Song Jiyun poked Yuan Yunzhong’s chest and playfully remarked, "Good that you know! Next time something like this happens, you need to speak up for me."
"Mmm!" Yuan Yunzhong said, unable to resist pulling her into his embrace.
Her body was soft like warm jade, but he knew she had a resilient heart.
Like a tree growing beside him, its branches intertwined with his, yet able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
He gently kissed her hair.
...
The bamboo curtain tapped lightly against the doorframe as someone tiptoed away.
Yuan Yunzhong chuckled, reluctantly letting go of Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun’s cheeks flushed, her radiance like a delicate flower blooming in the dimly lit study room, breathtakingly vibrant.
He tenderly adjusted the flower in her hair.
Through the study’s green gauze window, the maid who had been holding a pouch had already left without notice, and a cough from Shao Qing could be heard outside the Xiangfei Bamboo window.
Song Jiyun smiled faintly and after a long while sat back beside the window at the qin desk, lifting a corner of the brocade covering the qin and slowly plucking the strings.
Yuan Yunzhong leaned against the desk and warmly responded, "Come in!"
Shao Qing entered without deviating his gaze, somewhat reservedly saying, "Young Master, people from the Three Departments have arrived with an imperial decree, wishing to ask Boss Song a few questions."
"Understood!" Yuan Yunzhong replied indifferently.
Shao Qing waited a moment, and seeing no other instructions, could not help asking, "Aren’t you going to meet them?"
Yuan Yunzhong felt Song Jiyun would not appreciate him stealing her spotlight, so he shook his head and said, "Let’s follow Boss Song’s arrangements."
Song Jiyun beamed.
From "Miss Song" to "Boss Song," it seemed that everyone would address her this way from now on.
"I will be right there," she said smiling to Shao Qing.
Shao Qing left in response.
Song Jiyun then sought Yuan Yunzhong’s opinion, "Do I need to have you, this ’tiger,’ come over there?"
Yuan Yunzhong chuckled, "I really will follow your arrangements."
"Then you might as well rest here for now," Song Jiyun suggested, spreading a Zhang velvet blanket on the Arhat bed, "take a little nap. Since the emperor has promised me a chance to prove my innocence, the attitude of the Three Departments shouldn’t be too harsh. If you stay out of sight for now, should my talk with the Three Departments break down, you could still intervene and mediate as a backup plan."
She didn’t wish to make enemies lightly.
Yuan Yunzhong nodded, but still worried that Song Jiyun might be wronged, he couldn’t fall asleep and half reclined on the Arhat bed reading.
Song Jiyun changed into more formal attire and went to the hall.
There were five officials waiting for her, of various heights and builds: some wore Fourth-Rank Skylark Embroidery Patches, others wore Fifth-Rank White Graceful Embroidery Patches, some had Sixth-Rank Egret Embroidery Patches, and one was dressed in an Eighth-Rank Oriole Embroidery Patch.
After exchanging pleasantries, Song Jiyun learned that among them, two were from the Court of Judicial Review, two from the Ministry of Punishments, and one from the Metropolitan Censorate.
The official from the Metropolitan Censorate, the only Eighth-Rank officer there, spoke first, "I’m just here to observe and report the situation to the higher ups. Feel free to ask your questions; I will not interfere."
The Fourth-Rank official from the Ministry of Punishments coldly snorted and retorted fiercely, "Has the Metropolitan Censorate become a disciple of the Yuan Family?"
The Metropolitan Censorate official, unafraid, stood up with a sneer, bowed towards the east, and declared, "I’m a disciple of the emperor, acting in the emperor’s interest. Unlike some departments that have lost sight of their allegiance, they judge and convict without even seeing the person. It seems to me some are truly the emperor’s lapdogs!"
"You need to be responsible for what you say." An official from the Court of Judicial Review turned dark upon hearing this and said, "The Metropolitan Censorate has the duty to impeach officials and should speak and act prudently. How can you insult your colleague without any evidence? This is not the conduct of a gentleman."
