Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Hi! I truly apologise for the long delay. I was caught up with my academics last week and couldn’t find the time to translate till yesterday. There might not be any new chapter in the upcoming week due to impending exams.  However, to redeem myself for my tardiness, I am posting three chapters today!

While I was translating these chapters, I thought of making a few changes. While reading and translating chinese novels, I prefer keeping a few appellations and phrases in Chinese to maintain the original writing style. I originally thought of keeping my translations consistent with the previous ones. But I had a change of thought. Moving forward, I will keep a few terms in Chinese itself, but worry not, I will be adding notes whenever necessary for smooth reading. 

Happy reading!

After putting on the fur coat, Qi Yun became unwilling to take it off. He continued wearing it until Ye Jiao finished bathing and came out in her undergarments, only to find Qi Yun still wrapped in the warm fur coat.

This startled Ye Jiao. The room’s charcoal fire was burning brightly, warming the room to an adequate temperature. Even if she was just wearing undergarments and an outer robe, she didn’t feel cold. Yet, here was Qi Yun, wrapped in a thick fur coat; wasn’t he going to sweat?

Ye Jiao hurriedly said to him, “Take it off quickly; it’s too hot. If you sweat and catch a draft, it won’t be good.”

Qi Yun wanted to say he didn’t sweat much, but he didn’t deny it either. He was indeed warm, and with Ye Jiao already unfastening the buttons of the coat, he simply opened his arms and let her help him remove his clothes.

After hanging the fur coat properly, Ye Jiao took her handkerchief and wiped Qi Yun’s face. “Are you feeling hot?”

With a smile, Qi Yun replied, “Not hot, just warm.”

This confused the Y0ung Ginseng Spirit, “Aren’t both the same?”

Qi Yun wanted to explain, but upon thinking about it, he couldn’t figure out how to explain it. Instead, he gently held her wrist and said, “There are different, entirely different.”

Right at that time, Xiao Su stepped to the door and notified them that dinner was ready before asking if they could set the table. 

Promptly acquiescing, Ye Jaio ambled towards the table along with Qi Yun with her tresses draped over her shoulders. 

The dinner was exceptionally sumptuous. Qi Yun even had Tiezhi deliver a portion of sweet pastries to Father Qi and Qi Zhao. While the leftovers were given to Tiezhi and Xiao Su to share with the others. Every child was fond of sweets at the core of their hearts. Furthermore, sweet pastries were not something they could enjoy all the time. Thus, at Qi Yun’s generosity, the duo cheerfully accepted them and left, leaving only Qi Yun and Ye Jiao in the room. 

Qi Yun only had a light supper and finished quickly, but he didn’t leave the table. Instead, with a warm smile, he remained seated as he gazed at the happily eating Ye Jiao.

The Young Ginseng Spirit also had a particular fondness for sweet pastries. As soon as she took a bite, the crisp outer layer and the contrasting soft, fluffy filling filled her mouth with the delectable aroma of glutinous rice, making her unable to resist them. They may not be as exquisite as other finely crafted pastries, but she couldn’t stop eating them.

Qi Yun ladled a scoop of scrambled eggs and a small portion of greens into her bowl, saying, “These pastries are made by mixing sugar syrup in the dough before frying them in the oil. Although they are very sweet and delicious, they can produce excessive heat in the body. Have some other dishes as well. “

Ye Jiao obediently put the greens into her mouth, with her eyes on Qi Yun. After swallowing her food, she remarked, “Xianggong, you know a lot of things.”

From the trivialities of daily life to the social skills and worldly affairs outside, he seems to know about them all. He even possessed knowledge of the recipes, as if there was nothing that he wasn’t aware of.  

Qi Yun then served her another helping of greens, saying, “Reading a lot of books enables one to acquire more knowledge. If Jiao Niang is interested, I can slowly teach you how to read in the future.”

Ye Jiao promptly agreed to his suggestion and finished the sweet pastry in her hand. Feeling about seventy percent full, she stopped eating. 

Though sometimes she felt gluttonous, she never allowed herself to overeat and always stopped at the right amount.

After drinking a bowl of pigeon soup, Ye Jiao smiled contentedly.

