Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 95

When Ye Jiao and Fang Shi came out, they saw two Qi family carriages.

One was the one they had arrived in, and the other had just come.

Qi Yun stood beside the carriage in a brocade robe and black cloak. Anyone who saw him would praise his elegant bearing.

Only Ye Jiao stepped forward and took Qi Yun's hand: "Why are you dressed so lightly? What if you catch cold?"

Qi Yun actually didn't feel cold. The reason he wasn't wearing his fur coat was that while it was warm and looked imposing, it appeared somewhat bulky.

Qi Yun was good-looking so he wasn't afraid, but if someone with a slightly rougher appearance wore it, wrapped in fur, they'd look like a bear.

Usually he didn't care about clothes and appearance. For Second Young Master Qi, for many years in the past he had worried about life and death, pale as a ghost with dark circles under his eyes. What clothes he wore didn't matter.

But today he was picking up Ye Jiao, and with so many people watching, Qi Yun naturally wanted to make himself look good, which would also earn face for his wife.

However, Qi Yun wouldn't say this directly. He just smiled and lowered his head to his wife: "The fur coat is in the carriage. I just wanted to come out early to see you, so I came down to wait."

Watching from the side, Fang Shi couldn't help but smile: "Second Brother and younger sister-in-law have such a good relationship. I heard from younger sister-in-law that you're going to see the lanterns together?"

After bowing to Fang Shi, Qi Yun said: "Yes, sister-in-law, we'll go shortly."

"That's good. You can take the larger carriage, it's more stable. I need to hurry home, Little Shi Tou is waiting for me. I'll take the smaller, lighter one."

But Qi Yun said: "Sister-in-law should take the larger one."

Fang Shi didn't mind these things and waved her hand: "We're family, what's there to fuss about? A smaller carriage won't make me lose weight." She thought to herself that it would be good if it did make her lose weight.

Seeing Fang Shi like this, Qi Yun didn't insist. He had the fur coat brought down from the carriage, then saw Fang Shi off in her carriage before helping Ye Jiao into the one they had come in.

But when Ye Jiao glanced at the driver, she couldn't help but be startled: "Big Brother, why is it you?"

Ye Ping Rong adjusted the warm hat on his head and smiled at Ye Jiao: "I happen to be going to see the lanterns too, same route as you. Since I have nothing else to do, driving the carriage is like stretching my muscles."

Little Ginseng couldn't help but look at Qi Yun. Second Young Master Qi said: "Big Brother is a guest, how can we let you drive the carriage? Tie Zi, come here."

"No need, let me do it." But Ye Ping Rong pulled on the reins and turned to look at Ye Jiao, his voice carrying emotion: "From childhood to now, I've never been able to do anything for my little sister. Driving the carriage now can fulfill something in my heart."

Ye Jiao didn't understand these things, but hearing the warmth in Ye Ping Rong's voice when he said this, Little Ginseng felt somewhat at a loss and gripped Qi Yun's sleeve tighter, shaking it.

Though Qi Yun knew it wasn't proper etiquette, since Ye Ping Rong insisted so strongly, he didn't say more. After thanking him with Ye Jiao, he lifted the curtain and sat in the carriage near the door so he could talk with Ye Ping Rong.

When the carriage started moving, Ye Jiao asked curiously through the curtain: "Big Brother, why did you think of going to see the lanterns?"

Ye Ping Rong was quiet for a while, then said: "I want to buy a beautiful one to give to someone."

"Give to whom?"

Another silence, then Ye Ping Rong's voice was somewhat halting: "Give to... Hua Ning." As if afraid they'd misunderstand, Ye Ping Rong quickly explained: "Hua Ning said the flower lanterns here are famous and she wants to see them very much, so she asked me to bring one back for her."

Ye Jiao agreed and didn't ask more, just thought for a while before quietly asking Qi Yun: "Husband, am I about to have a sister-in-law?"

Qi Yun really wanted to say that they were sitting close together, so even if Ye Jiao lowered her voice, Ye Ping Rong outside could still hear.

But Qi Yun didn't answer immediately. He just smiled and kissed her forehead, knowing in his heart that his wife's words would probably come true.

Princess Hua Ning had grown up with fine clothes and food, having whatever she wanted. Even if the flower lanterns here were famous, how could they compare to the splendor of the capital?

This was just Hua Ning making an excuse for Ye Ping Rong to bring her something.

But Ye Ping Rong was really going to buy one, which meant this had gone from one-sided love to mutual affection. Wouldn't that work out?

But he couldn't let his wife know these things yet. After all, this was a major marriage matter, and before it was truly settled, others shouldn't say anything.

But before Qi Yun could think of what to say to Ye Jiao to handle this matter, he heard a horse's neigh from outside.

The carriage stopped abruptly. Ye Ping Rong shouted to control the horse and keep it from panicking. Then several low voices came from outside.

Like something being thrown hard to the ground, thud thud.

This long street had few pedestrians, and it was still some distance from the front lantern viewing area. It was dark outside, and Ye Jiao vaguely sensed danger.

