Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 108

Hearing this, Ye Jiao's first action was to lean over and cover Xu Bao's ears.

Dong Shi was startled: "What are you doing?"

Ye Jiao whispered to her: "My Xu Bao is learning to speak very well now. He can remember whatever you say to him. It's better he doesn't hear these things."

Although Little Ginseng didn't quite understand what Wu or Qian families were about, nor what had happened to them, anything involving illness and trouble was definitely not good.

Her Xu Bao learned things quickly and had sharp ears. If he picked up a sentence or two, it wouldn't be good.

Dong Shi had never thought about this before. Now that Ye Jiao mentioned it, she realized that besides discipline, one had to pay attention to words and actions around children. These little ones might look small, but everything they saw and heard could be learned.

So Dong Shi also reached out to hold Hu Zi, but she wasn't as gentle as Ye Jiao with her covering. Instead, she directly held Hu Zi's head.

Hu Zi was caught off guard, his face pressed directly into Dong Shi's embrace.

The little fellow moved slightly to secure a breathing space for himself, then obediently lay still, extremely well-behaved.

Dong Shi continued: "You know about Seventh Miss Lu, right? The one who was caught in adultery on the street last time. She was carried into the Wu residence in a sedan chair as a concubine. Since then, the Wu family has had no peace, with small quarrels every three days and big fights every five days."

Ye Jiao was somewhat surprised: "You know all this?"

Dong Shi touched the back of Hu Zi's head and smiled: "Household affairs can never really be hidden. With so many maids, servants, attendants, and followers, so many eyes and mouths, how could anything truly be airtight? Just like with our master's family, most are children of tenant farmers helping out. They don't have indenture contracts, and my medicine shop is even more open. Outsiders know about any disturbances."

Ye Jiao had never heard about such things before. Now hearing Dong Shi explain, she felt she was learning new knowledge every day. She nodded and kept it in mind.

Meanwhile, Little Su, seeing Ye Jiao look at her, immediately promised: "Second Young Mistress, Brother Tie Zi and I keep our mouths shut tight. We don't say anything."

Ye Jiao smiled and touched her hair: "I naturally know how good you are."

Dong Shi then looked at Little Su: "Now that our master's business is growing, there are many outside affairs to handle. Little Su is clever and can take care of you well, but she should also listen to outside matters. If there's really something important, she can know about it early."

Little Su immediately nodded, thinking she should go ask Nanny Liu more questions when she returned.

Dong Shi continued: "Where was I... Oh right, Seventh Miss Lu was making trouble, forcing her mother-in-law Madam Zhang to hide at the shop. Not long after she left, Madam Qian fell ill. Seeing that Madam Qian couldn't hold on much longer, her family came to make trouble."

Speaking of this, Dong Shi also despised Seventh Miss Lu in her heart for being problematic.

Ordinary families had men taking concubines or minor wives, especially merchant families. With spare money and no need to worry too much about reputation, they married when they had money, with no one stopping them.

But whether concubine or favored concubine, according to this dynasty's laws, they couldn't be elevated to wife status.

If one wanted to change from concubine to wife, the man had to spend three months in prison and pay a fine.

Now the Lu family was much worse off than before. They were said to be selling houses and land to fill deficits. Seventh Miss Lu's birth mother Lady Wu now didn't dare leave the house. With no one to support Seventh Miss Lu, her causing trouble was completely pointless.

It was just that Madam Qian was foolish, letting herself be victimized for nothing. If it were a slightly more capable woman, she would have dealt with the situation long ago.

However, Dong Shi wasn't surprised that Madam Qian couldn't compete with Seventh Miss Lu. Previously, Madam Qian had covered her face with light gauze daily, putting on airs, often shedding tears and crying. At Third Young Master's Top Candidate celebration banquet, she had spoken about being pregnant, then it turned out she wasn't, making it a laughingstock. Just from these previous actions, you could tell she was incompetent.

Add to this her sharp-tongued mother-in-law Madam Zhang, who had reportedly argued with Master's wife Liu Shi at a temple. With two muddle-headed mother and daughter-in-law, household discord wasn't surprising.

