Shared succession?!
Is it the shared succession she understood?!
Song Jiyun couldn’t hide her surprise.
Because of difficulties with producing heirs, if in a family several branches only had one son amongst them, and there was no one suitable for adoption, one man would inherit the ancestors’ glory from several branches, marry wives from each branch, and the children born would continue the ancestors’ glory for the respective branches.
Yuan Yunzhong was to practice shared succession.
This meant that Yuan Yunzhong was going to marry two wives from different families, and in terms of ancestral law, one would belong to the Wang Family, and the children born would inherit the Wang Family’s property and business. The other would belong to the Yuan Family, and the children born would inherit the Yuan Family’s assets.
The most important thing was that both wives would be Yuan Yunzhong’s official wives, receiving the status and treatment of a principal spouse.
"How could this happen?" She couldn’t help but stand up suddenly.
Noble Consort Wan presumably also felt that this matter was not quite honorable. With a somewhat embarrassed smile, she said, "The Emperor has always favored Yuan Yunzhong. His recent assignment in Jiangxi was very much to the Emperor’s satisfaction. The Emperor intends to promote him to the position of Minor Nine Officials. However, Yuan Yunzhong and Lord Xiao Yuan have been at loggerheads over his marriage these past few years. When Yuan Yunzhong last left the capital, Lord Xiao Yuan even threatened to impeach him."
That is to say, Yuan Yunzhong was aware of this all along.
Song Jiyun’s lips were pursed tightly.
"It’s rare to see an official who is twenty-four years old, let alone one who is a Minor Nine Official at that age," Noble Consort Wan persuaded her, "since you and Yuan Yunzhong are one and the same, sharing both honor and disgrace, you should consider his interests. You mustn’t let Lord Xiao Yuan impeach Yuan Yunzhong. Filial piety comes before all else. If he gains a blemish in this regard, even if the Emperor wished to protect him, the other ministers in court wouldn’t let him off the hook. Moreover, sitting at such a high position at such a young age, there must be countless people who envy him silently and wish to pull him down from his horse. At the critical moment, you must not make a blunder!"
If someone as influential as Noble Consort Wan stepped in to mediate, defying her openly and not giving her face would certainly make her very unhappy.
Song Jiyun’s thoughts were already separated by a thick barrier from the people of the current time; she couldn’t change her own thoughts, and others also wouldn’t easily change theirs. Instead of arguing about who was right or wrong, turning red with argument without any conclusion, it was better to keep the peace.
"I understand," she said sincerely, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."
Seeing that she seemed receptive, Noble Consort Wan breathed a sigh of relief and started to express her sympathies, "I know how much this wrongs you. But where in this world can you find perfection? Yuan Yunzhong going to the extent of pleading with the Emperor for you, he must’ve put his whole heart into it. After you go back, don’t fight or argue with him; calmly discuss together whether you will be part of the Yuan Family or the Wang Family."
She also gave Song Jiyun some direction, "The key point is who the person from the other branch will be? If chosen correctly, you, Yuan Yunzhong, the Yuan Family, and even the Wang Family, as well as the children and wife from Yuan Yunzhong’s other marriage, will all benefit from your good choice. If chosen wrongly, you’ll be bracing yourself for a lifetime of aggrievances and hardships!"
Song Jiyun obediently lowered her eyelashes, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will think it over carefully after I return."
Noble Consort Wan sighed deeply, patted her hand, and said, "You have been wronged," and gave her a rare promise, "If ever you find yourself in a difficult position, you can come to me."
Song Jiyun could feel her goodwill and, after a moment’s thought, paid Noble Consort Wan a grand courtesy and thanked her earnestly.
When she left Noble Consort Wan’s Zhaode Palace, even Qin Fang couldn’t help feeling envious, "Noble Consort has never supported anyone like this before. Song Clan, you must seize this opportunity and not let Noble Consort down."
"Thank you for your advice, Eunuch Qin," Song Jiyun wasn’t stingy with her gratitude, "Where should I wait for Lord Yuan? Or should I return first?"
