Chapter 290

Over ten mu of land had been cleared, and the fields Lin Yao had reclaimed were no longer being planted.

He Zu's farmland had also been harvested; peanuts, beans, and the like were all gathered, and the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works had plenty of hands to plant the next crops.

It took several days to sow the seeds for Chinese cabbage and green radishes. The land in the desolate wasteland was so dry it cracked, and the ground was dust underfoot. As they planted, cultivators with Water Spirit Roots used their magic treasures to summon rain.

Qin He was among them; she had good fortune.

"Are there any fruits?" Qin He asked, her clothes soaked with sweat, her head spinning and eyes blurred.

Autumn in the desolate wasteland was just as scorching as summer. While the men could manage, the women found the heat unbearable. Qin He regretted it bitterly.

If she had known it would be so hard in the wasteland, she never would have gotten involved.

A high official from the Ministry of Revenue paused in surprise, then pondered for a moment before saying, "There are melons."

A subordinate brought over a watermelon and cut it open. The cultivators temporarily stopped summoning rain and went to eat. Qin He took a bite; the melon was somewhat sweet, but it was nothing compared to the ordinary watermelons Qin Yan grew.

"This melon isn't good," Qin He complained with disdain.

Others glanced at her but said nothing. It was enough to have something to eat; she was being difficult.

A few people ate their melon while whispering to each other on the side.

"This melon is sweet enough. How can she complain? I wonder what kind of melons she's eaten before."

"She is the illegitimate daughter of the second branch of Qin Yan Marquis Fu. This field belongs to the Marquis Fu. It is said the melons grown there are cool and sweet. She must have eaten them, so it's no wonder she finds the bought melons lacking."

"But watermelons don't grow in autumn anyway. Any watermelons available are leftovers from before, not freshly picked. How good could they be? The Ministry of Revenue is already generous to have cut the melons for us."

Qin He vaguely heard a few words and smiled as she explained, "I have eaten spirit melons. Melons with spiritual energy taste truly wonderful. Once you've tasted a spirit melon, an ordinary one cannot compare."

Upon hearing this, two women immediately became interested.

"You have eaten spirit melons?"

Qin He smiled. "Yes, I get to eat them every year."

In truth, Qin He only got to eat spirit melons frequently during summer after Fu Bao was born. Before that, He He Shizi had given her spirit melons only once or twice. But who would know if she didn't say it? Qin He wanted to create the impression that she was very fortunate.

"How enviable! You have such a good palate!" a young girl said, her face full of admiration.

"Spirit melons are very expensive. Did you buy them?" another young girl questioned skeptically.

"Someone gave them to me," Qin He replied, omitting He He Shizi's name.

But some people knew Qin He. They turned and whispered to their companions. When the young girl looked at Qin He again, her expression was complex, mixing jealousy with envy. What a great blessing it was for an illegitimate daughter of a Marquis Fu to be so cherished and remembered by a powerful minister's heir!

Even though the engagement between He He Shizi and Qin He had fallen through, He He Shizi had still arranged a good marriage for her. This showed how much he cared for Qin He. It was no exaggeration to say Qin He was He He Shizi's white moonlight.

Qin He enjoyed the envious gazes of the women. Just as she felt a touch of pride, she finished her melon and resumed summoning rain. Suddenly, her head felt heavy, and within a short time, she felt dizzy.

After enduring for a while, Qin He went to rest.

"Perhaps you should go back and rest," the official from the Ministry of Revenue in charge of planting suggested.

Qin He wanted to leave, but she was unwilling. She didn't want to suffer, yet she still wanted a good reputation.

The official said, "Your spirit palace was injured and has only just recovered. It is not wise to expend large amounts of spiritual power to summon rain."

"But..." Qin He told the official from the Ministry of Revenue, and also told herself, "I have good fortune! I can bring benefits to the crops in the fields. Perhaps we can grow Chinese cabbage and green radishes with spiritual energy."

