Chapter 342

He Yan was momentarily stunned; when Rong Juan was young, he too could not part from his parents.

Rong He Shizi, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, was arrogant and unruly; he had sacrificed so much for his Rong Juan. He Yan was even more patient, first pouring warm water—not too cold, not too hot—for the child.

"Stop crying," He Yan said, lifting the child to drink: "You said you would be good."

The little milk bun was indeed thirsty, gulping down the water, then looking up with tear-filled eyes: "I want to find Father and Mother."

He Yan wanted to ask if he wasn't supposed to stay at Yan Guogong Fu, but remembering this was a child, he swallowed his words. Perhaps one should not argue logic with a child; a child's sleep tantrums make no sense.

He Yan had never raised a child, yet as a powerful minister's son in Great Yan, he acted with steadiness.

Summoning a guard, He Yan ordered: "Call Rong He Shizi and say the little He Shizi is throwing a tantrum demanding him."

As the guard left, the young prince said irritably to the little milk bun: "Hurry and have your father take you away. Your mouth is quite skilled; you promised not to make trouble, yet look at your fussing. I can't even sleep."

The little milk bun sobbed, looking up: "Father."

He Yan's heart trembled at such a cute, aggrieved expression. If Rong Juan had grown up at Yan Guogong Fu from the start, it would have been better. He Yan took a deep breath, his features softening as he patiently coaxed the little one.

"Be good," He Yan said. "I'm going to call your father."

Rong Juan was not asleep yet. With his beloved youngest son at Yan Guogong Fu for the first time, far from his side, Rong He Shizi could hardly rest easy; he and Rong Juan were handling official matters in the study.

Qin Bi arrived. As autumn winds brought cold and heavy dew, Rong Juan stood up: "Go to sleep."

"I won't sleep," Qin Bi sat down. "I'll wait for Rong Juan to return before sleeping."

Rong Juan draped a cloak over her, his expression calm: "He is throwing a tantrum to stay at Yan Guogong Fu; you need not wait. If you are worried, I will go to Yan Guogong Fu early tomorrow to fetch Rong Juan."

Qin Bi checked the time: "He will start fussing in a moment."

Rong Juan sneered: "Who would indulge him?"

Qin Bi waited with certainty. He Yan might not have the patience to indulge Rong Juan, but the little one could make a scene. If he caused enough chaos to disturb everyone, they would have to send him back.

Seeing Qin Bi so certain, Rong Juan had someone brew a soup of spiritual plants and brought it to her to warm and nourish her body.

As Qin Bi drank the soup, a guard from Yan Guogong Fu arrived. Hearing the little bun was throwing a tantrum demanding him, Rong Juan dropped his official duties and rushed out. Qin Bi could not follow, but Rong Juan chased after him.

"Father," Rong Juan said. "I'm coming too."

"Don't go," Qin Bi blocked him, as evil qi lurked at night.

Rong Juan also said: "No."

Qin Bi and Rong He Shizi were on the same page; only those who had raised children knew that children should rarely go out at night. Even for a child like Rong Juan, blessed with such fortune and great luck, one could not ignore such metaphysical concerns.

It was not that Qin Bi belittled herself, but the child of a powerful minister's son occupied twenty points of Great Yan's fortune and luck value. Such luck was significant, making many cultivators envious.

"Father," Rong Juan took another step forward.

The child insisted; he loved his younger brother Rong Juan dearly.

Qin Bi was torn. Rong He Shizi was always decisive and swift in action. After only a moment's hesitation, he put on a heavy cloak, picked up the child, and wrapped him inside the garment. Prince Rong rushed from the study.

Having everyone go was not feasible. Rong Juan considered that Qin Bi's lifespan had just been restored after damage, and he was not at ease.

Rong He Shizi said: "Father, watch over the Wang Fu."

As he spoke, Rong Juan glanced at Qin Bi.

Prince Rong understood, seeing Rong Juan and Rong Juan off in the carriage.

