Eunuch Wan dared not!
Yuan Yunzhong’s expression grew even uglier.
Only then did Eunuch Wan notice that Song Jiyun was also present.
He felt extremely awkward, thinking he should have worn a middle layer of clothes while carrying the thorny branches.
But doing so would not be enough to move Yuan Yunzhong.
He gritted his teeth, hugged Yuan Yunzhong’s thigh even tighter, and continued his pitiful plea, "My lord frequents the Inner Court, and we, being rootless and sourceless, are merely playthings. If we do not serve our masters well, where else can we find a way to survive? Please, turn a blind eye and spare me a path of life! In my next life, I will repay you by working like an ox or horse."
Veins popped on Yuan Yunzhong’s forehead as he ordered sternly to someone by his side, "Drag him out!"
That servant boy was quite perceptive; he immediately fetched a garment for Eunuch Wan to wear, then heaved him up and started walking him out, while saying, "Why bother yourself like this? Knowing our master has urgent matters, and still insisting on crowding around him, aren’t you just asking to be turned away?"
In the face of life and death, Eunuch Wan had no concern for face, and while being dragged away, he still shouted, "Lord Yuan, I am willing to follow your lead in everything. Whatever you say, I will do; whatever you want, I will provide. Just let me stay in Jingde Town."
Yuan Yunzhong didn’t even care to spare him a glance.
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but be curious and asked, "What? Is he to leave Jingde Town?"
"Do you want him to leave Jingde Town?" Yuan Yunzhong countered.
Song Jiyun was startled.
What did Wan Xiaoquan’s coming and going have to do with her?
But she quickly realized.
Yuan Yunzhong was seeking her opinion. If she thought it inappropriate, he would consider taking the chance to remove Eunuch Wan.
Song Jiyun thought seriously and said, "Wouldn’t that be detrimental to you?"
Yuan Yunzhong was surprised, and after a while, said, "He had already committed offenses. It’s just a matter of whether he is dealt with by me or by the Directorate of Imperial Ceremonies. If I handle it, by law, he goes to prison. If they handle it, as long as they get their silver, everything can be negotiated, and he might escape punishment. Rational or emotional, it does not affect me."
Song Jiyun felt immediately lighter in spirit and smiled, "Crows are black everywhere. No matter who comes to Jingde Town as the Porcelain Supervisor, we always need to find a way to establish good relations. Don’t worry about me; just act according to your own ideas."
It was just a matter of extorting them for more or less silver.
Yuan Yunzhong then said, "Better the devil you know. Let him stay in Jingde Town. Having gone through this ordeal, he should not dare to overstep his bounds with you again. It might even turn out to be a good thing."
"Thank you!" Song Jiyun accepted his favor, and suddenly thought of Song Tao.
Song Tao, who had always been so obsequious towards Eunuch Wan—she had thought it was because Song Tao knew of future events, and that Eunuch Wan would stay in Jingde Town for a long time. But now that Song Tao had found herself in trouble, did that mean that the future Song Tao knew of has changed?
Song Jiyun could not help but ask, "If you hadn’t investigated Prince Ning’s smuggling case, would Eunuch Wan still serve as Porcelain Supervisor in Jingde Town for a long time?"
"Probably!" Yuan Yunzhong said casually, "In many people’s eyes, the role of Porcelain Supervisor is a lucrative position. But within the Twenty-Four Yamen, the Porcelain Supervisor really isn’t much. There are those who represent the Emperor in overseeing mines who gather more profit, and those who represent the Emperor in guarding Nanjing hold more power. Wan Xiaoquan came to Jingde Town because his backing had collapsed, and he had no choice. If he were removed, the Twenty-Four Yamen would probably have a headache deciding whom to send."
Song Jiyun’s expression turned somewhat complex.
Yuan Yunzhong couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong?"
Song Jiyun waved her hand and said, "It’s nothing. I just feel how unpredictable life is."
Song Tao held a good hand, yet still managed to land herself in prison. It shows that knowing the future isn’t important; what’s important is whether one’s brain is useful.
