Chapter 11: Testing Stone

Qin Bi did not speak. Rong Jun glanced at her and said, "Let's pick a day to test your spiritual roots."

Qin Bi felt a flicker of excitement and did not refuse.

The baby made "ah-ah" sounds to get attention. Qin Bi turned her head and asked with a smile, "What are you 'ah-ah'-ing about? Is no one paying attention to you? Come, I'll play with you. Tomorrow we'll continue digging in the dirt, digging lots and lots of dirt."

The baby made "ah-ah" sounds and giggled. Whether he understood what his mother was saying or not, he was clearly very happy.

A smile touched the corners of Rong Jun’s eyes as he rose and went outside.

In a world governed by blessings and fortune, everything requires picking an auspicious day, especially for noble clans, aristocratic families, and the imperial family, who consult with diviners before making any decisions. The day Rong Jun chose was the following day.

He didn't tell Qin Bi, so she wouldn't have it on her mind and be unable to sleep.

Qin Bi’s condition required proper rest to nourish her spirit. The morning brought fine weather, with clear, vast skies. The little one was on the bed, "ah-ah"-ing while gnawing on a small teacup, chatting with Qin Bi.

After breakfast, Rong Jun picked up the child and called to Qin Bi, "Let's go, it's time to test your spiritual roots. Your father has arrived as well."

Qin Bi was stunned: "Testing today?"

"There is no time like the present. It’s today." Rong Jun held the child and waited for Qin Bi.

Qin Bi grew nervous and followed Rong Jun to the front courtyard.

Prince Rong and Qin Di were talking in the living room. Qin Di felt a bit puzzled; Qin Bi had been tested as a child and had no spiritual roots. Yesterday, Heir Rong Jun had sent someone to summon him, saying it was to test Qin Bi’s spiritual roots.

Qin Di thought about it, but he hadn't noticed any talent in his daughter.

The Rong Jun family arrived at the front courtyard. Prince Rong and Qin Di stepped out of the living room. The testing stone had already been placed in the yard. Qin Bi took a look; the stone looked very ordinary. The testing stone at the Marquis of Qin Yan’s estate looked a bit like jade, but the one at the Prince’s mansion was just a smooth rock.

The front courtyard had been cleared of people. Qin Bi was easily distracted and didn't need people pointing fingers on the sidelines. Rong Jun took charge to ensure no one disturbed them; the Prince’s concubines, as well as his illegitimate sons and daughters, were either sent out for a stroll or kept inside their own quarters.

Even though Rong Jun was the Heir, the Prince’s concubines and illegitimate children had to step aside.

Qin Bi wasn't that domineering; in fact, she sometimes envied it.

It was that very domineering presence that had suppressed her for several years. Thinking about it, it wasn't a loss—when someone is that impressive, you have to admit it.

Rong Jun held the child and gestured with his chin: "Just place your hand on the testing stone."

Qin Bi pulled back her thoughts. She remembered testing once as a child and roughly how it was done. She walked over and placed her hand on the stone. Prince Rong and Rong Jun looked calm, but Qin Di stared intently at the stone. As a parent, he naturally hoped his child had spiritual roots.

It didn't need to be great talent; just having spiritual roots made one better than an ordinary person.

Under everyone's gaze, the testing stone flashed a faint light. It was very weak, and the color was indistinguishable. In this world, spiritual root talent levels were primarily categorized by red, followed by yellow, purple, white, green, cyan, orange, and blue.

Although the talent was too low to determine a level, there were definitely spiritual roots.

Qin Di was surprised, a smile appearing on his face: "She has spiritual roots."

Prince Rong wanted to say it was no different from having none, but he opened his mouth and swallowed the words back.

Qin Bi was also pleasantly surprised. After all, she had spiritual roots now, even if the level couldn't be seen. Rong Jun, however, walked over with a puzzled expression to examine the stone, though he didn't say anything.

