Song Jiyun knew that both Xu Guangzeng and Deng Chen were busy harvesting heads, so if he came, it surely meant he had an issue to address.
She said, "Then go inform Lord Yuan accordingly."
She was also considering whether to specifically set up a gatehouse for Yinyu Hall, as Yuan Yunzhong’s place would certainly be very busy with people coming and going.
The servant boy said, "Lord Xu has come to see you."
Song Jiyun was quite surprised. Thinking back to what Yuan Yunzhong had said to her when his life had been in danger, she couldn’t help but sneer and said, "If he came to see me, then there’s no need. I am not acquainted with him."
There was nothing to talk about.
The servant boy was about to deliver the response when he was stopped by Madam Qian.
She asked Song Jiyun softly, "Wouldn’t this offend Lord Xu?"
Song Jiyun was unconcerned and replied, "We and Young Master Yuan are on the same path. There’s no need to bother about the others."
Madam Qian was reassured and let the servant boy deliver the message, continuing her conversation with Song Jiyun about Yuan Yunzhong’s situation, "This can be considered an undeserved calamity for him. Once things settle down on his end, he should go to a temple and offer incense to dispel the bad luck. Nameless Temple is out of the question, but how about Gratitude Temple instead..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the servant boy returned with a name card and a gift list, saying, "Lord Xu said he had offended you previously, and he came specifically to apologize. Since you are busy, he won’t disturb you further."
The servant boy handed the gift list and name card to Song Jiyun, "Lord Xu said this is Duke of Ding’s name card; you will surely find it useful if you have the opportunity to go to Capital City."
As for the gift list, it was mostly filled with medicinal ingredients that supplement qi and enrich blood, and then some antique calligraphy and paintings.
At a glance, Song Jiyun estimated its value at about four or five thousand taels of silver.
It was a significant effort.
Song Jiyun accepted the name card and gift list, instructing the servant boy to return a message.
The servant boy said, "Lord Xu has gone to see Lord Yuan, saying that since he came, he must pay respects to Lord Yuan as well."
Song Jiyun suspected that Xu Guangzeng was using the apology as a pretext to see Yuan Yunzhong.
Fortunately, Yuan Yunzhong also had things for him to do, so she pretended not to know.
Now that Yuan Yunzhong was safe, she felt a sense of relief that brought on overwhelming drowsiness.
She bade farewell to Madam Qian and headed first to the small kiln factory near Yinyu Hall.
Xiang Zhan was diligently watching over the fire with the master craftsman from the kiln factory.
Everything was normal.
She went back and slept well.
When she awoke, it was already the early hours of the next day, with dawn barely breaking.
The young maidservant attending her busied herself with helping Song Jiyun with her morning wash, while chattering about the happenings in Yinyu Hall, "Last night the lights were bright all night long, they say Young Master Yuan barely slept. To avoid disturbing you, Young Master Shao even took Madame’s token to find Steward Wu, and they opened the side gate of Yinyu Hall so that people from Yinyu Hall would enter and leave through there.
"Steward Wu said that in the coming days, many officials and nobles will be visiting Young Master Yuan, to prevent us from inadvertently offending someone important and tarnishing not only our young lady and Young Master Yuan’s face but small—fearing we might provoke someone with a bad temper and lose our lives. These days we are not allowed near Yinyu Hall. Even Third Miss Song’s lessons are suspended."
Song Jiyun half-listened; Chairman Ma and Elder Yan had come over looking for her, "The households and workshops set to produce the new blue and white porcelain have all been determined, just waiting for you to announce the selected ones. You, on the other hand, went to Wuyuan. Home affairs are indeed important, but business matters are equally crucial. You must not neglect one for the other. See, it’s barely dawn, and I have come to corner you already."
It appears that the incident of Yuan Yunzhong’s disappearance was suppressed, and her visit to Yuan Yunzhong was framed as a discussion about Song Jiyu’s matters with the Xiong family in Wuyuan.
