At this moment, Yuan Yunzhong was sitting on the Zen chair in Song Jiyun’s study like a Great Master.
Liu Zi stood by the side of the ice basin, energetically fanning him.
He criticized the cup of tea that had just been poured from Song Jiyun’s teapot: "What kind of tea is this? Is this what you drink regularly? Besides being fresh, what else is good about it?"
Song Jiyun looked at him with a cold gaze.
She certainly hadn’t forgotten the look of undisguised schadenfreude in his eyes when he had walked over leisurely, and told her seriously about the women knocking on his door.
So, what was he here for? 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
To make fun of her?
First a pig teammate, then a foolish relative.
However, he was quite clever.
The matter of the Water Pavilion, killing three birds with one stone.
He both won her mother’s favor and disrupted her own plans, while also making her feel guilty.
Otherwise, had he dared to be so arrogant in front of her, she would have dealt with him long ago.
Song Jiyun said, "Biluochun, Dragon Well Tea, Mao Feng, melon slices, pine and ferns... I have them all. Which would you like?"
Yuan Yunzhong ignored her indifference and commanded her boldly, "Then let’s go with pine and ferns! Pine and ferns tea is a fried green tea, good for clearing heat and detoxifying, perfect to drink in this season."
Song Jiyun had someone by her side prepare fresh tea for him.
After taking a sip, Yuan Yunzhong nodded in satisfaction.
Xiang Zhan returned having folded back.
Song Jiyun thought that since Yuan Yunzhong was involved, he had come looking for her, and come what may, she ought to give him an explanation.
She simply stood next to the floor-to-ceiling cover and spoke with Xiang Zhan.
"Miss Tao has already gone back," Xiang Zhan said. "She came with the Great Madam and Young Master Tianbao, saying they wanted to discuss with Madam the matters of the Great Master’s seventh-day memorial service tomorrow."
Song Jiyun asked, "Does the Great Madam know about this?"
Xiang Zhan pursed her lips and smiled: "Nanny Zheng accompanied the Great Madam. The Great Madam surely knows by now. Moreover, she said that since Miss Tao is tired, there is no need to trouble Miss Tao to come over for the memorial service tomorrow!"
Song Jiyun nodded and turned to ask Yuan Yunzhong, "Young Master Yuan, do you think this arrangement is acceptable?"
Yuan Yunzhong waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away a mosquito, and said, "It’s not a problem for me, I’m just worried that it might be inconvenient for Miss Song."
Upon hearing this, Song Jiyun wished she could stuff Song Tao, the one who had embarrassed her in front of Yuan Yunzhong, into the stove.
But allowing Yuan Yunzhong to stay any longer might lead to even more troublesome issues.
If martial means won’t do, then let’s try the literary approach.
Fortunately, Song Jiyun was always someone who could be both flexible and resilient.
She neatly bowed to Yuan Yunzhong with a curtsy, sincerely saying, "Young Master Yuan, it was wrong of me to insist on having you stay at our house. Please be magnanimous and don’t take it to heart."
Yuan Yunzhong’s eyebrows twitched slightly, looking quite surprised.
Seeing this, Song Jiyun changed tack and said, "But you’ve also seen that though a person may not intend to harm a tiger, the tiger is still inclined to harm a person. I had no choice."
"Is that so?" Yuan Yunzhong smiled faintly but passed the plate of desserts in his hand to Song Jiyun, offering, "Miss Song, would you like to try some? Mung bean and date paste cake. Made by your family’s chef, sweet but not cloying, glutinous but not sticky. It suits my palate very well."
What did he mean by this?
Was he implying that she was putting on an act?
Song Jiyun kept her expression unchanged, but inside, she felt like biting him.
She simply took over the plate of pastries from his hand and reseated herself opposite him, sincerely saying, "About the incident at the Water Pavilion, that was also my fault. If Silly Girl hadn’t told me that it was her own carelessness that caused her to lose a shoe, I would have misunderstood and thought it was you who had set her up to slip. I am here to earnestly offer you an apology."
Yuan Yunzhong made a sound like a toothache and said, "Miss Song, I really can’t accept that. To be honest, based on what I know about Miss Song, her setting aside past grievances like this usually isn’t anything good. Whatever you want to say, just say it. I’ll feel more at ease."
