Song Jiyun, when she first heard that Song Tao had been trafficked by Song Ren, was startled, but after listening to the Great Madam’s words, she couldn’t help but laugh and said, "Do you know that Song Tao was fined fifty thousand taels of silver?"
The Great Madam, not understanding the situation, was taken aback.
Song Jiyun said, "Do you think Song Ren could earn more than fifty thousand taels of silver by selling Song Tao to someone?"
The Great Madam’s face immediately turned bright red.
Song Jiyun picked up her tea and said, "I have sent people to help you inquire about Song Tao’s whereabouts; as for what exactly has happened to her, it’s still not clear what it has to do with Song Ren."
The Great Madam murmured an assent in a low voice, and Madam Qian, also embarrassed, quickly led the Great Madam and her daughter out, "Since everything has been made clear, please go and sit in my place for now. Yun Duo is very busy. Usually, I’m afraid of disturbing her business, so I don’t bother her much."
After seeing off the Great Madam, Madam Qian came to apologize to Song Jiyun, "I was so worried when I heard about it, I didn’t think it through."
Song Jiyun quickly embraced her mother, smiling and said, "Of course, you’d come to find me when you’re worried! If not me, who else would you find?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Madam Qian was overwhelmed with shame, "I’ve lived so many years, yet I’m not as good as you, my daughter."
Song Jiyun laughed and said, "Not just you, many men who manage household affairs are not as good as I am. Otherwise, why would people honor me with the title ’Boss Song’?"
Madam Qian let out a chuckle and her mood improved a lot.
Song Jiyun then told her, "I’ve already sent Zheng Quan to investigate, and there should be news soon. You just rest easy, and I’ll have someone inform you in time if there’s any change."
After mother and daughter had a heart-to-heart talk for a while, Madam Qian finally took her leave.
Song Jiyun started preparing the clothes and jewelry she would need for going out tomorrow.
Yuan Yunzhong was meeting with people from the Metropolitan Censorate today to discuss the case involving Prince Ning’s Mansion. He had sent her a letter, saying he might spend the night at the Liang County Yamen and not to wait for him. The two of them planned to go see the flowers at Nameless Temple tomorrow—he had passed by a valley when he was besieged by Prince Ning’s Mansion, and the valley was filled with blooming winter jasmine, golden and spectacular. He mentioned in the letter he sent her that he had wanted her to see it. It so happened that people from the Metropolitan Censorate would be going to Nanchang Prefecture tomorrow, so he could take a day off for them to enjoy the excursion.
Having seen countless magnificent natural landscapes, Song Jiyun was still as excited as a child on their first spring outing because it was the company that mattered. With her traveling clothes and accessories ready, she simply went to the kitchen and asked the cooks to prepare some food, and she even found a picnic blanket she had designed earlier in the storage room, preparing it for tomorrow’s picnic with Yuan Yunzhong.
But when she came out of the storage room, she saw Yuan Yunzhong standing outside her courtyard.
He must have had a drink; his cheeks had a tipsy redness, and his brows seemed relaxed.
"Why have you come here?" Song Jiyun asked with a smile, quickly walking over, "Didn’t you say you might not come back? Is something the matter?"
"Nothing’s the matter." Yuan Yunzhong, seeing her eyes light up with a smile in his own, produced a pouch and said, "I saw these on the way and thought they were interesting, so I bought a few."
He opened the pouch and poured out several clay tumbler toys.
The size of a thumb, brightly colored, and endearingly stout, they were very cute.
He pushed the tumblers into Song Jiyun’s hand and said, "Here, you play with them. I still need to go to the Inspection Division."
This was him making an impromptu detour.
Song Jiyun was amused, yet the fact that he always thought of her filled her heart with sweetness, and she found it very fitting.
"I really like them," she said with a beaming smile, placing the tiny tumblers on her palm, playing with each one before tenderly putting them back into the pouch, "I will escort you!"
Yuan Yunzhong nodded and said, "Have you had dinner yet? I had Huaiyang Cuisine tonight. The cook’s lion’s head meatballs were very authentic. We can go eat at West Ridge Villa some other day."
Song Jiyun nodded. Looking up, however, she saw Shao Qing anxiously waiting by the carriage.
As he approached the two of them, Shao Qing urgently said to Yuan Yunzhong, "You’ve finally come out. Lord Huang sent someone to inquire, and I told them there was an issue with the carriage axle that we’re currently fixing. Hurry up, everyone must be waiting for you."
Yuan Yunzhong gave Shao Qing an emotionless nod, squeezed Song Jiyun’s hand, and got into the carriage.
Song Jiyun stood on the steps, waving to him until the carriage disappeared from sight, then she couldn’t help but smirk.
*
In the middle of the night, it began to rain.
The raindrops fell on the rooftop, pattering loudly, awakening Song Jiyun.
The Lake Silk curtains were blown open by the night wind, billowing up high like sails.
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