Upon hearing this, the official from the Ministry of Revenue fell silent. Chinese cabbage and green radishes with spiritual energy were ingredients everyone longed for. Even if they managed to grow half a mu of spirit vegetables out of the ten-plus mu, it would be enough.

After Qin He toiled for several days, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works finally finished planting the Chinese cabbage and green radishes.

When Qin He returned to Xue Wang Fu, she was exhausted, her back and waist aching. Xue Wang Fei asked, "How did the planting go in the fields?"

"All the seeds have been sown," Qin He said, frowning. "We will know how many spirit vegetable seedlings there are once they sprout. The wasteland rarely sees rain, and the soil is too dry. I fear it will affect the sprouting."

Xue Wang Fei was not worried. "If spirit vegetable seedlings do grow, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works will find ways to summon rain for irrigation."

As long as it was a spirit vegetable, the Emperor would take it to heart. The only concern was that not many spirit vegetables might sprout.

If Qin He managed to grow spirit vegetables...

Xue Wang Fei grew excited, and the entire Xue Wang Fu felt a sense of pride.

"Go rest now," Xue Wang Fei said kindly.

Qin He returned to the heir's courtyard and collapsed into bed. Since crossing over, she had never endured such hardship. Farming was too tiring, especially in the desolate wasteland; the sun was simply deadly.

These past few days, Qin Bi had been idle. At home, she boiled bean pods, peanuts, and corn with Rong Juan, doing nothing but eating. Little milk bun Rong Chi also ate along with her.

The young prince, Yan Xun, came running over, his eyes red with envy.

After eating a meal with them, the young prince went to find Rong He Shizi. "Can I stay at your house?"

Rong He Shizi chuckled and refused. "No."

Eating his son's food, drinking his son's drinks, and now wanting to stay permanently? Dream on. He was just like the Great Yan Emperor, unable to move when he saw good food. Rong He Shizi knew the Great Yan imperial family was full of gluttons.

The young prince: "..."

The young prince didn't want to leave, so Rong He Shizi handed little milk bun Rong Chi to Qin Bi and personally escorted the young prince back to the palace.

Even after they were back in the palace, the young prince kept nagging Rong He Shizi. "Can't I stay at Rong Wang Fu for a few days? I really like Rong Juan and Rong Chi. I'll miss them if I don't see them."

Rong He Shizi was disdainful. If he believed that, he was a fool. The boy probably just missed the food.

"Go find Qin He," Rong He Shizi directed. "Qin He has good fortune. She has benefited greatly from your imperial family these past two years. If you want good food, go to Xue Wang Fu. Fu Bao has eaten plenty of palace food."

The young prince fell silent. He had no expectations of Qin He or Fu Bao.

Fu Bao was always the one shouting about her good fortune, eating and taking things whenever she entered the palace. The young prince had never seen Fu Bao bring anything into the palace to give to the princes. He had zero expectations of Fu Bao.

As for Qin He?

An illegitimate daughter of the Marquis Fu. The young prince's impression was that Qin He did not have good fortune.

Fu Bao had at least swallowed two children born under auspicious clouds. What did Qin He have? Only rumors that she had good fortune. Oh, the young prince remembered now. An illegitimate daughter marrying into Xue Wang Fu was indeed a bit of good fortune.

When they entered the palace to see the Great Yan Emperor, Rong He Shizi had not yet left. The Great Yan Emperor signaled the young prince with his eyes: What did you bring back?

The young prince silently shrugged. He hadn't brought anything. He hadn't even eaten his fill; he had only tasted a bit. Boiled bean pods, boiled peanuts, and boiled corn were truly delicious, not to mention the fruit jam they had made.

While Rong Juan was eating, the young prince had been fawning over his younger brother nearby. Rong Juan gave him a bite; it was simply delicious.

The Great Yan Emperor frowned. "Rong He Ai Qing, you have been at home for quite some time. It is time to attend court and share my burdens. It is not right for Rong Chi to stay at home all the time. Next time, bring him to court with you."