Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 135

New Year was a major event.

It wasn't just a time for family reunions, but also involved a complete set of rituals and customs.

When to paste spring couplets, when to welcome the God of Wealth, all had specific dates and rules.

Previously, Ye Jiao hadn't paid attention to these things, but this time Liu Shi had her manage the household affairs overall, so Little Ginseng naturally had to carefully record everything to handle it all properly.

Compared to previous years, this year had to be more grand.

Not only because the three Qi brothers had each achieved success in the past year, but also because they needed to pray for the three children's future prospects in the coming year.

Eldest Brother's estates, Second Brother's shops, Third Brother's metropolitan examination, everything was important and couldn't be treated carelessly.

Moreover, Qi Yun would soon be taking Qi Ming to the capital. They might not be able to see each other daily as they did now, so Liu Shi wanted to take them to the ancestral hall to pay respects.

Though their ancestors had split the family, descendants splitting families didn't mean splitting the ancestors too. The ancestral hall still existed.

Previously, Seventh Great-Uncle's branch had hit a wall at Father Qi's place, and others knew they had the emperor's backing, so naturally no one would obstruct them. When they went, it was quite grand. Those who had previously spoken coldly didn't say a word this time.

Seventh Great-Uncle hid in his house and wouldn't come out, treating it as out of sight, out of mind.

Father Qi led the three brothers to pay respects first, then Liu Shi led the two daughters-in-law to pay respects after, all very respectfully.

Since Fang Shi was pregnant, she didn't need to perform grand ceremonies. But Ye Jiao very properly followed behind Liu Shi, kneeling when she knelt, kowtowing when she kowtowed, offering incense when she offered incense, carefully learning to do everything.

This wasn't just out of respect, but more importantly out of reverence.

Even when Little Ginseng had previously gone to temples to see those tall, imposing Buddha statues, even with golden bodies, she hadn't been afraid.

Because she had once been a spirit, now was human, but was always living and breathing, so she wasn't afraid of clay figures.

Though she also made wishes, Little Ginseng only treated it as a ritual in her heart, never taking it seriously.

But the ancestral hall was different. Qi Yun had told her that the spirit tablets above were all Qi family ancestors who had passed away, who had once been living people. Just looking at them, Ye Jiao unconsciously lowered her head.

For Little Ginseng, revering life had probably become a habit, so naturally she was respectful.

After paying respects, everyone rode carriages back home. By the time they returned, it was already evening.

After dinner, Fang Shi felt tired, so Qi Zhao carefully helped her back to their room. Little Shi Tou also protectively attended to Fang Shi, clearing the way for her, making Fang Shi smile continuously.

Ye Jiao's three babies were young and had been jostled around all day, so they were already sleepy after dinner and slept in a heap.

This gave the young couple a chance to talk.

The charcoal fire in the room made it warm and cozy. Qi Yun sat on the soft couch while Ye Jiao lay down facing up, pillowing her head on Qi Yun's leg, her eyes staring at him.

The man used his slender fingertips to gently massage the woman's temples, his fingertips lightly pressing the acupoints, asking softly: "Is the pressure right?"

Ye Jiao hummed, her voice showing how comfortable she felt: "Not too heavy, just right."

Qi Yun continued massaging, saying: "You've worked hard these past days. It should get easier after New Year."

Ye Jiao looked at him, murmuring: "Not yet. After New Year, I need to reassign the servants, distribute monthly wages, and prepare things for our trip to the capital. Oh right, I also had Spring Orchid specially get some kidney-nourishing herbs from the medicine shop..."

"Cough cough." Qi Yun coughed lightly, stopping her words, then said: "Just rest well today. Any business can wait until tomorrow."

Ye Jiao obediently closed her eyes and fell asleep before long.

She didn't wake up until she heard firecrackers outside.

She was already wrapped warmly in a fur coat, with Qi Yun holding her beside him, candles lit, reading a book.

Seeing Ye Jiao wake up, Qi Yun leaned over and gently kissed the corner of her mouth: "Want to go outside and look? There will be fireworks soon, and we've prepared sky lanterns to release together."

Since her first experience releasing sky lanterns, Ye Jiao had been particularly interested in these little things made of paper and candles that could fly into the sky.

She immediately nodded, then wrapped herself in a cloak, took a hand warmer, and Qi Yun even wrapped her neck tightly with a fur collar before putting on his own fur coat and taking hand warmers to accompany Ye Jiao outside.

