Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 141

When the boat docked at the shore, it was just past noon. However, since it was early spring, the sun wasn't too harsh yet, and shining on their bodies actually felt warmly pleasant.

After Ye Jiao took Qi Yun's hand and stepped off the boat, she properly savored the feeling of having her feet on solid ground before getting back into the carriage.

Qi Yun held Ruyi in his arms, letting his daughter gnaw on his fingers to help her teeth, while his eyes watched Ye Jiao as he said slowly, "From here to the Capital it's probably still about half a day's journey. But I want to stay overnight outside the city, then enter the city tomorrow. No need to rush, and besides, you just got off the boat and need time to rest."

Actually, Ye Jiao was quite eager to go see their new home early, but what Qi Yun said made sense, so she agreed.

However, this was also Qi Yun's first time coming to the Capital. Plus, not wanting to disturb Commander Ye and Princess Huaning, they hadn't specifically sent word ahead. Tie Zi and several of Commander Ye's subordinates led the way in front, and the group traveled leisurely along the road.

Ye Jiao had just had a nap and was now at her most alert. Even with Ning Bao in her arms, it couldn't stop her curious gaze from looking outside.

The Capital was very different from their hometown. Even though this was still the outskirts, you could tell the difference.

Not to mention anything else, just comparing it to that mountain Qi Yun had bought back home, which was lush and green with abundant trees, the forests outside the Capital were much shorter, and obviously deliberately maintained, losing that natural freedom but gaining more elaborate refinement.

But Ye Jiao still loved it here. At least the roads were well-built, flat and smooth, so the carriage didn't feel bumpy at all traveling on them.

Before long, they arrived at the inn where they planned to stay.

Usually this road was prepared for traveling merchants, mostly for those transporting goods into the city. Although there were other small inns nearby, only this one could provide feed for the horses.

After arriving, Tie Zi dismounted and walked toward the innkeeper, "Do you still have upper rooms available?"

The innkeeper could tell from this group's attire that they were either wealthy or noble, especially the few in front who, even though dressed in ordinary cloth, clearly had the build of martial artists.

Ordinary families wouldn't need so many well-equipped guards when traveling.

Having received many guests, the innkeeper naturally had good judgment. He quickly smiled apologetically, "Sir, our inn is fully booked today. I'm terribly sorry."

Fully booked?

Tie Zi was slightly stunned, but didn't ask detailed questions. Instead, he first glanced toward the stable beside them.

There were only three horses inside, and the main hall also looked deserted. Tie Zi couldn't help but frown slightly, "Are you really fully booked, or are you just giving me the runaround?"

The innkeeper's face also showed some bitter laughter. He said in a low voice, "Sir, I can see you're a reasonable person, so I won't hide it from you. Today our inn was reserved by someone, and our manager didn't want to accept it, but they kept saying they knew people we couldn't afford to offend."

"Knew people? Who do they know?"

"The Qi Family."

Tie Zi's mouth twitched. He turned to look at the still quiet carriage, then looked back at the innkeeper, "Which Qi Family?"

The innkeeper looked at Tie Zi with some surprise, "Sir, don't you know? It's that Qi Family that just received the Imperial Plaque. I heard they also have business in the Capital. Our inn alone has sold countless bottles of their Jade Liquid Wine and Golden Cup Wine. Now this Miss Shen is going to the palace for the Imperial Beauty Selection, and she says she has family connections with the Qi Family. Naturally, we didn't dare refuse."

After hearing this, Tie Zi felt his eyelid twitching.

Even without deliberately inquiring, he knew the general situation with the Shen Family, since he'd always stayed by Qi Yun's side and had personally delivered quite a bit of the news.

This Shen Family couldn't see clearly for themselves, pushing away the Dong Family's marriage proposal to rush into the palace instead. When their own eldest daughter-in-law Fang Shi was related to the Shen Family and went to advise them, she came back in tears from their anger, clearly showing they didn't know what was good for them.

Now look at this, their own legitimate Second Young Master Qi and Second Young Mistress were being blocked outside by these relatives of unknown connection, who were leveraging the Qi Family's influence...

Honestly, given the Shen Family's insignificant family background, they weren't even invited to the Qi Family's banquets. This Miss Shen had probably never even laid eyes on any of their family members. Where did she get the face to claim family connections?

This whole thing sounded like a joke, but Tie Zi couldn't laugh.

He quickly walked to the carriage, ready to ask Qi Yun for instructions.

Meanwhile, Qi Yun inside the carriage had heard everything clearly.

