Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 35

Liu Shi suddenly stood up, but her vision went black, and if Ye Jiao hadn't supported her, she would have fallen to the ground.

A breath caught in her chest, unable to come up.

Originally her health was fine, but these days she had indeed been busy, and today there was the back-and-forth trip to the temple. Now suddenly hearing that her youngest son might be injured made her feel dizzy.

Ye Jiao directly grabbed Liu Shi's hand.

Usually she never touched people easily, but now Liu Shi couldn't care about such things. She held Liu Shi tightly and looked at Nanny Liu: "Nanny Liu, did you see clearly?"

She had just seen clearly that Qi Ming's arm was suspended in cloth, which looked like an injury.

Nanny Liu had hesitated earlier because she was afraid of frightening Liu Shi. Now seeing Liu Shi truly scared, she hurriedly went forward to help her breathe, not daring to say more.

Afraid of further stimulating Liu Shi, Nanny Liu just patted her chest and handed her tea, muttering: "Maybe I saw wrong, I must have seen wrong."

But before she could finish, Liu Shi had already opened her eyes, and her breathing became smooth again.

Ye Jiao naturally let go of Liu Shi's hand and got up to pour tea for her.

Liu Shi grabbed Nanny Liu's hand: "Quick, take me to see."

Ye Jiao saw Liu Shi's pale face and was somewhat worried: "Mother, won't you rest a bit?"

"Go see first, my Third Son..." Liu Shi looked anxious and confused, getting up to leave.

Ye Jiao hurriedly got her cloak to wrap around her, then followed her out.

The distance from Liu Shi's courtyard to the main gate wasn't far. They arrived quickly, just as Qi Ming was entering, pulling at the cloth hanging around his neck. When he saw Liu Shi, Qi Ming froze completely.

Liu Shi immediately saw Qi Ming's arm and gasped again.

"Go, go get the doctor!" Liu Shi's voice rose, and someone immediately ran off to fetch the doctor.

Ye Jiao hurriedly stepped forward to support her. Little Ginseng stayed close to Liu Shi, afraid she might feel unwell again, while looking at Qi Ming.

Before Ye Jiao could speak, Qi Ming had already had someone quickly close the main gate, then ran to Liu Shi and, lifting his robe hem, knelt straight down on the ground!

The Qi family's front courtyard used stone slabs, and when he knelt there was a dull sound that hurt just to hear.

But Qi Ming's expression didn't change. He directly took his arm out of the suspended cloth and said to Liu Shi: "Mother, your son isn't injured. I'm perfectly fine." As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeve to show Liu Shi his thin little arm.

Liu Shi first anxiously said: "Quickly put your sleeve down, don't catch cold." But immediately she frowned again: "Third Son, if you're fine, why were you carrying your arm like that?"

Qi Ming hesitated, not explaining the reason, just saying: "I had planned to take it off at the gate so Father and Mother wouldn't worry, but I didn't expect..."

Nanny Liu glanced at Liu Shi and said: "Madam, I didn't see clearly and came back talking nonsense. I truly deserve punishment."

"It has nothing to do with you. Usually when Third Son comes home I have you wait at the lane entrance. What fault is there?" Liu Shi spoke while looking at Qi Ming.

Qi Ming immediately said: "It's all your son's fault. I'll go kneel now." After speaking, he got up from the ground to leave.

But Liu Shi reached out and stopped him. After all, she felt sorry for her son: "Just now Mother misunderstood. Now that nothing's wrong, that's best..."

"Go kneel." At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned to see Qi Yun in his thick fur coat.

Qi Yun had originally been discussing new shop matters with Manager Song when he heard that Liu Shi had gone to the front courtyard with a pale face. He came out to see and witnessed this scene from afar.

Liu Shi loved her youngest son, but Qi Yun wasn't going to let him off so easily.

Walking forward slowly, Qi Yun looked at Tie Zi with a cold expression: "Go get Third Brother a cloak." Then Qi Yun looked at Qi Ming: "Kneel for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, then get up. Go."

Qi Ming said nothing and ran to the side, kneeling down properly.

Liu Shi had just been frightened by suddenly hearing Qi Ming was hurt, but now seeing he was fine, she felt much better physically. She said to Qi Yun: "Second Son, he just returned. Why punish him?"

Qi Yun replied gently to Liu Shi: "Mother, regardless of the reason, coming home looking like this and frightening the family is wrong. Having him kneel will help him remember."

