Shao Qing was taken aback, somewhat hesitant.
Song Jiyun’s mind raced as she said, "Is it inconvenient to tell me? Are you trying to entice Prince Ning to make a move again?"
Seeing that he couldn’t deceive her, Shao Qing simply spilled the beans, "The young master is worried that Prince Ning might take action at the Song Mansion and harm the innocents; thus, he has been quietly residing at the County Yamen of Liang County."
Song Jiyun thought of the bloodstained clothing.
Despite not being Yuan Yunzhong’s, she could imagine what Yuan Yunzhong must have encountered.
She asked, "Is it convenient to see him at this time?"
Shao Qing said with a smile, "It’s convenient! Changing his residence is only to avoid Prince Ning’s desperate attempts. Now that Noble Consort Wan’s nephew has quietly arrived in Jingde Town, and Prince Ning has always been close to him, he will probably try to follow Wan Shen’s steps. He shouldn’t bother the young master anymore."
Song Jiyun said, "What is this Wan Shen doing in Jingde Town? If I remember correctly, Eunuch Wan once had me make a special batch of sweet white porcelain for him. Is this person here by chance or on purpose?"
Shao Qing replied, "It should be by chance. He is here for the Imperial Kiln Factory. Next year is the Empress Dowager’s birthday, and Noble Consort Wan intends to please the Empress Dowager by making a batch of porcelain for her birthday."
This involved the Song Family Kiln Factory.
Song Jiyun asked, "Do you know what kind of porcelain they plan to make?"
"I don’t know yet," Shao Qing replied with a smile, "Wan Xiaoquan only knows that Wan Shen has come, but he hasn’t gotten the order from the Manufacturing Office yet. He should come to find you in a few days."
The two talked as they went to the County Yamen.
Yuan Yunzhong had been resting here these few days.
Seeing Song Jiyun, he was quite surprised, "Why have you come at this late hour?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Shao Qing.
Shao Qing spread his hands helplessly and said, "Miss Song figured it out."
Song Jiyun felt more and more that she had to ask for some clarity.
She smiled as she surveyed the room’s furnishings, casually saying, "I haven’t seen you for a few days; I came to see how you were doing?"
The red lacquered windowsills of the study room, with their brocade patterns, were propped open, revealing clusters of seven-mile fragrance flowers shining like jade in the moonlight, their scent fresh, elegant, lingering, and faintly wafting through the air.
Yuan Yunzhong personally poured tea for Song Jiyun.
His slender fingers, under the dim light, were like carved jade, more dazzling than the seven-mile fragrance.
"I have people from the Inspectorate, the Imperial Guard, and the Inspection Division around me; what is there to worry about?" he said indifferently, his eyelashes distinctly visible under his half-lowered eyelids, as straight as rows of little saplings.
Song Jiyun laughed, "Who knows what else you might do?"
Yuan Yunzhong raised his eyebrows in confusion.
Song Jiyun leaned back in the Taishi Chair, gently swirling the tea leaves floating on the water with the lid of the cup, and laughed, "Since you can mobilize the Inspectorate, the Imperial Guard, and the Inspection Division, why did you go to the Nameless Temple alone without calling anyone?"
Her gaze sharp and penetrating, full of sly insight as if she could see right through someone’s thoughts.
Yuan Yunzhong’s heart trembled slightly; he paused while holding the tea cup, his face betraying no emotion as he said, "That’s not necessary!"
"Is it really not necessary?" Song Jiyun asked with a faint smile, confident and composed, "Wasn’t it because Prince Ning mentioned me in the letter he sent you, making you wary of moving against me?"
Yuan Yunzhong couldn’t hide his surprise.
Indeed.
Song Jiyun’s heart sank.
She should have expected it.
Yuan Yunzhong never did anything unnecessary.
As soon as he received the letter from Prince Ning, he immediately sent Shao Qing to find her, and she should have guessed it.
"What did he say?" Song Jiyun trusted Yuan Yunzhong’s ability, a few words from Prince Ning were surely not enough for Yuan Yunzhong to knowingly head toward danger, and she pressed for an answer rather persistently.
Yuan Yunzhong’s eyes twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his calm composure and said, "Who has been filling your head with nonsense? How would Prince Ning know about you? Even if he does, how would he know that you could threaten me? You’re just overthinking things. You take everything to heart and ponder over it back and forth. Is that not why, despite eating quite a bit, you don’t gain weight?"
However, Song Jiyun "hey"ed at him, cutting off his words and said, "Do you know you have a problem? The more you try to hide something, the more you talk. The more casual you are, the fewer words you use."
Yuan Yunzhong scoffed.
"Really!" Song Jiyun said earnestly, "Look at how when I asked you previous questions, your responses were very succinct, but look at you just now, how many sentences did you utter? If you don’t believe me, think carefully about how just now’s scene was exactly as I described."
Yuan Yunzhong frowned, but there was a hint of contemplation between his brows.
Song Jiyun’s slender fingers suddenly tapped on his shoulder and said, "Yuan Yunzhong, before Prince Ning contacted you, he must have inquired about your visit to Jingde Town. He knows I am your fiancée, but he also feels that I come from a humble background and you are probably just acting on a whim. Even if he kidnapped me, it might not threaten you. So, although he mentioned me in the letter, it was just to tell you that he knows everything you have done in Jingde Town."
She even raised her chin at him with a bit of smugness and triumphantly said, "Don’t underestimate me. You have your secret ways of getting over the wall, and I have my strategies. I got this information from Shao Qing!"
"Impossible!" Yuan Yunzhong declared definitively, "He has no knowledge of this!"
"Then who does?" Song Jiyun looked at him with a smile, her face devoid of any petulance but her eyes shone like summer sunshine on the glittering surface of a lake, reflecting scattered gold, "Look at you, being concise with your words, that’s when you’re telling the truth."
Yuan Yunzhong pressed his lips tightly, realizing he had already let something slip.
He sat there expressionlessly, deciding to ignore Song Jiyun.
Watching him, Song Jiyun felt as if a tempest had arisen within her heart.
So, it really was her who had caused trouble for Yuan Yunzhong!
Even if he knew Prince Ning was just using her to test him, he still couldn’t help but face the challenge alone.
What were his feelings when he was beset on all sides?
To think, she had just rejected him.
After all he had done for her, after placing her in his future, she rejected him mercilessly, not even giving him a chance to explain.
She couldn’t help but say, "You shouldn’t have done this!"
Maybe it was the little thought in the bottom of his heart that had been unveiled, or maybe it was no use denying it anymore, Yuan Yunzhong closed his eyes for a moment, his mood somewhat downcast as he said, "It’s my fault that you’ve been implicated."
Song Jiyun’s heart felt as if it had been pricked, a sharp pain.
When he spoke the truth, he really was quite terse.
She said, "Then why are you avoiding me? The most dangerous place is the safest, you are now surrounded by experts, aren’t you afraid that Prince Ning will really make a move against me?"
"He won’t!" Yuan Yunzhong said in a low voice, "I’ve already torn face with Prince Ning, he has no need to target you. As long as you’re not by my side, you are very safe."
Song Jiyun didn’t speak, just gazed intently at Yuan Yunzhong.
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