Chapter 235: The Barbarian Wilderness

Qin Bi was angry at Qin He, but it didn't bring her much satisfaction.

There was no other reason; she simply disliked Qin He, wanted her dead, yet getting angry at her wouldn't kill her, so it didn't relieve her anger.

But Qin Bi understood that Qin He was protected by the Heavenly Dao. Killing Qin He was forbidden by Great Yan and the Immortal Sects alike. She would just have to leave her be; given their relationship, there would surely be opportunities to step on Qin He's toes.

Having stayed long enough, Qin Bi returned to the Rong Prince's Manor.

At the manor gate, Rong Yang ran over: "Mother."

Qin Bi bent down to pick up the little dumpling. The little dumpling spoke in a milky voice: "Why didn't you take me? I thought Mother would be back soon. Rong Yang has been waiting at the manor gate for so long."

Qin Bi coaxed him: "Next time I'll take you."

"Okay!" Rong Yang said cheerfully.

He Yan was no good, but Rong Yang was truly wonderful. Qin Bi kissed the little dumpling. Where was her own child? Rong Yang lay on her shoulder and said "little brother" in a milky voice as they returned to the courtyard.

The Rong Heir was in the study, so Qin Bi went there to find him.

The advisors stood up to take their leave. Qin Bi walked up to Rong Juan. The little milky dumpling made "ah ah" sounds. Qin Bi held Rong Yang and bent down to tease the little one: "Hey, I came back from my maternal grandfather's house and didn't take you."

The Rong Heir: "..."

Rong Yang: "..."

The little milky dumpling moved his small mouth, understanding nothing.

Qin Bi was happy. The Rong Heir suddenly smiled, choosing not to argue with this woman. He only needed to know that Qin Bi loved the younger one no less than Rong Yang; whatever happened, he would spoil them.

It was getting late. Rong Juan stood up and handed the little milky dumpling to Qin Bi. He was taking care of Rong Yang; the youngest son was too small to be away from Qin Bi for too long, or he would throw a tantrum.

Before leaving the study, Qin Bi told Rong Juan: "I'm going to reclaim wasteland tomorrow."

Rong Yang hurriedly said: "I'm going too."

He wouldn't attend court. His imperial uncle had left all the memorials for him. Why give him so many memorials when he was still so young? It was better to follow Mother; he could play everywhere.

Qin Bi looked at Rong Juan. The Rong Heir asked the little one: "Summer is very hot."

Rong Yang said: "I'm not afraid of the heat."

Qin Bi didn't believe children weren't afraid of the heat, and the Rong Heir couldn't bear to let the child get sunburned either. But Rong Yang clearly wanted to go. Rong Juan sent a guard to inform He Yan, who didn't stop him.

With that, preparations were needed. He Yan sent pastries made of spiritual food to the Rong Prince's Manor. The Rong Heir placed a spiritual melon on the table. Half a string of spiritual fruits brought back from the Immortal Sect remained, which he divided between the two children.

Qin Bi finished packing, and Rong Yang poked his small head out to peek.

Rong Juan put the sleeping youngest son to bed. Watching his wife and children moving back and forth, he felt a sense of warmth. This was very good. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He Yan had truly gotten a raw deal!

Early the next morning, Qin Lang and Qin Xun arrived in a carriage to pick them up. As usual, the strategist Lin Yao accompanied them. At this moment, Lin Yao and the Qin Xun brothers waited in the living room. The Rong Heir sent the youngest son to the Rong Prince; the morning was cool, so the youngest son wouldn't get too hot.

The Rong Heir personally escorted Qin Bi and the others to the Ministry of Works. When they arrived at the location where the Ministry of Works had set up the teleportation array, Qin Bi and the others disembarked. The Rong Heir did not show himself; he merely lifted the carriage curtain to take a look before leaving.

Qin Yan, Qin Tang, Rong Yan, and Jiang Xu had already been waiting for a long time. Beside them stood a young nobleman dressed in the attire of high rank, with rosy lips, white teeth, and clear, handsome features. Qin Bi found him familiar.

Rong Yang was delighted: "Little Uncle He."

He Zu smiled brightly: "Hey, big nephew."

