Hong Xi was startled at the words and a look of disappointment clearly crossed his face, but he soon chuckled with a sigh, "Young Master Yuan is truly blessed!"
Song Jiyun’s hand, holding the tea cup, paused.
Hong Xi had already laughed and said, "Then we’ll see each other at the banquet!"
Before Song Jiyun could speak, a man’s voice suddenly came from outside, "What banquet?"
Both of them turned towards the sound in unison.
They saw Yuan Yunzhong entering leisurely, dressed in a bamboo green, unadorned Hangzhou silk robe.
He had a tall and straight figure, dark eyebrows and eyes, skin fairer than snow, and his slightly upturned almond eyes were clear and cold, his noble and solemn demeanor as if chiseled from ice and snow, radiating a chilling aura.
Both Hong Xi and Song Jiyun instinctively stood up, with Hong Xi even more respectfully bowing to him and greeting him with "Young Master Yuan."
Yuan Yunzhong gave a slight nod of his head.
A frown flickered across Hong Xi’s forehead, almost imperceptible.
Why had he bowed to Yuan Yunzhong subconsciously, and so respectfully at that?
Hong Xi quickly straightened his back, the hand with the ring now behind his back, and smiled, "It’s a flower viewing banquet hosted by Boss Wen of Wensi Building."
He introduced Wensi Building and Boss Wen to Yuan Yunzhong, even emphasizing that Jiang Chun, the newly appointed official of Liang County, would also attend.
Yuan Yunzhong listened intently.
Song Jiyun took the tea tray from the little maid’s hand and personally served Yuan Yunzhong a cup of tea.
Yuan Yunzhong thanked Song Jiyun and pointed at the Taishi Chair behind Hong Xi, "Let’s sit down and talk."
That commanding tone made Hong Xi take a deep breath, the hand behind his back couldn’t help but rub the jade ring on his index finger with his thumb before he smiled and declined, "No, thank you! It’s getting late, and I should be heading back. We’ll see each other again at the flower viewing banquet."
The last statement was directed to Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun had no intention of forming a close relationship with Hong Xi and naturally responded politely with "alright," sending him out the door with a warm smile.
As Hong Xi stepped out of the Flower Hall and realized Yuan Yunzhong hadn’t followed, he couldn’t help but look back.
Yuan Yunzhong was sitting in the Taishi Chair, drinking tea with his head lowered.
In the warm sunshine of the autumn morning, his lowered gaze and sharply defined side profile exuded a fierce coldness.
Hong Xi felt an inexplicable chill in his heart.
He quickly turned his head and strode away from the Song Family, only feeling a gradual warmth returning to his heart when the Grand Steward of the Hong Family helped him into the sedan chair. He instructed the Grand Steward, "Go and find out more about Yuan Yunzhong for me."
He always felt Yuan Yunzhong’s presence was too imposing.
The Grand Steward of the Hong Family was somewhat surprised but still agreed, holding back the sedan curtain and hesitantly whispered, "You made an appointment with Miss Song to attend the flower viewing banquet, but Mr. Wen’s invitation..."
The new official of Liang County, Jiang Chun, had only been seen by some officials of the Liang County Yamen during the initial handover of official seals. Soon after, with a third-rank officer, the Inspector General of Jiangxi, visiting Nanchang Prefecture, he and the previous official of Liang County rushed to Nanchang Prefecture overnight, not even having the time to hold the customary reception banquet.
The flower viewing banquet at Wensi Building was not only the first appearance of Lord Jiang in Liang County but also the first time for prominent scholars and local gentry of Liang County to meet him. Mr. Wen, aiming for a secure occasion, did not extend wide invitations but instead deliberated over and over again, controlling not only the number of guests but also the guest list with great care.
The Song Family, being managed by a woman, was not included in the invite list.
Comfortably leaning against the back of the sedan chair, Hong Xi slowly turned the ring on his finger and smiled, "With me there, are you afraid Miss Song won’t be able to enter?"
The Hong Family received three invitations because of the Crane Mountain Academy.
His grandfather was out visiting friends and had not returned yet, and his brother had not come back from Suzhou.
The Grand Steward of the Hong Family hesitated.
