Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 93

As soon as they entered the small room, Manager Song ran over to pull out a chair for Qi Yun, letting him sit down.

Qi Yun took off his fur coat and sat down. Tie Zi saw Manager Song doing his job and didn't dare idle, running to make the charcoal brazier warmer.

After Qi Yun sat down, Manager Song immediately said: "Master, last night I received a message by carrier pigeon saying the merchant caravan had been going smoothly, but just after leaving the Northern Di Kingdom, they were surrounded by a group of deserters!"

Deserters?

Qi Yun's brow furrowed sharply as he understood why Manager Song was so anxious.

Actually, before forming the merchant caravan, Qi Yun had done considerable research and naturally knew the various troubles a caravan might encounter.

They might face extortion or bandits, all of which were possible.

The reason for preparing ample silver for the caravan was to let them make payments along the way. Many highway robbers only wanted money, and giving them silver would let the caravan pass through safely. This wasn't particularly serious.

But deserters were different.

These people were escapees from battlefields, carrying swords and weapons, unable to return because capture meant death, yet afraid to go to Di-Rong territory for fear of being killed, so they could only turn to banditry.

But they differed from ordinary bandits. Regular mountain bandits would release people for money, but escaping from deserters was very difficult.

These were desperate men who couldn't be delayed long.

Qi Yun sat there with a deeply furrowed brow, seemingly thinking of countermeasures, but in Manager Song's mind, this matter was already finished.

Many merchant caravans had actually encountered such deserters, and not one had escaped.

Even large caravans were like this, and their own caravan didn't have many people, making escape even more difficult.

It was over, completely over.

The more Manager Song thought about it, the more heartbroken he became. His legs went weak and he actually sat down on the ground.

Tie Zi hurried to help him up, and Qi Yun also stood to assist, but as he rose, he saw a vague figure through the window.

The small room's windows weren't thickly papered, unlike bedrooms that needed thick paper and sometimes cloth coverings to block wind. The small room's windows were relatively transparent, and though the outside scene wasn't clear, one could see general outlines.

In the courtyard, there was a blurry figure, tall in stature and upright in bearing, much larger than ordinary people.

In the Qi family, there was currently only one person who was so tall and strong.

Qi Yun immediately stood up, not bothering to put on his fur coat, walked over and opened the small room's door.

Ye Ping Rong had wanted to come talk with Ye Jiao, but knowing it was still early and afraid of disturbing her, he stood in the garden waiting. Suddenly hearing movement nearby, he turned his head and saw his brother-in-law standing at the small room's door.

Probably because of his recently increased good feelings toward the Qi family, Ye Ping Rong found Qi Yun pleasing to look at everywhere, smiling as he said: "Brother-in-law, Happy New Year..."

But before he could finish, Qi Yun said: "Big Brother, there's urgent business. Please come in to talk."

This was the first time Ye Ping Rong had seen the usually calm Qi Yun so anxious. This first stunned him, then he straightened his expression, asked no questions, and walked directly inside.

After closing the door, Qi Yun said: "Has Prince Duan given any instructions regarding the merchant caravan?"

Hearing it was about the caravan, Ye Ping Rong immediately became serious.

Having always served at Chu Chengyun's side, he naturally knew how much Chu Chengyun valued the merchant caravan, so he said: "The prince has always kept the caravan in mind, but there have been no specific instructions. Second Brother, is there some problem?"

Qi Yun didn't ask any more unnecessary questions. He and Ye Ping Rong were now close as family, with nothing to hide.

However, Qi Yun didn't speak himself but looked toward Manager Song, who immediately repeated what he'd said earlier.

Hearing about deserters, Ye Ping Rong's expression first relaxed, but then his brow furrowed again.

Qi Yun couldn't help but look at him: "What did you think of?"

Ye Ping Rong didn't hide anything, saying directly: "I've been at the border for many years. Besides fighting, I often had to undertake escort duties and got to know many foreigners, including some friends. If it were mountain bandits, who usually have large numbers, I might not have many solutions, but if it's deserters with smaller numbers, I can naturally find people to handle it. It's not difficult, but..."

"But what?"

"From here to beyond the pass is at least 1,000 li. If we want to send a message there, even if we ran horses to death, it would take many days, and I really don't know if we can make it in time."

