On the fourth day, everyone remained at peace. The number of people coming to Song Jiyun’s kiln to collect ceramic tokens had been increasing by the day. This was because people were taking these tokens to Yinyu Hall to make pottery, which they said they could take home, although successful outcomes were few. But who doesn’t like getting things for free?
Many people also came asking when their family’s kiln would be opened.
Some said they had already collected twenty different patterns and only needed ten more, so they had to come every day for the next few days.
There were also people near Song Jiyun’s kiln exchanging ceramic tokens they had received.
Even more, there were shrewd stall vendors who carried baskets or pushed carts selling fruits and snacks here.
The Glazed Factory was busier and livelier than a temple fair.
Song Jiyun just sat next to the wood pile beside the kiln, watching the hustle and bustle of the crowd.
In the afternoon, it started to rain lightly.
An official from the Ministry of Punishments braved the rain to ask, "Will the kiln be able to be opened tomorrow?"
"Yes!" Song Jiyun said, "We’ll extinguish the fire tonight, and around Wei Hour tomorrow noon, we’ll be able to open the kiln here."
"Good, good," the official said with a smile, "Once you’ve set the time, we can go back and inform our superiors."
They couldn’t possibly wait here all day for the kiln to open; they would only come over at the time of opening.
"Then I’ll have to trouble you, sir," Song Jiyun politely replied.
However, the official didn’t leave and seemed to have something to say. After hemming and hawing for quite some time, he finally spoke in a hesitant, low voice, "Boss Song, a few days ago, some of my classmates took a walk around your Yinyu Hall. The things there really sell well."
What was this leading to?
While Song Jiyun frantically recalled which yamen this person served in and what his role was, and considered what she should do if he wanted one or two pieces of porcelain from her, she kept up a smile and responded, "Really? I’m glad you liked what you saw. We have always been making orders for the Imperial Kiln Factory, and we produce whatever designs they give us. What we display at Yinyu Hall are our own creations in shape and pattern, which sell very well in Nanjing and Hangzhou, but we’ve never sold them in the north before. I’m just afraid they might not suit your taste."
There had been too many officials from the Three Departments coming and going in the last few days, and on the first day when everyone was present, she had been too busy applying glaze with her head down. She vaguely remembered this person was a junior official responsible for documentation at the Court of Judicial Review. Yet the Capital City was a place full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and even a junior official might be troublesome if backed by a teacher or fellow townsmen.
She rambled on and on.
The official tried several times to change the subject but failed. At last, unable to hold back any longer, he seized an opportunity to interrupt Song Jiyun’s words, saying with a smile, "In a few days, it will be my mentor’s birthday, and I noticed a unique lotus flower brush washer in your shop. But the store manager said there was only one and it had been reserved already. The one in the shop is a sample and not for sale. In a few days, it is supposed to be sent to the shop in Nanjing. I was hoping you could help me out. See if you can sell that brush washer to me."
"Oh my, I’m still tied up with this case, and it wouldn’t be right for me to leave," Song Jiyun knew it was going to be this kind of matter, and she replied with a look of concern, "And there’s plenty of stock in the shop. I have no recollection of this lotus flower brush washer you’re talking about."
Feigning contemplation for a moment, she said, "How about this? I’ll send a young steward with you to Yinyu Hall to see what the brush washer you’re interested in is all about. We’ll sort this matter out on the spot."
"Okay!" The official thought about it and, having probably run out of other options, agreed readily.
Song Jiyun called Wang Hua over and had him accompany the official to Yinyu Hall.
Wang Hua was familiar with the important people of the Capital City; he knew better than she did whether this person was worth gifting a brush washer to.
She felt the thick walls of the kiln and gauged the temperature inside the furnace.
Master Xiao Guo, with dark circles under his eyes, said, "Owner, you can rest assured, we’ve been vigilant, keeping watch here without even blinking."
