Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 146

Qi Yun had read quite a few books about incense and could recognize this as agarwood, but quality couldn't be determined by just looking.

After taking it to someone for appraisal, the results were even better than Qi Yun had expected.

This was top-grade agarwood, excellent quality, priceless!

Qi Yun gave this box to Ye Jiao. This was what Jiao Niang had bought back, so it should rightfully be kept by her. Moreover, Qi Yun made it clear, "Since it's something good, you should use it. Otherwise leaving it there would be wasteful."

Ye Jiao blinked, "But I don't know how, and you said this is worth more than gold, right?"

Since it was worth more than gold, burning it so casually seemed a bit wasteful.

Qi Yun didn't mind how much this thing was worth and smiled lightly, "It doesn't matter. If you like it, burning it for fun is the same."

But Qi Yun didn't know that Little Ginseng had been struggling with this box for a long time.

Finally, she still said to Qi Yun, "Find me a book."

It was already night, dark outside with little sound.

Xu Bao and the twins were already asleep in the adjacent room. Now only the husband and wife were in the inner chamber.

Qi Yun had originally wanted to take advantage of this time to properly organize the shop account books that Manager Song had sent over. But hearing Ye Jiao's words, he immediately threw the account books aside, adjusted his outer robe, got up and walked to the bedside, supporting himself against the bed frame with one hand, then leaning down slightly to look at Ye Jiao, "What kind of book do you want?"

Second Young Master Qi was still calculating. Every book had its own merits. Although the previous one had been looked at many times, it felt familiar. The new ones bought later were fresh, and although some positions were more difficult, they weren't impossible to try.

As long as Jiao Niang nodded, he would naturally agree to anything.

Ye Jiao was soaking her feet, swaying them leisurely in the water basin. Hearing this, she lightly bit her lower lip, seeming to have made a big decision before looking up at Qi Yun, "One that can teach incense blending, that's all."

Qi Yun: ......

Feeling it was somewhat different from what he had in mind, Qi Yun decided to ask more, "You want to learn incense blending?"

Ye Jiao nodded, her voice soft, "Since it's rare, it should be used well. Everything is a gift from heaven and earth, and shouldn't be wasted without reason."

This was something Ye Jiao had never said before, but it was Little Ginseng's constant belief.

Actually, in these thousand years, there weren't many insights to be gained. Little Ginseng wasn't one who liked to think deeply, but this was probably one of them.

She always cherished everything she had now and was unwilling to overlook anything.

But this answer was obviously different from what Qi Yun had expected. However, he didn't let Ye Jiao see his disappointment. Instead, he took a cloth, sat sideways on the low stool, then reached out to help Ye Jiao wipe her feet, saying, "Actually, if you want to study it carefully, I can find you a female teacher."

Ye Jiao thought for a moment, but her eyes looked at Qi Yun, "Husband, can you do it?"

Actually, Qi Yun couldn't, since in Second Young Master Qi's past there had never been times when incense was needed.

His body carried only the scent of medicinal herbs and book ink. Other incenses would more or less make him short of breath, so naturally he wouldn't use them.

But since his wife had asked, he couldn't very well say he couldn't, so he said, "I can learn together with you."

Ye Jiao showed a smile, nodded, her voice soft, "Then I'll learn with you. We don't need a female teacher, you teach me, husband." In her heart, Qi Yun was omnipotent and learned everything quickly.

Qi Yun hadn't expected to find himself a job, but facing this smiling face, he could accept anything.

However, having agreed to a task, there should be some benefits.

So when Qi Yun went to get an incense manual, he also brought another book along.

This was a book Ye Jiao had never seen before. It looked somewhat new, but she could see there were already three or four bookmarks inside.

These bookmarks were all made by Ye Jiao using pressed and dried medicinal flowers. Although they weren't as effective as eating them, carrying them was always beneficial for the body.

After Qi Yun got on the bed and lowered the bed curtains, Ye Jiao asked him, "Husband, what is this?"

Qi Yun moved over the bed table, placed the candle on it, then sat close to Ye Jiao and said, "This is an incense manual. Besides writing about types of incense, it also has methods for lighting and burning incense. Look at it more, and we'll learn together later. As for this one, take a look."

Ye Jiao suspected nothing and took the book without a title to flip through.

The next moment, she quickly closed it and looked up at Qi Yun, "Husband, this book is all pictures with no words."

Qi Yun reached out to hold her in his arms and asked softly, "Don't you like it?"

Ye Jiao leaned over to kiss him, "I like it, let's look together."

Qi Yun smiled. He was already used to Ye Jiao always being so honest and found it particularly adorable.

Then the two of them huddled by candlelight turning pages. It must be said that what was bought this time was indeed top quality, colorful and detailed, like fine brush paintings with every detail well outlined. Yet those suggestive parts were cleverly obscured by flowers, grass, or scenery, giving a hazy aesthetic beauty.

