Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

The matter of the Gongshi in Qi Mingde quickly spread among the neighborhood.

The Qi family lives in the east of the city, which is close to the canal, with many shops and most of the merchants. Although it is not as good as the wealthy officials and officials to the west, it is also considered to be a good feng shui.

In these streets, even though the Qi family is a later generation, there is no shortage of gold and silver. They control more than half of the beverage supply in the capital. Although they don’t know the relationship between Qi Yun and Ye Pingrong and the princess Huaning, they just rely on it. When they were able to come, they would finalize the house in the East City, knowing that someone would support them in the court.

Such a family, even if they have just entered the capital, others dare not look down upon it.

Except for Ye Jiao's tea-tasting banquet before, there was no chance of contacting the Qi family at other times.

Nowadays, because of Qi Ming's tribute, there are a lot of guests. Except for congratulations, they come to explore the Qi family and have a relationship with Qi Yun. After all, they are all businessmen and will have some contact in the future.

The Qi family prepared firecrackers and lanterns, but there was no extravagance. The banquets were only limited to the front hall and did not allow people to enter the back hall. The guests who came would also understand that Qi Saburo still had to prepare for the palace exam. So as to disturb him, when he came, he consciously didn't bring the female family.

In this way, Ye Jiao can also relax.

In contrast, the Wen family is much quieter.

Before they jumped the highest, now they also fall the hardest.

Although the test is often thousands of students competing for 300 places, it sounds like a lot of people take the test, but this is the capital from all over the country, and the children from the capital really occupy less than one-tenth of it. Among the merchants, they want to support A good seedling is really not easy.

Different from the poverty of the poor and the poor, the sons of the rich and the rich were born with a golden spoon. They hardly need to work hard to obtain wealth that others cannot ask for.

Since you can live without worrying about food and clothing, why do you have to work hard?

Coupled with the fact that the imperial court treats businessmen well, and there is no discrimination in ordinary life, it makes those businessmen's children less motivated.

Therefore, among the merchants' homes on the east side of the capital this year, the only candidates who took the exam were Wenliulang and Qi Saburo.

Before the list was released, the Qi family had no voice, and Qi Ming even ran out and followed Guan Qin around everywhere. He didn't seem to be confident. Wen Liulang often went to and out of the poetry collection and essay meeting, as if he was winning.

The result was put on the list, and Qi Saburo was ranked low, but Wen Liulang fell short of Sunshan.

The outside laughing at the Wen family has never stopped, and the two families live close together, how lively the Qi family is, and how deserted the Wen family is.

But during this period of time, the one who came to Qi's house to find Ye Jiao most was Shi, the mother of Wen's house.

Ye Jiao is definitely not happy to change to someone else, but now that he knows that Shi is Shi Tianrui’s relatives, and because Shi helped Ye Jiao before, Little Ginseng is much closer to her, and she usually associates with her. Also more.

Shi often brings some home-made snacks and fruits, and tells Ye Jiao about many things in Beijing: "Our merchants are not comparable to those of the officials. Even if someone is the backer, it is not good to be discordant with the people. Be cautious. Be careful about everything, especially the apricot blossoms have been blooming well in the past few days, and there are often flower fairs. When the work of your Saburo Palace is finished, I will take you around."

Ye Jiao nodded with a smile, and looked at Shi Shi with her chin.

Shi Shi was peeling the loquat fruit, felt Ye Jiao's gaze, and smiled back at her.

In terms of appearance and character, the Shi clan is always provocative. Compared with the lifelessness of the first time we met, the Shi clan loves to talk and laugh, seeing a lot more fresh.

Little Ginseng has not gone through too many people's sufferings, she just thought, happy days are one day, unhappy days are also a day, Shi Shi treats her well, she knows that now she can watch Shi Shi live happily, she is also happy .

Shi Shi gave Ye Jiao half of the peeled loquat: "Try it."

Ye Jiao took it and took a bite, then her eyes widened slightly, especially surprised: "So sweet..."

Shi Shi also peeled one for himself, and said with a smile: "This is what I produced in the orchard in the suburbs of Beijing. This is the day when I eat loquat, and I won't be able to eat it later."

Ye Jiao was a little curious: "Orchard? Is there only loquat?"

Shi’s voice was gentle and gentle: “There are all kinds of things. This garden was in my dowry. My brother was not in high school at that time. In order to spend my money on this garden, I managed it carefully and expanded a lot over the years.” The voice paused slightly, Shi Shi said softly, "Even if I can't live in the Wen family in the future, as long as I can keep this garden, then I can live by myself."

