Is this a small matter?
Many people can’t produce a new kind of porcelain in their entire lifetime. Being able to do so is an indication that the ancestral glory is emerging, enough to establish a school of thought and be considered a master.
In Jingde Town over the past few decades, there has only been Song Youliang who created Jade Porcelain, and Song Jiyun who created sweet white porcelain.
Others might not care, but Song Tao also works with porcelain. Is she not feeling the pain because it’s not her problem, or does she harbor ulterior motives?
It’s just that with Eunuch Wan staring down at them like a tiger watching his prey, no one dared to make a sound.
But the looks everyone gave Song Tao became a bit more nuanced.
At this point, however, Song Tao was already on the spot, and she could not and should not back down.
She laughed and said, "What everyone might not know is that my cousin has had the talent for porcelain making since she was young. As long as it involves porcelain, anything that reaches her hands is not a big deal."
After hearing this, people felt somewhat uneasy.
Song Jiyun did indeed have that talent.
Look at her—once she took over the Song Family Kiln Factory, she produced sweet white porcelain. Alum-Red, which was ordinary in the hands of others, was transformed as if it were a new kind of porcelain when she worked on it. As for Overglaze Enamel, everyone else was tentative, but for her, it was just another batch. Now holding the formula for sweet white porcelain and having produced new blue and white porcelain... unless someone among them figured out the formula for sweet white porcelain, they would always have to follow behind Song Jiyun.
The problem is, even if someone did figure out the formula for sweet white porcelain, now that everyone is working under Song Jiyun and has received her great kindness, who would have the heart to turn against her and go their own way?
But since Song Tao had become the scapegoat, naturally others would follow her lead.
Someone murmured quietly, "Boss Song’s craftsmanship is superb, with broad knowledge and grand vision. Without sweet white porcelain, she will definitely be able to create other new porcelain. It’s different for us, who can only pick up what others don’t want."
Immediately, someone glared at the speaker.
The person who had spoken was stiffening his neck to strike back, when suddenly a high-pitched calling came from outside, "Celestial Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain of the Zhengyi Sect has arrived."
Who is this person?!
Everyone was completely perplexed, their faces filled with confusion.
Eunuch Wan’s eyebrows knitted tightly together.
The political situation in Jiangxi was complicated. Apart from the Civil Administrative Commissioner, Inspector General, and Commander-in-Chief, there were three Princes, and one Taoist priest from Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Zhengyi Sect had been granted the title of "Heavenly Master" by the Imperial Court, a high-ranking official of the third rank. Furthermore, since Emperor Yongle’s southern expedition, emperors throughout the dynasty have been believers of Taoism, following the Northern Deity True Warrior Emperor. Some emperors even sent Chief Eunuchs on their behalf to Dragon Tiger Mountain to cultivate and pray for blessings. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
This Taoist priest, known as the Celestial Master, was the very Chief Eunuch that the emperor had dispatched to the Zhengyi Sect to cultivate and pray for blessings on his behalf.
Moreover, this Celestial Master was also the godson of the Chief Eunuch in Charge of Writing Utensils of the Directorate of Imperial Ceremonies, Qin Fang.
However, since this Celestial Master had been to Dragon Tiger Mountain on the emperor’s behalf, he had become more arrogant, and had been staying put in the Taoist temple. What was he doing coming to Jingde Town, and moreover, to the Temple of the Wind God?
But things were happening so suddenly that there was no time to inquire; they could only quickly notify the Registrar to welcome the visitor with a hurried departure from the hall surrounded by his attendants.
Seeing this scene, the hall erupted, as people eagerly asked about the origins of this Celestial Master and why even Eunuch Wan had to treat him with such respect.
Most people did not know, but there were those who often went to Dragon Tiger Mountain to pray, and they promptly started discussing the background of this Celestial Master.
The fact this Taoist priest turned out to be a Chief Eunuch made it no wonder he was seeking out Eunuch Wan.
As everyone expressed their astonishment, they were more concerned with whether the gathering would continue.
