Chapter 287: Ill‑Gained Illicit Wealth

"Why does her family still have a field?"

"Huh? The houses in Tianshui Town also have fields; the vegetables you grow yourself are far more reassuring to eat. Come, I'll show you."

The two arrived at the field. "Wow, it's my first time seeing farming like this—like planting flowers. A vegetable plot, and the surroundings are made so beautiful. What is this?"

"Eggplant, this is green bean, this is cucumber, this is chives, this is strawberry, this is garlic, this is scallion, this is ginger,"

"Wait, how do you recognize everything?"

"When you marry in, you'll have to manage the farming work too; otherwise you won't win Aunt's favor."

"Heavens, you look less like a princess and more like a village girl."

"I'd rather be a village girl. Though you may not believe what I say, if you listen, heed me: you must marry in; there are only benefits, no drawbacks."

Xiao Qingling pursed her lips, "Marriage is a major matter; parents decide. I do have a good impression of that Yun'er, but I can't just follow your casual suggestion."

"Fine, leave it to them; Mother will find a place, so your maiden family can also have a shop and be convenient."

"But for such a huge matter, the landlord dealt with it that way; don't blame her for being ruthless."

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Liu Yuyi is a physician who treats only the emperor, from a hereditary medical family."

Jin Mama was still explaining to Ling'er on the side, while Qiao Mai sipped tea and looked around.

The Tea House is quiet now; anyone who eats properly doesn't come at noon. Those who do come are just idle and restless.

Qiao Mai's expression grew somber, "Do you have any medicine that stops cough and treats wind‑cold?"

March 26, Yuan Jiaqi, Qiao Mai, the old master and old lady, Fengyun, Ling'er—all rose early to escort Chuan'er into the examination hall.

At dawn, a figure slipped in.

"No suitable shopfront, what shall we do, Mother?"

He let the two children talk alone, then finally settled their marriage matters.

At this critical moment, Jingcheng was swarming with people.

At the examination hall entrance, only Qiao Mai, Ling'er and Jin Mama remained.

Qiao Mai led them to her family's courtyard gate, looked left and right, "Shall we build our own storefront? Mother is also setting up a Small Food Puzi in Jingcheng; the shop on the left for Mother, the one on the right for you?"

Watching Chuan'er enter the examination hall, Fengyun went off to his post, the old master accompanied the old lady to visit neighbors, and Yuan Jiaqi also went to his post.

Qiao Mai suppressed her unease and strolled with Ling'er around Jingcheng; Ling'er didn't have a habit of buying things, she only liked to look at rare items, so they bought nothing along the way.

"Aren't all the scholars rushing to take the exam? What's the matter?"

She was busy for a while; in that moment of neglect, she ended up like this.

"Are you afraid I will kill him?"

When the Xiao family heard it was the newly noble Yuan Wang Laoyezi's household and also Yun's junior general, the rightful wife, they were naturally very pleased.

"Fine, she freely gave two prescriptions, letting these black‑hearted people profit from them, and the profit is huge."

"Yes, one pack for a Yijian."

"Right, take my prescription, make ill‑gotten wealth, damn it!"

She took the two of them to the medical hall, went straight to the counter and asked, "Shopkeeper, do you have any antipyretic medicine for children?"

So they lit a candle and spent the night sitting by the kang table, reading and waiting for the lady.

Every inn was packed; Jin Mama took Ling'er back home, went to the backyard, and looked at Qiao Mai with disappointment.

"Yes, also one pack for a Yijian."

The couple sat down for a chat, "Xianggong, do you know who founded the Mingren Yi Guan?"

"Lady, don't act rashly; I heard Liu Yuyi is a person of good character."

He is the only one in the family who can still advance; after another year of exams, if he passes the imperial exam, the old master can retire comfortably.

At the medical hall entrance, she opened the medicine packet, smelled it, then pinched a pinch and tasted it; these were her two prescriptions, with no adulteration at all.

"Indeed."

"Mother, Jingcheng is too crowded; it's really not as peaceful as the Small Town."

An entire afternoon passed without hearing any ghostly sounds in the Tea House.

