Chapter 25
When Ye Jiao returned, she had already instructed people to bring water in. Since Ye Jiao remembered she wanted to drink pigeon soup in the evening, she thought she'd wash early so it wouldn't interfere with dinner.
Eating was among the top priorities in little ginseng's life.
Making the room warm and having the water ready behind the screen, Ye Jiao planned to pick one type of flower to sprinkle in once Qi Yun brought the basket.
But when she didn't see Qi Yun return for a while, Ye Jiao looked up strangely and found the man standing motionless at the entrance to the inner room, his eyes seemingly looking at her, but when Ye Jiao looked over, he turned to look elsewhere.
His ears were red. Ye Jiao looked at the charcoal brazier, wondering if she had made it too warm.
Letting go of the sash she was holding, Ye Jiao walked over, took the basket from Qi Yun's hands, and looked up at him with a smile: "Husband, go busy yourself with your things."
Qi Yun glanced at her from the corner of his eye, but quickly looked away, saying softly: "I'm finished with my work. I was planning to look at account books in the room. Will that disturb you?"
"No, you read yours."
Ye Jiao didn't suspect anything, carrying the basket behind the screen.
But she soon poked her head out again: "Husband, there's something I bought for you on the table. Try it on and see. The shopkeeper said if it doesn't fit, we can take it back for alterations."
Qi Yun nodded in agreement, and only then did Ye Jiao return behind the screen.
Soon, Qi Yun saw clothes being hung on the screen.
Two thin sashes were also swaying gently.
He didn't dare look anymore, quickly walking to the desk in the outer room, spreading out his account books, taking up his brush, telling himself inwardly to calm down, then taking a deep breath to prepare to look at the accounts.
"Splash."
The sound of rippling water reached his ears, and Qi Yun almost dripped ink from his brush tip onto the account book...
Ye Jiao had no idea that Qi Yun outside was distracted. She selected some flower petals to sprinkle in the bath tub. Soaking in it with the flower fragrance was indeed pleasant. While washing, she didn't forget to ask: "Husband, are you busy?"
Qi Yun had already put down his brush. His mind wasn't on the account books now. If he looked at them and made calculation errors later, that would be troublesome.
Hearing Ye Jiao's words, he replied gently: "Not busy. What is it?"
"I heard them saying outside that there will be a general amnesty. What does general amnesty mean?"
Qi Yun was already used to his wife's habit of liking to ask why, and he happened to enjoy answering questions and solving doubts, so he explained in detail: "General amnesty means that when the Imperial Court encounters good news, they choose to pardon some criminals."
Ye Jiao's movement of splashing water paused slightly, her voice confused: "Pardon them when encountering good news?"
"It depends on the situation. How the situation is handled depends on the current emperor's decision." This was said diplomatically. In plain language, it meant the emperor pardoned when he wanted to pardon, depending on his mood.
Little ginseng thought to herself that human emperors were indeed the most powerful, then asked aloud: "What if there are bad people, really bad ones, like those who came to cause trouble today? Wouldn't it be troublesome to release them all together?"
Hearing this, Qi Yun first smiled, thinking his wife was pure at heart. Encountering a few ruffians made her think they were the worst. He explained: "Our dynasty's general amnesty has ten unpardonable crimes."
These ten unpardonable crimes weren't a general reference, but specifically referred to ten types of evil acts such as treason, rebellion, unfilial behavior, and so on. People who committed these ten evil acts wouldn't be pardoned even if they encountered a general amnesty.
Though it was called a general amnesty, mostly those released were people who had committed minor evils. Those who were greatly treacherous and evil still had to stay properly in prison.
There were quite a few specific legal regulations. Qi Yun had an exceptionally intelligent mind with perfect recall. He remembered every clause clearly. But this topic was somewhat heavy, and Qi Yun didn't want to explain it too clearly to Ye Jiao for fear of frightening her, so he changed the subject: "Jiao Niang, what did you buy for me?" As he spoke, he walked to the table and reached out to open the bundle.
Just opening one corner of the bundle, he could see the black fur showing inside.
Qi Yun's hand movements paused, then he quickly unwrapped the bundle.
The black fur coat lay quietly on the table, feeling extremely good to the touch. But the moment Qi Yun saw it, he suddenly fell silent.
Ye Jiao couldn't see his expression behind the screen, and said with a smile in her voice: "The weather is gradually getting colder. Though you said before you'd go with me to buy things, I don't fear the cold, but you're different. Though the doctor said you don't need to stay cooped up in the room now and should go out and walk more, in this freezing weather, you need to be especially careful with your health. This fur coat should have been bought earlier. Husband, try it on and see if it fits?"
