Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 149

Tomorrow would be the day the metropolitan examination ended. Once Qi Ming returned home, the Qi Family could also have some leisure time.

Ye Jiao planned to invite the neighbors for tea then, but she had no idea how to write the invitation cards.

In the past, because her handwriting was round and clumsy, Ye Jiao never touched tasks like writing invitation cards, usually throwing them to Qi Ming for help.

Now having to think for herself, she was at a loss for words.

Xu Bao had just finished his bath and was rolling around naked on his small bed, laughing cheerfully while dodging Nanny Mo's attempts to dress him.

On the other side, Ruyi and Ning Bao sat together, their eyes following Xu Bao back and forth.

Probably because their attention was drawn to Xu Bao, the two little ones had no mind for other activities and just watched along.

When Ye Jiao looked up, she saw her twins swaying their little heads together in such an adorable manner.

She immediately dropped her brush, walked over to sit sideways on the bed edge, and gathered both babies into her arms.

As soon as Ruyi was held, she immediately smiled, softly hugging Ye Jiao's arm back and trying to climb up.

Ning Bao had a resigned expression, letting Ye Jiao handle him however she pleased without making a sound. He just stared straight at Xu Bao, watching and smiling, though nobody knew what he was smiling about.

Little Ginseng found the two milk babies amusing, so she gathered them in her arms, kissing this one and that one, inexplicably feeling proud.

These are my children, two of them, so soft and white and beautiful.

However, Ning Bao kept dodging backward while Ruyi kept leaning forward, resulting in little Ruyi giving Ye Jiao several smacking kisses while Ning Bao hid behind Ruyi, hugging her tightly and refusing to let go.

But when Xu Bao saw the harmony on this side, he immediately became unhappy.

He hadn't finished dressing yet but ran over naked like this, directly climbing onto Ye Jiao's leg and squeezing among them. Before he could speak, someone grabbed and lifted him up.

Qi Yun, who had just finished reviewing account books, looked at his chubby son with a calm expression, shook him twice, then said, "Why aren't you wearing clothes?"

Xu Bao was used to acting spoiled and cute in front of Ye Jiao and never feared Qi Yun, but whenever Qi Yun spoke in this flat tone, he would shrink his head and not dare open his mouth, just looking at him pitifully.

But Xu Bao's eyes were exactly like Ye Jiao's, and Qi Yun could never bear to discipline him harshly. This time was the same.

Holding him and sitting to the side, he took the small clothes Nanny Mo handed over and while dressing him said, "Remember to dress properly next time. You're a big child now, a big brother. Not wearing clothes will not only make you sick, but if your little brother and sister see, wouldn't that be disgraceful?"

Xu Bao didn't really understand what disgraceful meant, but this phrase seemed quite serious. Xu Bao nodded his head, extraordinarily well-behaved, "I understand." As he spoke, he even extended his arms to actively help with dressing.

This made Nanny Mo watching from the side both helpless and amused.

Just now he was like a little mudfish, slippery and ungraspable, but now he was being good.

As soon as the dressed Xu Bao was put on the bed, he quickly ran to Ye Jiao's arms on his short legs, hugged his mother tightly, and looked up with his face forward, "Mother, love Xu Bao."

Ye Jiao quickly hugged him tight, afraid he might fall, then asked, "What's wrong?"

Xu Bao stared with big eyes, "Mother also kiss Xu Bao." As he spoke, he specifically turned his face sideways and pointed to his chubby little cheek.

Ye Jiao naturally wouldn't refuse him, leaning over to give him a kiss, which finally made Xu Bao smile.

Qi Yun sat nearby, watching with envy, and moved closer.

Xu Bao thought his father also wanted to kiss him and waited happily, but discovered Qi Yun didn't even look at him. Instead, he said to Ye Jiao, "Jiao Niang, kiss me too?"

Little Ginseng obediently gave him a "smack" on his face, prompting Second Young Master Qi to also kiss her cheek.

Xu Bao stared wide-eyed and reached out to tug at Qi Yun.

Second Young Master Qi looked at him somewhat puzzled, then discovered Xu Bao had huffed and said in his baby voice, "Daddy is stealing Xu Bao's mother."

Qi Yun found this claim both amusing and exasperating, "How am I stealing?"

Seeing him smile, Xu Bao became bolder and immediately stretched his neck stubbornly, "Stealing Mother's kisses, and before stealing Xu Bao's food, one big bite, Daddy was stealing food!"

Hearing this, Ye Jiao tried to remember when she had given Xu Bao's food to Qi Yun.

It seemed to have happened once, but she couldn't recall clearly.

But before she could remember, she saw Qi Yun's ears turn red as he scooped up Xu Bao and handed him to Nanny Mo, "Take him to sleep."

Xu Bao immediately squirmed twice, "Xu Bao wants to sleep with Mother..."

