Yuan Yunzhong had clearly never thought about this question before.
After pondering for a moment, he said, "It probably wouldn’t be! My maternal grandfather is very open-minded." But then he added, "However, you’ve reminded me. In the past, when I came here, it was always to accompany him, and once I was here, I hardly ever went out again. We should indeed inform him before going out for dinner, even though it’s at my cousin’s house."
"Sure!" Song Jiyun smiled sweetly, feeling very happy.
Ever since she moved in, Yuan Yunzhong had been taking her out for meals, which was a good thing.
When they went to Master Jinghu to explain their intentions, Master Jinghu indeed lived up to his reputation for being "open-minded," saying with a smiling face, "Go ahead! Relatives should indeed visit each other more. Just don’t come back too late to avoid curfew. The city is a bit unsettled these days, and being stopped by Shuntian Prefecture officials for questions is not a pleasant matter."
Yuan Yunzhong smiled and agreed, though he still felt somewhat uneasy. He said, "When we come back, we’ll bring you some of Yao Ji Grand Tutor Cakes that you like the most."
"Great!" Master Jinghu replied happily, watching them leave.
Song Jiyun deliberately looked back.
Master Jinghu was watching them expressionlessly and, at the moment when he saw her looking back, his expression seemed even colder.
Song Jiyun tugged at Yuan Yunzhong’s sleeve, saying, "Walk a bit slower."
Yuan Yunzhong promptly slowed down.
Song Jiyun said, "What should we bring with us? I have a lot of teaware sets. Should we pick one to bring over?"
Yuan Yunzhong laughed and replied, "Sure! But, you have to let me see what you’re giving first. I heard from Wang Hua that last time you went to Qin Fang’s, you gave him a set of sweet white porcelain thin porcelain wine set. I think that’s unnecessary; just sending a new set of blue and white porcelain would suffice. After all, there’s not much new blue and white porcelain here in the Capital City."
Song Jiyun teased him with a laugh, "Why are you being so stingy? It’s just a set of wine vessels. I can make as many as you want. Don’t even mention thin sweet white porcelain; even thin Alum-Red, once I’m through with this busy period, I’ll also make a set for you."
"You said it," Yuan Yunzhong noted with interest, "then I’ll think about what design to put on them."
The two of them chattered away, their closeness and happiness evident as they gradually walked further.
Master Jinghu stood alone under the eaves until the night gradually enveloped his figure.
*
As Yuan Yunzhong had said, Yuan Jingnian and his wife did indeed live with his parents, but their courtyard was close to an alley and had its own side gate, forming a separate space.
When Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong arrived, Yuan Jingnian and his wife, Lady Wu, were already waiting at the Weeping Flower Gate.
Upon seeing Yuan Yunzhong, Yuan Jingnian playfully hit him on the shoulder, saying, "Look at you, Xiao Si, you really stole the show today. The Emperor himself rejected the Ministry of War’s memorandum because of you; I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to leave the Donghua Gate."
It was uncertain if he had put much strength into his punch, but Yuan Yunzhong took it with an expressionless face, then pulled Song Jiyun to his side and introduced them to each other.
Yuan Jingnian followed protocol by lowering his eyes and greeted Song Jiyun.
Lady Wu seemed quite impressed upon seeing her, but she quickly tempered her reaction, smiling as she exchanged greetings with Song Jiyun and took her hand to lead her towards the Weeping Flower Gate, "Miss Song, don’t be formal with us. Consider this your own home." Then she mentioned her visit to the Glazed Factory lawsuit, "I also went to enjoy the spectacle and even got a ceramic token with a brocade chicken design. I took the third boy in our family to play at your Yinyu Hall."
She was very polite and enthusiastic, their kindness indicating a desire to get closer to her.
Song Jiyun responded with decorum as well, "Is that so? Had I known you would go to enjoy the excitement, I should have had Wang Hua arrange a place for you to rest. Does the third son like to play at Yinyu Hall? If he wants to play there again next time, just send someone to tell me, and I will alert the Store Manager there to find a good master to teach the children how to make porcelain blanks."