Ye Jiao raised a smile and said to Shi Shi, "Yingxiu, don't you feel at ease. Didn't Hua Ning say that Shizhi County will come back sooner or later? Your life will be easier then."

Shi Shi nodded and replied softly, "Well, it must be better."

While talking, Xiao Su pulled in the curtain and hesitated for a while and said: "Second young lady, there are people coming again, saying that the grandmother is uncomfortable, so I have to ask a doctor to come in.

Ye Jiao blinked her eyes, a little puzzled: "If you ask a doctor, please, Yingxiu doesn't know how to see a doctor. What will you do?"

Shi's understands these twists and turns better than Little Ginseng, and while rubbing her fingertips with a kerchief, he said: "She is trying to make me angry and stop me, so that she can start to tell me that I am not the one. Grab my stewardship."

Mrs. Mo on the side did not speak, but lowered her head slightly, which was obviously not surprising.

In the past, when she served the Liu family, it was not all smooth sailing. Even if Qi's father had no outside heart, she couldn't stop the woman who looked at the Qi family's growing wealth and wanted to go up.

Mrs. Mo had seen the hands of the Liu family, and had heard of the mess in the back house next to her. Now Aunt Sun’s style is nothing new.

But Ye Jiao and Xiaosu both showed surprised expressions on their faces.

Then, Ye Jiao looked at Shi Shi: "Then what do you do?"

Seeing this, Shi Shi smiled and shook Ye Jiao's hand, and said warmly: "Don't be afraid of Jiao Niang, I can handle my family's affairs."

And in Shi Shi's heart, Ye Jiao is blessed, don't let these dirty things be good for her.

With a smile on his face, Shi Shi peeled another loquat to her.

Ye Jiao took it, but didn't eat it right away. Instead, she looked at Shi and said, "Are you going to hire a doctor for her?"

Shi Shi smiled, did not answer, but wiped his hands and got up to leave.

Ye Jiao knew something was going on in her house, so she didn't keep it, so she asked someone to bring her a bowl of fresh apricot cheese from the small kitchen.

After leaving Qi Mansion, the smile on Shi Shi's face became cold.

The woman who followed saw that she was angry, and hurriedly said, "Madam, you can't behave like that little bitch. She just jumped around with a child and couldn't turn it over."

Shi didn't speak, and before going to the sedan chair, he whispered softly: "She has three sons and is now pregnant. A few days ago, her husband vaguely revealed that she wanted to give her housekeeping rights."

In a word, the woman's face turned pale.

In fact, she is very clear about the situation of her master, and continued, her family has no support, whether there are children or not, she is an empty shell in the house, even the subordinates are facing the Sun family.

Now that Sun’s son has grown up, even if he hasn’t been admitted to Gongsheng, the eldest son will still have a second son.

Once one gets up, the master is a doting concubine and annihilating his wife again. This day is probably really too much for him.

Shi was very calm, and while holding her hand in the sedan chair, he said, "Since I am not willing to live a good life, I don't need to keep a face."

The mother-in-law hesitated a moment and asked, "Should I get her a doctor?"

Shi’s voice came from the sedan chair: "Please, please the best, please ask a few more. Since she is ill, she will be treated properly. Tell the doctor that whether she is ill or not, we must take good care of Sun’s fetus. Our Wen family There is no shortage of money, just give her a lot of money. You can use all the good medicines. Don't let her do anything wrong."

The mother-in-law did not understand Shi's meaning, but did not ask much, but instead gave orders.

Shi touched the food box, smelled the sweet aroma of apricot cheese inside, and closed his eyes slightly.

This matter was soon told by Tie Zi to Qi Yun.

Qi Erlang, who was reading the account book, had a pause, looked up at Tiezi, and asked, "Do you know who the Shi clan hired?"

Tiezi replied: "All the famous people have been invited. It is said that the battle is not small, and two of them are left in the mansion, saying that they cannot leave until the Sun family has a son."

Qi Yun didn't speak, but tapped the desktop with his fingertips, not knowing what he was thinking.

Tie Zi was a little puzzled: "Second Young Master, what is Madam Wen doing?"

Qi Yun replied without thinking about it: "It's up to her what she wants, but the Wen family is really not a good thing."

Tie Zi rarely heard Qi Yun comment on a family like that, even the Shao family of the Lu family, Qi Yun never said that.

Apart from porcelain, Tiezi couldn't think of any other faults in the Wen family.

Then Qi Yun said: "The quarrel between the Sun family and the Shi family is their own business, but the Sun family actually made a noise at my door, and even quarreled the Jiao Niang, showing the face of Luo Jiao Niang. I bear it down, I'm afraid that any cat, dog, or dog will come to my door and make trouble to see the girl."