One person from the Ministry of Punishments also jumped out to blame the Metropolitan Censorate.
Song Jiyun was dumbstruck.
She hadn’t even started scolding, and they had already begun arguing among themselves!
She didn’t have time to wait here while these people verbally sparred.
"Honorable sirs," Song Jiyun stood up to intervene, said, "Is there anything you wish to ask me? If the honorable sirs could ask their questions sooner, we could all conclude our business earlier."
The noise in the hall ceased abruptly, followed by a moment of dead silence.
Another official from the Ministry of Punishments at the fourth rank looked embarrassed, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Miss Song, we are here by imperial command to question you."
During these days in the palace, Song Jiyun had learned some protocol.
She stood up, respectfully bowed in the direction of the Imperial Palace, and then said, "I am all ears for your instruction."
The fourth-rank official from the Ministry of Punishments nodded approvingly and asked, "It has been claimed that your family’s Sacrificial Porcelain is made using bone ash. Is this true or false?"
Song Jiyun naturally denied it and said, "I can reveal the formula for my family’s Sacrificial Porcelain and can produce it on the spot under your supervision using the same formula once used for the Imperial Kiln Factory. The honorable sirs can then compare it with the Sacrificial Porcelain from the palace."
The fourth-rank official from the Ministry of Punishments was taken aback.
He had not expected Song Jiyun to give away the formula outright.
Knowing that this formula was a closely guarded secret, by revealing it, all ceramists could thereafter produce Sacrificial Porcelains comparable to Tribute Items, and the Song Family would no longer hold a monopoly.
He couldn’t help but ask, "Have you discussed this with your clan elders?"
This was a matter that could determine the rise or fall of the family.
He slightly frowned, feeling that even if it was to save Song Jiyun from imprisonment, the Song Clan members would certainly not agree to her decision.
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "Our Song Family Kiln Factory once produced two types of Sacrificial Porcelain for the Imperial Kiln Factory, one called Jade Porcelain and the other sweet white porcelain. I can reveal the formulas for both of these. However," she glanced sharply around at the officials present, her voice turning cold as frost, "it surely cannot be that anyone, just by bringing their upper and lower lips together, can falsely accuse others and be deemed credible, then chaos would reign under the heavens!"
"How is that possible?" the officials from the Court of Judicial Review who had previously argued with the Ministry of Punishments said, "Aren’t they afraid of being punished?"
Song Jiyun cast a disdainful glance at him, not hiding her contempt, and said, "Since someone has accused our family’s Imperial Porcelain of being impure, then let’s bring her out and have her produce a batch in the kiln using her supposed ’Song Family Sacrificial Porcelain’ formula."
She wanted to see how Song Tao would incorporate bone ash.
To let everyone see how Song Tao was framing her.
The officials from the Court of Judicial Review were not convinced and wanted to say something further, but another official from the Ministry of Punishments clapped his hands and said, "This method is excellent! If anyone who is idle can just file a complaint, wouldn’t we officials be overwhelmed?"
The officials from the Metropolitan Censorate also exclaimed "Good," saying, "It’s just the right way to set things straight! Don’t think you can bark nonsense just because you have a mouth!"
The official from the Court of Judicial Review whom Song Jiyun had reproached wanted to say more, but since the other five officials all approved, he pursed his lips and ultimately said nothing.
The officials were pleased to have found a resolution to this public case and happily left the hall.
Song Jiyun invited them to stay for dinner.
Everyone declined politely, particularly the one from the Metropolitan Censorate, who said, "The case has not yet been decided, and we should avoid conflict of interest. Miss Song, you, being in plain clothes, may not know the rules. This time is excused, but next time, such conduct must not be repeated."
Song Jiyun hurriedly responded with respect.
Back in the study, Yuan Yunzhong asked her, "Do you really intend to reveal the formula?"
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