My Naive Ginseng Spirit Wife and My Cultured, Scheming, Delicate Husband

chapter 85

As soon as Qi Yun entered the door, he saw Steward Song waiting for him.

Ye Jiao led the others into the courtyard first, while Qi Yun went to the study to talk with Steward Song.

As soon as the door closed, Steward Song said, "Second Young Master, according to your instructions, we've taken good care of all the shops. I've also told them to keep an eye on anyone surnamed Meng, and we'll watch all strangers coming and going. You can rest assured, Second Young Master."

Qi Yun nodded, reaching out to gently cover his already healed arm.

His arm had lost all its scars in just a few days, even Doctor Li marveled at it.

But for Qi Yun, he would never forget how this injury came to be.

The assassin that day wasn't after him, but after Third Young Master. Logically speaking, Third Young Master's troubles had nothing to do with his family, but Qi Yun refused to take the gamble.

In everything, it's best to be prepared.

Though he didn't want to get mixed up in Third Young Master's affairs, now that he knew about it, being more careful couldn't hurt.

Composing himself, Qi Yun said, "Send a few more people into the city. Sanlang's academy examination is still a few months away, he'll be staying in the city for quite a while, far from home. Have people keep watch and protect him."

Steward Song first agreed, then said, "Sending people isn't a problem, but Third Young Master is in the academy, he should be fine."

"It's better to be careful. Even if this current matter doesn't involve us, someone still needs to watch over Sanlang." His voice paused, then Qi Yun said slowly, "After all, Sanlang has already made it to the academy examination—getting this far is one in ten thousand, and not all those scholars are good people."

Qi Ming had been pushed down a hillside before. That time, Ye Pingrong was there and saved his life, but they couldn't count on others' help every day. Qi Yun didn't want the same thing to happen a second time.

Hearing this, Steward Song straightened his expression and made a note of it.

After that, Steward Song took his leave, and Qi Yun returned to the courtyard.

In the courtyard, Ye Jiao was squatting in front of her flower bed, reaching out to touch the flowers still glistening with dew.

Upon returning home this time, the first thing Ye Jiao did was check on her medicinal herbs and flowers in the courtyard.

These flowers were all quite easy to keep alive—just a little water and sunlight, and they grew. The Shiya grass indoors was especially resilient; once it bore fruit, it could grow on its own. When Ye Jiao left home, she hadn't worried too much about it.

But the several heavy rainstorms lately had made her worry whether the flowers could withstand it. Yet in her heart, nothing was more important than Qi Yun, so she had stayed by Qi Yun's side and hadn't come back earlier.

Now that she was home, Ye Jiao went to check on them as soon as she entered the courtyard.

Except for two stems that had been broken by wind and rain, all the others were intact.

Secretly breathing a sigh of relief, Ye Jiao smiled and jiggled Xubao, who she was holding in her arms.

Xubao saw her smile and smiled along with her. When Qi Yun walked in through the courtyard gate, what he saw was the mother and son smiling together.

"What makes you so happy?" Qi Yun curved his lips and walked over.

When he drew near, Ye Jiao naturally lifted her head and kissed the corner of his lips. The corners of her mouth turned up, her eyes curved, and she said, "Nothing much, I just think it's so good to be home."

Qi Yun embraced her. Though with chubby Xubao sandwiched between them, he couldn't hold her too tightly, the man still did his best to wrap his wife in his arms and led her into the house.

The couple wanted to close the door and talk, but after staying on the mountain for many days, everything at home needed tidying up, and people from the shops had come—there were clearly many matters that needed Qi Yun's decision.

Qi Yun told Tiezi to help out in the courtyard, then returned to the study to discuss matters. Ye Jiao went into the house and had people open those several crates.

In addition to the things they had taken up the mountain, there were quite a few things brought back from the mountain. Just potted plants alone were more than ten pots—all were medicinal herbs Ye Jiao found on the mountain, prepared for planting in the courtyard.

There were also maple leaves picked from the mountain, bright red. After pressing them dry, they make nice bookmarks or look beautiful pasted on lanterns.

In the end, they brought back more things than they had taken.

Although Xiaosu and Tiezi were busy with the work, some things still had to be sorted out by themselves.

Ye Jiao put away the box and the brocade bag holding the Baihong fruits. Feeling the only two left through the fabric, Ye Jiao didn't feel any regret.

This thing was grown for her husband to use; it's best when it serves its purpose. Leaving it sitting around unused would be a true shame.

