This really is "when it rains, it pours"!
Someone stomped their feet, murmuring, "What should we do now?"
Others rushed to the people supporting Mr. Wen, shouting, "Pinch the philtrum! Pinch the philtrum! Wake him up before we talk."
And some suggested from the side, "Shouldn’t we go and get a doctor? If something bad happens, it’ll be troubling!"
The garden had turned into a mess.
No one paid any attention to Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong.
Standing beside the Taihu Lake Rockery, Song Jiyun stretched her neck to look at Mr. Wen, who was being pinched on the philtrum, and couldn’t help nudging Yuan Yunzhong with her elbow, whispering, "He won’t actually be in trouble, will he?"
Yuan Yunzhong, with his arms folded, leaned against the Taihu Lake Rockery and said, "Did I say anything wrong?"
"Of course not!" Song Jiyun immediately replied.
"Well, that settles it!" Yuan Yunzhong said lazily, "If he can’t take frank advice, what does it have to do with us?"
Right! What did it have to do with them?
Song Jiyun pursed her lips and giggled, her eyes shining bright, brimming with joy.
"Thanks for what you did just now!" she said, beaming and winking at Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong, who was used to seeing her composed and solemn, found this side of Song Jiyun particularly playful and even a bit... cute.
Unbeknownst to him, the corners of his mouth had already started to turn upwards in a smile.
"Don’t mention it!" he responded nonchalantly, unable to resist raising an eyebrow.
This insincere tone of Yuan Yunzhong, in the eyes of Song Jiyun, was exceptionally haughty, yet quite... amusing.
Both of them laughed together spontaneously.
They were like two children who had gotten into mischief, sharing a secret joy that belonged only to them.
"We can’t go on like this!" a man’s voice broke into their ears, "Why not take Mr. Wen to the side-room in the back garden to rest for now? If the Dignified County Magistrate asks, just say he suddenly felt unwell. Let’s just deal with the flower appreciation banquet first and talk later."
Both of them looked in the direction of the voice.
The speaker was Li Zixiu.
The crowd burst into discussion.
Some opposed, and some agreed, but soon, the majority was in favor.
Whether carrying or supporting, everyone prepared to take Mr. Wen to the side-room in the back garden.
A servant boy, drenched in sweat, ran in saying, "Quick, quick, quick, the Dignified County Magistrate has already arrived!"
But no one went to greet him at the entrance.
Everyone was taken aback.
Boisterous laughter came from the entrance of the garden.
A young man dressed in a Fifth-rank White Graceful Embroidery Patch Official Robe appeared before everyone, surrounded by a group of people.
The Prefect of Liang County, Fifth Rank, wearing a White Graceful Embroidery Patch Official Robe.
But he looked to be only about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, tall and slender, with a handsome and refined appearance, exuding the gentle temperament of a well-read scholar.
For a fifth-rank official, he was too young and too striking.
Wasn’t the new county magistrate supposed to be in his fifties?
Song Jiyun looked towards Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong’s eyes were wide, his normally tranquil face split open with unabashed shock.
Certainly, he had not expected this either. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Song Jiyun had never seen Yuan Yunzhong lose his composure like this.
She couldn’t help but mentally "hmph" with schadenfreude, thinking "so you have your days too," and started to smile with her lips pursed, not caring too much about the misinformation Yuan Yunzhong had given her.
The others looked helplessly toward Wang Zhubo, who was beside the young man.
Wang Zhubo bowed slightly as he led the way, saying, "During the Song Dynasty, the north was in chaos, and many craftsmen fled to Jingde Town to settle down, bringing many external skills with them, which gradually led to the Jingde Town of today. There are many more interesting stories like this. If you are interested, I can take you to see the real place another day."
Everyone was in a state of panic.
Mr. Wen hadn’t even been taken away yet!
Some wanted to cover and carry Mr. Wen off.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
The man in official robes waved his hand at Wang Zhubo and interrupted him with a smile, "What has happened here? Have I arrived too late and missed something?"
There was never a shortage of clever people at any time.
"Dignified County Magistrate!" Li Zixiu was the first to stand out and salute the man in official robes.
It was only then that everyone came back to their senses and hurried forward to pay their respects to the Dignified County Magistrate.
But poor Mr. Wen.
Some who had been carrying him ran to pay their respects to the Magistrate, leaving only two people who couldn’t move him; he was dragged and placed on the nearby Taishi Chair.
The newly appointed Dignified County Magistrate watched, his expression slightly displeased.
Wang Zhubo urgently shouted, "What has happened here?"
The crowd was hesitant and stammered.
Li Zixiu, however, looked gravely at Song Jiyun, who was saluting the Magistrate with the others, bit his teeth, and said aloud, "To report to the Dignified County Magistrate, the sequence of events is as follows..."
He recounted the verbal battle between Mr. Wen and Song Jiyun.
The Dignified County Magistrate was very surprised upon hearing the story. Throughout the account, his gaze frequently fell on Song Jiyun, even showing a look of admiration upon seeing her for the first time.
Li Zixiu frowned secretly, sensing trouble.
He had only thought of Jiyun as unruly and rebellious but had forgotten she was an exceptionally beautiful young woman.
The more he spoke, the more nervous he felt.
Song Jiyun, however, stood there calmly, letting him assess her until Li Zixiu finished speaking; only then did she step forward to salute the Magistrate once more, respectfully addressing him as "Sir."
She did not offer a defense for herself.
The Magistrate seemed somewhat surprised and did not immediately question her but quietly observed her for a moment.
Song Jiyun remained dignified and unyielding under his gaze.
In her previous life, she was also a great beauty, scrutinized by countless eyes. She could distinguish between gazes with ulterior motives and those that were purely appreciative.
The interest of the Magistrate seemed more one of curiosity.
Which was quite strange.
Her behavior, seen in the eyes of many, was scandalous and irreverent. Considering that he did not share Mr. Wen’s vehement disgust was already a good sign. This Magistrate was either forward-thinking or had an ulterior motive.
Her heartstrings tensed, but her face remained unchanged, until the Magistrate asked her if she had anything to say, to which she replied softly, "Although I know how to make porcelain, my experience in dealing with people is lacking. Thinking Mr. Wen was a friend of my father and somehow a senior to me, I spoke my mind without reservation, without empathetically considering Mr. Wen’s perspective. This has been a lesson for me, reminding me to always be cautious in what I say, no matter the circumstance."
Her confession appeared earnest, but upon careful consideration, it was a subtle reproach against Mr. Wen for his narrow-mindedness and lack of magnanimity.
Yet Song Jiyun went on to say, "Regardless, I was at fault in this matter. I will arrange for a Doctor to see Mr. Wen and cover his medical expenses until he is fully recovered."
She paused, then added, "If Mr. Wen feels I have offended him and requires compensation, I am also willing to provide it."
"Hmm!" The Magistrate nodded with a smile, clearly satisfied with her attitude, "Then it is settled. Miss Song will take care of Mr. Wen’s medical treatment. As for the compensation, we will negotiate that later!"
Song Jiyun promptly acknowledged and instructed the servant boy to ask the Store Manager from the Wensi Building to send Mr. Wen to the medical clinic.
It could be handled like this!
The onlookers looked at each other in disbelief.
The Magistrate began to inquire more about Song Jiyun, "I hear you’re the only female head of a household in Liang County?"
Who could have introduced her to the Magistrate?
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