Her first action was to grab Qi Yun, wanting to protect her husband.

But Qi Yun instead pulled Ye Jiao behind him with one hand, saying "Don't come out," then Second Young Master Qi climbed out of the carriage.

Ye Jiao sat in the carriage, wanting to protect her husband, but Qi Yun had told her not to go out. Little Ginseng was used to listening to Qi Yun, so she sat obediently, straining her ears to listen to the sounds outside.

As soon as Qi Yun got off the carriage, he saw several people apparently trying to stab the horse's legs with knives.

But before they could succeed, two attendants who had been following Ye Ping Rong from the shadows moved cleanly forward. Two against five, they didn't fall behind at all, with every punch hitting flesh, each blow striking painful spots.

Ye Ping Rong said nothing, just frowned slightly and ordered: "Leave one conscious. I want to question him."

The two attendants agreed, chose one who looked most cowardly to pin down, and dislocated his jaw to prevent him from hiding poison in his mouth or biting his tongue to commit suicide. They knocked out the others and threw them aside.

When Ye Ping Rong lifted up the one with the dislocated jaw, he was already stupid.

Whether from fright or pain was unclear.

Then Ye Ping Rong checked that there was no poison hidden in his mouth, used one hand to lift him and the other to reset his jaw, then sternly demanded: "Speak! Who sent you!"

Actually, Ye Ping Rong's mind had already played out several scenarios.

Were they targeting him or Third Prince?

If targeting Third Prince, they should leave one alive and definitely couldn't let the others live.

But at this critical moment, who would really dare risk angering the emperor to make such a move?

Before Ye Ping Rong could figure it out, he heard the man say tremblingly: "I'm... I'm a highway robber..."

Ye Ping Rong seemed to have expected he'd say this, raising an eyebrow: "Good then. I'll break your hands and feet and call it ridding the people of a menace." He was about to strike.

The man was scared and shrieked: "It was the Young Mistress who sent me, the County Magistrate's Young Mistress! You'd better let me go, or else..."

Perhaps finding him too noisy, Ye Ping Rong directly struck the back of his neck and knocked him unconscious.

Frowning slightly, Ye Ping Rong looked at Qi Yun: "The County Magistrate's family... do you know them?"

Qi Yun shook his head, then nodded: "If it's their Young Mistress, Madam Lin, I might know her."

"A grudge?"

"Something like that."

Ye Ping Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, apparently making calculations.

Qi Yun also said nothing, coldness in his eyes.

Just then, a man dressed as a constable in the shadows saw Ye Ping Rong's face and suddenly turned pale, turning to run.

He ran extremely fast, even falling twice on the way and hurting his legs, but didn't dare stop, running straight toward the County Magistrate's residence.

As soon as he entered, he shouted: "Something terrible has happened!"

This shout nearly made the County Magistrate drop his teacup.

Madam Gongsun beside him quickly patted his back, then seeing the constable run in, she sternly said: "What are you yelling about? During New Year, saying 'something terrible,' who gave you such boldness!"

Usually, after such a scolding, the constable would have smiled apologetically and spoken softly, but today he was drenched in sweat, clearly terrified, his legs somewhat lame, and as soon as he reached the hall he knelt on the ground.

Not bothering to make excuses, the constable blurted out: "The men who went are all hurt, this matter failed!"

But as soon as he said this, the constable realized that not only was Madam Lin in the hall, but also the County Magistrate and Madam Gongsun.

The County Magistrate had just wanted to gather the whole family early to chat while there was still time, but was disrupted like this. His front was soaked with tea, so how could he not be angry?

Slamming the table, the County Magistrate shouted: "Explain yourself clearly! What succeeded or failed? If you're just coming here to make wild accusations, I'll dismiss you from your post after New Year!"

Hearing this, Madam Lin quickly signaled the constable with her eyes.

She knew clearly that she wasn't particularly favored in her husband's family now. On the contrary, her in-laws always looked down on her and her family always coming to find her.

Madam Lin was afraid this constable would say something wrong and annoy her in-laws, making her position in this family even more precarious.

But the constable didn't look at her, or rather, had no time to look at her.

He had only wanted to get some reward money from Madam Lin, and besides, this matter was for servants to do. He thought that if Madam Lin's people really caused trouble, he'd just go clean up and save people, not wanting to manage anything else.

But when he saw that driver's face, he was completely terrified and hurried back.

Not bothering to get up, the constable said hoarsely: "County Magistrate, something terrible has happened. The Young Mistress had people cause trouble for a family's womenfolk, but they beat our people up badly."

Hearing this, the County Magistrate was first startled, then turned to glare at Madam Lin, but with outsiders present, he didn't directly scold her. Instead he said: "It's fine. Whoever was hurt, give me a name. I'll have money sent over so they can recover before returning to work."

The constable shuddered and said with a pale face: "I'm afraid... it's not just a matter of recovering from injuries."

The County Magistrate frowned: "What, did someone die?"

