Chapter 41: Me!

As Rong Juan and Rong Yang grew busy, both father and son were occupied with inspecting their own fields.

Watching Rong Juan keep Rong Yang by his side, devoting himself to nurturing him into a qualified young heir, Qin Bi narrowed her eyes. If she were unable to conceive in the future, she would treat Rong Juan's child as her own.

If Rong Juan hadn't claimed the child was his back then, Qin Bi wouldn't have wanted him.

Even if she had been told her fate was to live a life without children, Qin Bi wouldn't have wanted him. Running away while pregnant was not the kind of thing she, Qin Bi, would ever do. Since they didn't want her, why bother giving them a child?

But Rong Juan had said the child was his, which meant Rong Juan wanted this child.

Now, she couldn't not want him. Qin Bi doted on the child; he already called her "Mother." Moreover, Rong Yang was Rong Juan's child, the legitimate eldest son of Heir Rong; that fact would never change, and Rong Juan's attitude made that clear.

Thinking back to their divorce, Qin Bi's eyes reddened again; she felt utterly aggrieved.

Qin Bi wiped away her tears just as Rong Juan returned from inspecting the fields with Rong Yang. As soon as the child entered the courtyard, he was full of laughter. For such a small person, he loved to laugh, yet when he straightened his face, he looked every bit the noble young heir.

"Mother," Rong Yang ran to Qin Bi's side.

Qin Bi leaned down and picked him up. "Is the planting finished?"

"No, only the fertile land is planted," Rong Yang shook his head, his voice milky and sweet. "Father and I have to go back in a bit. The second-class fields haven't had the winter millet planted yet, and the soil isn't wet enough anymore."

Qin Bi understood; the rainfall had been limited, and if they didn't plant quickly, it would be too late.

Rong Juan looked into Qin Bi's eyes with a sharp gaze. He reached out to wipe the mist from her eyelashes and spoke in a handsome voice, "Don't dwell on useless thoughts. If you are idle at home, come with me to inspect the fields."

Rong Juan had subordinate officers and advisors, but Qin Bi knew nothing of such things. She shook her head. "I won't go."

It was better not to go; the fields were not a place a Consort should frequent—unless, of course, Qin Bi were skilled in farming. Rong Juan sat down to drink tea, and the maidservants brought up pastries and fruit.

Rong Yang took a piece of osmanthus cake. Sitting between his parents, he swung his little legs happily. After eating, he wanted to go to his own fields to see the planting; he had so many fields!

Rong Juan wiped his mouth and gave him a sip of water. Qin Bi watched, noting that there was no pastry residue on the corners of the child's mouth.

*See? That damned noble upbringing—she didn't have it.*

Rong Juan ate unhurriedly, though his pace wasn't actually slow; after all, having spent years guarding the borders, it wouldn't be realistic for a military officer to eat quickly. After waiting a moment for the little fellow, Rong Yang popped another piece of osmanthus cake into his mouth.

"Okay, I'm full," Rong Yang said.

Seeing the child about to get down, Qin Bi reached out to lift him from the stool.

Rong Juan glanced at Qin Bi. "Let him do it himself from now on."

Rong Yang immediately said, "I'll do it myself."

Qin Bi: "..."

Rong Juan then instructed Rong Yang, "Say something to Mother."

Rong Yang tugged at Rong Juan's robe. "Mother, Father and I are going out."

Qin Bi was amused by his little antics. She walked him out a few steps before Rong Juan picked Rong Yang up and left. Qin Bi felt a surge of indignation; just now, she wasn't even allowed to help, yet him carrying the child wasn't considered spoiling him?

As they walked through the corridor, a guard stepped forward to report, "Heir, Heir He has gifted fifty acres of fertile land to Qin He's child."

*Hah,* Rong Juan sneered coldly. While inspecting their own fields, he took Rong Yang directly to the spot. "Rong Yang, do you see? This piece of land is also yours, but it was given away by the Heir of the Duke of Yan."

Curious, Rong Yang poked his head forward. "Mine?"

