Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 136

After New Year, life didn't become more relaxed but instead grew more tense.

Qi Yun had to busy himself with shop matters, and Ye Jiao had to prepare many things. Though Ye Ping Rong and Princess Huaning's wedding was in mid-May, this date was set to avoid the metropolitan and palace examinations. Qi Ming would start examinations in March, and if he passed, he'd have to continue to the palace examination. Time was tight.

They couldn't delay too much on the road, and they shouldn't arrive too late either.

Ye Jiao prepared extensively. Just clothing alone filled four large trunks, plus various other necessities.

Since she was bringing all her belongings this time, jewelry and banknotes would travel with them, so she needed to select capable guards to escort them. Ye Ping Rong seemed to anticipate this, specially sending three personal attendants to escort his sister's family to the capital.

Little Ginseng even specially chose an auspicious day to go up the mountain with Qi Yun.

They had just bought this place recently and hadn't lived there much before having to abandon it. Ye Jiao felt it was a pity, but Qi Yun was philosophical: "We're not never coming back. The capital might look like a garden of flowers, but it's ultimately not a place to stay long-term. We're not an official family and don't need to cling to it desperately. When we return, we'll still come here to live."

Ye Jiao thought about it and agreed, so she excitedly went to organize the medicinal herbs she had planted.

But not all of these could be taken along. She selected some to be potted and carefully brought down the mountain, giving some to Dong Shi, some to Madam Zheng, and dividing most between Liu Shi and Fang Shi. She couldn't let them go to waste.

After handling these matters, she still had to select nursemaids for the three babies. Choosing people for the children naturally required extreme care. Ye Jiao would examine them, then Qi Yun would examine them. The servants' backgrounds had to be thoroughly investigated before they could be approved.

Even after being selected, they wouldn't immediately care for the children but would first be trained by Nanny Mo.

Speaking of child care, Nanny Mo was skilled. Having her do this was perfect. While Ye Jiao was busy with mountain estate matters, Nanny Mo gathered the selected people together, teaching them carefully to prevent any oversights.

Liu Shi also had Nanny Liu help manage them. Nanny Liu was experienced at these tasks, so picking them up again was easy.

But during free time, when Nanny Liu and Nanny Mo drank together, Nanny Liu was somewhat envious: "You're quite blessed now. Going to the capital just like that, and now you have standing with Second Young Mistress. Your future days will probably be endlessly comfortable."

This envy was sincere, and Nanny Mo also felt her luck was good.

Everyone knew Second Young Master's family was capable. Gaining favor with Second Young Master and Second Young Mistress was something others couldn't achieve even if they begged.

Look at how Tie Zi had become a master now. When he came and went, who didn't show him some respect?

Little Su was the same. Previously a half-grown yellow-haired girl, still thin and small now, but when fierce, everyone feared her. In front of her masters she remained a little quail, but when handling business outside, she was sharp and capable, very impressive. Even her family members got management positions at Eldest Young Master's estates.

Nanny Mo had followed Ye Jiao for a short time, but she had taken good care of Xu Bao, and both her sons could get positions at Second Young Master's shops.

Even without great wealth, at least they wouldn't worry about food and clothing for life.

For ordinary people, being able to achieve this was already satisfying. Nanny Mo wasn't overly ambitious. She remembered her employers' kindness and naturally wanted to repay it.

Nanny Liu poured herself wine, smiling: "And I see Young Master Xu Bao is very promising. I heard he can already read. He must be easy to care for."

Nanny Mo's previously smiling face stiffened.

She agreed with everything else, but this Young Master Xu Bao was truly not easy to care for.

So clever, with such good memory, the usual methods for handling children didn't work on him at all. He was quite difficult to serve.

Nanny Mo loved him dearly but felt that every conversation with Xu Bao could easily trap her...

But these thoughts were better kept to herself. Speaking them aloud would seem ungrateful, like gaining benefits but still complaining. So Nanny Mo just smiled: "That's thanks to Elder Sister's connections. Without you, where would I get such a good position?"

Really speaking, everything they did had to follow Liu Shi's orders. No one owed anyone favors.

But these words were pleasing, so Nanny Liu smiled more genuinely, pouring her wine: "That capital isn't actually paradise. It looks wealthy, but making the slightest mistake can bring disaster. Just remember to listen to Second Young Master and Second Young Mistress, protect them and the Young Master and miss properly. Don't cause trouble but don't fear it either."

Nanny Mo understood this principle. She was someone without much worldly experience, so following her masters couldn't be wrong. She nodded: "I've noted it down. Thank you, Elder Sister."

After all, they still had work to do. The two women drank a couple cups to warm themselves, then set down their cups and returned to their respective duties.

