Hearing this, Xiaoran obediently started to eat. He winked at Jushuang, which instantly made Yi Qing feel like a stepmother.
After dinner, Xiaoran played in the room. Yi Qing was rather laissez - faire in raising children. She always put away the important things and let the child play with the rest at will. If something was broken, she'd buy a new one. If the child got hurt, she'd treat him.
"Ruohong, send someone to check on Xuel Miao'er tomorrow," Yi Qing ordered.
"Yes," Ruohong also missed Xuel Miao'er. Although she was always careless and unruly, Ruohong had missed her a lot during her long absence.
When Xiao Jinghan came back, Xiaoran was already asleep. Yi Qing asked Jushuang to carry Xiaoran away. She wanted to talk to Xiao Jinghan about the matter in the palace.
"Madam, you don't need to worry about this. The emperor is wary of the vassal kings. Those officials in the capital should be given a warning if necessary," Xiao Jinghan said indifferently. "Xu Maozhi said you inquired about the Yunyang Academy?"
"Um..." Yi Qing thought Xiao Jinghan was busy with the Ruyi Cake business and wouldn't know about this. "This matter is of great importance. It must be investigated thoroughly."
Seeing Yi Qing's evasive look, Xiao Jinghan knew she must be aware of the stakes involved. "Actually, the emperor doesn't quite agree with the system of recommendation plus the imperial examination. But this matter touches on the interests of the powerful and noble. It's not easy for the emperor to bring it up directly. This time, since it involves the Marquis of Chunan, if one is not careful... the person who initiated this matter may lose their life."
"Why not the entire family of the Marquis of Chunan?"
Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing.
Yi Qing said reluctantly, "This is not about one person. It's about an interest group."
"Madam is really smart," Xiao Jinghan said.
Yi Qing sat opposite Xiao Jinghan, resting her chin on her hand and frowning. "Even when beating a dog, one has to consider its master..." Suddenly, she relaxed her brows. "What if the master sells the dog?"
"Sell the dog?" Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing.
"You don't need to worry about it. I'll figure it out." After saying that, Yi Qing went to bed, looking like she was gearing up for a big fight.
Three days after the incident with Mrs. Xie, rumors were spreading all over the capital about how domineering and bullying Yi Qing was towards Mrs. Xie. In the eyes of those people, Yi Qing had become a shrew who was unreasonable and prone to violence.
Yi Qing listened with great interest as Lu Youming reported his work and gossiped with her.
"Madam, this has already affected our recruitment. You want to recruit innocent young women, but who would want to go to our Rongyan Hall?" Lu Youming looked at his mistress with a troubled face. "Even the number of customers going to Rongyan Hall has decreased."
"I see." Yi Qing thought Ruohong and the others were too slow. Three days had passed and there was still no news. It seemed that Mrs. Jia was extremely cautious and it was not easy to catch her out.
Lu Youming had no choice. "Then I'll go back first."
Just as Lu Youming left, Ruohong came back with a packet of medicinal dregs. "This is the dregs of the medicine Mrs. Jia drank today. She decocted it herself and then buried the dregs in the back garden." After saying that, she put the dregs on the table.
Yi Qing stirred the dregs with her finger. "Does the Jia Mansion grow medicinal herbs?"
"The people I sent don't recognize medicinal herbs. How about I send someone else?"
"No need. These two kinds of medicinal herbs can also be used as flowers and plants. No one will notice if they are planted at home." Yi Qing smiled after looking through the dregs. "Contraceptive soup."
Ruohong was shocked. "Mrs. Jia has been a widow for a long time and she's at this age. Why would she use contraceptive soup?"
"Mrs. Jia is not yet forty and she takes good care of herself. It's normal for her to be pregnant."
"Then Mrs. Jia..." Ruohong was extremely shocked.
"Get ready. We're going to the Jia Mansion," Yi Qing said directly.
Originally, Yi Qing wanted to embarrass Mrs. Jia directly. But since the queen had come to her in person, she had to save the queen some face. It would be better to settle this matter privately.
The Jia Mansion usually kept its gates closed. The main gate was only opened during festivals, and they usually used the side gate.
Yi Qing went there in the carriage bestowed by the emperor. Seeing such a grand occasion, the Jia family had to come out to greet her.
The Grand Tutor Jia had gone to the palace today, so Mrs. Jia came out in person.
"Madam Xiao, what brings you to our humble abode today?" Mrs. Jia greeted her with a smile, bowing slightly. She played the role of a subordinate to perfection.
"I'm not busy. I came here on purpose." Yi Qing carried a small packet of medicinal dregs and walked straight into the Jia Mansion.
The Jia Mansion was relatively small, and the items used there were all old, but they didn't give a sense of dilapidation. Instead, they were very imposing, making people not dare to underestimate them.
Mrs. Jia followed beside Yi Qing, constantly glancing at the thing Yi Qing was carrying. She felt it was a packet of medicine, but she didn't know what Yi Qing's intention was.
"What kind of tea does Madam Xiao like?" Mrs. Jia asked as they sat down.
"Forsythia and honeysuckle tea," Yi Qing said directly.
Mrs. Jia's heart skipped a beat. "Madam Xiao is really joking. How can forsythia and honeysuckle be made into tea?"
"I'm a doctor. I can do it," Yi Qing said with a smile. "How about I teach Madam Jia?"
Mrs. Jia could hardly maintain her composure. She unconsciously tightened the handkerchief in her hand.
"But this is my secret recipe. Please ask your attendants to leave, Madam Jia," Yi Qing said without any politeness.
"Then I'd like to hear this secret recipe. You all leave," Mrs. Jia calmed herself down. Since Madam Xiao had come to her so boldly, she didn't dare to do anything bad to her.
"Ruohong, guard the door," Yi Qing ordered.
After Ruohong left, only Yi Qing and Mrs. Jia were left in the main hall.
Yi Qing put the medicinal dregs beside Mrs. Jia. "The forsythia and honeysuckle in this need to be processed. Otherwise, it will be harmful to your health if you use it for a long time."
Mrs. Jia suddenly stood up. Her face turned deathly pale and her breathing became heavy.
Yi Qing looked at her calmly, as if this matter had nothing to do with her.
"I don't know what Madam Xiao is talking about," Mrs. Jia slowly sat down and turned her face away.
"I'm telling this to Madam Jia alone, but you don't seem to know. Then how about we gather with the noble ladies in the capital some time and discuss this together?"
Mrs. Jia looked at Yi Qing in shock. After a long time, her expression gradually collapsed. "What on earth do you want?"
"For a woman, it's normal to have desires. This is your own business. My mother's matter is also her own business. I just want Madam Jia to say a few words for my mother."
Mrs. Jia thought for a long time. "Okay."
"Madam Jia'd better not have any other thoughts. Even if something happens to you, I still have the evidence," Yi Qing said slowly. "A person only cares about their reputation in this life and after death."
Mrs. Jia took a deep breath. She did have other thoughts. "Madam Xiao really does things flawlessly."
"But not as perfectly as Madam Jia," Yi Qing replied.
"What should I say?"
"I'll hold a banquet in three days. At that time, Madam Jia just needs to stand by my side."
"Okay." Mrs. Jia didn't want to talk to Yi Qing anymore.
"Madam Jia, don't worry. As long as you don't cause any more trouble, this secret will end with me," Yi Qing comforted her.