Tiezi:...

No wonder the Second Young Master was angry... So it turned out to have offended the Second Young Master?

But the second young lady didn't expect to be angry herself.

Qi Yun didn't care about this. He closed the ledger, took out the letter paper from the drawer, and said while writing: "Wait and ask Guanshi Qin to see me, and let him bring the old porcelain-burning man with him."

"Yes, the second young master."

"Remember to be concealed, don't disturb others."

"Yes."

Not long after, Qi Yun finished the letter, read it and added a few more words, then put it in the envelope and handed it to Tiezi, "Send it back to Shizhi County as soon as possible, remember, let someone hand it over. Shizhixian will come to see me with a reply letter at that time."

Tie Zi immediately took it and put it in his arms and responded. Before turning around to go out, he turned back and said, "Second Young Master, do you want to send a letter to Madam? Third Young Master has not told the master and madam about the matter. ."

Qi Yun originally wanted to nod his head, but he soon changed his mind: "My mother has always been worried about how serious things are about the third brother. Now he has passed the exam, but he will only try it. It hasn’t started, if I tell her, I’m afraid I’ll worry about the palace exam again. Wait, wait until the result of the palace exam comes out before going back to report the good news.

Tiezi responded and walked away quickly with the letter.

After a few more days, it was the day when the tributes entered the palace for a trial.

The hall exam is different from the previous exams. The chief examiner is not an official, but the emperor of the dynasty. Therefore, candidates who enter the hall exam are also called emperor students, and the exam location is also arranged in the palace, and the rules are more than before. Be careful.

After entering, the paper is not directly written, but there is a set of rules and etiquette, and everything cannot be overlooked.

Only one test, only one essay, the future is tied to this one, no one dares to be careless.

Early this morning, Qi Yun went to call Qi Ming, stared at him clean face and dress, and said: "I'll see you off later."

Qi Ming was wiping his face with a cloth towel, and he couldn't help but say: "Second brother, I don't know if the righteous brother will come, if he comes, I will go with the righteous brother."

"Don't worry, he won't come. He must be busy today." Qi Yun said with certainty. Before Qi Ming asked, he stood up and said, "Pack up as soon as possible. I will wait for you in the carriage outside. "

Qi Ming said "Oh", obediently put down the cloth towel, and prepared to tie his hair again, making him look more energetic.

Chu Chengyun had told him before that the palace exam was directly facing the emperor. At that time, the examination was not only about literary talent, but also manners and demeanor, which might influence the emperor's judgment.

In the words of Brother Yi: "Today's sage is wise and martial, and with insightful eyes knows the great. If you are a virtuous brother, you can really go to the palace exam. Since you want to get a good ranking, naturally you have to pay more attention to it and be more capable. "

Thinking of this, Qi Ming sighed.

Since he was admitted to Gongshi, he has never seen brother righteous again, and he doesn't know if his brother is living well now...

"Boom boom."

At this moment, Qi Ming heard his door be knocked, but when Qi Ming went to open the door, he saw no one.

When I was confused, I felt the clothes being pulled.

He lowered his head and met a pair of bright eyes.

Xu Bao was holding an oil paper bag in his hand, and his small hand was tightly squeezed. Seeing Qi Ming bow his head, Xiao Pang immediately showed a smile on his face. He pulled his clothes, paddled his feet, and raised his little fleshy hand hard: "This, milk cake, for the third uncle."

Qi Ming felt warm and bent down to hug Xu Bao, but Xu Bao hid.

The little guy stuffed Qi Ming with the oil paper bag, and his voice was soft: "Uncle San, eat quickly. After eating, go to the prime minister."

Qi Ming wanted to tell him that he was still so far away from the prime minister, but with the look of Shang Xubao's expectation, Qi Ming couldn't say anything. He nodded and replied: "Okay, I will take the test. , Lives up to Xu Bao's expectations of me."

Xu Bao blinked: "Uncle? Xu Bao has no uncle."

Qi Ming couldn't stop smiling on his face, squatted down and kissed Xu Bao, then squeezed his cheek before he got up and ran away.

As for Xu Bao, he took two steps with his short legs and stopped following. He watched Qi Ming leave, and stretched out his hand to the waiting wife Mo, "I'm going to find my mother."

Madam Mo hurried forward and picked up Xu Bao, but instead of returning to Ye Jiao's yard, she went to the garden.

As soon as she entered the Moon Cave Gate, Mrs. Mo took a breath.

The original garden was full of beautiful flowers. Although Ye Jiao had said before that he would find a place to plant medicinal flowers, but because of repeated rains in Qi Ming's preparations, construction did not start.