Ye Jiao focused on looking at the few pages where Qi Yun had inserted bookmarks, looking while sighing, "Husband, your choices are really good. This time you looked much more carefully than I did... Husband?"

What responded to her was a soft, gentle kiss on her cheek.

The man's voice carried laughter, "Whether it's good or not, we have to try to know."

Ye Jiao didn't refuse, but rather nodded with particular exploratory spirit. She also wanted to kiss him, but when she leaned over, she pressed down with her hand, "You're poking me."

These words were like lighting a fire, burning both of them.

When passion reached its peak, Little Ginseng's eyes were already misty with moisture. She turned her head to look at the books casually thrown aside and the candle on the bed table. Rarely, her ears reddened as she gripped the shoulders of the man above her tightly and said in a low voice, "Husband, blow out the candle, it's too bright."

But Qi Yun thrust forward heavily once, his voice low and tinged with laughter, "We agreed to study properly, so naturally it needs to be bright enough to see clearly."

This made Ye Jiao only able to cover her mouth, where could she still care about candles?

Being made to feel weak and tingly, and rolling around together a few times, Ye Jiao vaguely thought she finally understood why Qi Yun had made the bed so large.

Before it was comfortable sleeping with children, now it was spacious even with a bed table and candle.

She could see everything clearly, even able to see several beads of sweat on this man.

When passion gradually subsided and Ye Jiao curled up in his arms panting, she heard Qi Yun say in her ear, "Jiao Niang, will you continue learning in the future?"

Whether he was asking about incense or pictures, Qi Yun didn't make clear, and Little Ginseng was too lazy to ask.

Ye Jiao bit his shoulder once and quickly fell into deep sleep.

In the matter of learning to recognize incense, Qi Yun's progress was indeed faster than Ye Jiao's. Ye Jiao wasn't in a hurry but rather found much pleasure in it. After all, when two people liked each other mutually, doing anything would be interesting.

However, this box of agarwood was more than just a valuable object to Qi Yun.

Perhaps the old man selling things or even his master didn't know this box had a hidden layer, but just looking at this box, one could tell his ancestors must have been a wealthy family.

Seeing that they could still wander around the Capital without being driven away, they probably weren't the kind of disgraced officials banished by the emperor.

When wealthy families fell into difficulty, if they truly had some foundation, helping them might even forge good karma.

In this world, it was always easier to add flowers to brocade than to send charcoal in snow, but if one could lend a hand, it might not be without assistance.

So Qi Yun had Manager Qin look for this old man these days to inquire about his identity.

Manager Qin, knowing he had nearly ruined Qi Yun's affairs before, was feeling uneasy. Now having received this task, he was naturally particularly diligent, using all his connections to help his master search.

Compared to the Second Master and his wife's tension, Qi Ming was rather leisurely.

Logically, someone like him who was about to start examinations should be most urgent, but Qi Ming became more relaxed as the metropolitan examination approached.

After all, what should be memorized was memorized, what should be learned was learned. Being anxious now wouldn't help.

Moreover, his frequent meetings with his sworn brother Chu Chengyun gave Qi Ming special motivation.

Until the day the metropolitan examination began, it wasn't the Qi Yun couple who sent Qi Ming by carriage, but Chu Chengyun.

Watching Third Brother being taken away by Chu Chengyun, Ye Jiao looked up and asked, "Do you think Third Brother will pass?"

Qi Yun held her shoulders and, hearing this, said slowly, "Passing or not is all fate, it can't be forced." Then his voice paused slightly, "But if he doesn't pass, I'm afraid he won't see this sworn brother outside the palace again."

Chu Chengyun had taken pains to guide Qi Ming. If he couldn't see results, this somewhat willful new emperor probably wouldn't easily lower his head. At that time, Third Brother's fate with him would be severed.

People without ability were always abandoned.

But Qi Yun still sat in the carriage with Ye Jiao, following behind them from afar, watching Qi Ming enter the examination grounds from a distance.

The examination hall doors closed, seals were applied, no more entering or leaving.

After the metropolitan examination began, candidates had to take three consecutive sessions. Previous dynasties would let candidates come out to rest between sessions, but this dynasty's imperial examinations were more standardized and strict. Once started, they had to complete all three sessions before coming out, nine consecutive days, all having to survive inside on their own.

This not only tested knowledge but also competed in physical strength and will.

Every candidate's family members were anxious. When people were panicked in their hearts, they liked to pray to ethereal gods and Buddhas. Recently, the incense fires at temples and Taoist monasteries inside and outside the Capital were particularly flourishing. Even Ye Jiao received a letter from Liu Shi, asking her to go pray at a Taoist monastery outside the city on her behalf.

The reason for choosing a Taoist monastery near the Capital was, according to Liu Shi, being close made the blessing more effective.

In this tense atmosphere, a heavy rain quietly descended upon the Capital.