novelraw Chapter 165
Chapter 165
Because the Wen family had been having a hard time recently, their door was deserted, especially compared to the Qi family's liveliness, which was greatly inferior.
Wen Minsong was anxious, not only about business matters, but the inner quarters were also a tangled mess that made him furious.
In his view, his mansion had once housed one wife and three concubines, which was much quieter than many wealthy households.
That Second Young Master Qi next door had poor health and couldn't enjoy beautiful women, but Wen Minsong considered himself physically robust, and having three concubines wasn't excessive.
He never thought Dong Shi had any ability in managing the inner quarters, otherwise Sun Shi wouldn't have come crying to him every day.
His wife was unvirtuous, and Wen Minsong had long been annoyed with her. So when Dong Shi said she wanted a divorce and didn't want the shops, Wen Minsong was quite delighted.
But only after truly sending Dong Shi away did Wen Minsong realize how chaotic the inner quarters really were.
Sun Shi needn't be mentioned, she had embezzled large sums of money. Wen Minsong didn't even know exactly how much. He hadn't expected this woman could actually have people forge accounts, draining his family's foundation. Looking at the ledgers, her food, clothing, and expenses were even better than Dong Shi's, yet she still came crying to him about grievances every day?
He wanted to punish her, but Sun Shi had three children. Even for the sake of father-son affection, he couldn't do anything to her.
The other two concubines weren't easy to deal with either. Previously, Dong Shi had methods and firmly suppressed them, preventing them from making waves. Now that Dong Shi, the primary wife, was gone, they naturally displayed their abilities, hoping to have children now so their later years would have security.
Previously they weren't urgent about having children because although Dong Shi was ruthless, she was reasonable. As long as they behaved themselves, they could live well.
But now Dong Shi was gone, and Sun Shi had children. She might be elevated to primary wife. No one knew Sun Shi's viciousness better than they did, so naturally they wanted children while Sun Shi was in decline, as a way to secure their position.
So the two concubines displayed their abilities, today staging a chance encounter, tomorrow applying eye drops, using endless methods that were extremely annoying.
By the end, Wen Minsong had become numb. The Qi family pressed hard and even dug up many old cases, having that kiln owner Wu as witness, truly leaving him no way to survive.
When he returned home, it was smoky and chaotic, giving him headaches.
With no other options, Wen Minsong wanted to borrow some money from the clan elders for turnover, but when the elders wanted money before, they were all easy to talk to. Now when asked to give money out, they all fell silent, not giving a single copper coin.
The clan elders had always been like this, but previously they tormented Dong Shi with their pettiness and entanglements. Dong Shi bore various pressures, was worn down until her temperament changed greatly, becoming lifeless, yet still gritted her teeth and handled all parties thoughtfully. But Wen Minsong had never thought his own family could be like this, and today he was completely without strategies.
Finally, Wen Minsong's shops closed one after another, clan elders still demanded money from him, the inner quarters were in turmoil, making him frantic.
The wealthy families in the Capital had all seen the signs and deliberately distanced themselves from the Wen family, afraid of getting contaminated, while they drew closer to the Qi family. Whether for business or personal reasons, they tried to get closer if they could.
Anyone with eyes could see the Qi family had backing. Regardless of who was backing them, establishing good relations first was never wrong.
But Wen Minsong couldn't sit still.
With shops closing, home in chaos, and money running out, he really didn't know what to do, so he aimed his anger at the Second Young Master Qi's family.
Anyway, Wen Minsong was used to doing bad things. Making trouble and smashing shops was almost effortless for him, but now that the Wen family was declining, if he wanted to do this, it would probably cost more money than before.
He managed to use some fine porcelain stolen from the Wu family to get people to act first, with other money to be discussed after success.
The timing was chosen for these two days. Princess Huaning was about to have her grand wedding, and the Capital was full of people wanting to watch the excitement. With many eyes and hands around, doing bad things could be more concealed.
Early this morning, Wen Minsong was originally going out to negotiate again with those bloodsucking clan elders, but as soon as he stepped out, he saw a long line of people carrying boxes waiting at the Qi family's door.
Looking briefly, he found these people actually lined up from the door to the end of the alley!
It was truly spectacular.
But the more spectacular it was, the more pitiful he appeared. Wen Minsong frowned tightly, wishing he could have people scatter them all. He inwardly cursed that the Qi family could live anywhere else but chose to live next door to him. So he pulled back the leg that had just stepped out and said through gritted teeth: "Close the door!"