"Tomorrow your third uncle comes home. If you don't sleep early, I won't take you to see him." Qi Yun delivered this threat with complete seriousness. Upon hearing this, Xu Bao stopped moving and obediently let Nanny Mo carry him away.

Compared to this articulate little fellow with his quick tongue, dealing with the twins was much simpler.

Although Ruyi also clung to Ye Jiao reluctantly, she was equally attached to Qi Yun and was fine with whoever held her. Ning Bao needn't be mentioned, he just ate and slept, preferring to lie down rather than sit, rolling over and falling asleep.

After coaxing them to sleep and placing them on the bed for Little Su to watch, Ye Jiao returned to her desk to ponder her invitation cards.

These Qi Yun could help her write, but now that they were in the Capital, everything had to follow proper rules.

A person's handwriting was most distinctive and couldn't be easily imitated. If these invitation cards were written by Qi Yun, then the invited guests would mostly be accepting Qi Yun's face and favor, not his wife's.

Similarly, having Qi Ming write them wouldn't work either.

This way, outsiders would have much to say about who really ran this inner residence in the future.

Inner residence matters were already complex, especially in this Capital where people's hearts twisted in seven or eight directions. Qi Yun didn't want to cause trouble for his wife.

So he didn't say much, just suggested, "Jiao Niang, why not give this task to Scholar Feng?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jiao's eyes lit up.

Although Scholar Feng's current title was Xu Bao's enlightenment teacher, he was also responsible for various clerical matters in the residence.

Having Scholar Feng write invitation cards would naturally be perfect.

But remembering what Liu Shi had taught her, she said, "If I ask him to do work, should I give him some benefits?"

Hearing this, Qi Yun said, "No need. Now you manage the residence accounts very well, and we've signed many servants. Although Scholar Feng is different from them, it wouldn't be good to show favoritism, lest they privately compare and compete. It's better to record all their extra work and give it all together when distributing monthly wages."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao thought about it and smiled in agreement.

With this matter settled, Ye Jiao's mood became relaxed.

At this time the two children were sleeping soundly, so Little Su carried them to the adjacent room and carefully closed the door.

When only the two of them remained in the room, Ye Jiao finally remembered, "Husband, I remember now. You did steal Xu Bao's egg custard before."

Only then did Qi Yun recall such an incident. It seemed his son indeed had an excellent memory, remembering even such small matters clearly.

But he breathed a sigh of relief, his face much more relaxed.

Seeing this, Ye Jiao couldn't help asking, "Husband, what were you thinking about?"

Qi Yun didn't hide it from her. While helping her let down her hair, he said softly, "Mm, I was thinking that I've also stolen his food before, and it's good that he doesn't know."

This made Little Ginseng curious. Looking at the blurry figure in the bronze mirror, she asked, "When was that? How come I don't know?"

Qi Yun bent down and hugged her from behind, his arms first encircling the woman's slender waist, then his hands gently moving upward, lowering his head to kiss her neck, his tone light, "I'll tell you in a moment."

As for what exactly he had stolen, Ye Jiao only figured it out when she woke up the next morning.

She sat up, adjusted her undergarment, and silently reached out to pat Qi Yun's shoulder once. She didn't use much force, but her ears were completely red.

Qi Yun had woken earlier than her. Seeing Ye Jiao like this, he knew she wasn't truly angry. He reached out to gently hold Ye Jiao's hand and said, "Don't hit there, be careful not to hurt your hand." Then he placed the woman's hand on his waist.

The flesh at a man's waist was soft and wouldn't be uncomfortable even when pinched.

But how could Ye Jiao bear to do that? She huffed once, went over to bite his collarbone, and muttered, "You're not allowed to do that anymore, not allowed to compete with Ruyi and Ning Bao for... for food."

Qi Yun smiled and agreed.

Ye Jiao then lay back down and moved close to Qi Yun, asking, "How will we pick up Third Brother later?"

Qi Yun had already planned this. Hearing her question, he replied, "I've prepared a carriage and booked a restaurant, all our own properties. When Third Brother comes out, we'll take him for lunch, then come back and let him wash and sleep well to rest properly."

Ye Jiao blinked, "Restaurant? Husband, don't you only have one wine shop?"

Qi Yun replied lightly, "Newly acquired."

Little Ginseng immediately smiled and said softly, "Husband is so capable."

This comment made Qi Yun's eyes darken. His hand that had been about to draw the bed curtains withdrew, and he reached out to pull his wife into his arms.

When the two had finished dressing and washing, Xu Bao was already patting the door outside.

Today was the day the Imperial Academy opened its doors. They had to wait until close to noon before the doors opened, but they needed to go wait early in the morning, otherwise with so many carriages picking up people at the gate, arriving late would mean being relegated to the back.

Xu Bao often heard Qi Ming read to him, and the two had a good relationship. The little fellow kept this matter in his heart. Early in the morning he ran to find Qi Yun and Ye Jiao, and his first words upon entering were, "Xu Bao also wants to find Third Uncle!"