Noble Consort Wan had told her earlier that Yuan Haoran, Yuan Yunzhong’s father, upon learning that Yuan Yunzhong had come to the palace to request a marriage decree from the Emperor, swiftly submitted a request and followed into the palace, asking the Emperor to decide on an additional marriage prospect for Yuan Yunzhong. Yuan Yunzhong disagreed, and Yuan Haoran ended up kneeling in front of the Emperor tearing up, putting the Emperor in a tough spot. She took the initiative to persuade Song Jiyun because of her wish to ease the Emperor’s worries, "Originally, I just wanted to see what kind of person you are, the one Lord Yuan has been insisting to go to Jingde Town for, all for the sake of a minor fifth-rank magistrate post."
Yuan Yunzhong and Yuan Haoran were still in Qianqing Palace, showing an attitude that they wouldn’t leave unless the emperor agreed to their demands.
"Of course, the emperor wishes to grant Yuan Yunzhong his wish, but he’s loath to face Lord Xiao Yuan’s sharp tongue," Noble Consort Wan said, obviously also finding the matter headache-inducing. "You must know, Lord Xiao Yuan comes from an Imperial Censor background. He can quote classics and debate spontaneously. He is the kind of person who can argue black into white and life into death, extremely persuasive. Once he starts talking, there are few who can stand against him."
Song Jiyun guessed that this was not a matter that would be resolved in a short amount of time.
Qin Fang, however, smiled and said, "Lord Yunzhong is just worried about putting you out, isn’t he? Now that you’ve agreed, he should come out soon."
The implication was that she could wait for Yuan Yunzhong.
Yet, Song Jiyun felt that Yuan Yunzhong would not compromise, even after receiving the news that she had "agreed."
Firstly, it would violate Yuan Yunzhong’s principles; secondly, she believed Yuan Yunzhong would know under what circumstances she had "agreed."
"I’d rather not wait for him," Song Jiyun said subtly. "Young Master Yuan is unlikely to come out so soon. I just don’t know when the Manufacturing Office closes. Would it be appropriate for me to go there at this time?"
Qin Fang thought Song Jiyun didn’t want to meet Yuan Haoran under these circumstances and did not take her words to heart. He said, "The Manufacturing Office has summoned craftsmen from all over to the capital and will formally start gathering you for reports in two days. The office should send clerks to inform you."
Song Jiyun thanked Qin Fang and was accompanied by a young eunuch as she left the palace.
The official from the Manufacturing Office was still waiting beside Shenwu Gate. When he saw her coming out, he scrutinized her closely and attempted to fish for information about why Qin Fang had summoned her and whom she had met within the palace.
Song Jiyun thought many people respect the authority before the person. Having gone through the anxiety of entering the palace, she couldn’t just let it be in vain.
"I went to see Noble Consort," Song Jiyun whispered, "She said she wanted to know who was responsible for firing the sweet white porcelain."
The official’s look towards her changed. He introduced himself, "My surname is Wang. I am the Chief Accountant in charge of porcelain at the Manufacturing Office. You can come to me for anything in the future."
Song Jiyun expressed her thanks and casually asked about the hundred craftsmen coming to the capital.
Lord Wang not only informed her about the schedule for reporting to the Manufacturing Office but also shared some inside information: "The emperor is greatly favored by the Empress Dowager. Although this time it’s for celebrating the Empress Dowager’s birthday, the emperor also doesn’t want to overlook the Empress Dowager and intends to have a statue of Guanyin fired for her. Besides you from Jingde Town, people from Dehua and Longquan have also been called. Whichever of you fires the better piece, that’s the one that will be used."
The porcelain from Dehua, Fujian, known as Dehua porcelain, is best at firing Guanyin statues.
The so-called "Sacrificial White Porcelain" of the Song Clan is actually Dehua porcelain.
And Longquan’s celadon in Lishui, Zhejiang, with a heritage combining Ge Kiln and Ru Kiln, is famous for its elegantly beautiful glaze color. They excel at firing various pots and jars.
Many people prefer to use Longquan celadon to make spirit bone pagodas.
And the Empress Dowager was not young anymore.
Song Jiyun’s gaze flickered slightly.
It seemed that a position in the Manufacturing Office was not so easy to hold after all.
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