Immortal Baoguang managed to turn the tables with baseless accusations, leaving Lord Wang and Eunuch Wan green in the face as if they had swallowed flies.
However, Yuan Yunzhong started to laugh.
Looking at Lord Wang and Eunuch Wan, he said to Immortal Baoguang, "Immortal, please rise! If someone has indeed wronged you, it is naturally my duty to hold them accountable."
Lord Wang felt a chill in his heart at these words, knowing trouble was brewing.
Yuan Yunzhong, youthful and successful, was notoriously overbearing and unruly, not even considering his father, who was the Vice Chancellor of the Imperial Cabinet, Minister of Punishments, and Grand Scholar of Honour Hall, as someone to regard. How could he possibly refer to himself as "this official" in front of a mere eunuch?
His phrase "it is my duty" hit Lord Wang’s head like a hammer.
Was Yuan Yunzhong using Immortal Baoguang’s words to frame the purpose of his visit to Jingde Town?
What did the Emperor detest the most?
Collusion between insiders and outsiders.
For example, between the eunuchs of the palace and the ministers outside; between the ministers of the Capital and the vassal kings beyond it.
Immortal Baoguang claimed he was invited by Wan Xiaoquan—wasn’t that an allegation of collusion with Wan Xiaoquan?
Yuan Yunzhong was intending to ruthlessly deal with him!
Grim-faced, he rebuked Immortal Baoguang, saying, "Nonsense!" and began to curse, "You should be practicing and praying for blessings on Dragon Tiger Mountain. Instead, you come to Jingde Town to throw your weight around, still claiming to be wronged. Do you believe that with a single secret report, I can have you sent to the Laundry Bureau to wash clothes?"
He wanted to quell Immortal Baoguang first to get out of this predicament, to stop him from speaking recklessly.
After all, Immortal Baoguang was somewhat afraid of Lord Wang.
In the past, his godfather had been impeached by Lord Wang and ended up washing clothes in the Laundry Bureau for three years.
Moreover, civil officials tended to stick together. Although Yuan Yunzhong was now amiable, once his goals were achieved, would he discard Immortal Baoguang?
Yuan Yunzhong’s cold and cruel reputation was well known even among their eunuch circles.
Having already disgusted Lord Wang with his antics, if he caused any further trouble and truly angered Lord Wang, he’d have a lot to answer for.
Immortal Baoguang shrank his shoulders and ducked aside.
But Yuan Yunzhong, appearing completely at ease, sat in the Taishi Chair and sipped his tea, then said indifferently, "Everyone has their own tally in mind. More words are of no use. What I want to know now is, what does Lord Wang think about this so-called ’Ceramic Firing Quota System’? What are your plans? Miss Song transported her family’s porcelain to Nanjing to sell because she didn’t get a kiln slot—what rule does that violate? What crime has she committed?"
Lord Wang was so angry his vision blurred.
Yuan Yunzhong was not going to let go of Immortal Baoguang’s nonsense!
Who was Miss Song to Yuan Yunzhong?
Why was he standing up for her like this?
His gaze couldn’t help but fall on Song Jiyun.
Being in the period of mourning and with spring upon them, the young woman wore a very simple and elegant water-green Hangzhou silk robe. The robe was embroidered with peach blossoms using silk threads of the same color. Though seemingly plain, as she moved, the threads shimmered with the light, revealing their lustrous beauty. The dove-egg-sized Eastern Pearls in her lustrous black hair complemented the round and brilliantly polished pearls. Additionally, the set of green jade bracelets on her wrist, clear as water, was clearly of extraordinary quality. Despite these exquisitely fine adornments, next to her radiant and spring-like appearance, they seemed to pale in comparison.
She turned out to be a peerless beauty!
How had he not noticed earlier?
Yuan Yunzhong had come to Jiangxi last summer, and his whereabouts had been as enigmatic as ever since then.
There had been talk that he was investigating the case of Prince Ning in Jingde Town.
And yet, Prince Ning’s Mansion was in Nanchang Prefecture.
Could it be... was there some clandestine connection between Yuan Yunzhong and this Miss Song?
Contemplating this, Lord Wang’s view of Yuan Yunzhong changed.
