When the incident between Song Tao and the Great Madam reached Song Jiyun’s ears, she had just returned from Eleventh Grand Master Song’s household and was changing clothes in the gauze cupboard.
Sitting in front of the vanity, she picked out some fragrant balm from a red lacquer box inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gently smeared it on her hands, while asking, "And then? How did they negotiate?"
With a dismissive curl of her lips, Nanny Zheng did not even bother to use "Miss Tao" and said directly, "Song Tao claimed it was precisely for the sake of Young Master Tianbao that Old Master Song must not awaken. Otherwise, their own beatings from Old Master Song would be the least of their worries. She feared that once Old Master Song’s anger was directed at the Great Madam, he would squander the money earned from the kiln factory on profligacy, imitating Old Master Song’s scandalous friends by taking a concubine and maintaining a concubine’s household, and not showing proper respect to the Great Madam."
Song Jiyun sneered and lowered her head to select a hair ornament from the makeup chest, "Then what did the Great Madam say?"
"The Great Madam was skeptical. She said that Old Master Song was very stingy, and even when going out for a drink, he hated to spend his own money, so it seemed unlikely," Nanny Zheng explained. "Song Tao then argued that it was because Old Master Song currently lacked funds. She also said, ’When men have money, they turn bad,’ and advised the Great Madam not to trust him too much. Moreover, if Old Master Song really regarded the Great Madam highly, he wouldn’t beat her in front of them and the maids."
Song Jiyun, considering that she didn’t need to go out later and only had to join Madam Qian for dinner, picked out a Wisteria Silk Flower Hairpin.
"The Great Madam then began to waver." Seeing this, Nanny Zheng hurried to help her pin it in place and turned around to grab a handheld mirror. "When Song Tao saw her hesitation, she said her actions were also for the sake of Young Master Tianbao. If Old Master Song awakened and took charge of the kiln factory, who knows to whom he would give the earnings in the future? But Song Tao was different, as a young lady, she would marry one day. By the time she married and Young Master Tianbao grew up, it would be just right to hand over the management of the kiln factory to him, which would be far better than leaving it to Old Master Song, wouldn’t it?"
"So the Great Madam was tempted," said Song Jiyun as she examined the silk flower in her hair with the hand mirror, and finding it quite becoming, she smiled contentedly.
"Exactly!" Nanny Zheng nodded, helping Song Jiyun tidy up the jewelry on the vanity, "The Great Madam said when Song Tao took control of the kiln factory’s affairs, then it wouldn’t be too late to let Old Master Song awaken."
But Song Tao probably didn’t see it that way.
Song Jiyun gave a nod.
After hesitating for a moment, Nanny Zheng said, "However, the Great Madam also mentioned her concern about your visit to Eleventh Grand Master’s place. Now that everyone knows Old Master Song is unconscious, if they come to visit and discover the truth, it could cause trouble."
"Oh?" Song Jiyun’s interest piqued, "Then what did Song Tao say?"
"Song Tao said that they hadn’t sent out invitations for the kiln factory’s opening to the Song Family members yet," Nanny Zheng continued. "Instead of letting them come to visit Old Master Song, it would be better to take initiative—before they come to visit, to send a servant boy to each household with invitations. The families who receive the invitations will certainly ask about Old Master Song’s health. At that time, they’ll just say that Old Master Song is alright and that they can see him during the auspicious time of the opening."
"I underestimated her," said Song Jiyun, standing up and with Nanny Zheng’s assistance, took a seat on the Arhat bed by the window, taking a sip of tea. "By the time of the opening, if everyone asks about it, they can just say that Old Master Song’s condition suddenly worsened, but they couldn’t delay the auspicious time, so they had no choice but to have her host the opening ceremony on behalf of her father."
"Just as you said," Nanny Zheng spoke as she sat down on the embroidered stool next to Song Jiyun, on her indication. "Song Tao gave this suggestion to the Great Madam. But the Great Madam still worries, fearing that some might still visit Old Master Song, and also that some might insist on having Old Master Song host the grand opening."
