Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Usually, when living through similar circumstances, they would be unable to discern which one of them was leading a better life than the others.

Nevertheless, the comparison still dreads them.

‘Who was having a more fulfilling life than the other?’ or ‘Who was leading a devasting life than the other?’ – such comparisons more often than not tend to greatly impact one’s mind.

Though Ye Ersao was in a daze, the little Ye Bai failed to detect any peculiarity within her.

After all, a few matters were beyond the comprehension of a young and still half-grown Ye Bao.  Usually, he would throw tantrums and was a glutton, which was gradually fostered by Ye Ersao’s pampering and indulgence. Nonetheless, he wasn’t a rotten one at the core.  

He didn’t wish for Ye Jiao to live with them because he would have to compete with her for his egg custard. However, today, when he chanced upon the beautifully dressed Ye Jiao on the street, with whom he used to live day and night, he couldn’t help but clap in delight as he exclaimed, “ Aunt is truly beautiful, as beautiful as a fairy.” 

His words weren’t mere drivel. Today’s Ye Jiao was indeed a far cry from her former self. 

Even though she only had light makeup, she was born with good genetics. Not to mention, having been eating till she was full and having a lot of good sleep, she no longer looked emaciated with a pale yellow face as she was when living at Ye jia. Also, she was bedecked in new, bright, and well-tailored clothes. Just her robe alone was not something a mere ordinary household could afford. 

With a hand stove carved with floral designs in her hand and a hairpin embellished with jade decorating her hair, although they weren’t overly luxurious, anyone could discern at a glance that she was a furen of a wealthy household. 

However, unbeknownst to him, such casual drivel hit Ye Ersao’s sore spot, causing Ye Ersao to pinch Ye Bao’s plump buttocks in a fit of rage. 

Overwhelmed with pain and unable to understand what he misspoke, Ye Bao broke into a loud wail, feeling extremely wronged. 

Embarrassed, Ye Ersao quickly covered his mouth and scurried away from the place. But Ye Bao was not well-behaved, causing Ye Ersao to trip and fall. 

Though she was unscathed, her good clothes were stained with dirt and a tear appeared near her elbow, fueling her anger even more.  

Turning her head around, she took a glance at the immortal-like Ye Jiao. She felt even more uncomfortable as if she was soaked in sour water from head to foot. 

At this side, Ye Bao was still bawling, but Ye Ersao was no longer in the mood to chide him, only wishing to escape from that place. As if she would be even more embarrassed if she stayed even a moment longer. 

Completely unaware of someone’s arrival and departure, Ye Jiao hoisted herself into the ox cart, which then headed towards Dong-shi’s pharmacy store. 

Dong-shi’s husband, Yan Li was the shopkeeper of the pharmacy. Coincidentally, today, Yan Li happened to be away to replenish the stock in the store, leaving only one attending doctor to be in the pharmacy. 

And fortuitously, this attending doctor happened to be Doctor Li, Qi Yun’s attending doctor. Ye Jiao and Doctor Li exchanged pleasantries before she and Dong-shi walked further into the rear yard to take a look at the medicinal ingredients. 

As it was a pharmacy, all the medicines were categorically sorted on a big shelf with multiple small and big drawers. All the drawers had the names of the medicines stored within them for easy access.

Contrary to her casualness in the wine shop earlier, Ye Jia carefully surveyed them. 

As she examined them, she inquired about their medicinal properties in depth, a few of those even Dong-shi wasn’t aware of. Fortunately, Doctor Li was readily available to assist them, making their master satisfied. 

Only when Ye Jia ensconced herself on the chair by a table, perfectly contented with her study, did Dong-shi release a sigh of relief, as she poured her tea, “Jiao niang, you truly seem to be fond of medicinal ingredients! That’s perfect, moving forward whenever you are free, you can drop by to take a stroll. If I come across any rare medicinal herbs, we can examine them together.”

Her suggestion was truly in line with Ye Jiao’s intentions. She readily nodded her head in affirmation as a bright smile blossomed across her face. 

At that moment, the servant carried a bowl of medicine to Dong-shi, who upon receiving it, examined its temperature, and chugged it down with a crease in her brows. 

 Observing her, Ye Jiao inquired, “Chunlan, are you suffering from any illness?”

 Dong-shi handed the bowl back to the servant. Waiting till the latter has left, she softly explained, “I am not having any illness. Two years ago, I suffered from a miscarriage after an accidental fall. Since then, I have been unable to conceive. Hence the medicine. Nonetheless, despite consuming it for a while now, I still haven’t been blessed with children.” 

Though Dong-shi recounted it on a lighter note, the melancholy and the grievances she had been suffering still spilled out.  

Ye Jiao reached out and gently held Dong-shi’s wrist, shut her eyes, as she began diagnosing her pulse. Indeed, she could sense the damage inflicted on her foundation. Nurturing one’s foundation was not something that could be achieved within a short span. Even after two years of consumption of medicine, her condition hasn’t fully improved.