The entire way, Duan Yue was staring at Qiao Mu disbelievingly. “Qiaoqiao, tonight, you have to get hold of the Nine Stars Mirroring the Moon Cauldron no matter what.”
His Qiaoqiao actually used a bunch of items from a street stall to refine pills when her craftsmanship deserved much better than that.
“Mhm, I’ve already prepared the pills that the seller wants. The sooner we finish eating, the sooner we can go and come back.” I hope that person is a straightforward one. After all, Qiao Mu wasn’t willing to waste her breath on other people.
Our dear Qiao Sen was escorted by a servant back from the academy. However, when he saw his Eldest Sister, he was still a bit jittery and evasive.
Nevertheless, the family ate a happy and harmonious dinner.
Qiao Mu took out the pills she had produced and distributed them to her father, second uncle, and Qiao Lin.
The three people were naturally overjoyed, practically unable to take their eyes off the two pills in each of their hands.
“After we finish eating dinner, we’re planning to go to Wurun Pill House and check out the medicinal cauldron that is on everyone’s lips.” Qiao Mu said, “I’ll be coming back a little later, so you just have to send someone to leave the door unlocked.”
Wei Ziqin nodded, instructing, “Don’t be out too late.”
Conversely, Qiao Lin and Qiao Sen[1] gazed anxiously at their sister, sporting expressions that showed how eager they were to go along. However, because their mother had on a stern face, they were both a bit afraid of speaking up.
“Mom.”
“You’re both children, so don’t go running around so late at night. Your eldest sis is a pill alchemist!” Wei Ziqin spat out these two words especially gloriously, her face practically glowing radiantly. “Your eldest sis will be handling serious affairs at the pill house, so you two should know your place and stay at home. Don’t go disturbing your sister.”
Qiao Lin and Qiao Sen exchanged glances before drooping their small heads.
“Mom, it’s fine. It’s almost the new year, so the streets will probably be quite lively. We ate dinner early anyways, so I’ll just bring them around for a stroll. We won’t come back too late.”
Qiao Lin and Qiao Sen raised their heads again, their eyes round and bright as they looked hopefully at Wei Ziqin.
Meeting their gazes, Wei Ziqin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, she finally cast them a brusque glance. “Don’t make trouble for your eldest sis.”
“I know.”
“Mom, I’m very well-behaved.”
The sister and brother duo quickly agreed, and they continuously shoved rice into their mouths especially exuberantly, their hearts so joyous that they flew out of the house.
After finishing their dinner in haste, Qiao Mu and the two men, along with the two children in tow, all boarded the crown prince’s carriage and set off for Wurun Pill House.
However, Shaoyao didn’t go along with them. After politely saluting Wei Ziqin and Qiao Zhongbang, she returned to Nanzhu Garden by herself to put it in order.
“Shaoyao, this child, just keeps getting better as she grows up.” Wei Ziqin sighed with emotion. Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of her nephew Qiao Hu gazing absentmindedly in the direction Shaoyao had left in, spellbound, and she couldn’t resist chuckling in laughter.
“Silly lad, you haven’t seen Shaoyao in a long time. Why aren’t you chatting with her?”
“Isn’t that right, look at how foolish you look right now! Hurry along now!” Second Uncle Qiao smacked the back of his son’s head.
Qiao Hu consequently leaped up and left in haste.
Meanwhile, the carriage had been advancing along Minshun Boulevard for a while, neither quick nor slow.
Before they had even gotten to Wurun Pill House’s entrance, the road had already become crowded. In addition, the snowy roads had made travelling difficult. Two carriages had even crashed into each other, obstructing the middle of the road, and the two parties’ servants were quarrelling loudly while criticizing the other.
Qiao Mu lifted the curtain and poked out her face for a peek. “The area’s been blocked up front. Let’s get out and squeeze in.”
“They haven’t started transacting just yet, so let’s go to that restaurant’s third floor instead. When the time comes, we can just holler directly.” Mo Lian pulled her hand and pointed to a place up front. He couldn’t bear for his little fellow to get shoved around in a crowd of stinky men.
——
[1] Fun fact: The three siblings are Qiao Mu 乔木, Qiao Lin 乔林, and Qiao Sen 乔森. Each subsequent sibling has an additional wood radical 木 in their personal name, which respectively mean tree, woods, and forest.