Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 114

Although Qi Yun said they should buy people from outside to fill the mountain garden, Ye Jiao still selected people from the household for the family courtyard.

After all, they were to be placed in the home, and all back courtyard matters were managed by Liu Shi, so they needed to make her feel at ease.

Liu Shi didn't manage anything else, just gave Fang Shi and Ye Jiao one servant woman each.

When Nanny Liu brought someone over, she specifically said to Ye Jiao: "Second Young Mistress, this is an old hand who served beside Madam. She took care of Madam during her confinement and has always been very skilled at caring for children."

Ye Jiao was currently holding a bowl eating mushroom chicken balls. Hearing this, she set down the bowl, took a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth, and looked at the woman beside Nanny Liu.

This woman appeared to be of advanced age, her hair already graying, but it was neatly combed and fastened with a wooden hairpin. She was plumper than ordinary women, her face also round and smooth without wrinkles. When she smiled, she looked particularly kind. She respectfully said to Ye Jiao: "This old servant is surnamed Mo. I greet Second Young Mistress."

Ye Jiao always maintained a proper demeanor in front of outsiders, and now was the same. She smiled kindly: "Mother Mo looks like a kind person at first glance. Please sit."

After the two servant women sat down, Ye Jiao looked at Nanny Mo.

Feeling Ye Jiao's gaze, Nanny Mo immediately sat up straight, her face maintaining its smile.

Ye Jiao then asked: "What does Mother Mo usually do?"

"Replying to Second Young Mistress, I enjoy making food. Previously I cared for Second Young Master and Third Young Master beside Madam. When the two Young Masters grew up, I worked in the small kitchen."

Nanny Liu then provided timely supplementation: "The apricot cream that Second Young Mistress likes is made best by her. Even I learned from her."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao's smile immediately became more genuine.

She also heard Nanny Liu say: "The soups Second Young Mistress drank during confinement were also made by her."

The genuine smile unconsciously dropped considerably.

However, Ye Jiao was still happy to keep Nanny Mo.

Actually, Ye Jiao had no doubts about the people Liu Shi provided. Liu Shi treated her sons and daughters-in-law extremely well, always putting them first in everything. This time giving people was also sincere.

Especially since Liu Shi had even given Ye Jiao Nanny Mo's indenture contract, it was equivalent to giving this person to her, showing she had no selfish motives whatsoever.

When Nanny Liu returned, Liu Shi asked: "Is Jiao Niang satisfied?"

Nanny Liu replied: "Second Young Mistress looked very pleased. As soon as I left, Second Young Mistress had Nanny Mo go cook noodles."

Hearing this, Liu Shi also smiled: "Being able to eat is a blessing. Giving her to Jiao Niang is also good." Her voice paused slightly, "Moreover, Mother Mo has a bodhisattva-like face but considerable skills. She'll definitely be able to protect Jiao Niang."

On this point, Nanny Liu also nodded in agreement.

In their hearts, Ye Jiao was the kindest person. After all, Liu Shi and Nanny Liu had never seen Little Ginseng's indifference toward outsiders, nor did they know that Little Su would fight at the slightest disagreement. In their presence, Ye Jiao was always the most well-behaved, especially those eyes, which were extremely beautiful, clean and bright like water, making people want to protect her more. Little Su was just a small, thin thing who looked pitiful.

So they needed to send someone with some skills but who was loyal. Nanny Mo had signed an indenture contract, so naturally she wouldn't have divided loyalties.

When Nanny Liu was helping Liu Shi to the small Buddhist hall, she quietly asked: "Madam, Second Young Mistress is pregnant and needs more people to serve her, which is appropriate, but why does First Young Mistress also need to add people?"

Liu Shi knelt on the prayer cushion, fingering her prayer beads, slightly closing her eyes as she said: "First Son's wife is much better than before now, and her temperament has also improved somewhat, but her natal family hasn't been peaceful recently. Usually I don't interfere with her correspondence with her parents, but if her natal family brother wants to deceive her, she probably can't see through it. Someone needs to be nearby to give advice."

Nanny Liu was somewhat surprised: "How does Madam know First Young Mistress's natal family is in trouble?" They clearly didn't have much contact normally.