Along the way, she noticed that every Mingren Yi Guan entrance had a tiny mark, and the same mark appeared on their carriage.

"Of course not casually; if both of you are willing, then as a matchmaker I will have the two families visit each other and formally announce the union, okay?"

"One pack each."

She had never inquired about the Mingren Hospital, nor knew who the landlord behind it was.

Qiao Mai narrowed her eyes, Yuan Jiaqi quickly poured her a cup of tea, "For a husband, I only think that a life is a matter of heaven; it's not too late to investigate fully before sentencing him to death."

That night, he got up to use the bathroom, saw the emptiness beside him, and knew something was wrong; the lady was about to act.

"What's wrong, lady?"

The marriage proposal ceremony would take place after the imperial exam ended; during this period, everyone paid close attention to the matter.

"How typical."

Silence implied consent; Mu Guniang seized the moment, first consulted Qiao Mai, and seeing that the aunt had no objection, she asked the official matron to go to the Xiao family to announce the marriage.

The Shopkeeper packed the medicine, Jin Mama handed over Two Taels of Silver, and Qiao Mai took the medicine packet and walked out.

"Hmph, how can we let them die easily? At the border war, I see the Mingren Yi Guan doing nothing; it's just a money‑making tool, nothing like a true healer—nonsense!"

"Hehe, the kitchen is good; how long will it take to finish building?"

The three didn't return home at noon; they found a grand Tea House, sat down to rest, ate, drank, and watched.

"Are we all convenient?"

Liu!

To open a medical hall in the Ming Emperor's dynasty, one usually comes from a medical lineage; such lineages typically serve only as imperial physicians, and must be senior imperial physician families.

Don't be fooled by her walking behind them with her back turned; she seems to stare around idly, but inside she's as cold as ice.

Yuan Jiaqi saw that his wife had truly lost her temper, so naturally he wouldn't speak kindly of the medical hall again.

Yuan Jiaqi was also a bit shocked, "So expensive?"

"At most two months, just one shop, it'll be quick."

The businessmen were all in the restaurant at this time, though there were only a few tables of customers.

"A year ago, the Daifu of the Mingren Yi Guan gave me two prescriptions—one to reduce a child's fever and one to treat typhoid—claiming it was to do a real service for the people. When I went out that morning to see their medical hall, a small packet cost a Yijian, which is about the price of a meal."

"Wait, madam."

Qiao Mai recalled the matter at the Mingshi Yiguan in Tianshui Town, so she grabbed her hand and said, "Alright, then let's look around."

After the three returned to the residence, Yuan Jiaqi happened to be dismissed from his post.

"Then shall we go to Yahang?"

Yahang, upon receiving this job, took it very seriously; they hoped to see new materials in this construction, but alas, there were none!

The foreman had been quietly inquiring, only to be greatly disappointed. Qiao Mai replied that the materials were all imported from overseas, already used up, and even if one wanted to buy them at a high price, none were left, completely crushing some people's hopes.

That damn thing costs a Yijian per packet; how could a poor family afford it? That bastard swore to me that once he got the prescription he would wholeheartedly serve the people.

The three were dressed plainly; Jin Mama held Ling'er's hand at the front, while Qiao Mai, hands clasped behind her back, followed them from behind, acting as their bodyguard.

In that way, while Chuan'er was preparing for the exam, construction of a shop began not far on both sides of the Qiao Family Courtyard.

Xiao Qingling's face flushed, and she did not continue the topic.

"Mother, they all have work now; why don't we also stroll around?"

These years of raising children have made Qiao Mai very patient; no matter how angry she feels inside, she appears calm and untroubled on the surface.

"No, I mean let's look first; if it really is him, death wouldn't even be a loss."

So the matchmaker went back to the Qiao Family again; the two families already had some interest, and under the matchmaker's arrangement, the adults of both families met each other.

"From now on, sleep when you need to; I only went out to stroll, I didn't kill anyone!"

"What is that?"

"The Ming Emperor's court isn't just the Mingren Yi Guan; I gave out both prescriptions, and I want to see how the Liu Family will respond."

Yuan Jiaqi let out a long sigh, "So that's how it is!"

(End of chapter)