"Qin Bi, would you like to return to the Marquis's estate?" Qin Di was a little excited. "Your situation is the same as Qin Xun's. When he tested his spiritual roots, his level couldn't be seen either. Perhaps after more training, the level will become apparent."

Qin Bi had long wanted to visit her maiden home, but now wasn't the time. Her talent was so low it couldn't even be graded; if she went back to her maiden home right after testing her roots, people might think she was showing off.

Honestly, there wasn't much to show off.

"I'll go when I have time," Qin Bi didn't commit.

Qin Di thought that was fine. He counted—excluding his eldest daughter who had passed away, there were now two in the fourth branch who had awakened spiritual roots. For a family with many awakened roots, this might not be much, but Qin Di was very content. He himself had no spiritual roots, and the bitterness in his heart was better left unsaid.

Qin Di pondered discussing it with Lady He when he returned, to prepare some items for Qin Bi’s cultivation.

The entire Marquis's estate couldn't produce a single decent cultivation item, let alone the fourth branch, but he had to prepare something for the sake of good fortune. Qin Di said his goodbyes and left.

Rong Jun didn't say anything, but after returning to the courtyard and giving the child to Qin Bi, the man went to the storehouse.

After some selection, Rong Jun took a storage bag. After thinking for a moment, he went to the apothecary to purchase a piece of spiritual plant energy wood and tossed it into the bag. Then he bought twenty spiritual plants. Since Qin Bi could condense a small teacup, it showed she had awakened the ability to condense energy, so alchemy was a possibility.

Back home, Rong Jun took a small furnace from the storehouse and gave it to Qin Bi along with the items he had bought.

Afterward, Rong Jun tossed an alchemy book to Qin Bi: "The child is still young, and the immortal sects won't take you in your current state. Just study it at home. It doesn't matter if you don't have much ability; our Prince's mansion can afford to support you."

Qin Bi was distracted; she flipped through the book and tossed it aside.

The Emperor of Great Yan kept sending people to urge Rong Jun to attend court. Rong Jun grew annoyed and ordered the weaving department to make several sets of heir robes for the little one—purple, red, black, and a soft yellow. The weaving department rushed to finish them.

Rong Jun began trying the clothes on the little one and asked Qin Bi, "How is this one?"

Qin Bi was speechless: "I'm his mother. Of course, I think everything looks good. Asking me is a waste of time."

Rong Jun stopped asking her. He chose an heir robe for the little one, and the next morning, once the child was awake and dressed, Rong Jun took a food box and carried the child to court.

Qin Bi: "..."

The man was simply incredible. If she had that kind of ability, she wouldn't be feeling so stifled.

As soon as Rong Jun arrived at court carrying the child, the ministers were stunned, then one by one they glared: "Absurd, simply absurd! Is the imperial court a place for babysitting?"

The Emperor of Great Yan leaned forward from the dragon throne and said to Rong Jun, "With such a large Prince's mansion, is there no one to watch the child for you?"

Rong Jun turned to leave while holding the child: "I might as well go home."

The Emperor of Great Yan grew anxious and beckoned: "Come back, come back. The child isn't making a fuss, let it be."

The ministers were so angry their noses were crooked, but since the Emperor of Great Yan had no objections, they had to swallow their frustration. The Emperor of Great Yan, who was blessed with good fortune, was also good-natured; he ordered the eunuchs to bring a table and chairs, and set out tea and snacks.

The ministers waited to find fault, but as it turned out, the child didn't make a fuss at all.

After court, Rong Jun carried the child home. Qin Bi was truly impressed. What a capable person! Even in this alternate world, could one really be this bold? Carrying a child to court? And the little one didn't even make a fuss.

Rong Jun seemed intent on continuing to bring the child to court. The next day, once the little one was dressed, he was ready to head out.

Qin Bi reminded him: "You didn't bring the food box."

Rong Jun held the child and stepped into the sedan chair: "The Emperor provides the meals."

Qin Bi believed him, though in reality, the Emperor didn't provide meals; they were eating spiritual rice today.