This worry of Ye Ping Rong's was indeed real. 1,000 li sounded like just four words, but it wasn't easily traversed.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Ye Ping Rong saw Qi Yun's face show a slightly more relaxed expression.

This surprised Ye Ping Rong: "Brother-in-law, don't underestimate the viciousness of those deserters. If we can't send the message quickly, it will be difficult to handle."

Qi Yun patted his arm: "It's fine. You just write, remembering to write small characters. I have my own way to send the letter." Then Qi Yun said to Manager Song: "The caravan was surrounded after leaving the Northern Di Kingdom, correct?"

Manager Song agreed: "Yes."

Qi Yun immediately straightened up: "Tie Zi, go get the fastest pigeons from the back courtyard. Hurry."

Tie Zi didn't even bother to respond, turning and running out the door.

Ye Ping Rong had already finished writing his personal letter, sealed it with his stamp, and handed it to Qi Yun, then asked: "Brother-in-law, how do you plan to send it out?"

Since Tie Zi hadn't returned yet, Qi Yun had time to explain: "From when I began planning the merchant caravan, I spent a fortune buying dozens of pigeons, all well-trained. For a 1,000 li journey, pigeons only need one day."

Ye Ping Rong also knew carrier pigeons were useful, especially on battlefields where situations were urgent and couldn't wait. Regular horses simply couldn't make it in time, so people would use pigeons for communication.

But Ye Ping Rong's furrowed brow didn't smooth out: "Carrier pigeons can only return home, they can't be released randomly. Even if you release pigeons, if they can't find the caravan's location, it's useless."

Qi Yun was taking a bamboo tube from a nearby box, carefully rolling the letter and stuffing it inside, saying as he worked: "My pigeons know the way and are very accurate."

Ye Ping Rong didn't understand: "What?"

Qi Yun handled the bamboo tube very carefully, his voice steady but speaking extremely fast: "I bought pigeons at great cost that could go to several towns near the border, training them regularly to ensure they could navigate. They can travel back and forth quickly."

Ye Ping Rong hurried to say: "Even if we can use carrier pigeons to send messages there, who can receive them once they're beyond the pass?"

Qi Yun looked at him, his lips curving slightly: "Before the caravan left, I told them to leave people waiting for messages at every location. If there's no message, they'll return on their own after one year."

...What?

Stuffing another letter into a bamboo tube, Qi Yun sealed it and handed it to Tie Zi.

After Tie Zi tied the bamboo tube to the pigeon's leg, Qi Yun continued: "Since the caravan just left the Northern Di Kingdom, there must be our people in the Northern Di Kingdom. Don't worry, he'll know what to do."

At these words, Ye Ping Rong was completely speechless.

After Qi Yun released the carrier pigeon, Ye Ping Rong finally understood what Qi Yun intended to do and what preparations this person needed to make.

Buying pigeons at great cost, training them long-term, leaving people at border towns early, and carefully placing his people at every location they'd pass through...

Everything interlocked, as if he'd known trouble would arise.

Ye Ping Rong couldn't help but look at Qi Yun, asking quietly: "Second Brother, how did you think of so much?"

Qi Yun looked at him and smiled: "Since I wanted to accomplish something, I had to consider carefully and be prepared for everything. This isn't difficult."

Though Qi Yun spoke lightly, Ye Ping Rong thought over and over about what Qi Yun had done, increasingly feeling this person was thoroughly thoughtful.

Preventing problems before they occurred was the most difficult thing.

Where did his brother-in-law get such an exquisite mind...

Ye Ping Rong suddenly wondered if the praise Chu Chengyun always gave him was also something Qi Yun had deliberately shown his prince.

But before Ye Ping Rong could figure it out, Qi Yun handed the brush back to him: "Big Brother, write a few more letters just in case. We'll release one every half hour." Qi Yun's voice paused, carrying some sighs: "This caravan is also something the prince cares about. I don't want anything to go wrong, since they're carrying more than just some silver."

...Right, his brother-in-law was such a person who cared about the country and people. Having such thoughtfulness and preparation was good, wasn't it?

Ye Ping Rong immediately took Qi Yun's brush, sat down, and wrote several more personal letters to give him.

On the other side, Ye Jiao had already coaxed Xu Bao to sleep.

