Eunuch Wan was extremely surprised.
He thought Song Jiyun would ask Magistrate Jiang to come forward, but instead, she had invited Immortal Baoguang.
The veins on his forehead bulged suddenly as he clenched his teeth and bellowed at her, "Song Jiyun!"
His gaze upon her was as sharp as ice.
Song Jiyun lifted her head, her eyes meeting his directly, with a chill to their depths.
All these days, she was either selling porcelain to Prince Huai’s Mansion or to Prince Ning’s Mansion, did she really care about earning a few pieces of silver?
She was doing it to invite this Immortal Baoguang here.
To control a eunuch, one must invite a eunuch.
It was like using magic to defeat magic.
Unfortunately, her initial intent was to have Immortal Baoguang find her a way in the palace to get rid of Eunuch Wan, but now that Eunuch Wan had made his move, she had to play this move in advance. Still, she was not sure whether Immortal Baoguang was as straightforward as he claimed, keeping his word.
She looked towards Immortal Baoguang.
Immediately, Immortal Baoguang realized he was the one called out of retirement by this person.
Over the years, he had done favors for many people, and his reputation was very important.
He cleared his throat loudly, put his arm around Eunuch Wan’s shoulder, and said with deep earnestness, "Old Wan, why take it so seriously! Both you and I, after a few years out here, will eventually have to go back. Leave some good will for the future, so that when others have some issue, they can also come to you for help.
"You ought to learn from me.
"I earned the favor of His Majesty not by being rash and aggressive."
The two of them were not the same.
Immortal Baoguang was nothing but an empty title. Even if the Zhengyi Sect revered him, at most he would just enjoy slightly better food and clothing. He was in charge of the Imperial Kiln Factory, with tens and hundreds of thousands taels of silver in his hands each year.
Eunuch Wan did not want to offend Immortal Baoguang, but now that Song Jiyun had gained dominant power, if he did not take measures to suppress her, he would not get a penny from the profits of the new blue-and-white porcelain.
Once he returned to the Capital City, where would he find such good fortune!
Eunuch Wan’s eyes gleamed fiercely as he said, "Brother, it’s not that I don’t give you face, but you are smashing my rice bowl. This matter today is not so simple, and you should not be used by others."
Immortal Baoguang’s face changed as he listened, and he unhappily let go of Eunuch Wan, raising his voice to say, "So you’re saying, you won’t give your brother this face?"
His voice suddenly became louder and shriller, revealing for the first time his true nature as a eunuch.
Eunuch Wan’s expression shifted, uncertain.
The people in the grand hall were all shocked, and couldn’t help screaming inwardly countless times.
Boss Song is truly audacious! She actually managed to invite the Chief Eunuch from Dragon Tiger Mountain who prays for the emperor.
After all, Immortal Baoguang represents the emperor, would Eunuch Wan dare to confront him directly?
This time, it seems Eunuch Wan is likely to suffer a silent loss.
They all shared a common hatred, winking and nudging each other, with their inner villains already sitting comfortably with tea, ready to watch Eunuch Wan’s drama unfold.
And Eunuch Wan, shaking with anger, remained stubborn, refusing to concede.
Immortal Baoguang felt it was still necessary to offer Eunuch Wan a way out and continued to persuade him, "If you have any demands, make them known. None of us are fools, and there’s no need to make both sides suffer. Didn’t your mentor ever teach you? Don’t ever fight with money. How about this, I will be the mediator, let’s bridge our differences and make peace."
He also said, "Let’s make money together, let’s prosper together!"
Eunuch Wan didn’t believe for a second that money would come out of Immortal Baoguang’s hands once it went in.
He sneered, "I dare not presume. If you really wanted to prosper with me, you wouldn’t have come to Jingde Town at this time. I think, it’s better for you to stick to your path, and I’ll stick to mine."
Immortal Baozhen’s eyelids flipped, and he scoffed, "In that case, you don’t want to return to the Capital City!"
