Yet within those brief two sentences, an indistinct and ineffable atmosphere permeated between the two men.
Especially Yuan Yunzhong, whose indifference carried hints of estrangement, giving off the impression that he was not keen on interacting much with the Dignified County Magistrate.
Song Jiyun’s gaze flitted back and forth between the two.
Could it be that they had known each other before?
Her voice, clear and melodious as the song of a oriole, lightly laughed a few times and said, "Although I harbor the grand aspiration to start the clan school, where should the academy be located? Which teachers should we invite? Should we buy land for the school or rely on clan funding? I am ignorant of these matters; everything depends on Young Master Yuan’s guidance. Without Young Master Yuan, the Song Clan’s academy could not have been established!"
Whether her words were true or false, everyone heard a tone of support in them.
It also broke the tension between the two men.
The cold demeanor of Yuan Yunzhong visibly softened.
The Dignified County Magistrate, though, let out an "Oh" and with a twinkle of teasing in his eyes, said to Yuan Yunzhong, "I truly did not expect Young Master Yuan to possess such talent!"
Yuan Yunzhong responded with a slight upturn of his mouth, revealing a perfunctory smile.
"It’s simply seizing the opportunity," he said, looking at the Dignified County Magistrate with implied meaning, "If you stay here longer, you will understand."
For someone of the stature of a magistrate, his behavior was rather arrogant.
Song Jiyun felt something amiss.
She recalled those black-clad men in the forest, holding crossbows.
The onlookers, exchanging glances with each other, all thought that despite Yuan Yunzhong’s outstanding appearance, he was just a greenhorn who hadn’t quite experienced life, daring to be impertinent to the Dignified County Magistrate because he had read a few books and was a resident of Suzhou City. What good was it for Song Jiyun to be so capable? Behind a skilled woman stood a clumsy man, they wondered what kind of trouble her betrothed might stir up, possibly implicating the Song Family and hindering Song Jiyun.
Registrar Wang was the most anxious of them all.
He had just reached an agreement with Song Jiyun, and the deal hadn’t even started; he couldn’t let Yuan Yunzhong interfere.
"Liang County indeed has beautiful mountains and waters," he said with a chuckling laugh, trying to smooth things over for Yuan Yunzhong, "The Dignified County Magistrate will surely grow to like it here after staying for a while."
Having said that, he swiftly changed the subject, gestured invitingly towards the Dignified County Magistrate, and said, "We have set up a banquet on the second floor for the Dignified County Magistrate, and it would be a perfect opportunity for you to try our local specialties."
The Dignified County Magistrate did not respond immediately to Registrar Wang, but instead, he took a deep look at Song Jiyun before smiling and saying to Registrar Wang, "Thank you for your generous hospitality, I shall take my place without reserve."
"Where, where! It is our honor to host the Dignified County Magistrate," they replied, competing to surround the Dignified County Magistrate, and humbly ascending the stairs collectively.
The Dignified County Magistrate took two steps, then as if remembering something, turned around and said to everyone, "Miss Song is the only lady here; I think we should be considerate and let her go first."
Song Jiyun was taken aback.
The crowd was startled, then immediately agreed with "Of course! Of course!", making way for her.
In this manner, Song Jiyun would be walking alongside the Dignified County Magistrate.
She thanked them with a smiling face, yet her eyes were on Yuan Yunzhong, silently inviting him to join her.
Yuan Yunzhong cast a sidelong glance at the Dignified County Magistrate and with a brisk step, moved beside Song Jiyun. He even gestured the way and with a polite "please", indicated for the Dignified County Magistrate to follow.
The Dignified County Magistrate chuckled, his demeanor suggesting no offense was taken, as he led the way upstairs.
Song Jiyun inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief and, side by side with Yuan Yunzhong, followed behind the Dignified County Magistrate.
The banquet on the second floor was indeed Liang County’s finest effort. All the partitions were wide open, with ten tables set. The Taishi Chairs made of light brown nanmu were adorned with red brocade cushions, and Lake Silk drapery in parrot green hung beside the seamlessly joined floor-length cloths, the blue-green Cheng Chen meticulously outlined with gold thread in a scroll pattern, the white sheepskin-made Octagonal Palace Lanterns with silver-red tassels hanging silently aloft, and the corner-placed orchids that wafted a subtle fragrance around the banquet hall. The blue and white porcelain dishes on the tables were exquisite, gleaming brilliantly under the ample lighting, a testament to the pinnacle of Jingde Town Porcelain.
The Dignified County Magistrate picked up a spoon, which, under the lighting, appeared as thin as jade, ringed with a halo of light.
"Not bad, not bad!" he said with interest, chuckling as he picked up a saucer to inspect it against the light.
"These are our Li Family Kiln Factory’s porcelains," Li Zixiu immediately stepped forward and said. "They belong to the thin porcelain craft. Best used for drinking vessels. Look, the bottom of this dish even has our Li porcelain signature."
The others, naturally not wanting to be outdone, eagerly stepped forward to introduce the craftsmanship of these porcelains.
Having already extended an invitation to the Dignified County Magistrate to visit the Song Family Clan School, Song Jiyun had no intention of vying with these people for superiority at this time.
She discreetly tugged at Yuan Yunzhong’s sleeve, signaling for them to yield their places to those seeking an opportunity to get closer to the Dignified County Magistrate.
Yuan Yunzhong, yielding as always, cooperated unusually well.
What they hadn’t expected was that just as they were stepping away from the crowd surrounding the Dignified County Magistrate, Hong Xi came striding toward them.
"Miss Song!" he greeted them warmly, "Young Master Yuan!"
Song Jiyun smiled and nodded, respectfully addressing him as "Young Master Hong."
Yuan Yunzhong’s eyes turned ice-cold; he neither nodded nor uttered a word, as if he were Song Jiyun’s mere retainer, and everything should be deferred to her.
Hong Xi noticed this but ignored it with a smile toward Song Jiyun, his tone slightly apologetic, "I had originally planned to invite Miss Song to come over together this morning, but an unexpected event happened in the business at home, so I had to rush over there first."
Song Jiyun didn’t understand where his apology stemmed from, but since he mentioned it, she was obliged to reciprocate, "An unexpected event in the business, was it serious?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
"It’s a good thing I study with Prince Huai’s Heir; I was able to use his name card for a visit to the Inspection Division where I encountered Lord Jiang," Hong Xi explained with a smile. "Lord Jiang is an elder from Crane Mountain Academy."
Song Jiyun was surprised, yet with a smile that was not quite a smile, first glanced at Yuan Yunzhong before saying, "So, it turns out the new respectable County Magistrate also has the surname Jiang!"
But it’s not the same Jiang, oh!
Yuan Yunzhong looked thoroughly displeased.
Song Jiyun struggled to keep her amusement in check, barely managing to let out a chuckle.
The two of them, one beaming with a smile as she gazed at the other, the latter holding his head high in silence, somehow brought to mind a quarreling young couple where the girl was coaxing the boy.
Hong Xi felt a jolt in his heart and said in a nitpicking tone, "Also? Is there another who carries the surname Jiang?"
"No!" Both Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong’s gazes landed on him simultaneously, before they chorused in unison, "No one else has the surname Jiang!"
So, was this Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong’s secret?
Hong Xi pondered quietly, yet saw that after their words fell, Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong exchanged surprised glances, and then they awkwardly and quickly separated.
Song Jiyun even coughed lightly and said with a smile, "I didn’t expect Lord Jiang to be a student of Crane Mountain Academy; congratulations, in this land far from home you have come upon an old acquaintance!"
She didn’t see Yuan Yunzhong casting a heavy glance at Hong Xi.
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