The news that Qi Ming had won the tribute soon spread in the neighborhood.

The Qi family lives in the east of the city, which is close to the canal, full of shops and mostly businessmen, although it can be regarded as good feng shui compared with the rich officials and eunuchs in the west.

In these streets, although the Qi family was later, they had no shortage of gold and silver and mastered more than half of the wine supply in the capital, although they did not know the relationship between Qi Yun, Ye Pingrong and Princess Huanning. But just because they could come, they decided on the house in Dongcheng, and they knew that there was support in the court.

Even if such a family has just entered the capital, others dare not underestimate it.

Except for the tea tasting banquet before Ye Jiao, there was no chance to get in touch with the Qi family at all.

Nowadays, because of the origin of the tribute in Qi Ming, there are many guests. Apart from congratulations, they are here to explore the bottom of the Qi family and to have a relationship with Qi Yun. after all, they are all businessmen, and they will have more or less contact in the future.

The Qi family prepared firecrackers and lanterns, but there was no special extravagance, and the banquet was limited to the front hall and did not let people into the back hall, and the guests could understand that Qi Sanlang had to prepare for the temple test, so it was not easy to disturb him. consciously didn't bring wife with me when came.

In this way, Ye Jiao can also relax faster.

By contrast, the Wen family is much quieter.

They jumped the highest before, but now they fall the hardest.

Although there are often thousands of students competing for 300 places in the examination, it sounds like there are a lot of people taking the exam, but this is a gathering of the capital from all over the country, and the real children of the capital account for less than 1/10 of them, and among businessmen, it is not easy to provide for a good seedling.

Unlike the poverty of poor and humble families, the sons of rich families are born with a golden spoon, and they can get wealth that no one else can ask for without much effort.

Since you don't have to worry about food and clothing, you can live without doing anything, so why work hard?

In addition, now that the court is kind to businessmen, there is no discrimination in ordinary life, which makes the children of those merchants more and more unmotivated.

Therefore, among the Shangjia families in the east of the capital this year, only Wen Liulang and Qi Sanlang took the exam.

Before the release of the list, the Qi family had no voice, and Qi Ming ran out to follow Qin's steward around everywhere, looking at it without confidence, while Wen Liulang often went in and out of poetry collections and literary meetings, as if he had a chance to win.

As a result, when the list was released, Qi Sanlang was at the bottom of the list, but Wen Liulang was defeated by Wen Liulang.

Outside, the sound of mocking the Wen family has never stopped, and the two families live close to each other. How lively the Qi family is, how deserted the Wen family is.

But during this period of time, the person who went to the Qi family to look for Ye Jiao most was Shi Shi, the mother of the Wen family.

If it were someone else, Ye Jiao would not be happy about it, but now that she knows that Shi is Shi Tianrui's sister, coupled with the fact that Shi helped Ye Jiao out of the siege before, the little ginseng is much closer to her and usually has more contacts.

Shi often brought some home-made snacks and fruits, and would tell Ye Jiao a lot of things in the capital: "We merchants are no better than those official families. Even if some people are backers, they are not always at odds with others. We should be careful about everything. Especially in recent days, apricot blossoms are good, and there are often flower parties. When your Saburo temple test is done, I'll show you around."

Ye Jiao smiled and nodded and looked at Shi with her chin.

Shi was peeling Loquat-Shaped Cake, felt Ye Jiao's line of sight, and gave her a smile.

In terms of appearance and character, Shi is outstanding. Compared with the lifeless at the time of the first meeting, today's Shi loves to talk and laugh, watching a lot of life.

Little ginseng did not go through the sufferings of many people, she just thought that it was a day when she was happy and one day when she was unhappy. Shi treated her well and she knew that she was also happy to see Shi live happily.

Shi handed half of the peeled loquat to Ye Jiao: "have a taste."

Ye Jiao took a bite, and then her eyes opened slightly, especially surprised: "so sweet …". "

Shi also peeled one for himself and said with a smile, "this is what I produced in the orchard on the outskirts of Beijing. This is the time to eat loquat. I won't be able to eat it after a while."

Ye Jiao was curious: "Orchard?" Only loquat? "

Shi's voice was gentle and gentle: "there are all kinds of things. This garden is my dowry. My brother was not in high school at that time. In order to spend all my money on this garden, I have managed it carefully and expanded a lot over the years." Shi whispered, "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 on my own."