If today’s meeting were to disperse just like that, yet Eunuch Wan revealed his fangs, it was feared that Boss Song would not let it go so easily.
The matter of the sweet white porcelain formula still had to be contended with.
Everyone was stealthily glancing at Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun, however, appeared calm and composed as if whether the meeting continued or not had nothing to do with her.
It was Old Master Wu, who had formed an alliance with Song Jiyun yesterday, who, anxious as could be, squeezed to her side and whispered, "Boss Song, what do you think we should do about this?"
They had thought of many contingency plans yesterday, but they did not expect Eunuch Wan to be so shameless as to demand the formula for the sweet white porcelain.
Such a thing was unheard of, unseen!
Old Master Wu advised Song Jiyun, "Hasn’t your family recently struck up a conversation with the Chief Historian of Prince Ning’s Mansion? If all else fails, spend some silver, and file a formal complaint at Prince Ning’s Mansion. Prince Ning’s Mansion is famously greedy for money. I simply refuse to believe that by joining forces, we still can’t topple this Wan Xiaoquan!"
His eyes flashed fiercely as he said this.
Song Jiyun quickly comforted him, "I have it under control, don’t worry. When the time comes to ask for help, I will definitely turn to all of you!"
Old Master Wu’s expression cleared slightly.
Neither of them noticed that Song Tao’s gaze consistently landed on Song Jiyun with a hint of panic.
She felt something was amiss.
This Immortal Baoguang’s arrival was too timely!
And Song Jiyun was too composed!
But Immortal Baoguang was an eunuch, and eunuchs should all be in the same camp.
Or was it because she had been so oppressed by Song Jiyun in her past life that she was overthinking?
Song Tao comforted herself, yet she couldn’t help but bite her fingernails.
Eunuch Wan walked in, accompanied by a man clad in purple Taoist robes.
The man appeared to be no more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old; though beardless and pale, he had a dignified appearance and an air of integrity, not resembling an eunuch, but more like a great general.
He also spoke with a loud voice, forming a stark contrast with Eunuch Wan’s soft-toned manner.
He laughed and said, "You’re really not being fair to me. Back in the day at the palace, we both served in the Qianqing Palace together. You didn’t even tell me about the life-sized porcelain Buddha statues you’ve made here. If it wasn’t for that nosy priest from Mount Wudang bragging to us at Dragon Tiger Mountain, I wouldn’t have known at all. You don’t treat me like a brother!"
Eunuch Wan’s face turned red and then pale, clearly struggling even to save face in the presence of Immortal Baoguang.
"You are a person of status now; how could I expect you to concern yourself with these mundane tasks? I dare not presume, but whatever you desire, is there anything missing from my domain? It’s just a few statues of the Three Pure Ones; why would you need to come personally? You could have just sent word, and I would have personally delivered them to Dragon Tiger Mountain. That way, I could have also used your influence to meet Celestial Master Zhang, to have him fortell my fate!"
Immortal Baoguang laughed and did not take up on his offer, but instead looked around the hall and said, "What is it that you can’t discuss at the Imperial Kiln Factory and had to come to this Temple of the Wind God? Do you need the ancestral master watching over, so your word must be followed?"
Eunuch Wan’s smile became even more forced as he replied, "Isn’t it just an unfortunate coincidence? Besides, there’s nothing much to see at this Temple of the Wind God. If you really want to stay in Jingde Town for a few days, once I’ve dealt with the matters here, I’ll gladly show you around Jingde Town myself. There’s a place called Fairy Rock which is worth a look."
Upon hearing this, Immortal Baoguang suddenly turned hostile and said, "Wan Xiaoquan, you’re not giving me any face at all! I’ve come from afar, especially wanting to see what the Temple of the Wind God looks like, and you are full of excuses, unwilling to clear the temple. What are you implying?"
How could this be construed as not giving face?
The fire here was raging; if the area were cleared and everyone sent away, pushing Song Jiyun into a corner would become difficult.
Eunuch Wan was taken aback but then, looking up, he caught sight of Song Jiyun’s indifferent face.
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him.
Immortal Baoguang, was invited by Song Jiyun.
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