"Yes, First Madam is going in person."
Song Jingcheng spoke with absolute certainty. His mother had told him that First Madam was relatively trustworthy; as long as she gave her word, he could bring up his conditions later. Previously, he had harbored some doubts, but now he could only marvel at his mother's sharp judgment.
As far as he was concerned, this matter was already eight or nine tenths successful. He was burning with impatience to have Cen Yanran enter the mansion, completely failing to notice Yao Yun'er's changing expression.
Yao Yun'er's heart sank heavily.
Matters having reached this stage, she had no choice but to swallow her bitter pill, grit her teeth, and nod in agreement.
With an excited expression, Song Jingcheng managed a few rare pleasantries and brought up a few more details. By the time they finished discussing, it was already afternoon.
Leaving Yulan Courtyard, Song Jingcheng happily hurried over to the West City Detached Courtyard, purposefully taking a maid from Yulan Courtyard along to show him the way so he could bring Yao Yun'er there tomorrow.
When the news reached the Main Courtyard, Yun Feiwan had already finished organizing the account books, filling all the previous deficits in her dowry that she had spent.
The public funds in ready cash had been moved directly. The remaining farmland and houses, being merely a transfer from her left hand to her right, were soon settled as well.
Once this was done, very little silver remained in the public treasury, and their estates had shrunk by more than half. To avoid arousing suspicion, she had sold two additional properties to top up the treasury's cash reserves.
The Song family of today, while free from worry over food and clothing, could hardly be called wealthy.
When Yun Feiwan had first married into the Song family, it was already an empty shell. Over the years, she had managed the household with painstaking care, making the Song family appear respectable and prestigious.
Now that she had taken back her dowry, what remained would still allow the Song family to live in comfort for another generation; but if anyone courted disaster, these estates would not survive the abuse.
However, that was not something Yun Feiwan needed to worry about.
Nanny Qu spoke in a low voice about what had happened earlier, her tone joyful:
"Madam, the news from Yulan Courtyard is that First Madam cried several times after the Eldest Young Master left. The maid who led the way has already returned to report on the situation at the West City Detached Courtyard; First Madam threw a tremendous temper."
Yun Feiwan curled her lips into a smile. "We've barely scratched the surface. There's a much better show to watch later."
Since Yao Yun'er had promised Song Jingcheng, no matter how unwilling she was, she would see it through.
Once Song Mingjian woke up, she would fan the flames, and they would tear at each other like dogs.
"Yes, Madam. That Miss Cen..."
"No need to worry. Make things convenient for her when necessary; I'll have a use for her later."
Cen Yanran came from a pleasure house; anyone capable of wheedling Song Jingcheng into causing such a scene naturally had brains.
As Song Jingcheng's mother, no matter what, Cen Yanran would respect her.
If she simply showed Cen Yanran a slightly pleasant countenance, Cen Yanran would never betray her.
"There's no need to overdo it, either. Yao Yun'er won't make things easy for Cen Yanran, and Song Jingcheng cares so much for her that Cen Yanran is bound to fight back. Given Yao Yun'er's temperament, she won't let her bounce around for long.
"What we need to do is keep a close eye on those few people in the manor so we don't get framed or dragged into trouble unjustly."
In her past life, she had opposed this marriage, leaving Yao Yun'er to make the decision to bring Cen Yanran into the manor as a favored concubine. Cen Yanran had been deeply grateful to Yao Yun'er and followed her every command, yet Yao Yun'er still had not spared her; in less than three months, Cen Yanran had met a tragic end in the inner courtyards of the Song family.
This time, Cen Yanran would still enter the manor, but she would make Cen Yanran her own person to spar with Yao Yun'er.
In her past life, Yao Yun'er had pinned Cen Yanran's death on her, causing Song Jingcheng to hate her to the bone and cut ties with her for the rest of his life.
This time, she would return that pain, sorrow, and despair to Yao Yun'er a hundredfold.
