Chapter 14: You Got a Good Deal

The Marquis of Qin Yan's manor had fallen into decline; there were far too few descendants with spiritual roots.

If a successor with high fortune value had emerged after the old Marquis, it might have been fine. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Very few people awakened spiritual roots, and those who did possessed mediocre talent. After Qin Yan, the title vanished.

Without needing Rong Juan to remind her, Qin Bi knew very well that the Marquis of Qin Yan's manor lacked the strength to sustain itself; she had seen it coming many years ago.

Looking at the so-called Spirit Condensing Pills, Qin Bi understood their true value.

If these three were indeed Spirit Condensing Pills...

Qin Bi felt a surge of excitement. She, too, wanted a powerful family to back her. In the past, it might have been a mere passing thought, but now she couldn't just dream about it. She had a child now; if Rong Yang's maternal family were powerful, it would be beneficial for Rong Yang.

Rong Juan also offered a reminder: "Rong Yang's maternal family cannot be too poor."

Considering that Qin Bi might need to make a trip to the Marquis of Qin Yan's manor, Rong Juan took a golden sandalwood box from a drawer and opened it. Inside were several pills, mostly low-grade. Rong Juan began fiddling with the pill bottles.

Rong Yang reached out with her tiny hands to grab them. Qin Bi thought Rong Juan was intending to look after Rong Yang's maternal family.

As it turned out, the Heir of Rong Juan simply put the pill bottles back in their places, closed the box, and said, "I originally thought about giving Rong Yang's grandfather and uncle a low-grade body-tempering pill to serve as a future asset for my son, but upon reflection, I'll pass. It's better to save them for my son."

Qin Bi: "..."

Was this still the same generous Heir Rong Juan? You might as well not have taken the pills out at all.

After all that fussing, he wouldn't part with them. Fine, keep them for your son then!

Rong Juan stood up, picked up the child, and handed Qin Bi a money box: "This is the income from all the shops and lands for this month. Take it. If you want to give something to your family, give it; if not, just keep it."

Rong Juan and Qin He had always run the shops together, but Qin Bi and Qin He did not get along!

Qin Bi refused to take it: "I don't want it. Keep it yourself."

Rong Juan glanced at her. How could he not know what she was thinking? The man sat back in his chair and coaxed the child, saying, "I run the shops with Qin He, and I am earning my rightful share. There is no need for you to feel unhappy. Qin He works hard, and when she earns money, I give it to you. You aren't losing out."

Qin Bi's heart stirred at his words, but her primary concern remained the pills: "Should I go to the Marquis of Qin Yan's manor now?"

Rong Juan checked the sky: "Tomorrow. It's getting late."

Fine. Qin Bi prepared to pick up the child and leave, but Rong Juan did not hand the child to her. Instead, he stood up and said, "Take the money box with you."

Qin Bi paused, then took the wooden box carved with spiritual plants. Rong Juan was right; if Qin He was capable, she could let her earn it. Qin Bi would just focus on collecting the silver, which was much better than struggling to produce things herself.

Who would have thought that Rong Juan would give her the silver he earned while running shops with Qin He?

If Qin He knew that she was the one collecting the money, she would surely be livid.

Thinking of this, Qin Bi let out a cold laugh.

After dinner, Qin Bi sat by the bed watching Rong Yang babble. The little one lay on a small quilt, happily kicking her tiny legs. Rong Juan handed a defensive dharma tool bracelet to Qin Bi.

"If someone tries to harm you, this can defend you," Rong Juan said.

As Qin Bi took it, Rong Juan felt a complex mix of emotions. He was used to slaughtering his way through battlefields; this was the first time he had thought to use a defensive tool. But since Qin Bi could not protect herself, he could only consider her well-being.

Qin Bi had a good idea of who Rong Juan was being wary of.

When bedtime arrived, Rong Yang stopped playing, and Qin Bi picked up the child to soothe her to sleep.

