Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 26

The last time she had slept next to Qi Yun, it had caused his internal heat to rise, and he had been confined to his room for nearly a month to recover. Ye Jiao really didn't want him to go through that again.

Little Ginseng was anxious in her heart and didn't care about anything else. She leaned over and lay on top of Qi Yun, firmly grasping the man's wrist, not even daring to breathe heavily, slightly closing her eyes to feel his pulse.

Afraid that taking his pulse this way might not be accurate, Ye Jiao also leaned over to gently touch Qi Yun's neck and behind his ears with her hand, feeling the slight beating under her fingertips.

She rubbed his neck for quite a while, until Ye Jiao was certain that Qi Yun's body showed no abnormalities, then she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking carefully, the last time Qi Yun had developed a high fever was because Ye Jiao had been too reckless in nourishing him. Now that several months had passed, Ye Jiao had been careful in her interactions with Qi Yun, carefully tending to his body. Qi Yun's foundation was much better than before.

Looking at him now, even being close together for so long hadn't caused any situation where his body couldn't handle nourishment. Ye Jiao was truly relieved.

After feeling reassured, Ye Jiao's arm that had been supporting her also relaxed, and her soft body directly lay down on the man.

She reached out to poke Qi Yun's chin, thinking to herself that fortunately he hadn't developed a fever. Even if she had scared herself for nothing just now, it was still good.

Turning her head to rest on the man's chest, at first it was fine, but soon Ye Jiao could clearly hear his heartbeat quickening by several beats.

Ye Jiao thought she was pressing on him uncomfortably, so she propped herself up to sit up, carefully covering him with the blanket.

Seeing that the sky had already brightened, Little Ginseng quietly put on her outer clothes and got out from under the blanket without waking Qi Yun. She slowly lowered the thick bed curtains before getting down from the bed, relit the charcoal brazier, and only left after the room warmed up, gathering her hair.

But as soon as Ye Jiao left the inner room, the man lying on the bed opened his eyes.

Yesterday, because Ye Jiao was leaning against him, Qi Yun was reluctant to wake his wife. After her hair dried, he carried her to bed and lay down beside Ye Jiao himself. He had originally intended to read a book, but somehow he fell asleep.

Qi Yun slept extremely well that night.

No dreams, no nightmares. It seemed like the first time in his life that Qi Yun experienced what was called sweet slumber.

Sleeping soundly and with high quality made Qi Yun wake up earlier than usual.

Who knew that as soon as he woke up, he would have warm and soft jade in his arms, making his whole body tense.

Though they were covered by the same blanket, Qi Yun remembered clearly that before sleeping they had laid down properly with some distance between them. Who would have known that after falling asleep it was completely beyond their control, and when he woke up he felt his wrist being grasped by the woman.

Qi Yun didn't open his eyes. He couldn't say whether he was afraid of embarrassment or wanted to preserve this tenderness a little longer. In any case, Qi Yun chose to pretend to sleep, and Ye Jiao didn't discover it.

When the woman lay on top of him, Qi Yun could even smell the sweet osmanthus scent on her body.

It was osmanthus scent again. She clearly hadn't eaten any osmanthus-flavored pastries yesterday... Ah yes, the hair oil Ye Jiao used seemed to be osmanthus-scented, and he had bought it for her.

His mind wandered to distract himself, but he still couldn't control his accelerating heartbeat.

Even after Ye Jiao left, Qi Yun still felt his ears buzzing loudly, his mouth inexplicably somewhat dry.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Yun sat up, but he lowered his head, lifted the blanket to look inside, and the man quickly lay back down.

Second Young Master Qi, in order to prevent Ye Jiao from noticing anything unusual, decided to lie down a bit longer.

Compared to Qi Yun's nervousness, Ye Jiao seemed much more at ease, and her mood was quite good.

Being able to spend a night with him without him developing a fever was clearly the result of his body gradually improving.

What Ye Jiao looked forward to most was her husband's health. Now that Qi Yun's body was getting better, Ye Jiao was naturally happy.

After arranging her hair in a bun and putting on a lilac-colored long robe, Ye Jiao saw it was still early, so she went outside first to look at the medicinal flowers she had newly planted.

As soon as she went out, she saw Fang Shi holding Little Shi Tou and standing at the courtyard gate.

Ye Jiao hadn't encountered Fang Shi for a long time. Seeing her now, Ye Jiao smiled and said: "Elder Sister-in-law, you're up early." Then she reached out and waved at Little Shi Tou: "Shi Tou, call Auntie."

Little Shi Tou immediately answered crisply: "Auntie!"

Fang Shi also smiled and nodded at Ye Jiao, looking very amiable. She said to Ye Jiao: "Mother said that it's almost the end of the year, and each family needs to discuss together about New Year matters. I came to find you to go together."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao said: "Elder Sister-in-law, please go wait in the small room and have some tea to warm up. I'll be right there." She turned and went to the corridor to call Little Su over.