When Ye Jiao heard the words, she smiled at Shi and said, "Yingxiu, you feel at ease. Huanning said that Shizhi County can come back sooner or later." It will be easy for you then. "

Shi nodded and replied softly, "well, it must be easy."

While she was talking, Xiao Su picked up the curtain and hesitated and said, "here comes another woman, saying that Aunt Sun is not feeling well. She wants to ask for a doctor and wants to come in."

Ye Jiao blinked, somewhat puzzled: "Please take care of the doctor, Yingxiu will not see a doctor, why come to you?"

Shi understood these twists and turns better than Little Ginseng, wiping her fingertips with a veil and said, "she's trying to make me angry and stop it, so that she can tell my public that I'm wrong and rob me of my stewardship."

Mrs. Mo on one side did not speak, but bowed her head slightly, obviously not surprised.

In the past, when she served Liu, it was not plain sailing, even if Qi Fu had no outside heart, he could not stop the woman who wanted to go up to the Qi family who wanted to get richer and richer day by day.

Mrs. Mo has seen Liu's hands, and she has also heard of the mess in the back of the house next to her. Now Aunt Sun's style is nothing new.

On the contrary, Ye Jiao and Xiao Su looked surprised on their faces.

Then Ye Jiao looked at Shi and said, "what are you going to do?"

Shi saw this, then smiled and shook Ye Jiao's hand, Wen Sheng said: "Jiao Niang is not afraid, I can handle the affairs of my family."

And in Shi's heart, Ye Jiao is blessed, these dirty things do not let her into the ear.

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

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

Shi smiled and did not answer, but wiped his hands and got up to say good-bye.

Ye Jiao knew that there was something in her house, so she didn't stay, but asked someone to bring her a bowl of apricot cheese that had just been made in the kitchenette.

When he left Qi Fu, the smile on Shi's face cooled down.

The woman who followed saw that she was angry and said hurriedly, "Ma'am, you don't have to know anything like that little bitch."

Shi Shi did not speak. Before getting into the sedan chair, Shi whispered, "she has three sons, and now she is pregnant. A few days ago, Xianggong vaguely revealed that he wanted to give her the right of housekeeping."

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

In fact, she is well aware of her master's situation, she has no family to rely on, has no children, and is an empty shell in the house, even if she is subordinate to Sun.

Now that Sun's son has grown up, even if he is not admitted to the Gong student, the eldest son will not have a second son, and he will be able to have a promising future after all.

Once he got up, his Lordship was a beloved concubine and killed his wife. probably couldn't live this day any longer.

Shi was very calm, holding her wife's hand into the sedan chair and said, "since I don't want to live a good life, I don't have to save face."

The woman hesitated and asked, "do you still want to hire her husband?"

Shi's voice came from the sedan chair: "Please, please the best, please invite a few more. Since she is ill, she should be treated well, telling the doctor that she should give Sun's baby well no matter whether she is ill or not. We Wen family are not short of money. Just give more money. Use all the good medicine. You mustn't let her do anything wrong."

The woman didn't understand what Shi meant, but she didn't ask any more questions, but obeyed her instructions.

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

The matter was soon told to Qi Yun by Tiezi.

Qi Erlang, who was originally looking at the account book, looked up at Tiezi and asked, "do you know who Shi invited?"

Tiezi replied, "all the famous ones have been invited, saying that it is not a small battle, and that two have been left in the mansion, saying that they have to wait for Sun to have children before they can leave."

Qi Yun did not speak, but clicked his fingertips on the table, not knowing what he was thinking.

Tiezi was a little puzzled: "second young master, what is Mrs. Wen going to do?"

Qi Yun replied without thinking, "she can do whatever she wants, but the Wen family is really not a good thing."

Tiezi seldom heard Qi Yun say so about a family, even before the Lu family and Shao family, Qi Yun had never said so.

It happened that Tiezi could not think of anything wrong with the Wen family except for the porcelain.

Then I heard Qi Yun say, "the struggle between Sun and Shi is their own business, but Sun unexpectedly came to my door, quarreled with Jiao Niang, and made clear the face of Liao Niang. If I put up with it, I'm afraid that in the future, all cats and dogs will be able to come to my door to see Jiao Niang."

Tiezi:.

