Chapter 8: Sharing in the Good Fortune of the Great Yan Emperor

Qin Bi held the tiny garment, feeling its softness, and a trace of tenderness stirred in her heart.

Ever since the marriage arrangement at the Duke of Yan’s manor had infuriated her, Qin Bi had been feeling dizzy, headache-ridden, and absent-minded. Yet, at this moment, she felt a sense of reality; she found the little garment quite delightful.

Soon, Qin Bi grew tired, set the garment aside, and fell asleep.

Rong Jun picked up the little garment and tucked it away carefully; a child’s clothes must be kept safe.

The temperature was still quite cool at the beginning of spring. By the second month, Rong Jun calculated the days and, seeing that Qin Bi remained in a listless state, chose a sunny day for her to go out into the courtyard.

"Your vitality has been damaged and your spirit is unsettled. Take advantage of the pleasant spring and summer weather to soak up some sun." Rong Jun took a string of purple clay prayer beads and placed them on Qin Bi’s wrist. "Plant something in the courtyard. Touching trees, flowers, and grass can help nourish your spirit."

*This fictional world is lacking in plants,* Qin Bi mused to herself. However, this was a Prince’s manor; it shouldn't be comparable to the Marquis of Qinyan’s manor. The entire Marquis of Qinyan’s manor only had a few trees and a handful of flowers and plants.

The fourth branch’s courtyard only had orchid grass—the kind that didn't bloom—and even then, there was only one clump.

One could imagine the state of a concubine-born daughter’s courtyard. In the summer, if you searched the yard, you might find some tiny, ground-hugging plants, growing sparsely. By the time you were surprised to discover them, they would die within a few days.

They died of thirst; the soil was parched.

That was why, when Qin He gave birth and a snowfall followed, it was said that she was blessed.

It was precisely because the soil was so dry that a snowfall in winter could improve the harvest.

Qin Bi didn't know about other places, but the soil in the Great Yan Kingdom was barren, crop yields were low, the soil was dry throughout all four seasons, and plants struggled to grow; even weeds were scarce.

After arriving in the courtyard, Rong Jun stayed for a while before leaving.

By noon, the sun was a bit dazzling. Qin Bi squinted, looking at the few plants in the yard and the empty patches of ground. Rong Jun had just said that planting something would be good for her.

Qin Bi asked for a small hoe and began turning the soil in the empty patch, half-heartedly, as if playing. As she dug up the fresh earth, she grabbed a handful to play with. As she played, a small tea bowl appeared in her hand.

The small bowl appeared to be white porcelain, flawless, round, and delicate.

Qin Bi was stunned, staring at the small bowl resting in her palm. It certainly wasn't for drinking tea; it was too small. Calling it a tea bowl wasn't quite right either, as tea bowls usually had wide mouths and saucers, whereas this bowl’s mouth and base were the same size.

Qin Bi: "..."

*Where did the soil go?*

Previously, she had only felt that the things around her were unreal. Now, while playing with the dirt, a small bowl had actually appeared in her hand. Qin Bi was dazed for a long while, picking up the bowl to examine it. It was real; her mind wasn't playing tricks on her.

Qin Bi let out a sigh of relief; she had been terrified just a moment ago.

The guards, maids, and servants were all waiting at a distance and hadn't seen the small bowl in her hand. Qin Bi stared at it for a while longer, but couldn't find anything unusual about it.

Since it was just an extra little bowl, Qin Bi stopped digging and planting, stood up, and went back inside.

When Rong Jun returned for lunch, Qin Bi showed him the small bowl: "I was playing with the dirt, and this appeared in my hand. What’s going on? A small bowl just suddenly appeared."

Rong Jun took it, a trace of a smile on his lips: "This is a magical artifact. Keep it for my son to play with."

Qin Bi was curious and leaned in closer: "I found it."

Rong Jun glanced at her and scoffed: "Test your spiritual roots after the child is born. In my manor, you wouldn't be able to 'find' anything unless I intentionally let you find it. You managed to condense a magical artifact just by digging in the dirt—how did they test your spiritual roots back at the Marquis of Qinyan’s manor?"