Nanny Qu nodded. "Yes, Madam. This old servant has already arranged it; everywhere in the manor is being watched."
"Mhm, how is the master's side?"
Yun Feiwan asked casually, without a shred of marital affection to speak of.
Earlier, after Song Jingcheng left, she had put on a show of visiting Song Mingjian, but it was all for public consumption.
Nanny Qu replied, "The news from the front is that the Master remains unconscious, vaguely crying out about a headache a few times before falling back asleep. The physician came and said it was merely anger rising from anxiety, nothing serious, and he'll recover after resting for a few days."
"Mhm. Song Jingcheng doesn't want him to know about Cen Yanran entering the manor, so we'll keep it hidden on our end as well, and only reveal it to him tomorrow when Cen Yanran arrives."
Nanny Qu was startled. "If that's the case, it might be difficult to tidy up the mess when the time comes."
Yun Feiwan said, "The ones who should be afraid aren't us."
Nanny Qu instantly understood Yun Feiwan's meaning. "Yes, Madam."
Yulan Courtyard.
Before nightfall, the lamps were already lit.
Because the matter was so urgent, Yao Yun'er was running herself off her feet. Right up until midnight, maids were still bustling in and out to report on various affairs.
When Yao Yun'er snatched a brief moment of leisure, she asked about Song Mingjian. Hearing that he was still unconscious, she didn't even have time to go take a look, and could only sigh helplessly.
Hearing further that Yun Feiwan had gone to check on him several times, a flash of jealousy crossed her face.
By the time she finally got to bed, dawn was already breaking.
As soon as daylight arrived, she was called up again to dress and wash.
Looking at her slightly haggard face in the mirror, Yao Yun'er furrowed her brow deeply. The complexion she so meticulously cared for every day had somehow sprouted two wrinkles after just a single day of grueling effort.
Dragging her exhausted body up, she casually ate some breakfast and went to the newly tidied courtyard. The courtyard was decked out in colorful lanterns and filled with a festive atmosphere, yet there wasn't a trace of joy on her face.
This was prepared for Cen Yanran.
Now that Song Jingcheng cared so much for Cen Yanran, she had to personally inspect Cen Yanran's living quarters.
As soon as she finished bustling about the manor, without even catching her breath, Yao Yun'er was urged into a carriage.
For Song Jingcheng's sake, Yao Yun'er grabbed a few decent pieces of jewelry and went in person to the West City Detached Courtyard.
By this time, a large crowd had gathered around the West City Detached Courtyard.
Since they were close neighbors who ran into each other constantly, the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar young woman about to enter the Marquis's Estate as a concubine brought everyone out to watch the commotion.
When they saw people from the Song family arriving to deliver bride-gifting items, a flurry of whispers broke out around them.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the sedan chair of the Marquis's Song family, and the one who came is the First Madam of the Song family."
"Yes, yes, exactly. Of the three Song brothers, the Eldest Master passed away from illness, and the Third Master is still away on the border battlefields, having not returned home for several years. Right now, the Second Master is managing the household."
"I hear everyone in the manor holds this First Madam in high regard. To have her personally come over to deliver bride-gifting items, this young woman must certainly be something special. I just wonder what's going on—we've never even heard of her."
"I heard yesterday that she's a distant relative from Jiangnan, favored by the First Madam, who found a courtyard for her to stay in before picking a auspicious date to carry her into the manor."
"So that's how it is. But we hadn't heard a single whisper of this before, and yet she's getting married today—it's all rather sudden."
"Right, right, I thought something felt a bit strange too, but the neighborhood magistrate came out and said it was because the young lady was in poor health that they didn't publicize it. In truth, the two families had been in contact for months, and those close to them all knew."
"Ah, I see. No wonder."
The crowd nodded repeatedly. At that exact moment, someone in the crowd shouted out:
"Bah! What 'good family's daughter'? Talk about nonsense! That's clearly Yanran from Yanlai Pavilion, whom the Song family's Eldest Young Master bought out of indenture just to bring into the manor as a concubine!"