After Nanny Mo finished teaching the new servants, she went to the study to bring back Xu Bao, who had just finished lessons with Master Feng. Back in the courtyard, she had just finished feeding Xu Bao half a bowl of milk porridge when she saw Tie Zi urgently running outside.

Xu Bao saw too and immediately turned to look at Nanny Mo. His mouth still had unswallowed porridge, but his eyes were bright as crystals.

Nanny Mo didn't need him to speak. She set down the bowl, had someone watch the Young Master to prevent falls, then quickly went out to ask: "What's wrong?"

The gatekeeper didn't seem anxious, replying: "Seems Second Young Master caught a bit of cold. Master Su already went to fetch the doctor."

This servant was new, bought from outside, and didn't understand the Qi family's history deeply. He didn't think this was serious.

It was season-changing time, still cold despite approaching warmth. Some minor ailments were normal.

Second Young Master had only sneezed twice. For ordinary people, drinking hot water and sweating it out would suffice. Even calling a doctor seemed overly cautious to the servant.

But Nanny Mo's heart lurched.

Though she had served these two masters briefly, she had spent considerable time with Liu Shi and had personally witnessed Qi Yun's sickly appearance as a child.

Even though Qi Yun no longer seemed as fragile as before, the thought of him being ill was still frightening.

It felt like Second Young Master hadn't been ill for a long time. This sudden occurrence... he couldn't fall ill now.

Nanny Mo was anxious but couldn't help much. She could only quickly return to Xu Bao's room, continue feeding him porridge, and play with him, trying to ensure he ate and slept well so he wouldn't cause additional trouble.

When Ye Jiao returned, she happened to see Doctor Li walking quickly along another path.

Little Ginseng paused, about to ask, when she saw Tie Zi following behind Doctor Li.

Normally Tie Zi wouldn't go out alone. He always stayed by Qi Yun's side.

...Could something have happened to her husband!

Ye Jiao's eyes widened, her lips pressed tight. Ignoring conversation, without time for questions, she ran into the courtyard first, pushing open the bedroom door and entering.

Though it was early spring, the spring chill could still be felt.

Since Qi Yun's courtyard housed not only Second Young Master, who needed careful health attention, but also three babies who were frequently there, requiring caution for both big and small, three charcoal braziers were lit in the room, burning vigorously. Opening the door immediately brought exceptional warmth.

Qi Yun, leaning against the soft couch, looked completely normal, reviewing account books. Hearing the door open without looking up, he said directly: "Tie Zi, I'm fine. Why are you so anxious..." But before finishing, he caught a familiar scent.

A faint osmanthus fragrance, the same scent from the hair oil he had personally applied to Ye Jiao.

Qi Yun set down the accounts and looked up. Before he could see clearly, Ye Jiao embraced him fully.

Little Ginseng nervously held him, grasping his wrist, asking: "Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Are you cold or hot? Are you dizzy? If you feel bad, don't sit up, lie down instead, rest more." Then Ye Jiao turned to Little Su who had followed in: "Get the quilt."

Qi Yun showed helpless expression. Actually, he had just caught cold wind when opening the door and sneezed twice. It wasn't serious, but Tie Zi had been extremely nervous, insisting on fetching a doctor.

But Qi Yun understood his own body. Nothing was seriously wrong. He felt neither cold nor hot, unlike being ill.

Having Doctor Li check his pulse was fine, but he didn't want his wife to worry.

But before Qi Yun could speak, he saw Ye Jiao already bringing a quilt to cover him, murmuring: "Lie down." She reached out to push his shoulder.

Qi Yun reached out to support her: "I'm fine, Jiao Niang, don't..."

But before finishing, Ye Jiao's knee, as she half-knelt on the soft couch, accidentally pressed against the man's lower back.

As soon as it touched, his back tingled, and Qi Yun almost uncontrollably fell backward.

To others, it looked like Ye Jiao had lightly pushed and Qi Yun collapsed.

Second Young Master Qi saw the familiar "Second Young Master is still weak" expression in everyone's eyes.

Logic told him not to argue, but Qi Yun still instinctively said: "Jiao Niang needn't worry too much. I really don't feel bad."

Actually, when Ye Jiao held his wrist to check his pulse, she also found no signs of illness in Qi Yun.

But to prevent problems, Little Ginseng didn't dare let Qi Yun take risks, so she had Doctor Li come examine him.

Before coming, Doctor Li's heart was pounding. When Tie Zi had fetched him, looking anxious, that expression was as if Qi Yun were terminally ill, truly frightening Doctor Li.

Plus Ye Jiao's earlier panicked rushing made Doctor Li's legs feel weak.

Currently, Qi Yun was the Qi family shops' main owner, single-handedly supporting all the Qi family businesses, irreplaceably important.

