Chapter 149: I Still Thought He Was No Good

Qiao Mai also didn't expect the Pill's effect to be so good; after only one day, Yuan Jiaqi could get up on his own.

The next day, she gave him another Pill, and the injuries were completely healed in two days.

Yuan Jiaqi found it unbelievable; he didn't expect that Qiao Niang's hand held such a good medicine.

He couldn't speak of it, fearing it would bring disaster upon her.

During the few days at home, Qiao Mai personally cooked, stocked supplements for him, and carefully nurtured his body for several days.

When classes began, he left, and Qiao Mai didn't even see him off; he didn't want to waste a single day on his studies, truly obsessed with reading.

When the person left, the old lady pulled Qiao Mai aside and asked.

"What's going on between you two?"

"What's the matter?"

"I see you don't live together? That's not how a married couple should be."

If they hadn't discovered it in time this time, Yuan Jiaqi might have been beaten to the point of a fracture; after all, they were the ones who sent him to the Yiguan.

After Yuan Jiaqi went to the Academy, his master sent him to the Dormitory with five hundred taels of silver.

Everyone knows a Matrilocal Husband's life isn't easy; I have to say, they look promising!

"He looks decent, and his studies are even better; if he goes to Jingcheng, there's a great chance he'll be captured in the marriage‑selection list."

"I have that intention."

It's not that I feel my status is awkward; I'm just afraid of overburdening Qiao Niang.

"Alas, the emperor is far away and won't know the inner affairs; it's just someone's words, he'll just listen to them."

"Jiaqi, you've turned misfortune into a blessing."

He's been here for two months, has made his own friends, and his relationship with a dormitory roommate isn't bad either.

The Second-grade Pill is much harder than the first grade; just the quantity of Spirit Medicine has doubled.

There's no Dan pattern, but the quality is still good; eight Foundation Establishment Pills were placed into the bottle.

However, it gave a note: if taken frequently, one must observe closely for any abnormal occurrences.

"Our Ming Emperor's dynasty values filial piety and ethics; you've performed Family Severance and outright refuse to acknowledge them. If you're fine now, when Jiaqi becomes an official, it will be easy to be criticized."

The old lady, looking at Qiao Niang, didn't know why, felt a sourness in her nose, a little moved, a little envious.

"It's easy to say, hard to do."

Qiao Mai then understood what the old lady was asking; she thought for a moment and said.

As expected, after only a slightly more effortful time than last, the first batch of Second-grade Pill was completed.

So, he was also very grateful to them.

Yuan Jiaqi bowed to his master, "Thank you, Master, thank you, Academy!"

Qiao Mai puffed out her chest, "What others can't do, I can achieve! I'd rather die than be compromised; I will never do something I don't like against my heart."

"Well said, well said, but regarding your parents, I must also give a reminder."

"Then please have the emperor amend the Great Ming Law, removing the Severing Kinship Law provision and the clause about buying and selling people; otherwise, any criticism would be a false accusation."

If he weren't a Matrilocal Husband, he would have invited them to his home to play.

She recalled **** and planned to shape the base platform like a lotus; when reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, Spiritual Energy would turn the Lotus Platform, Spiritual Root into a Nascent Soul—a perfect combination.

"Then study well, because of your situation, the Academy has assigned guards; such incidents won't happen again."

"He never confessed to me; between us is just the way friends get along, so there's no question of changing hearts. If he truly liked me, he should settle the debts he owes me over the years and leave; I would never make things difficult for him."

The old lady opened her mouth, looking surprised: "You two are really capable! I still thought he couldn't do it."

"Thus, his Shizi won't be very smooth."

This isn't her pursuit; to build a foundation one must use Dan‑patterned pills. Continuing to refine, batch after batch, she finally produced the Supreme‑grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

"His family is the same."

"Hmm, the master thinks highly of you; do you plan to take the Imperial Examination next year?"

Occasionally there would be one, always at night, which made Qiao Mai feel uneasy; she looked it up online, but found nothing noteworthy.

