Steward Wu was very reliable in his work.
As soon as Song Jiyun and the others set off firecrackers and held the ritual ceremony, the banquet they had ordered was delivered.
Candied lotus seeds, vegetarian ham, vegetarian fry sliced fish, vegetarian stir-fried spicy meat cubes, flaky milk pastry... four cold dishes, eight hot dishes, two desserts—a grand table full of dishes, all steaming hot when they arrived. The flaky milk pastry was even crumbly and flaky, and those who weren’t paying attention wouldn’t even know that the Song Family had ordered such a feast.
The table prepared for Magistrate Jiang was handled with even greater care, having had the restaurant’s master chefs bring the ingredients and cook on site.
One of the dishes, vegetarian mock pork, particularly won Magistrate Jiang’s praise, "In the past, this dish was just a slice of shiitake mushroom with a slice of fried tofu, topped with some pickled vegetables, but this time, the mushrooms were replaced by lotus root slices and the pickled vegetables were replaced by sauerkraut. Although both are called vegetarian mock pork, the flavors are completely different."
He even specifically asked Registrar Wang Zhubo, who was accompanying him, "Is this dish a specialty of your area?"
Registrar Wang Zhubo, also tasting it for the first time, smiled and said, "Perhaps it’s a secret recipe of the Song Family? I have never had it before."
Magistrate Jiang nodded and helped himself to another chopstick full.
Hong Xi then said with a smile, "Speaking of vegetarian dishes, the culinary skills at Gratitude Temple on Dragon Tiger Mountain are also exceptional. When the weather is fine, people from other counties often make special trips here. When you are free one day, I’ll accompany you to visit the Gratitude Temple."
Registrar Wang Zhubo also said, "The master chefs at Gratitude Temple have quite a knack for medical diagnoses as well."
While everyone was talking, a Government Official from the County Yamen rushed in anxiously.
"County Magistrate, Lord Wang," the official said with an anxious expression, clasping his fists, "Inspector General Lord Huang has arrived in person; Chief Historian Lord Shi asks that you and Lord Wang rush back immediately."
Those present were all taken aback.
Registrar Wang Zhubo exclaimed in shock, "What’s happened?"
The Inspector General, of the third rank, had his office in Nanchang Prefecture, and Lord Huang had not visited Liang County since taking office.
The messenger caught his breath and said, "It seems that the Chief Historian of Prince Ning’s Mansion is suspected of privately trafficking Imperial Porcelain, and has been apprehended by the patrol officer. However, the Chief Steward of Prince Ning’s Mansion who conspired with him fled by boat. Lord Huang suspects he may escape via Poyang Lake or head south down the Changjiang River, and requires our assistance to capture the fugitive."
The crowd drew a cold breath and all eyes turned to Magistrate Jiang.
Magistrate Jiang frowned, appearing somewhat incredulous.
The messenger hastened to add, "The official document has already arrived at the Yamen ahead of us."
"It seems to be true then!" Magistrate Jiang remarked, but then glanced at Yuan Yunzhong with regret and said, "I was just about to start eating!"
He even complained, "This official, too, could have come at any time, but he chose precisely now to do so. Isn’t he a bit too good at causing trouble?"
As the Dignified County Magistrate, shouldn’t his priority at such a time be to return to the Yamen as quickly as possible to receive the Inspector General? Why was he complaining about Lord Huang disrupting his meal?
The people around exchanged glances, none quite sure what to say.
However, Yuan Yunzhong took it all in stride, lifting his tea cup and brushing the floating tea leaves with the lid.
Hong Xi watched Yuan Yunzhong thoughtfully.
Whereas Registrar Wang Zhubo, who had only met Magistrate Jiang a few times before and didn’t know much about Magistrate Jiang’s temperament, could only suggest tenderly, "No harm done. We can have Miss Song send another table to the Yamen. No matter how busy official duties are, one must eat, after all."
Magistrate Jiang, upon hearing this, actually nodded earnestly and then stood up, saying, "It seems that’s the only option!"
Registrar Wang Zhubo and the others unknowingly breathed a sigh of relief, standing up together and surrounding him as they headed out.
Eleventh Grand Master Song hastily beckoned Song Jiyun, who was overseeing the event, to join Yuan Yunzhong in seeing off the guests.
They stood side by side near the arbor, one handsome and noble, the other beautiful and graceful, like a pair of finely matched golden boy and jade girl pulled straight from the array of privileged nobles—a sight not only pleasing to the eyes but also strikingly well-suited.
