Chapter 42
When Ye Jiao was carrying that jade rabbit lantern, the smile on her face was especially genuine.
Although she had won every draw this time, for Little Ginseng, aside from the jade rabbit lantern, she didn't really want the other things. She was simple by nature, so her pursuits were particularly straightforward. She wasn't greedy, and now that she had gotten what she wanted, she didn't want to draw anymore.
Seeing Ye Jiao stop, the stall owner felt he should be happy, but he couldn't bring himself to feel happy...
He had planned to keep his stall open for several days, but in one evening, so many items had been won away. The stall owner felt like crying.
However, Ye Jiao had no sympathy for him. Although Little Ginseng was simple, she wasn't stupid.
When she heard Qi Yun explain the meaning of gambling earlier, Ye Jiao could tell that there were definitely more people who hit walls here than those who left happy. Since this was business, profit and loss depended on fate. If you're willing to gamble, you must accept the consequences.
But when Ye Jiao was holding the flower lantern and looked toward Chu Chengyun, she noticed the envy and fondness in this person's eyes.
When the flower lantern was displayed above earlier, Chu Chengyun could still say he wanted to buy it.
But now that the flower lantern was in Ye Jiao's hands, Chu Chengyun didn't mention it at all.
Not coveting others' possessions was the way of a gentleman. Prince Duan wasn't someone who would seize by force, but he couldn't help looking a few more times.
So beautiful...
Some things just seem more beautiful when you can't get your hands on them.
Ye Jiao could see that Chu Chengyun truly liked this flower lantern. Ye Jiao hadn't thought of giving it to him, but seeing his expression, she also felt a bit sorry for him.
After thinking, Ye Jiao looked toward the stall owner: "I still have one more chance, right?"
The stall owner was already somewhat resigned to his fate. The handlebar mustache that had been perky earlier was now drooping, along with the corners of his mouth.
Since his biggest prize had already been taken by Ye Jiao, the stall owner wasn't someone who would cheat. He sighed and handed her the box: "Please go ahead, madam. Being able to meet someone as fortunate as you today is also my luck."
Hearing this, Ye Jiao smiled, and Qi Yun also gave the stall owner a few more glances.
Although running this kind of gambling-like stall wasn't particularly honorable, being able to be so accepting showed he was quite open-minded.
But Little Ginseng didn't draw herself. Instead, she turned to look at Chu Chengyun and said, "I'll give you this chance."
This startled Chu Chengyun: "Why?"
Ye Jiao looked at him, feeling that directly saying he looked pitiful didn't seem quite appropriate. Instead, she remembered what Qi Yun had said earlier and repeated it: "The world's bargains can never be completely taken advantage of. When encountering good fortune, one cannot be stingy, otherwise it's not fortune but misfortune." After repeating what her husband had said, Ye Jiao curved her lips: "So if I share one chance with you, I won't be considered stingy."
Qi Yun was somewhat amused. He hadn't expected his earlier words to be put to immediate use by his Jiao Niang.
But Second Young Master Qi didn't stop Ye Jiao either. He could see that after getting a rabbit flower lantern, Ye Jiao didn't want to play anymore. So giving the chance to this person wasn't a bad idea.
This was the first time Chu Chengyun had heard such a theory, and also the first time someone had given him something.
While he was still in a daze, Ye Jiao had already picked up the flower lantern and was pulling the fluffy Qi Yun away.
Because Qi Yun was wrapped so tightly, no one noticed the hand he was holding with Ye Jiao, and Ye Jiao herself was staring at the flower lantern, not giving Ye Ping Rong even half a glance.
But when Ye Jiao was carrying the flower lantern, her sleeve slipped down slightly, revealing her snow-white wrist.
And the gold bracelet on her wrist.
This gold bracelet looked quite old, with simple patterns. Ye Ping Rong recognized it at first sight as one his deceased mother had worn!
This made Ye Ping Rong anxious, but considering he needed to guard Chu Chengyun, he didn't dare follow rashly.
However, Ye Ping Rong didn't notice that Princess Consort Meng looked at him thoughtfully, but she didn't speak. She only said gently to Chu Chengyun, "Husband, since it's someone's kind gesture, you should accept it."
Chu Chengyun nodded, but in his heart he felt he would probably come away empty-handed again.
The tragic experience of 20 black balls earlier had made Chu Chengyun greatly doubt his own luck. He even wondered if he shouldn't have wiped out his father's thousand-carp pond, otherwise why would he be so unlucky?