What if Miss Song arrived before their young master does? Or if he was delayed by something and wasn’t at home?
Hong Xi’s face grew cold, "Let’s go back!"
Chief Steward Hong bowed and closed the sedan curtain.
*
Song Jiyun returned to the Flower Hall, where Yuan Yunzhong was casually browsing through the pile of gift boxes.
Seeing her appraisal, he lifted his head to glance at her, picked up the gift inventory lying on the red-lacquered square table in the Main Hall, casually opened it, and started to read, "Ten reams of Red Sandalwood Skin Xuan Paper from The Cao; two boxes of Zihao Lake Brushes from Ermatang; two boxes of Indigo paste from Suzhou Sixu Hall, two boxes of ochre paste, two boxes of cinnabar; two boxes of Combined Harmony Incense from Dinghui Temple; one pair of Gilt Silver three-layered Exquisite Balls with floral carving, twelve ivory silk fans."
If the earlier items were related to painting like paper, ink, and pigments, the rest were all ladies’ playthings.
Song Jiyun frowned inwardly upon hearing this.
Yuan Yunzhong snorted coldly and opened one of the brocade boxes.
Inside the brocade box were the pair of floral-carved three-layered Exquisite Balls, one in gold and the other in silver.
Song Jiyun had once received an ivory Exquisite Ball from an art broker, but this was her first time seeing ones made of gold and silver.
She picked it up and carefully examined it.
Each Exquisite Ball was the size of a walnut and had two layers. The outermost layer was carved with folding peony flowers, and the second layer was undercut with an unbroken wan character pattern, with a tiny hollow at the center. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Although both in terms of materials and craftsmanship, it could not compare to the her nine-layered ivory Exquisite Ball, which had different flowers carved on each layer, the broker had once told her that the ivory Exquisite Ball she owned was purely for appreciation. If one wanted to hold spices, it had to be either gilded gold or silver.
She didn’t know whether these two Exquisite Balls were made of gold and silver or gilded gold and silver.
She fiddled with them curiously, turning them over and over.
Yuan Yunzhong sneered, "Just this!"
Song Jiyun stiffened and asked, "Is there something wrong?"
Yuan Yunzhong said, "Is this for appreciation or for burning incense?"
Song Jiyun didn’t understand.
Yuan Yunzhong said contemptuously, "For appreciation it’s uncomfortable to hold, for burning incense it burns the person."
Thinking about it carefully, that was indeed the case!
He casually opened another brocade box nearby.
It was a box of brushes.
Flat, round, and pointed—all were specialized brushes for fine brushwork painting, and the bamboo handles were even carved with auspicious clouds and bamboo patterns.
Song Jiyun was delighted and carefully looked at a pointed Zihao brush.
Yuan Yunzhong also lifted a brush, weighing it in his hand.
"He bought these brushes specially for gifting, didn’t he?" he said indifferently. "Flowers carved on the handle, isn’t he afraid of people getting their hands hurt using them!"
Song Jiyun looked up and saw him disdainfully throwing the brush back into the brocade box.
She offhandedly commented, "Perhaps he thought the carved handle would look nice!"
Of course, brushes from Ermatang were also famously well-known.
"Is that so?" Yuan Yunzhong said expressionlessly, leaning at an angle against the square table, staring fixedly at her with a haughty look, his posture as indifferent as bamboo leaning against jade rock, radiating bursts of chillness.
Song Jiyun could feel his displeasure.
She was completely puzzled.
It was just a box of brushes; was there a need to be this angry?
Still, the chill emanating from Yuan Yunzhong was unmistakable.
Song Jiyun sighed helplessly in her heart, trying to calm the situation and said, "At least these brushes don’t have distinctive patterns, so they will be fine for gifting later."
In dealings between great clans, the gifts they exchanged were often similar, and it was common to reorganize them before gifting them again.
"Oh!" Yuan Yunzhong responded noncommittally, but the coldness around him seemed to gradually subside.
Song Jiyun’s eyes widened.
So, he had indeed been angry just now!
She decided to change the topic, proactively mentioning Mr. Wen’s flower-appreciation banquet and invited him, "Eldest Young Master Hong has arranged for it, and I mentioned that I would go with you. Do you have the time?"
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