Song Jiyun stood on the steps under the eaves of the hall, welcoming Song Tao.
Song Tao wore a moon-white Hangzhou silk garment with embroidered Branch Folding Flowers pattern, and a wine cup-sized, goose-yellow rose pinned by her temple, which made her appear more delicate than the flowers.
"Younger Sister Yun!" As soon as she saw Song Jiyun, she hurriedly greeted, "I have something important to discuss with you. Let's find a secluded place to talk."
As she spoke, she hinted by glancing towards the western study.
Song Jiyun thought for a moment, then smiled, stepped aside, and gestured with a "please," saying, "Then let's talk in the western study."
Knowing that ladies were visiting, Yuan Yunzhong had left for the western study to avoid any impropriety. Now that they were heading to the western study to speak, she had to loudly inform Yuan Yunzhong.
Song Tao smiled graciously, lifting her skirt as she stepped onto the hall's front steps.
But she had only climbed two steps when suddenly her eyes widened, she gasped, and stood frozen there.
Song Jiyun was surprised.
She saw Yuan Yunzhong crossing the hall to the eastern inner chamber.
Song Tao had seen Yuan Yunzhong.
Song Jiyun couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Song Tao said a bit frantically, "Just suddenly seeing a man startled me a lot."
She paused, then added, "That's Young Master Yuan, right?"
"Yes!" Song Jiyun nodded.
Song Tao covered her mouth and laughed, "I didn't expect you to actually take my words to heart and started sending snacks and food to Young Master Yuan!"
Song Jiyun smiled, but kept silent.
Song Tao quickly pulled her by the arm, laughing, "Oh look at me, talking and talking and forgetting the main point. Let's go to the study to talk."
She didn't glance at the eastern inner chamber anymore.
"Alright!" Song Jiyun led her to the study with a smile.
But before they could sit down, Song Tao already whispered in her ear, "Jiyun, tomorrow is Uncle's funeral, have you arranged the person to smash the pot?"
"It hasn't been decided yet." Song Jiyun said composedly, "Today, both my uncle and Ninth Grand Master haven't arrived yet, I was planning to urge them later!"
"Never mind them for now." Song Tao's voice lowered further, saying, "I accompanied my mother to our grandmother to attend to her illness, and accidentally heard her and Third Uncle discussing arranging for Third Uncle's younger son, Tianhui, to perform the pot smashing Efor Uncle. They also mentioned adopting Tianhui into the second branch before Second Aunt gives birth. That way, even if Second Aunt has a son, Tianhui, as the heir, will legally inherit the major share.
"You need to be careful!
"First, think about how to deal with Grandmother and Third Uncle?"
Song Jiyun was astonished.
She didn't even try to hide it in front of Song Tao.
She knew very well where the advantages and disadvantages of the Song Family members lay.
At times, she even imagined herself as Song Daliang or Song Sanliang, and considered what she would do.
This was also why she had managed to survive amidst encircling wolves, and why she had remained undefeatable up to now.
She wasn't surprised at Madam Zeng and Song Sanliang's plans.
What was surprising was Song Tao.
Why did she want to tell her this news?
Song Daliang was also after the pot smashing; Song Sanliang and Song Daliang were the real rivals. Knowing this, why didn't Song Tao tell Song Daliang first?
What was her purpose in coming here? Was it to see Yuan Yunzhong, or to tip her off?
Or perhaps, it was both?
What benefit did she stand to gain?
Song Jiyun asked, "Does Uncle know about this?"
"I didn't tell him," Song Tao said with distress. "You know what kind of person my father is. If I had told him, he would have definitely dragged me to confront my grandmother and Uncle Third."
She eagerly said to Song Jiyun, "You mustn't say this was from me. I don't have your courage; I'm still afraid of offending Grandmother and Uncle Third. I had no choice but to come tell you, to see if you could do something to stop them."
Song Jiyun bowed her head and pondered.
Seeing this, Song Tao got up to leave: "My mother doesn't know I came here; I better go." She added, with utmost urgency, "You really mustn't say this was from me. Once I leave this door, I deny everything."
Song Jiyun smiled and had Nanny Zheng see her out.
*
As soon as Song Tao left the grand gate of Yinyu Hall, her legs went weak.
The courage that had been supporting her suddenly melted away like ice in the summer heat.
She involuntarily leaned on Ding Xiang's arm.
It was him!
She saw him!
Yuan Yunzhong was the man gazing into the distance at the railing of the Water Pavilion.
Why was Song Jiyun's luck always so good?
In her previous life, she had remained unmarried; people only dared to whisper behind her back. This life, suddenly, an unexpected fiancé appeared, who was not only handsome and young but also possessed a grandeur like a shining pearl by her side.
She had previously suspected that this Yuan Yunzhong was a swindler.
If she were Song Jiyun, even if Yuan Yunzhong turned out to be a swindler, such a swindler with exceptional looks and charisma, she would accept this marriage.
Song Tao felt as if her heart was being scratched by a cat's claws, so unbearable.
Why did all the good fortunes fall on Song Jiyun's head?
Why did Song Jiyun, who had been alone in her previous life, get to marry such a handsome man in this life?
No, she had to find a way to stop this marriage.
At that thought, Song Tao paused in her tracks.
If Song Jiyun didn't marry, how could she, like the Song Jiyun of her previous life, take control of the Song family's second branch's properties and become the most prominent porcelain merchant in Jingde Town, a towering figure in the business world?
But if she did nothing, just letting Song Jiyun marry Yuan Yunzhong... jealousy nearly bled from her eyes.
Song Tao couldn't sit still, stand, lie down, or recline comfortably in her room.
Ding Xiang thought she was worried about what had just happened at Yinyu Hall and couldn't help but say, "Miss Third, even if Grandmother and Uncle Third hadn't said such a thing, tomorrow during the ceremony of breaking the pot, they will definitely have Mr. Tianhui do it for Second Old Master. You wouldn't be wronging them."
Song Tao anxiously waved her hand.
Indeed, she wasn't wronging her uncle.
These were events from her previous life.
She also knew that the Ninth Grand Master was scheming against the second branch's family business.
Telling Song Jiyun about her uncle's plans was intended not only to provide a legitimate reason for her visit to Yinyu Hall but also because her father was simply too incompetent. Now that her uncle had already fallen out with Song Jiyun in this life, she might as well add fuel to the fire and accelerate their break. This way, her family could profit from the division.
She wasn't afraid of Song Jiyun investigating this matter, so she wasn't worried.
Besides, she harbored some selfish motives.
Knowing her uncle's intentions in advance, Song Jiyun would definitely not sit idly by during tomorrow's pot-breaking ceremony.
And with her intelligence and capability, she could surely trace it back to her father and the Ninth Grand Master.
It all depended on whom she would choose to ally with tomorrow!
Now, restless and eager, she only wanted to see Yuan Yunzhong one more time.
Song Jiyun was to be married, but not to a handsome, high-quality man who was deeply affectionate towards her.