Chapter 316: The He Family

Qin Han could no longer sit still; she rose and returned to her natal home.

"Qin Han has arrived," Lady Jiang greeted her.

Qin Han had come with her children. She smiled slightly and nodded. "It has been a long time since I returned; I came to see Mother."

Jiang Ren and her younger brother went to play with the Qin children. Lady Lin spoke with Qin Han while, in the courtyard, spirit geese and ducks had just been caught. Maids and nannies were tidying the yard, searching to see if any spirit geese or ducks were hiding among the flower bushes.

Qin Tan was conversing with Marquis Qin Yan and Qin Di. Qin Han bowed and said, "Uncle, I heard that the spirit geese and ducks were transported back from the small space in the Demon Beast Realm. If I had known, I would have gone to that small space myself."

Qin Han could not leave the business in her shop, so she did not go.

Compared to Qin He's desire to cultivate immortality, Qin Han desired even more to become a little rich woman like Qin He.

Qin Tan perfunctorily acknowledged her. Even if Qin Han had gone to the small space in the Demon Beast Realm, she would only have joined Qin He's team. It seemed Qin He's team had made no move. This Qin Han, not close to her own sisters in the Fourth House, yet so close to Qin He.

"Grandmother," Jiang Ren asked Lady Jiang, "Are the spirit geese and ducks delicious?"

Lady Jiang: "..."

Lady Lin took up the conversation. "We have not yet tasted them."

Lady Jiang went to find Lady He. Lady He had just finished tidying up and was sitting down to drink tea and rest for a while.

"Mother," Lady Jiang approached and consulted, "Qin Han has returned with her children and asked about the spirit geese. Should we kill one?"

In Great Yan, a married daughter's status was higher than when she was unmarried. Upon returning to her natal home, she was served the best food and drink. If Qin Han had come alone, it would have been fine, but since she brought her children, they must at least have a good meal.

Lady He drank her tea, then set down the bowl. "Kill a chicken or a fish. Let Lady Lin make the arrangements."

Lady Jiang went to find Lady Lin and relayed Lady He's words to her.

The concubine-born daughters also wanted to eat the spirit geese and ducks. They joined in the commotion from the side, urging Lady Lin on.

Lady Lin and Lady Jiang moved aside to confer. "We have been busy for several days, and there is a group of children. The Fourth House has done nothing wrong, but the children of the other houses have not been idle. Why not kill a spirit goose or duck?"

Lady Jiang spread her hands. "I cannot make the decision."

Lady Lin went to ask Qin Di. "Father, Third Uncle, let us kill a spirit goose or duck to eat."

Qin Tan and Marquis Qin Yan were nearby. Hearing this, Qin Tan said, "You must ask your mother-in-law, Lady He."

Qin Di spoke up. "Go ask your mother."

Lady Lin said helplessly, "Mother does not agree to eat the spirit geese and ducks."

Qin Di hesitated. Qin Tan glanced at Qin Di. Qin Di did not agree. Lady He had not given her consent, so Lady Lin came to ask Qin Di to make the decision. Either Qin Di or Lady He could simply say to eat one.

After Lady Lin left, Qin Tan saw that the servants were all busy and not nearby. He said to Qin Di, "Best not to touch Qin Bi's things. Wait until Qin Tang and Qin Bi return, then ask how to distribute them."

Qin Di smiled. "Killing one spirit goose or duck, Qin Bi will not say anything."

"This also requires Lady He's agreement," Qin Tan stated plainly. "Qin Bi listens most to her sister-in-law. You do not have as much face as your sister-in-law. If Lady He makes the decision, Qin Bi will be pleased. No one else carries the weight in Qin Bi's heart that your sister-in-law does."

Qin Di deeply agreed. This child, Qin Bi, was truly close to Lady He.

Considering that all the children in the Marquis Manor were busy, and today Qin Han had also arrived, Qin Di went to mention killing a spirit goose or duck to Lady He. Lady He refused. Qin Di paused, then left.

Marquis Qin Yan looked at the returning Qin Di. "She did not agree?"

Qin Di smiled. "She will not agree to eat one."

Qin Tan was only slightly surprised, stroking his beard and smiling. "No wonder Qin Bi is close to her sister-in-law. Lady He can guard Qin Bi's things. Whether they belong to Qin Bi or to Qin Tang and the others, Lady He was right not to give her consent."