Once the little one was asleep, Qin Bi placed her on the bed. Rong Juan covered her with a small quilt. Since it was summer and the weather was hot, there was no need for much; a thin quilt would suffice.

Qin Bi had things on her mind, so she didn't sleep soundly that night. Rong Juan regretted agreeing to her trip to the Marquis's manor so early; Qin Bi's mind was unsettled, making her prone to overthinking, which was incredibly draining.

At dawn, Qin Bi was already awake, keeping her eyes closed to rest her spirit.

Once Rong Juan had finished tending to the little one, the father and daughter left for the morning court session.

Qin Bi found it amusing; Rong Yang was so small, yet he acted as if he were so busy.

Once Rong Juan left, Qin Bi skipped breakfast. After a moment's thought, she decided not to wear her formal Consort attire. Everyone knew why she had married him; there was no need to put on airs. She would just wear what she normally wore.

Qin Bi chose a summer dress and prepared to head out, expecting to simply walk over.

However, that wasn't how it worked. The Prince's manor had arranged a carriage and several guards.

Upon arriving at the Marquis of Qin Yan's manor, Qin Bi stepped out of the carriage directly at the entrance. She was returning to her natal home, not an outsider, so she walked straight in. In the front courtyard, Qin He was playing with a child, a little girl about one or two years old.

That was how the cultivation world worked: if Qin He wished, a child could act like a one or two-year-old within six months—speaking and calling out to people—and then growth would slow down around age four or five, which was the most endearing age.

Qin He enjoyed the feeling of raising a child. She wore a summer dress as the Consort, embroidered with flowers and auspicious clouds in elegant, light colors, with a cinched waist and pearl-encrusted shoes.

Qin He was not tall, with fair skin, looking very gentle from a distance.

When she saw Qin Bi, Qin He froze for a moment.

After a few seconds of reaction, Qin He recognized her. A flash of surprise crossed her face before she smiled and said, "Sister, you've come."

Qin Bi responded with little enthusiasm. Qin He secretly curled her lip but looked up again with a smile: "Why didn't you let us know? The Marquis's manor had no idea you were returning."

Qin Bi had nothing to say to her. Qin He's daughter was busy plucking leaves from a plant. There weren't many plants in the manor to begin with, and the more she plucked, the fewer there were. Qin Bi gave her a mocking glance.

Qin He pulled the little girl closer and pointed at Qin Bi: "This is your aunt. Say, 'Auntie'."

The daughters of the four branches of the Marquis of Qin Yan's manor were all somewhat older. Since the eldest legitimate daughter had passed, Qin Bi was the eldest among them, so being called "Auntie" was technically correct, but it sounded different coming from Qin He's mouth.

Qin He likely wanted to imply that she was the younger one. Qin Bi sneered. The little girl didn't respond, so Qin Bi asked, "Can she even speak?"

To be honest, Qin Bi truly had no desire to be called "Auntie."

Before Qin He could respond, a cultivation maid grew indignant and snapped, "Our Consort's child is a Lucky Treasure, born after swallowing two auspicious clouds. Her fortune value is maxed out, and she was born with spiritual roots. Be polite when speaking to a Lucky Treasure!"

Qin Bi narrowed her eyes. This maid had been given to Qin He by He Yan. Back then, this maid had pointed a sword at her just to protect Qin He; today, she was jumping out again.

But times had changed. Before Qin Bi could say anything, the guards from the Rong Prince's manor behind her prepared to slap the maid.

Qin He noticed and scolded the maid: "Step back! This is no place for you to speak."

The guard stepped forward: "Step back? That won't be so easy."

The Heir of the Rong Prince's manor was no pushover; his subordinates were all generals stationed at the borders, having killed countless enemies. With Rong Juan's murderous aura, his men were not intimidated by anyone from the Xue family.

Qin He, used to everything going smoothly, was about to lose her temper when Qin Yan and Qin Jue from the second branch rushed over: "Qin Bi is here. Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt are waiting for you."