Chapter 43: Break Their Hearts to Death

At the head table, Rong Jun and He Yan sat upright, flanked by the Heir Apparent Qin Yan, Qin He, and Heir Apparent Xue.

Next were Qin Tang, Qin Jue, and others. Qin Han and Qin Yan sat together; everyone was chatting and laughing. Ever since the Marquis of Yan's Manor had been upgraded to a cultivation clan, the flowers and plants in the garden had become much more abundant.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, a commotion broke out among the children.

"I want that plate!" Qin He's little treasure shouted.

"Not giving it to you!" Rong Yang covered the plate in Qin Lang's hands. "Rong Yang da!"

Rong Jun and He Yan looked over. Qin Yan said, "Qin He, go take a look."

Qin He rose and walked with light steps toward the flower bushes where the children were gathered. Under the soft sunlight, various flowers were in bloom—red, ginger yellow, and orange, creating a riot of colors.

With winter approaching, the few plants capable of blooming made the garden quite pleasing to the eye.

"What's wrong?" Qin He knelt down and asked her little treasure gently.

"Mother!" The little girl stamped her foot. "I want that plate of fruit. I like that plate!"

Qin He looked toward Qin Lang. Qin Lang was holding Rong Yang, and Rong Yang said, "Mine da!"

Qin He smiled and walked over. "Rong Yang, right? I am your aunt. Can you share the fruit in the plate with your sister? Children should know how to share; everyone should eat together."

Rong Yang reached out toward Rong Jun. "Father."

Rong Jun stood up, strode over, and took Rong Yang from Qin Lang's arms.

Looking down at Qin He and her little treasure, Rong Jun sneered, "No one gets to touch my son's things."

The little treasure burst into tears and ran to find He Yan.

"Uncle, I want that plate of fruit," the little treasure said. "And the auspicious cloud. This child has an auspicious cloud."

He Yan then asked Qin Lang what had happened. Qin Lang was not good at lying; it was simply that the children had received a few plates of fruit to share, and since Rong Yang was small, Qin Lang had been holding a plate for him to eat from.

Qin He's maid had brought them, so the little treasure assumed they were hers.

"The auspicious cloud is mine!" the little treasure threw a tantrum. "Give the auspicious cloud to me!"

Seeing the child crying with hiccups, Qin He smiled and said to Rong Yang, "Rong Yang, would you like to let your sister play with your auspicious cloud for a moment?"

Rong Yang shook his head. "No."

"Then give your sister the fruit," Qin He said, taking a step back.

Rong Yang was equally unwilling. Rong Jun sat down, took fruit from the plate, and fed the child. Wanting more fruit? Not only would Rong Yang refuse, but Rong Jun wouldn't allow it either. Furthermore, Qin He, a concubine-born daughter, actually dared to call his son by his name directly.

Rong Jun narrowed his eyes. He Yan frowned. "Rong Jun, you spoil your child this much?"

Rong Jun lifted his eyelids. "Do you have an issue with that?"

He Yan didn't waste words with Rong Jun. The little girl was crying for the auspicious cloud, and Qin He's eyes were red from heartache for the child. Previously, the young Lord Rong had been very easy to talk to; she hadn't expected him to be so unreasonable this time.

"Rong Yang," He Yan asked once more, "Are you really not giving it to your sister?"

Rong Yang refused. Rong Jun narrowed his eyes. "No one can snatch my son's things away."

Rong Jun's words were loaded with implication, but unfortunately, He Yan didn't catch the meaning. Only a flash of indignation crossed his face. He Yan took several spiritual fruits from his storage bag and gave them to Qin He's child, causing the little girl to stop crying and smile immediately.

"My uncle gave them to me!" the little girl boasted proudly. "You don't have any!"

Rong Yang remained silent. Rong Jun laughed out of anger. "Very well. He Yan, you are certainly generous."

He Yan's expression remained indifferent as he summoned another low-grade cloud formation for the little girl.

