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

chapter 25

When Ye Jiao came back, she ordered someone to carry water in. Since she remembered she wanted to drink pigeon soup for dinner, she wanted to bathe early so it wouldn't get in the way of evening plans.

Eating is one of the top priorities in little Ginseng's life.

After getting the room nice and warm, and arranging the water behind the screen, Ye Jiao planned to wait for Qi Yun to bring the flower basket, then pick some petals to sprinkle in.

But Qi Yun didn't come back for a long time. Ye Jiao looked up in confusion, only to find the man standing still at the entrance of the inner room. His eyes seemed to be looking at her, but when Ye Jiao looked over, he immediately turned his head away.

His ears were bright red. Ye Jiao glanced at the charcoal basin, wondering if she'd made the room too hot.

She released her hand from holding the sash of her dress, walked over, took the basket from Qi Yun's hand, looked up at him with a smile and said: "You can go busy with your things, husband."

Qi Yun glanced at her from the corner of his eye, then quickly looked away, and said softly: "I've already finished my work. I plan to check the account books in the room. Will I disturb you?"

"No, just do your thing."

Ye Jiao suspected nothing, carried the basket and walked behind the screen.

But she quickly poked her head out again: "Husband, there's something I bought for you on the table, try it on. The shopkeeper said if it doesn't fit, we can take it back to alter it."

Qi Yun nodded and agreed, only then did Ye Jiao go back behind the screen.

Very soon, Qi Yun saw pieces of clothing hanging over the screen.

Two thin straps swayed back and forth.

He dared not look any longer, walked quickly to the desk in the outer room, spread out the account book, picked up his brush, told himself to calm down in his heart, then took a deep breath and prepared to look at the accounts.

"Splash."

Warm, misty water sounds, every one reaching his ears. Qi Yun almost dropped ink from his brush tip onto the account book...

Ye Jiao had no idea Qi Yun outside was absent-minded. She scattered some flower petals into the bath tub, and soaking in the water, the floral scent made her feel relaxed. While bathing, 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 anyway; it would be more troublesome if he miscalculated the numbers later.

Hearing Ye Jiao's question, he answered in a gentle voice: "Not busy. What is it?"

"I heard people outside say there's going to be a general amnesty. What does 'amnesty to the whole realm' mean?"

Qi Yun was already used to his wife's habit of asking why about everything, and he happened to enjoy answering her questions, so he explained in detail: "A general amnesty is when the imperial court encounters a happy occasion, they pardon some criminals."

Ye Jiao's action of splashing water paused slightly, and she said in confusion: "Pardon them just because there's a happy occasion?"

"It depends on the situation, and the final decision rests with the current emperor." This was put tactfully. In plain terms, it meant the emperor could grant an amnesty whenever he wanted, depending on his mood.

Little Ginseng thought to herself that the emperor really was the most powerful person, then asked aloud: "What if there are bad people, really bad ones, like those who came to cause trouble today. If they get released too, it'll just be a lot of trouble."

Qi Yun smiled at her words, thinking his wife had a pure heart, having only met a few hooligans and already thinking they were the worst of the worst. He explained aloud: "In our dynasty, even during a general amnesty, there are ten unforgivable crimes that are not pardoned."

This "ten unforgivable crimes" is not a general term, it specifically refers to ten serious evils such as rebellion, treason, unfilial piety, and so on. Anyone who commits these ten crimes will not be pardoned even if there is a general amnesty.

Even though it's called an amnesty to the whole realm, most of the people released are those who committed minor wrongdoings. Great villains still have to stay in prison properly.

There are many specific laws and regulations. Qi Yun had an incredibly intelligent, photographic memory, so he remembered every rule clearly. But this topic was a bit heavy, and Qi Yun didn't want to explain it too clearly to Ye Jiao, afraid it would scare her, so he changed the subject: "What did you buy for me, Jiaoniang?" As he spoke, he walked to the table and reached out to open the package.

Even just opening a corner of the package, he could see black fur peeking out from inside.

Qi Yun's movements paused, then he quickly untied the package.

A black fur robe lay quietly on the table, and it felt extremely smooth to the touch. But the moment Qi Yun saw it, he suddenly fell silent.