Liu Shi turned her prayer beads again, her expression indifferent: "The entire Fang family is extremely stingy. Usually during festivals they send gifts worth no more than one string of cash, but this year they suddenly gave a porcelain vase from the previous dynasty's imperial kiln. I don't believe it was given for free."

"But we also returned a small jade Buddha to them." In terms of price, the small jade Buddha the Qi family sent could buy several porcelain vases.

Liu Shi's tone was calm: "Their family has always only taken without giving, only remembering what they sent but not remembering what others returned. Just wait, sooner or later they'll come to the door."

Nanny Liu said nothing more. After all, this was the master's business, and it wasn't appropriate for her to say much.

She just thought to herself that no wonder First Young Mistress had such a temperament... family influence was really very important.

After getting Nanny Mo, Ye Jiao kept her by her side, then selected several servants to guard the courtyard gates. As for the task of instructing subordinates, she left it all to Nanny Mo, with Little Su also learning alongside. Within a few days, everything inside and outside the courtyard was arranged properly.

However, the servant women who had originally worked in the courtyard had two conflicts with Nanny Mo, but neither reached Ye Jiao's attention. Little Ginseng only heard some noise, and usually the matter would settle down before it even started.

When the weather warmed up, Ye Jiao, four months pregnant, slept less than before and often took advantage of the beautiful spring weather to go out and walk around, though always very carefully.

Not only because of Doctor Li's instructions, but also because Ye Jiao felt her belly was larger this time than last time.

When she was pregnant with Xu Bao last time, Little Ginseng didn't feel any difference in the first few months. She ate when she should eat and drank when she should drink. Besides sleeping more, she had no other symptoms.

But this time she was obviously showing earlier than last time.

Especially when sleeping at night, she was always afraid of accidentally pressing on her belly, so she stayed close in Qi Yun's arms.

Because Second Young Master Qi basically didn't move when sleeping, he would be in the same position when he woke up as when he fell asleep. Being held by him also helped Ye Jiao sleep more soundly.

This often meant that when Ye Jiao woke up, she would see her husband's handsome collarbone and neck hollow.

Outside, the sky was already bright. Ye Jiao moved slightly, then saw Qi Yun open his eyes.

Actually, Qi Yun had woken up long ago, but afraid of waking Ye Jiao, he lay there with his eyes closed to rest. Only now did he open his eyes to look at her. Meeting Ye Jiao's eyes that still held moisture, the man smiled and lowered his head to kiss her.

Ye Jiao raised her head to let him kiss her, but after just waking up she was always somewhat dazed. She buried her face in the man's chest, wrapping her arms and legs around him, and rubbed against him for a while before becoming fully awake.

By the time they ate breakfast, it was already three quarters past the hour of Chen.

Qi Yun picked up a boiled egg, knocked it on the table, then rubbed it. After the shell cracked, he peeled it while saying: "Elder Brother and Tie Zi should arrive this afternoon, and Third Brother should also reach home around the same time."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao asked: "Didn't you say Third Brother needs to prepare for the provincial examination?"

This provincial examination was a special imperial grace examination, beginning in the eighth month of autumn. Qi Ming had returned to the academy to study hard after New Year and had previously said he would only return after the examination.

Qi Yun placed the peeled boiled egg in Ye Jiao's bowl and replied slowly: "This time he's returning to prepare examination materials and procure things needed for the imperial examination. The provincial examination is unlike the previous county, prefecture, and academy examinations. It's very strict, and there are many things to prepare."

This wasn't Qi Yun exaggerating. The provincial examination was extremely strict to prevent cheating. Not only were candidates strip-searched when entering, but once the main gate was sealed after entry, it couldn't be opened even if there was a fire inside.

Every year there were candidates who fell ill and died suddenly inside, but even if they died, they wouldn't be taken out. They had to wait until the several days of examination were finished and the main gate opened before they could be dealt with.

The path of imperial examinations was difficult. "From farmhand in the morning to ascending the emperor's hall at dusk" was every scholar's dream, but very few could actually achieve it.