Whether it fits...
Qi Yun wanted to open his mouth to speak, but when he actually opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.
Though he had been staying at home for a long time due to illness, because he managed the account books, he was somewhat aware of market prices.
A fur coat of this quality wouldn't cost little silver.
Though the silver Ye Jiao managed was all given to her by Qi Yun, for Qi Yun, once he gave out this silver, he never thought about taking it back.
This time was the same. When Ye Jiao went out, Qi Yun told her to bring silver so his wife could buy some things. In the end, Ye Jiao brought back a fur coat for him.
Even though this was silver he had earned, it was indescribably heartwarming, as if even his heart had melted.
Qi Yun gently touched the fur coat, picked it up, and put it on with exceptional care. He rubbed his somewhat tight throat, then spoke: "It fits, it fits perfectly. Jiao Niang bought it very well."
Ye Jiao felt happy. It was good that it fit. The town was so far away, going back to alter it would be troublesome. Now it was good, he could wear it as soon as he brought it back. In the future, Qi Yun wouldn't have to always wear that somewhat bulky robe. This winter should be much better.
This made Ye Jiao somewhat proud: "Husband, I think I'm very blessed." Being able to buy clothes that fit with one purchase, little ginseng praised herself without hesitation.
Qi Yun stood there wearing the fur coat, his eyes looking at the screen. Even though he knew he couldn't see the person behind it, he still looked with exceptional focus for quite a while, pressing his slightly sore nose bridge and letting out a soft breath.
His Jiao Niang...
But after putting on this fur coat, Qi Yun was reluctant to take it off, until Ye Jiao finished bathing and came out wearing undergarments, seeing Qi Yun still wrapped in the fur coat.
This startled Ye Jiao. The charcoal fire was burning vigorously in the room, making it warm. Even wearing just undergarments with an outer robe wouldn't make one feel cold, yet Qi Yun was wrapped in the thick fur coat. Wouldn't this make him sweat!
Ye Jiao hurriedly said to him: "Take it off quickly, it's so hot. What if you sweat and catch a chill?"
Qi Yun really wanted to say he didn't sweat easily, but the man didn't deny it. He was indeed hot, plus Ye Jiao had already fastened the buttons of her undergarments, so he opened his arms and let her undress him.
After hanging up the fur coat properly, Ye Jiao took her hand towel to wipe Qi Yun's face: "Are you hot?"
Qi Yun smiled: "Not hot, warm."
This confused little ginseng: "Isn't that the same thing?"
Qi Yun wanted to explain, but after thinking carefully, he couldn't figure out how to explain it, so he held her wrist and said slowly: "It's different, very different."
At this moment, Little Su came to knock on the door, saying dinner was ready and asking if they should set the table.
Ye Jiao immediately agreed, and with her hair loose, she went with Qi Yun to eat.
Dinner was exceptionally rich. Qi Yun also specifically had Tie Zi send some sugar cakes to Father Qi and Qi Zhao, letting Tie Zi and Little Su take the rest to share. Children liked eating sweet things, and these sugar cakes used oil, which they couldn't usually have. Tie Zi and Little Su cheerfully agreed and took them out.
The room was left with only Qi Yun and Ye Jiao. Qi Yun didn't eat much and ate quickly, but after finishing he didn't leave the table. Instead, he smiled and watched Ye Jiao eat.
Little ginseng also particularly favored sugar cakes. Taking a bite, the outside was crispy and the inside soft and fluffy, full of rice fragrance and rich sweet aroma. Though they weren't as refined as those pastries, she just couldn't stop eating them.
Qi Yun used a spoon to put some scrambled eggs in her bowl, then picked up some vegetables with chopsticks, saying: "These sugar cakes are made with sugar water mixed into flour and fried in plenty of oil. Though they're sweet and fragrant, they easily cause internal heat, so eat more vegetables."
Ye Jiao obediently put the vegetables in her mouth, looking at Qi Yun. After swallowing what was in her mouth, she said: "Husband knows so much."
Whether it was daily life matters, outside social customs, or even food menus and recipes, there seemed to be nothing Qi Yun didn't know.
Qi Yun picked up another portion of vegetables for her: "Reading more books naturally leads to knowing these things. If Jiao Niang wants to learn, I'll slowly teach you everything in the future."
