Song Jiyun prepared to make Doucai.
The so-called Doucai is a type of porcelain decorated with blue and white patterns filled with colored glazes.
It required first firing blue and white porcelain at high temperatures, then filling the blank spaces or outlines of the blue and white patterns with various colors, followed by low-temperature baking in a smaller kiln. The colors were vivid and diverse. During the Xuande era, someone had successfully fired it. However, this craft demanded extremely high skills in controlling the temperature and glazing. Even in Jingde Town, no one had largely succeeded in making it for several decades.
One major reason Yuan Yunzhong could do as he pleased in court was due to his simplicity in the Emperor’s heart and the trust of His Majesty. Whether the Yuan Family or the Wang Family, old connections abounded in court, with disciples everywhere. Not to mention her, an ordinary woman from Jingde Town without any background, even for a typical official’s family, it was a peak too high and insurmountable. She wanted to compete with the Yuan and Wang families; it was impossible without the Emperor’s protection. Yet, she could not possibly meet the Emperor. Instead, she decided to make an appearance before Noble Consort Wan, the Emperor’s most favored, and ensure Noble Consort Wan remembered her.
She instructed Zhou Zheng, who had come following orders, "During my last visit to the palace, I accidentally saw the Imperial Supervision and Construction Department presenting a booklet to His Majesty. The Doucai porcelain that the Kiln Factory had contributed to the palace years ago were all being used in Noble Consort Wan’s Anxi Palace. I want to fire some Doucai and send them to Anxi Palace."
Zhou Zheng didn’t think much about it; he thought Song Jiyun wanted to curry favor with the nobles in the palace to suppress the Kiln Factory later and elevate Yinyu Hall’s business.
"I will handle it immediately," he said respectfully.
As refugees entered the capital, Song Jiyun, fearing it unsafe for her people staying outside the city, rented a courtyard in an inn not far from Zhengyang Gate for them to temporarily reside.
But with city dwellers gathering as refugees encircled the city, many who lived outside had fled into the city. Inns and the like were hard to come by, let alone spacious places. Where was the appropriate place to build the kiln?
He appeared hesitant.
Song Jiyun had no better option either.
Although West Jiangmi Alley was spacious, filled with green trees, small bridges, and flowing water, there were no open spaces, not to mention her relationship with Master Jinghu.
She said, "Go find Chief Steward Shao and see if there’s a suitable spot near Young Master Yuan in Straw Hat Hutong. If not, then..." she bit her lip, "try Pocket Alley."
Given the recent murder case, surely no one would approach, making it a good location.
Zhou Zheng took the order and left.
Song Jiyun sent a card to Qin Fang’s residence.
It was still necessary to maintain relationships in the palace.
Many things were about deceiving those above and not those below, and sometimes, one might indeed rely on people like Qin Fang or Eunuch Miao.
Then there was Xu Guangzeng.
Even if he was incompetent, he came from a very distinguished background and held a significant official title. If Master Jinghu decided to move against her during Yuan Yunzhong’s absence from the city, Xu Guangzeng might be able to intervene and delay things.
She instructed Wang Hua to inquire about Xu Guangzeng’s news, and also to send a message to Shao Qing, "Tell him I need his help with something here."
Song Jiyun still needed a witness, and Shao Qing was just the right person.
Wang Hua ran off happily.
He accidentally heard by Chief Steward Shao’s garden wall that the fourth young master would probably move out after getting married. Thus, Straw Hat Hutong would need a steward. Now that Shao Qing had been released from servitude and earned Song Jiyun’s trust while serving her side, he had his own advantage and was keen to compete for the position of steward of Straw Hat Hutong.
Xu Guangzeng responded the fastest, saying he had just been dismissed from his position. Although his family had just managed to get him out of prison, he was dishonored and not allowed to leave the capital. His coming could conveniently be under the name of Yuan Yunzhong.
Wang Hua also told Song Jiyun, "He looked quite miserable. He’s staying in a small area where the Xu Family’s servants live, with no attendants around him. It seems the Xu Family is not planning to care for him anymore. When he heard you wanted to see him, he was overjoyed and immediately followed me here. He’s waiting just outside the door."
Having caused such a great disaster, before the imperial decree arrived, the Xu Family dared not deal with him.
However, allowing him to continue staying in the Xu Family probably meant they didn’t really want to ignore the issue.
Song Jiyun met Xu Guangzeng in the side hall.
The once high-spirited young master now seemed as destitute as a beggar. Without mentioning his lack of energy, Song Jiyun asked him, "Do you know about Young Master Yuan’s plans to leave the city and pacify the refugees?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"I know!" Xu Guangzeng barely swallowed the words "idiot," and said with a hint of flattery, "Lord Yuan loves his people like his children, he is a clean official, a good official, a model for our generation..."
Song Jiyun couldn’t bother listening to his nonsense. Before he could finish, she interrupted him, saying, "I think if you follow Lord Yuan, as soon as anything happens to him, you should immediately find a way to send a message back to the city."
"Ah!" Xu Guangzeng was dumbfounded.
Wasn’t this sending him to his death?
But Song Jiyun had already picked up a cup of tea, saying, "You probably can’t figure this out on your own; go back and discuss it with your brother. I’d like an answer by tomorrow. If you can’t do it, I need to find someone else quickly."
Xu Guangzeng came in a daze and went back in a daze. Luckily, he knew the Emperor was currently tied up with the refugee issue and clashing with the cabinet elders, so had no time to bother with him. By the time the Emperor took notice, either immediate execution or banishment to Hami Guard awaited him. Song Jiyun’s proposal sounded absurd, yet it could secure a tight grip on Yuan Yunzhong’s coattails.
As soon as he entered the main gate, he headed to his elder brother’s place.
At that moment, Zhou Zheng had just returned, suggesting locating the kiln in Pocket Alley: "Straw Hat Hutong is good, but it’s surrounded by the officials from the six ministries, and even houses Vice Ministers and Junior Ministers, which is rather inconvenient. Due to the previous incident with Prince Ning, people are somewhat avoiding the area, and housing in the city is tight, but a few households have moved elsewhere, leaving only a few old gatekeepers and crones."
The smoke from firing the kiln would indeed make Straw Hat Hutong quite inconvenient.
"Then let’s go to Pocket Alley," Song Jiyun decided. Zhou Zheng and Master Guo along with others began preparing for the kiln firing.
Song Jiyun then began designing the shape and patterns of the porcelain to be fired.
"Boss Song, what did you want to see me for?" Shao Qing, sweating profusely, whispered to her, "Prince Ning was poisoned by the Emperor. The Emperor doesn’t want anyone to know, and the security in and out of the palace is especially tight."
Ever since the incident involving the Eldest Imperial Son, Shao Qing had been transferred to serve the Eldest Imperial Son, and was on duty in Qianqing Palace.
Song Jiyun was somewhat taken aback and asked, "Is it inconvenient for you to leave the palace now?"
Shao Qing sighed, saying, "At least until the official announcement of Prince Ning’s death, I won’t be able to leave the palace in a timely manner."
This was even better.
Having someone in Qianqing Palace who could deliver information directly to the Emperor.
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "I was worried about turmoil in the city and wanted to get information from you."
Shao Qing already knew about Yuan Yunzhong’s intention to leave the city to pacify the people.
In his view, living in West Jiangmi Alley and following Master Jinghu, Song Jiyun needn’t worry about these issues. However, when Song Jiyun put it this way, he immediately took off his waist badge and handed it to her: "If there’s anything, use my badge to find me at Shenwu Gate."
Song Jiyun accepted the badge and inquired further about Prince Ning’s situation.
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