Perhaps it was the intense gaze of Hong Xi that Song Jiyun immediately felt.
She walked over with a smile and introduced Yuan Yunzhong to Hong Xi, "My fiancé, Young Master Yuan."
Hong Xi was quite shocked, and even momentarily lost control of his expression, revealing a look of surprise.
He had sent people to inquire about Yuan Yunzhong.
A ruined household, relying on an early engagement with the Song Family to seek benefits, coincidentally acknowledged by the Song Family during a property dispute. And because of his good looks, he was quite favored by everyone in the Song Family.
But he hadn’t expected that Young Master Yuan would possess such an admirable temperament and be so strikingly handsome.
Perhaps this was precisely why the Song Family had acknowledged him?
"Young Master Yuan, I’ve heard a lot about you!" Hong Xi greeted him with a smile while subtly sizing up Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong responded with calm composure, courteously bowing his hands in a very generous and easygoing manner.
Hong Xi felt a subtle change in his emotions.
Through this close encounter, he could better sense the innate dignity exuding from Yuan Yunzhong.
Although the situation was unexpected, he quickly composed himself and began exchanging pleasantries with Song Jiyun, "I had originally planned to visit Miss Song, thinking Miss Song must be very busy these days and was planning to wait until you were less busy to speak, but I didn’t expect Miss Song to come ahead. It truly adds luster to the occasion."
Song Jiyun indeed noticed his subtle movements, but did not take them to heart.
To be honest, anyone who knew of someone like Yuan Yunzhong would feel a bit of curiosity. Anyone who met Yuan Yunzhong would take an extra look at him.
She smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Young Master Hong, "Young Master Hong, you are too modest. I haven’t even had the chance to thank you for your timely help!"
"It is you, Miss Song, who lent aid first!"
The two complimented each other as they moved towards the Flower Hall where the Hong Family hosted their guests.
Along the way, the vibrant colors were lush and vivid, with bright flowers blooming fervently. The Flower Hall itself was surrounded by colored glaze lattice doors painted with various flowers. Pushing open the lattice doors, every step revealed a new scene, clearly a great effort in decoration.
Song Jiyun continued to shower praise, "I think the gardens of Suzhou and Hangzhou are no more than this."
"You flatter me too much!" Hong Xi modestly returned, his eyes subtly gazing towards Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong, seemingly unimpressed by the scenery around him, picked up a tea cup when the maids brought refreshment. His gaze, however, landed on the black lacquered and gilded couplets hung on the columns.
Hong Xi laughed, "Does Young Master Yuan also like cursive script? This is my grandfather’s copy of Model Calligraphy by Zhang Zhi. Even though it’s somewhat misplaced here, my grandfather likes it, and we younger generations simply listen and obey."
"It’s fine," Yuan Yunzhong said in an ordinary tone, "The couplets at the Three Knowledge Hall are also written in cursive."
The Three Knowledge Hall is the Scripture Library at the Suzhou Crane Mountain Academy. It was donated and built by former Grand Scholar of the Hall of Valor and Minister of Rites Qiu Zhongren, along with some officials and scholars from Suzhou. Its front plaque and couplets are personally written by Qiu Zhongshi. It is one of the sacred places in the minds of scholars from Jiangnan, proudly asserting "All scholars here speak with authority, and no common folk tread these grounds". Not just any layperson, even ordinary scholars couldn’t enter.
Hong Xi was astonished momentarily, but then realized that being from Suzhou, Yuan Yunzhong would certainly have better opportunities to visit the Three Knowledge Hall. He quickly understood and laughed, "My grandfather was fortunate to visit the Three Knowledge Hall once and then followed its example to write this couplet." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Yuan Yunzhong nodded, expressing a nonchalant attitude, "Lord Qiu’s writings are top-notch, though his calligraphy is not as good as Lord Zhao’s."