No wonder the second young master is angry. Did you mess with the second mistress?

But the second daughter-in-law didn't even expect to be angry.

Qi Yun did not care about this. He closed the account book, took out the stationery from the drawer, and wrote, "ask Manager Qin to come to see me later and ask him to bring the old porcelain-fired man with him."

"Yes, second young master."

"remember to hide and don't disturb others."

"Yes."

Not long after, Qi Yun wrote the letter, read it again and added a few more words, then put it in the envelope and handed it to Tiezi and said, "send it back to Shi Zhi County as soon as possible. Remember, let someone hand it over to Shi Zhi County, and then come to me with a reply."

Tiezi immediately took it and put it in his bosom and answered. Before he turned to go out, he turned back and said, "second young master, would you like to take a message to your wife?" The third young master has not yet told his ladyship and his ladyship about his success. "

Qi Yun originally wanted to nod, but he soon changed his mind: "my mother has always been very worried about her third brother, and now she has passed the exam, but she has only tried it, and the temple examination has not yet begun." if you tell her, I'm afraid you'll have to worry about the temple exam. Wait a minute, it's not too late to go back and report the good news after the results of the exam. "

Tiezi answered and left quickly with the letter.

After a few more days, it was time for the tribute students to try out in the palace.

Unlike the previous exams, the examiners are not officials but emperors, so the candidates who enter the palace examination are also called the son of Heaven students, and the examination venue is also arranged in the imperial palace, all kinds of rules should be more careful than before.

After entering, it is not a direct test paper, but there is a whole set of rules and etiquette, nothing can be omitted.

Only one exam, only one article, the future is tied to this one, no one dares to be careless.

Early that morning, Qi Yun went to call Qi Ming, stared at him dressed, and said, "I'll see you off later."

Qi Ming was wiping his face with a cloth towel. When he heard the words, he could not help saying, "second Brother, I don't know if Brother Yi will come. If he comes, I will go with him."

"Don't worry, he won't come. He must have something to do today." Qi Yun said firmly that without waiting for Qi Ming to ask, he stood up and said, "clean up as soon as possible. I'll wait for you in the carriage outside."

Qi Ming said "Oh" and obediently put down the cloth towel, ready to tie his hair again, looking more energetic.

Chu Chengyun said to him before that the temple examination is to face the emperor directly, and at that time, it is not only the literary style, but also the manners and manners, and even the appearance, which may influence the judgment of the emperor.

In the words of Brother Yi, it is: "Today, the Holy Master is wise and wise, and if you can really go to the temple to test, since you want to get a good ranking, you should pay more attention to it and be more mentally competent."

When he thought of this, Qi Ming sighed.

Since he was admitted to Gongshi, he hasn't seen his brother again, and don't know if his brother's life is good or not.

"knock."

Just then, Qi Ming heard his door knocked, but Qi Ming did not see anyone when he went to open the door.

When was confused, felt clothes being pulled.

He bowed his head and met a pair of sparkling eyes.

Xubao held an oil paper bag in his hand and squeezed it tightly. seeing Qi Ming bowing his head, Xiao Pang immediately smiled, tugged at his clothes, put his feet on his feet, and raised the little meat hand hard: "this, milk cake, for the third uncle to eat."

Qi Ming warmed his heart and bent down to pick up Xu Bao, but Xu Bao hid for a while.

The little guy stuffed the oil paper bag to Qi Ming, and his voice was soft and waxy: "eat quickly, third uncle, and go to test the prime minister."

Qi Ming wanted to tell him that he was still far away from the prime minister, but Qi Ming could not say anything about the expectant eyes of Xubao, nodded directly and replied, "well, I will take a good exam and live up to the expectations of Xubao."

Xu Bao blinked: "Uncle?" Xubao doesn't have an uncle. "

Qi Ming could not stop smiling on his face, squatted down and kissed Xu Bao, pinched his face again, and then got up and trotted away.

On the other hand, Xubao took two steps with short legs and then stopped. Watching Qi Ming leave, he stretched out his hand to the waiting woman Mo: "I'm going to find my mother-in-law."

Mrs. Mo hurriedly came 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 gate of the moon cave, Mrs. Mo took a cold breath.

The original garden was full of flowers, although Ye Jiao said before that she would find a special place to grow medicinal flowers, but because Qi Ming prepared for the exam and it rained one after another, there was no construction.