Now, Qi Ming can get fame in another palace exam, and the weather has been fine for a long time, so Ye Jiao made people start work.

It's just that she didn't flatten all the gardens. Instead, she used the rockery as the boundary. The east side of the reservation only moved the west side.

When Mrs. Mo went in with Xu Bao, the flower garden had been half pulled up, and the people were busy with each other. It seemed to be in full swing, and it was inevitable that people came and went.

Xu Bao immediately turned his head and hugged Mrs. Mo's neck tightly. Mrs. Mo also stretched out his hand to protect him and walked quickly towards the promenade.

And in a pavilion around the corner, Ye Jiao was sitting inside, with a small bed next to it, and inside it was a dragon and a phoenix who were playing ball.

When Xu Bao saw Ye Jiao, he stretched out his hand to her: "Mother, hug."

Ye Jiao smiled and took him, letting him sit in her arms, her eyes turned towards Mrs. Mo and asked, "Has Saburo gone out?"

"Back to the second grandma, the third young master has already left, and the second young master said to send him.

But before Ye Jiao spoke, Xu Bao raised his head in his arms and said happily, "Xu Bao gave Uncle Third Uncle cakes to eat!"

Ye Jiao kissed him with a smile and said, "Xu Bao is really good."

The little guy also smiled, and Le Dian dangled in Ye Jiao's arms.

Little Ginseng looked at the busy people in the flower garden, turned his head to Xiaosu and said, "Xiaosu, some of the medicinal flowers depend on the sun, some have to be shaded, and some have to be planted in the water. some."

Xiaosu has been following Ye Jiao for so long, and when she was in her hometown, she had been helping to care for the medicinal flower garden. These were all very familiar.

Hearing this, he responded and walked over quickly.

The little girl has always been well-behaved and fluent in front of Ye Jiao, but she is particularly imposing in front of the other servants. Looking at the skinny, she speaks very neatly and can scare people.

These people quickly became organized, Xiaosu stood aside, staring at them one by one, with an extremely strict expression.

Ye Jiao rarely sees Xiaosu's side. Now she sees it, and she can't help but smile: "Xiaosu is really different from before. She used to be greedy and playful. Now she looks a bit like Mother Liu next to her. "

Mrs. Mo also laughed, feeling that this Xiaosu was really good.

Because Mrs. Mo is an old man by the Liu family, she has also seen the girls in the mansion. This Xiaosu was originally to feed the chickens and run errands, but she was honest and loyal, and was taken by Ye Jiao. Qi Yun threw it to Mrs. Liu for teaching.

The timid and greedy little girl in the past is now a neat big girl. Looking at the second young master, Tie Zi especially likes her. If this marriage is made, Xiao Su doesn't know how easy it will be.

Xu Bao was originally staring at his younger brother and sister in the crib. Hearing this, he raised his head and looked at Ye Jiao and asked, "Where is Mama Liu?"

Ye Jiao touched his hair: "Do you miss her?"

Xu Bao nodded honestly. He used to go to Liu's place to sleep, and it was Mrs Liu who coaxed him at night, and it was normal to think back.

But Xu Bao quickly said again: "I miss Brother Shishi more."

Ye Jiao smiled and said, "In a few months, Xu Bao will have a younger brother or younger sister again. Is Gao unhappy?"

Xu Bao immediately moved back, staring at Ye Jiao's belly with wide eyes: "Is there a younger brother and sister in my mother's belly?"

Ye Jiao hugged him hurriedly and flicked his little forehead: "It's your auntie who wants to have younger brothers and sisters, your brother Shishi's sisters."

Xu Bao blinked and clapped his hands with a smile: "Xu Bao is amazing!"

Ye Jiao didn't know why he suddenly came up with such a sentence and asked, "What does it have to do with you?"

"Xu Bao has a younger brother, a younger sister, two, Xu Bao is great!"

Ye Jiao felt right when the words came out, but felt wrong again.

Xu Bao unilaterally announced his victory, and then Le Diandian stretched out his hand toward the crib: "I want to study for my younger siblings."

Ye Jiao got up and put him in the bed of Ning Bao and Ruyi.

Said it is a small bed, in fact it is more like a couch surrounded by fences.

The fence is not high. It is surrounded by square pillows and cotton pads to avoid bumping. The small bed is covered with thick pads, so you won’t feel pain even if you accidentally fall.

These are all because now Ning Bao and Ruyi can sit and climb. Although they can't stand yet, they are already much more flexible than the little milk dolls who could only lie down at the beginning. Naturally, they should take good care of them to avoid injury.

However, these measures are only useful for Ruyi, but Ningbao is useless at all.

