Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 121

Not many people knew about the Qi family receiving the Imperial Plaque, but Tie Zi was one of them.

Qi Yun didn't seem particularly happy about it, but Tie Zi was genuinely delighted.

Having made a trip to the Capital, Tie Zi, this country boy, had truly witnessed what was called the prosperity of the Capital.

"East wind releases a thousand flowering trees at night. And more, blows down the stars like rain. Precious horses and ornate carriages fill the roads with fragrance. Phoenix flutes sound, jade pots turn in light, all night the fish and dragons dance."

This was a poem Tie Zi had memorized when learning to read with Qi Yun. At the time, he'd thought it was exaggerated, but after actually witnessing the New Year atmosphere in the Capital, he knew that poetry could not capture even one ten-thousandth of it.

And to open a shop in such a place, even if it was just one shop, would surely bring great benefits.

Adding the Emperor's bestowed plaque, they would naturally have their place.

So Tie Zi waited eagerly with such expectations.

One day didn't come, two days didn't come... ten days didn't come, twenty days didn't come...

Until two months had passed, Second Young Mistress's belly had grown round, the season had gone from spring to midsummer, and even Second Young Master's family had moved to the Mountain Retreat, yet still the Imperial Plaque hadn't arrived home.

After waiting so long, even Tie Zi felt annoyed. Seeing that there was still no movement from the prefect's side, and Shi Tianrui had come asking several times, Tie Zi finally couldn't hold back.

But recently there had been many matters, especially preparing to move to the mountain garden, with many things to prepare, so he hadn't found a suitable opportunity.

Finally this day, when Second Young Master was examining accounts in the side room, Tie Zi seized the chance to ask Qi Yun: "Young Master, they dare to hold back imperial gifts, are they mad?"

Qi Yun remained calm, lightly making marks on the account book while saying: "Excuses can be thought up however they like, and besides, Prefect hasn't said he won't give it, just let word out that he wants me to come ask for it. After all, having this plaque would be of great use to my Qi family, but brings him no benefit, so he's just slightly blocking it to seek some advantage from me."

Tie Zi was somewhat puzzled: "What advantage?" Could it be that he also wanted the Qi family to send him a beauty like Manager Sun had done?

Second Young Master Qi turned a page, speaking slowly: "Gold, silver, wealth, goods, or yielding profits to the Shao family, nothing more than these. I suppose this time's commendation was for disaster relief charity, though rare, it's not unique. Prefect Shao understands well how to grasp the proper measure."

"Isn't he afraid of being punished for defying imperial orders?"

"He's not defying orders, just delaying. Today he says it's for disaster victim relief, tomorrow it's meeting with subordinates, there are always things to say. Besides, we merchants and traders, how many of us can reach the Emperor's ear?"

You can, Young Master.

Tie Zi had been to the Capital with Ye Ping Rong to look at shops, and had stayed at Ye Ping Rong's residence, so he knew more or less about his Second Young Master's capabilities.

Reaching the Emperor's ear would probably just be a matter of one letter.

But since Qi Yun didn't mention it, Tie Zi wouldn't ask more, and said: "Then Young Master, what should we do? Just leaving it like this isn't really proper either."

Qi Yun shook his head without thinking: "No matter what, we can't give him even one copper coin."

It wasn't that Qi Yun was reluctant to part with the silver, nor that he didn't understand priorities. In fact, he'd encountered plenty of corruption and extortion, especially when merchant caravans passed through checkpoints, they'd paid plenty in bribes.

But this time was different.

The plaque was an imperial gift. Prefect Shao thought Emperor Chu Chengyun wouldn't inquire because he didn't know the inside story, but Qi Yun knew that since Emperor Chu Chengyun had given this thing out, he would at least ask about it.

Especially since Qi Yun had figured out Emperor Chu Chengyun's temperament. No matter how deep his thoughts or scheming, at heart he was still a young man who, while indifferent to others, always hoped for some return from those close to him.

Having bestowed this plaque, he would probably often ask Ye Ping Rong whether he had written letters, just wanting Ye Ping Rong to express his gratitude and surprise, then imagine his shocked expression in his mind. Just these things could probably make Emperor Chu Chengyun overjoyed.

That person's happiness was just that simple.

Now that he'd remained silent all this time, and Qi Yun had deliberately endured two months without writing a single letter to Ye Ping Rong, Emperor Chu Chengyun would surely sense something was wrong.

If at this time he gave gold and silver to Prefect Shao to get the plaque, the plaque would indeed be retrieved, but his image in Emperor Chu Chengyun's heart would probably collapse completely.

That man had always thought Qi Yun was a transcendent person who worried about the country and people without seeking reward. If he let him think Qi Yun was someone who would spend money on bribes for an Imperial Plaque, the consequences would be unthinkable.

No matter what, his image couldn't collapse.

Thinking of this, Qi Yun said: "Just endure it, don't overthink, just act as if we don't know."

Tie Zi always completely trusted Qi Yun, so he didn't ask more and nodded in agreement.

Now Tie Zi could also help Qi Yun check accounts, and his abacus skills were getting better and better, but with only his own abacus beads clicking in the room, Tie Zi felt somewhat careful, then puzzled: "Second Young Master, don't you use an abacus?"

Qi Yun didn't even look at him, replying lightly: "No need."

"Without an abacus, how do you calculate accounts?"

"I can figure it out with my brain, no need for an abacus."

Tie Zi: ...

Suddenly he felt that his Young Master's brain was too capable, it would be wrong not to make big money with such cleverness.