The constable's face turned another shade paler: "No one died, everyone's alive and well, but the one who beat them, you've met him before, sir."

"Who?"

"The... the one who was bothered by Ding Ba in the city before... that lord..."

As soon as the constable finished speaking, the County Magistrate dropped his teacup, his eyes went black, and he actually fell backward off his chair!

Madam Gongsun hurried to help him up. Madam Lin was also startled but didn't dare approach.

After all, Madam Lin's horizons weren't high. All she could see was a small area, and the highest official she'd ever seen was her father-in-law. Though she now heard there was some "lord," she didn't know how important this lord was to frighten her father-in-law into fainting.

But she knew to be afraid too, her fingers trembling, not daring to move.

Fortunately, the County Magistrate soon regained consciousness. Though his head was dizzy, he still supported himself on Madam Gongsun and stood up, his voice trembling: "Are you sure you saw clearly? It was really that lord from the city?"

The constable nodded with a pale face: "Yes, I saw clearly. It was him."

The County Magistrate stamped his foot angrily: "Then why don't you hurry and stop them? We can't let them come here!"

Seeing this, the constable said with a mournful face: "Sir, they've already gone, and they've already been beaten by that lord. One with a loose tongue got scared and told the truth, naming the Young Mistress as the one who sent them. I was far away so I could run back, otherwise I'd probably be lying in the street too."

At these words, the County Magistrate completely fainted, and chaos erupted.

But the County Magistrate couldn't hear his family's shouting around him. Only one sentence echoed in his head:

It's over, completely over!

But on the long street, the scene wasn't as tragic as the constable described.

The attendants Ye Ping Rong brought were very efficient, knocking people down and throwing them aside in a few moves. Though they saw a man dressed as a constable run away, they didn't pursue him, just questioning the mastermind and then ignoring them.

Sitting in the carriage, Ye Jiao hadn't actually heard the outside commotion clearly. She only heard the horse neigh twice and the carriage stop briefly, but soon everything became quiet again.

However, Ye Jiao still lifted the curtain and poked her head out: "Big Brother, what happened?"

Ye Ping Rong and Qi Yun exchanged glances, tacitly deciding not to tell Ye Jiao about this.

Both men's eyes showed understanding, each having their own calculations, but neither spoke.

However, both wore faint smiles and wouldn't reveal anything to Ye Jiao.

After Qi Yun got back in the carriage, Ye Ping Rong said: "It's nothing. Just saw some rats that startled the horse. Now the rats are all driven away, it's fine."

Ye Jiao was somewhat surprised and turned to look at Qi Yun: "What kind of rats could startle a horse?"

Qi Yun answered seriously: "Must have been big rats."

Ye Jiao thought about it and nodded: "Yes, husband is right." If they weren't big, why would they startle the horse?

Qi Yun pulled her to lower the curtain and smiled: "Alright, sit down. We still need to go buy lanterns later."

Ye Jiao sat back in Qi Yun's embrace, reaching around his waist with a bright smile and nodding.

These brilliant flower lanterns lit up the night sky for several days, not ending until after the Lantern Festival.

Ye Jiao went out with Qi Yun from time to time. Sometimes Ye Ping Rong came along, sometimes not, but whenever he came he always remembered to buy small trinkets.

Even without him saying so, Ye Jiao felt these were all bought for Hua Ning.

Little Ginseng felt she was really going to have a sister-in-law.

After the Lantern Festival, when things calmed down and the house wasn't as busy with visitors as during New Year, life became much quieter.

With free time, Dong Shi often brought Hu Zi to play with Xu Bao. The two children were close in age, and the premature Hu Zi had now grown sturdy too. When the two babies got together, whatever they did was particularly interesting.

Since both mothers enjoyed entertaining them, the two little chubby ones always found new pleasures when together.

"Children are so lively." Dong Shi watched the two little chubby ones playing ball together, her smile especially sincere.

Ye Jiao nodded too and said gently: "Fortunately you can always bring Hu Zi over, otherwise Xu Bao would probably be bored."

Dong Shi was surprised: "What about Little Shi Tou from the eldest Young Master's family?"

"Little Shi Tou has been memorizing texts recently and absolutely refuses to come to my courtyard. I see he's particularly eager to study hard." Ye Jiao said while playing with the tassel in her hands.

Dong Shi laughed: "That's good, he's future top scholar material." After praising someone else's child, Dong Shi looked around, then said quietly: "Jiao Niang, if anyone sends invitations recently, don't accept them. I feel something's going to happen. It's better to stay home and avoid getting involved in trouble."

Ye Jiao was startled: "Why?"

Dong Shi looked around again, then lowered her voice: "I heard the County Magistrate's family is in chaos. During New Year, the County Magistrate called for doctors several times. When he got a little better, for some reason he insisted on having his son divorce Madam Lin who had just entered the family last year. But Madam Lin absolutely refused, crying and making a fuss every day, even getting her family to come and cause trouble. Anyway, it's complete chaos. Just these past two days, several of the Lin family shops have closed. I think the Lin family is going to be ruined."