Ye Jiao couldn't see his expression from behind the screen, so she said with a smile: "The weather is getting colder gradually. You said before you'd go buy one with me, but I don't get cold easily, you're different. Even though the physician said you don't have to stay cooped up in the room anymore and should walk outside more, it's freezing cold, you have to take extra care of your body. We should have bought this fur robe early. Husband, try it on, see if it fits?"

If it fits...

Qi Yun wanted to say something, but when he actually opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.

Although he had stayed at home for a long time because of illness, he managed the accounts, so he more or less knew the prices of goods on the market.

A fur robe of this quality would cost no small amount of silver.

Even though all the money Ye Jiao managed was given to her by Qi Yun, but to Qi Yun, once he gave her the money, he never thought of getting it back.

It was the same this time. When Ye Jiao went out, Qi Yun told her to bring money so his wife could buy whatever she wanted for herself, but in the end Ye Jiao brought back a fur robe for him.

Even if it was bought with money she earned herself, it was still indescribably warming, as if it had even melted his heart.

Qi Yun gently stroked the fur robe, picked it up, and put it on very carefully. He cleared his slightly choked throat before speaking: "It fits. It fits perfectly. Jiaoniang bought it wonderfully."

Ye Jiao was happy. It was good that it fit. The town was so far away, going back to alter it would be a hassle. Now it was fine, she could wear it right after buying it. From now on Qi Yun wouldn't have to always wear that puffy old robe. This winter would be much more comfortable for him.

This made Ye Jiao quite proud: "Husband, I'm really lucky." She could buy clothes that fit right on the first try, little Ginseng didn't hold back from praising herself.

Qi Yun stood there wearing the fur robe, his eyes fixed on the screen. Even though he knew he couldn't see the person behind it, he still stared intently for a long time. He reached out and pressed his slightly aching nose, and exhaled softly.

His, Jiaoniang...

But after putting on the fur robe, Qi Yun couldn't bear to take it off. By the time Ye Jiao finished bathing and walked out in her undergarments, Qi Yun was still wrapped in the fur robe.

This startled Ye Jiao. The charcoal fire in the room was burning strong, it was warm and toasty. Even if you only wore undergarments with an outer robe you wouldn't feel cold, yet Qi Yun was wrapped in this thick fur robe. Wasn't he going to sweat through it!

Ye Jiao hurriedly said to him: "Take it off quickly, it's so hot. If you sweat and then catch a wind chill, what will we do?"

Qi Yun could have said he doesn't sweat easily, but the man didn't deny it. He was indeed hot, and besides, Ye Jiao was already pulling at the buttons of his robe, so he just spread his arms and let her undress him.

After hanging up the fur robe properly, Ye Jiao took her handkerchief and wiped Qi Yun's face: "Are you hot?"

Qi Yun smiled and said: "It's not hot. It's 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 put it into words, so he held her wrist and said slowly: "It's different. Very different."

Just then Xiaosu came and knocked on the door, saying dinner was ready, asking if they should set the table.

Ye Jiao immediately agreed, then with her hair loose, she went to eat with Qi Yun.

Dinner was extraordinarily sumptuous. Qi Yun even specially asked Tiezi to send some sugar pancakes to Father Qi and Qi Zhao, and told Tiezi and Xiaosu to split the rest. Children love sweet things, and these sugar pancakes use a lot of oil, people don't eat them often. Tiezi and Xiaosu agreed happily and took them out.

Only Qi Yun and Ye Jiao were left in the room again. Qi Yun didn't have a big appetite, so he finished eating quickly. But he didn't leave the table after finishing, he just sat smiling and watching Ye Jiao eat.

Little Ginseng also really loved these sugar pancakes. One bite, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, full of rice fragrance, and a strong sweet taste. It wasn't as delicate as those fancy pastries, but she just couldn't stop eating.

Qi Yun put a spoonful of scrambled eggs into her bowl with his spoon, then added a few sticks of green vegetables, and said: "These sugar pancakes are kneaded with sugar water and fried in a lot of oil. Even though they're sweet and tasty, they easily cause internal heat. Eat more vegetables."

Ye Jiao obediently put the greens in her mouth, looked at Qi Yun with her eyes, and only spoke after swallowing what was in her mouth: "You know so much, husband."

Whether it was daily trivial matters, or human relations outside, even recipes and food knowledge, it seemed like there was nothing Qi Yun didn't know.

Qi Yun picked up another chopstick of greens for her: "If you read more, you'll know more too. If Jiaoniang wants to learn, I'll teach you slowly from now on."

