By the time Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong could leave the Capital City to return to Jingde Town, it was already Mid-Autumn.
The family of Yuan Yunzhong all came to see them off.
It was Song Jiyun’s first time meeting Yuan Yunzhong’s mother, Madam Wang.
She appeared to be in her prime, with a clear and beautiful face, a demeanor cold as frost and snow, embodying a distant beauty.
She nodded slightly towards Song Jiyun, her attitude quite aloof, yet her gaze lingered on Song Jiyun’s jet-black hair for a moment.
Song Jiyun had a hairpin inlaid with Lapis Lazuli set in red gold in her hair.
Although the style was simple and modest, it appeared overly sophisticated for her age.
But it had been personally given to her by Master Jinghu after he acknowledged her marriage to Yuan Yunzhong.
It was the bridal dowry of Yuan Yunzhong’s grandmother, originally belonging to her own mother. On her deathbed, Yuan Yunzhong’s great-grandmother had specifically left it for her granddaughter-in-law. It represented the acknowledgement of both the Wang and Yuan families toward her.
Before parting, Yuan Haoran, Yuan Yunzhong’s father, sternly reprimanded him, "Since the emperor has let you continue as the Jiangxi Governor, supervising Jingde Town, you must fulfill your duties well and not fail the imperial grace. You also need to change that temperament of yours. Stop acting as if you are above everyone else, with even the heavens only second to you. Remember, flowers do not bloom for a hundred days, nor can a person have a thousand days of good fortune. Leave some leeway in everything, so that you may face others in the future..."
Yuan Yunzhong listened expressionlessly.
Though he had recommended himself for the position of County Magistrate in Liang County or as the Supervising Pottery Officer at the Imperial Kiln Factory, the emperor had not agreed, and still appointed him the Jiangxi Governor. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Unable to watch any longer, Master Jinghu frowned and interrupted him without hesitation, "Enough! The child is going on a long journey, can’t you say fewer words? Besides, the child is grown now, and he knows what he is doing. Instead of spending time lecturing him, you’d better think about how to catch the murderer of Lord Bai, and give an explanation to the emperor and the court officials."
The death of Lord Bai had caused a great uproar in the court, with many officials petitioning the emperor to punish the murderer harshly. But despite the efforts of Shuntian Prefecture and the Three Departments, they had yet to find out who had killed Lord Bai.
It was said that the emperor was very dissatisfied with this.
Embarrassed, Yuan Haoran touched his nose and stepped aside.
No life is perfect in every aspect.
If this was the imperfection in her life, she felt it was quite alright.
Song Jiyun smiled silently.
Master Jinghu gently said to both Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jiyun, "You both are good children. When you get to Jingde Town, support each other. If there is anything, write back home. Though your grandfather is old, he can still protect you all without any issues."
Yuan Yunzhong’s expression slightly brightened, and both he and Song Jiyun respectfully bowed to Master Jinghu and promised obedience.
Yuan Jingnian and others also stepped forward to advise them to be careful on the road and wished them a smooth journey.
Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jiyun expressed their thanks one by one.
Shao Qing, driving a horse carriage, rushed over, "Lord Yuan, wait a moment!"
The crowd looked over curiously.
Shao Qing had mentioned earlier that he would come to see off Yuan Yunzhong, but it was getting late and Yuan Yunzhong could not delay any longer if he was to reach Tongzhou Wharf before sunset. Unexpectedly, Shao Qing had arrived at this moment, and even called him "Lord Yuan."
Normally, he would have referred to Yuan Yunzhong as "young master."
However, seeing Shao Qing’s colleagues beside the carriage, Song Jiyun had a faint idea.
As expected, the carriage stopped, and the Eldest Imperial Son jumped down.
"Lord Yuan! Miss Song!" he called out loudly.
Compared to a few months ago, the Eldest Imperial Son had grown taller, gained weight, and appeared more lively and cheerful.
"Your Highness!" everyone greeted with a bow.
He quickly said, "No need for formalities," and personally handed the ritual process he had prepared to Yuan Yunzhong, "Lord Yuan, thank you! I told my Imperial Father, and within three years, he will bring you back to the Capital. Don’t worry."
Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jiyun were amused yet found it somewhat embarrassing.
Yet their decade-long promise wasn’t something to be proclaimed widely, especially since the Eldest Imperial Son meant well.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" both of them said in unison.
"No thanks, no thanks!" the Eldest Imperial Son waved his hand cheerfully, his face brimming with pride.
There was even less Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jiyun could say in response.
"Study well," Yuan Yunzhong simply said, "Understanding comes with study, so you know what you have to do."
The Eldest Imperial Son obediently nodded.
It was precisely because he had heeded Yuan Yunzhong’s advice that the Imperial Father had increasingly valued him.
He watched as they climbed onto the carriage and moved away, still waving goodbye.
Song Jiyun watched, feeling a softness in her heart, and said, "I hope everything goes well for him too."
"Don’t worry!" Yuan Yunzhong responded, "Grandfather will look after him."
Song Jiyun expressed surprise.
Yuan Yunzhong explained, "Although there is no evidence to prove who killed Lord Bai, who ambushed me, given grandfather’s shrewdness, he must have noticed some clues. He will not let those people get away, which is why he agreed for me to leave the Capital. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had me deliver those letters to his old friends when we return to the Capital."