Liu Shi knew what Qi Yun said made sense, but she still looked at Qi Ming kneeling so properly with distress, instructing: "Find him a thick cloak. Don't let him freeze."

Qi Yun nodded in agreement, and only then did Liu Shi have Nanny Liu help her back inside.

Ye Jiao hadn't spoken the whole time. Seeing Liu Shi leave, she quietly said to Qi Yun: "It's so cold, and Third Brother is still young. Won't kneeling for an incense stick make him sick?"

Qi Yun looked at Ye Jiao and said softly: "What, have you forgotten he said your writing was ugly?"

If Qi Yun hadn't brought it up, Ye Jiao would have forgotten about it long ago.

Now that he mentioned it, she didn't care much: "Third Brother just told the truth. Besides, my writing looks much better now."

Qi Yun silently looked at his wife and decided not to shatter her self-deception.

Those round, plump characters really had nothing to do with looking good.

But Qi Yun hadn't really intended to make Qi Ming kneel for a full incense stick. When lighting the incense, Qi Yun quietly turned his back and broke off a section, then placed it in a breezy spot to light. At most it would burn out in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Ye Jiao didn't stay to watch but said quietly: "Husband, I want to go see Mother again."

Qi Yun patted her hand: "Go ahead."

"Husband, don't let yourself get blown by the wind either. Be careful."

"Alright, I understand."

After seeing Ye Jiao leave, Qi Yun walked to Qi Ming and lowered his head: "Tell the truth."

In this household, Qi Ming wasn't afraid of anyone except Qi Yun.

As long as his second brother said something, Qi Ming would never resist at all. Now he confessed honestly: "Second Brother, the academy teacher recommended me for the county examination."

Qi Yun raised an eyebrow, not feeling surprised.

The current imperial examination system was somewhat different from previous dynasties. After students entered school, besides needing basic qualifications to obtain county examination eligibility, they also needed a guarantor. Since the requirements for this guarantor were very strict, a new path was opened: having academies recommend students.

It was natural for Qi Ming to get this quota. He was the best student at the academy, a young genius who deserved to get county examination eligibility.

But Qi Yun didn't speak, just looked at Qi Ming.

So Qi Ming continued: "But two days before I was to return, someone pushed me from behind and I almost rolled down a hillside."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun frowned tightly.

Since Qi Ming spoke so clearly, Qi Yun knew this wouldn't be an accident. Someone must have done it deliberately for that quota on Qi Ming.

Others might not believe that scholarly students could do such conscienceless things, but Qi Yun unconditionally believed his third brother. Moreover, in this world, literate people with many schemes were exactly the type to kill without shedding blood.

Qi Yun couldn't help reaching out to rub Qi Ming's head: "Were you hurt anywhere?"

Qi Ming smiled at Qi Yun and replied obediently: "No, that slope was gentle, and below there happened to be a martial artist and a young gentleman in fine clothes passing by. The martial artist saw me falling and flew up to catch me, so I didn't really get bumped or bruised."

Qi Yun breathed a sigh of relief, his voice becoming gentler: "After not seeing you for so long, your tongue has become much more nimble. You owe that person a debt of gratitude. Did you thank him properly?"

"I wanted to give him silver, but he wouldn't take it. I also asked his name. He said his surname was Ye, and that young gentleman just said he was the third son, telling me to call him Third Young Master. Oh right, this Third Young Master was extremely talented. I exchanged several couplets with him, and he also wrote beautiful calligraphy..."

"Get to the point." Hearing Qi Ming getting more excited, Qi Yun frowned slightly.

"Oh." Qi Ming immediately became obedient and continued: "But when I went back to see who had pushed me, there was already no one above. I thought that without catching them in the act, even reporting to officials might not lead to results, so I came up with this method. Second Brother, please don't tell Mother about this. She'd probably be terrified."

Qi Yun picked up the thread: "You wanted to pretend your arm was broken, let others know that even if you got the quota you couldn't take the exam, then wait to see who harmed you?"

Qi Ming answered frankly: "Originally only the teacher and I knew about the recommendation. I also didn't alert anyone about being pushed. I just told the teacher that whoever went to him to deliberately reveal news about my injury would be the one who pushed me down."

Hearing this, Qi Yun said indifferently: "It's also possible others might go tell the teacher. You might frame the wrong person."

Qi Ming looked up, his still somewhat youthful face showing determination: "Whoever goes to tell the teacher about this doesn't want to see me do well. I want to see who's waiting to take advantage when I'm down."