She deliberately gave a vague response and smoothed over the situation. Then, together with Chairman Ma and a few others, she had breakfast and went to the merchant association meeting.
Whether selected or not, porcelain workshop owners from Jingde Town with some standing were present, and those who couldn’t make it sent their apprentices to listen for news.
When Chairman Ma, representing the guild, announced the selected workshops and kiln factories, naturally, there were some who were delighted and some who were disappointed. Those who were happy kept thanking Song Jiyun, saying they would work with her wholeheartedly to enhance, strengthen, and perfect the new blue and white porcelain. Those who didn’t get selected didn’t want to leave. They took the opportunity to assure Song Jiyun that they would continue to strive hard to meet her requirements, aiming to be chosen in the second batch, and work together with her.
Song Jiyun consoled them, saying there would be plenty of opportunities for cooperation in the future and so they should not lose heart. She also pointed out the reasons why some had not been selected, advising them to go back and make improvements.
For a while, everyone was looking for her.
Even Chairman Ma and others could not keep the people at bay.
Song Jiyun, thinking of Eunuch Wan who had been feigning illness during this time, felt that some things should be made clear to prevent those unaware of the truth from being used by Eunuch Wan, which could disrupt her grand plans. She simply had Chairman Ma bring over a stool for her, and she sat down to answer everyone’s questions one by one.
It was somewhat exhausting, but it was also an opportunity for interaction.
The crowd stopped repeating the same questions, and the previous chaos was no longer an issue.
They chatted and laughed, appearing quite harmonious and joyful.
Chairman Ma couldn’t help but remark quietly to Elder Yan and Old Master Wu, "Truly, the new waves of the Yangtze River drive on those before them, and it’s time for us to step aside and yield our places." He also discussed with them, "In next year’s guild election, I am thinking of nominating Boss Song. What do you think?"
Elder Yan was wholeheartedly in favor of Song Jiyun and felt that as Song Jiyun was already the foremost figure in Jingde Town, she didn’t need to snare all the high-profile positions for herself.
He laughed heartily, "One matter comes after another. It’s not too late to talk about it after the new blue and white porcelain is successfully fired."
Chairman Ma nodded. Suddenly, Elder Yan’s son, Eldest Young Master Yan, rushed over in a fluster.
"Father!" He gestured covertly to his father, "There’s been an incident, please come over for a moment." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Chairman Ma, being warm-hearted and impetuous, pulled Eldest Young Master Yan aside, "Speak up if there’s a problem. Together, several of us are equivalent to one Zhuge Liang. If we old fellows are not up to it, there is still Boss Song!" He pointed at Song Jiyun who was answering questions for people and teased him, "Don’t miss this rare chance or you might never have it again."
Elder Yan, a straight-shooting man, believed there was nothing in his household to hide and agreed with Chairman Ma, "Just say it. If it doesn’t work out, seek Chairman Ma."
Chairman Ma laughed heartily.
Eldest Young Master Yan, feeling helpless, shook his head, knowing that even if he kept the news to himself, it would come out eventually and informed them, "Father, the Hong Family has been raided by the Imperial Guard!"
"What?!" The men turned pale in unison.
In the history of our dynasty, no family in Jingde Town had ever been raided by the Imperial Guard.
Eldest Young Master Yan said, "It is said that the Hong Family is implicated in Prince Ning’s smuggling case. Old Grand Master Hong, the two young masters of the Hong Family, and Third Miss Song from the Hong Family Kiln Factory have all been taken away by the Imperial Guard."
The men looked at each other, speechless.
After a long moment, Chairman Ma found his voice, "Quick, quick, send someone to find out what has become of the Hong Family now?"
Although the kiln factory of the Hong Family had been purchased from Song Daliang, the Hong Family was the largest landlord in Jingde Town, and everyone who operated a kiln would buy wood from them.
Who knew if they would get implicated as well.
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