Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 138

Ye Jiao was startled, somewhat puzzled why Madam Zheng would come looking for her.

But Qi Yun understood. Though Shi Tianrui and Madam Zheng hadn't been here long, now that he and Shi Tianrui had mutual understanding, their wives would naturally interact too.

Ladies' social connections were always inseparable from their husbands' relationships.

Moreover, Madam Zheng had been a noble lady from an aristocratic family in the capital. Now following Shi Tianrui to this place as a small county magistrate's wife was a comedown, but in the capital, Madam Zheng's family remained an unshakeable aristocratic house. Building good relations would be beneficial.

Qi Yun never made Ye Jiao worry about his affairs, but this visit from Madam Zheng, their chat would be good.

Second Young Master Qi released Ye Jiao, smiling: "Magistrate's wife probably heard you're going to the capital and came to see you off. It's good to visit. Wrap your cloak tightly to avoid catching cold."

Ye Jiao looked back at Qi Yun: "You too, husband. When reading account books, don't always sit without moving. Get up and walk around from time to time. And the newly stewed soup, Nanny Mo made it, remember to drink it."

Qi Yun: ...

Nanny Mo was the one who made confinement soup for Ye Jiao. Though perhaps effective, the taste was truly indescribable.

Second Young Master Qi still agreed, promising to drink it, then tucked a hand warmer into her hands.

Ye Jiao left with Little Su. After Tie Zi saw only Qi Yun remained in the room, he hurried in and handed over a bamboo tube he'd just removed from a pigeon's leg: "Second Young Master, a letter from the border."

Qi Yun nodded, took the bamboo tube, pulled out the cork, and poured out the paper slip inside.

After unfolding it for careful examination, Qi Yun said nothing and reached to burn the paper slip.

But before raising his arm, he looked at Tie Zi.

This boy had grown into a half-grown youth, almost as tall as Qi Yun. He should know about some things.

So Qi Yun handed the paper slip to Tie Zi: "Take a look."

Tie Zi quickly took it, looked down, and frowned: "How is someone trying to confiscate our goods again?"

The paper described how Qi Yun's merchant caravan had been detained near the border.

Actually, for merchant caravans, such incidents were common.

Local bullies would see foreign caravans with many goods and come demanding benefits, usually just money, nothing serious.

Qi Yun's caravans had encountered this before. It was usually a matter of within a hundred strings of cash. For current Qi Yun, this was small money. Even a strong dragon doesn't suppress local snakes, so paying them off was fine.

But those confiscating goods weren't the usual type that money could settle.

Merchant caravans dealt in goods, buying and selling merchandise. Once goods were in hand, they couldn't be casually discarded.

Confiscating goods looked similar to demanding money, but actually carried malicious intent.

If they just silently endured this, everyone might try to step on them in the future.

But wanting to resolve it, Tie Zi couldn't think of any solution for the moment, his brow furrowing tighter.

Fortunately, Qi Yun wasn't asking him to find a solution. He beckoned to Tie Zi: "Bring a chair over and sit down."

Hearing this, Tie Zi first froze, then jumped up to get a chair.

His eyes showed barely contained excitement.

Previously he had always stood because regardless of their relationship, Tie Zi was just a follower doing tasks behind Qi Yun, a servant. When people gave him face, they'd call him Master Su, but actually he was just running errands beside Qi Yun.

Even when his master occasionally gave guidance, it didn't change Tie Zi's status.

Tie Zi desperately wanted to be Qi Yun's student but never dared hope, only thinking about it in his heart.

Now that Qi Yun let him come sit, it already made Tie Zi very happy.

Even if he couldn't be a student, at least he'd progressed somewhat. Even this small step made Tie Zi happy.

Then Qi Yun saw Tie Zi preparing to place the chair right in front of him...

He did intend to guide Tie Zi. Actually, when he'd previously sent him to check the capital shops, Qi Yun thought he'd been quite obvious. After all, Tie Zi wasn't an indentured servant, didn't even have a bond, but was just a tenant farmer's son. For Qi Yun to entrust such important matters to him showed his intention to promote him.

But Qi Yun hadn't expected that Tie Zi still didn't dare hope for more, resulting in his current excited expression.

Second Young Master Qi couldn't help staring at him: "Don't sit so close."

Hearing this, Tie Zi said "Oh" and obediently moved the chair to the opposite side of the table.