Ye Jiao immediately agreed. After finishing the sugar pancake in her hand, she was already seventy percent full.

Even though she sometimes craves good food, she never lets herself eat too much, everything in moderation.

She also drank a bowl of pigeon soup, and smiled with a satisfied look on her face.

After dinner, it was usually Qi Yun's time to read, but today Qi Yun stayed in the inner room, let Ye Jiao lean against him, and held a comb to comb her long hair.

Ye Jiao's hair was very well cared for, black and soft like a cloud, touching it felt like touching top-quality satin.

The two sat in front of the charcoal stove, Qi Yun dried her half-wet hair while chatting with her: "Jiaoniang, I really like the fur robe you bought me. I'll wear it every day from now on."

Ye Jiao leaned against him lazily, reached out and poked Qi Yun's arm: "You have to take it off when spring comes. What if you get too hot?"

Qi Yun smiled and nodded.

Ye Jiao yawned, and suddenly remembered something: "Husband, the Sun family are bad people, they're extremely wicked."

Actually Qi Yun didn't usually talk about outside matters with Ye Jiao, but now that their business has grown a bit bigger, as long as Qi Yun's business is booming, many people want to be on good terms with Ye Jiao. Qi Yun thought it was better to make things clear to Ye Jiao.

Gently kneading the ends of her hair, Qi Yun said slowly: "Ordinary people who come to cause trouble won't tell you who they are. Besides, the Sun family runs a money exchange business, it doesn't conflict with our wine shop, it can't be them. Manager Song already found out it's the Cai family."

Ye Jiao blinked: "Who is that?"

"They also run a wine shop. Nowadays, hatred between people in the same trade is the most straightforward." As Qi Yun spoke, he picked up the comb again to comb her hair.

But a hint of indifference was hidden in his eyes.

The Cai family was already considered a big wine shop in town, but their methods were underhanded and quite low-class.

Qi Yun looked down on them. If they could live in peace, that would be fine. Doing business requires being kind to others, but they had to come provoke him, become a stumbling block in his path.

Since they're a stumbling block, he has to find a way to move them out of the way. He can't just let them stand there blocking his view forever.

Ye Jiao felt a little upset: "You're right, husband. I actually didn't see through it."

Qi Yun put aside the matter of business for the time being, just curled the corner of his mouth and said: "It's not that Jiaoniang can't see through, it's just that bad people have too many wicked tricks. 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 word Qi Yun said.

She was simple, but not stupid. Even if she couldn't figure it out now, she would always learn to understand it eventually.

She had to slowly learn how to get by in the world.

But as they chatted, Ye Jiao started to feel her eyelids getting heavy.

She wasn't usually this sleepy easily, but she'd had a lot happen today, and ran all the way to town. Even though she rode the ox cart, she still got tired. After the round trip, plus bathing and having her hair combed when she got back, Ye Jiao fell asleep leaning against Qi Yun next to the warm charcoal stove.

Qi Yun sat straight, letting Ye Jiao lean on him, and his hand continued to slowly dry Ye Jiao's hair bit by bit.

By the time the woman's hair was dry, Qi Yun didn't wake her, he just turned his head and stared at her.

After a long time, the man spoke softly, with a hint of a smile, and full of sincerity: "Actually, I'm the one who's lucky."

She always said she was lucky, but in Qi Yun's eyes, it was clearly him who was lucky.

How fortunate he was to meet Jiaoniang.

When Ye Jiao woke up the next morning, she was being held in Qi Yun's arms. Both of them were still wearing yesterday's clothes. It was obvious Qi Yun couldn't bear to wake her, so he just slept with her like this.

But this time they didn't sleep under separate blankets, they shared one blanket, two people sleeping together.

Ye Jiao slept early and woke up early. As soon as she opened her eyes, she looked up and saw Qi Yun's face magnified close to hers.

Little Ginseng rubbed her eyes first, then unconsciously stared at his face with blank eyes.

Mmm, husband is handsome even with his eyes closed.

It's just a little too close, she can almost count his eyelashes.

...Wait a minute, did she fall asleep curled up in his arms?

This sleeping position felt familiar to Ye Jiao, and the last time she did this, the price she paid was devastating.

The little Ginseng, who was still drowsy just now, got a fright. She didn't even bother to lift the blanket, just turned sideways and grabbed Qi Yun's wrist in a panic.