Little Su ran to Ye Jiao's side: "Second Young Mistress."

"Where are those two pots of Auspicious Flowers brought back yesterday?" Ye Jiao asked while looking around.

Little Su pointed toward the side room: "Those flowers looked very delicate. Yesterday Second Young Master had me put them in the side room, afraid they'd freeze if left in the courtyard."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking fortunately she had her husband. She had temporarily forgotten about the Auspicious Flowers yesterday. If not for Qi Yun's instruction, probably not one of the two pots would have survived the night.

She went to the side room with Little Su and crouched down to touch the bright red petals of the Auspicious Flowers, finding they were still wilted.

This flower was supposed to grow in water. Being buried in soil naturally wouldn't make it grow well.

Ye Jiao stood up and looked around, pointing at the large jar for keeping fish: "Can I use that?"

Little Su had wanted to ask what it was for, but suddenly remembering how Qi Yun had flattened the entire garden of flower beds for Ye Jiao's sake, she immediately held her tongue and nodded repeatedly: "Whatever Second Young Mistress wants to do is fine. Should I throw away the fish?"

Hearing this, Ye Jiao was stunned, then laughed: "No need to throw them away. In this weather, they'd mostly freeze to death if thrown out. Just keep them in there. Later, take these two plants out, don't damage the roots, shake off the soil and put them in. Also, don't leave it outside. If the water freezes, that's not good. Still put it in the room."

When Ye Jiao was still Little Ginseng, Auspicious Flowers were called Wind Source Flowers. Put in water, they could live on their own without any tending. Just give them some sunlight and warmth and they could grow wild. Dong Shi couldn't grow them because she put them in soil, just like the previous Stone Sprout Grass, which never lived long when buried in soil.

Little Su nodded in agreement after hearing this. Ye Jiao gave a few more detailed instructions. Not wanting to keep Fang Shi waiting, she took a dark purple fur-collared cloak to wrap around herself and went out to find Fang Shi.

However, Fang Shi hadn't gone to wait in the small room, but was wandering around Ye Jiao's courtyard, becoming more shocked the more she wandered.

Fang Shi had been to this courtyard before. Though she couldn't be considered a talented woman well-versed in poetry and literature, she was someone who enjoyed admiring flowers and scenery. Even though she was extremely afraid of Qi Yun, she was very appreciative of Qi Yun's aesthetic sense in courtyard arrangement.

Especially in Qi Yun's courtyard were two precious chrysanthemums called "Purple Dragon Lying in Snow," with petals that were orange-red on one side and bright yellow on the other, looking particularly rich and beautiful. Today Fang Shi had come specifically because she calculated that if she didn't look at these two plants soon, they would wither. That's why she took a detour to get Ye Jiao to go find Liu Shi together.

Who knew that when she looked, she found the courtyard had completely changed!

Forget about "Purple Dragon Lying in Snow," all the other flowers had also disappeared without a trace. In their place were some flowers that looked strange and peculiar to Fang Shi.

The flowers were small and oddly shaped, looking like they couldn't grace an elegant hall.

This made Fang Shi's eyes show some heartache. Seeing Ye Jiao approach, she asked: "Jiao Niang, how did your courtyard change appearance?"

Ye Jiao was holding her hand warmer close to her body. Hearing this, she smiled and said: "I wanted to plant some medicinal materials, so my husband had people level the courtyard."

...Level it?

Fang Shi's eyes widened as she looked at Ye Jiao, feeling how could a perfectly good girl be so wasteful!

Ye Jiao smiled again: "Medicinal materials still have some use. Those flowers and plants are fine for decoration, but they can't help with my husband's health. It's better to plant some beneficial things."

Fang Shi was probably too heartbroken and spoke without thinking: "If Second Brother wanted medicinal materials, he could just go to the medicine shop. Why go through all this trouble? Those flowers... were good things. It's such a pity to level them."

If it were before, Ye Jiao would certainly just smile and let it go. She never cared about anyone except Qi Yun.

But after witnessing the dispute at the wine shop yesterday and listening to Qi Yun's explanations in the evening, Ye Jiao had also figured out some nuances.

She was blessed and had encountered a good husband. As for others, Little Ginseng felt that just like demons, some ate people while others saved people. Not all people had good intentions.

Some things should be said when they needed to be said.

Ye Jiao looked at Fang Shi, her voice as soft and gentle as always: "Elder Sister-in-law, this is my husband's courtyard, and it was my husband who wanted to level it. If Elder Sister-in-law likes looking at flowers, she can go to the garden, where the flowers are also beautiful."

Little Ginseng felt she was being inexplicable. Her husband had said before that it was their own courtyard's business and had nothing to do with others. Why was Elder Sister-in-law upset?

