Song Tao listened, her chest felt as if it had a large hole torn through it, the cold wind chilling her to the bone as she watched everyone cluster around Song Daliang for the unveiling. She did not move for a long time.
Unexpectedly, Song Daliang seemed to remember something and suddenly turned around, craning his neck and loudly said to Song Tao, "Hurry back! This is no place for a young lady."
Ma Hui and the others echoed in agreement, "Listen to your dad and you can’t go wrong! There’s a steward here to lend a hand, you don’t have to worry. Just go back and rest well. That’s it."
Others said, "It’s all men here, and you’re the only young lady! It’s somewhat inappropriate for you to stay here. Better to go back early, and your parents will be at ease!"
Song Tao felt like her teeth were about to shatter.
It’s all men here, and she’s the only young lady!!
What about Song Jiyun?
She couldn’t help but search for Song Jiyun’s figure.
Song Jiyun was standing in front of a carriage, talking with her ever-inseparable milk brother from her past life, Zheng Quan.
The sunlight fell on the pearl pin in Song Jiyun’s hair, casting a lustrous glow.
Not sure if she felt her gaze, but Song Jiyun suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met squarely in mid-air.
Song Tao’s lips were tightly pressed.
Song Jiyun raised an eyebrow, a smile gradually appearing in her eyes, as she walked spiritedly towards Ma Hui and the others, guarded by Zheng Quan.
Song Tao’s face flushed with both embarrassment and rage, feeling as if there was a burning fire in her chest.
She took a few steps forward but was stopped by an attendant near Ma Hui at the entrance of the Kiln Factory.
"Miss Song," they said politely yet firmly, "That’s where the masters are gathering. As a young lady, it’s better that you avoid giving cause for gossip."
Song Tao, infuriated, said, "Didn’t Song Jiyun go in as well?"
Ma Hui’s attendant smirked and said, "Miss Song is the spokesperson for the Song Family Kiln Factory. How can you compare with her?"
Without a hint of respect, he added, "Although you both have the surname Song and everyone addresses you politely as Miss Song, one Song is not the same as the other. Surely you don’t think you are truly the same as the Miss Song sitting inside?"
"You!" Song Tao pointed at the attendant, her hand shaking so badly she couldn’t utter another word.
Unfortunately, the attendant was sharp-tongued and went on and on, "Don’t blame me for speaking harshly. Bitter medicine cures illness, and truthful words are unpleasant to the ear. If I were you, I would have gone back already. Do you think making porcelain is a joke? In Jingde Town’s several hundred years, only Eldest Miss Song has emerged. Can ordinary people compare?"
Song Tao felt both shame and annoyance, her blood rushing to her head.
But from Ma Hui’s side, a burst of laughter and joyful voices arose, and someone loudly said, "Old Master Song, please stand next to the sign. It’s too late for firecrackers, just strike the gong a few times for good measure, as a symbol of auspicious energy arriving from the east, marking a new beginning."
Song Daliang said something that made everyone laugh again.
A few gong sounds rang out, and the master of ceremonies announced, "The auspicious time has arrived."
Song Tao looked around anxiously on tiptoes.
She saw Song Daliang, surrounded by a crowd, tug hard on the red silk that had just hung by her hand.
The red silk fell, revealing a black-lacquered, gold-leafed signboard inscribed with "Liangyu."
"So the kiln factory is called ’Liangyu’, huh!"
The onlookers were discussing.
The sound of firecrackers burst out again.
The voice of the master of ceremonies drowned out the noise of the firecrackers, shouting "Wishing you great fortune on your grand opening!"
The crowd surged forward, scrambling for the opening gifts distributed by the steward.
Pushed and jostled by the crowd, Song Tao was forced to the side, and if not for Ding Xiang’s quick reflexes to support her, she would have almost fallen.
"Let’s go!" Song Tao instructed Ding Xiang, sneering as she brushed past the crowd and left.
Returning home, before she had the chance to change her clothes, the Great Madam, having received the news, rushed over.
"Why did you come back so late, you scared me to death!" she said, still frightened, as she waved away the maid who had come to offer her tea. She then commanded her trusted nanny to stand guard at the door, took Song Tao by the hand, and led her into the jade gauze cabinet nearby, "Didn’t you say the drug you used was absolutely reliable? Then how did your father suddenly wake up?"
Song Tao thought to herself: How would I know? Weren’t you the one at home?
But before she could voice her thoughts, the Great Madam complained dissatisfactorily, "If it weren’t for your repeated assurances, how could I have agreed to administer the knockout drug to your father! If he hadn’t been in such a rush to get to the kiln factory for the opening ceremony, he would’ve done more than just scold me a few times and left. Now I’m afraid that once he comes to his senses and realizes I’m behind this, he’ll settle the score with us later."
As she spoke, she shivered with terror and regretfully said, "Even Tianbao, knowing you were busy with the kiln factory opening, stayed by your father’s bedside to tend to his illness, accusing me of playing favorites and creating a rift between us!"
She ended with a complaint, "You and your ambitions, taking on jobs you can’t handle without the necessary skills! What are we going to do now?!"
Song Tao felt a chill in her heart upon hearing this, but remembering that this was her mother who had always cherished her, she restrained her displeasure and said softly, "Mother, didn’t we agree earlier? When I’m busy outside, you were to keep a close watch on father, weren’t you? When I left, father was still fine, so how did he rush to the kiln factory right after I left? What exactly happened at home? Don’t worry, tell me everything in detail."
As she spoke, she set down the garment she was about to change into and led the Great Madam to sit down on the beauty couch by the window.
The Great Madam composed herself and began to recount what happened after she had left: "...After you left, I did as you instructed and stayed by your father’s bedside. It was that Doctor Tang who treats your father who came in and told me that if we don’t continue to administer the medicine, your father would wake up in another two Shichen. He asked me to make a decision, whether to continue dosing your father or not?
"But he also said that if we keep dosing your father like this, there might be trouble, and he didn’t want to get involved. After preparing this dose of medicine for your father, he’s refusing to continue treating him. He asked that I settle his consultation fee and then he would leave."
Song Tao’s brows furrowed deeply.
In her past life, although Doctor Tang was known for his superior medical skills, he was also greedy and lecherous. He got entangled in a scandalous case within a grand household and ended up being beheaded, which was how she learned about him. In this life, she sought him out deliberately, promising him a hefty sum and beautiful women, and he had indeed been at her beck and call.
Why would he want to leave so easily?
She listened intently as the Great Madam continued speaking.
"I had no choice but to take out the silver to continue bribing Doctor Tang," the Great Madam said with a look of distress, "but for some reason, Doctor Tang refused to take it."
"Refused to take it?!" Song Tao was astounded.
The Great Madam nodded, continuing, "We were still arguing about it when Zheng Quan arrived!"
Song Tao’s expression turned frosty as she abruptly stood up.
This matter was indeed related to Song Jiyun!
Although she had suspected as much when Song Daliang showed up, having her suspicions confirmed still didn’t stop her from being unable to contain her anger, and her expression momentarily twisted fiercely.
The Great Madam was startled by her reaction.
"It’s alright! Nothing’s the matter!" Song Tao quickly steadied herself, sat back down, and gently patted her mother’s hand, saying soothingly, "What happened next? How did father suddenly wake up?"
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