Actually, whether they stayed at this inn was a small matter. Strictly speaking, first come first served, Miss Shen had arrived first. Even if she was putting on airs and talking nonsense, she had already moved in and reserved the inn. He had no reason to kick the Shen Family out.

But Qi Yun didn't want to get involved with them in the slightest.

Now it was clear that Chu Chengyun had no intention of taking consorts. Whoever went would be unlucky. The Qi Family was just ordinary farmers turned merchants, so naturally they didn't want to bask in their reflected glory.

Moreover, this wasn't a good thing now, but trouble.

If the Shen Family wanted to eagerly squeeze themselves in, they shouldn't think of dragging his family along as a tiger's skin.

But Qi Yun didn't immediately say much. Instead, he first looked at Ye Jiao, "Is there anything you want to eat?"

Ye Jiao thought for a moment. Being particularly serious about food, she pondered while rubbing Ning Bao's little hands, pinching them here and there. After a while, she said, "I want to eat Braised Triple Bamboo Shoots."

Qi Yun nodded, then slightly lifted the curtain and said to Tie Zi, "Go ask that innkeeper if they have Braised Triple Bamboo Shoots in the inn."

Soon, Tie Zi returned, "He said they don't have it."

Ye Jiao pouted but didn't speak, though this made Qi Yun lose his last bit of interest in this inn.

The man's voice was calm, "It doesn't matter. If we head into the city now, we should be able to reach a shop before sunset to stay temporarily." Then Qi Yun's voice paused, "Tie Zi, have someone go in and make it clear to that manager that the Shen Family has no relationship with our family. Don't mix us together when talking about it."

Tie Zi acknowledged and called over a servant who had come with them, "Dong Wu, come here."

Dong Wu immediately ran over. After Tie Zi spoke with him briefly, he lifted his head proudly and headed into the inn.

Meanwhile, in a guest room inside the inn, Miss Shen was looking at herself in the mirror.

Although she had been selected by the prefect as a replacement, since she could be sent to the palace with confidence that she would be chosen, her appearance naturally couldn't be faulted.

Willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and when she smiled, she looked most beautiful. Those eyes seemed capable of enchanting people.

What Miss Shen loved most was her own face. With such beautiful features, she naturally had to use them to secure her future. That young master from the Dong Family might have been won over by her charms, but now that she had a chance to enter the palace, who would care about any Dong Family young master?

A golden house was what matched her beautiful appearance.

While looking in the mirror, she suddenly heard the sound of a door opening and commotion outside.

This disturbed Miss Shen's good mood. She frowned slightly, and when she turned to look, she saw her maid entering.

The maid's face showed some panic. After closing the door, she quickly walked to Miss Shen's side, crouched down, and whispered, "Miss, we're in trouble. The innkeeper knows we have no relationship with the Qi Family. Just now he said the silver we gave wasn't enough to reserve the entire inn and demanded fifty more strings of cash. When I said no, he let other people into the inn."

Miss Shen was stunned, then panicked, "How did he find out?"

All along the way, she had used the Qi Family's name to gain advantages. Suddenly being exposed naturally made her flustered.

The maid said, "It seems someone recognized us and told the innkeeper. I heard the innkeeper address him as Master Dong Wu."

Actually, Tie Zi had chosen Dong Wu simply because he was nearby and convenient to grab. Usually, this kind of servant would act humble and subservient in front of their master, but once outside, they inevitably wanted to act important and boastful, walking with their chins high, and the more arrogant they acted, the more others feared them.

Not to mention anything else, just now the innkeeper had given Dong Wu several strings of cash as compensation, asking him to put in a good word.

But this surname sounded terrible in Miss Shen's ears.

She had originally broken off her engagement with the Dong Family, and now it was someone surnamed Dong who had exposed her lies. She naturally connected the two.

With this thought, an inexplicable anger rose in her heart. Though she couldn't clearly articulate what she had to be angry about, she could only suppress it and said through gritted teeth, "Don't mind him. At worst, we'll enter the city and find another inn to stay at." Her voice paused, "Later, after I enter the palace, I'll be the master. Then I'll let that Dong Family know what proper behavior is... Come here, do my hair!"

The maid was hit in the face by the wooden comb Miss Shen threw, but didn't dare say much. She just lowered her head and walked forward to arrange her hair.

Meanwhile, Qi Yun's convoy had already entered the city gates.