But Fang Shi was probably used to Ye Jiao's always gentle and soft manner and didn't think much of it. Just then, Little Shi Tou pointed at the plum blossoms nearby, shouting they were beautiful and saying he wanted to pick them to wear for Mother and Auntie. This made them both laugh, and they coaxed Little Shi Tou to look at the flowers. Soon they forgot about leveling the courtyard, and the two sisters-in-law reached Liu Shi's courtyard peacefully.

Today Liu Shi had called the two daughters-in-law to discuss New Year matters together.

With the year-end approaching, the family had quite a lot to prepare.

Not to mention the reward money for tenants, just the family's preparations for banquets, fireworks and firecrackers, sewing new clothes, and so on, all required silver flowing like water.

The Qi family was indeed wealthy, but they had always been kind people who never mistreated tenants. The year-end reward silver was also substantial. Moreover, as a wealthy family, they had quite a lot of social obligations, and money that should be given all had to be allocated from the accounts.

Usually the family never shortchanged their own people. Food, clothing, and daily necessities were provided when possible. Silver came in quickly and went out quickly too.

Liu Shi turned the prayer beads in her hands, her eyes shifting between Ye Jiao and Fang Shi, her tone gentle: "This year has had many happy events. Second Son married Jiao Niang, Little Shi Tou has grown steady, and both the estates and shops have had better days."

Ye Jiao's face showed a smile, while Fang Shi pretended to coax Little Shi Tou with pastries while actually keeping her ears pricked straight, listening to what Liu Shi would say next.

Then she heard Liu Shi say: "However, next year both estates and shops will be newly opened, and the money in the accounts probably won't be enough. Your father and I discussed it yesterday. Since the family situation has improved and we've had so many happy events this year, we should hold a few more banquet tables. Besides the money on the accounts, shouldn't your two families also contribute some? Based on year-end income, each family contributing half a percent, one in twenty, would that be acceptable?"

Since these were household matters, Liu Shi first asked for her two daughters-in-law's opinions.

Ye Jiao felt this suggestion was fine. These days Qi Yun had gradually told her about the Qi family's situation, so Ye Jiao had some understanding.

Now that the family lived together, even the pastries she ate were made in the small kitchen. Moreover, Liu Shi said next year the family would need to invest money in building shops. Little Ginseng thought it was quite good to contribute some money at year-end for festivities.

But Fang Shi didn't think so.

Her personality, to put it colloquially, was "losing money if she didn't pick up coins when going out."

She wasn't bad-hearted, just stingy, with a head full of calculations.

In her view, Qi Yun's shop and Qi Zhao's estate were completely different.

Previously when the wine shop had more income, Fang Shi attributed it to unusual circumstances. After all, which family didn't occasionally have no business? The shop had been quiet for so long, so an occasional burst was normal.

Fundamentally, estates still made money. If they had to contribute, her family would probably contribute more.

In the past at year-end, Liu Shi sometimes asked like this too. Back then Fang Shi would focus on Qi Yun. At that time, Qi Yun was thinking about waiting to die every day and had no mind for managing the shop, so earnings were average. Therefore Liu Shi wouldn't make him contribute. Since Qi Ming was studying and had no spare money, for fairness Liu Shi wouldn't make Qi Zhao contribute either.

Now that the shop had money, her mother-in-law remembered this again, still calculating by proportion.

Estates made money, and if they really calculated one in twenty like this, wouldn't she be at a disadvantage?

Actually, taking half a percent from income wasn't much silver. Fang Shi didn't lack that bit of silver either, but she just felt uncomfortable inside. Contributing more than others made her feel she was losing out, and losing out made her uncomfortable.

So Fang Shi looked at Liu Shi hopefully and asked quietly: "Mother, could we change it?"

Liu Shi looked at her: "Change what?"

Fang Shi's mental abacus was clicking frantically as she said: "Let's not do this one-in-twenty thing. How about this: both families contribute the same amount. We're all showing filial piety, so it wouldn't be good for one to outdo the other." Her voice paused: "I'll go back and tell Eldest Brother that whatever Second Brother contributes, we'll contribute the same amount. We absolutely won't contribute less."

It sounded like she was being considerate of Second Brother, but what Fang Shi was thinking was that this way she wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

In Fang Shi's view, Qi Yun's income wouldn't be much. If they matched his contribution, they could fulfill Liu Shi's wish for fairness while also letting her family contribute less. Two birds with one stone.

Fang Shi had never imagined that Qi Yun's shop could surpass Qi Zhao's estate. This possibility simply didn't exist in her mind.

Liu Shi actually knew best how well both families' businesses were doing, but she didn't speak. Instead, she turned to look at Ye Jiao: "Jiao Niang, do you agree?"

Ye Jiao was always obedient in front of Liu Shi and replied: "My husband said to listen to Mother. If Mother agrees, I agree."

Hearing this, Liu Shi nodded, then looked deeply at Fang Shi without explaining anything, saying gently: "Since that's the case, let's do as you said."

Fang Shi's round face broke into a brilliant smile, thinking to herself that she had saved another sum of money. How wonderful.