The servant quickly closed the door, not daring to speak.
Wen Minsong asked: "What's all that commotion outside?"
The servant hurriedly said: "I just heard them say it's because General Ye visited yesterday, so they came today."
Although Wen Minsong was petty and harsh, he had been doing business in the Capital for many years. Though his anger hadn't dissipated, he keenly grasped the key point of what the servant said, urgently asking: "What General Ye, which General Ye!"
The servant was startled again, not daring to breathe heavily, replying: "It's the current fourth-rank Loyal and Martial General Ye Ping Rong. I heard he's the legitimate elder brother of the Qi family's madam. Yesterday he personally visited, and it was the Qi family's madam who came out carrying children to see him off."
At these words, Wen Minsong was struck like lightning.
Ye Ping Rong was quite prominent in the Capital. A military officer who had reached the fourth rank and was about to marry the Princess, a proper prince consort who would naturally enjoy wealth and honor for life.
But Ye Ping Rong rarely appeared in public, and when Princess Huaning came to find Ye Jiao, it was always low-key coming and going, never being noticed, so no one knew of their connection!
No one knew the Qi family's backing, who could have thought this backing would be so solid!
Wen Minsong felt sweat breaking out on his back. His first reaction was that Second Young Master Qi was only making things difficult for him in business, not directly arresting him and throwing him in prison?
The next moment, Wen Minsong remembered what he was going to do today.
It seemed he was going out to demand money, to... harm the Qi family's wine shop...
"Quick! Quickly send people to stop them, absolutely cannot let anything go wrong!" Wen Minsong felt darkness before his eyes, couldn't even stand steady, could only shout loudly for people to stop them.
But he had been careful about this matter from the start, knowing very few people. This servant was just a gatekeeper, how could he understand Wen Minsong's meaning?
Until Wen Minsong rolled his eyes back and fainted, the servant still couldn't figure out who he wanted to stop.
When Qi Yun learned of this matter, it was already evening.
Manager Song came hurriedly. When he saw Qi Yun, he still looked gentle and refined, just with slightly wrinkled clothes. His voice was calm and gentle: "Master, something happened at the shop just now."
Qi Yun had spent the whole day dealing with visitors and was finally resting, holding a tea cup. Hearing this, he raised his eyes, too lazy to speak, just uttering one word: "Speak."
Manager Song said: "This afternoon, a group of people came to the shop to make trouble, smashing three jars of Jade Liquid Wine and ten jars of Golden Cup Wine."
At these words, Qi Yun frowned slightly: "In broad daylight at the emperor's feet, what are they trying to do?"
Manager Song's face showed a peaceful smile, his voice equally light: "I asked around, it was ordered by the Wen family head."
Tie Zi nearby was very curious.
It wasn't strange for the Wen family to cause trouble for their family. Now the Wen family was at the end of their rope, about to snap. Even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone those with ill intentions from the start. This kind of thing coming later than expected was rather surprising.
But Tie Zi just wanted to know how Manager Song had pried open the mouths of these thugs, who usually took sufficient money and wouldn't easily talk.
Qi Yun didn't ask for details, just said: "That's easy to handle. Make a list of the damaged items and send it to the Wen family for compensation."
Manager Song had originally come with a list. Hearing this, he presented it to Qi Yun with both hands.
Second Young Master Qi took it and looked, nodded slightly, then turned to Tie Zi: "Normal work should be this thoughtful. You should learn more from Manager Song in the future."
Tie Zi immediately clasped his hands and agreed, smiling as he looked at Manager Song.
Qi Yun didn't ask about other matters. After all, given the current situation where Ye Ping Rong and Ye Jiao's relationship had been revealed, the Wen family was probably scared half to death and couldn't cause any more trouble.
Accounts should be settled slowly to be interesting.
When Tie Zi was seeing Manager Song out, he finally couldn't hold back and looked at him asking: "Manager Song, how did you make them talk?"
Manager Song was tall and liked wearing blue robes, looking very scholarly, especially when smiling, appearing refined and gentle, speaking very kindly: "Who are you asking about?"
"Those troublemakers."
Manager Song still smiled, saying gently: "Nothing special. With that kind of people, bribes are usually a waste of money, and reasoning won't work either. If you really want them to talk, just break their legs, and naturally they'll speak."
Tie Zi: ......