Ye Jiao immediately agreed. After finishing the sugar cake in her hand, she felt about seventy percent full.
Though she was sometimes greedy, she never let herself get stuffed, always stopping at just the right point.
After drinking a bowl of pigeon soup, Ye Jiao smiled with complete satisfaction.
After finishing dinner, it should have been time for Qi Yun to go study, but today Qi Yun stayed in the inner room, letting Ye Jiao lean against him while he helped comb her long hair with a comb.
Ye Jiao's hair was extremely well-maintained, like dark clouds, feeling like touching the finest silk.
The two sat by the charcoal brazier. Qi Yun helped her dry her half-wet hair while chatting with her: "Jiao Niang, I really like the fur coat you bought. I'll definitely wear it every day in the future."
Ye Jiao leaned against him somewhat lazily, reaching out to poke Qi Yun's arm: "You'll have to take it off when spring comes, or you'll get overheated."
Qi Yun smiled and nodded.
Ye Jiao yawned and suddenly remembered something: "Husband, that Sun family are not good people. They're very bad."
Actually, Qi Yun didn't usually discuss outside matters with Ye Jiao, but now that this business had grown somewhat, as long as Qi Yun's business was prosperous, there would be quite a few people wanting to curry favor with Ye Jiao. Qi Yun felt it was better to explain some things clearly to Ye Jiao.
Gently rubbing her hair ends, Qi Yun said slowly: "Generally, troublemakers don't announce their own names, and the Sun family runs a money exchange business, which doesn't conflict with us opening a wine shop. It wouldn't be them. Manager Song has already found out it was the Cai family."
Ye Jiao blinked: "Who are they?"
"They also run a wine shop. Nowadays, those in the same trade have the most straightforward hatred." Qi Yun spoke while picking up the comb again to comb her hair.
But his eyes concealed a trace of indifference.
The Cai family was also considered a major wine-selling shop in town, but their methods were somewhat underhanded and crude.
Qi Yun looked down on them. If they could coexist peacefully, that would be fine. Business emphasized getting along with people, but they insisted on coming to provoke trouble, becoming a stumbling stone.
Since they were stumbling blocks, he had to find ways to move them aside. He couldn't always let them stay there being an eyesore.
Ye Jiao felt somewhat depressed: "Husband, what you say makes sense. I actually couldn't see through it."
Qi Yun temporarily stopped thinking about business matters, just curved his mouth corners: "It's not that Jiao Niang couldn't see through it. It's really that bad people have too many schemes. It's their fault."
These words made Ye Jiao happy, and she agreed with a smile.
But in her heart, little ginseng silently remembered every sentence and every word Qi Yun said.
She was innocent, but not stupid. Even if she couldn't understand everything now, she would always learn to understand.
She had to slowly learn how to be human.
But while talking, Ye Jiao felt her eyelids getting heavy.
Usually she wouldn't get sleepy so easily, but today she encountered many things and made a trip to town. Even sitting in an ox cart would make her tired. With this back and forth plus the effort of bathing and drying her hair when she returned, Ye Jiao fell asleep leaning against Qi Yun by the warm charcoal brazier.
Qi Yun sat upright, letting Ye Jiao lean on him, while his hand continued to gradually dry Ye Jiao's hair bit by bit.
After the woman's hair was dry, Qi Yun didn't wake her. He just turned his head to stare at her.
After a long time, the man's voice was soft, carrying some laughter and some sincerity: "Actually, I'm the one who's blessed."
She always said she was blessed, but in Qi Yun's view, he was clearly the blessed one.
To be able to meet Jiao Niang, how fortunate indeed.
When Ye Jiao woke up the next day, she was being held in Qi Yun's arms. Both were still wearing yesterday's clothes, obviously Qi Yun hadn't wanted to wake her and had slept holding her like this.
But this time the two hadn't separated their blankets. Instead, one blanket covered both of them as they slept together.
Ye Jiao had slept early and woke up early. As soon as she opened her eyes and looked up, she saw Qi Yun's enlarged face.
Little ginseng first rubbed her eyes, then stared at this person's face with confused eyes.
Mm, her husband looked good even with his eyes closed.
It was just a bit close, close enough that she could almost count his eyelashes.
...Wait, was she squeezed into his arms sleeping?
Ye Jiao felt somewhat familiar with this sleeping position, and the last time she had done this, the consequences had been severe.
The originally still somewhat drowsy little ginseng was startled and didn't even think to lift the blanket. She just turned on her side and grabbed Qi Yun's wrist firmly.