After he sat down, Qi Yun said: "In worldly matters, whether business or ordinary affairs, it's all about planning before acting. For situations like this, you should have anticipated it before the caravan departed."

Tie Zi nodded, lowering his head slightly with some guilt: "Second Young Master, I didn't think..."

"This time doesn't matter. In the future, you should think three steps ahead when taking one step." Qi Yun spoke while pulling out several books for Tie Zi: "Read more, memorize these."

Seeing the books, Tie Zi's face scrunched up. He wanted to agree, but he really wasn't cut out for studying.

Qi Yun wasn't in a hurry, saying slowly: "Last time Little Su watched Xu Bao reading, she read along, and often goes to borrow books from Master Feng. Even she's more studious than you."

Hearing this, Tie Zi straightened his back.

Not because he feared being outdone by Little Su, but because Tie Zi felt a sense of crisis.

No wonder Little Su hadn't been clinging to him lately. It was that Master Feng! He already had a wife and was more than a decade older than Little Su. What was he thinking!

Tie Zi immediately said: "Second Young Master, rest assured, I'll definitely study hard."

Qi Yun nodded without expression, obviously having expected this result.

Then Qi Yun took the paper slip back, lit it with a fire starter, and threw it into the incense burner to burn completely.

Tie Zi carefully held the books in his arms before remembering: "Second Young Master, what about this incident?"

Qi Yun's tone was calm: "Don't worry, they won't confiscate anything. The caravan is all arranged. No one dares touch this shipment."

His confidence came from that golden plaque and the twelve painters specially sent by Emperor Chu Chengyun.

These twelve painters were all top-tier, not famous artists, but exceptionally skilled at map-making, able to control errors within minimal ranges.

To protect these twelve top map-making experts, Emperor Chu Chengyun had arranged several masters to accompany the merchant caravan. Such small matters as confiscating goods they could naturally handle well. Since it involved palace secrets, Qi Yun wouldn't inquire much, just treating them as his protection.

Soon there would be pigeons flying with news of the resolution.

Sure enough, a servant came saying there was movement at the pigeon coop in the back courtyard. Tie Zi hurried to check while Qi Yun told the servant: "Tell the kitchen to send some pastries to the front hall."

When Little Su carried freshly made taro flour balls into the front hall, Ye Jiao and Madam Zheng were chatting and laughing.

The two hadn't known each other long, but Madam Zheng felt grateful to Ye Jiao while also knowing Shi Tianrui was on good terms with Qi Yun, so she wanted to be close to Ye Jiao.

Though this seemed calculating, it lacked selfish motives, so Ye Jiao was happy to chat with her.

"Last time I saw Ning Bao and Ruyi, I felt a connection. Later I saw a pair of jade pendants that looked especially beautiful, so I thought to give them as gifts." Speaking, Madam Zheng took out a box for Ye Jiao.

This wasn't Ye Jiao's first time receiving gifts from others. If they were from others, she definitely wouldn't accept. This was Qi Yun's instruction: nothing good fell from heaven for free. These gifts all had strings attached: sweet in front, knives behind, untouchable.

But Madam Zheng was different. Even if Ye Jiao didn't know about the understanding between Qi Yun and Shi Tianrui, she could see the two families would have connections in future.

Exchanging gifts deepened connections, which was good.

She took the box and opened it to look, touching them with surprise: "This is purple jade?"

"Yes, purple jade. Worn long, it gains warmth and benefits the body." Madam Zheng smiled.

Speaking of purple jade, Ye Jiao remembered she had one piece, and Qi Yun had one too, both large pieces. Though Madam Zheng's gift was smaller, it excelled in delicate carving and came as a pair, especially suitable for her twins.

Ye Jiao could now judge quality and smiled as she accepted them, then had Little Su bring two potted plants.

Madam Zheng instinctively shrank back.

The Buddha orchid incident had truly frightened her. Even though Madam Zheng later poisoned that concubine and made her suffer before death, it still couldn't resolve her inner fear.

All flowers and plants at home had been uprooted completely, pushed flat with nothing left.

Ye Jiao saw her fear and quickly said: "These are medicinal flower plants I grew myself, good for health. Also, I saw you had Buddha orchids last time without knowing it, fearing poisonous plants might attract poisonous insects. These two are best for dispelling toxins. If you're afraid, I can exchange some pastries as return gifts." Speaking, Ye Jiao called Little Su over, preparing to have her pack the taro flour balls for Madam Zheng to take.