This fruit wasn't eaten for nothing—it not only saved Qi Yun, it also pulled Third Young Master back from the brink of death.

Sure, that man ate a bit more dirt than necessary, but as long as he survived, that's good. He probably doesn't care about that bit of earthy aftertaste.

After putting everything away, Ye Jiao heard movement outside.

She turned her head and asked, "What is it?"

Hearing this, Tiezi handed what he was holding to Xiaosu, ran out, and came back not long after: "Second Young Madame, Elder Young Master and Elder Young Madame have returned."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao nodded. When most of the things were packed up, she carried Xubao to Madam Liu's courtyard.

After entering the door, she saw Madam Fang bringing Shitou in, talking with Madam Liu.

Madam Fang had gone to the village to stay with Qi Zhao, but she didn't have to do any work there, and she was the highest authority on the village, so she'd been living a free and easy life. At home normally, she still had to plan over household matters, but on the village her heart was at ease—apart from eating, she just played with Shitou, and she looked a bit plumper than before.

But as soon as she heard Madam Liu was starting her journey back, she pulled Qi Zhao and came right back, afraid of falling even the slightest bit behind. As soon as they got home, she rushed over early to Madam Liu's courtyard.

It was almost New Year's again now. At the end of the year, the family distributed things to everyone, so naturally Madam Fang wanted to curry favor with Madam Liu here, so she could get more at the end of the year.

She even specifically brought Shitou along to be charming, and they chatted and laughed comfortably.

When she heard the sound, Madam Fang turned her head to look at Ye Jiao. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Jiaoniang is here, come sit quickly. This is the tea I brought back, it's just brewed, still hot—warm yourself up."

Madam Liu had a gentle smile on her face, but she shook her head inwardly.

Her eldest daughter-in-law was still like this—whatever she does, she always has to find a way to bring it up and take credit, it always makes her seem unsteady.

But then Madam Liu thought, this is good too. At least she still remembers me in her heart, that's better than not caring.

Ye Jiao carried Xubao over, sat down beside Madam Fang, and smiled obediently at Madam Liu and Madam Fang.

And the moment she entered the door, everyone's gaze focused on Xubao.

Xubao had beautiful features. Though he was only three months old, those eyes of his always looked around alertly. Just a little teasing gets him smiling, which makes him especially lovable—anyone would be happy to look at him more.

Only Madam Fang was secretly sizing up Ye Jiao.

She had given birth to a child too. She'd suffered no little hardship when she had Shitou, but even through all that hardship she hadn't lost much weight. Instead, she seemed to gain weight even just breathing air.

But her second sister-in-law had had a smooth pregnancy, and her postnatal confinement was much longer than ordinary people. By all rights she should have gained some weight, but looking at her now, Ye Jiao had a slender figure, still a small face. That flowing fairy skirt looked especially beautiful on her.

This made Madam Fang particularly deflated. She secretly pinched her own forearm—It felt soft and smooth, but it was just round.

It seemed... she'd gotten a bit fatter than before.

With Ye Jiao beside her for comparison, Madam Fang looked at the jade ribbon cake on the plate in front of her and suddenly lost her appetite.

Shitou had originally been happily eating his jade ribbon cake, but after Ye Jiao entered the door, he threw down his cake and stared blankly at Ye Jiao.

But this time Shitou wasn't trying to cling to Ye Jiao—he craned his neck to look into her arms, chattering: "It's little brother, I want to see little brother."

Only then did Ye Jiao remember—because Madam Liu had been cautious before, she'd let Ye Jiao stay in her room for the full forty-five days of confinement, and Xubao stayed in the room with her the whole time. After she got out of confinement, the weather gradually turned cold, so they hadn't come to Madam Liu's place. Before they went up the mountain, Xubao and Shitou had never even met.

Today was actually their first meeting.

Probably children are most attracted to other children. When Xubao heard Shitou's voice and looked over, the moment their eyes met, Xubao became interested and giggled, reaching out to grab Shitou's hand.

Fortunately, Madam Liu had anticipated this long ago. She'd long had someone tidy up the soft couch nearby, had the charcoal basin burning hot, and said with a smile: "Put him over there, let the two brothers get together and play, they can get familiar with each other."

Ye Jiao stood up with Madam Fang and placed Xubao on the couch. Shitou leaned over the couch, staring eagerly at this little brother who could only struggle and flail about, finding it very interesting.

He really looks like that little turtle in the pond.