"Yes," Rong Juan nodded. "Yours, but the Duke of Yan's estate gave it to a wild child."

Rong Juan looked at the little fellow. "You've lost another piece of land."

"Don't give it away," the child said, feeling cheated.

"It's too late," Rong Juan said. "It has already been given."

Rong Yang pointed toward his own land. "Rong Yang's."

Rong Juan nodded with a smile. "That's right, it belongs to Rong Yang."

After inspecting the fields for over an hour, Rong Juan brought Rong Yang back. After resting for a while, Rong Juan began teaching Rong Yang to read and write, practicing calligraphy, while the advisors also provided guidance to the young heir.

In the years since his rebirth, Rong Juan had been indifferent to most things, but he placed immense importance on this legitimate eldest son. He taught him both literary and martial arts gradually; the child still focused mostly on play, but Rong Juan wanted his child to be the most blessed.

He had had enough of being an Emperor. For the sake of his wife and child, in this life, he would simply be a powerful minister and heir of the Great Yan Kingdom!

However, he wouldn't allow anyone to snatch away what belonged to his son, Rong Yang.

"When you have a younger brother, you can give the title of the Prince's Manor to him," Rong Juan intended to tell the child a bit more. "You also have another home. You can go and inherit the things in that home, alright? If you don't take them, others will dig it empty."

Rong Yang nodded. "Okay."

"Where is that home?" Rong Yang asked.

Rong Juan picked up Rong Yang and went to the street near the Duke of Yan's estate to point it out. The child looked at it a few more times and memorized it; this land was his, and others were trying to dig it empty.

*What should I plant? Cabbage or chili peppers?!*

He hadn't finished planting his second-class fields yet! Rong Yang had work to do; the little fellow was quite proactive.

The rain summoned by the Immortal Sect had left everyone busy with planting. Within three to five days, the crops were mostly sown, and the temperature dropped slightly. It was at this time that an invitation from the Marquis of Qin Yan arrived.

It wasn't for anything major; the Marquis of Qin Yan's estate had had a good harvest, and they were holding a banquet to celebrate.

In the Great Yan Kingdom, planting and harvesting were major affairs. Rong Juan accepted the invitation. For Qin Bi, it was a visit to her maiden home, so no special preparations were needed—only a gift. She left the arrangements to the Consort of the Prince of Rong; as the housekeeper, she should handle such tasks.

Qin Bi wasn't worried about the Consort using underhanded tactics; with Rong Juan around, the Consort wouldn't even be able to dig up a single vegetable.

That morning, Qin Bi picked out several small robes for Rong Juan to inspect. "Is this heir's robe okay? Orange is suitable for children; blue isn't as good as orange. I think Rong Yang will look good in this."

Rong Yang tilted his little head to look and tugged at the robe. "It's okay."

Rong Juan didn't say no, but instead picked out a small red robe. "This one is better."

Rong Yang turned his little head away. "This one is also okay."

Qin Bi: "..."

Qin Bi changed the child into the small robe, fastened his belt, and hung a jade charm for good luck.

"Do I look good?" Rong Yang asked his parents.

Qin Bi praised him, "So handsome."

Once the child was dressed, the adults didn't care much. Once they were ready, Rong Juan took his wife and child into the carriage and headed straight for the Marquis of Qin Yan's estate. By the time they arrived, the front hall of the Marquis's manor was very lively.

As a distinguished guest, Rong Juan was certainly treated with the same honors as He Yan.

In fact, Rong Juan was even more popular. Qin Bi disliked being ostentatious; after offering her greetings, she went straight to the Fourth Branch. In the courtyard of the Fourth Branch, the concubines and illegitimate children had all arrived, along with Qin Han's family.

"Sister Qin Bi, you've come," Qin Han greeted her first, acting very composed.

Qin Bi gave a perfunctory response; she held some reservations about this half-sister.

Seeing Qin Bi, Qin Han's husband, Jiang Mo, felt somewhat awkward. They had once been engaged, only to be broken apart by the interference of the two heirs.