Song Jiyun was startled.
As she looked up, she saw the furious face of Eunuch Wan.
"Open the kiln!" he said with a cold laugh, "In two shichen? Are you sure you can deliver?"
Song Jiyun instantly understood.
In recent times, rumors about the Song Family Kiln Factory had been flying everywhere.
No purchase of clay materials; kiln workers leaving; the first kiln she fired as the owner yielded only five finished pieces; the Hong Family offered help in the nick of time, barely managing to send some clay to them, and now there were less than five days left until the delivery to the Kiln Factory...
Had Eunuch Wan heard these rumors and thus doubted her ability to deliver? Or had someone whispered something in his ear?
She stepped forward calmly, bent her knee, and gave Eunuch Wan a bow, saying, "Lord, there is no trust without faith, and no business without credibility. Our father always taught us sisters these words. Having inherited the business my father left behind, I should likewise abide by my father’s teachings. Rest assured, by the Zi hour tonight, the kiln factory will certainly deliver!"
Eunuch Wan obviously didn’t believe her and pressed on aggressively, "And if you can’t deliver?"
"I am at your lordship’s disposal!" Song Jiyun declared emphatically.
Eunuch Wan looked at Song Jiyun in surprise, then slowly leaned back against the Taishi Chair and asked, "Do you know what will happen if you fail to deliver?"
But before she could reply, a guard from the entourage who had accompanied him walked in and reported, "Lord, Miss Song’s granduncle, Song Daliang, requests an audience!"
Song Jiyun was taken aback.
Eunuch Wan, however, looked at Song Jiyun with interest and instructed the guard, "Let him in!"
Song Daliang, with his general’s belly, followed the guard in.
"Lord Wan!" he knelt down with a thud on the ground, gave Eunuch Wan a grand salute, and said, "I am Song Daliang, the humble one. I heard that my grandniece hasn’t been able to produce the Sacrificial White Porcelain within the agreed timespan, and I am here to bail out my grandniece."
Song Jiyun could hardly conceal her astonishment.
Supervisor of Pottery of the fifth rank.
Higher than the usual County Magistrate.
She never knew that this granduncle of hers had such audacity.
She looked toward Eunuch Wan.
Eunuch Wan, however, raised an eyebrow enticingly and let Song Daliang stand up, his interest evident as he said, "And how do you plan to bail out your grandniece?"
Song Daliang with a stern face replied, "Lord, my younger brother passed away suddenly, and this niece of mine, still young, is eager to prove she can manage the business left by my brother. In her actions, she may have been too eager to achieve quick success..."
He began by subtly denigrating Song Jiyun, before saying, "It just so happens I own a small kiln factory. The craftsmanship of the kiln master is not bad, and the secret formula for the Sacrificial White Porcelain is not exactly a secret in the Song family. So I tried firing a kiln, and fortunately, it was successful. Thinking she would not be able to deliver, I hoped you would grant her your grace and allow me to help her fulfill the delivery."
Song Jiyun’s face fell, and she retorted sternly, "Granduncle, when have I ever failed to deliver? Since when has the formula for Sacrificial White Porcelain been a known secret within the Song Family? And this Sacrificial White Porcelain you speak of, you say it’s been produced just like that? Lord Wan is before us, and there are words that should and shouldn’t be said. As my elder, you should weigh your words carefully and not become the laughingstock!"
Song Daliang didn’t even glance at Song Jiyun; he respectfully gestured toward Eunuch Wan and said, "Words have no proof, but the physical object does. Lord, please allow me to call my attendants in!"
Eunuch Wan replied indifferently, "Then call them in!"
Two attendants of Song Daliang, who had defected from Song Jiyun’s Kiln Factory, each carrying a Chicken-wing Wood red lacquered gold-painted brocade box, walked in. Upon seeing Song Jiyun, they looked somewhat uncomfortable and lowered their eyelids before standing firm in front of Eunuch Wan.
Song Daliang personally opened the brocade box: "Lord, look!"
