Song Jiyun coughed lightly several times before the itch in her throat subsided.
She put it succinctly, "Then I’ll thank you in advance!"
Yuan Yunzhong felt her aloofness, his brows furrowed slightly, and just as he was about to say something, the carriage came to a stop.
Xiao Liuzi leapt down from the carriage shaft, grinning as he drew the curtains aside.
A servant boy dashed over, not yet steady on his feet, he bowed towards the carriage and said, "Young Master Yuan, Miss Song, I am Jiang Xiaosi, the personal servant boy of Magistrate Jiang. I have been sent by our Magistrate to pay a visit to Miss Song."
Song Jiyun was extremely surprised, as Yuan Yunzhong by her side asked coldly, "What for?"
Jiang Xiaosi stepped forward somewhat uneasily to bow to Yuan Yunzhong.
Watching them, Song Jiyun hurriedly alighted from the carriage and greeted Jiang Xiaosi with a smile, "You’ve worked hard. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"
Jiang Xiaosi shook his head, bowing specifically to Yuan Yunzhong before smiling, "That’s not necessary! Miss Song, you don’t have to be so polite. Our Magistrate said that you are a woman who does not yield to men, and instructed us to show extra courtesy when we see you."
But this was too courteous.
Song Jiyun felt apprehensive.
Unsolicited kindness often bodes ill intent.
She was already beyond the age of believing in pies falling from the sky.
What exactly was Magistrate Jiang’s purpose in "honoring" her like this?
"If that’s the case, then there’s no need for you to stand on ceremony with me either," Song Jiyun exchanged pleasantries with Jiang Xiaosi, "No matter what it is, it won’t delay the time it takes to have a cup of tea. It’s so hot; let’s rest in the hall for a moment."
She glanced at the sky, then asked, "Have you had lunch yet? I’ll have someone prepare some snacks to tide you over."
Jiang Xiaosi waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Lord Jiang still has tasks waiting for me to do, I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll ask for a cup of tea some other time."
Song Jiyun no longer insisted, asking, "What are Magistrate Jiang’s instructions?"
Jiang Xiaosi seemed to suddenly remember the purpose of his visit, touching his head sheepishly as he said, "Our Lord County Magistrate said not to worry about the matter with Eunuch Wan. He encountered Eunuch Wan a few days ago when visiting the Jiangxi Governor, and he has already spoken to Eunuch Wan. He will release the deed to ’Jade Porcelain’ when he returns. You just need to send someone to retrieve it from the Imperial Kiln Factory."
Song Jiyun was shocked, unable to believe her ears, and quickly asked, "What did you say? Magistrate Jiang helped me speak to Eunuch Wan?"
Jiang Xiaosi pursed his lips with a smile, nodding vigorously, "Miss Song, you should send someone to the Imperial Kiln Factory quickly! When I left, our Lord ordered me to tell Miss Song that in the palace, most are two-faced. This time, he was indeed favored by the Inspector General. It’s better to get the deed sooner rather than later, to avoid complications."
Song Jiyun felt joyous and repeatedly promised, asking Jiang Xiaosi to convey her gratitude to Magistrate Jiang, "I will follow Lord County Magistrate’s instructions and will visit Lord Jiang once I have retrieved the deed from the Imperial Kiln Factory."
Jiang Xiaosi walked away with a cheery smile.
Without refusing her offer to visit.
Thousands of thoughts whirled in Song Jiyun’s mind, and she whispered to Yuan Yunzhong, "What do you think, could Magistrate Jiang want me to do something for him?"
Beyond that, she couldn’t fathom why Magistrate Jiang would help her.
But no one by her side responded.
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but look towards Yuan Yunzhong.
She saw Yuan Yunzhong standing sharply by the carriage, a lingering astonishment still evident in his eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat, "Are you, are you alright?"
Yuan Yunzhong sneered, "What could possibly be wrong with me!"
That was far too insincere.
Song Jiyun thought for a moment and said, "Do you also think that there’s something fishy about this?"
After all, it was he who had told her that Eunuch Wan was unwilling to release the deed for the Jade Porcelain.
