Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 56

In the following days, the Qi family was peaceful, and Ye Jiao had no idea what storms were brewing outside.

But Little Ginseng never worried unnecessarily, or rather, she had always had inexplicable trust in Qi Yun, always feeling that whatever he wanted to do, he rarely failed to accomplish.

As for how he wanted to do it and what he wanted to do, Ye Jiao didn't care.

It was just that the weather wasn't good during this period, always overcast, neither snowing nor raining.

When the sky was cloudy, Ye Jiao wasn't very inclined to walk around the courtyard. She mostly stayed indoors, burning plenty of charcoal, keeping Stone Sprout Grass by her side to nurture it, and writing to pass the boring time.

Occasionally Mother Liu would also call Fang and Ye Jiao to play pitch-pot or chat about household matters.

But unlike Ye Jiao, Fang was always very worried about Qi Zhao. When chatting, she would always hint around, wanting to ask Ye Jiao what the two brothers were doing.

Ye Jiao knew nothing when asked anything. She truly didn't know, but Fang's constant questioning made Ye Jiao feel stifled. Mother Liu also saw that Fang was worrying unnecessarily, so she told them they didn't need to come over for now and could just stay in their own courtyards.

But probably the happiest was Little Shi Tou. Fang had recently been focused entirely on Qi Zhao, so she didn't have time to constantly manage him.

Finally able to get away from books for a few days, Shi Tou would look around here today and wander there tomorrow. From time to time he would also come to Ye Jiao's courtyard, sweetly calling "Second Aunt" with every word, making the days much more lively.

Qi Yun also didn't go out much. More often he would meet Manager Song and Fang Li in the small room in the courtyard. The rest of the time he spent with Ye Jiao.

Early this morning, Qi Yun stayed in the bedroom looking through account books, but Ye Jiao didn't have time to accompany him. Instead, she was in the courtyard playing with Little Shi Tou.

Shi Tou was young and full of energy. After running around a few times, he broke into a sweat.

Ye Jiao wanted to carry him back inside. Qi Yun silently took out a copy of the "Three Character Classic" and, seeing Shi Tou come in, said to him coolly: "I happen to have time. Shi Tou, come here. Uncle will teach you to recognize characters."

Now whenever Shi Tou heard the words "recognize characters," his head would ache. He immediately stopped clinging to Ye Jiao and instead grabbed the servant woman who had carried him in, shouting: "Shi Tou sleepy sleepy, want to find Mother."

Ye Jiao didn't stop him, just found it strange watching the servant woman carry Shi Tou away: "Usually Shi Tou is happy to stay, but now he especially wants Big Sister-in-law."

She had even had someone find Nanny Liu to make a bowl of almond tofu to give Shi Tou as a snack.

Qi Yun calmly put the "Three Character Classic" back on the bookshelf, his voice gentle: "After all, mother and son are connected at heart."

Ye Jiao thought about it and accepted this explanation.

After finishing lunch, Qi Yun had the table cleared and had Little Su bring out the chess board from the cabinet.

Ye Jiao was holding a bowl of hot almond tofu, eating with complete concentration. Seeing Qi Yun have someone bring out the chess board, she looked at him expectantly: "Playing chess?"

"Yes, playing chess. I taught you last time, connect five in a row." Qi Yun said, placing the chess board on the table.

Speaking of go, Qi Yun was indeed skilled at it. Forget about the amateur Ye Jiao, even the old masters in chess clubs probably couldn't beat him.

But Qi Yun's purpose in playing chess with his wife wasn't to win, just for entertainment.

There weren't many entertainments that could be done indoors, and since Ye Jiao had just learned how to play connect-five last time, it was good to bring it out now to pass time.

He set up the board and placed the two containers of black and white pieces beside them, then sat across from Ye Jiao and reached over to gently pinch her fingertips: "These days keeping you in the residence unable to go out, with the sky so gloomy outside, I was afraid you'd feel stifled. I happen to have time today, so playing a game together would be enjoyable."

Ye Jiao didn't know what "hand conversation" meant, but she was happy to do anything with Qi Yun.

With her husband there, doing anything would be very interesting.

But Little Ginseng wasn't prepared to waste the remaining almond tofu. She moved next to Qi Yun and also picked up the container of black pieces to place in front of herself, sitting together with Qi Yun like this and bringing the spoon to Qi Yun's lips: "Here, eat some."

Qi Yun normally didn't like sweet things. He also knew Ye Jiao liked eating almond tofu, so he didn't plan to take someone else's pleasure.

But just as he was about to say something, Ye Jiao's spoon was already in his mouth.

Slightly fragrant and bitter, with honey-like sweetness, it directly blocked Qi Yun's refusal.

The two sat close together like this, taking turns with the almond tofu, using their free hands to start playing chess.

Connect-five was much simpler than regular go. You just needed five pieces in a row to win.

Qi Yun was good at strategy, thinking ten steps ahead had almost become an unconscious habit. But he encountered someone equally straightforward and unreasonable, charging forward recklessly, doing whatever made her happy, which left Qi Yun somewhat at a loss.

If last time Ye Jiao had just learned and still had some consideration for the rules Qi Yun taught, then today Little Ginseng had completely liberated herself, following her heart completely and playing very freely.

But Ye Jiao had sharp eyes and quick hands, and her mind was agile. She never missed any opportunity to strike.

Originally Qi Yun just wanted to humor Ye Jiao to pass time, which is why he brought out the chess board for a little game. Who knew he would lose two games in a row? Second Young Master Qi finally took it seriously and won five games against Ye Jiao in a row.