Probably because he held no hope, he reached his hand in very quickly, and when he pulled it out, he was stunned.
It was a white pearl, looking quite ordinary, but Chu Chengyun felt as if he could hear the sound of flowers blooming in his ears.
For someone with bad luck, when good fortune finally arrived, he naturally felt excited!
The stall owner said listlessly, "White ball, one folding fan." He handed over the fan while sighing deeply, "This is the first time I've seen luck that can be contagious. Young master, please keep it safe. This is made with deer bamboo for the ribs. Sigh, it must be my bad fortune today."
Deer bamboo fans were good fans, but Chu Chengyun had seen countless fine things since childhood. He had collected several white jade fans alone, and normally he definitely wouldn't think much of this one.
But this time, Chu Chengyun carefully placed the fan in the fan pouch at his waist and hung it there.
This puzzled Meng: "Do you really want to carry this fan?" And so solemnly placing it in the fan pouch - that gold silk fan pouch alone could buy a cartload of deer bamboo fans.
Chu Chengyun squeezed Meng's hand and said with a smile, "Hui'er, I want to keep this with me at all times to remind myself that luck is sometimes extremely important. Keeping it by my side can serve as self-reflection."
Meng looked at him with a smile and unceremoniously pointed out the truth: "It's clearly because this is the first thing you've ever won, and you're happy about it."
Chu Chengyun coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Understanding without speaking, just understanding without speaking is good enough."
Meng pursed her lips in a smile and said no more, but her eyes turned to Ye Ping Rong. She suddenly spoke up: "Husband, you received a favor from that lady. You should at least say thank you. But with so many people and prying eyes here, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to go yourself. Why don't you have Commander Ye go on your behalf to express your gratitude?"
At these words, Ye Ping Rong immediately perked up and looked straight at Chu Chengyun.
Chu Chengyun didn't think much of it and nodded: "Ping Rong, then I'll trouble you to make the trip. With Liu Rong following us, you don't need to worry. We'll meet at the wine shop later."
Ye Ping Rong immediately agreed, then after restraining his anxiety and giving Liu Rong detailed instructions, he quickly pushed through the crowd.
At this time, Ye Jiao was holding the flower lantern and standing by the river with Qi Yun.
Qi Yun was warming her hand inside his fur coat, his voice gentle: "The reason flower lanterns are popular in this town, besides the many shops and prosperous citizens, is also because of this river that runs through the town."
Ye Jiao curiously leaned forward: "What's special about this river?"
Before she finished speaking, she saw scattered points of light on the river surface.
Ye Jiao was slightly startled and rubbed her eyes, trying to see clearly where these points of light on the water surface came from.
But soon, Ye Jiao realized these lights weren't on the water surface but reflected on it.
She raised her head to look at the night sky and saw lanterns floating and swaying in the air.
Lanterns that could fly?
Ye Jiao was somewhat surprised and instinctively grabbed Qi Yun's hand, pointing excitedly: "Husband, those can fly!"
Qi Yun had expected Ye Jiao would like them and also curved his lips into a smile.
Previously he hadn't quite understood why his eldest brother Qi Zhao always liked to make Fang happy. Now Qi Yun somewhat understood - watching his own wife happy was itself a joyful thing.
He pulled Ye Jiao and said softly, "These are sky lanterns, also called heavenly lanterns. If you like them, I'll go buy one for us to release together, alright?"
There was one thing Qi Yun didn't tell her.
People all believed that if you wrote your wishes on a lantern and released it, your heart's desire would surely come true.
Previously Qi Yun didn't believe in such things, but now he very much wanted to release a lantern with Ye Jiao.
Ye Jiao immediately nodded, looking somewhat eager: "I'll go with you!"
But Qi Yun wanted to give her a surprise and said, "Wait for me here, and have something to eat too." He had her sit in the riverside tea shop and instructed Little Su and Tie Zi to accompany her well before leaving by himself.
The tea shop was for travelers to rest, with charcoal fires lit, much warmer than outside. However, the tea was two or three times more expensive than usual, so not many were willing to come in and rest.
Ye Jiao chose a window seat in the tea shop, preferring to be a bit cold so she could sit here just to see Qi Yun from afar.
She ordered three cups of hot tea, also letting Little Su and Tie Zi warm up. The pastries on the table were brought from home. Though no longer hot, red bean cakes were delicious whether cold or warm.