Soon, fireworks bloomed.

This wasn't Ye Jiao's first time watching fireworks, and probably wouldn't be her last, but she found them beautiful every time.

Little Ginseng had actually forgotten why she had once been so obsessed with becoming human. Maybe she thought being human was more free, or maybe seeing even little foxes could become human while she couldn't made her feel somewhat lonely.

But now, after discovering the benefits of being human, Little Ginseng was grateful for those days buried in the earth.

She cherished and even greedily loved everything about her current life.

She loved her husband, loved her children, even loved the beautiful scenery when fireworks bloomed.

No wonder the little fox had said that being human for a hundred years was more enjoyable than being a spirit for a thousand years. It truly was wonderful. Little Ginseng wouldn't trade it for anything.

Seeing Ye Jiao staring blankly at the fireworks, Qi Yun worried she might get cold standing there, so he brought out the prepared sky lantern.

It already had auspicious words written on it, with beautiful drawings of two adults and three children, looking especially adorable.

Ye Jiao and Qi Yun released the sky lantern together, watching it sway as it flew into the sky. Ye Jiao said softly: "So beautiful."

Qi Yun stood beside her, smiling as he asked: "What's beautiful?"

Ye Jiao looked up at him. When she spoke, white puffs came from her mouth: "Everything's beautiful." Then she smiled again: "If every day could be like this, I wouldn't trade places with immortals."

But these words stirred something in Qi Yun's heart.

He was much better now, no longer always cold and sickly, incomparably stronger than before.

But sometimes Second Young Master Qi still feared his condition might suddenly relapse, and this fear grew stronger.

Because he had more and more people he couldn't bear to leave.

Couldn't bear to leave Ye Jiao, couldn't bear to leave Xu Bao, couldn't bear to leave Ning Bao and Ruyi.

Previously, when it was just him, he only worried about disappointing his parents, but thinking that if he died there would still be eldest brother and third brother, so his parents wouldn't be left with no one to rely on. He would just count the days waiting to die.

But now, with more people he cared about, he no longer wanted to think about that day.

Hearing Ye Jiao's words, Qi Yun couldn't help asking: "Jiao Niang, everyone wants to live for thousands or tens of thousands of years. Don't you want that?"

Upon hearing this, Little Ginseng blinked and answered decisively: "No."

Qi Yun knew Ye Jiao never lied, which made him even more curious about the reason: "Why?"

Ye Jiao looked at him, thinking that it was because she had already lived through two thousand years.

But those days seemed long yet were meaningless. She had lived enough. Being uncomfortable eating dirt was one thing, but the key was it was too boring. Just the boredom and loneliness were torture.

But Little Ginseng at that time hadn't realized that empty feeling was called loneliness. Now that she had her husband, her babies, and family and friends, those previous cold thousands of years truly seemed like another lifetime. She would rather die than go back.

Even if being human only lasted a hundred years, she was willing.

Little Ginseng suddenly understood a bit why the little fox had pursued that scholar husband so persistently.

Probably the coldness was too torturous, so she wanted to find someone to provide warmth.

But Ye Jiao was simple and not eloquent. She never knew how to say sweet words to please people. She just leaned against Qi Yun, remembering a poem the little fox had once mentioned, recalling while saying: "With my husband here, any amount of time is good. I don't need to be an immortal, I could be a fish or bird... How did it go?"

Qi Yun understood her meaning and softly added: "Achieving paired fish, why fear death; willing to be mandarin ducks, not envying immortals."

Ye Jiao smiled and nodded, standing on tiptoe to kiss him: "Husband is so clever."

But Qi Yun didn't speak, instead holding Ye Jiao tightly.

His heart was beating rather fast. He needed to calm down.

After a while, when the fireworks in the sky were dying down, Ye Jiao suddenly asked: "Husband, are paired fish really fish?"

Qi Yun's chin was resting in her neck hollow. Hearing this, he nodded: "Yes."

Ye Jiao turned her head to look at him with some curiosity: "Are they tasty?"

Qi Yun paused, then curved his lips: "Tasty. Does Jiao Niang want to eat some?"

Little Ginseng nodded.

The next day, cooked paired fish was delivered to Ye Jiao's table, letting Ye Jiao once again find the joy of being human.

Why be paired fish? Being human was better... this fish was really delicious.