At this moment, Song Jiyun was standing under the eaves of the reception hall in the Kiln Factory.
She had just seen off a few kiln factory owners who had delivered samples of the new blue and white porcelain.
Ever since they obtained her formula, the several kiln factories and workshops she had selected to produce the new blue and white porcelain had successfully fired the new ceramics. Two of them even had particularly high production rates. Upon inquiring, she learned that they had hired craftsmen from the Changjiang Gang who had previously built the bun kilns for her.
"Their craftsmanship is truly good, and they are diligent in their work," the owners praised. "Now their businesses are so good that they are booked until the middle of next year."
Song Jiyun didn’t feel much about it.
No matter how many people hired the Changjiang Gang to build kilns, they would always prioritize the orders of the Song Family Kiln Factory and would come whenever summoned.
Song Jiyun smiled and chatted with them for a while, "Keep the firing steady, and if it’s not working, you can invite Master Guo and his team to take a look."
The higher the production rate, the more money they would make.
The kiln factory owners all left happy and delighted.
Zheng Quan then came in and spoke to her about Yuan Yunzhong’s affair, "The eunuch he sent was from the Directorate of Imperial Ceremonies. After delivering the decree, he stayed in Jiujiang for one night and had a meal with Lord Yuan. It’s said that Prince Ning’s Mansion wanted him to come and have a look, but he did not agree and went straight back to the Capital City."
Song Jiyun nodded, "It seems the emperor is just putting on a show for those royal relatives to see."
After all, Emperor Taizu had left a decree, and the emperor couldn’t be too harsh on his own relatives.
"It should be so," said Zheng Quan. "Previously Prince Ning was making a fuss about making Young Master Yuan suffer, but ever since he learned that the eunuch sent to reprimand Lord Yuan did not even see his face and went straight back to the Capital City, Prince Ning has quieted down and hasn’t caused any trouble for a couple of days."
As for Old Grand Master Hong’s suicide, Song Jiyun said, "It was mostly to protect the brothers Hong Xi and Hong Zhao."
After all, once a person dies, some matters can no longer be pursued.
Zheng Quan quite agreed and said, "The Hong Family’s properties will definitely be confiscated. I’ll send a few more people to keep a close watch, we must take over those plantation fields they own."
Song Jiyun suggested, "If we can buy a few mountain forests as well, they could be used as dowries for the young ladies."
Especially for Song Jiyu. The Xiong Family was in the timber business, and some of the Hong Family’s mountain forests bordered those of the Wuyuan Xiong Family. If they could buy those forests, the Xiong Family would surely be very pleased.
Zheng Quan nodded, and a servant boy came to report that Yuan Yunzhong had returned from Jiujiang.
"Let’s go!" Song Jiyun said with a smile, "We should also head back. It’s a good opportunity to ask Young Master Yuan what happened during his trip to Jiujiang."
Zheng Quan responded with a smile and rode back to the Song Mansion with her.
However, Yuan Yunzhong had already gone to the County Yamen of Liang County, leaving Shao Qing to pack things up.
"Boss Song," Shao Qing greeted Song Jiyun and Zheng Quan happily, dispelling the gloominess of the past, "How have you been lately? I’ve been running around with the young master these days and haven’t had the time to have a cup of tea with you all."
Seeing his demeanor, Song Jiyun knew that the trip to Jiujiang had gone smoothly. She teased him, "Finally, the skies are clear. You were looking so gloomy before, ignoring everyone—I thought you were never going to pay attention to us again!"
Shao Qing touched his head sheepishly and happily shared, "The emperor has confirmed that those who ambushed the young master were bandits. This time, Prince Ning lost both his wife and his troops. As for those who died, he can’t make a big deal out of it and has to settle for compensating silver. But those colonels who died a martyr’s death were on the Imperial Court’s payroll. They died without reason, and without proper honors; their families will certainly not rest easy. He’s got his own pot to stir now."
Song Jiyun congratulated, "Then congratulations to you all!"