Ye Jiao knew nothing of these matters, so she had one less worry, and her days passed quite happily. Especially after taking the carriage up to the mountain garden, Ye Jiao was obviously much more comfortable than when she'd been cooped up in the small courtyard.

Though Ye Jiao enjoyed human life and liked being able to eat and drink every day, she was after all a ginseng spirit who had spent a thousand years in the wilderness, accustomed to vast grasslands and forests as far as the eye could see. Being confined to a small courtyard inevitably felt stifling.

Now it was better. The mountain was much cooler than below, with flowers and grass, water and trees. Just the lush green everywhere, the openness, even just walking and looking around was enough to make her happy.

Today looking at medicinal herbs, tomorrow walking on stone bridges, even now in midsummer, with Qi Yun holding an umbrella for shade and Ye Jiao walking beside him, the two of them strolling along the babbling creek, for Little Ginseng, this was a godly life.

And in the garden, what Ye Jiao liked most was the cool pavilion.

Cool pavilions were generally only built by wealthy families, because constructing a cool pavilion required building beside flowing water. The pavilion was open on three sides, decorated with light gauze curtains made of the softest, finest materials that would flutter gracefully in the breeze, not only providing ventilation but also appearing particularly elegant.

Beside the cool pavilion's stream, a "fan wheel" similar to a water wheel would be built. When the stream flowed past, the fan wheel would slowly turn, with huge fan blades swaying along with it. Even on windless days, it could create a breeze, and with the cool stream water, the wind carried coolness that felt refreshing just to feel.

The fan wheel would also lift water bit by bit, and when it reached the top it would tilt, sprinkling onto the pavilion roof. The flowing water would carry away the sun's heat from the roof, making the interior cool and refreshing.

Since Ye Jiao was now carrying a child and couldn't eat too many cold things, this cool pavilion became her favorite place to stay.

After looking at medicinal herbs and walking around outside briefly, Ye Jiao would go to the cool pavilion with Qi Yun to rest.

Qi Yun would place Xu Bao on the mat, have someone bring melons for him to eat, while he first spread a layer of cotton cloth on the mat as padding, then helped Ye Jiao sit down.

Ye Jiao wiped her sweat with a handkerchief, looking at Qi Yun with her eyes: "Husband, it's hot, I want to eat ice cream."

Previously the man had always granted Ye Jiao's every request, but pregnant women couldn't eat too many cold things. Even though Qi Yun especially wanted to present everything she desired with both hands when looking at those clear eyes, he still forced himself to endure, using all his self-control to keep from immediately nodding. His eyes looked toward Little Su on the side.

Little Su immediately understood, respectfully saying: "Second Young Mistress has been holding back all day without eating any, from morning until now she hasn't even had a sip of cold water."

The implication was that their Second Young Mistress had endured so long, she deserved some sweetness.

Only then did Qi Yun nod, and Ye Jiao, seeing this, immediately had someone bring the ice cream.

Soon, ice cream served in a blue porcelain dish was placed before Ye Jiao. Though the dish looked sizeable, the ice cream was only about two spoonfuls, and it had melted somewhat on the way, making it even smaller.

But Ye Jiao knew she was now six months pregnant and should be cautious. She didn't want to harm her health from greediness, so even when eating, she would restrain herself.

Little Ginseng took the silver spoon, using just the tip to take a tiny bit and put it in her mouth to savor.

This ice cream was made by boiling milk with honey and spices in winter, adding rice flour, then freezing it and storing it in ice chambers. During summer heat, it was taken out, chipped into pieces, finely ground, then mixed with honey to make it.

Though it looked like just a tiny bit, it took considerable effort to make.

All of this was prepared on Qi Yun's orders. He read many books and knew much, and when it came to making his Jiao Niang comfortable, Qi Yun never spared his thoughts and patience.

After Ye Jiao slowly savored and finished all the ice cream in the dish bit by bit, she reluctantly put down the spoon. When the sweetness in her mouth faded, only then did she turn to look at Qi Yun and Xu Bao.

She saw Xu Bao sitting on the mat, his chubby legs obediently curled, his arms resting on Qi Yun's legs, his clear eyes fixed on Qi Yun.

Qi Yun was holding a book called "Elementary Learning Guide," saying to Xu Bao: "The Three Dukes correspond to the Three Terraces in heaven, court officials correspond to the stellar mansions. The Chancellor holds the position of the scales, the Personnel Ministry controls appointments."

Xu Bao blinked and asked softly: "Daddy, what is a Chancellor?"

Qi Yun smiled, saying slowly: "It's a kind of official, very, very big."

"How big?"

"Especially big."

"Bigger than Daddy?"

"Mm, of course."

Xu Bao's face immediately lit up: "Can control Daddy?"

Qi Yun didn't quite understand why his son suddenly brought this up, instinctively feeling there was a trap, but since the child asked, he couldn't not answer, so he nodded again: "Yes, can control Daddy."

Xu Bao immediately squirmed, probably too forcefully, and his chubby body rolled on the mat. Then he crawled a few steps to Ye Jiao's side and sat properly, avoiding Ye Jiao's belly. His chubby little hands hugged Ye Jiao's arm, his voice sweet: "Mother, Xu Bao wants to be Chancellor."

Qi Yun: ...

Suddenly having a son with grand ambitions, Qi Yun couldn't quite react.

Ye Jiao pinched his face and asked: "Why?"

Xu Bao immediately raised his head, his voice bouncing: "Control Daddy, make Daddy read books to Xu Bao every day!"