Chapter 184: The Little Dumpling Is A Money-Lover

Everyone in Yan Guogong Prefecture is craving Rong Yuan; whoever can coax the little dumpling back for a visit would have accomplished a great feat.

Rong Yuan was easy to talk to: "Okay, I need to tell Father and Mother."

Rong Yuan ran to the heir's courtyard; Rong Juan held his youngest son and Qin Bi to see Rong Yuan off. Qin Bi stood beside the Rong heir, and the Second Young Lady's mood was complex; if only they hadn't divorced back then...

The Second Young Lady merely thought about it, then quickly put the thought aside.

Rong Yuan returned with them to Yan Guogong Prefecture. On the way, the Second Young Lady sent someone to the palace to inform the He heir. Just as Rong Yuan entered the residence, the He heir arrived a step behind.

The He heir carried a fruit basket; opening it revealed several spirit fruits.

"I just picked these fruits from the Immortal Gate," the He heir said. "Rong Yuan, have a taste."

Rong Yuan took one and ate it; freshly picked fruits need no washing. The child sat on a small stool, swinging his little legs, clearly in a good mood. The He heir's eyes flickered; he roughly guessed the reason.

The He heir summoned a guard: "Send a cart of melons and fruits produced from the manor to the fourth branch of Qin Yan Marquis Prefecture."

The little dumpling's eyes lit up: "For my maternal grandfather's family?"

The He heir had guessed correctly; a smile appeared in his brows and eyes as he nodded: "Yes, for your maternal grandfather's family. Send it in our Rong Yuan's name, so your maternal grandfather's family knows how good Rong Yuan is."

The little dumpling was indeed happy and stood up: "I'm going too."

Father had told Rong Yuan that Mother Qin Bi's father, brothers, and legitimate mother treated Mother, a concubine-born daughter, extremely well; they would support her when trouble arose. Therefore, Rong Yuan must also be good to his maternal grandfather's family.

Rong Yuan remembered everyone who was good to Mother.

Seeing the child happy, the He heir naturally did not stop him.

When Yan Guogong returned, the child had already gone to Qin Yan Marquis Prefecture.

"He's gone?" Yan Guogong could not hide his disappointment.

"He went to his maternal grandfather's family," the He heir said. "He will return."

Only then did Yan Guogong go to the treasury to find things for Rong Yuan to take back. Wanting a child made him want to give him everything good. Yan Guogong knew Rong Yuan cherished demon beast crystals and hurried to find some.

Rong Yuan delivered fresh melons and fruits to Qin Yan Marquis Prefecture, along with two spirit fruits. Qin Di's entire family welcomed the little dumpling.

Jiang Shi and Lin Shi felt even more vindicated. Previously, when the He heir brought good things to Qin Yan Marquis Prefecture, most went to the second branch; the public funds received a share, but the third and fourth branches got nothing.

Now that Rong Yuan was here, things were different; even the second branch had to step aside.

"Grandmother," Rong Yuan said, "have a spirit fruit."

He Shi was delighted inside; the children born to Qin Bi were all close to their maternal grandfather's family. Among the several concubine-born children, no one was as loyal and righteous as Qin Bi. Naturally, He Shi could not bear to eat the spirit fruits herself. There were only two, so she gave one to each of her two sons.

Spirit fruits are beneficial for cultivation; everyone in Great Yan knows this.

Qin Di felt no dissatisfaction; the whole family was cheerful and harmonious. Rong Yuan did not stay long; he knew everyone in Yan Guogong Prefecture cherished him. The child sat for a while then returned. Qin Yan and Qin He, the legitimate younger sister, stared blankly as Rong Yuan left.

Qin Yan asked Qin He, the legitimate younger sister: "Shouldn't the He heir give good things to the second branch?"

Qin He, the legitimate younger sister, said nothing. She was impulsive, not truly foolish. Rong Yuan was the He heir's child. Now that the He heir had his own biological child, Qin He and Fu Bao would have to take a back seat.

She just hadn't expected the distinction to be so obvious.

Finally, Qin He, the legitimate younger sister, said: "Sister Qin He is the He heir's white moonlight."