At this point, Manager Song seemed to remember what Qi Yun had said about teaching Tie Zi. His steps paused slightly, then he smiled and looked at Tie Zi, gently gripping Tie Zi's arm: "I've practiced martial arts and know exactly where it hurts without being fatal. If you're interested, I'll teach you slowly in the future. It's very useful, and medical treatment won't cost much money either. Killing two birds with one stone."
Only then did Tie Zi remember Manager Song's good martial arts skills when he single-handedly fought several men. He felt the place where this person gripped him inexplicably aching.
But all young men had dreams of being heroes, and naturally he was happy to have a chance to learn martial arts.
However, Tie Zi felt that to reach Manager Song's level of smiling while breaking people's legs would require long, hard practice.
This matter ended before it began, appearing calm on the surface without a ripple, and dissipated before it could reach Ye Jiao's ears.
Soon it was the wedding day.
According to the current dynasty's rules, princesses would marry out from the palace, bidding farewell to the emperor and empress, carried out of the palace in flower sedan chairs.
If it were a marriage alliance, the prime minister would lead court officials to see her out of the city. If recruiting a prince consort, the prince consort would send betrothal gifts into the palace gates, then kowtow to the emperor and empress together with the princess, then go to the prince consort's mansion for the ceremony.
Ye Jiao, as Ye Ping Rong's sister, was originally supposed to wait at the prince consort's mansion, but Princess Huaning had someone pass word that she was nervous and wanted to see her. So Ye Jiao got in a carriage early in the morning and entered the palace.
This time entering the palace, she didn't bring the children. The palace was busy preparing for the princess's grand wedding, and though the three children were sensible, they were still young and might not be properly cared for.
Fortunately, Princess Huaning didn't ask about this. When she saw Ye Jiao, she reached out her hand, looking at Ye Jiao eagerly: "Jiao Niang..."
Little Ginseng walked over and held Princess Huaning's hand. Before she could speak, she saw palace maids standing in a circle around them.
Each of them held a tray with hairpins and earrings, mostly made of gold and jade, very dazzling.
But Ye Jiao only looked twice before withdrawing her gaze and looking back at Princess Huaning.
She met a pair of large eyes.
For Ye Jiao, usually when she herself showed this pitiful look, it was because she was hungry. So Ye Jiao took a plum from the table, broke it in half, tasted it herself, found it sweet, then brought the other half to Princess Huaning's mouth: "For you."
Princess Huaning wasn't hungry. She had just eaten pastries earlier. She was just panicked inside.
Ye Ping Rong was the prince consort she had chosen, the man she desperately wanted to marry, but people are often like this, when they get what they desire, it feels unreal, their hearts feel empty, and they panic.
But when Ye Jiao offered the plum, the nervousness seemed to suddenly disappear, leaving only a smile.
Princess Huaning understood why she wanted to see Jiao Niang.
No matter how anxious others were, Jiao Niang was still the same person who was happy when she had something delicious, very steady.
So Princess Huaning opened her mouth to bite the plum, then smiled: "Yes, very sweet."
But eating this made her freshly applied lip rouge smudge again. A matron nearby quickly came to reapply it. Ye Jiao stared at Princess Huaning, saying sincerely: "Princess Huaning, you look really beautiful today."
Princess Huaning curved her lips in a smile, looking somewhat mischievously at Ye Jiao in the mirror: "Jiao Niang will have to call me sister-in-law in the future. Actually, you could call me that now. Come on, let me hear you say it."
Ye Jiao blinked and honestly shook her head: "I can call you that later, but not now."
Princess Huaning was somewhat surprised: "Why?"
Little Ginseng was characteristically straightforward, this time no exception: "Elder Brother said calling someone by a new title requires giving red envelopes. He said he prepared several large ones that he'll give to Xu Bao and the others later, and I'll get some too then."
Ye Ping Rong had said this to coax Xu Bao into obediently calling her auntie.
But when Ye Jiao said it now, it made Princess Huaning blush, then smile as she pinched her hand: "Don't listen to his nonsense. What does our business have to do with him? Besides, I don't care what he wants to do."
Ye Jiao let her pinch, saying: "Of course it's related. Elder Brother said he's giving you the household keys and money boxes, so naturally the red envelope money needs your approval."
At these words, Princess Huaning coughed and muttered: "He's so fussy." But the smile on her face couldn't be stopped.
When the two were talking, others stood far away and couldn't hear, only an old matron who had always cared for Princess Huaning heard everything.