Ye Jiao knew about the commotion in the small room. After feeding Xu Bao, she dressed properly, put on her cloak, and went out to tend her medicinal flowers, naturally able to see pigeon after pigeon flying into the sky.

However, Ye Jiao only glanced once and didn't pay attention, turning her head to focus on the medicinal flowers in her hands.

At this moment, a servant boy came to the courtyard gate. Little Su went to speak with him briefly before returning, bowing to Ye Jiao: "Second Young Mistress, a Madam Gongsun sent a card inviting Second Young Mistress to tea in a few days."

Ye Jiao didn't know any Madam Gongsun, but since Qi Yun's business was growing larger, Ye Jiao often received invitations to go out. This time she thought she'd take it first and ask her husband when he returned.

Then Ye Jiao took the card, put down her small hoe, and went back inside.

Seeing Xu Bao still sleeping, Ye Jiao placed the card on the table, took out a flower rope, and began braiding to pass time.

When Qi Yun returned, he saw his wife leaning against the cushions on the couch, head slightly lowered in the spilling sunlight, a picture of peaceful contentment.

His recently tense mood instantly calmed, and Qi Yun's expression finally softened.

Seeing him enter, Ye Jiao smiled, put down what she was holding, stood up, and took Qi Yun's hand: "Husband, you're back. Are you hungry?"

Qi Yun didn't dare say he hadn't eaten breakfast yet, only saying: "I'm hungry." Then he called back: "Tie Zi, have the small kitchen set the table."

Ye Jiao pulled him to sit on the couch. Qi Yun first looked at the soundly sleeping Xu Bao, then clasped Ye Jiao's hand in return, sitting beside her and letting Ye Jiao lean into his embrace.

Little Ginseng let him hold her, smiling as she picked up a piece of red bean cake and fed it to him. After he opened his mouth and ate it, she said: "Just now a Madam Gongsun came to give me a card, inviting me to tea."

Hearing this, Qi Yun thought carefully and said: "There aren't many people surnamed Gongsun in this city. Someone who could send a card must be the County Magistrate's wife."

The County Magistrate was eighth rank, not a high official, but handled many matters.

In previous years, the County Magistrate would also invite Fang Shi for tea, since the Qi family was wealthy and proper social interaction was necessary.

Last year, because Ye Jiao was newly married and Qi Yun's health was poor with rumors he was dying, they didn't send invitations. Now that Second Young Master Qi was much better and the Qi family shops were thriving, receiving this invitation wasn't surprising.

Qi Yun said: "It's good to go take a look. Your sister-in-law will accompany you. The flower lanterns will be especially beautiful then. After the tea gathering ends, I'll come pick you up and we can view the lanterns together."

Ye Jiao nodded in agreement, leaning over to kiss Qi Yun.

A red bean-flavored kiss with a sweet taste.

When their lips parted, Ye Jiao asked softly: "Is everything alright now?"

Qi Yun knew his wife never asked about his shops or merchant caravan matters, but she could see changes in Qi Yun's emotions, probably having caught the worry he hadn't managed to hide when entering.

Tightening his arms around Ye Jiao, Qi Yun said softly: "Everything's fine now." Do what one can, accept what heaven ordains. In any case, there would be results in just a day or two.

Ye Jiao blinked and reached beside her to feel around, then stuffed a peace knot into Qi Yun's hand: "This is for you."

Qi Yun looked down and saw this knot wasn't tied very well. Though his wife had a pure heart, she didn't have nimble hands. Usually braiding ropes and making tassels was just for entertainment, and managing to make it this way was already quite good.

However, this knot had about ten copper coins braided in, and because the coins were strung together, the knot looked much longer.

Qi Yun couldn't help asking: "What is this?"

Ye Jiao hugged him, looking up at him with a smile: "It's for you. All the copper coins on it are ones I bit into while eating dumplings yesterday. I ate all the sweet ones with dates, but I couldn't eat these copper coins, so I hid them in my hand. I came back, washed them clean, and braided them together for you."

She hadn't said anything immediately when she found them because she was afraid Third Brother would see and eat too many again, making himself sick.

But Qi Yun remembered that his wife had only eaten 13 or 14 dumplings in total.

According to this, did every single one have a lucky token...