Qi Yun served Ye Jiao some vegetables with his chopsticks, saying: "The family can't help Third Brother with academic matters, but we can help quite a lot with preparing all the examination items."

Ye Jiao couldn't help but look at him: "Is there anything I can help with?"

Qi Yun thought for a moment and said: "I got a purple hair brush. I'll have him try it later to see if it's comfortable to use."

Ye Jiao seemed eager to try: "Then may I make a tassel for Third Brother?"

Qi Yun coughed lightly. It wasn't that he looked down on Ye Jiao's tassels, but his wife's handiwork was truly unique. Not to mention whether tassels could even be brought into the examination, just speaking of those always peculiar designs... they might affect performance.

Moreover, Jiao Niang's tassels had always been made for him alone, rarely given to others. Giving them to Third Brother would be better than giving them to himself.

Qi Yun didn't answer, just smiled and served her a piece of sand cake, successfully diverting Little Ginseng's attention.

Meanwhile, in town, Ye Ping Rong was on horseback, touching the pouch in his sleeve. It had a tassel made by Ye Jiao on it, which he always carried with him.

Tie Zi, also on horseback beside him, smiled and said to Ye Ping Rong: "Young Master Ye, it's almost noon. How about we find a place to eat something before continuing?"

They had been traveling since early morning and hadn't eaten anything for three or four hours.

But Ye Ping Rong's mind was entirely on Ye Jiao. Especially after learning that Ye Jiao was pregnant, Ye Ping Rong wished he could fly directly to his little sister's side to see her.

However, matters in the capital had delayed him for a while. Ye Ping Rong had finally stabilized military affairs, then had to choose a residence with Princess Hui Ning, and also look at shops for his brother-in-law. He wished he could split himself into three parts.

Finally getting free time, he had rushed back with Tie Zi.

If he could have been in the mood to rest and eat before, now that they were only ten-odd li from the Qi family, Ye Ping Rong became increasingly impatient and couldn't care whether his stomach was hungry or not. He directly said: "No rush, it's better to return early. Don't keep Jiao Niang waiting anxiously."

Hearing this, Tie Zi said no more and prepared to quickly pass through town with Ye Ping Rong to get home early.

But just then, there was suddenly a commotion ahead.

Tie Zi looked and discovered it was in front of the medicine shop run by Fang Li and Dong Shi.

It looked like a woman with two young people, apparently shouting about something, but before they could finish speaking, people from the shop covered their mouths and dragged them inside.

The surrounding people just thought they had gone mad. Usually such incidents weren't uncommon outside the Qi family medicine shop, so naturally no one paid attention.

But soon, a shop assistant came running out. As soon as he left the alley, he saw Tie Zi sitting on horseback.

He immediately changed direction and ran toward Tie Zi. When Tie Zi pulled on his horse's reins, the assistant ran up and looked up at him: "This is terrible, something's happened!"

Hearing him speak so seriously, Tie Zi dismounted and grabbed him: "What's the matter? Speak clearly."

The assistant hurriedly said: "A woman came to the shop to make trouble, acting like a madwoman. One moment she says Second Young Master drove them out of the city for no reason, the next she says her son could have great prospects but the master cut off their livelihood, and she also said..."

"What else did she say?"

"She also said Second Young Master took advantage of her daughter but won't acknowledge it."

At these words, Tie Zi's first reaction was disbelief. After all, he was someone who saw Second Young Master and Second Young Mistress being affectionate daily. Anyone else might be possible, but Second Young Master truly wasn't. However, Tie Zi unconsciously looked back at Ye Ping Rong on horseback.

What he met was a face with an indifferent expression.

Although Tie Zi didn't know the details, he still defended his master: "Young Master Ye, my Second Young Master wouldn't do such a thing. This must be someone falsely accusing him."

He had expected Ye Ping Rong to be angry, but instead Tie Zi saw Ye Ping Rong nod and reply: "I know. With his physical condition, he doesn't have the ability to fool around."

Tie Zi: ...

Why did this not sound like praise for the Young Master?

But the next second, Ye Ping Rong also dismounted and said to Tie Zi: "I'll go with you to take a look. Let's go."