The matron also joined in teasingly: "The Prince Consort is being thorough, considering everything for Your Highness."
Princess Huaning huffed softly and said no more, but her face carried a smile and she no longer looked as anxious as before, appearing much more at ease.
Seeing her smile, the palace maids around became busy again, dressing and adorning her.
Ye Jiao watched as those gold and jade ornaments were pinned into her hair one by one, and the earrings were also long and heavy. Little Ginseng unconsciously touched her neck.
Really heavy. Being a princess wasn't easy, carrying things that probably weighed several pounds.
While Princess Huaning was changing into her wedding dress, Empress Meng called Ye Jiao over to talk.
The current Empress Meng's pregnancy was now stable. Though physically weak, she no longer needed to stay confined indoors like before, but needed to walk around frequently for her health.
Princess Huaning's marriage was a major palace event. Whether as empress or as sister-in-law, Empress Meng had to come and see.
Seeing Ye Jiao was also there, Empress Meng smiled and pulled her to sit beside her, saying to a nearby palace servant: "Bring the hundred-fruit cake." Then she said to Ye Jiao: "This hundred-fruit cake was just made, perfect for eating."
Ye Jiao smiled and thanked her, then reached out and gently placed her palm on Empress Meng's lower abdomen.
Empress Meng first stiffened, then relaxed, letting her touch.
This scene was seen by many nearby palace servants, who looked at each other with undisguised shock in their eyes.
They had seen this Madam Ye before, only thinking she was friends with Princess Huaning. Now seeing it was a sister-in-law and sister-in-law relationship, being close was normal.
Who knew Madam Ye had such divine abilities, even the Empress treated her so intimately!
You should know that even when the Emperor wanted to listen to the Empress's belly, he had to make many promises first. Here Madam Ye just touched whenever she wanted, truly having heavenly abilities.
Ye Jiao didn't think so much. In her heart, Hui Niang was a good friend who treated her well, so she should treat Hui Niang well too.
Now Empress Meng had a baby, but Empress Meng's health was always weak. Both she and the child in her womb needed good care.
Who in this world could be more nourishing than herself?
So Ye Jiao sat even closer to Empress Meng, smiling: "Hui Niang's complexion looks really good."
Empress Meng indeed treated her sincerely, never having other thoughts. Hearing this, she nodded: "It is good, and I must thank you. I kept those flower pots in my room, and the fragrance is particularly calming. Even morning sickness wasn't as severe."
Ye Jiao naturally nodded, smiling with curved eyes: "As it should be, I sent them to you for this purpose."
Empress Meng smiled as she looked at her. Just then the hundred-fruit cake was brought up, and she pushed the plate toward Ye Jiao.
Watching Ye Jiao's slightly puffed cheeks, Empress Meng's smile deepened.
Perhaps because her thoughts were becoming heavier and her schemes more numerous, the heavier her mind became, the more she liked this pure whiteness.
Rather than saying Empress Meng treated Ye Jiao as a friend, it was more that she treated Ye Jiao as a sister, caring for her greatly.
Thinking of this, Empress Meng remembered her family's fifth younger sister, looked at Ye Jiao again, and said gently: "Jiao Niang, I wonder if Third Young Master Qi will attend today's wedding ceremony?"
Ye Jiao nodded, and after swallowing the pastry in her mouth, said: "Yes, my husband's elder brother and third brother are both going."
Empress Meng nodded, lowering her voice: "Good that he's going." It wasn't in vain that she found an opportunity to have Mother bring Fifth Sister to observe the ceremony.
Usually families had blind marriages, but Empress Meng doted on her sister and naturally wanted to let her have another look.
Everything had to be suitable before settling it.
Ye Jiao didn't know what Empress Meng was thinking, just looked toward Princess Huaning who was adjusting her sash, with a slight smile: "Princess Huaning really looks beautiful today."
Empress Meng gently placed her hand on her not-yet-protruding lower abdomen, her voice tender: "Princess Huaning is the most favored princess of the imperial family. When the late emperor was alive, she was extremely honored. Now my husband also dotes on her, so naturally he wants to give her the best of everything."
Ye Jiao touched her neck again, saying quietly: "This best seems rather heavy."
Empress Meng had always been steady-tempered. If it were someone else saying this, she would certainly say these were honors bestowed by the emperor, and they should be happy about it instead of complaining.