"The children all like it very much," said Lady Wu with a smile, ushering her towards the dining hall. "Next time, I will definitely not hesitate to ask you to give a notice."
On the way to the Capital City, Yuan Yunzhong had already given her a detailed introduction of his family members.
Yuan Jingnian and Lady Wu had four sons and two daughters, with the eldest son being fourteen years old and the youngest only two.
As they sat down in the hall, Lady Wu’s capable Nanny directed the maids to present the tea and refreshments and begin arranging the table.
Yuan Jingnian did not treat them as outsiders. While pouring wine for Yuan Yunzhong, he brought up the reason for calling him over this time, "I didn’t expect the emperor to protect you like that. During the court meeting, you repeatedly volunteered to represent the Metropolitan Censorate to go out of the city to settle the Refugees, but the emperor didn’t respond. Moreover, when people from the Ministry of War tried to take advantage of the situation, the emperor lashed out in thunderous anger and scolded the Ministry of War. But I think your ideas are right. In a peaceful and prosperous age, one should not be ennobled or promoted without contributing to the nation’s stability. With such an opportunity, we should indeed strive for it."
He talked on and on, while Yuan Yunzhong tried to speak several times but hesitated.
Song Jiyun softly patted Yuan Yunzhong’s hand.
Probably everyone thought that Yuan Yunzhong was trying to secure a future for himself, but she knew that Yuan Yunzhong was merely riddled with guilt.
He felt that if he had not stubbornly disagreed with Prince Ning, the incident with the Refugees entering the Capital would not have occurred.
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at her, smiled and nodded to indicate he was fine, poured a cup of tea for Song Jiyun, and whispered to her, "Explaining is too troublesome."
Song Jiyun pursed her lips and smiled, indicating she understood.
Seeing this, Yuan Jingnian appeared somewhat helpless and stopped talking. He sighed and said to Yuan Yunzhong, "Xiao Si, do you think I’m nagging too much?"
"Not at all," Yuan Yunzhong, a man who knew better, replied. "I just think you’re overthinking it. There’s no clear solution to the Refugee issue yet, and talking about ennoblement and promotion is too premature."
Yuan Jingnian then stared at him with wide eyes and said, "Am I talking about ennoblement and promotion? I’m talking about the emperor’s attitude. In troubled times, strict laws must be employed, but now we have fifty thousand Refugees. In the lands around the Capital City, even if we could suppress them, the rivers of blood would be ominous. On the contrary, I agree with the cabinet elders’ idea of leniency and appeasement. Instead of personally going out to settle the Refugees, you should better persuade the emperor to agree with the cabinet elders."
"You are pushing the emperor into a corner to make a statement, and he definitely won’t agree," Yuan Yunzhong said as he played with the small wine cup in his hand. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry."
Yuan Jingnian hesitated and asked, "Is the emperor worried about losing his imperial majesty?"
"No!" Yuan Yunzhong replied. "Aren’t you all constantly submitting petitions these days for the emperor to appoint the Eldest Prince as the Crown Prince? Noble Consort Wan is still angry about the emperor suddenly acknowledging another prince. He wants to quickly appease Noble Consort Wan’s anger, but you are determined to fan the flames by incessantly bringing up the matter of the Crown Prince’s appointment. The emperor dislikes your tactlessness, which is why for the Refugee issue, even though you want leniency and appeasement, the emperor insists on deploying troops to suppress them, just to go against you all!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Jingnian was dumbfounded and stammered after a while, "You’re not joking, are you?"
Yuan Yunzhong ignored him and pointed at a dish of deep-fried meatballs to Song Jiyun, saying, "This dish is well made!"
The maid, quick-witted, swiftly scooped one up for Song Jiyun.
After wiping his hands, Yuan Yunzhong said to Yuan Jingnian, "Isn’t this what you wanted me to come over for? You can go and report this to Father now."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