"Look at what Young Master Yuan is saying!" Song Jiyun laughed as if embarrassed and continued, "The main thing is, our waters have become too muddy. You’ve condescended to step into our humble home, and I fear involving you further would implicate you in our family’s troubles."
Yuan Yunzhong chuckled twice and said nothing.
With no choice but to keep smiling, Song Jiyun said, "Please don’t misunderstand, Young Master Yuan. I wasn’t implying that I wanted you to leave. I remember your words well—you staying or leaving has never been for others to decide. I was thinking that we need to discuss this matter. What are your terms? Once you put forth your terms, I can make arrangements, can’t I?"
Yuan Yunzhong’s body leaned back, his left hand’s fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, as if pondering over what would be best to do.
Song Jiyun never placed her hopes on mere luck; she waited quietly for his response.
Zheng Quan suddenly entered with a frown on his brow.
Surprised, Song Jiyun asked, "What’s the matter?"
Zheng Quan glanced at Yuan Yunzhong, and seeing that Song Jiyun showed no intention of avoiding him, still whispered in her ear, "Zhou Zheng sent someone with a message, saying Wong Dahai has disappeared."
Song Jiyun’s brows twitched, and she led Zheng Quan toward the hall.
"Wong Dahai has disappeared," she said. "What does that mean?"
He was the Store Manager in charge of the warehouse.
Zheng Quan lowered his voice and said, "Tomorrow at Yin Hour, there is a shipment of everyday blue-and-white porcelain to be transported to Poyang Lake. Normally at this time, the warehouse should be taking inventory of the goods, readying them for dispatch. The little Steward of the warehouse had already tallied everything up and went to find Wong Dahai to sign off, but they couldn’t find him anywhere.
"At first, they thought maybe Wong Dahai had drunk too much at noon and was sleeping somewhere. But after searching everywhere, they still couldn’t find a trace of him.
"Now, the warehouse is waiting to dispatch the goods.
"If they can’t find Wong Dahai, they won’t make it in time to load the ship.
"Now that the Owner is gone and Wong Dahai has disappeared without any explanation, they don’t know whom to turn to. At the warehouse, they’re as anxious as ants on a hot pan."
Song Jiyun’s heart sank and she asked, "What did Zhou Zheng say?"
"Zhou Zheng’s thinking," said Zheng Quan, "lately, members of the Song Family have frequently sought out these Store Managers and master craftsmen for drinks and tea. Could it be that one of the Song Family masters invited him over?"
Impossible!
Song Jiyun immediately denied Zhou Zheng’s speculation in her heart.
The masters of the Song Family were building relationships with them to better take over the shops and Kiln Factory; they wouldn’t expose their intentions before a decision had been made about their family’s properties.
But Zhou Zheng was a reliable man; if he said Wong Dahai was missing, it was surely not just a matter of being simply unaccounted for.
After thinking for a moment, Song Jiyun said, "I’ll handwrite a letter of my father’s entrustment right now. You take it to Zhou Zheng, and let him temporarily take charge of the warehouse, helping to dispatch this batch of goods. As for Wong Dahai, go and see Madam Wong."
As she spoke, she lowered her voice and said, "Also tell Madam Wong clearly, Wong Dahai has a long-term contract with our family, and his disappearance without a word means we can report him to the authorities. It would be even better if she could clarify whom he has been frequently associating with lately."
"I understand!" Zheng Quan responded knowingly, "I’ll go see Madam Wong now, and at night I’ll send people out to search and see if there are any other clues."
Song Jiyun nodded and continued, "If we still haven’t found him by dawn, you should report to the officials."
Zheng Quan hesitated and asked, "Won’t that blow things out of proportion?"
Looking towards the residence of Madam Zeng, Song Jiyun said, "Even if we don’t make a big deal out of it, others will."
Zheng Quan fell silent.
Song Jiyun went to the living room and, imitating her father’s handwriting, wrote a letter of entrustment for Zhou Zheng.
In the adjacent study, Yuan Yunzhong sat with half-closed eyes, slowly sipping his tea.
It seemed that the Song Family truly was in turbulent waters!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
