Lady Jiang was dressed in a full set of fine silk and satin, radiating an ethereal grace.
She originally owned very few such garments, but now she had more than enough to last.
"The clothes Madam Ling Cheng sent are truly elegant and luxurious." Standing before the maid, she slowly twirled, her face beaming with unhidden delight.
Ling Cheng was Song Jing's former deputy and had arrived earliest today to deliver a congratulatory gift.
Among the more refined officials, it was customary not only to gift the Marquis but also to have one's wife send a gift to the Marquis's wife.
This particular official was even more particular about protocol.
He had sent two sets of luxurious garments with different designs but identical high-quality materials.
It was true that a household only had one main matriarch.
But how could anyone overlook Song Shi'an's mother?
Gifting the matriarch of a powerful family was far more thoughtful than sending presents directly to the lord himself.
"Madam, you look so young! Hardly past thirty." The maid exclaimed with a delighted, exaggerated look of being charmed.
"Who says I'm barely thirty? I'm forty already." Lady Jiang chuckled at the compliment, "How does your little mouth speak so well?"
"Ah? The maid looked shocked and replied, "I can't tell at all." She replied with an air of feigned alarm.
"Hmph." Lady Jiang snorted, then lowered her voice, asking, "Tell me, if the nobles send all those jewels outside, do you think the lord will share half with me?"
"Absolutely." The maid replied seriously, "Young Master Shi'an is a Little Baron granted by the Emperor."
Lady Jiang was indeed a concubine.
But Song Shi'an had suddenly become the legitimate son.
Her status naturally changed with him.
Even just the number of maids had doubled from two to four, completely matching Madam Cui's.
While their residence couldn't change for now, it was said to be renovated and filled with expensive furniture.
Overall, they were no longer 'living under another's roof.'
"Now that the young master is a Little Baron, does it mean..." The maid whispered, "he will become the lord of the Song estate?"
"Don't say that." Lady Jiang raised her finger to warn her.
But she didn't scold her.
In her eyes, her son would surely become the lord of the Song estate.
It was a title granted by the Emperor himself!
"The maid quickly apologized, then peeked at Lady Jiang with a flushed face, and asked cautiously, "Young Master, he doesn't have a bedchamber maid... Madam, what do you think of me?"
Hearing this, Lady Jiang examined her.
Her face still held a bit of baby fat, her skin smooth and rosy. She was quite pretty, with a youthful roundness, yet her waist was slender, making her lower body appear full and curvaceous.
"What, you want to become me?" Lady Jiang asked.
"...I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." The maid quickly bowed her head, suddenly becoming quite obedient.
"You're not planning to become a bedchamber maid for the young master, pop out a son, and ride on your son's success." "She couldn't quite justify what she said, explaining, "I'm just worried that the Little Baron..."
She couldn't quite justify her earlier words.
Song Shi'an did have servants, but none specifically for him since he disliked having people hovering around.
As for a young man's 'coming of age'...
Nobody in the Song estate had worried that he wouldn't be familiar with women, they actually hoped he would go less to the brothel to listen to music.
But now, Lady Jiang had her doubts.
A man in his twenties, unmarried, uninterested in the many women in the household, was quite peculiar.
Had he really gone to the brothel just to drink and listen to music?
Everyone else had ordered something, but he just sat there?
"I suppose you wouldn't dare." After a light reprimand, Lady Jiang said, "I already have four maids here, go to the young master's room."
Hearing this, a light flashed in the maid's eyes, but she restrained her joy: "Yes, Madam."
"But you're going to attend to the young master, not become a bedchamber maid." Lady Jiang was quite serious, staring at her, "If you get pregnant, you're dead." The maid nodded reverently: "Madam, I will not dare to do such a rebellious act."
The maid nodded reverently: "Madam, I will not dare to do such a rebellious act."
...
In his room, Song Shi'an sat at a writing desk, holding a brush, writing small regular script on sheets of white paper with a casual, swift touch.
Focused.
At that moment, the door was knocked: "Little Baron."
"Come in."
Song Shi'an continued writing without looking up.
Then, the girl entered, standing shyly beside him.
"What is it?" Song Shi'an still didn't look at her.
"Little Baron, the Madam sent me to attend to you." The maid said.
Attended to?
So worried about my sexual repression?
Song Shi'an smiled and said, "No need, I don't need any attendance here, go back."
Hearing this, the girl obviously paused, then said in a somewhat timid voice: "Madam sent me..."
Song Shi'an looked up at her.
She looked down, gently biting her lip, her eyes full of a grievance, appearing small and pitiful.
"I really don't need one."
Song Shi'an wasn't impotent; he just had no interest in an ordinary pretty maid.
If it was someone he liked, he would willingly show his masculine side.
Moreover, at the moment, the interesting things for him were clearly not women.
At the moment, he was a writer.
As a writer, how could he let go of his uniqueness (referring to inspiration)?
"Alright, then stay here."
Since it was his mother's wish, Song Shi'an didn't refuse.
"Mhm." The girl nodded with a smile, looking quite pleased.
"By the way, what's your name?" Song Shi'an asked.
"My name is Yun'er, the 'Yun' from Yun dou."
"Oh, you can read?"
"I'm not literate, but when I entered the estate, the female steward told me I look chubby, like a broad bean, so she called me Yun dou." The girl explained.
"Yun dou is quite good." Song Shi'an said, then pointed to the paper before him, "Can you understand this?"