However, Dong Shi didn't tell Ye Jiao these latter details, only saying: "It's really wonderful that Seventh Miss Lu had no relationship with our Third Young Master. Whoever caught them in adultery on the street really did a good deed."

Ye Jiao didn't know about Fang Shi's heroic deed that night and nodded along: "Yes, Third Brother's luck was really good."

Ye Jiao didn't take the rest to heart, just listening as a story.

Since the Lu family didn't plan to cling to the Qi family anymore, they were just unrelated strangers. Little Ginseng had always been uninterested in other people's affairs. Having heard it as a story, she was done with it.

Then the two released their respective little chubby ones and let them play on the soft cushions. When tired, they fed them some rice porridge kept warm in cotton-stuffed bamboo tubes. The journey was quite pleasant.

Qi Yun arrived half a day later. When he reached the garden, he saw Ye Jiao standing with Dong Shi, with a garden servant beside them.

As Qi Yun approached, he heard the servant saying warmly: "Second Young Mistress, the flowers and plants here are all precious. If transplanted, they might not survive. It's better not to move them."

Then he heard Ye Jiao's soft voice: "But this place has the best sunlight and is near water. Several medicinal herbs would definitely be best placed here."

The servant smiled and replied: "Second Young Mistress probably doesn't understand planting methods. We who have always done this work know best. Second Young Mistress and Lady Dong have always lived in comfort and luxury, probably never actually handled such things. What we say is definitely correct."

Dong Shi frowned: "The way you talk, it seems you want to handle things yourself. Are you treating yourself as the master?"

But the servant still smiled in response: "Lady Dong's words are harsh. We old folks have just seen more and experienced more. If we need to move flowers and trees, and some die or wither, the purchasing money involved is substantial. We just don't know if Young Mistress will pay for it."

Hearing this, Qi Yun immediately knew this servant was ostensibly advising but actually not taking Ye Jiao seriously.

This was common. There were always subordinates who relied on their age to fool their masters. When they encountered someone with a mild temperament, they might be completely deceived.

Qi Yun had dealt with various managers and shop keepers and had seen this kind of bad intentions.

Even just buying some flowers and plants involved money flow, leading inevitably to embezzlement and corruption later.

This was also why Qi Yun had definitely wanted to make this trip. Even though setting up shop in the capital had made him too busy to spare time, Qi Yun still squeezed out time to come up the mountain, precisely because he was afraid someone would make things difficult for Ye Jiao.

His wife had always been delicate with a gentle temperament. She definitely needed someone to support her.

Even though Dong Shi was spirited and opinionated, this estate had nothing to do with her. It was purely Second Young Master Qi's property, so even if Dong Shi had something to say, she had no standing to say it.

Qi Yun was about to go support his wife when he heard Ye Jiao's soft voice again: "When I looked at the land deed here earlier, I also saw the indenture contracts for you several people."

The servant said: "Yes, Second Young Mistress. We're all old hands who've worked here for years."

Ye Jiao's voice remained calm: "Then that means when my husband bought the garden, he also bought you along with it, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. If you won't listen to me, then I'll replace you or sell you and get someone new."

At these words, the surroundings immediately fell silent.

Dong Shi looked at Ye Jiao somewhat bewildered, but received Ye Jiao's matter-of-fact expression.

Little Ginseng didn't understand many things. She only knew that since this place was bought by her husband, her husband was in charge. And since Qi Yun said he was giving it to her, she was in charge.

Being in charge meant, according to her understanding, doing whatever she wanted.

Regardless of how politely these people spoke, Ye Jiao only heard their disagreement.

Ye Jiao wanted to clear this area to plant medicine, and this servant was blocking her from doing so. Then she simply wouldn't keep her. For Ye Jiao, this wasn't important at all.

But those servants were dumbfounded, while Qi Yun, standing not far away, laughed.

Yes, how had he forgotten? His wife might be gentle, but she had her own ideas. Besides listening to him, she listened to no one else.

If there was reason, she would naturally accept it, but if there was no reason, he had never seen Jiao Niang back down.

