Before long, Qiuyue brought Madam Meng inside.
Jiang Yunniang rose and said, “Third Aunt, please sit. Didn’t we just meet at Hui’an Hall? What brings you here now?”
“I came to give you a gift.” As Madam Meng spoke, the maid behind her opened a box. She took out a golden lock inlaid with rubies. “At Hui’an Hall earlier, your Second Aunt suddenly spoke up, so I had to give another jade bracelet to Awǎn. But you are the new bride, so it should be different. This is something Third Aunt prepared just for you.”
Jiang Yunniang glanced at the golden lock. It was palm-sized, with a ruby as large as a thumb. Clearly, Madam Meng had spent generously.
“How could I possibly accept this?” Jiang Yunniang declined politely.
“Ah, if you’re so formal with me, you’re treating me like an outsider. We’re all family.” Madam Meng paused, then lowered her voice. “But don’t mention this to anyone else. If your Second Aunt finds out, she’ll say I’m playing favorites again.”
Jiang Yunniang nodded and agreed—a benefit offered at the door—best to accept it. Every word Madam Meng spoke circled back to Madam Xu, her meaning obvious.
The room fell quiet. Jiang Yunniang looked at the tea on the table, unwilling to chat further.
Madam Meng, thinking Jiang Yunniang was shy, tried to find another topic. “The day after tomorrow, when you return to your family, will your cousin from the Lu family also be there?”
Jiang Yunniang nodded. Her uncle was stationed at the northern frontier and couldn’t return, so her cousins would come to celebrate her marriage instead.
“You have so many capable cousins, truly enviable. Unlike my family’s…” Madam Meng broke off when someone entered. Seeing it was Song Wenling, her expression faltered. She quickly said, “Look at me, chatting away and forgetting the time. Wenling, come in. I’ve delivered the gift, I won’t disturb you two.”
Jiang Yunniang rose to see her out. She sensed Madam Meng had more to say, though she didn’t know why. But if Madam Meng were determined, she would find another chance.
Once Madam Meng left, Jiang Yunniang was met with Song Wenling’s dark expression. She ignored it and sat down.
Song Wenling sat opposite her, opening his mouth several times as if to scold her. Finally, he took a deep breath to soften his tone. “After all, you and Bairou are sisters. Can’t you give way just a little?”
“No.” Jiang Yunniang answered firmly.
“You!” Song Wenling ground his teeth. “What good does it do you to let Bairou enter the household as a concubine? Outsiders will only say you’re petty and jealous, unable to tolerate even your own sister.”
In Song Wenling’s eyes, Jiang Bairou was the purest, kindest girl in the world. Now that she carried his child, he was determined to give her a better status.
Just earlier, his father had summoned him, urging him to persuade Jiang Yunniang. Otherwise, if Jiang Bairou entered as a lowly concubine, it would be difficult to explain to Grandfather.
“Say what you will. So I’m jealous—what of it?” Jiang Yunniang smiled coldly. “Second Young Master, why do you insist on elevating Jiang Bairou as a favored concubine? Is it because you plan to cast me aside one day and make her your proper wife?”
Song Wenling’s face froze, her words striking at his hidden thoughts. He turned his gaze away. “That’s not my intention. I just don’t want Bairou to suffer.”
“If you didn’t want her to suffer, you should have married her as your wife in the first place. Then you wouldn’t have to humble yourself before me today. But instead, you dragged me into this pit called the Song family, and now you want Jiang Bairou as your concubine. Second Young Master, have you thought about what people outside will say?” Jiang Yunniang sneered.
She stepped closer to him. “The idle playboys will say you’re lucky, with sisters serving one husband. The rigid scholars will say you are a lustful man who defies human ethics. Don’t worry about my reputation—worry about your own. As for Jiang Bairou, the fact that I haven’t exposed this already is me being merciful.”
Seeing Song Wenling’s face grow darker, Jiang Yunniang stopped.
Hypocrisy, selfishness, stupidity—all of it showed plainly on his face. Jiang Yunniang wished she could punch her past self. What about this man was worth loving? Just his looks? But handsome men were plentiful in the world—Song Wenling was nothing special.
Their eyes locked, tension sharp as drawn swords. Song Wenling had never been scolded so harshly. With his decent family background, good looks, and praised studies, he was always admired by those around him, except by Jiang Yunniang.
“You… If you remain this stubborn, I’ll never step into your room for the rest of my life!” Song Wenling thought this was his greatest threat. If he didn’t approach her, she would have no children, and others would trample her. A woman’s life depended on her husband and children. Without either, surely Jiang Yunniang would be afraid.
But Song Wenling didn’t know—Jiang Yunniang wished he would stay out of her room. She laughed. “Then please, Second Young Master. A gentleman’s word cannot be taken back. Start from now.”
She stepped aside, giving him space to leave.
Song Wenling hadn’t expected this reaction. His father had told him to coax her, but instead, he had worsened their relationship. Yet he had his pride. How could a man bow and scrape before a woman? He had offered her chances to relent, but she had pushed him away. He refused to believe it. If he persisted, surely Jiang Yunniang couldn’t stay defiant forever. From the first time they met, she had stolen glances at him. He was certain she had feelings for him. Besides, Father Jiang would never allow her defiance—for the sake of the Jiang family’s reputation.
Jiang Yunniang could threaten their whole family—how could they possibly ignore her father’s authority?
Song Wenling glared at Jiang Yunniang, then flicked his sleeve and left.
“Second Young Madam, is this really alright?” Qiuyue was still worried for her mistress. Her mistress’s temperament had changed greatly, though she could understand—no one could have imagined such a thing happening on the wedding night. But today, Second Young Madam demanded the key back, offending the First Madam and angering Second Young Master. Could they really continue living peacefully in the Song household after this?
“Why not?” Jiang Yunniang calmly lifted her teacup. “You saw how much Second Young Master treasures Jiang Bairou. If I gave Jiang Bairou a proper status, Second Young Master would truly cast me aside.”
Qiuyue frowned tightly. She now felt this was possible—Second Young Master showed not a shred of concern for her mistress. “But Second Miss is still considered a Jiang family daughter. Do you think Master and Madam would agree?”
At present, Jiang Bairou was still publicly regarded as a Jiang family young lady. Outsiders did not know she was the child of a wet nurse. If she entered the Song household with the status of a concubine of low birth, the Jiang family’s reputation would be disgraced along with hers.
Qiuyue believed Master and Madam would never allow it.
“Jiang Bairou has been enjoying the privileges of a Jiang daughter for over ten years. My father and grandmother will never agree to let her keep that. She’s had undeserved benefits long enough—it’s time she returned to her rightful place.” Jiang Yunniang recalled Jiang Bairou’s words, “I am Father’s child too.” In this lifetime, Jiang Yunniang swore Jiang Bairou would never be acknowledged as part of the Jiang lineage.
“What do you mean?” Qiuyue asked.
Jiang Yunniang set down her teacup. “Jiang Bairou knew I was to marry Song Wenling, yet she still committed adultery with him. No matter how others pity her as innocent and unfortunate, to me, she is unforgivable. Just wait—you’ll see. The day I return home will be lively indeed.”
“Ah, this servant only wishes for you to live well.” Qiuyue had no desire to witness any “liveliness.”
But things had already developed to this point. Qiuyue had no choice. On the day of returning home, she would have to find a way to speak with Madam.
For the next two days, Jiang Yunniang did not leave Chunxi Courtyard, and Song Wenling did not come again.
It was only on the day of returning home that Jiang Yunniang saw Song Wenling standing in the courtyard, his face full of reluctance.