Song Jiyun was shocked and hesitated, "Is Master Jinghu seeking revenge?"
"Yes!" Yuan Yunzhong’s expression grew cold, "If we do not stop killing with killing, it will only encourage those people to become more rampant."
Under an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent.
Song Jiyun actually admired Yuan Yunzhong’s compassion towards the common people and his ruthlessness towards the court opponents.
She poured a cup of tea for Yuan Yunzhong and said, "Do you want to rest for a while?"
Recently, Yuan Yunzhong had been busy with arrangements for settling refugees, and dark circles had even appeared under his eyes.
Yuan Yunzhong smiled and replied, "Sure!"
But he threw a large pillow beside her and lay down by her knees.
Song Jiyun pursed her lips and smiled.
She thought he had the audacity to lay directly on her lap.
Should she tease him?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the carriage suddenly stopped. Wang Hua, accompanying the carriage, reported through the curtain, "Young Master, Miss, there’s a hearse with a broken axle in the middle of the road, I’ve already sent someone to help."
Yuan Yunzhong simply hummed in acknowledgment, and Song Jiyun lifted the curtain to look outside.
She saw Song Ren.
He was dressed in the coarse hemp clothes of a coolie, his expression haggard as he thanked those helping, saying, "It is my Owner, died in the Capital City, I must send her coffin back to Jingde Town, her hometown, to rest in peace."
Song Jiyun glanced indifferently at the tilted coffin, dropped the curtain, covered Yuan Yunzhong’s eyes with a smile, and said, "Quickly get some rest. There’s a lot to do once we reach Jiangxi!"
Prince Ning was dead, but he had some arrangements in place not only in Jiangxi but also in the Two Lakes area; the official scene in Jiangxi was as chaotic as can be. After Yuan Yunzhong assumed office, it was all his responsibility. She even wondered whether, after their arrival in Jiangxi, one would need to be in Nanchang and the other in Jingde Town, not knowing when they would even see each other.
Yuan Yunzhong didn’t care at all about what was happening outside.
Song Jiyun’s hand was warm and soft.
His long, fair hand covered hers that was shielding his eyes, and he said lazily, "Don’t worry, I will mostly be staying in Jingde Town. Didn’t the Emperor say so? He also appointed me to supervise Jingde Town, and that’s one of my duties too!"
"Eunuch Wan must be feeling somewhat uneasy," Song Jiyun thought of the still Supervising Pottery Officer, Eunuch Wan, and laughed, "just don’t know when Lord Jiang will be transferred?"
"Help me for a few years more," Yuan Yunzhong laughed, "I’ve also retained Deng Chen."
The two chatted leisurely, and the obstruction in the middle of the road was cleared, the carriage rolled forward again.
But when they reached Tongzhou Wharf, they saw their Auspicious Ship next to the Auspicious Ship of the Prince of Ruichang; his Chief Historian, with great respect, bowed to Yuan Yunzhong and said with a smile, "The Prince said since it’s on the way, why not travel back to Nanchang together?"
He was the newly appointed Prince Ning.
Now Yuan Yunzhong’s reputation for having toppled a Vassal King was subtly circulating among some prominent families, and no one dared to slight him in his presence.
Yuan Yunzhong smiled and agreed, "Yes," and politely exchanged a few words with the Chief Historian.
The Chief Historian breathed a sigh of relief.
A man in long robes with a traveling pack inquired around, "Which ship is Boss Song of the Song Family Kiln Factory in Jingde Town taking back to his hometown?"
The Chief Historian couldn’t help but look towards Yuan Yunzhong.
Nonplussed, Yuan Yunzhong asked Wang Hua, "Who is this man?"
Wang Hua tiptoed to get a better look and replied, "Seems like Ji Shuanghu, Mister Ji of the Ji Family of Longquan Porcelain."
He shrewdly ran to inquire.
Seizing the opportunity, the Chief Historian turned and took his leave.
Wang Hua returned and said, "He says he wants to go to Jingde Town to ask Boss Song to be his master."
But there was no need for them to return to Jingde Town together, right?
Yuan Yunzhong said, "We will set off early tomorrow morning."
Wang Hua complied, accompanying Yuan Yunzhong into the cabin.
The next day, with the dawn casting a thousand rays of light, their ship was the first to set sail, slowly entering the Grand Canal from Beijing to Hangzhou.
On the shore, Ji Shuanghu was still asking around for a ship to Jingde Town, but a little beggar accidentally bumped into him. Ji Shuanghu, thinking the boy intended to steal his belongings, grabbed the beggar by the collar, only to find the beggar clinging to him, insisting on being his servant boy and accompanying him to Jingde Town.
Ji Shuanghu, overwhelmed by the boy’s persistence, finally allowed him to tag along, taking him aboard a ship heading to Nanjing.
The little beggar breathed a sigh of relief.
Initially, the Song Family had gone to Dehua to learn their family’s porcelain firing techniques, and now, it was his turn to go to Jingde Town to see for himself.
The little beggar, full of confidence, stood at the prow of the ship, revealing a cunning smile.
(The end)
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