Qin Bi froze. Had she heard him correctly? She couldn't help but ask: "I condensed it?"

Rong Jun let out a 'heh.' That went without saying; it wasn't as if she had actually just found it.

Qin Bi was puzzled. She didn't have spiritual roots, so how could she condense a magical artifact? Besides, Qin Bi looked at the small bowl in Rong Jun’s hand with disdain. If one were to condense a magical artifact, it should at least be something like a flying sword! What use was a tiny bowl?

Rong Jun was right; it was only good for a child to drink water from.

Thinking that she might actually have spiritual roots, Qin Bi felt a mix of expectation and a small thrill. When no one was around, she had touched jade and porcelain, but unfortunately, she had no "golden finger."

Qin Bi was annoyed and lay down to sleep; she had been overthinking it.

When the day of Qin Bi’s delivery arrived in June, Rong Jun made a trip to the imperial palace and invited the Emperor of the Great Yan Kingdom—whose luck was maxed out—to come over. He set up a chair, letting the Emperor’s good fortune protect Qin Bi during the birth.

When Qin He gave birth, there were auspicious clouds; Rong Jun’s child was guarded directly by the Emperor of Great Yan, whose luck was at its peak.

The Great Yan Emperor treated Rong Jun and He Yan like brothers. Having been invited by Rong Jun, he sat there happily drinking tea. Rong Jun also sent people to invite Qin Di, the He clan, and the Qin Tang brothers. The Great Yan Emperor peeked over secretly.

"Why invite the in-laws?" The Great Yan Emperor was a lucky, chubby man with a good temper.

Rong Jun replied: "My son needs to be loved as soon as he is born."

If someone is loved, their luck won't be bad.

The Great Yan Emperor sipped his tea. Rong Jun was destined to have no heirs; now that he finally had a child, it was no wonder he was so precious about it. He had even invited the in-laws; the child was bound to be blessed.

Qin Di and the He clan were a bit bewildered to see the Great Yan Emperor there. The He clan felt a pang of jealousy; if it had been her legitimate eldest daughter who married Rong Jun, who knew how glorious she would be now?

With the Great Yan Emperor, who possessed maxed-out luck, present, the child was also blessed.

Following the cry of a baby, Qin Bi gave birth to a son.

Rong Jun wrapped up the tiny, soft child, covered him carefully, and held him out to the Great Yan Emperor: "Your Majesty is blessed; let my son share in your good fortune."

The Great Yan Emperor took the child happily, leaving the Qin Di family dumbfounded.

They had seen people seeking blessings, but never someone so brazen about it.

After the Great Yan Emperor held the child for a while, Rong Jun took him to the bedroom and placed him beside Qin Bi. Qin Bi looked at the soft baby, worried that Rong Jun wouldn't let her raise him; the man valued this child too much.

Given how precious he found the child, he might not let her be the one to raise him.

Rong Jun pulled the blanket up for Qin Bi: "Sleep."

He glanced at the child again before heading out to see off the Great Yan Emperor and the Qin Di family. Qin Di and the He clan only caught a glimpse of the child; with his dark, round eyes, the baby was incredibly handsome.

Rong Jun didn't let anyone hold him. The child was just born, tiny and soft; only those with good fortune could hold him.

The He clan felt bitter seeing how much Rong Jun valued the child, but Qin Tang and Qin Xun were very happy. With this child, they would be attached to the Rong Prince’s manor in the future; they didn't have to worry about Rong Jun not supporting them.

Qin Bi had been worried that Rong Jun wouldn't let her raise the child, but that was completely unnecessary. Rong Jun had no intention of letting anyone else handle the child; he didn't trust anyone else to do it. He placed the child beside Qin Bi and busied himself with the baby in a flurry of activity.

Qin Bi: "..."

Qin Bi pressed a hand to her forehead. *Oh my, he’s gone mad with anticipation for this child; he doesn't even know how to show his love.*