Fortunately, it was not long before the servant boy sent by Lord Liu to the palace arrived, panting, "Sir, the Teaching Nanny from the palace is preparing to return. Do you wish to see her off?"
"Why so soon?" Lord Liu said, hurriedly setting aside the official documents in his hands and heading to the chamber where Song Jiyun was learning etiquette, "Isn’t it supposed to take at least two or three shichen?"
The servant boy replied, "I heard in the nanny’s tone that she said The Song Clan is extremely intelligent, catching on at the slightest hint, fully understanding with minimal explanation. She only needed to be taught how to salute people, the rest was all very satisfactory."
Listening to this, Lord Liu puzzled in his heart. If she is so smart, how could she not know how to salute people? Could it be that she does not normally salute people either?
He walked briskly to the chamber, and just by chance, Jiyun accompanied the Teaching Nanny from the palace as they were leaving.
The nanny, who seemed quite stern, now had a face full of smiles and looked at Jiyun with utmost tenderness. She even said to Jiyun, "My family has served as Matrons in the palace for generations. If you need anything in the future, just come to me. Although I work in the Teaching Office, I have a sister who serves in the Kunning Palace!" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Lord Liu gaped in astonishment.
Since when were these palace folks so easy to speak to?
Or is there something special about The Song Clan that makes them instantly likable?
A chill ran through him, and he attentively greeted her, "I heard you are returning soon. How did today’s task go? Would you like me to arrange a palanquin to take you back to the palace?"
Before he finished speaking, the nanny’s face had already drooped, her eyes returning to a sharp triangle, "No need! Miss Song has already arranged everything. I will take the palanquin she has prepared to return to the palace."
Lord Liu thought about the palanquin he had arranged, aware that the silver for hiring the palanquin would still have to be audited by the Shangbao Bureau before being reimbursed by the Shangyi Bureau. The Shangbao Bureau is one of The Twenty-Four Yamen and the Shangyi Bureau one of the Six Bureaus and One Office. With eunuchs and palace maids involved, who knows how troublesome it could be. Sometimes, the reimbursement wasn’t even enough to cover the expenses for these two offices.
It was obviously better if The Song Clan was willing to send the nanny back to the palace.
He exchanged pleasantries and accompanied the two out of the Manufacturing Office.
Jiyun had already arranged the palanquin waiting outside.
The nanny took Jiyun’s hand, saying, "Let us meet again when I take leave from the palace."
Jiyun smiled and nodded repeatedly, pointing to the old woman accompanying the palanquin, "She’s from Jingde Town, brought over by me. Although she isn’t familiar with Capital City, she’s very astute. If you need anything later, just have her take care of it."
Lord Liu secretly clicked his tongue in admiration.
No wonder The Song Clan had so quickly endeared themselves to the nanny.
Look at their methods, truly clever.
He and Jiyun watched the palanquin depart, and then he smiled, "Miss Song, are you going back now or would you like to wait here a while?"
Jiyun looked at him curiously, pondering, "These few days, I’ve been busy setting designs for the palace orders, so dizzyingly busy that I’m spread thin. Even if I wanted to invite you to lunch, I simply don’t have the time. I can only have my family’s servant arrange a meal for you. But I don’t know if you have any dietary restrictions? Any preferred style of cuisine?"
Embarrassed, Lord Liu thought, Do I really look like someone who scams meals and drinks?
Before he could even respond, a young eunuch came running over.
Lord Liu frowned, but the young eunuch handed him a dispatch, saying, "Lord Liu, didn’t you send twenty-four paintings to the Empress Dowager a few days ago? Cining Palace has said that even if Jingde Town is selected, it’s the same if the Imperial Kiln Factory assists with the firing. The Song Clan doesn’t need to enter the palace anymore."
Jiyun and Lord Liu looked at each other in shock.
Lord Liu no longer cared about saving money, quickly slipping the young eunuch a red envelope, "The Teaching Nanny from the palace just left; why did the palace suddenly issue such a statement? If there’s something we did wrong, please advise us."