Song Jiyun then poured Nanny Zheng a cup of tea to soothe her throat.
After thanking her for the tea, Nanny Zheng continued, "Song Tao made a bet with the Great Madam. She said that if everything proceeded as she planned, the Great Madam would have to support her wholeheartedly from then on, accepting her decisions without question. If things turned out otherwise, Song Tao would listen to the Great Madam and do whatever she asked."
Song Jiyun chuckled and said, "Given the Great Madam’s nature, she probably agreed."
"The Great Madam agreed," Nanny Zheng confirmed. "Not only did she agree, but she also made Song Tao promise that when Young Master Tianbao turned sixteen, she would hand over the kiln factory to him to manage, and Song Tao agreed."
As the two were speaking in low voices, Xiang Zhan, who was standing guard outside, suddenly called out loudly, "Eldest Miss, Old Master Song’s household has sent a servant boy with an invitation, saying that in two days Old Master Song’s kiln factory will open and they invite the Eldest Miss to attend the ceremony."
Song Jiyun and Nanny Zheng exchanged a knowing smile.
Within Yinyu Hall, Yuan Yunzhong, who was reclining on the Drunken Master’s Chair and reading, watched Liu Zi’s gestures and, pausing with the book in his hand, said, "You’re saying that your family’s young Miss has returned and is currently changing her clothes?"
Liu Zi nodded repeatedly and even smiled while making a "You can go see the young Miss now" gesture.
Yuan Yunzhong lightly hummed and his slender, fair fingertips leisurely turned another page as he said, "I know!"
He then earnestly resumed his reading.
Liu Zi scratched his head.
Hadn’t Young Master Yuan asked him to watch when the young Miss would return? How come now that the young Miss had come back, Young Master Yuan acted as if it was nothing?
He withdrew, not understanding the reason.
Yuan Yunzhong turned seven or eight more pages of his book unhurriedly. The study was quiet, the only sound being the flower maid tending to the flowers and trees in the yard.
His finger lingered between the pages of the book for a long while until the sounds of tending to the flowers and trees in the yard also stopped, and then he gently coughed.
A servant boy ran in, bowing his head respectfully, and said, "Young Master, do you have any orders?"
Yuan Yunzhong, who rarely frowned, did so now and asked, "Where’s Liu Zi?"
The servant boy replied, "He’s taken Young Master Shao to the Peach Blossom Pavilion to buy Candlewick Cake."
Yuan Yunzhong did not speak for a long moment, waved his hand to dismiss him, and stood up to go to the inner chamber. He was attended to by a servant boy who served him closely, choosing a treasure blue embroidered brocade robe to put on. He left his room and strolled leisurely along the corridor towards the front courtyard.
As he passed by Song Jiyun’s courtyard, he ran into Xiang Zhan.
"Young Master Yuan," Xiang Zhan hurried forward to pay her respects, holding a sheet of Xuan paper in her hands.
He nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the Xuan paper.
Xiang Zhan quickly said, "Our family’s young Miss isn’t busy this afternoon and is planning to accompany Great Madam and the second and third young Misses to copy Buddhist scriptures for Old Master Song. The Great Madam has only Flower Paper, so the young Miss instructed me to come back for a sheet of Xuan paper."
When copying Buddhist scriptures for the deceased, even the paper must be pure and clean.
"Not busy?!" Yuan Yunzhong said, his gaze on the Xuan paper becoming especially profound, like a deep night without stars or moon.
Xiang Zhan felt very uneasy at heart, quickly calling out "Young Master Yuan."
Yuan Yunzhong nodded slightly, his steps casual as he walked past her.
Watching his lofty figure, Xiang Zhan shook her head in bewilderment. Thinking of how Song Jiyun and the others were still waiting for her to bring the Xuan paper, she threw all these thoughts to the back of her mind and hurried to Madam Qian’s place.
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