However, Qi Yun still walked over. As soon as he appeared, he saw those servants had already knelt on the ground, but none dared speak, as if they hadn't recovered from Ye Jiao's words.

Seeing Qi Yun, they wanted to speak and beg for mercy, also regretting in their hearts. They had only wanted to test the new master's young mistress's temperament. Who could have thought this seemingly soft little woman would be like an iron plate? One collision left them bloodied and unable to find their bearings!

But Qi Yun only glanced at them without saying much. When he looked at Ye Jiao, Qi Yun said warmly: "Does Jiao Niang like this place?"

Ye Jiao nodded and smiled back: "You brought back those potted medicinal herbs. Spring Orchid and I thought we should find a place with good sunlight to try planting them, and we found this spot."

"Good, listen to you. Move away what flowers and plants can be moved, and uproot what can't be moved."

Dong Shi, listening to this, couldn't help her eyebrows twitching.

Last time, the master's Second Young Master seemed to have said the same thing, and later all those flowers and plants in their courtyard were leveled and replaced with a garden full of medicinal flowers.

It seemed her master and Jiao Niang's marital sweetness had shown no decline to this day. She should definitely learn some husband-managing techniques from Jiao Niang later.

Then, Qi Yun completely ignored whatever those servants said and then spoke to Ye Jiao: "You look around some more with them. I'll handle the rest and wait for you in the room where we stayed before."

"Alright."

Ye Jiao continued strolling with Dong Shi, while Qi Yun had someone call the steward over, his voice indifferent: "Since my wife said so, call a broker to come and send these servants away. Don't keep them here being an eyesore."

The steward was startled, but facing Qi Yun's cold expression, he didn't dare say anything and could only bow his head in agreement.

Actually, the master hadn't beaten or punished them, just sending them away. This was already extremely benevolent. These servants had contradicted the master, so being sent away was their own fault.

However, the steward later learned they were sold off just for contradicting the master's wife, and immediately shuddered.

Then the steward gathered his subordinates and strictly ordered them to treat the young mistress like a bodhisattva in the future... no, they should be even more respectful than to a bodhisattva!

At least a bodhisattva wouldn't throw them out, but if they made the young mistress unhappy, they'd lose their jobs. Everyone should weigh this carefully.

Ye Jiao didn't know Qi Yun had established authority for her. She took Dong Shi around the garden, and by noon they had seen most of it. Dong Shi then carried Hu Zi down the mountain.

Actually, she didn't need to leave so hastily, but seeing that Qi Yun had come, Dong Shi felt there was no need to occupy space here, so she very tactfully departed.

Ye Jiao returned to the side room, ate a little something, then held Xu Bao and lay down to sleep.

Xu Bao was young and at the age of growing, so sleeping a lot was normal.

However, Ye Jiao had stopped taking afternoon naps before, but now she was sleeping again, sometimes even longer than Xu Bao.

Qi Yun just thought Ye Jiao had been tired these past days, so he didn't disturb her. When going through account books, he tried to move more gently, and even when he heard sparrows chirping outside, he had people shoo them away.

This had actually become a habit for Little Su and Tie Zi. Their first masters were Qi Yun and Ye Jiao, and they had always seen them so affectionate. Having seen it so much, they were used to it without any surprise.

But other people in the garden, watching this, figured out the implications and became even more careful and cautious.

This nap lasted until evening. After Ye Jiao woke up and recovered a bit, she wanted to harness the carriage to return.

Sitting in the carriage, Little Ginseng set up a table, arranged the pastries brought from the garden, then had Little Su watch Xu Bao while she nestled directly in Qi Yun's arms, eating pastries while asking: "Are you finished with your business?"

Qi Yun nodded: "Almost done. I'll leave the rest to Manager Song. I don't need to worry about everything personally."

Ye Jiao grasped his hand, gently squeezing his finger joints, her voice soft: "It's gotten colder these days. Remember to add more clothes. When we get back, I'll get that rabbit fur hat for you. Remember to wear it."

That fluffy one again?