Because Lady He did not give her consent, no one mentioned killing a spirit goose or duck again. Just as Lady Cui could decide regarding Qin He's things, Lady He could decide for Qin Bi. However, Lady He had made up her mind to guard the spirit geese and ducks closely.

One would think that with so many spirit geese and ducks, eating ten or eight would mean nothing. But Lady He's vision was not so shallow. If Qin Han wanted to eat, she should go to Qin He. At this time, she should not have brought her children back.

Lady He also hesitated about whether to kill a spirit goose or duck for the children in the Marquis Manor. After thinking it over, she decided against it. She did not even know how Qin Tang, Qin Bi, and the others would distribute them. Lady He only needed to guard the household well.

Lady He was not unaware of Qin Bi's closeness to her. She could not let the child's heart grow cold.

Lady Jiang arranged the meal to entertain Qin Han and her children. Jiang Ren poked her head into the dishes, searching. Her expression shifted from delight to confusion. There were no spirit geese or ducks at all, yet there were clearly many spirit geese and ducks at her grandfather's house.

"Mother," Jiang Ren said, "There are no spirit geese or ducks."

Qin Han's smile was forced. After eating, she took her children and left.

Qin Han had just arrived and left when Princess Xue could no longer sit still. She came personally to Marquis Qin Yan's manor. Marquis Qin Yan's wife invited her to sit, while Lady Cui and Lady He, among others, kept her company.

Princess Xue could not beat around the bush. She asked, "Spirit geese and ducks have been transported back so many times. Is there not even a share for our Xue Wang Fu?"

Lady He looked over. Marquis Qin Yan's wife understood immediately and did not rush to reply.

Lady Cui and Princess Xue were in-laws. Lady Cui slowly set down her tea cup and said, "Do not worry. Qin Yan and the others have not yet returned from the small space in the Demon Beast Realm. Wait until they return. Whatever belongs to whom will not be missing."

That reply left Princess Xue speechless. Perhaps there was a share for Qin He and Xue Qing. Every time spirit geese and ducks were transported back, Marquis Qin Yan's manor closed its gates. The Xue Wang Fu had not seen a single spirit goose or duck. How could she not be anxious?!

If the transported spirit geese and ducks were placed at the Xue Wang Fu, Princess Xue would be more composed than Marquis Qin Yan's wife. It would be the people of Marquis Qin Yan's manor who should be anxious. Whichever house held the spirit geese would feel secure in their hearts!

Besides, Fubao was making a fuss to eat spirit geese and ducks. If they were at the Xue Wang Fu, they could kill a few for Fubao and her precious legitimate grandson. At Marquis Qin Yan's manor, they could only stare helplessly.

Lady Zhu smiled and spoke. "Your Highness, return and wait quietly. There is a share for Qin He. With my sister-in-law Lady Cui here, how could we let Qin He suffer a loss? It depends on whether Qin He has the ability."

The fear was that she might not have the ability. Princess Xue's visit was presumptuous.

Princess Xue, helpless, rose and took her leave.

Marquis Qin Yan and his brothers, including Qin Tan, were also puzzled. Was there truly a share for Qin Yan's team? Seeing that the spirit geese and ducks were transported to Duke Su's manor, there should have been a share for Qin Yan.

If Duke Su's manor could partake in the meat, there was no reason Qin Yan should have no share.

In the study of the Fourth House, Qin Di, Qin Tan chatted. Qin Tan said, "According to closeness and distance, since Qin Bi, Qin Tang, and the others found the spirit geese and ducks, they should have invited Qin Yan. If they could invite people from Duke Su's manor, they could not have failed to invite Qin Yan."

Qin Di nodded, also very puzzled. "Qin Yan is in a team with Qin He and the Crown Prince of Xue. If they invited Qin Yan, there should be a share for Qin He."

Qin Tan could not figure it out. He shook his head and analyzed, "Given Qin He's temperament, if there were spirit geese and ducks for the Xue Wang Fu, she would absolutely not agree to transport them all to the Third and Fourth Houses of Marquis Qin Yan's manor."

Qin Di thought about it and agreed. "Do not touch the spirit geese and ducks for now."

Although he said that, later Qin Di selected a few small spirit geese and sent them to Rong Wang Fu.