The Directorate of Imperial Ceremonies also managed the personnel movements of The Twenty-Four Yamen.
Eunuch Wan’s eyelids hung low, his hands tightly clenched, exhibiting a strong effort to hold back his rage.
Song Tao felt as if she had plunged into an icy hole, the bone-chilling cold washing over her in waves, numbing her limbs.
No, this cannot be happening.
If Eunuch Wan and Jiyun made amends, where would that leave her?
Given Jiyun’s vindictive nature, she certainly wouldn’t let her off the hook.
Song Tao was frantic with worry.
She saw the Registrar, wiping sweat from his brow, hurry in and whisper something into Eunuch Wan’s ear.
Eunuch Wan’s eyes widened, unable to contain the joy bubbling up from within: "Quick! Please, invite them in quickly!"
The Registrar scurried away like a puff of smoke.
Jiyun’s heart tightened.
The hall had suddenly fallen silent as a grave, with everyone’s gaze following the Registrar outside.
Eunuch Wan straightened his sleeves, preparing to go out to meet the guests.
The Registrar escorted seven or eight men into the room with solicitous zeal.
The man in the lead looked about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, with a three-strand beard and wearing an official crimson robe with a cloud pattern, his chest adorned with the rank badge of a second-grade civil official. The official beside him, dressed in the same uniform but with a third-grade peacock rank badge on his chest, stood half a head taller, his skin fair and clean-shaven. Behind them was a third-grade military official, looking to be in his late twenties, with an embroidered tiger on his chest and a gold belt inlaid with jade.
Jiyun took a second glance.
Having meticulously researched the clothing of the dynasty to avoid basic errors, she knew well.
Only those of the first grade or higher were entitled to wear jade belts.
The military official, garbed in the attire of a third-grade officer but sporting a belt that only first-grade officials were entitled to wear, must have had a noble rank, and a high one at that.
Jiyun’s heart sank further.
Eunuch Wan had already moved forward to kneel before the group: "Lord Wang, Lord Huang, Lord Xu."
Even Immortal Baoguang seemed significantly more reserved upon seeing the leading official; he looked as though he wished he could hide away to the side when Eunuch Wan came forward to pay respects. When the official looked over at him, the Immortal gave an embarrassed smile, returned the gesture, and addressed him as "Lord Wang."
Lord Wang, with furrowed brows and hands behind his back, asked sternly, "Qin Zhi, should you not be on Dragon Tiger Mountain praying for the Emperor’s blessings instead of running here? What are you doing here?"
Immortal Baoguang stumbled over his words: "I, I heard that Wan Xiaoquan was here, just came to, to see what the fuss was about!"
Having said that, he moved back slightly.
Jiyun sighed internally.
It seemed that human plans could not compare to fate; she would have to take things one step at a time.
She gathered her spirits.
Then she saw Lord Wang surveying the room and asking, "What’s all this about?"
Eunuch Wan quickly came forward and respectfully said, "Lord Wang, this is also why I requested your presence."
He hurriedly explained: "Normally, the Imperial Kiln Factory affairs are managed by the Manufacturing Office and should not trouble your lordship. However, as you’ve seen, these kiln workers, relying on their own exceptional skills and courage, defy the Factory’s authority, creating a new type of sweet white porcelain that they are unwilling to present to the Emperor. Instead, they go around the Factory to sell it in Nanjing for enormous profits.
"I want to manage the situation, but fear causing an uprising like the one in Chuzhou years ago. It was fortunate that your lordship came to Liang County on official business, and I thought it best to have Lord Wang as a witness, to avoid any complaints from these workers to the Imperial Court, claiming that I am extorting excessively and tarnishing the reputation of the Emperor and the Imperial Court."
As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance at Immortal Baoguang.
Chuzhou was known for its silver production, and the dynasty had also appointed eunuchs to administer the area. Due to tyranny, miner uprisings occurred frequently.
Eunuch Wan was glib, effectively comparing Jiyun to a rebellious element.
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