Now, Qi Ming can take another temple test to win fame, and the weather has been sunny for many days, so Ye Jiao makes people start work.

It's just that instead of flattening all the gardens, she took the rockery as the boundary, and the reservation in the east only moved the one in the west.

When Mrs. Mo went in with Xu Bao, she had already pulled out half of the flower bed, and the people were busy and seemed to be in full swing, and it was inevitable that people would come and go.

Xubao immediately turned his head and clasped Mrs. Mo's neck. Mrs. Mo also stretched out her hand to protect him and walked quickly to the promenade.

In a pavilion around the corner, Ye Jiao is sitting inside, next to a small bed with a dragon and Phoenix twins playing with a ball.

When Xu Bao saw Ye Jiao, he held out his hand to her and said, "Mother hugs you."

Ye Jiao took him with a smile and let him sit in her arms. Her eyes looked at Mrs. Mo and asked, "is Saburo out yet?"

"back to the second young lady, the third young master has already left, and the second young master said he would see him off."

But before Ye Jiao spoke, Xu Bao in her arms raised her head and said excitedly, "Xu Bao gave the third uncle cake to eat!"

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

The little guy also smiled and swayed happily in Ye Jiao's arms.

The little ginseng looked at the busy people in the flower bed and turned his head to Xiao Su and said, "Xiao Su, some of those medicinal flowers rely on yang, some have to carry yin, and some have to be planted in the water. Go and keep an eye on them."

Xiao Su has been with Ye Jiao for so long, and she has been helping to take care of the medicinal flower bed when she was in her hometown, which are very familiar with her.

Smelling the words, he answered and walked over quickly.

The little girl has always been clever and obedient in front of Ye Jiao, but she has extra momentum in front of other servants. She looks thin, but she speaks neatly and scares people.

These people soon got organized, while Xiao Su stood by, staring at them one by one, looking particularly strict.

Ye Jiao seldom saw this side of Xiao Su, but now she saw it and smiled and said, "Xiao Su is really different from what she used to be. She used to be gluttonous and playful, but now she looks a bit like Mother Liu around her mother."

Mrs. Mo laughed as well, but she sighed with emotion that Xiao Su was really lucky.

Because Mrs. Mo is an old man around Liu, she has also seen all the girls in the house. This Xiao Su was originally feeding chickens to run errands, but she was honest and loyal, and was brought to her by Ye Jiao and taught by Qi Yun.

The timid and greedy little girl in the past is now a neat big girl. Looking at the iron son around the second young master, she is particularly fond of her. If this marriage succeeds, Xiao Su does not know how easy life will be.

Xubao was staring at his younger brother and sister in the cot. Smelling the words, he looked up at Ye Jiao and asked, "where is Mama Liu?"

Ye Jiao touched his hair and said, "do you miss her?"

Xu Bao nodded honestly. He used to sleep at Liu's place. Liu's wife coaxed him at night, and his recollection was normal.

But Xubao quickly said, "I miss Brother Stone more."

Ye Jiao smiled and said, "in a few months, Xubao will have another brother or sister. Are you happy?"

Xubao immediately moved back and stared at Ye Jiao's belly: "does my mother have a brother and sister in her belly again?"

Ye Jiao hurriedly hugged him and flicked his little forehead: "it is your eldest aunt who is going to have a brother and sister, your brother and sister of stone."

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

Ye Jiao did not know why he suddenly came up with such a sentence and asked, "what does it have to do with you?"

"Xubao has a younger brother, a younger sister and two. Xubao is awesome!"

As soon as this remark came out, Ye Jiao thought it was right, but she didn't think it was right.

Xubao unilaterally declared his victory, and then stretched out his hand to the cot with delight: "I want to study for my younger brother and sister."

Ye Jiao got up and put him in Ningbao and Ruyi's cot.

It is said that it is a cot, but it is actually more like a couch with a fence around it.

The fence is not high, surrounded by square pillows and cotton pads to save bumps, while the cot is covered with thick cushions that won't hurt even if you accidentally fall.

All these are because now Ning Bao and Ruyi can sit and crawl. Although they can't stand yet, they are much more flexible than the little baby dolls that could only lie down. Naturally, they need to be well protected from injury.

However, these measures are only useful for Ruyi, but Ningbao is of no use at all.