But seeing Ye Jiao's expression of genuinely worrying that Princess Huaning would be tired, Empress Meng couldn't help but think of when she married the then-Prince Chu Chengyun, also wearing a headful of pearls and hairpins, so heavy that she needed support to walk. She nodded involuntarily: "Yes, very heavy indeed."
Then Empress Meng looked at Ye Jiao, feeling she was also very beautiful.
Not devastatingly beautiful, but particularly fresh and lovely, especially when smiling, very eye-catching with curved eyes that warmed the heart just by looking.
Empress Meng took a pearl hairpin with magnolia flowers from her hair and pinned it in Ye Jiao's hair, saying softly: "This suits you, consider it thanks for those flowers."
Ye Jiao touched it, curious: "What is this?"
"Magnolia flowers."
Ye Jiao smiled upon hearing this, adjusted it, stood up to thank her, then the two looked toward the glittering Princess Huaning.
While the two were paying attention to Princess Huaning, Princess Huaning didn't look back but focused intently on listening to a matron beside her.
Imperial marriages were different from others, with many interests and rules involved. Even though someone would remind her, as a princess she still needed to pay attention.
Princess Huaning usually disliked these rules, always finding them troublesome, but this time she listened with complete concentration, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
After the matron finished repeating everything, Princess Huaning finally breathed a sigh of relief. But with a moment's carelessness, her head became too heavy to balance properly, and she could only grip a nearby palace maid's wrist to stand steady.
The matron quickly stepped forward to support her, but just as she approached, Princess Huaning's voice rang out: "Have those women I bought been sent?"
Hearing this, the matron felt a headache coming on.
Actually, though there were undercurrents in court now, they couldn't reach Princess Huaning. She was just marrying a prince consort, which didn't threaten anyone.
But someone just had to rush forward looking for trouble, insisting on sending women to the prince consort, claiming it was to test whether the prince consort had any hidden ailments, supposedly for the princess's benefit.
But usually the imperial family arranged for test marriage palace maids to be given to prince consorts, and these women would stay beside the prince consort as concubines. Now the emperor didn't want to give any, yet someone actually advised the emperor to send one, purely making trouble for nothing.
The matron understood clearly that this person wanted to stuff women into the prince consort's household, though the reason wasn't entirely clear.
But what woman would be happy about others occupying her future husband's bed before the grand wedding?
Ye Ping Rong naturally refused sternly and even specially knelt before the emperor, swearing to heaven that he would never take concubines.
But when Princess Huaning learned of this, she showed no reaction to the prince consort, but instead went to the Capital's largest brothel, spent money to redeem more than ten prostitutes, and stuffed them all into that official's household who had given Chu Chengyun the idea.
This matter was handled by the matron, so hearing the question, she lowered her voice: "Reporting to Your Highness, they were sent. They were sent last night. That official was chased to the courtyard by his wife, said to have caught a cold from freezing, and didn't attend morning court."
Princess Huaning didn't feel particularly satisfied, but snorted and said: "Remember to tell those women to work hard pestering this old official. If he doesn't have nightly music, I won't give them their freedom papers."
The matron felt another headache. Wasn't this clearly meant to have these seductive women drain this official? Looking at his age, he probably couldn't last long before going to cry and beg forgiveness from the emperor.
The hardest to bear was a beauty's kindness, probably just like this.
But the matron still agreed, as long as it could vent Princess Huaning's anger. Then the matron said: "Your Highness, today is a joyful day, don't mention these inauspicious things."
Only then did Princess Huaning stop talking, slowly raising her arms to let people adjust her sleeves.
On the other side, Ye Ping Rong had also entered the palace, first paying respects to the emperor, then standing there waiting to see his new bride.
But the first person he saw wasn't Princess Huaning, but Ye Jiao and Empress Meng arriving together.
Little Ginseng saw her elder brother and smiled at him, but didn't speak. After Empress Meng entered the hall, she left, preparing to go to the prince consort's mansion to wait.
Chu Chengyun stood up, quickly went to help his wife, carefully supporting her to sit down together, then looked at Ye Ping Rong, preparing for Ye Ping Rong to pay respects.
Who knew Ye Ping Rong's eyes weren't looking their way, but staring straight at the palace entrance.
There, a woman slowly entered, dressed in luxurious clothes with pearl hairpins and jade ornaments, wearing an exquisite veil that obscured her features, but her figure alone was excellent.
Ye Ping Rong had spent many years with Princess Huaning and naturally recognized her. Seeing her at a glance, he couldn't look away.