A cold, sharp look flashed across Rong Jun's handsome face. Looking at Qin He and her daughter, he said to the little girl, "All these things belong to my son. Is it fun to snatch things from others?!"

This time, He Yan laughed in anger. "I gave them! How did they become your son's?!"

Rong Jun couldn't be bothered to argue with He Yan. Having picked up Rong Yang, he ignored He Yan and the mother and daughter entirely. He wouldn't let the child give anything to anyone else; instead, Rong Jun held Rong Yang and fed the little fellow until he was full.

Qin Bi only heard about the incident after dinner. Upon returning to the Prince of Rong's Manor, she observed the child for a moment. Rong Yang was being held by Rong Jun, giggling away, completely unbothered by what had happened.

When they arrived home, the wind began to pick up. Tomorrow would be the start of winter.

During the day, it hadn't felt much like winter, but once the wind rose, the temperature dropped accordingly.

Entering the living room, Rong Jun sat down. In front of Qin Bi, he said to Rong Yang, "Rong Yang, you are my son, but the things of the Duke of Yan's Manor also belong to you. That family has no children and doesn't know of your existence. If they knew, they would surely dote on you."

Qin Bi washed her hands and listened. Rong Yang was surprised. "I run there da?"

Rong Jun gave an affirmative nod, a smile in his eyes. "He Yan is also your father. He doesn't know you, but it is wrong for him to protect other people's children. My Rong Yang, whom I hold in the palm of my hand, yet He Yan actually dared to protect a wild child right in front of you."

Rong Yang nodded. "What should I do? They don't know me."

"He Yan has no children!" No one knew better than Rong Jun how much the Duke of Yan's Manor longed for an heir; they were practically desperate. Rong Jun continued, "It doesn't matter that He Yan doesn't know you. As for the Duke of Yan's Manor—since they love to dote on a wild child, we will strike them where it hurts."

Rong Yang looked confused. Rong Jun said, "Go play the part of a little pitiable thing. Since they love doting on other people's children, let them dote. Even He Yan's own child will become a little pitiable thing. When they find out in the future, imagine how much he will regret it."

"Okay!" Rong Yang nodded. "I'll be a little pitiable thing. I'll make his heart ache to death."

"The entire Duke of Yan's Manor," Rong Jun added. "Make their hearts ache to death."

Rong Yang nodded vigorously, discussing it with Rong Jun in a milky voice.

Qin Bi: "..."

Qin Bi knew very well how much He Yan longed for an heir. She could imagine that if He Yan knew the child he had treated so poorly today was actually his own, the feeling would be incredibly cathartic.

Rong Jun had no intention of giving his precious son to He Yan. He had raised him with such care and closeness; why would he give him to He Yan? Rong Jun doted on his child, but he would not allow anything belonging to Rong Yang to go to Qin He's child.

Rong Jun would not let Rong Yang suffer a loss, so Qin Bi did not interfere. If He Yan had other children, or if He Yan did not love his own child, then Qin Bi would have stepped in to prevent Rong Yang from getting involved.

But He Yan was desperate for a child; the entire Duke of Yan's Manor was so desperate for an heir that they had resorted to doting on other people's children.

Rong Jun and Rong Yang were plotting to make He Yan's child a "pitiable thing" to strike He Yan where it hurts. *You like doting on others' children? Let's see how pitiable your own child becomes.*

A strong wind blew all night, and the next morning, the cold wind was bleak.

Before long, sleet began to fall, mixed with light rain.

Rong Jun held a small bowl and a porcelain spoon, feeding Rong Yang. "Eat your fill, then go and squat at the entrance of the Duke of Yan's Manor. In this snowy and rainy weather, being so small and squatting at their door... you'll look as pitiable as can be."

Rong Yang nodded. "Okay, I eat da full."

Qin Bi: "..."

"Eat meat." Rong Jun fed the child a bite of meat. "Eating demon beast meat will keep you from getting cold."

Rong Yang gobbled it up, very eager to help He Yan's child become a "pitiable thing."

(End of Chapter)