Xubao isn't shy about strangers. He let Shitou look at him as he pleased, just huffing and puffing and turned over, from lying on his back to lying on his stomach. Only then did he lift his head with a smile, but not long after his arms gave out, he flopped face down onto the soft couch. He didn't even cry, just grunted a couple times, then stubbornly lifted his head up again.

This series of movements made Madam Liu and Madam Fang praise Xubao repeatedly, saying he was blessed and hardworking, and the more they praised, the bolder they got—they even said things like "has the talent of a top scholar" and "extraordinarily brave and impressive".

This made little ginseng [Ye Jiao] stare at her own son for a good while, as if trying to find even the slightest hint of a future top scholar in this chubby little thing.

With the two children here, the room immediately came alive with constant laughter.

Just then, someone ran in from outside and said a few words to old Mrs. Liu.

Old Mrs. Liu then hurried over and said: "Madam, word has come from the front hall that young Master Ye has come, and he brought someone with him."

Ye Jiao had told Madam Liu and Master Qi everything about the family division. And that scene Ye Erlang caused at the door earlier was known by everyone in the house. Madam Liu had specifically given orders that if Ye Erlang was seen again in the future, there was no need to announce him—just throw him out directly.

In the Qi family, the only Ye young master allowed to enter the door is Ye Dalang, Ye Pingrong.

When Ye Jiao heard this, she stood up, surprise on her face: "Where is he?"

"He's waiting in the front hall."

Although Madam Liu didn't know exactly what Ye Pingrong did, she remembered he hadn't come for quite a long time. Earlier, when Ye Jiao gave birth to Xubao and held the full moon banquet, Ye Pingrong didn't even show up, though he sent quite a lot of gifts. It was thought he was delayed by some matter.

Now hearing he had come, Madam Liu smiled and said: "Go on then. You two siblings haven't seen each other for so long, you should catch up. Don't worry, Xubao and Shitou are getting along great right now. If he misses you I'll send someone to find you."

Madam Fang also nodded along: "Sister-in-law, go quickly. These two children just met, they're still fresh with each other, they won't be separated for a while."

Ye Jiao knew they meant well, so she smiled, bowed and took her leave, walking properly out of Madam Liu's courtyard. As soon as she was out the gate, she stuffed the hand warmer she was holding into Xiaosu's hands, hitched up her skirt so she could walk faster.

If we're talking about the bond between her and Ye Pingrong, actually it wasn't nearly as deep and close as what she has with Qi Yun. But little ginseng remembered the kindness Ye Pingrong showed her. This elder brother did everything for her, so she thought of him constantly.

Even though Madame Meng and Qi Yun both said he was fine, little ginseng could still more or less see that something was off.

They didn't tell her, so she didn't ask, but she still worried about him in her heart.

Now hearing Ye Pingrong was back, of course Ye Jiao wanted to see him as soon as possible.

But when she reached the front hall and entered the door, the first person she saw wasn't Ye Pingrong, but a woman standing there with her head up looking at the calligraphy and painting on the wall.

She was wearing silk brocade clothes, adorned with pearl hairpins and jade pendants. Just looking at her back gave an indescribable sense of nobility.

And she had her back to Ye Jiao, so she didn't see Ye Jiao enter. The woman in the fine clothes turned her head, grabbed Ye Pingrong's hand, and said to the man: "Dalang, why hasn't our little sister come yet?"

Hearing this, Ye Pingrong put down his teacup, his expression a bit helpless: "Stop saying 'our' this and 'our' that, Your Highness. That is my younger sister, not yours. Besides, I am only under the order of Prime Minister Meng to protect Your Highness's safety, I have no other improper thoughts..." Suddenly his voice froze. Ye Pingrong saw Ye Jiao holding the door frame and looking at them.

He stood up immediately, excitement uncontrollable on his face.

Having probably walked through the gate of life and death once, now he could come back whole and sound, and see the younger sister he worried about in his heart, naturally Ye Pingrong was too excited to contain himself.

Ye Jiao didn't step forward immediately, instead she looked him up and down first, making sure he was healthy and unhurt before she relaxed.

After that, Ye Jiao still didn't go over, instead she curiously looked at Ye Pingrong, then exchanged a glance with the woman in fine clothes who had turned around to look at her, blinked, and finally little ginseng's eyes fixed on the hands the two were holding.

Her husband said that between a man and a woman, only family or husband and wife can hold hands like this.

Big brother's only remaining family member, it seems, is just me.

So... big brother went out on a trip and brought a sister-in-law back with him?

But this sister-in-law's name is a bit unusual, it's "Your Highness"... was this surname in the Book of Hundred Surnames I memorized before?