From the moment he was taken to the pavilion, Ning Bao had been lying down, or lying on his stomach without moving.

But Ruyi happily crawled around, inspecting her new home, and would lie on the pillow and look out. Sometimes when a butterfly flew over, Ruyi raised her hand to catch it, and she could make herself laugh.

At this moment Xu Bao sat in, and Ruyi immediately crawled over and hugged Xu Bao's leg.

Ning Bao raised his head lazily, glanced at Xu Bao, and then lay down again.

Xu Bao touched Ruyi with one hand, patted Ning Bao's ass with the other, and said solemnly: "Lazy brother, get up and listen to your brother studying."

Ruyi giggled, sat up and clapped his hands appreciatively.

Ning Bao ignored him, lying on his stomach any way he should. In the end, he couldn't bear Xu Bao always poking his ass, so Ning Bao got up and sat down unwillingly.

But when Xu Bao began to recite the "San Zi Jing" seriously, the reaction of the two dolls was reversed.

Ruyi obviously didn't like to listen. She looked left and right. It didn't take long before she lay on her pillow to watch the butterflies.

But Ning Bao listened very attentively.

Ye Jiao was watching, and she didn't know for a moment whether her youngest son could understand or not, but when she thought about Xu Bao's age, she could listen to books obediently, and she felt nothing strange.

Little Ginseng made Mother Mo take good care of them, and she got up and walked to Xiaosu's side and stared at the flower garden with her.

At this moment, a small black figure came over.

Xu Bao was extremely alert, and immediately turned his head, and at a glance, he saw the little thing strolling outside the corridor, and pointed and said: "Xiao Hei!"

Mrs. Mo also followed, and immediately saw the black-haired cock swaggering around.

Because he just made a kite before, Xiao Hei's tail is still bald, but this does not hinder Xiao Hei's pride as a big cock.

He patrolled back and forth with his neck held high, looking at it with extraordinary power.

But Xu Bao has a grudge. He has always remembered that Xiao Hei ate his milk cake and mumbled angrily: "Xiao Hei is bad."

Mother Mo hurriedly calmed down and said, "Master Xu is not anxious, if you don't like it, I will let someone catch it and lock it up."

But before Mother Mo called someone, Xu Bao said, "No need."

Lady Mo was taken aback.

Then Xu Bao’s milky voice said: "Since it can fly out once, it can fly out twice." Xu Bao squinted his eyes, "I want to tell Daddy, let Daddy cover his den. Can't fly out anymore."

Mother Mo:...

He is indeed the son of the second young master.

Xu Bao stopped looking at Xiao Hei, but continued to endorse his younger brother and sister.

But I don't know if Xiao Hei held back for too long and couldn't keep his mouth free, so suddenly he yelled "Wow!"

Xu Bao puffed up his face and was about to speak, only to see Ning Bao move ahead of him.

Ning Bao, who had always been lazy, suddenly grabbed Xiao Boqiu, turned his head, and threw it towards Xiao Hei!

Ning Bao was young and had little strength. He didn't fly the ball very far, but this obviously scared Xiao Hei, and his scream stopped abruptly. He regretted his life and turned his head and ran away. After a while, he disappeared.

Then Ning Bao turned back to face Xu Bao, his eyes clean and clear.

Lady Mo on the side saw it and immediately laughed and coaxed: "Young Master Ning is really nice, knowing that Young Master Xu doesn't like Xiao Hei, this is helping you."

But Xu Bao didn't speak, staring straight at Ning Bao.

After a while, he muffled: "That cloth ball is my favorite...Why don't you lose your yarn ball, brother?"

Ning Bao blinked, his face was innocent, making it clear that he couldn't understand Xu Bao's words.

Seeing Xu Bao no longer endorsed, Ning Bao lay down again, but he hugged his ball of wool tightly in his arms, and refused to give it to anyone.

Mrs. Mo asked people to quickly pick up the cloth ball, wash it and dry it before giving it to the little master.

At this moment, a young man walked over quickly and said something to Mrs. Mo.

Madam Mo nodded, but did not move. Instead, she was still looking at the three children. When Ye Jiao returned to the pavilion with Xiaosu, she said, "Second young lady, second young master is back."

Ye Jiao was taken aback for a moment: "So fast? Where's Saburo?"

Without waiting for Madam Mo to answer, Qi Yun who had already walked into the pavilion said: "He has gone in, and there will be a long wait for the end of the left and right hall examinations. I will come back and take a look, and by the way, ask a doctor to take it over."

Ye Jiao was puzzled: "What do you want the doctor to do?"

Qi Yun's tone is very meaningful: "In case of emergency."