Eunuch Wan, observing the scene, shivered inside.
Lord Wang was known for his cunning and profound schemes, and he must have discovered something that even made him unable to maintain his composure.
Compared to Lord Wang, he was like the bright moon against the faint stars.
Faced with a situation that even made Lord Wang’s complexion change, what qualifications did he have to stand firm?
Eunuch Wan didn’t dare to think further and immediately admitted his cowardice.
"Lord Yuan," he said earnestly, "it was all because the grease of foolishness blurred my judgment, filled with the desire to exert official power, that I came up with this ’Ceramic Firing Quota System.’ All the faults and errors are mine. I beseech Lord Yuan to overlook this little man’s misconduct and forgive me this once!"
As for accepting bribes and extensively amassing wealth through cunning titles, he would never admit to such deeds no matter what.
To show his determination, he even slapped himself in the face several times.
The "slap-slap" sound of his self-inflicted punishment made everyone in the hall wince in sympathy for his pain.
Yet he, seemingly oblivious, continued to express his stance: "From now on, I will surely do my duties properly and no longer arbitrarily change the rules and regulations of the Imperial Kiln Factory. Miss Song’s decision to sell her family’s porcelain in Nanjing must certainly be correct. It was my petty and narrow-minded fault for making trouble for Miss Song. Miss Song did nothing wrong; it’s all my fault!"
Lord Yuan Yunzhong watched Eunuch Wan but said nothing.
Eunuch Wan’s heart immediately started beating chaotically, as his mind rapidly reviewed the words he had spoken and the things he had done, contemplating why Lord Yuan Yunzhong was looking at him that way.
After a while, he indeed realized something.
In haste, he spoke: "Since the sweet white porcelain is the Song Family’s secret recipe, it definitely cannot be disclosed. From now on, if our Imperial Kiln Factory needs sweet white porcelain, we will surely notify the Song Family Kiln Factory in advance and place our orders beforehand."
In doing so, he effectively restored the old rules, overturning the "decrees" he had issued after assuming office.
The people in the hall, upon hearing this, were so pleased they wished they could applaud in celebration.
But Eunuch Wan was still the Supervising Pottery Officer, in charge of them all, so none dared to act.
They could only exchange discreet glances, their faces brimming with boundless joy.
Lord Yuan Yunzhong maintained his inscrutable expression and turned to Lord Wang, saying, "Lord Wang, what do you think?"
It was as if Lord Yuan Yunzhong wouldn’t let this issue go unless he made his stance clear in front of everyone.
Lord Wang felt a burning sensation on his face. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Lord Yuan Yunzhong was grinding his face into the dirt!
Just to help this Song Jiyun out of the predicament, he was willing to do anything.
But since this issue had become Lord Yuan Yunzhong’s personal concern, it now tied his hands—he couldn’t be as firm with Lord Yuan Yunzhong on private matters. Public affairs could be handled in a public manner, but if you don’t give face on private matters, who knows what kind of grudge it might breed.
He had no interest whatsoever in becoming Lord Yuan Yunzhong’s enemy.
Striking the small may well bring out the old in a series.
But to bow and apologize to Lord Yuan Yunzhong in front of so many people... He was not one of those eunuchs, shamelessly thick-skinned to the extreme, willing to do and say anything as long as it benefited them.
His eyes slightly downcast, he remained silent in contemplation.
By rights, someone should step forward to mediate at this point.
Yet the officials who had come with him glanced at Lord Yuan Yunzhong, each pretending to be deaf and dumb, acting oblivious.
Lord Wang was both anxious and furious.
Unnoticed, a servant boy had tiptoed up behind Commander-in-Chief Xu and whispered a few words in his ear.
He gave Song Jiyun a puzzled look and, after a moment of contemplation, seemed to make a resolute decision and stepped forward.
"Lord Wang," he said, "I think this is all a misunderstanding." "Lord Yuan has been tirelessly involved in Jingde Town, deeply familiar with its affairs, and has inevitably developed a fondness for the kiln workers there. Eunuch Wan’s actions were surely disagreeable to Lord Yuan. Let me mediate between you so that we can clear the air and put each other at ease."
After speaking, he made eye signals to Lord Wang, urging him to quickly lower his head.
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