"Not at all." Yun'er shook her head, "What is the Little Baron writing?"
"My golden treasure."
It was also taking advantage of the empty time before the Imperial Forest Banquet to carefully plan for the future.
That's right, it's a novel.
The most popular novel in the current dynasty, "Tales of the Strange", its author made a fortune, and Song Shi'an's honest evaluation was: Not as good as *Battle Through the Heavens*. Of course, he wasn't sure what exactly he was going to write.
But it was definitely not original.
Want to become famous with a novel as a newbie? He wasn't on that level yet.
But copying was necessary.
And right now, he very much needed a large sum of money from a legitimate source.
"Although I don't know what it is, the Little Baron is so amazing."
Yun'er's face was full of admiration.
"You sit up front."
Song Shi'an said casually seeing her standing.
"Mhm."
Yun'er sat down obediently at a chair in front of Song Shi'an's desk.
As her body, clad in a linen skirt, sat down, her round hips spilled over the edge of the stool like steamed cake, forming a tight, crescent-like curve, quite plump...
"You sit on my bed."
Song Shi'an felt his writer's uniqueness being disturbed.
"Yes, Little Baron." Yun'er blushed, then anxiously walked to the bed and sat down.
With both hands resting on her lap, back straight, waiting obediently.
But like this, about half an hour passed.
Song Shi'an was still writing intently.
Yun'er behind him had slumped in fatigue, hands propping her head, sitting boredly.
And Song Shi'an, having finally completed the first chapter, stopped writing, picked up the paper, and after careful reading, couldn't help but nod, murmuring, "Although the prose needs polishing, the plot is already clear."
As expected, the plot that Song Shi'an could remember completely was undoubtedly a classic.
It would definitely meet the needs of this era.
Putting down the brush, he stretched, then turned around. At this moment, Yun'er, who had been drooping, sat up straight, revealing a gentle and pleased smile: "Little Baron."
"Have you girls chatted about anything?" Song Shi'an asked.
The estate's intelligence network.
"We talk about many things, what does the Little Baron want to ask?"
"Didn't many people come to deliver congratulatory gifts all day today?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Yes, many officials came, their gifts were excellent. Among them, one official sent a chest of jewelry. "Speaking of which, she showed a small white jade piece on her wrist, "Every servant in the estate got one.""
"That's good, was it money?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Yes, everyone got a generous bonus."
"This is what you deserve."
The Song estate had gone through a major disaster, and these servants had gone through hardships together with the family. Now that things were prosperous, they naturally rewarded them to win their loyalty and strengthen the family's cohesion.
"They also mentioned the proposal..." Yun'er said, "When the officials came, quite a few asked about the Little Baron and the Young Master's marriages."
"What do you think?" Song Shi'an asked.
"We think the Young Master will listen to the lord's arrangement." Yun'er said, "But everyone thought that the Little Baron might have his own ideas. They were all spreading rumors that the Little Baron's examination essay mentioned a woman, and that was the woman he would marry."
"Who do you think it is?"
"Everyone guesses it's the daughter of the Ling Cheng." Yun'er said longingly, "After all, she is the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan."
"So you mean I only care about looks?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Of course not." Yun'er said seriously, "For the Little Baron, we must also look at the figure."
Song Shi'an: "?"
"Family background is also important..."
"Alright, alright, I know."
Song Shi'an was reassured.
Everyone knew he had a rebellious streak and wouldn't marry easily.
Old Song better stop fretting.
With Song Ce here to continue the lineage, don't push my marriage.
Just then, a voice came from outside, Song Gan: "Little Baron."
"Come in." Song Shi'an said.
Song Gan opened the door and reported urgently: "A royal carriage is outside, it's the Prince of Wu, and the Sixth Prince seems to be with him. The Marquis is receiving them at the gate, I came to tell you."
Song Jing didn't have the energy to give orders, but Song Gan, being quite shrewd, naturally knew both were here mainly to see Song Shi'an.
So without being told, he immediately came to report.
"Good, I'll change clothes and put on my crown before coming out." Song Shi'an was surprised, as it was unexpected.
It wasn't that he thought they shouldn't come.
He just didn't expect to meet two kings so quickly.
Today was important!
"Yes, Little Baron."
Song Gan quickly retreated and closed the door.
Just as Song Shi'an was about to change, Yun'er was already looking for robes for him.
"No need, I'll do it myself."
Song Shi'an said casually.
Yun'er stood still and lowered her head, obediently: "Yun'er eats the food in the Song estate, she'll be kicked out..."
"It's not that bad."
Song Shi'an raised his hand, saying: "I'll wear the gilded crown and jade belt the Emperor gave, and wear the white robe."
Yun'er quickly got to work.
Song Shi'an didn't make much of her, untying the belt and taking off his clothes.
Soon, it was taken and hung aside.
Yun'er efficiently helped Song Shi'an put on the white robe.
Gently folding the lapels, she knelt half-way, looking up to fasten the white jade belt for him.
Then she moved behind him, trying to adjust the belt. She pressed against his back unintentionally, her plumpness imprinting on his spine like a grinding stone.
Soon, everything was arranged.
Indeed, as a powerful minister who would share the world with Xiaoyao, he also had to adapt to this luxury.
"Stay here until tonight."
Song Shi'an casually tossed off, then stepped through the threshold.
High-spirited, he prepared for a 'battle' to 'capture' both kings.
---
Can't help but throw in a little'lower body' hint, feel free to complain if you're disgusted.