However, before Song Jiyun could speak, Immortal Baoguang had already jumped out.
He pointed at Eunuch Wan and started scolding loudly, "Don’t spout nonsense here! Stick to the matter at hand. Why are you looking at me? What does your Imperial Kiln Factory’s business have to do with me? Have I eaten your rice or drunk your water that you should slander me so recklessly?"
Evidently, Eunuch Wan felt that the person who had arrived could control Immortal Baoguang; he didn’t even glance at him but simply asked everyone to sit down on the Taishi Chair in front of the statue of the Wind and Fire Immortal Lord, and personally poured tea and served refreshments.
Immortal Baoguang was extremely angry, but as soon as Lord Wang gave him a look, he immediately ceased his clamor and shrank to the side.
This reaction was perhaps too intense.
Song Jiyun was secretly astonished and couldn’t help but ponder in her heart.
It seemed that Eunuch Wan had come prepared today, not only had he invited so many officials, but each of their positions was not low.
She was at a disadvantage because she knew nothing about the current political situation and didn’t even know the identities of these few people.
If Eunuch Wan was not targeting her, she could have stalled for time, trying to find out the identities, backgrounds, and relationships among these people in the shortest time possible. Unfortunately, being watched by Eunuch Wan, she probably couldn’t avoid the eyes of the crowd.
It was Immortal Baoguang... She hadn’t expected him to be so timid.
Song Jiyun’s heart sank to the bottom.
The matter today would likely not end well.
She swiftly glanced at Eunuch Wan and the others.
Lord Wang, whether deliberately ignoring Immortal Baoguang or truly dismissing him, didn’t give him an extra glance but was instead chatting warmly with Eunuch Wan. They appeared to be quite familiar with each other.
Song Jiyun’s eyes darkened.
It was good that the previous day, while consulting with Old Master Wu and others in the Water Pavilion, she felt that Magistrate Jiang’s control over Eunuch Wan was limited and insisted on not asking Magistrate Jiang to make a move. Otherwise, had Magistrate Jiang come, he would have been utterly crushed by these people.
She seized a moment to pull Immortal Baoguang to her side, slightly turning her body to ensure that Eunuch Wan and the others wouldn’t see everything at a glance. She then whispered, "I am the one whom Eunuch Wan accused of selling the Imperial Presentation to Nanjing. Joining hands benefits us both, splitting harms us both. Make your choice quickly."
Immortal Baoguang was startled.
Although he was entrusted by Song Jiyun, he had not met her before.
Watching Lord Wang, who was temperate in demeanor due to Eunuch Wan’s eager flattery, he gritted his teeth and muttered, "Alright."
Song Jiyun sighed with relief and quickly asked him, "Who is Lord Wang?"
"The Jiangxi Civil Administrative Commissioner." He blurted out the identities of the others, "The one surnamed Huang is the Inspector General, and the one surnamed Xu is the Commander. That one surnamed Wang came from a Remonstrant Official background, transferred here from the Metropolitan Censorate. The one surnamed Huang was a disciple of the former Minister of Personnel, and the one surnamed Xu is the younger brother of the Duke of Ding from the Capital City."
She asked, "Who can speak for us?"
"The one surnamed Xu," Immortal Baoguang asserted without hesitation, "He is quite greedy. Previously in the Capital City’s Bureau of City Defense, he was dismissed due to accepting bribes, and through Noble Consort Wan’s influence, he came to Jiangxi to become the Commander."
"How is your relationship with them?"
Immortal Baoguang said, "I have no acquaintance with the one surnamed Huang. The one surnamed Wang had once impeached my father, and because of him, my father was reprimanded by the Emperor. The one surnamed Xu has just arrived less than a month ago, this being the third time I’ve seen him. He should be the easiest to talk to."
His father?
Song Jiyun’s mind whirred before she realized he meant his "father," the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Ceremonies, Qin Fang.