Magistrate Jiang paused by the arbor, looking at them with a smile, then suddenly had his Legal Advisor present one of his own name cards to Song Jiyun and advised her, "Should you encounter any troubling matters, feel free to come to me for help."
A commotion of envy erupted under the arbor.
Song Jiyun was also delighted.
Literati these days valued connections with their class, study group, and hometown. Possessing Magistrate Jiang’s name card was akin to a personal visit from him. Imagine how many matters that could facilitate!
She expressed her thanks repeatedly, completely unaware of the chilling aura emanating from Yuan Yunzhong beside her.
Registrar Wang initially couldn’t wait to sprout wings and fly back to the Yamen. Seeing the situation, he pinched his goatee and kindly urged Song Jiyun, "Bring your mother to visit my home when you have time."
"Certainly, certainly," Song Jiyun repeatedly assured.
The two men left in their sedan chairs.
People under the cool awning whispered among themselves.
"A name card from the Dignified County Magistrate! In the future, couldn’t one directly claim it was the Dignified County Magistrate who sent them?"
"Being able to be a Magistrate, he must surely be a twice-ranked Imperial Scholar. Maybe this name card would even work in Suzhou and Hangzhou!"
"What sort of fortune has the Song Family stumbled upon?"
Someone stealthily pointed at Yuan Yunzhong.
The volume of the conversation grew even quieter.
Twirling the mutton-fat jade ring around his finger, Hong Xi also took his leave of Song Jiyun, "As the guest leaves, let the host be at peace! I won’t disturb you any further. In a few days, when the batch of porcelain I ordered is ready, I’ll visit Miss Song again."
Song Jiyun smiled and gently pulled Yuan Yunzhong, who had a stern face, to see off the guest.
Seeing this, the people under the awning also gradually stood up to say their goodbyes.
By the time Song Jiyun and the others returned home, it was already the Wei Hour of the afternoon.
Yuan Yunzhong went back to Yinyu Hall.
Song Jiyun couldn’t rest yet.
She still had to discuss mourning period matters with Eleventh Grand Master Song and others.
Madam Qian wanted to invite Yuan Yunzhong to join.
Song Jiyun gently declined for him, "He’s also tired, let him rest well. We’ll inform him once we’ve decided on father’s matter. After all, we’re not yet married, it wouldn’t be proper to trouble him with everything."
Ever since they parted under unpleasant terms beside the awning, Yuan Yunzhong hadn’t even spared her a glance, let alone speak to her.
Eleventh Grand Master Song had already started discussing their family affairs, "You two are now a widow and orphan, and since you are declining visitors, both the main and side doors should ideally be sealed. However, the Song Family Kiln Factory still needs the young mistress to manage things, so we won’t seal the side door. It would be better for Youliang’s wife and the two daughters to move to the East Crossing Courtyard. The Clan School has many visitors, to prevent any disturbance to you."
The west side was formerly Song Sanliang’s residence, now the Song Clan School.
Madam Qian thought this arrangement was very good.
However, Song Jiyun said, "Mother’s pregnancy is getting more advanced, and I want to invite a midwife and a female physician to stay at our home. As for moving, there’s no need to rush."
Madam Qian was currently residing in the main house along the central path, and neither the West Cross Courtyard nor the East Crossing Courtyard would disturb her.
Mainly, according to customs, Madam Qian, as a widow, needed to move out of the main room.
Eleventh Grand Master Song did not insist, saying, "How about letting Eleventh’s Wife come over to help out?"
A widow should not visit other people’s homes casually.
Song Jiyun felt it would be good for her mother to occasionally have someone of a similar age to chat with.
Eleventh’s Wife was the wife of Eleventh Grand Master Song.
She thanked Eleventh Grand Master Song.
Suddenly, Song Daliang came to visit.
"What’s he doing here?" Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Today was the 49th day memorial service for Song Youliang, and both Song Daliang and Song Sanliang had been conspicuously absent from the beginning to the end.
Considering the matter, Song Jiyun still had the servant boy invite him in.
He wore a purple-red robe embroidered with green auspicious cloud patterns, his face beaming with joy, and upon entering, he bowed to everyone and said with a smile, "I was afraid you all had left—the last time we spoke, wasn’t it about splitting the family line? One should not bother the same master with two requests. Now that the affairs of the second brother are settled, since everyone is here, it’s the perfect time to be my witness and write the document for splitting the family line."
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