Qi Yun smiled first, but after smiling, he looked down at Ye Jiao intently.

Ye Jiao looked at him somewhat puzzled, reaching up to touch the flower ornament on her forehead, wondering if it was crooked.

But before she could lower her hand, she felt Qi Yun gently kiss her forehead, his voice gentle: "Jiao Niang, if I hadn't met you back then, life would probably have been very difficult."

Qi Yun said this with complete sincerity.

From the first day he met Ye Jiao, her heart and eyes had been full of him. It was because of Jiao Niang that his days became vibrant.

If his previous years had been cold as ice, then after marrying Ye Jiao, life became warm.

Ye Jiao had given him everything he wanted, and even things he couldn't have asked for.

Even though he still felt cold, as long as he could be with Ye Jiao, Qi Yun felt content in his heart.

Ye Jiao leaned against Qi Yun, clasping his hand, and honestly nodded: "Yes, I am husband's good medicine. With me, of course husband feels better."

Little Ginseng said this with complete sincerity.

She had always worked hard for Qi Yun's health, supplementing and nourishing him, carefully tending to him until now. Only then could they reach this point. Ye Jiao naturally wouldn't erase her own contributions.

But Ye Jiao continued: "However, if I hadn't met husband, I would also feel very sad. Moreover, Mother told me that life is what you make of it. If you live well, it belongs to you and has nothing to do with others. Husband treats me well, I treat husband well, so our life is good."

Qi Yun looked down at her, and meeting those clear eyes, he knew these were Ye Jiao's honest words. Only someone with such pure thoughts as Ye Jiao could have such clear understanding.

After all, the current good situation was something they had created together. Why worry about so many "what ifs"?

Living well in the present was better than pointless worry.

Tightening his arms, Qi Yun smiled: "Right, Jiao Niang is absolutely correct." Perhaps moved by emotion, Qi Yun lowered his head and whispered in Ye Jiao's ear: "Xu Bao played well with Hu Zi. When we get back, I'll also call Little Shi Tou over so they can stay at Mother's place longer. We can go back and do some pleasant things, alright?"

"Alright, just don't make it too late. I get sleepy easily."

"Fine, everything as my wife wishes."

Ye Jiao smiled, then silently reached toward the plate on the table.

This was already the second plate. Qi Yun remembered that Ye Jiao had just eaten a plate of sand cakes, and now she was almost finished with these sugar cookies. He couldn't help reaching out to rub her stomach: "Didn't you eat enough at lunch?"

But Qi Yun thought about it, this didn't make sense. At lunch, his Jiao Niang had eaten six whole steamed buns plus two bowls of meat soup. She shouldn't be hungry so quickly.

Ye Jiao was someone who ate whenever she wanted. With her mouth stuffed with food, her voice was muffled: "I ate enough, but I just feel like eating something."

Qi Yun's hand rubbing Ye Jiao's stomach paused slightly, then he looked at Ye Jiao: "Have you been feeling sleepy lately?"

Hearing him mention sleepiness, Ye Jiao unconsciously yawned and leaned against Qi Yun: "I suppose it's because the weather's cold that I feel tired. It's nothing serious."

But Qi Yun suddenly moved his hand from Ye Jiao's stomach, then gently placed it back, not daring to rub anymore, just covering it, extremely carefully.

Just as Ye Jiao was puzzled, Qi Yun asked quietly: "When was your last monthly cycle?"

Ye Jiao was stunned. She never remembered these dates, but now that Qi Yun brought it up, she lowered her head to calculate: "It's been about two months, but my monthly cycle is sometimes irregular. It's nothing serious."

But Qi Yun didn't let it pass so lightly. Instead, he grasped Ye Jiao's wrist and gently tugged: "Since Jiao Niang knows how to check pulses, why don't you check your own?"

Ye Jiao was somewhat confused but still obediently grasped her own wrist.

Soon after, she widened her eyes.

Qi Yun also held his breath, watching her intently.

Then, in the quiet carriage, Ye Jiao's voice sounded, carrying some hesitation: "Husband, when I feel this... why does it seem like a slippery pulse?"