Shao Qing laughed and had a servant boy carry out a pile of gift boxes, saying, "This is something the young master asked me to buy. He said there weren’t many good things in Jiujiang, and told you to just take whatever you like, and if you don’t like it, you can give it away to someone else."
Song Jiyun felt somewhat uncomfortable inside. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
When Yuan Yunzhong went to Lake Entrance last time, he personally selected gifts for her, and they were all edible, playable, and usable things.
She smiled and accepted the gift boxes. Going back and opening them, she saw that apart from a few packets of tea which were from Jiujiang, the rest were all gold and silver jewelry, fine silk and satin—although valuable, they were things that could be bought anywhere.
Song Jiyun frowned directly.
She could already be sure that Yuan Yunzhong was avoiding her.
Why would Yuan Yunzhong want to avoid her?
Even if Yuan Yunzhong and she had reverted to being just friends, there was no need for him to avoid her like this!
Song Jiyun was perplexed.
She decided to find Yuan Yunzhong and ask for clarification.
She went to the Yinyu Hall.
Yuan Yunzhong had not returned yet, and as night fell, the servant boys were hanging lanterns.
The study was silent; she waited there for Yuan Yunzhong.
In the spring pot on the desk, adorned with blue and white cloud patterns, two or three willow branches were inserted, embellished with clusters of Lady Yu flowers. The study was tidy and neat, with the wolf hair brushes Yuan Yunzhong had used hanging on the rack, aligned like little saplings.
Song Jiyun remembered Yuan Yunzhong’s eyelashes.
They were also distinct, one by one.
She couldn’t help but smile.
She turned around to browse his bookshelf.
Most were books describing geography and landscapes, with the occasional volume of poetry, songs, and extraordinary tales.
Song Jiyun flipped through them casually and came across a passage about the geography of Jingde Town. The Nameless Temple on Nameless Mountain was prominently featured. The book also described Nameless Mountain as "layers of rolling hills, steep and precipitous, with ravines crisscrossing, like interlocked dog teeth."
It was evident that Yuan Yunzhong had known about the dangers of Nameless Mountain for a long time.
Why did he venture to Nameless Mountain?
Shouldn’t he have lured the tiger away from the mountain, drawn Prince Ning’s men out, then invited the guest into the urn and captured them like trapping turtles in a jar?
Yet, he risked his own safety.
This was not characteristic of Yuan Yunzhong!
As Song Jiyun mused in confusion, Shao Qing’s voice came from outside, "The lanterns are lit, everyone else can go rest for the night! The young master won’t be back today."
A servant boy asked, "The young master isn’t coming back again?"
Shao Qing responded vaguely.
Then, the servant boy said, "Since the young master has not been here for days, why pretend like he stays at the Song Mansion every night?"
Upon hearing this, Shao Qing scolded, "If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all. No one treats you as mute. It’s none of your business to meddle in the young master’s affairs."
The servant boy might have been bold, or perhaps he had a good relationship with Shao Qing, as he laughed it off and said, "I’m just concerned about the Song Family’s expenditure on candles and lanterns. Lights are on every day, which is quite costly. The Song Family’s chefs prepare a late-night snack for the young master every day. Just yesterday, the lady specifically came to ask if anything was lacking, and here I am, feeling uneasy about it."
Shao Qing laughed and cursed, "You think the young master doesn’t know? There’s no other choice. That lunatic from Prince Ning’s Mansion will never just surrender. The young master has set up a plan within a plan, leading Prince Ning to believe that the Song Family side is presenting a false front, naturally drawing his attention towards the County Yamen. If Prince Ning becomes reckless and sends men to attack the young master, surely we can’t let the Song Family be turned into a slaughterhouse, right?"
Slaughterhouse!
These four words rang like a bell tolling at dawn and dusk in Song Jiyun’s ears.
An idea suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Yuan Yunzhong was well aware of the perils of Nameless Mountain, yet after receiving the letter from Prince Ning, he hadn’t said a word, sent Shao Qing to find her, and then went alone to Nameless Temple.
Could the content of that letter have something to do with her?
Song Jiyun could no longer sit still.
She pushed open the door and walked out, asking Shao Qing, "Where is Young Master Yuan?"
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