Now, when life was improving, Tie Zi came saying Second Young Master was ill with that nervous expression, forcing Doctor Li to recall the days when Qi Yun had minor illnesses every three days, major ones every five days, and teetered on death's edge every ten days.

He was extremely panicked.

But when he entered and saw Qi Yun looking helplessly at Ye Jiao holding his hand, Doctor Li relaxed somewhat after examining him.

Looking at Qi Yun's complexion, though not completely healthy, he didn't look seriously ill.

Ye Jiao beckoned: "Doctor Li, please come examine him."

Doctor Li quickly brought out his pulse pillow, placed it under the man's wrist, then squinted to check his pulse.

After examining his eyelids and having Qi Yun open his mouth, Doctor Li relaxed: "Nothing serious. No need for medicine. Just rest a bit."

Doctor Li was speaking very gently. In fact, Qi Yun had nothing wrong and was quite well, just his old chronic condition. Everything else was fine.

Ye Jiao also relaxed, reaching out to tightly grasp Qi Yun's hand, gently touching his cheek with a soft voice: "You're not allowed out today. Just lie here and rest well. Listen to the doctor."

Doctor Li wanted to say lying down wasn't necessary, but Tie Zi tugged his sleeve, whispering: "First Young Mistress should also be due for pulse-checking soon. Should we go see?"

Actually, Tie Zi didn't know if it was time, but he knew his master had just given him a cold look...

Better escape quickly.

Doctor Li took his leave, departing with Tie Zi, while the servants who had wanted to help were led away by Little Su.

The previously crowded inner room suddenly emptied, leaving only Qi Yun and Ye Jiao.

Little Ginseng didn't speak but got up and went to the nearby brazier to warm her hands, then turned and quickly walked over, kicked off her embroidered shoes, and with slight effort climbed onto the soft couch.

Qi Yun tried to sit up but saw his wife had already pulled open a corner of the quilt and quickly slipped inside.

This quilt had obviously been aired during the day. When first covered, it was somewhat cold, but carried the scent of sunlight. The cotton was fluffy from being beaten, possibly with the same rattan paddle Little Su had used to hit people.

Qi Yun realized he was thinking about irrelevant things. When he refocused, his arms held a warm body that had forcibly squeezed her legs between his. The woman's just-warmed palms directly embraced him, one hand on his lower abdomen, one on his chest.

Warm to the point of burning.

Qi Yun instinctively held her back, asking quietly: "What's wrong?"

Ye Jiao buried her face in his neck hollow, saying softly: "We haven't been together like this much these past few days."

Qi Yun thought she missed him, so he held his wife tighter, his voice gentle in the way reserved for Ye Jiao: "There have been many things recently. It'll get better when we're less busy."

Ye Jiao shook her head but didn't speak.

Others thought Qi Yun's cold was just a minor matter, nothing to fuss about, but when Ye Jiao had grasped his wrist earlier, she could sense that while he was fine, he was somewhat weak.

This hadn't appeared for a long time, mainly because Little Ginseng always stayed close to him, either holding hands or embracing, which could nourish him.

But these past few days they had indeed rarely been close like this. Just holding hands through quilts at night obviously wasn't enough. She needed to be closer to properly supplement him.

Little Ginseng couldn't help thinking about how her husband had fallen with just that push, probably even weaker than what she'd detected through pulse-checking.

More embracing was needed.

Seeing Ye Jiao holding him and not letting go, Qi Yun naturally wouldn't push her away, smiling as he let her embrace him.

But with three charcoal braziers in this room and tightly closed doors and windows, while warm, it wasn't good for health. Moreover, with bright sunshine outside and braziers inside during daytime, even healthy people would develop problems.

After a while, Qi Yun called toward the window: "Little Su."

Little Su, guarding at the door, heard and quickly ran to the outside window: "Second Young Master."

"Open the outer room door. There's no wind today, it won't matter." Suddenly hearing a small voice nearby, Qi Yun continued: "Also, go cook some glutinous rice balls."

After Qi Yun finished, Ye Jiao added: "And cook some ginger tea."

Little Su agreed and ran to the small kitchen.

Qi Yun pinched her face: "Why cook ginger tea?"

Ye Jiao looked at him: "Ginger tea warms the body. But husband, are you hungry? I remember you don't like glutinous rice balls."

Qi Yun gently touched her small belly with his hand: "You're hungry. I just heard your stomach growling."

Little Ginseng didn't feel embarrassed but smiled and kissed him, thinking her husband really understood her.

But just then, someone entered.

Seeing the bedroom door open, Qi Ming thought he could enter freely. Moreover, he was excited and naturally didn't consider much, shouting as he entered: "Second Brother, I just went to see Xu Bao, he can recite the 'Hundred Family Names'!"