The Capital was called the Capital, but it wasn't some heavenly palace. In Ye Jiao's view, it was still like the other cities she had visited before, with city walls, a moat, and rows upon rows of streets and shops.

The difference was that the Capital was truly huge.

Ye Jiao had already placed Ning Bao in the small carriage and was leaning against the carriage window looking outside. As she looked, she excitedly chattered to Qi Yun, "Husband, look, look, someone over there is selling apricot cheese... And there's a Feng Sheng Zhai here too. Is that one selling steamed buns? There's also wonton, it looks so delicious."

Qi Yun listened and laughed. Though he had never been to the Capital either, he didn't find any of this particularly remarkable. But seeing his wife's excitement, Qi Yun found it extremely interesting.

His heart was also filled with sweetness.

It seemed his decision back then was right, they should come out and see the world. Jiao Niang also liked coming out to explore.

He was the one who had brought her out.

Thinking of this, Qi Yun felt inexplicably proud, happier than earning any amount of gold and silver.

Whatever Ye Jiao said looked delicious, Qi Yun had people buy some. He didn't buy much, just a little of each kind to try something new.

But the carriage traveled for a very long time without reaching their destination, giving Ye Jiao a new understanding of how "big" the Capital was.

Later on, after Ye Jiao had seen enough of the street scenes, she focused on eating her steamed bun.

Ruyi also wanted to lean over for a bite, but Qi Yun held her and dodged away. Ruyi was unhappy and squirmed around, so Qi Yun placed her in Ning Bao's small bed. Ruyi immediately hugged Ning Bao, and the two embraced in a bundle, instantly becoming quiet.

Ye Jiao took the opportunity to ask Qi Yun, "Husband, where is your shop?"

Qi Yun didn't answer directly, but corrected, "It's our shop."

Little Ginseng blinked and obediently corrected herself, "Right, where is our shop?"

Qi Yun had Ye Jiao lean against him and said lightly, "We only opened one shop. Land is extremely expensive here, and having just arrived a year ago, we couldn't make it too big. But it's enough to support Jiao Niang and the children, don't worry."

He had reviewed the shop's account books, and Tie Zi had also reported when choosing the location. Even without seeing it personally, Qi Yun knew everything about the Capital like the back of his hand.

Perhaps others would think one shop was already very good, but for Qi Yun, everything was just beginning, with a long road ahead.

Ye Jiao nodded. Having been human for so long, Little Ginseng could understand some of the art of human speech.

One year really was too short, and it was normal not to be able to open too large a shop. Her husband probably didn't want to disappoint her.

Little Ginseng thoughtfully didn't continue asking, instead offering her steamed bun to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun didn't particularly like eating meat, but he would eat whatever Ye Jiao offered him. This time was no different, he opened his mouth and took a bite.

The roadside steamed buns were very fragrant, just a bit too oily. Qi Yun thought he wouldn't be used to them, but when he actually tasted it, he found it much more delicious than expected.

So the two of them shared the steamed bun, eating while laughing and chatting. When the carriage stopped, they had just finished the bun.

Tie Zi's voice came from outside, "Second Young Master, Second Young Mistress, we've arrived."

Little Su quickly got up and opened the carriage door, getting out first, while Tie Zi went to move the short stool and place it beside the carriage.

After Qi Yun got out of the carriage, he and Little Su both reached out to help Ye Jiao down. Nanny Mo and Little Su then got back in the carriage to carry out the twins.

However, when they came down, they saw Ye Jiao standing there motionless.

Little Su found this strange and looked up as well.

Then she saw the three-story building in front of them with a "Qi Family Wine Shop" plaque hanging on it.

Half the street nearby all had the same plaques hanging...

Little Su was stunned, her mouth slightly agape.

Didn't the Second Young Master say land in the Capital was extremely expensive? Didn't he say they'd only been here a year and hadn't made it big?

But this... this was so huge...

Ye Jiao also hadn't expected the small shop she'd imagined would look like this. She stared at Qi Yun in a daze without speaking.

Qi Yun had actually always told the truth. There really was only one shop, and land in the Capital really was extremely expensive. But what he had most of was money.

However, seeing his wife's admiring gaze now made Qi Yun's heart beat faster, and his ears turned red.

Clearing his throat softly, Qi Yun said, "It's cold outside, let's go in first."

Ye Jiao nodded, reached out, and tightly grasped Qi Yun's hand, their fingers interlocking.

But before they could enter the shop, they heard one of Commander Ye's subordinates who had been escorting them to the Capital say, "Young Master, Madam, our master has arrived."