Until Princess Huaning stood beside him, Ye Ping Rong still hadn't come to his senses.
Chu Chengyun found it amusing and didn't rush him to kowtow, but asked with great interest: "Ping Rong, what are you staring at my sister for?"
Ye Ping Rong was originally a military officer, clumsy with words, couldn't say anything flowery, and could only honestly reply: "Beautiful, like a heavenly fairy."
Chu Chengyun asked with a smile, testing him: "What if a real heavenly fairy came?"
At these words, Princess Huaning mentally noted this against Chu Chengyun. Even knowing that family members always had to make things difficult for the groom, Princess Huaning, whose heart had long been biased, just felt unhappy. She had always been spoiled by Chu Chengyun, with an outgoing nature, thinking she'd definitely settle accounts with her third brother later.
Who knew Ye Ping Rong gently said: "My wife is better than any heavenly fairy."
Chu Chengyun was stunned for a moment, then laughed, extremely gratified.
Empress Meng beside him smiled gracefully, thinking that this pair of siblings from the Ye family were very similar, both having pure hearts yet honeyed tongues, impossible not to like.
Chu Chengyun didn't make things difficult for Ye Ping Rong anymore. After the two kowtowed, they walked out of the great hall. Ye Ping Rong rode a horse, Princess Huaning sat in a sedan chair, followed by palace servants carrying dowry, grandly proceeding from the imperial palace to the prince consort's mansion.
Along this route, lights blazed brilliantly, illuminating ten li of red dowry, beautiful as a dream.
But Ye Jiao didn't see this scene. She had arrived early at the prince consort's mansion, preparing to rest a bit. Seeing a cup on the table, she picked it up and drank to quench her thirst.
But as soon as it entered her mouth, she felt something was wrong.
Why was it a bit spicy?
Her face flushed red, and Ye Jiao's eyes showed some confusion.
Qi Yun, who had been waiting for her return, quickly stepped forward to support Ye Jiao. Seeing her expression was wrong, he quickly picked up the cup and smelled it, showing some helplessness on his face.
It was wine, Golden Cup, that he had personally sent over.
For ordinary people, this cup wouldn't matter, but with Ye Jiao's tolerance of getting drunk from one cup, this was enough to cause problems.
But this time Ye Jiao was different from last time. Last time Little Ginseng had unknowingly drunk a large cup, getting so drunk she didn't know what day it was. But this time was slightly less than that time. Though tipsy, she didn't immediately lose consciousness.
So she stubbornly pulled Qi Yun, looked up at him with misty eyes, her voice soft: "Husband, hold me steady, I want to watch Elder Brother get married."
Qi Yun knew Ye Ping Rong held great importance in her heart. At such an important moment, Ye Jiao probably didn't want to miss it, so he steadily supported her: "Alright, I'm right beside you." Then he turned to have Little Su bring sobering soup.
Ye Jiao felt secure leaning on Qi Yun, smiled, and looked quite normal except for her flushed face, showing no other abnormalities.
Others looking over only thought Ye Jiao was happy for her brother and didn't think anything else.
Everyone's focus was on Ye Ping Rong and Princess Huaning performing the ceremony. Though it was an imperial wedding, the atmosphere was lively and warm. Besides discussing Ye Ping Rong's good fortune, they talked about Princess Huaning's ten li dowry. No one particularly noticed Second Young Master Qi's family.
Xu Bao also noticed his mother's flushed face. He was very well-behaved and didn't go bother her, even proactively coaxing the twins to be good.
After Princess Huaning and Ye Ping Rong completed the ceremony and were sent to the bridal chamber, Ye Jiao finally allowed herself to completely lean into Qi Yun's arms.
Closing her eyes, she seemed to have fallen asleep.
Qi Yun quickly had people send Ye Jiao to the carriage first, while he had to deal with guests who came to talk with him, delaying some time. When he got in the carriage, he saw Ye Jiao lying flat on soft cushions, with a somewhat panicked Little Su beside her.
Little Su saw Qi Yun get in the carriage and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, about to speak.
But Ye Jiao opened her eyes first, sat up with support, and stared straight at Qi Yun.
Qi Yun didn't know what Ye Jiao wanted to do, but drunk people often couldn't be provoked casually. Second Young Master Qi could only remain silent, just looking at Ye Jiao with what he considered his gentlest gaze.
Then he was embraced by Ye Jiao, only hearing Little Ginseng's soft voice: "Husband, look, I've bloomed."