Chapter 163: Just Like Poor Relatives Begging for Leftovers

Qin He wanted to ask if he still had her in his heart, but she could not ask.

Unless she wanted to be divorced.

Qin He was full of questions: Didn't you like Fu Bao? If you loved the house, you should love the crow; you ought to give the best to Fu Bao, which would at least honor the feelings between them. Giving the title of Marquis of Yan to her legitimate son would also suffice.

And what about the promise of one person for a lifetime? How could He He Shizi break his word?

He He Shizi could have a child with anyone, but it absolutely should not be Qin Bi. That woman was deeply scheming; though she had been obscure in the Hou Fu, she had snatched the position of He He Shizi's wife from her.

Each and every one of these matters made Qin He furious.

What Qin He desperately wanted to ask was: How could you have a child with another woman?

The words reached her lips, but Qin He could not spit them out. No one touched her; everyone was chatting as if she were not there. Yet Qin He felt an atmosphere pressing down on her until she could barely breathe; it was a contempt that did not even consider her worth looking at.

"Mother!" Fu Bao tugged at her timidly.

Qin He was also panicked. She did not know what to say when she opened her mouth; she choked up.

He He Shizi looked down at Rong Juan in his arms, speaking in a low voice with endless patience. Qin He felt aggrieved; everyone was ignoring her. If He He Shizi just looked up, he would discover her embarrassment.

But He He Shizi did not look up; he turned his head to speak with his clansmen instead.

"He He Shizi..." Qin He called out urgently.

The Eldest Lady of the He family pulled her lips down and placed the teacup lid onto the cup. The ladies were all present; clinging to a man like that, treating them as if they were dead? Speak your business if you have something to say. You called him over but said nothing. What are you trying to cause?!

In the flower hall, it was originally just family. Suddenly having Qin He, an outsider, was strange enough. Her voice was extremely abrupt, and everyone turned their gaze onto Qin He.

Fu Bao shrank closer to Qin He. Qin He clenched her hands tightly, feeling panicked. She forced a smile, then suddenly looked at Rong Juan in He He Shizi's arms with feigned surprise.

"He He Shizi, why is Rong Juan here?" Qin He wore an expression of ignorance.

The He family was stunned. Every household in Jingcheng knew He He Shizi had a child. How fake was Qin He's question? It was so forced it made people want to laugh. Several juniors and the young ladies at the door looked at Qin He in astonishment.

"Tsk!" Someone chuckled lightly.

Qin He had never been so embarrassed. Her mind was muddled. She should have asked who He He Shizi was holding and whose child it was with righteous indignation, but she dared not. Her face burned hot.

He He Shizi raised his eyes. He had no intention of explaining. He asked, "Speak. What do you want from me?"

Qin He dared not ask. She forced a topic, but He He Shizi had no time to indulge her.

Qin He stood in the flower hall with nowhere to hide. She wanted to say what she truly felt but dared not. In her panic, she looked down and saw Fu Bao. She immediately pushed Fu Bao, her smile growing a bit to mask her anxiety.

"Fu Bao said she wanted to come find He He Shizi." Qin He smiled again at Rong Juan in He He Shizi's arms: "Rong Juan is here too. It's perfect; she can play with your sister Fu Bao. I was worried she wouldn't know anyone and would be shy, but with Rong Juan here, it's fine."

Having said that, Qin He felt much more relaxed. She pushed Fu Bao again: "Fu Bao, go play with Rong Juan."

Everyone continued drinking tea or chatting. How awkward was this occasion? This Xue He Shizi's wife really had thick skin. Everyone present was He family; how could an outsider like you come barging in and stay?!

A concubine-born daughter is just a concubine-born daughter; she is not fit for the stage.

Fu Bao, having received Qin He's words, walked toward He He Shizi and Rong Juan. Rong Juan turned his head.

He He Shizi cast a glance down at the little bundle in his arms. Rong Juan's cousin moved a stool to sit nearby. If the little girl dared to come over, he would throw her out. How could she be so lacking in common sense?

She may be young, but she cannot be without manners. Has this woman's brain gone to water? Coming rashly to the Yan Guogong Fu and bringing two children along just to make a fool of herself.

"Qin He, if you have nothing to do, go back." He He Shizi spoke: "My manor is busy; we do not entertain guests. The He family clansmen are all here. My Rong Juan has no time to play with your Fu Bao."

Fu Bao turned her head to look at Qin He.

Qin He hurriedly said: "Rong Juan is just a child; how could he have anything to do?"

Upon hearing this, everyone wanted to laugh. A young heir of an inherited Guogong Fu meeting his clansmen naturally has many matters to attend to. Is this Xue He Shizi's wife from a small, humble family? She knows nothing and asks such a clumsy question.

He He Shizi's meaning was clear: it was inconvenient to entertain guests. Everyone understood, except Qin He.

If you don't understand, that's fine. Can't you see it?

The ladies chuckled lightly. They had long heard that Qin He was a woman of fortune. They thought she might be some kind of fairy figure, but who knew her mind was so dull? As for her looks? Just average.

She had nothing to do with being a beauty of unparalleled charm, though it was true she knew how to dress.

He He Shizi ignored Qin He. He had given her face. Since Qin He refused to take the step down, He He Shizi spoke with several ladies of the He family, leaving Qin He hanging on the side. Fu Bao ran back to Qin He's side again.

Qin He did not want to leave. She looked around, spotted the Second Young Lady of the Yan Guogong Fu, and walked over smiling to chat with her.

The Second Young Lady: "..."

At least she was the Xue He Shizi's wife, so the Second Young Lady put up with her.

After a cup of tea, He He Shizi stood up with Rong Juan in his arms. The manor had set up banquets for the clansmen during this period; they feasted every day. It was time to go to the banquet now. The clansmen surrounded He He Shizi and Rong Juan.

"We have set up a banquet in our manor." The Lady of the Yan Guogong Fu said politely: "Xue He Shizi's wife, would you like to eat before you go?"

It was a polite remark. Anyone with a bit of common sense would have left long ago.

Qin He also wanted to leave, but she was unwilling. She smiled and agreed: "Very well."

The ladies stumbled. Oh my, they glanced back at Qin He. She didn't look like she had a sick brain, yet everyone else was eating and she still wouldn't leave. How could her skin be so thick?

The ladies had complex expressions, glancing at Qin He from time to time. The stares made Qin He lower her head and stare at the floor.

Fu Bao was happy upon hearing about the banquet. The ladies left the flower hall. Qin Yan was still waiting outside. Qin He said: "Qin Yan, you go back first. The Yan Guogong Fu is hosting a banquet; I will eat before I leave."

Amazing. It has to be Sister Qin He. Qin Yan left with immense admiration.

At the subsequent banquet, the He family felt something was strange. Their looks at Qin He were also strange. Their gazes fell on Fu Bao, who was picking at her food. This child was not very sharp either. Fortunately, the engagement between Qin He and He He Shizi had not gone through. This mother and child were like poor relatives coming to beg for leftovers.

Sensing the strange looks from all directions, Qin He held her legitimate son, feeling extremely awkward. In the Yan Guogong Fu, it was not like in the Qin Yan Hou Fu; there was no seat for Qin He among the men.

At the men's banquet, the ladies present were all He family geniuses. Qin He was nothing.

Qin He was arranged at a table on the edge. There was originally no seat for her; they moved an extra stool over.

There was no choice. Facing such a shameless troublemaker, who was also the Xue Wang Fu's He Shizi's wife, they had to give face to the Xue Wang Fu. Let her eat and then hurry her away. What kind of person is this?