"Yes," Qin Yan naturally knew Qin He was the He heir's white moonlight. She nodded and said: "Before, whenever the He heir obtained something good, he sent it to the second branch. Why is there nothing this time?"

Qin He, the legitimate younger sister, was stubborn: "The He heir is busy with court affairs; perhaps he forgot."

Qin Yan nodded in deep agreement. Rong Yuan was the He heir's child and should be doted on, but Qin He was the He heir's white moonlight and also his childhood sweetheart. The He heir would not neglect the second branch.

Rong Yuan returned to Yan Guogong Prefecture. The He heir waited at the gate and carried the little dumpling back inside.

The child was small and soft; He Yan missed his child.

But Rong Yuan considered Rong Wang Prefecture his home; He Yan could not snatch him away, he could only coax him back. Fortunately, the little dumpling was a money-lover. He, He Yan, had hoarded many heavenly treasures and rare herbs; if the little dumpling remembered them and came back occasionally, that would suffice.

"He's back," Yan Guogong Lady said, also craving to hold the child: "Come, Grandmother has prepared fresh melons and fruits from the manor for you."

"Grandfather just went to the Immortal Gate and picked two bunches of spirit fruits for you. We don't eat ordinary melons and fruits." Yan Guogong called Rong Yuan: "Come, see the demon beast crystals Grandfather has hoarded for you."

He Yan raised an eyebrow and handed Rong Yuan over to Yan Guogong.

Yan Guogong Lady could not wrestle the child away from Yan Guogong; the little dumpling went with Yan Guogong.

In the study, a small fruit basket sat on the table. Inside were two bunches of spirit fruits with leaves attached, very fresh. He Yan took a small bunch for the little dumpling, and Rong Yuan ate happily.

Yan Guogong beckoned, holding two wooden boxes: "Rong Yuan, come look. These are demon beast crystals for you. One box is for you, one box is for your younger brother Rong Chi."

"I have a younger brother?" Rong Yuan's eyes lit up.

"Rong Heir has raised you very well," Yan Guogong said, knowing the child liked it. He nodded: "Grandfather doesn't have many good things. Giving your younger brother a box of demon beast crystals, is that okay?"

"Okay, okay," Rong Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

A smile crossed He Yan's lips; he exchanged a glance with Yan Guogong. Good. As long as he thought of the Rong family's little milk dumpling everywhere, Rong Yuan would be very happy. Yan Guogong felt a pang of heartache but could accept it.

Rong Yuan was very happy. After returning home once, he gave the spirit fruits and demon beast crystals to Qin Bi. The little dumpling returned to Yan Guogong Prefecture again. This made everyone in Yan Guogong Prefecture overjoyed; those not in the residence came back, all cherishing Rong Yuan.

In Xue Wang Prefecture, Qin He could not understand. Every time Fu Bao went to Yan Guogong Prefecture, she returned with big and small bags full of good things. Why did she return empty-handed this time? Qin He summoned the senior maid and the matron who followed her to question them.

"What happened?" Qin He asked. "Why did Fu Bao return empty-handed?"

The senior maid hesitated: "Yan Guogong Lady said the manor's yield was low and did not send melons and fruits from the manor to the little princess."

"Who said ordinary melons and fruits?" Qin He was impatient. Sitting in a chair, she assumed the posture of an heir's wife: "Fu Bao hasn't been to Yan Guogong Prefecture for so long; did Yan Guogong Lady not give Fu Bao any good things?"

"No," the senior maid shook her head.

Qin He was at a loss. She blamed Fu Bao for being too young and not knowing how to ask. If a child has a sweet mouth, what can't they get? She had wasted a trip. Qin He sighed in frustration.

Qin He also felt a craving; she wanted to eat spirit fruits.

She swallowed hard, not wanting anyone to see her craving.

Leaving the living room, Qin He scolded Fu Bao: "You, too. You don't even know how to coax people. Yan Guogong Prefecture has plenty of good things. And you, went there and came back empty-handed, not even getting a spirit fruit to eat."

"Go buy them on Spirit Plant Street!" Fu Bao said.