Since he was taken to the pavilion, Ning Bao has been lying down, or lying on his stomach, not moving.

But Ruyi is happy to crawl around, inspect their new residence, but also lie on the pillow to look out, occasionally when a butterfly flies over, Ruyi raised his hand to grab, he will be able to make himself laugh.

Now Xu Bao sat in, and Ruyi immediately climbed over and hugged Xu Bao's leg.

Ning Bao looked up lazily, took a look at Xubao, and then lay down again.

Xubao touched Ruyi with one hand, patted Ningbao's ass with the other, and said solemnly, "lazy brother, get up and listen to my brother study."

Ruyi giggled, sat up and clapped his hands.

Ningbao ignored him, how to lie on his stomach, finally can not bear Xu Bao always poke his butt, Ningbao this is not willing to get up and sit down.

But when Xu Bao began to recite the three-character Sutra solemnly, the reaction of the two dolls was reversed.

Ruyi obviously didn't want to hear it. He looked left and right, and it wasn't long before he lay down on the pillow to see the butterfly.

It is Ningbao who listens attentively.

Ye Jiao watched, not knowing for a moment whether her youngest son could understand, but thinking that Xubao could obediently listen to books when he was so old, she felt nothing strange.

The little ginseng let Mrs. Mo keep an eye on them, but he got up and went to Xiao Su and stared at the flower bed with her.

Just then, a small black figure came over.

Xubao was very alert and immediately turned his head. At a glance, he saw the little thing walking outside the corridor and pointed to "Xiao Hei!"

Mrs. Mo followed and immediately saw the swaggering black-haired rooster.

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

He looked back and forth with his neck held high, looking particularly majestic.

But Xu Bao holds a grudge. He always remembers that Xiao Hei ate his milk cake and murmured angrily, "Xiao Hei is bad."

Mrs. Mo hurriedly appeased and said, "Master Xu, don't worry, if you don't like it, I'll have it arrested and locked up."

Without waiting for Mrs. Mo to call someone, Xubao said, "No need."

Mrs. Mo was stupefied.

Then he listened to Xu Bao's milky voice: "since it can fly out once, it can fly out twice." Xubao squinted his eyes. "I'm going to tell Dad to cover his nest and never fly out again."

Mrs. Mo:.

He is really the son of the second young master.

Xu Bao stopped looking at Xiao Hei and went on to endorse his younger brother and sister.

But I don't know if Blackie has been holding it for too long, and his mouth is restless, so he suddenly yells "Oh".

Xubao puffed up his face and was about to speak, but he saw Ningbao move one step ahead of him.

Ning Bao, who has always been lazy, suddenly grabbed the small cloth ball, turned his head, and threw it at Xiao Hei!

Ning Bao was young and his strength was small, and the cloth ball did not fly very far, but this obviously frightened Xiao Hei, and the cry stopped abruptly. The desperate Xiao Hei turned around and ran away, and soon disappeared.

Then Ningbao turned back to Xubao, his eyes clean and clear.

When Mrs. Mo saw it, she immediately smiled and coaxed, "it's nice to know that Master Xu doesn't like Xiao Hei. This is helping you."

But Xu Bao did not speak and stared at Ningbao.

After a while, he said in a muted voice, "that cloth ball is my favorite." Brother, why don't you throw your wool ball? "

Ning Bao blinked, his face was innocent, and it was clear that he could not understand what Xubao said.

Seeing that Xubao no longer recite, Ningbao lay down again askew, but held his wool ball tightly in his arms and gave it to no one.

On the other hand, Mrs. Mo asked people to pick up the cloth balls quickly, wash them and dry them before they could play for the little master.

Just then, a boy came over quickly and said a few words to Mrs. Mo.

Mrs. Mo nodded, but did not move, but still looked at the three children. When Ye Jiao returned to the pavilion with Xiao Su, she said, "the second young lady, the second young master is back."

Ye Jiao was slightly stupefied: "so soon?" Where's Saburo? "

Without waiting for Mrs. Mo to answer, Qi Yun, who had already walked into the pavilion, said, "he has gone in, and it will take a long time for the left and right temple test to be over. I will come back and have a look at it first and invite a doctor to take it with me."

Ye Jiao was puzzled: "what do you want a doctor to do?"

Qi Yun's tone was meaningful: "in case of a rainy day."