The eunuch replied, "I don’t know either. Just a moment ago, Cining Palace was discussing what The Song Clan looks like, and then suddenly said there’s no need for The Song Clan to help with the porcelain. You might want to find someone fast to check on what exactly happened."
Jiyun quickly stuffed two large red envelopes into the young eunuch’s hands, politely saying, "Sir, do you know if there are any updates from Cining Palace?"
The eunuch refused her red envelopes, saying, "No labor, no pay. I don’t mean to withhold information; I genuinely don’t know."
Jiyun’s brows slightly furrowed, thinking that she needed to quickly send someone to inquire at the Qin family’s place.
Having sent away the Young Eunuch, she bid farewell to Lord Liu.
Lord Liu, afraid that she would overthink, repeatedly explained, "This matter was too sudden, I have also sent people to inquire, and as soon as I have any information, I will have someone inform you."
Song Jiyun expressed her thanks.
Zheng Quan brought the carriage over.
Just as she was about to step on the footstool, a man loudly called out to her, "The Song Clan!"
Song Jiyun turned around.
She saw Wei Jie.
He smirked coldly at her, his brows filled with disdain, and arrogantly said, "Have you got time to talk to me now?"
In a flash, Song Jiyun realized, "The selection at Cining Palace, was it your doing?!"
Wei Jie proudly said, "At least you understand!"
Song Jiyun’s face was frosty.
She lifted her chin and said, "Speak then, after going through so much trouble, what do you want to do?"
"Just wanted to see what sort of person could bewitch Yuan Yunzhong," Wei Jie said maliciously, "nothing but a lousy potter!"
Zheng Quan, furious, raised his arm to strike, but was stopped by Song Jiyun.
"It’s a pity, all your efforts and no one cares; must be hard on you, isn’t it?" Song Jiyun sharply said. "A nosy parker indeed."
"You!" Wei Jie, livid, his face turning blue, threatened, "Don’t think just because you have Yuan Yunzhong backing you I won’t dare do anything to you? This time it was just the selection at Cining Palace, next time it won’t be so cheap."
Arguing with this mad dog was too exhausting.
Song Jiyun turned to get into the carriage.
Seeing her dismissive attitude, Wei Jie, his face an ashen blue, angrily reached out to grab Song Jiyun’s arm, "Don’t push your luck..."
Zheng Quan quickly stepped forward to intervene, but a pair of clean and slender hands were faster.
With a light grunt, Wei Jie’s wrist was grabbed and pushed, causing him to stumble several steps backward and fall to the ground.
"Yuan Yunzhong!" He looked up, his eyes filled with panic.
"How are you?" Yuan Yunzhong, without giving him a glance, concernedly examined Song Jiyun up and down.
"I’m fine!" Song Jiyun said, glancing at Wei Jie, "Why are you still here?"
Previously, since she was unsure how long learning the rules would take, she had asked him not to come fetch her.
"Yuan Yunzhong!" Wei Jie, holding his wrist, shouted loudly, his voice trembling with unmistakable fear and resentment, "How could you do this? I will tell Madam Wang."
Yuan Yunzhong, as if deaf, was focused entirely on Song Jiyun, "Move your wrist around. If it’s uncomfortable, let’s quickly go to a nearby clinic first, then have an imperial physician come over to the house for a follow-up. You mustn’t neglect your health."
Shao Qing, who had come along, already had a grip on Wei Jie’s collar and asked, "Young Master, how should we deal with this man?"
"Report to the authorities!" Yuan Yunzhong, not sparing him a glance, said coldly, "If Shuntian Prefecture does not handle it well, I will."
Shao Qing acknowledged the order.
Wei Jie, eyeing the Embroidered Spring Knife on Shao Qing’s waist, grew anxious and loudly said to Yuan Yunzhong, "You can’t treat me this way, I... I am your elder uncle!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