But after a short while, Ye Jiao became restless.
She kept looking out, able to see Qi Yun at a nearby stall all along. Because the fur on Qi Yun's coat was fluffy all over, he was particularly easy to recognize.
But Ye Jiao still couldn't help saying to Little Su, "How long has husband been gone?"
Hearing this, Little Su laughed, "Young Mistress misses Second Young Master, doesn't she?"
Ye Jiao was quite honest: "He said he was going to find a sky lantern, but he went by himself while you and Tie Zi didn't follow. I'm afraid something might happen."
Little Su couldn't help but look toward Qi Yun, who was not far away composing poetry on a sky lantern. The little girl didn't understand matters of the heart and really couldn't comprehend why someone would worry about a person they could see from afar.
Tie Zi comforted her: "Second Young Mistress needn't worry. When I came over, I found two skilled workers from the wine shop to follow along. There are definitely people protecting Second Young Master, so Second Young Mistress can rest assured."
Ye Jiao was about to speak when she heard a voice from nearby: "...Is that Jiao Niang?"
Little Ginseng blinked and turned to look, meeting someone's eyes directly.
Ye Ping Rong stood at the tea shop entrance. Seeing Ye Jiao turn around, his voice caught for a moment.
Ye Jiao stared at him.
Brother Ye had been away for years and no longer looked like the rural villager he once was. He had become more resolute, grown taller, and his appearance had completely changed.
But a person's voice doesn't easily change.
This voice matched the voice of Brother Ye in her memory. Little Ginseng blinked and said, "Are you... Big Brother?"
At these words, Ye Ping Rong felt his eyes moisten.
He had imagined countless scenarios of reuniting with family in his mind, wondering if they might pass each other without recognition, if he might be turned away and never acknowledged again. Ye Ping Rong had even thought of the worst possibilities.
But when someone actually called him Big Brother, Ye Ping Rong became somewhat slow to react.
He stepped forward several paces and stopped three steps away from Ye Jiao, momentarily not knowing what to say.
His experiences over the years weren't worth mentioning - either fighting on battlefields or hunting down criminals. Such bloody matters really weren't suitable to speak of and frighten his little sister.
Finally, he could only ask Ye Jiao, "After not seeing you for years, how did you come to marry?"
Hearing this, Tie Zi had no particular reaction, but Little Su puffed up in anger.
Though young, she had been working at the Qi family for quite a while and knew about everything before and after Ye Jiao's arrival. She became even more confused about how this person could ask such a question.
How did she come to marry?
It was clearly you Ye family people who used the kind-hearted Second Young Mistress for a fortune-bringing marriage with the fierce and evil Second Young Master!
...Although Second Young Master wasn't exactly fierce and evil now, still, you were in the wrong, and now you're here questioning Second Young Mistress!
Little Su felt indignant for Ye Jiao, but Ye Jiao had no intention of complaining.
Having been human for so long, Little Ginseng could distinguish between good and bad people.
While it was true that Second Brother Ye and Second Sister-in-law Ye had thrown her out of the house, this didn't implicate Brother Ye. This person had been away for years, and in Ye Jiao's memory, Brother Ye had treated her best. He was a good person.
However, Little Ginseng had never seen him before and didn't know how to answer this question.
Brother Ye should ask Second Brother Ye for answers.
Seeing her silence, Ye Ping Rong immediately became anxious and asked, "Are you having a hard time now?"
Ye Jiao shook her head and smiled, "I'm doing very well."
Seeing her gentle smile, Ye Ping Rong also smiled and said, "Looking at you, you married your beloved." Thinking of this, Brother Ye felt somewhat comforted, assuming his little sister had married someone she fancied.
Who would have known that Ye Jiao looked at him and very honestly shook her head: "This wasn't someone I wanted to marry."
One sentence made two people hold their breath.
One was Ye Ping Rong, the other was Qi Yun, who was returning with a sky lantern.
On the sky lantern, he had carefully written verses about paired wings and intertwined branches, planning to release it together with his Jiao Niang. But before he could enter the tea shop, he heard Ye Jiao's words.
Instantly, Qi Yun's heart turned half cold. The hand holding the sky lantern trembled slightly, and suddenly the heavy fur coat couldn't block the bitter cold wind.
But the next moment, he heard Ye Jiao's soft voice again: "But he is the best person I've met since becoming human. Being able to be his wife in this life is the best thing that could happen."