To dare to impeach and question even Qin Fang and still serve as the Civil Administrative Commissioner in Jiangxi, he was truly a formidable man!
No wonder Immortal Baoguang feared him so.
Song Jiyun asked Immortal Baoguang, "Is there any way you can bribe the Commander-in-Chief Xu to speak on our behalf?" She emphasized strongly, "I’ll pay for it!"
Immortal Baoguang, obviously desperate for money, perked up at the mention, slapping his chest and saying, "Don’t worry, I’ve got this covered."
He called over an attendant and whispered a few instructions.
Song Jiyun certainly wouldn’t pin her hopes on these individuals, as temporary financial relationships were ultimately too superficial.
In just that moment, several people from Eunuch Wan’s group had already seated themselves authoritatively, and Lord Wang even asked, "Who is Song Jiyun?"
Song Jiyun didn’t want to offend him, but she couldn’t bend over backwards either. If she lost her backbone now, it would be impossible for her to command the respect needed to manage the myriad of kiln factories and workshops in Jingde Town in the future—a loss she couldn’t afford.
So, even if today were as treacherous as a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, she would simply have to find a way through!
She bowed respectfully yet confidently toward Lord Wang.
Lord Wang, somewhat surprised, chuckled to those around him, "No wonder she dares sell Imperial Presentation porcelain to Nanjing—she indeed has guts!"
The others laughed along.
Song Jiyun waited for the laughter to subside and then spoke with courtesy yet firmly, "You flatter me, my lord. I had no other choice. Eunuch Wan introduced new policies this year, requiring all kiln factories and workshops in Jingde Town to produce porcelain based on the quotas distributed by the Imperial Kiln Factory. The Imperial Kiln Factory did not allocate quotas to our family kiln factory, and without them, we cannot produce porcelain. That’s why I took the risk to go to Nanjing."
She also claimed injustice, "Otherwise, with so many inspectors on the road, who would willingly make such a long trip?"
The Imperial Kiln Factory hadn’t allocated quotas to their family kiln factory!!!
Not only Eunuch Wan, but everyone in the hall also secretly clucked their tongues.
This was indeed bold of Song Jiyun, speaking out in front of a high-ranking official.
What if there were repercussions?
The crowd inevitably lowered their heads.
Eunuch Wan’s eyes widened.
Song Jiyun had once again refreshed his impression of her.
This woman truly had the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard.
Watching Song Jiyun defend her position so vehemently, he was both infuriated and amused.
"Please, my lord, see the truth," he burst out, arguing with Song Jiyun, "The Song Family Kiln Factory was renowned when it was in her father’s hands, but ever since this young lady took charge, relying on the secret formulas left by Song Youliang, she has become arrogant and conceited. Just look at her demeanor. She has never regarded the Imperial Kiln Factory highly, not even attending the Imperial Kiln Factory’s bidding process.
"Out of sympathy for her youth and her remarkable porcelain-making skills, I devised a way to force her to produce a certain amount of porcelain for the Imperial Kiln Factory each year. Yet, in her narration, it has become me stopping her from making porcelain.
"Had I not asked your presence to administer justice, my lord, I would have been irrevocably maligned, like trying to clean myself of mud while standing in the Yellow River!"
Song Jiyun felt that at this point, anything she said would be meaningless.
Her only chance now was to stall for time, to have Immortal Baoguang’s contact reach Commander-in-Chief Xu—only then might she see a glimmer of hope.
She argued with Eunuch Wan, "The Song Family Kiln Factory is what it is today thanks wholly to the Imperial Kiln Factory’s discerning eye—I wouldn’t dare disrespect it! You say I didn’t regard the Imperial Kiln Factory highly, that I didn’t attend the bidding, but I never received any notice about the bidding from the Kiln Imperial Factory!"
The two exchanged barbed words, engaging in a verbal lawsuit.
However, Song Jiyun’s eyes continually darted around, ever vigilant for anyone approaching Commander-in-Chief Xu.
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