Qin Bi recognized him. He Yan's clan brother, very capable, a cultivation genius, He Yan's little sidekick. He had once been very protective of Qin He and had been cold toward her, but there was no need to doubt He Zu's love for Rong Yang.

He Yan had sent him, so naturally, he was following Rong Yang.

Qin Bi put Rong Yang down. She really wanted to complain, to make Rong Yang ignore He Zu, but she couldn't. Rong Yang would inherit the title in the future and would need clan members like He Zu to protect him. She would just ignore him.

"Is Little Uncle going to reclaim wasteland with me?" Rong Yang ran over to He Zu and asked, looking up.

"Yes!" He Zu picked up the young heir, acting obsequious: "I fought for this opportunity. None of the other brothers could beat me."

Rong Yang grinned widely. He Zu bowed to Qin Bi: "Greetings, Rong Heir's Consort."

Qin Bi ignored him. Not holding a grudge didn't mean giving him face. He Zu didn't mind. Rong Yang blinked. Lin Yao clicked his tongue. Oh my, the Heir's Consort was formidable. Spoiled by favor, she simply gave no face to anyone.

Lin Yao had heard of this young master of the He family long ago; he was not someone easy to deal with. For the young heir's sake, enduring the Heir's Consort was a first. He would just have to take it. He guessed their relationship hadn't been great before.

Lin Yao secretly took delight. It served them right. Originally, the fourth branch's illegitimate daughter of the Qin Yan Marquis Manor was supposed to be the Heir's Consort of the Yan Duke Manor. The He family didn't cherish her, allowing their Rong Heir to snatch a huge bargain.

He Zu, who never accepted a loss, saw his cousin He Yan lose both his wife and his soldiers. He had longed for the young heir, yet the heir was even closer to the Rong Prince's Manor. One could imagine what this young master felt. Lin Yao fanned himself and laughed.

Each served his own master. He Zu felt aggrieved, while Lin Yao, the number one strategist of the Rong Prince's Manor, was in high spirits.

Acquaintances greeted them. Lin Yao chatted with a smile, while Qin Bi pretended not to know them, just as she had done the first time she went to reclaim wasteland.

Lin Yao's mouth twitched. Last time, he thought the Heir's Consort was illegitimate, so pretending not to know them was fine. But he, the number one strategist, had followed the Heir's Consort several times now, yet she still pretended not to know them.

Sigh. Last time he wasn't willing to follow the Heir's Consort. This time, well, the Heir's Consort didn't seem willing to take him along either. Last time he hadn't realized it, but now he saw clearly: the Heir's Consort simply didn't think having the Rong Prince's Manor's number one strategist along added any prestige.

"Rong Yang," Qin Lang asked, "Do you want me to carry you?"

Rong Yang said: "My little uncle is carrying me."

Qin Lang gave up. He called Qin Bi and the others to enter the teleportation array. He Zu carried Rong Yang and followed. This teleportation involved about a hundred people. The array activated, and they instantly arrived in the Barbarian Wilderness.

A quick glance made Qin Bi think that after a year, the Barbarian Wilderness must have improved. But no, she shouldn't have had any expectations at all. As far as the eye could see, there was only compacted soil, the ground so dry it seemed to be smoking.

Rong Yang blinked, and He Zu shielded him from the sunlight.

Qin Bi walked out of the teleportation array and turned around. He Zu hurried to follow. Officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works had set up tables and erected shade canopies nearby. The Confucian scholars went over to register, and Lin Yao and several acquaintances walked over as well.

Qin Bi asked a minor official: "Can't I keep the reclaimed farmland?"

The minor official from the Ministry of Works looked at her and had a good temper: "Once you plant something and seedlings emerge, you can claim more. For example, if you reclaim one mu of land and plant crops, you only need to give one-fifth or one-tenth of a mu to the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Revenue."

Qin Bi processed this: "The rest is mine?"

The minor official nodded: "All of it is yours."

Qin Tang and the others listened nearby without asking much. After Qin Bi finished asking, she waved her hand, and everyone walked west together. After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Rong Yan stopped. All around was wasteland.

Rong Yan said: "Let's reclaim the land right here."

As far as the eye could see, there was only wasteland; there was nothing to choose from. Just pick a patch of land and start reclaiming.