Only then did Qi Yun realize he seemed to have won too much...

He had originally intended to make Ye Jiao happy, but now it seemed like his wife had been the one playing with him.

This made Qi Yun look toward Ye Jiao, only to find his wife was enthusiastically cleaning up the chess board, preparing to continue playing another game with him.

Qi Yun asked softly: "Jiao Niang, I'm sorry."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao looked at him: "What's wrong?"

Seeing this, Qi Yun knew Ye Jiao truly didn't care about winning or losing. She was happy whether she won or lost, so he reached out to help her sort the pieces, his voice gentle: "Don't you like winning?"

"I do." Ye Jiao put the bowl aside and smiled at him.

Qi Yun's fingertips paused slightly: "Then why weren't you angry when you lost just now?"

This question struck Little Ginseng as strange. In her view, games had winners and losers. It was normal that she couldn't beat Qi Yun: "Husband is so amazing and also good at chess. Besides, when I win I'm happy, and when husband wins, husband is happy. Isn't that good?"

This made Qi Yun unable to stop smiling. He firmly pressed his lips to Ye Jiao's forehead.

He even made a sound with the kiss.

This made Little Ginseng push him: "I just put on the forehead decoration this morning. Don't kiss it off."

Qi Yun laughingly helped her press it back: "Good, I fixed it."

"Really?"

"It's just a little wrinkled."

"...Hmph!"

After playing around for a while, Qi Yun helped her stick the forehead decoration back on properly before Little Ginseng would give up.

But after all this commotion, Ye Jiao felt her eyelids getting heavy.

She yawned and tugged Qi Yun's sleeve: "I'm tired. Let me sleep for a while. Come lie down with me."

This made Qi Yun look at her more closely, half-embracing her as he stood: "You seem to love sleeping lately."

Previously Ye Jiao also liked afternoon naps, but her naps were more like a carefully cultivated habit. She would lie there looking around for a long time before falling asleep.

But recently Ye Jiao would often say she was tired. When she lay down for a nap at noon, she often wouldn't wake until evening, then sleep normally at night.

Ye Jiao rubbed her eyes: "It's probably because the weather is cold. Sleeping feels quite comfortable."

Qi Yun looked at her. He didn't know if it was because Ye Jiao had been sleeping more lately, but she no longer seemed as thin as before. Although still slighter than ordinary people, when holding her in his arms, she felt much softer...

He couldn't think about this anymore, or it would disturb his wife's sleep.

Qi Yun pulled her to lie down on the bed, covering her with a quilt while saying: "Sleep well. If anything happens, I'll wake you."

Ye Jiao yawned again and nodded, lying on her side and hugging his arm. Before long, she had fallen asleep.

Qi Yun looked at Ye Jiao's sleeping profile and slightly curved his lips.

At this moment, Qi Yun heard someone lightly tapping the window lattice. Lifting the bed curtain, he saw a human shadow at the window.

Looking at the height and way of tying hair, Qi Yun knew it was Tie Zi.

Usually when he and Ye Jiao were together, neither Little Su nor Tie Zi would easily come in to disturb them. To tap the window now probably meant there was urgent business.

Qi Yun slightly turned his body, wanting to get out of bed, but felt his arm was firmly held in the woman's embrace.

His elbow touching something soft made Qi Yun's ears turn red. He immediately stopped moving, afraid of disturbing Ye Jiao.

He wanted to carefully extract his hand, but Little Ginseng was holding tight and also grasping Qi Yun's sleeve. When he moved, Ye Jiao mumbled with her eyes closed.

The man thought for a moment, then simply untied his robe's belt and took off his garment, letting Ye Jiao hold it. After freeing himself, Qi Yun tucked in Ye Jiao's quilt corners before lifting the bed curtain and quietly leaving.

He took his fur coat, closed the inner room door, and only then left the bedroom for the small room.

Tie Zi also followed in and handed Qi Yun a letter: "Second Young Master, a letter from Third Young Master."

Qi Yun took it, opened the letter, pulled out the paper, and carefully read the characters on it.

The message was simple: Cai Twelve had been expelled from the academy. The Cai family had tried to bribe the academy not to report to officials but were thrown out. Soon someone would report this matter to the yamen.

Qi Yun placed the letter on the table and stood up: "Go call Big Brother. Tell him I want to speak with him."

It seemed the arrangements of recent days were finally going to bear fruit.

Tie Zi's face showed a smile. He responded and ran out quickly.

When Ye Jiao woke from her nap, she saw she was hugging a robe in her arms.

Somewhat puzzled, she rubbed her eyes and looked outside, then saw Qi Yun sitting on the soft couch reading.

Meeting Ye Jiao's gaze, Qi Yun smiled: "Tomorrow should be a sunny day. Jiao Niang can go out for a walk."

Ye Jiao blinked, not answering directly, but reaching out her hand toward him.

Qi Yun put down his book, went over to sit sideways on the bed, and held his wife. He heard Ye Jiao's soft voice: "The snake, is it dead?"

The man softly said "Mm."

Ye Jiao leaned against Qi Yun's chest, her face showing a smile.

She knew her husband was the most capable.

The next day was indeed bright and sunny, and the previously sharp weather had also warmed somewhat.

It was a rare clear day, and she could go out again. Ye Jiao took a carriage, planning to visit Dong and also see how the Auspicious Flowers at Dong's place were blooming.

Just as they entered town, Ye Jiao heard people outside discussing:

The Cai family had fallen.