"Stop!" A loud shout suddenly came from outside the door.
The fifth-rank official, however, looked cold and indifferent, not only ignoring the shout to stop but also loudly yelling at the group of government officials, "Hurry and take The Song Clan away, or do you no longer wish to have your jobs?!"
Meanwhile, He Dazhi and others took the opportunity to surround Song Jiyun.
"Rebellion, this is rebellion!" the newcomer shouted frantically, his shrill voice betraying his eunuch status, "I came here by the command of the Empress, and you dare to defy the dignity of Kunning Palace? Just wait until I tell the Empress; you’ll regret it!"
Although the newcomer was there to rescue her, Song Jiyun had to forcefully restrain herself from facepalming when she heard what he said.
"Release The Song Clan immediately!" he ordered.
Song Jiyun looked towards the voice and saw that the newcomer was only about seventeen or eighteen years old, holding high a bright yellow piece of five-colored satin brocade, his face pale and beardless, his features delicate and attractive.
Behind him, at the large doorway, peered the head of Immortal Baoguang, tentatively poking out.
Song Jiyun and Immortal Baoguang’s gazes met squarely in the air.
Immortal Baoguang nodded towards the Young Eunuch, silently mouthing something.
Although she could not fully understand it, Song Jiyun guessed that he was trying to tell her that the Young Eunuch was the one he had asked to come to her rescue.
Song Jiyun was somewhat worried that the Young Eunuch might not be up to the task.
Unexpectedly, Immortal Baoguang turned out to be reliable. Despite the Young Eunuch’s youth, he had a commanding presence and spoke with great articulation.
He questioned the fifth-rank official, "Which Yamen do you serve in? The Empress has also heard of this matter. The inner court should not involve itself in politics. Originally, our Empress wouldn’t have intervened, but how could she ignore it when the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager were also present? It was said that The Song Clan, who made the porcelain, was reported by Prince Ning and was to be sent to the Court of Judicial Review, and the Grand Empress Dowager immediately lost her temper, commenting on how Prince Ning couldn’t stay out of trouble. She kept him in the Capital City for him to be close to the Emperor, not to meddle in politics.
"The issue of The Song Clan making bone china must be personally interrogated by the Grand Empress Dowager.
"Prince Ning has already been summoned to Cining Palace.
"I don’t care which Yamen you belong to, I am taking The Song Clan with me now. If you want to investigate, you can do it after the Grand Empress Dowager has finished her questioning."
He also scolded the fifth-rank official, "What are you still standing there for, looking foolish? No wonder you’re still just a fifth-rank official at your age. That Wang Yi is far superior to you; he’s only twenty-seven this year and has been promoted to Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Look if he competes with you for positions. If you don’t even know how to be an official, there are plenty around you who do—couldn’t you learn a thing or two from them?"
The fifth-rank official was so enraged that his chest heaved, his face still showing traces of unwillingness. However, the government officials he commanded had already begun to retreat one by one.
The Young Eunuch didn’t even glance at them; he stepped forward, lifting up the imperial decree in his hand, and declared loudly, "The Song Clan, come and receive the decree."
This time, without needing Song Jiyun’s command, He Dazhi and the others hurried to set up the incense table and fetch the cushion.
Fortunately, the items for receiving the decree had not yet been stored away but were just kept in the side room.
The incense table was quickly set up, and Song Jiyun knelt on the cushion to accept the decree.
The decree mentioned only that the case of The Song Clan’s bone china was full of suspicions, and by the imperial command of the Emperor, the Three Departments would review it. Although The Song Clan was not yet an Imperial Appointed Female Servant, being a future daughter-in-law of the Yuan Family and thus a family member of an official, she was commanded by the Emperor to enter the palace immediately to be held and disciplined at Kunning Palace.
After pronouncing the decree, the Young Eunuch looked at the fifth-rank official, who still had not left. With a smile that was not quite a smile, he extended the decree towards him and said, "Would you like to verify whether this Phoenix Seal is authentic?"
