A very casual greeting, yet it made Song Daliang’s expression change slightly as he widened his eyes and cautiously stepped back two steps.
Jiyun’s smile grew even broader.
She nodded slightly at Song Daliang and said warmly, "Old Master Song, please take your time leaving. No need for me to see you out!"
Since their kinship had been severed, he was no longer her great-uncle, and so her manner of addressing him naturally had to change.
She picked up her dress and walked into the gate at an unhurried pace.
It wasn’t until she passed beyond the shadow of the wall that the gaze that seemed to freeze on her finally disappeared.
With both Eleventh Grand Master Song and the others absent, the dinner arranged for the clan elders was less lively.
Madam Qian whispered to Jiyun, "Shall we ask Young Master Yuan to help host the guests?"
Jiyun thought of his cold countenance. Though she touched her forehead, she still sent Xiang Zhan to Yinyu Hall.
To her surprise, Yuan Yunzhong was not there.
"He said he was going back to change his clothes and then left with Young Master Shao," reported Xiang Zhan. "He didn’t take any of the newly hired servant boys. Liu Zi also doesn’t know where they went."
Jiyun had no choice but to accompany the guests herself and asked Zheng Quan to help with the pouring.
Luckily, everyone’s attention was on Eleventh Grand Master Song and Song Daliang, who had gone to the Yamen. They didn’t drink much, quickly finished dinner, and then moved to the Flower Hall next to the hall. They discussed the day’s events over tea while waiting for Eleventh Grand Master Song.
As evening gradually fell, the maids took bamboo poles to hook down the large red lanterns under the eaves and began lighting them.
Eleventh Grand Master Song and the two clan elders returned.
The crowd surged forward, bombarding him with questions about how things had gone.
Eleventh Grand Master Song glanced at Jiyun with a complex look, before saying, "The County Magistrate wasn’t at the Yamen. He went to Changjiang Wharf with Inspector General Lord Huang. But the County Magistrate left a Legal Advisor in the Yamen to help handle the official affairs, and after hearing our purpose, he immediately stamped both deeds without a second word."
Jiyun was slightly moved.
The rest felt relieved.
Someone laughed and said, "That’s good to hear!"
Another turned and asked Jiyun, "Is Song Daliang really going to open a kiln factory?"
They still remembered how he had caused the kiln factory inherited by the Song Family to fail.
Jiyun answered with a smile, "There are so many people opening kiln factories in Jingde Town every year, and just as many closing down. One more or one less won’t make a difference to Old Master Song."
The crowd responded with laughter and gradually began taking their leave.
Eleventh Grand Master Song was the last to stay.
Jiyun followed him discreetly.
Eleventh Grand Master Song hesitated, and only when he was about to get into his sedan chair did he lift the curtain and said pointedly to Jiyun, "According to that Legal Advisor, he stamped the deeds so readily solely because of you. Consider whether you should personally go and express your thanks with a little something."
Jiyun responded with a smile.
Seeing her smile, which was breathtakingly enchanting yet as clear as a pristine spring, Eleventh Grand Master Song wasn’t sure if she understood him or if he had done the right thing. He sighed deeply, muttered "Lift the sedan" to the sedan chair bearers, and lowered the curtain.
Jiyun of course sensed that something was amiss.
But right now, her attention was more focused on Yuan Yunzhong.
He had not returned all night; the Inspector General had come from Nanchang Prefecture, and Magistrate Jiang accompanied the Inspector General to Changjiang Wharf...
She whispered to Zheng Quan, "Is there a way to find out what happened at Changjiang Wharf?"
"I will do my best!" Zheng Quan said, "But many people have come to the county, not only from the Jiangxi Inspectorate but also from several nearby guard stations, so it might not be easy to find out."
Song Jiyun urged him, "Be careful! Your safety is most important."
Zheng Quan nodded.
Song Jiyun hardly slept all night.
The next morning, she was visited by Madam Wang, the registrar’s wife.
She brought tonics to see Madam Qian.
Song Jiyun was somewhat surprised.
She hadn’t expected the registrar’s efficiency; as soon as he said Madam Wang would come over, she came right away.
She went to her mother’s place.
Madam Wang was holding Madam Qian’s hand, sitting warmly on the Arhat bed and talking, "I’ve been wanting to come see you. But you were so busy these past days, I was afraid that if I came, you would have to entertain me, so I simply waited until you were done with your affairs."
As she spoke, she saw Song Jiyun come in and greeted her enthusiastically, "The young miss has arrived!"
Then, turning to Madam Qian, she lavishly praised, "If you ask me, there is no daughter in the whole of Liang County as pretty as the young miss. Just look at these eyebrows and this figure, even in Suzhou and Hangzhou, she would be among the top."
These words really pleased Madam Qian.
She modestly laughed insincerely, "Oh, you flatter me too much, I’m just ordinary, not deformed or anything."
Song Jiyun couldn’t help feeling curious.
Madam Wang had never been so warm to her before.
Could she have an agenda for her visit?
She approached with a radiant smile and gave Madam Wang her greetings, then sat next to her mother and started making small talk, "Did you come by sedan chair or mule cart? Have you had breakfast yet? We recently hired a cook from Suzhou; the refreshments are quite good. I have already instructed the kitchen to prepare some; you can go with mother to the Flower Hall later to have tea. If you open the window, you can see the flower garden in my mother’s courtyard."
"Oh my!" Madam Wang said with a smile curving her eyes, "The young miss is so thoughtful! It’s always good to raise daughters!"
Madam Qian gave a reserved smile and said, "Isn’t that the truth! If it weren’t for the company of a few sisters, I would have given up long ago; I wouldn’t be where I am today!"
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but recall the deceased Song Youliang, a hint of sadness showing in her expression.
Seeing this, Madam Wang quickly changed the subject with a laugh, "Speaking of which, I came today to see the young miss specifically."
Song Jiyun raised an eyebrow.
Madam Wang smiled and said, "A few days ago, my good-for-nothing younger brother was thinking of doing business with your family in porcelain. Since Lord Huang of the Inspectorate arrived in Liang County, he has seized many porcelain shops. But, heading into September, it’s the season when traders from other regions come to Jingde Town to buy porcelain. I was wondering whether to start up the shop these days to catch the business for this year’s Spring Festival."
Song Jiyun clutched her handkerchief tightly and asked, "Lord Huang has seized many porcelain shops since his arrival?"
Madam Wang sighed, "Indeed! They say the Chief Historian and the steward of Prince Ning’s Mansion, under the guise of Prince Ning, have been smuggling, and the porcelain has been exported from Jingde Town in our Liang County. They are going to thoroughly investigate each and every family involved in porcelain-making in Jingde Town."
Tension gripped Madam Qian as she clutched Song Jiyun’s hand, anxiously asking, "What should we do now?"
Madam Wang immediately comforted Madam Qian, "What is there to fear for the Song Family? The young miss holds Lord Jiang’s name card; Lord Huang won’t make things difficult for the Song Family out of respect for Lord Jiang."
Having said that, she glanced at the maids serving in the room.
Madam Qian complied and promptly dismissed the maids serving in the room.
Then Madam Wang lowered her voice and said quietly, "I heard from our master that Lord Jiang and Lord Huang are sworn brothers; wouldn’t sworn brothers look out for each other?"
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