After the meal, it was usually the time when Qi Yun would study. However, today he stayed in the inner room and let Ye Jiao lean against him as he used a comb to brush her long hair.

Ye Jiao’s raven hair was exceptionally well-maintained, giving them a beautiful and luscious sheen. Its texture mimicked that of an expensive silk brocade. 

Ensconced by the charcoal stove, Qi Yun helped Ye Jiao towel-dry her semi-damp hair while casually chatting, “Jiao Niang, the fur coat you bought me was true to my liking. I will surely use it often.” 

Languidly leaning against  Qi Yun, Ye Jiao nudged his arm as she replied, “However, you’ll have to take it off once spring comes. It’ll be too hot otherwise.”

Qi Yun smiled and nodded in agreement.

Feeling drowsy, just as Ye Jiao was yawning, she seemed to have recalled something, “Xianggong, the Sun family seemed to be anything but good.”

Qi Yun preferred refraining from speaking about external matters with Ye Jiao. However, he was planning to expand his business in the near future.  As long as the business prospers, in the days to come, there will be no shortage of people wishing to get acquainted with Ye Jiao for mixed reasons. 

Thus, Qi Yun felt he had to explain a few matters clearly to her.

As he gently wiped her hair ends, he slowly began explaining, “Typically, it is unlikely for any troublemakers to reveal themselves. What’s more, for years the Sun family has been in the money-lending business, making it impossible for their business to contradict our wine shop, it can’t be them. Steward Song has already found the identity of the perpetrators – it’s the Cai family. 

Ye Jiao blinked her eyes and asked, “Who is that?”

“They also run a wine shop. Having been in the wine industry, it’s not uncommon for them to have animosity toward us.” Qi Yun replied while picking up a comb and gently combing her hair down. 

However, there was a hint of indifference in his eyes.

The Cai family had made a significant name for themselves in the town, but their methods were inferior and crude.

Qi Yun didn’t think highly of them. It would be best of the two worlds, if they could coexist peacefully, for when running a business one should know to show benevolence in their actions and foster harmonious relationships. Yet, they had to come and provoke him, blocking his path. 

He can’t have them hover around him always and irk him. Since they had to be a stumbling block, he had to come up with a plan to fling them aside. 

Slightly downtrodden, Ye Jiao said, “Xianggong, what you said makes sense. I was unable to think beyond the surface.”

Soon, Qi Yun’s focus was drawn to Ye Jiao’s pursed lips, temporarily pulling his thoughts away from the business matters, “Fault doesn’t lie with you either. Scheming and malicious ones just harbor too many sinister motives. They are the ones to blame.”

His words cheered up her downtrodden heart, regaining the beaming smile on her lips. As they continued to chat, sleep came to Ye Jiao.

Usually, she wouldn’t have felt sleepy early at this time. However, today she had too much happening. Even though she was using an ox cart, her trip down the town had left her tired. Coupled with a warm hair bath, she gradually drifted into a slumber, still leaning against Qi Yun. 

Qi Yun continued to sit upright, as he let her lean against him, while gently drying her hair.

Once he was done drying her hair, Qi Yun didn’t wake her but remained gazing at her. 

After what seemed a long while, a soft whisper laced with amusement yet honesty left the man’s lips, “In reality, I am the fortunate one.”

She always remarked she was lucky, but Qi Yun distinctly believed that he was the fortunate one.

Meeting such a lovely wife was his stroke of luck.

The next morning, Ye Jiao woke up in Qi Yun’s embrace. Both were still wearing yesterday’s clothes. It was obvious that he didn’t wish to disturb her, thus letting her lean against him.

This time, they weren’t sleeping under separate blankets but were sharing one, sleeping close to one another.

Ye Jiao was an early bird. Thus, as soon as she opened her eyes, the first thing that greeted her was Qi Yun’s magnified face. 

‘En, even with his eyes closed, Xiangging is exceptionally handsome!’

But hold on, she slept in his embrace?

The once slightly drowsy Young Ginseng Spirit was startled awake at once. Without lifting the quilt, she clutched Qi Yun’s wrist.