Lord Zhao was one of the Suzhou officials who, together with Qiu Zhongshi, donated to the Three Knowledge Hall. He was famous for his skill in calligraphy. Although he donated the most books and funds, when he retired, he held only the post of a Fifth Rank Supernumerary Official. When it came to engraving the tablet, his name was listed after Lord Qiu’s.
Hong Xi was secretly startled.
Many people knew of the Three Knowledge Hall, but not many were so detailed in their knowledge of its stories.
Unless one was a direct disciple from the Crane Mountain Academy, or a scion from a Suzhou aristocratic family.
Yuan Yunzhong...was he really just a destitute scion coming to the Song Family to mooch off them?
He felt he had neglected Yuan Yunzhong.
And Song Jiyun, who only knew simple regular script...looked at the couplet several times.
The calligraphy moved like dragons and snakes.
She couldn’t recognize a single character.
Listening to Hong Xi and Yuan Yunzhong talk, she couldn’t help laughing, "Had I known earlier, I should have sent Young Master Hong Zhang Zhi’s model calligraphy—my maternal grandfather once collected a piece of Zhang Zhi’s calligraphy copied by Lord Qiu."
Not only was Hong Xi surprised, but even Yuan Yunzhong was quite amazed.
Song Jiyun smiled, "My maternal grandfather once studied at Suzhou Crane Mountain Academy. This piece of model calligraphy by Lord Qiu was a gift from one of his classmates at the time."
Hong Xi revealed joyfully, "I never expected our families to have such a connection. I also studied at Crane Mountain Academy."
Now it was Song Jiyun’s turn to be surprised.
The Crane Mountain Academy in Suzhou is one of the three major academies in Jiangnan.
Over the past hundred years, not only has it produced many Juren and Imperial Scholars, but also several esteemed scholars.
Her maternal grandfather had always taken pride in having studied there, often mentioning it.
Song Jiyun then smiled, "When I return, I will find it in the storeroom and send someone to deliver it."
Hong Xi waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "A gentleman should not covet what others enjoy. How dare I accept such a generous gift from Miss Song?" He then added with emotion, "No wonder Miss Song’s paintings and calligraphy are considered unparalleled. It turns out there is an educational heritage in the family."
Song Jiyun was puzzled.
Her painting was passable, but her calligraphy was quite mediocre.
Why would Young Master Hong say this?
Hong Xi smiled, "Recently, my grandfather received a pair of red cinnabar offering plates with ’Abundance Year After Year.’ He couldn’t stop praising them. Upon inquiring, we found out that the designs on those plates were personally drawn by Miss Song. We were all greatly surprised."
Song Jiyun was quite surprised and asked, "Was it that set of goldfish ’Abundance Year After Year’ designs?"
Currently, people like to use carp designs for ’Abundance Year After Year’. Because of her broad experience, she whimsically drew a set featuring goldfish among aquatic plants. Her father liked it very much and used it as a design. It became one of the best-selling patterns of Song Clan ceramics.
Hong Xi nodded with a smile, "Exactly that set of goldfish among aquatic plants ’Abundance Year After Year’ designs."
Song Jiyun, merely standing on the shoulders of posterity, had never thought to claim this credit for herself, constantly saying, "I dare not accept," "It was merely something I saw unexpectedly in a rare book and picked up from others."
However, Hong Xi kept praising, "Miss Song is too modest. Surely you weren’t the only one who had seen that rare book, but perhaps only Miss Song would have thought to design such a pattern."
The two of them chatted back and forth, making lively conversation.
From the side, Yuan Yunzhong glanced at Hong Xi and then at Song Jiyun, lifted the tea cup, smelled the Dragon Well tea which was not roasted long enough to develop a rich bean aroma, flashed a look of disdain, and then set down the tea cup.
Meanwhile, Hong Xi was concluding his conversation.
He said, "To be honest, if Miss Song hadn’t come today, I was planning to visit Miss Song in a few days."
Song Jiyun listened attentively.
Hong Xi said, "My younger brother is about to come of age soon, isn’t he? My grandfather wants to fire a batch of customized ceramics as a coming-of-age gift for my brother."
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