Prince Rong returned from the gate to Qin Bi, who stood in the courtyard: "Rong Juan is worried about you. Don't catch a chill; return to your courtyard and wait. It is so late; Rong Juan may not be willing to bring the child back."

That was true. In late autumn, with cold winds and heavy dew, Rong He Shizi would not bear to bring the child back late at night.

Qin Bi returned to the He Shizi's courtyard. The Wang Wang Cefei was indignant: "A mere little He Shizi, acting as if he could reach the sky."

"Indeed, the little He Shizi can truly reach the sky," the illegitimate son said, then lowered his head to think before exclaiming: "This child is full of schemes; one cannot help but admire him. He has fortune."

The Wang Cefei said: "Your children should receive more effort and resources; can they be worse than him?"

The illegitimate son sighed, covering his face: "I might as well just rot."

The Wang Cefei slapped the table: "You must strive for success."

The Wang Cefei's unwillingness had reason. She said: "Qin He, a mere illegitimate daughter, delayed her marriage for several years waiting for He He Shizi, thereby gaining Yan Guogong Fu's guilt and receiving so many good things? Simply put, what does Yan Guogong Fu have to do with her? Qin He could even covet the things of Yan Guogong Fu. You are Prince Rong's son; you should strive even harder."

The illegitimate son said: "That depends on who I am competing against. Competing against Rong Wang Fu's He Shizi, I have no chance of winning."

"You unambitious one," the Wang Cefei scolded.

"Mother, do you know why your little schemes go unpunished?" the illegitimate son asked.

The Wang Cefei looked at him: "Why?"

"Because Rong He Shizi has a child," the illegitimate son said. "If my older brother had no child, with even a slight scheme of yours, given his methods, he would have broken my legs long ago. Now that my He Shizi brother has a child, he has softened a bit. Do not be so unclear-headed."

The Wang Cefei was not foolish and immediately understood her son's meaning.

Having a few small thoughts was fine, but do not touch Rong Juan. If anyone dared to scheme even slightly against Rong Juan and Rong Juan, Rong He Shizi would make them die a very ugly death. The Wang Cefei had always understood this clearly.

Rong He Shizi had gone to Yan Guogong Fu and had not yet returned. The Wang Cefei said: "Go and show some affection."

The illegitimate son covered his forehead: "They find me annoying."

The Wang Cefei: "..."

The illegitimate sons and daughters of Rong Wang Fu were the most aggrieved. Rong He Shizi did not fail to deal with them; rather, he simply disregarded them entirely, never placing any Wang Cefei or illegitimate child in his sights.

Just one thing: do not obstruct Rong He Shizi's view.

Rong He Shizi once held great power in the imperial court, arguably the most powerful among powerful ministers, his killing aura terrifying. Yet since marrying and having a child, he gradually began living his own small life.

The killing aura on Rong He Shizi had diminished somewhat, but if one lacked eyesight, the outcome was uncertain.

The illegitimate son did not go, and the Wang Cefei could do nothing.

Fortunately, the illegitimate son did not go; had he gone, Prince Rong would have sent him back anyway.

Rong He Shizi arrived at Yan Guogong Fu. A guard led him to the He Shizi's courtyard. He Yan was walking in the courtyard holding the child, while the young prince bounced around coaxing the child, making the little milk bun laugh loudly.

This was what Rong He Shizi saw. Before he arrived, the little milk bun's moods had been unpredictable.

When the young prince coaxed him, the child laughed loudly; as soon as he felt sleepy, he cried, calling for Father and Mother.

He Yan finally understood how to raise a child. When Rong Juan arrived, the little milk bun paused, then, while smiling, suddenly burst into loud crying. Rong Juan quickly set Rong Juan down and took the little milk bun into his arms.

Rong Juan coaxed him a bit, and the little milk bun fell asleep; he had been so drowsy he could barely keep his eyes open.

He Yan let out a sigh of relief and picked up Rong Juan.

The young prince also sighed in relief, wishing he hadn't stayed at the Yan Guogong Fu to help take care of the child.