All eyes in the hall fell upon the brocade box.
The brilliant red silk velvet lining cradled a pair of white porcelain plum vases.
The plum vases were beautifully shaped, simple, and clean, glistening faintly like ivory.
This was precisely the hallmark of the Song Family’s Sacrificial White Porcelain.
Everyone’s expression drastically changed, with some even exclaiming in a low voice, "How could this happen?"
Song Daliang stood tall and proud, sweeping a glance over the crowd before handing one of the plum vases to Eunuch Wan, "Here is one of the plum vases I’ve fired, look at it, is it not up to the imperial standard?"
Eunuch Wan took it and looked it over, praising, "Not bad! I didn’t expect you could also fire porcelain!"
Song Daliang immediately said, "As the eldest brother, it’s not right for me to compete with my younger brothers for profit. If it weren’t for my niece causing me so much worry, I wouldn’t have sought this limelight!"
Eunuch Wan then beckoned to Song Jiyun and said, "Come take a look! The craftsmanship of your uncle is no less than that of your father!"
Song Jiyun understood everything upon seeing the two of them sing praises for each other.
No wonder her uncle dared to openly compete with her for the orders from the Imperial Kiln Factory—it turned out he had Eunuch Wan’s support.
A glint of sharpness flashed in her eyes as she took the plum vase.
The glaze on the plum vase was exquisite, even better than the Sacrificial White Porcelain her father had fired when he was alive.
Those who understood the Song Family’s Sacrificial White Porcelain could tell at a glance that the technique had been improved.
That’s why her uncle was so confident.
But how had her uncle managed to do it?
The more Song Jiyun looked, the more puzzled she became.
Song Daliang, seeing this, could hardly hide his delight and said to her, "I know you want to inherit the family business. But some things can’t be achieved by simply wanting them. You need luck and skill. You’d better resign yourself to fate when it’s time to do so!"
He even turned to Eunuch Wan with a smile, "My lord, wouldn’t you like to visit my kiln factory? Although it’s not as big as my niece’s, it’s closer to Zhu Mountain, surrounded by green trees, and has better scenery. You could also tell us what patterns we should be firing."
Eunuch Wan seemed quite tempted.
Song Jiyun hastily said, "My lord, we will soon be firing the kiln. Whether our family’s Sacrificial White Porcelain is fired better or my uncle’s, there can be no judgment without comparison; it would just be a case of the pot calling the kettle black."
Eunuch Wan was unmoved, clearly favoring Song Daliang.
Song Jiyun then pointed to the mouth of the plum vases, "My lord, look here, this rim is too square and the curves so distinct. At first glance, it seems fine, but upon closer inspection, it appears too crafty and breaks the vase’s curves. If this isn’t due to poor aesthetics from the shaping clay bodies master, then it’s the throwing master’s lack of skill. The officials at the Imperial Supervision and Construction Office have seen many fine things; such porcelain, I’m afraid, might not make the cut."
Upon closer examination, Eunuch Wan saw that it was indeed so.
He hesitated.
Song Daliang immediately became anxious as fire.
He would have no better opportunity than this if Song Jiyun managed to block him at the last minute!
He couldn’t help but raise his voice, "Song Jiyun, you should not nitpick. At least I can fire Sacrificial White Porcelain, what about you? Don’t think that just because the Hong Family has provided you with clay material, everything is settled. Whether you’ve acquired the secret formula in the Jade Clay, both you and I know clearly. Today, I’ll lay it on the line, if you can fire Sacrificial White Porcelain better than this pair of plum vases, I’ll give you this pair on the spot!"
Song Jiyun dismissed the claim, "What do I want your plum vases for? They aren’t anything special!"
Song Daliang, eager to regain Eunuch Wan’s favor, said in a buzzed tone, "Do you dare to bet with me? If you can fire Sacrificial White Porcelain that’s better than these plum vases, I’ll kowtow three times in front of everyone. If you can’t produce it, then you’ll hand over the kiln factory to me!"
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