlest in our household, famed in Shengjing for her skill with the zither. You may learn from her.”
Jiang Yunniang thought, Hypocrite, but dutifully greeted her aunt.
Next, she was led to Song Wenyi and his wife. Song Wenyi’s face was pale, his thin frame accentuating sharp cheekbones. Beside him, Madam Su, born of a marquis’s house, carried herself with noble poise. She gave Jiang Yunniang a cool glance, then turned back to her tea.
Receiving such coldness, Jiang Yunniang turned to find Madam Meng smiling, grasping her hand.
“Eldest Sister‑in‑law, such fortune! Yunniang’s figure is fine, her looks lovely—no worse than Bairou’s.” Madam Meng slipped off her jade bracelet. “Here, this is a gift from your Third Aunt. Don’t be shy—we are family now.”
In her past life, Jiang Yunniang had missed the hidden barb, thinking that Madam Meng had praised her above Jiang Bairou and given her a gift out of kindness. She had held a good impression of Madam Meng. Later, she learned the truth: every Song was cunning. Madam Meng was a smiling tiger.
Now, Jiang Yunniang accepted the bracelet without fuss, thanking her with a smile.
Immediately, Madam Xu interjected playfully: “Sister‑in‑law, how partial you are! If I recall, that bracelet was part of your dowry. When Wenyi’s wife entered, you weren’t so generous. Should we be hurt?”
“Second Sister‑in‑law, you jest. I would never favor one over another.” Madam Meng walked to Madam Su and removed her other bracelet. “Ah Wan, this is from your aunt. One for each of you sisters‑in‑law. Harmony between you is the Song family’s blessing.”
Madam Su glanced at the bracelet but did not take it. Her maid, Liuyue, accepted instead. “Thank you, Third Madam. My mistress sprained her hand yesterday. I will keep it for her.”
For a maid to accept in her mistress’s stead was a deliberate slight. Madam Su disdained Madam Meng’s gift, unwilling to share the same token as Yunniang.
Madam Meng’s face darkened. Her family background was modest; she had borne no sons. Though her husband was the youngest and favored by the matriarch, he lacked ability. Despite being legitimate, their Third Branch was always beneath the Second. Even Madam Su dared to scorn her.
But Madam Meng had lived in the Song family for ten years. Her displeasure vanished quickly. She smiled again.“These bracelets were once blessed before the Goddess of Fertility. May they grant our nieces’ children soon, to extend the Song line.”
Her words struck Madam Su’s sore spot. Married for over three years, she had never conceived. Doctors and tonics had failed. Madam Xu had even placed several maids in Song Wenyi’s chambers.
Seeing Madam Su’s face sink, Madam Meng was satisfied. She turned back to Jiang Yunniang, intending to praise her further and deepen the rift between her and Madam Su. But before she could, Madam Xu spoke.
“Yesterday was Second Young Master’s wedding day. Yet I hear Yunniang spent the night at the Zhuyan Study?” Madam Xu’s smile was sweet, her eyes sharp. “Eldest Sister‑in‑law, did you know of this?”
Zhuyan Study lay just beyond Chunxi Courtyard, separated only by a wall, both assigned to Song Wenling. A small door connected them.
Madam Zhang had hidden the fact that she hadn’t allowed her son to consummate with Jiang Yunniang. Song Wenling had left through the small door.
But when Jiang Yunniang went to catch him in adultery, she had deliberately used the main gate.
Though Madam Zhang managed the household, the Song estate was vast, with many eyes and ears. Madam Xu had her own spies.
By all propriety, Jiang Yunniang should never have gone to Zhuyan Study on her wedding night. Madam Xu’s question was meant to embarrass her.
Of course, Madam Xu did not know Jiang Yunniang had done it on purpose.
After Madam Xu spoke, Jiang Yunniang lowered her gaze slightly, pretending not to hear, leaving the problem squarely in Madam Zhang’s lap.