But Madam Zheng reached out to gently grasp Ye Jiao's hand, saying softly: "It's fine. I have a psychological condition, can't think clearly for the moment. Jiao Niang, you mean well. I'll take these flowers and plant them carefully at home."

Little Ginseng smiled.

She didn't really care whether Madam Zheng would take the flowers, but the taro flour balls stayed, which was good, still warm too.

When Madam Zheng left with the flowers, she remained silent in her carriage.

The accompanying servant, seeing her staying quiet, whispered: "Madam, are we really planting them?"

Madam Zheng nodded: "Plant them."

The servant was worried: "We've never seen this type of flower before. Should we have someone check if they're poisonous?"

"You haven't seen them, but I have. These are flowers Jiao Niang grows in her own courtyard, naturally they're safe." Madam Zheng spoke while exhaling lightly: "If I now ask someone to examine whether these flowers are poisonous weeds, within half a day Qi Yun will know. Then our two families' relationship won't be so harmonious."

The servant was startled: "How could..."

Madam Zheng gently touched the delicate petals: "In this city, all skilled doctors and gardeners are under Qi Yun's control. What do you think?"

At these words, the servant broke out in sweat.

She actually knew the Qi family was now powerful, especially after the Shao family, which had relied on Prefect Shao's support, fell. The Qi family quickly swallowed the Shao family's shops and rapidly established itself. Now they were figures who could make people tremble with a single cough.

But the Qi family never showed off, even keeping their home in the original location, never moving to the city, and rarely engaging in market bullying. Ordinary people only knew shop signs had changed but didn't pay attention to how far the Qi family's reach extended.

Now thinking about it, they had become this formidable.

Madam Zheng felt no fear; rather, her heart settled considerably.

The servant beside her had followed since before marriage. Madam Zheng didn't hide from her, saying slowly: "The reply to my letter home confirmed that Jiao Niang's brother is indeed the currently influential General Ye in court, Princess Huaning's future prince consort."

The servant opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

After all, she had viewed the Qi family as mere rural landlords, never imagining such deep background.

Madam Zheng said softly: "Though I don't know what benefits befriending them brings, there are certainly no drawbacks. I also truly like Jiao Niang's temperament. Being friends would be good. Now that Jiao Niang is going to the capital, fortunately, sooner or later I too will return to the capital."

This last sentence, Madam Zheng spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes showing fierceness unusual for ordinary women.

She and her husband had been driven from the capital, only avoiding complete exclusion from officialdom through the Zheng family's influence.

But Madam Zheng knew she would return someday, returning in glory with her husband.

She wouldn't spare anyone who had wanted her daughter's life.

But before then, Madam Zheng still had to properly fulfill her role as county magistrate's wife.

Before getting off the carriage, Madam Zheng was smiling again, gentle and virtuous, helping the servant down while saying warmly: "Have them stew chicken soup, add some noodles for my husband when he returns."

"Yes, Madam."

At the Qi family, Ye Jiao had been busy these past days with little leisure.

Previously thinking Qi Yun's weakness was due to insufficient embracing and nourishment, Little Ginseng no longer slept in separate quilts at night but always squeezed together, clinging to him. This back and forth inevitably sparked fires.

But Little Ginseng, busy during days and nights, was daily refreshed, while Qi Yun, though showing much improvement in weakness according to pulse readings, was obviously more tired than before. Even Tie Zi said Second Young Master wasn't sleeping well and had dark circles.

When Second Young Master Qi watched Ye Jiao energetically directing the moving of things, he sighed inwardly, feeling soup still needed drinking and supplements were still necessary.

Since they were leaving at noon, all trunks had to be loaded in the morning. Qi Yun had only thought about this twice before walking to Ye Jiao's side to help.

But just as he approached, he saw Little Su carefully carrying a cage, trying to hide it behind the trunks.

Qi Yun asked: "What's that?"

Little Su started, then quickly looked up. Seeing Qi Yun, she straightened and answered honestly: "Replying to Second Young Master, Second Young Mistress said I could bring some personal items. But thinking about it, I don't have anything to bring, so I brought this."

Ye Jiao also looked over curiously: "Little Su, is it clothes or shoes? Why use a cage?"

Little Su shook her head, not knowing how to explain. But before she could speak, a sound emerged from the cage.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Qi Yun: ...

Ye Jiao: ...

Hearing the commotion, Xu Bao immediately pattered over, hugged Little Su's leg, looked up pointing at the cage: "It's Little Black Rooster!"