He must know some insider information.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Yuan Yunzhong’s expression turned even uglier. He said coldly, "Just go and fetch the deed," then turned, boarded his carriage, and said, "I have other matters," before driving away.
Watching the departing carriage, Song Jiyun was stupefied for a long while.
She was angered to the point of laughter.
Yuan Yunzhong had actually run off, abandoning her just like that!
What she did not expect even more was that Yuan Yunzhong could drive a horse carriage, and from the looks of it, his skills were quite good.
Driving a horse carriage was a technical job one needed to master, and not everyone could do it.
This time, she could not bear it any longer.
She instructed Zheng Quan, "Send someone to find out where Young Master Yuan has gone," and added, "You and I will go to my father’s study. For the deed of the Imperial Kiln Factory, I’m afraid I’ll have to make the trip myself so as to not show disrespect."
Zheng Quan complied.
Together, they entered the Song Family’s main gate.
Song Jiyun pondered and gave another order to Zheng Quan, "Help me investigate what kind of political achievements a competent official usually needs."
She was thinking about the help Magistrate Jiang had offered her.
In her past life, she had seen much treachery.
Magistrate Jiang’s gaze towards her was too upright; she didn’t believe he harbored any ill intentions toward her. However, she also clearly felt that Magistrate Jiang’s treatment of her was different from others. After much thought, she surmised that Magistrate Jiang might want her to help him boost his political achievements.
Unfortunately, she only knew that "educating the populace" was one of the key indicators for assessing officials. As for what else could assist Magistrate Jiang, she had to rely on Zheng Quan.
"Also, regarding the clan school, have the Seventeenth Master of the Song Family in charge of the clan school help compile a document. If Magistrate Jiang asks about it, I can be well-informed about the recent events at the clan school." Song Jiyun recalled the past and tried to prepare to understand what the Song Family had that could be of use to Magistrate Jiang, "What new products has the Kiln Factory released recently? Where have they all been sold? Compile a report for me."
After speaking, she contemplated and then said, "What other properties do we have at home? What does each produce? Which things can be given away as gifts? Which are absolutely not to be touched? Also, organize a list for me. I want all this at hand before my visit to Magistrate Jiang."
To accumulate political achievements, Magistrate Jiang needed both reputation and actual merit. As for reputation, the Song Family could credit the establishment of the clan school to Magistrate Jiang, as for the actual merit, it depended on what Magistrate Jiang needed.
Song Jiyun felt she had done all that she could think of, and with Zheng Quan, she opened her father’s storeroom.
She still followed the original plan and picked out several valuable porcelain items as gifts for Eunuch Wan, accompanied by Wong Dahai, to the Imperial Kiln Factory.
The Imperial Kiln Factory was still as it had been before, with deep forests and various workshops and kiln mouths everywhere, shrouded in the hazy smoke of burning pine.
No wonder Eunuch Wan was unwilling to stay here.
Song Jiyun followed protocol and first visited the Registrar of the Imperial Kiln Factory.
He was a fellow townsman of Eunuch Wan’s, previously worked at the Sauce, Vinegar, and Tea Office, and followed Eunuch Wan to Jingde Town when he sought the role of Supervising Pottery Officer. He appeared to be in his thirties, was thin, and had an honest face.
Seeing Song Jiyun visit, he hurried out of the Messengers’ Room to greet her, politely saying, "I’ve long heard of the young lady’s exceptional abilities, but this is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you in person."
Song Jiyun also greeted him courteously, "It’s my negligence. I should have visited you sooner, but as you know, there is never a shortage of matters at home; putting the lid on one issue only to have another crop up. I truly couldn’t manage it and hope you can forgive me for that."
She presented the Registrar with a set of blue and white porcelain sunflower-mouth wine cups.
The Registrar was not pretentious and accepted the wine cups. He then turned around, pulled open a drawer, took out a deed stamped with a bright red seal, and handed it to Song Jiyun, "Lord Wan ordered me to prepare the deed the moment he returned. When you didn’t come the next day, I even thought about sending word to you."
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