Song Tao’s legal advisor stepped forward a few steps, took out the complaint, and began to read aloud.
Of course, the complaint that Song Tao filed against Song Jiyun had already been submitted to the Three Departments, and at this moment, her legal advisor was simply making it known to everyone why she was suing Song Jiyun and the content of the complaint.
Song Jiyun quietly listened, her gaze resting on Song Tao opposite her.
Song Tao sneered, her expression as cold and frosty as ice and snow, showing no signs of weakness.
Looking again at Prince Ning, he was speaking in a low voice with another official who was observing the case, his expression relaxed, as if the matter had nothing to do with him and he was just there to watch the drama unfold.
Something was off!
Many things can be faked, but the formula cannot be faked.
If you can make it, you can make it; if you can’t, then you can’t.
When it came down to it, they didn’t seem the least bit panicked, could it be that they had a fallback plan?
Was there something she had overlooked?
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but ponder in her heart.
Song Tao’s legal advisor had finished reading the complaint, and Song Jiyun’s legal advisor stepped forward to respond.
Normally, this stage of the process would be a battle of wits and words, but the emperor had already made a decision about the nature of Song Jiyun and Song Tao’s case. The Three Departments were simply going through the motions. After all, if Song Jiyun could produce the Sacrificial White Porcelain according to the formula, she would win the case. If Song Jiyun failed to produce the Sacrificial White Porcelain according to the formula... what then? They might have to ask for further instructions from the palace.
The chief judge, not wanting to make a fuss at this time, struck the gavel after a few words, asking Song Jiyun and Song Tao to submit their formulas as evidence.
Song Jiyun submitted her formula.
The chief judge looked at it and saw that it listed only ingredients, without the specific quantities.
He couldn’t help but smile slightly, feeling that Song Jiyun was not entirely forthright.
Looking at Song Tao’s formula, it was similar to Song Jiyun’s, except it included an extra ingredient: cow bone.
Although it wasn’t human bone, plow cattle were an important agricultural resource of the state, and the private slaughter of cattle was also illegal.
The chief judge inwardly ’tsked’ and requested Registrar Wang Zhubo and Supervising Pottery Officer Wan Xiaoquan from the Manufacturing Office to check whether the items that Song Jiyun and Song Tao had brought matched the ingredients listed in their formulas.
Wan Xiaoquan looked listless, akin to a cucumber that had been blanched, seemingly having lost his previous arrogance ever since he went to apologize to Yuan Yunzhong with a humble request for pardon.
The two carefully inspected the items and reported to the officials from the Three Departments, "There are no mistakes. They are all ingredients from the formulas."
The chief judge nodded, struck the gavel, and announced the start of the porcelain firing.
*
In front of the Glass Factory, two bun kilns commonly used in Jingde Town had been built for firing porcelain. The clay blanks to be used were prepared by the Manufacturing Office, and Song Jiyun and Song Tao randomly picked three hundred each. Once glazed and dried, they would be ready to fire in the kiln.
Song Jiyun brought over the workers from her workshop in Diagonal Street No. 2 Alley. They arranged the various tools and raw materials in front of the bun kiln she had been assigned, lining them up according to the processes of throwing, trimming, drying, carving, and glazing, to demonstrate to the onlookers how porcelain was made.
Additionally, people were arranged to explain what throwing was, why trimming was necessary, and what needed to be considered during drying.
They immediately attracted the crowd of onlookers, some asking, "What are you doing?" some wondering, "Aren’t you afraid others will learn your skills?" and others doubting, "Can you really make porcelain like this?"
How could it be possible?
Laypeople watch the excitement; experts watch the technique. The masters she had brought were among the best from the Song Family Kiln Factory; each had learned for at least a decade under a master, and who knows how many small skills were involved. If their craft could be casually learned by others, what kind of skill would that be?
Zhou Zheng was there, cheerfully explaining. While explaining, he also said, "If you are interested, you can go to our shop, Yinyu Hall, by the Western Fence. Not only do we sell porcelain there, but you can also experience making porcelain yourself. It’s only fifty wen for one time, and it’s quite interesting."
"Is it that expensive?" someone exclaimed in shock.
"Not expensive, not expensive," Zhou Zheng smiled, "Our clay is transported from Jingde Town in Jiangxi. Just calculate the transportation costs and you’ll know whether it’s expensive or not."
"Why would we need to transport clay from Jingde Town in Jiangxi? Isn’t the mud here in the Capital good enough?"
Everyone was asking with great curiosity and excitement.
Anyone who had an experience like Song Jiyun’s could tell at a glance that this was like a pottery bar designed to attract a crowd.
As for the fees, the Song Family wasn’t so poor as to fuss over some clay, but they knew that if something’s free, people often don’t value it. So, after discussing with Hong Xi, Song Jiyun decided to charge a fee.
Where there are lively scenes, there are also quiet ones.
Song Tao stood alone at the workbench, mixing glaze, unable to help stealing a glance at Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun was already glazing.
Song Tao bit the corner of her lip.
Even as a child, Song Jiyun had always been like this: although a lady of great wealth, she lacked the airs of one. She was quick and skillful with her hands, doing better and learning faster than others.
What Song Tao hadn’t expected was that Song Jiyun wouldn’t waste a single opportunity, marketing her Capital shop even while engaged in litigation against her.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but curl her mouth disdainfully.
She hoped Song Tao would still be able to smile after a few days.
Song Tao slowly applied the mixed glaze she had prepared onto the ware, starting the glazing process.
The officials from the Three Departments also came out, drawn by the activity.
They had never seen how porcelain was fired, and each one of them was very interested, watching and asking questions. Wang Hua popped up from somewhere and began explaining earnestly to these officials, occasionally quoting poetry, which drew their admiration.
Song Jiyun nearly laughed out loud.
Listening to Wang Hua, she thought he sounded just like a modern tour guide, clearly reciting memorized lines by rote.
As for who would have such eloquence and attention to detail—aside from Yuan Yunzhong, who else could it be?
Song Jiyun glanced over at the crowd.
She had seen Yuan Yunzhong earlier, standing amongst the onlookers with a gauze hat on, but now he had vanished without a trace.
If she had known it would turn out this way, she should have invited him to come along. At least he could have sat in the cool hall like Prince Ning, drinking tea and enjoying pastries.
*
Repetition eventually caused interest to wane; by lunchtime, many people found it less entertaining and left, while those who remained congregated around Song Jiyun, persistently asking, "Where is your shop? I didn’t hear clearly just now. Can we really get a free trip to the shop to play with clay if we have one of these ceramic tokens?"
Zhou Zheng’s voice was going hoarse, so Zheng Quan took over, replying, "Yes. Our shop is called Yinyu Hall and it’s located near the Western Fence," before adding, "Our kiln will need to fire for five days, and we’ll have activities in our shop for these five days. Everyone can come and get these ceramic tokens anytime. Collect thirty different tokens and there will be a surprise waiting for you at the shop!"
Still, as dinner time approached, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed.
Fortunately, both Song Jiyun and Song Tao had finished their glazing. The two carefully loaded the first glazed porcelain into the porcelain containers and gingerly placed them into the bun kiln.
The officials from the Three Departments were relieved.
They had been waiting here all day. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
After sealing the kiln and lighting the fire, they could leave their offices.
They would come back after five days to open the kiln.
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