Master Jinghu’s study was completely different from the Flower Hall.
While the Flower Hall was planted with green trees and flowers, with a casually draped yellow rattan-colored velvet blanket over the black lacquered Drunken Master’s Chair, and agate Go stones scattered on a mica chessboard, with an unfinished storybook on the small table next to it, the study, though furnished in black lacquer as well, had the Four Treasures of the Study neatly arranged on the long desk, a Taishi Chair with a cushion of orangutan-red Lake Silk, and on the tea table stood a sky-blue Ru Kiln vase, holding a large white Hibiscus mutabilis. A breeze blew through the half-closed lattice window, bringing the rustling sound of the Xiangfei Bamboo forest outside, and the room was as silent as if no one were present.
"Miss Song," Master Jinghu stood in front of the desk, his brush full of ink, as if about to touch the Xuan paper before him, "please have a seat!"
As he spoke, he bowed his head and wrote a few characters.
Song Jiyun looked around the room with ease and grace before finally taking a seat on the Taishi Chair beside the desk.
All around were books of all kinds, with the occasional brocade box holding an ink stick.
A large jar in front of the desk held numerous scrolls standing upright.
She wasn’t sure if they were paintings or calligraphy.
That’s what she thought to herself.
She felt the Taishi Chair was too hard even with a cushion, and it made her quite uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the servant boy served her some tea and snacks.
She leisurely sipped her tea.
Intimidation, huh? Yuan Yunzhong’s grandfather probably wouldn’t pay attention to her so soon.
But since it was an act of intimidation, why even bother with tea and snacks? Was it to display the propriety and dignity of a great clan in front of her? There really was no need. If one were to play tough, there was no point in trying to gild the facade. If it were her, she wouldn’t even offer a chair.
Song Jiyun whimsically thought this as she tasted the tea snacks.
Taishi Cake, Date Flower Crisp, Fu Character Biscuit—all were Capital’s snacks. Yuan Haoran had mentioned that the Yuan Family was from Suzhou, and the Wang Family was from Sichuan and Chongqing. When guests visited, instead of serving snacks characteristic of one’s own family, they served Capital-style desserts that could be bought just outside the door. How unthoughtful. Even if this were the Wang residence, and Master Jinghu had accustomed to Capital’s tastes after years of serving there, he was still fond of Nanjing and even owned property there. He should at least have arranged for some Nanjing specialties for the tea.
She disdainfully ate half a piece of Taishi Cake and then set it down.
"It seems that Miss Song does not favor the desserts from the Capital." Master Jinghu, at some point, had put down his brush and looked at her with a calm yet sharp and imposing demeanor, as if his true personality was emerging, and the atmosphere in the study suddenly became solemn.
That must be the real Master Jinghu!
Song Jiyun sipped her tea with an air of detachment and finally said, "Having often enjoyed tea with Young Master Yuan and eaten Suzhou-style desserts, I indeed have come to prefer them over those from the Capital."
There was no previous grudge between them—only Yuan Yunzhong was the issue.
If he could give her a cold stare on behalf of Yuan Yunzhong, she could use Yuan Yunzhong to hit back.
Putting on a show in front of Yuan Yunzhong, tearing each other down behind his back—who couldn’t do that?
Master Jinghu’s gaze upon her grew more solemn.
He asked, "Do you know what Yuan Yunzhong is doing at the Imperial Court?"
Since neither intended to keep up pretenses, she saw no need for a mask.
"He’s asking the Emperor’s permission to leave the city and pacify the refugees," Song Jiyun replied nonchalantly.
Perhaps her fondness for Yuan Yunzhong irritated Master Jinghu.
His expression turned frosty as he said, "Do you realize the danger he would face if he goes outside the city?"
"Of course," Song Jiyun felt, just on this point alone, that she could get along with Master Jinghu, because a shared enemy could become a friend, and a shared friend meant it was even more important to keep up the pretense of harmony.
She retorted, "Otherwise, why would I have moved into Master Jinghu’s house? I was much more comfortable living in Straw Hat Hutong."
She replied with a hint of mockery, "You don’t really think that with the Capital being sealed off, I would place my hopes on you, truly expecting that you would protect me thoroughly and lead me out of the Capital, do you?"
Her unruliness actually calmed Master Jinghu down, he looked at Song Jiyun thoughtfully and said, "Do you wish for Yunzhong to leave the city?"
Song Jiyun set down her teacup, straightened her sleeves, and said, "My visit to Master Jinghu was merely to hope that when Young Master Yuan leaves the city, the Master could keep an eye on those parasites in the Imperial Court who just eat their rations without doing any work, and send troops in time to rescue Young Master Yuan from his predicament. You are thinking too much."
Listening to her, Master Jinghu silently watched her for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter.
His laugh had a brilliance that seemed to burst through the clouds, very much like Yuan Yunzhong’s.
Song Jiyun thought that although Yuan Yunzhong didn’t resemble his maternal grandfather at all, his demeanor and mannerisms were very much like those of his maternal grandfather. It was evident that not only had he grown up at the knee of his grandfather and under his teaching, but the influence was profound, and their affection for each other ran deep.
"What if Yunzhong cannot return?" Master Jinghu said softly, almost like a threat.
Song Jiyun responded lazily, "I was somewhat worried before seeing you, but now... I’m afraid even if I don’t save him, you will."
Hearing this, Master Jinghu’s expression darkened slightly, visibly annoyed, he scoffed coldly, "Because Yunzhong is my only grandson? My only descendant?"
"Perhaps!" said Song Jiyun nonchalantly, "It’s probably more about how much you cherish him; you definitely wouldn’t allow him to encounter danger."
Master Jinghu’s expression became even more stern, and he said with a hint of irony, "You are just like his parents in that regard."
Is that a reference to Yuan Haoran and his wife?
It seems that Yuan Haoran and his wife must have often angered Master Jinghu for this very reason.
No wonder Master Jinghu was so angry, unable to even hide it.
"That’s the benefit of being an only child, isn’t it!" Song Jiyun did not mind giving him another jab, "I was worried before that you would neglect him, but now I feel moving to West Jiangmi Alley on my own initiative was a mistake."
Master Jinghu indeed was easily provoked on this matter.
He said threateningly, "What if when he comes back, I tell him that you thought he was in danger and couldn’t return?"
Yuan Yunzhong’s grandfather really loved him; he couldn’t even bring himself to use the word "death" for him, opting instead for "cannot return."
He enunciated each word, "Don’t forget, you said that if he can’t come back, you would remarry."
Song Jiyun jumped to her feet.
Not because of what she had said, but because such private words were known to him almost instantly.
Song Jiyun’s face also began to look a bit unpleasant.
She said coldly, "Then we shall wait and see!"
She turned and strode towards the exit.
Master Jinghu was taken aback.
"Stop!" he said in a low voice filled with barely concealed anger, "What are you going to do?"
Was he afraid she would influence Yuan Yunzhong with pillow talk or that she would prevent Yuan Yunzhong from doing something?
She turned back.
"Yunzhong has his own ambitions and commitments," Master Jinghu’s face was extra grim, "I won’t let a woman like you, who hasn’t even read ’Female Admonitions,’ ruin them."
"So what?" Song Jiyun smiled at him, "What do you intend to do?"
Her eyes, however, were filled with unabashed frost.
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