I wonder how Song Tao was planning to extricate herself this time?
She asked, "Does the affair of the Hong Family need to be kept secret?"
If not, she wanted to know if the Hong Family was being suspected and thereby assisting in the investigation, or if they were implicated and awaiting trial.
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at her and said, "The evidence of the Hong Family smuggling for Prince Ning is conclusive; it’s likely they were also involved in rounding up refugees and harboring dead soldiers. Whether Hong Xi is involved, and to what extent, is still uncertain."
Song Jiyun said, "What about Song Tao then?"
Yuan Yunzhong was silent for a moment.
Song Jiyun thought that Song Tao’s matter might be inconvenient to disclose to her and was about to say, "Then don’t tell me," when Yuan Yunzhong said, "She is likely implicated. However, many documents bear her signature; I suspect she was used by the people of the Hong Family. Whether she can be exonerated depends on what the people of the Hong Family say."
In the future that Song Tao once envisioned, what was the situation of the Hong Family people?
Song Jiyun was somewhat curious. She asked Yuan Yunzhong with a smile, "If you hadn’t gotten lost at our house, what would you have done next?"
The wings of a butterfly can indeed change the future, but when a butterfly has not yet spread its wings, what is meant to happen should still occur.
Yuan Yunzhong, not understanding her intention, raised an eyebrow but still said, "I would have gone straight to Nanchang Prefecture, stayed there for a few days to fulfill my duty, and then returned directly to the Capital City."
At this point, as if recalling the scene when they first met, he explained, "Shao Qing was waiting for me outside at that time, which is why I ended up at your house."
He said, "Your father was not only a famous porcelain master in Jingde Town but also held in high esteem in Nanjing and Suzhou and Hangzhou. As soon as I arrived in Jiangxi, I heard of your father’s demise. I suspected someone had informed Prince Ning, saying the Emperor was going to investigate his finances, and he committed murder to seal lips. Thus, making a feint, I let the people accompanying me go to Nanchang, while I took a detour to Jingde Town."
Little did I expect that those colluding with Jingde Town were the Hong Family, who owned no kiln factories.
As they were talking, the servant boy who had earlier instructed to carry Eunuch Wan out rushed in with a grave expression, saying, "Young Master Yuan, Old Grand Master Hong has confessed."
Yuan Yunzhong was taken aback.
The servant boy said in bewilderment, "We haven’t even begun to interrogate him, and he has already confessed voluntarily. Could there be any conspiracy in this?"
Whatever the situation, Yuan Yunzhong’s moment had arrived.
Song Jiyun hastily took her leave, "Then you go ahead with your duties! We can talk again when you’re free."
Yuan Yunzhong nodded and left with the servant boy.
By evening, everyone in Liang County City knew that the Hong Family had smuggled for Prince Ning.
The streets buzzed with discussion. Even the Eleventh Grand Master Song asked about the truth while using the visit to deliver private school account books to Song Jiyun as a pretext.
Both Song Jiyun and Madam Qian remained silent, feigning ignorance when asked.
Eleventh Grand Master Song couldn’t help but remark, "It was previously said that the Hong Family was different, living in Jingde Town yet not engaging in porcelain-making. It turns out they didn’t abstain from it but had other means. Not to mention the taxes they evaded over the years; it’s no wonder their family was so wealthy!"
The ancestors of the Hong Family were indeed very wealthy.
Now it was merely a case of greed overreaching, biting off more than they could chew.
Yet, Eleventh Grand Master Song did not let her off and asked her, "I heard that the Hong Family’s properties are to be confiscated. Is that true? If so, you need to be more cautious."
Song Jiyun was initially unclear on this matter. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Eleventh Grand Master Song explained, "I’ve heard that during the confiscation, the gold and silver treasures are minor issues, naturally claimed by the officials and the Imperial Court; however, the confiscated mountains, forests, and farmlands are often sold off by the governmental authorities to cover the deficits. Their family owns slopes suitable for Dragon Kilns."
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