Chapter 12: Spiritual Energy Ingredients

In ancient times, when court officials attended an imperial audience, it was not unusual for ministers to stay behind for a meal if the state affairs were not yet concluded.

Therefore, Qin Bi did not think much of it.

Not only did Qin Bi not think much of it, but neither did the civil and military officials. When noon arrived, the Emperor of Great Yan felt hungry and glanced at a eunuch, who then went to arrange the midday imperial meal.

The Emperor of Great Yan was a decent ruler who disliked extravagance. Usually, his lunch was the same as that of his officials, except on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, when they ate rice and dishes infused with spiritual energy.

This had always been the custom, and neighboring countries followed the same rule.

Having grown accustomed to eating this way on the first and fifteenth, both the Emperor and his officials had forgotten the distinction. When the food was served, each official received two dishes and one soup—a balance of meat and vegetables—along with a bowl of rice.

If they were still hungry, they could ask for more rice; steamed buns were provided to ensure everyone was full.

He Yan ate quite lightly. Rong Jun, holding the child, was in no hurry to eat.

On the table before them were two dishes, one soup, and the empty plates and small bowls Rong Jun had brought from home. The little fellow was hungry and was gnawing on the small tea bowl that Qin Bi had condensed.

"My dear official, why are you not eating?" The Emperor of Great Yan had just been about to eat when he noticed Rong Jun holding the child without picking up his chopsticks, and he asked.

The officials, who were whispering to one another about the morning's affairs, instinctively looked over upon hearing the Emperor's question. They immediately realized that this God of War-level Heir had not brought a food box.

The Minister of Works showed a look of surprise. Rong Jun had been waiting for this very comment. Holding the child who was gnawing on the small tea bowl, he said, "I didn't bring meals for the little one. He calls you his Imperial Uncle, after all. Perhaps, Your Majesty, you could share some of your food with your little nephew?!"

"This... this..." The Emperor of Great Yan looked at his own imperial meal: six dishes, one soup, and a bowl of rice. "The child hasn't grown teeth yet; these heavily seasoned dishes are not suitable for him."

The Emperor glanced at the eunuch. "Go to the Imperial Kitchen and steam a bowl of egg custard for the little Heir."

The eunuch took his orders and hurried to the kitchen to give the instructions.

"There is no need for such trouble." Rong Jun stood up, took the small bowl and plate, and moved to the Emperor's side. Using his chopsticks, he picked up food from the Emperor's plate and fed it to the little one.

The dishes and soup were all food infused with spiritual energy. Rong Jun took a spoonful of soup with a bit of green vegetable and fed it to the little fellow. Upon tasting something different for the first time, the little one smacked his tiny lips.

"Ah." The little fellow opened his mouth.

Rong Jun continued to scoop soup, pairing it with a grain of rice and a bit of vegetable to feed the child. The little one ate happily, wiggling his tiny arms and legs, clearly delighted by the meal.

The Emperor of Great Yan held his spoon: "..."

The civil and military officials: "..."

The ministers finally realized what was happening. Good heavens, they thought he had simply forgotten his food box, but he was actually waiting for this—coming to the imperial court to mooch a meal! The Emperor only got to eat spiritual energy ingredients once a month on the first and fifteenth, yet this Heir was being quite unapologetic.

Even those on good terms with the Emperor hadn't managed to eat any. The Minister of Works, watching the child, thought to himself: *He certainly can eat! He's so small, yet he's already finished more than half a bowl of soup.*

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Revenue began to glare, so frustrated that they could no longer eat.

The Emperor of Great Yan stopped drinking the soup the child liked, saving it for him. As the Emperor reached his spoon toward another bowl of soup, Rong Jun beat him to it, scooping a small spoonful, blowing on it, and feeding it to the little one.

The Emperor: "..."

"Such a small child," the Emperor said. "Can he even drink soup?"

"He can." Since it was spiritual energy food—a precious thing—the child could drink it in small sips. While unapologetically feeding the child, Rong Jun offered a suggestion: "It's just a bit salty. Try to use less salt next time."

The Minister of Revenue: "..."

Good heavens, he even wants to mooch the Emperor's spiritual ingredients next time?!

The Emperor glanced at the eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen. The young eunuch took note: *less salt next time; the little one likes both soups.* The Emperor decided not to drink the soup at all, instead scooping a bit of rice into the child's small bowl, as the child couldn't eat much more.

He Yan frowned but said nothing.

Rong Jun fed the little one a mouthful of soup, a grain or two of rice, and a bit of vegetable, filling him up. The Prime Minister and several other ministers glared, absolutely fuming.

The Emperor said nothing, but the frustrated officials ended up serving themselves extra bowls of rice.

Compared to Rong Jun's son, they were at a disadvantage even by eating an extra bowl of rice.

In this world, which was governed by blessings and providence, being favored by the Emperor of Great Yan could bring significant good fortune. Throughout the day, many officials felt a bitter sense of envy.

After the court session adjourned, the Emperor thought to himself: *Next time, I won't eat with the ministers. I only get to eat spiritual ingredients on the first and fifteenth, and I didn't even get full this noon. That little fellow can really eat!*

Rong Jun did not return home; he continued to help the Emperor handle state affairs.

The Emperor was quite cheerful at first, but by the time dinner arrived, this blessed Emperor of Great Yan finally realized the truth: the little fellow wanted to mooch off him during dinner too, and when he got excited, he would kick the Emperor's leg.

The Emperor: "..."

The little one was indeed in high spirits today. When he returned home, Qin Bi held him as he giggled.

"Are you that happy?" Qin Bi's mood lifted as well, her smile bright.

The little one flailed. "Ah, ah!"

"What did the Emperor feed you?" Qin Bi chatted with the little one.

The little one flailed again. "Ah, ah!"

Qin Bi laughed. Because he was so happy, the little one stayed up late. After Rong Jun coaxed him into his thin little quilt, the child played for a while longer, gnawing on his small tea bowl before finally falling fast asleep.

Lying in bed, Qin Bi asked curiously, "What did he eat?"

Rong Jun replied, "Spiritual energy ingredients."

Qin Bi: "..."

The little one had grown accustomed to attending court; he would wake up at the appointed time and chatter "ah, ah" to Rong Jun. Once Rong Jun had him ready to go out, the little one would look around curiously, occasionally lunging into Rong Jun's arms.

After the court session ended, the Emperor, impatient to deal with memorials, tossed them to He Yan and Rong Jun.

He Yan was with several ministers, while Rong Jun was in the Imperial Garden helping the Emperor process memorials. There was no other reason—the Emperor was holding the child for him. The little one wore an evil-warding bracelet on his wrist, and his tiny hand gripped the small tea bowl.

The Emperor fed him a spoonful of soup, and the little one opened his mouth and ate it.

After playing for a while, the little one was gnawing on the tea bowl when he suddenly struck it against the table, spilling out a handful of soil.

The Emperor: "...Huh???!!!"

The Emperor stared at the handful of soil on the table. The soil was moist and fine, not the kind that easily compacts; it appeared to be high-quality soil, perfect for planting. Where did it come from?!

The Emperor's gaze fell upon the small tea bowl held in the little one's hand. This magical tool didn't seem to have any condensed energy; it was as clean as porcelain without a single flaw, appearing to be a non-magical tool.

Confused, the Emperor fed the little one another spoonful of soup.

The little one swallowed it with an "ah-hoo," struck the tea bowl against the table again, and once more, a handful of soil spilled out.

(End of Chapter)