Qi Yun neither agreed nor disagreed, just asking: "What will you do after you know who it is?"

Qi Ming narrowed his eyes, his expression exactly like Qi Yun's: "I won't let them have an easy time."

If it had been the straightforward Elder Brother Qi hearing this, he probably would have grabbed Qi Ming for a good lecture about not causing trouble.

But Qi Yun patted Qi Ming's head and said calmly: "Strike at the vital point when killing a snake. When you act, be decisive. You're not young anymore and should have your own judgment. Don't be afraid of causing problems. Handle things with proper measure. As long as you don't break the law, we'll help you with everything else."

Hearing this, Qi Ming's face broke into a smile as he nodded at Qi Yun.

At this moment Tie Zi also came with a cloak. Qi Yun watched Qi Ming put it on before turning back to his own courtyard.

After a cup of tea's time, Qi Yun called Tie Zi into the room and asked: "Did Third Brother go back by himself?"

"Yes, I gave Third Young Master the thickest cloak. Wrapped up and kneeling, it was like kneeling on a cushion. The incense burned very quickly. Third Young Master went back by himself and seemed fine." Tie Zi pointed to his own knee to show Qi Ming was alright.

Qi Yun nodded. At this moment, Doctor Li's voice came from outside.

After Doctor Li arrived, he first went to Liu Shi's courtyard. Liu Shi had called him thinking Qi Ming was hurt, but now that Qi Ming was perfectly fine, she couldn't let Doctor Li come for nothing. So Liu Shi had him come to her second son to check his pulse.

Qi Yun was already used to the consultation routine and extended his arm on the soft cushion.

Doctor Li closed his eyes slightly, feeling the pulse with his fingertips, then opened his eyes to carefully observe Qi Yun's complexion before smiling: "Second Young Master's health has improved greatly. You should continue taking the medicine on schedule, but what Madam asked me about before still needs to wait."

This puzzled Qi Yun: "What did Mother ask about?"

With only the two of them in the room, Doctor Li spoke quite frankly: "Matters of offspring." He smiled warmly: "It's understandable that Madam wants to hold grandchildren, but regarding marital relations, Second Young Master shouldn't be too hasty. It's better to take everything gradually."

Qi Yun hadn't expected Doctor Li to speak so directly. Even with his steady temperament, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

After coughing twice, Qi Yun had originally wanted to skip this topic, but the words came to his lips and he swallowed them back, instead asking: "When will it be alright?"

Doctor Li estimated in his mind: "I'll come check Second Young Master's pulse again after New Year. We'll see then."

Qi Yun nodded and seriously saw Doctor Li off, but when he closed the door, he felt his ears burning.

Just then, the door was pushed open again.

Ye Jiao stepped through the door and immediately saw Qi Yun's red ears, making an "oh" sound.

Qi Yun was afraid she'd ask and quickly said: "How is Mother?"

Ye Jiao's face showed a smile: "She's fine now. She just ate a bowl of plain noodles."

Qi Yun also relaxed and nodded, raising his hand for Ye Jiao to come sit: "These are freshly made red bean cakes. Come try them, Jiao Niang."

Ye Jiao indeed forgot what she had wanted to ask and happily went to wash her hands before sitting across from Qi Yun.

Second Young Master Qi thought to himself that indeed, with Ye Jiao, there was nothing that couldn't be solved by a red bean cake.

Seeing Second Young Master Qi smiling, Ye Jiao blinked: "Husband, what are you smiling about?" She reached up to wipe her cheek, thinking she had gotten food on her face.

Qi Yun gently grasped her wrist, then clasped Ye Jiao's hand, saying softly: "Nothing. Just thinking that New Year is coming soon. That's nice."

Ye Jiao also smiled: "Yes, I just heard Mother say this year's New Year will be well-prepared, with lots of firecrackers bought..." Little Ginseng remembered the dragon and lion dances from when the new shop opened, and couldn't help asking: "Will there be lions too?"

Qi Yun said: "There will be dragon dances on the fifteenth day of the first month. I'll take you to see them then."

Ye Jiao tilted her head: "The fifteenth day of the first month?"

"Yes, the Lantern Festival."

Ye Jiao immediately nodded, thinking to herself that being human was wonderful, you could even eat sweet dumplings during festivals.

Qi Yun was thinking that this coming Spring Festival would probably be the one he'd looked forward to most in all these years.