She didn't know if it was because of the southern floods, but the north has also had unusually heavy rain this year.

"Take it one step at a time; if Yuan Jiaqi truly returns to his ancestral line because of this, then it will fall apart. I'd rather be an unnoticed village woman than do something against my heart."

This made Qiao Mai a bit nervous; she quickly entered the space, traded the pile of pills on the internet for Spirit Stones, all of Medium‑Grade or higher.

"Old lady, please go on?"

As long as her spiritual power keeps up, the Second‑grade Pill isn't difficult.

Usually, rain and drought accompany earthquakes.

"Hmm, you're right, but what if he changes his heart then?"

"His being a married Matrilocal Husband is known to his classmates, so no one raises a fuss to visit his home, nor does anyone expect him to host guests."

"Jiaqi, we're basking in your glory; now each courtyard has a guard, and school bullying will never happen again."

"Mainly because I don't like being immersed all day in romantic entanglements; life is beautiful with many things to cherish. When you meet someone worth cherishing, hold them tightly; if there's no fate, let go quickly. There's no need for excessive entanglement, which only adds trouble and sorrow."

The Foundation Establishment Pill is a Second‑grade Pill; to properly prepare for foundation building, this pill is essential.

Half a day later, she opened her eyes, picked up the Jade Bottle before her, poured out a Foundation Establishment Pill, tossed it into her mouth, waved her hand, and had all the Medium‑Grade Spirit Stones surround her.

"What should I do? When the holidays start I have to go home; I've received five hundred taels of silver, but I can't treat you all as guests—what now?"

Qiao Mai's complexion steadied, "Then cut through the tangled mess swiftly; I won't force anything that isn't mine. Everyone walks their own path. I live to be happy, cutting away pain."

"Jingcheng is full of talented and beautiful women; resisting temptation and staying consistent is what gives me peace."

The master comforted him with a few words and left; the others in the Dormitory gathered around.

Cleanse oneself, meditate to restore vitality.

"He's not bad; why not turn the pretend act into reality?"

The old lady looked at her, nodded, "What you're doing is quite good; women like you are far too few in this world."

"It's fine; we'll have lunch at noon. Remember to add a few more dishes in the Chufang, and if there's no Wine we can replace it with tea."

"You have a big heart!"

"Good men are plenty in the world; there's no need to love only one flower, right?"

"Academy gives you 100 taels as Compensation; the few Wang Jiaru's Student who bullied you, each family 100 taels, total 500 taels of silver—take it. They are under Suspension for half a year; if they reoffend, they shall never set foot in the Academy again."

When the time of Seclusion approached, she had already settled everything with the outside, so there was no need to rush out.

She is about to begin Foundation Building, circulating the method; all Spiritual Energy appears in a spiral, entering her body from the crown, and she guides it to expand her meridians, cleansing her body.

She has no experience with Foundation Building, but having read books on the subject, she already has a rough direction in mind.

"You only say that when you have no feelings; what about when you do have feelings?"

"It's not the time yet; wait until he becomes an official. If he still sticks to his duties, I'll reconsider; I don't want any unnecessary complications."

"Jia Qi and I are a sham marriage; back then he and Chuan'er were at a dead end and came to me. I hadn't thought about remarrying, but I agreed and took him in as a son‑in‑law."

Qiao Mai's face flushed red, she coquettishly scolded the old lady with a glance, "What are you thinking?"

"But this is not difficult; as long as you grasp its principle, it's merely a matter of using more or less medicine."

At this moment, in her dantian, golden, red, and green spiritual forces continuously surged in, none mixing with another.

Each forging their own little world, after one day, two days, three days, a three‑colored exquisite spirit platform finally succeeded in being built.

Green for leaves, golden for petals, red for stamen; this Lotus Platform is truly beautiful.

The layer above, cloud‑like, Qiao Mai thought it must be Spiritual Mist; she has just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage.

(End of Chapter)