There are barriers between families of different classes.
In both the past and present lives, the Song Family had never known the Yuan Family, a household so distinguished. With Song Youliang’s status, how could he arrange such a marriage for Song Jiyun?
Moreover, the marriage arrangement for Song Jiyun had come so abruptly!
Yet, what could she do about it?
Since Yuan Yunzhong was willing to pose as Song Jiyun’s fiancé, he must have had feelings for Song Jiyun.
Perhaps the two had already become secretly involved.
Song Jiyun was not one to let go of a grievance. She and Song Jiyun fought over the docks, forcing Song Jiyun to flee to Nanjing to sell porcelain. Song Jiyun probably hated her to death, otherwise she wouldn’t have preferred to burn old blue and white porcelain to sell.
Now with Yuan Yunzhong’s support, even if it was temporary, she had no place in Jingde Town anymore.
As Song Tao pondered, some people walked to the pillar and whispered, "If we had known this earlier, we should have boldly followed Boss Song. Why bother selling our porcelain production quotas to Boss Song and not stepping forward when she was challenging the Liangyu Kiln Factory? We wasted a good opportunity for favors.
"With such a son-in-law at the Song Family Kiln Factory, the Liangyu Kiln Factory might as well wait for bankruptcy! We are truly unfortunate!"
Is this what these people thought of her?
Song Tao clenched her hands tightly, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
This was the fact.
Even if she did not want to admit it, there was nothing she could do.
Because Jingde Town would no longer have a place for her.
And though the Hong Family spoke generously, they were extremely stingy at heart. Knowing she was disliked by Song Jiyun, they would definitely withdraw the kiln. By then, the silver she had skimmed would be impossible to conceal.
She felt a sudden desire to leave.
She had the skills to make porcelain, she could make a living anywhere.
But before leaving, she needed a substantial amount of silver.
But she had given all her silver to Eunuch Wan, she had to take it back!
Thinking this, she looked towards Eunuch Wan.
*
Eunuch Wan rarely felt a touch of tenderness in his heart for Song Tao choosing to stay by his side during this time.
Song Tao helped him sit down on the Taishi Chair in the corner, found a way to brew him a cup of tea, and comforted him, "You must take care of your health, sir. As long as the mountains are green, there will be firewood to burn."
Eunuch Wan’s eyes were cloudy.
He stared fiercely at Song Jiyun, who was surrounded by people and smiling as radiant as a summer flower, and gritted his teeth, "I heard that this cousin of yours has a rather disgraceful marriage affair?"
It turned out Eunuch Wan was not completely ignorant.
Song Tao’s heart stirred.
She lowered her eyelids and sighed, "It’s Lord Yuan!"
"What?!" Eunuch Wan almost jumped up, but he quickly understood why people like Lord Wang had switched sides so quickly.
He said fiercely, "What exactly is going on?"
Song Tao vaguely explained what had initially happened to Eunuch Wan.
"This must be a falsehood!" Eunuch Wan asserted, "Given the Yuan Family’s stature, they would never agree to a marriage with the Song Family."
But then he thought of Yuan Yunzhong acknowledging his identity as the Song Family son-in-law in front of others and scoffed coldly, "By the decree of the parents, the words of the matchmaker, to wed as a wife, to rush as a concubine. No offense, but your family, even as a concubine to the Yuan Family, I doubt the elders would approve."
He added maliciously, "However, being a concubine might be possible. This cousin of yours is quite extraordinarily beautiful."
Song Tao listened, her heart pounding tumultuously. She said anxiously, "My cousin has a fiery temperament, she might not be willing to become a concubine for Lord Yuan."
Eunuch Wan waved his hand dismissively and replied, "We’ll find out soon enough. Yuan Yunzhong came here to investigate the smuggling case involving Prince Ning. Now that the case is closed, and Prince Ning has been scolded by the emperor—not only was his salary reduced, but his ceremonial privileges were also reduced. Yuan Yunzhong should be returning to the capital to report in the next two months. As long as we can get through these two months..."
The fear was that they wouldn’t survive these two months!
Song Tao asked pitifully, "Will Lord Yuan really go back?"
Eunuch Wan snorted coldly, "Rest assured, my information is absolutely reliable. The Military Inspector of the Jiangxi Guard Station is a sworn brother of mine, he told me this personally—unless something else crops up from Prince Ning’s side, he will certainly leave."
Really?!
This really came without any effort!
Song Tao gently stroked the gold-trimmed edges sewn onto her sleeve, a faint smile slowly emerged on her lips, and she pondered, "With Lord Yuan doing this, Prince Ning must be very embarrassed, he must really hate Lord Yuan, right?"
Eunuch Wan’s gaze sharpened, and he did not speak for a long while.
*
Song Jiyun had returned home, it was now the time of lighting lamps.
Song Jiyu and Song Jixue were anxiously peeking around the side of the warm pavilion next to the sedan hall, waiting for her.
Seeing her get off the mule cart, Song Jixue hurriedly rushed to her side, "Sister, sister, I heard them say, your husband is the Inspector General, is that true?"
Before Song Jiyun could answer, Song Jiyu already hurried over, anxiously saying, "Sister, mother asked us to wait here for you. She wants you to see her as soon as you return."
It seemed someone had sent word to Madam Qian ahead of time.
Song Jiyun nodded, took Song Jixue by the hand, and said to Song Jiyu, "I’ll go with you to see mother right now."
Madam Qian had not yet completed her confinement and was probably very anxious.
Song Jiyu responded with a "Hmm" and led the way, while Song Jixue chattered, "Sister, why didn’t your husband come back with you? Is he still staying at our house? Will he move to live in the Yamen? If he moves to the Yamen, can I live there with him?"
Song Jiyun couldn’t respond to a single question.
When she had left, Yuan Yunzhong had indeed told her in front of everyone that he "needed to go to the County Yamen to discuss some matters," which had drawn many sidelong glances, but what would happen next, she had no idea.
Song Jiyun patted Song Jixue’s head and smiled, "Why so many questions? Let’s go see mother first."
Song Jixue giggled.
Song Jiyu, however, turned his head to look at her.
His eyes were filled with unmistakable concern.
Song Jiyun sighed softly in her heart.
The group quickly made their way to Madam Qian’s residence.
Nanny Zheng waited anxiously outside Madam Qian’s main room, and upon seeing Song Jiyun, she hurriedly approached and whispered, "It’s Madam Yan, she’s worried that Eunuch Wan is up to no good and fears something might happen to you all which mother couldn’t handle. Old Master Yan had just left, and she immediately came to our mansion, even stationing people at the Temple of the Wind God. She said if things didn’t go smoothly, they could intervene in time to prevent the lady from finding out. Who would have thought..."
it thundered out of the blue.
Suddenly Young Master Yuan became the Inspector General.
No wonder he was so arrogant.
Now that everyone knows that Lord Yuan is their young miss’s fiancé, who knows how things will end up?
What exactly happened at that time?
Did Lord Yuan deceive their young miss, or was Young Master Yuan manipulated by their young miss to act as a shield?
However, since Young Master Yuan has not denied the engagement, there must be some sentiment between him and their young miss, right?
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Nanny Zheng lifted the curtain and informed Madam Qian, "The young miss has returned," and followed behind Song Jiyun and her sisters into the inner chamber.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