Once the porcelain was inside the kiln, the temperature was the only thing that could be tampered with.
His responsibility was, of course, the greatest.
Song Jiyun nodded and said, "You’ve all worked hard. Once this lawsuit is over, those who came to the Capital City will receive double pay, and you guys will get an additional month’s pay."
At times like this, a financial incentive was more effective than any other.
The Master and apprentices of the kiln area cheered quietly; their fatigue seemed to vanish instantly, and they all behaved as though they had taken Power Pills.
Master Xiao Guo shouted even louder, "Let’s all perk up. It’s only this one day and one night, whether we live or die."
Everyone shouted their agreement, with quite a bit of spirit, making the Master and apprentices from the neighboring Song Tao’s kiln look over several times.
"You have a way of winning people over," came a voice tainted with a hint of resentment from behind Song Jiyun, "Whether it’s Eunuch Wan or Young Master Hong, they are all single-mindedly helping you."
She frowned and turned around, only to see Song Tao standing not far away.
She stared steadily at Song Jiyun and said, "Are you still running a store with Hong Xi in the Capital City?"
Song Jiyun felt there was something off about her demeanor—Song Tao seemed to be looking at her, but Song Jiyun felt as if Song Tao was looking through her at someone else.
A thought struck her heart.
Could she be talking about things from a past life?
She suddenly became interested.
What was Song Tao like?
Leaning against a column in the pavilion, she said, "Hong Xi and I are from the same hometown. Isn’t it only natural for us to open a store together?"
Song Tao’s complexion was much better than when they first met; her eyes were bright, and her face had a healthy glow.
She smiled slyly and said, "Do you want to know why I said that?"
She slowly stepped forward, standing next to Song Jiyun, and whispered, "Tell me why Prince Ning was summoned by the Emperor a few days ago and scolded—I’ll tell you why I know for sure that you’ll run a store with Hong Xi in the Capital City, and even open one in Nanjing?"
It seemed that the ambiguous words Song Jiyun had spoken a few days ago had indeed left a deep impression on Song Tao.
And Prince Ning really hadn’t taken Song Tao seriously.
Song Jiyun leaned in slightly and whispered in her ear, "Your offer isn’t good enough for me to tell you what happened when Prince Ning was summoned to the palace. Why don’t you think about what else you have to trade with me?"
Song Tao’s breath hitched.
Song Jiyun inwardly curled her lip.
Playing mind games with her like this?
She stepped back and laughed heartily, saying, "Sister Cousin Tao, we’ll see each other when we open the kiln."
Only at that time would they truly compete.
"I hope when you leave here, Sister Cousin Tao, you’ll still have the chance to see what Yinyu Hall, the one Hong and I run together, is like."
If she were just an ordinary girl, Song Tao, using her experience from a past life, could easily deprive her of everything.
Why should Song Tao think that a few words could erase all the grievances between them?
Song Jiyun asked Song Tao with a smile, "Do you know my father would suddenly pass away?"
"What, what do you mean?" Song Tao looked at Song Jiyun in panic.
Song Jiyun scoffed and said, "It means if you knew and said nothing, not only would Prince Ning deal with you, but I would, too."
"You, you’re mad!" Song Tao blurted out in a fluster, "My second uncle’s death was an accident."
"Yet for some, it was no accident," Song Jiyun said coldly, looking at Song Tao. "I will never forget."
"I didn’t, I didn’t," her face pale as paper, she staggered back, "I never expected, never expected."
Song Jiyun’s gaze was chilling.
Suddenly, Song Tao realized.
She had spoken words she shouldn’t have.
It was always so with Song Jiyun.
Any inconceivable matter became plausible when it came to her.
"You’re tricking me, you’re tricking me!" she muttered, not sure if she was speaking to Song Jiyun or to herself, "I didn’t, I didn’t!" she cried mournfully, and ran out stumbling.
Song Jiyun watched her receding figure, silent for a long while.
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