In the palace, Noble Consort Wan was favored above all, and the Empress was treated as nothing more than a figurehead. However, the Empress Dowager had once protected the Emperor, and he regarded her as his own mother. Although it might have been possible to challenge a decree from just the Empress, perhaps following Noble Consort Wan’s tactics, the involvement of both the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager meant that even the Emperor dared not disregard their wishes.
The fifth rank official’s face had turned iron blue, and with a shout of "Go," he flung his sleeves and left with his entourage as abruptly as he had arrived.
The young eunuch visibly sighed with relief.
In Song Jiyun’s heart, a sudden "thump" occurred: Could Immortal Baoguang and this young eunuch be deceiving her?
Yet, she couldn’t hesitate for even a moment when it came to distributing silver and words of thanks.
She immediately performed a ceremonial bow before the young eunuch and instructed He Dazhi to quickly prepare a sizable red envelope.
The young eunuch revealed a joyful smile and said, "Miss Song, there’s no need for thanks. It was Brother Qin who persuaded Eunuch Miao from Kunning Palace. Eunuch Miao came up with the idea, and I was merely running errands."
Could it truly be a false pretense?
Song Jiyun, though brave, couldn’t control her expression and showed a look of astonishment.
Immortal Baoguang jumped out, squinting at her and said, "What are you thinking? Big Brother Miao handles matters very competently. Although we only sought the decree of the Empress before, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are definitely informed. Rest assured, when I handle matters, they are always safe."
How could Song Jiyun truly be at ease? She forced a smile and said, "What should I pack? Should I follow you into the palace now, or should I notify the palace first?"
The young eunuch noticed her unease and mentioned, "Even if Big Brother Miao missed something, we still have Wang Hua, don’t we? He personally took care of the people around the Empress Dowager, and even chose a place for you to stay, right behind Cining Palace in the West Three Places."
Song Jiyun wasn’t very familiar with the layout of the palace.
Immortal Baoguang explained, "The Empress Dowager resides in Cining Palace, and Her Majesty the Empress resides in Shoukang Palace. The West Three Places are located between Cining Palace and Shoukang Palace. Even if others wish to harm you, they must consider their actions carefully."
He hurried her, "Let’s go quickly. To avoid Prince Ning stirring other Yamen into arresting you. As for clothes and jewels, just bring a few everyday items, and let Wang Hua send more to you later. Don’t you also know Nanny from the Education Department? She is quite greedy, so you might want to bring more silver to have her bring things into the palace for you."
Fearing any delay might change things, Song Jiyun quickly packed and entered the palace with them.
Only then did she learn that the young eunuch from Kunning Palace was named Zhao Zhuo, nicknamed "Little Table," originally serving in Shoukang Palace. Due to his hobby of keeping birds, he had recently gained the favor of the Empress, who had taken up bird-keeping, and had not long become a favored person in Kunning Palace.
No wonder he still carried a bit of childishness.
Song Jiyun mulled over in her heart, pulling quite a bit of information from Little Table, especially about the hobbies of Shoukang Palace and Cining Palace.
She considered whether to send a few sets of porcelain featuring flowers and birds to Shoukang Palace.
*
The West Three Places consisted of three courtyards, each with a three-section compound. The courtyard featured red pillars and green windows, pink walls and green tiles, and ancient trees thick enough to embrace, with canopies like umbrellas shading the courtyard, dense with greenery. Before even entering, one could feel the cool shade washing over them.
"Please make do for now and stay here in the West Palace with Nanny Hu and the others," arranged another young eunuch, who seemed very familiar with Immortal Baoguang and was quite attentive and chatty with her. "Once your name is cleared, you will be able to leave soon."
Song Jiyun thanked him, evaluating her temporary residence.
It was in the northern secondary chamber of the west wing of the West Palace. Cold in winter, hot in summer.
The narrow room had a bed placed against the wall, a long table by the window, and nothing else.
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