Chapter 370: Cannot Be Indulged

Qin Han pleaded: "Mother, I only want one or two spiritual ducklings."

She asked for no more; although spiritual ducklings were precious, she, Qin Han, was also a daughter of the Fourth Branch, and had not neglected her natal family. In recent years, neither Rong He Shizi nor He He Shizi had looked after the Fourth Branch, leaving them marginalized within the Hou Fu.

Jiang Mo's family were merchants with abundant silver, and they had frequently aided the Fourth Branch.

He Shi pondered. Qin Han said: "Mother, Jiang Mo and I have helped the family often. Jiang Mo and my children are ordinary people. Now that they have the chance to awaken, it is precisely the time to use resources. If the natal family had none, that would be one thing, but since there are spiritual ducklings with gentle spiritual energy, why can't you give me one or two?"

He Shi thought for a moment: "You may return first."

Seeing He Shi's expression soften, Qin Han rose and left. Back home, she sent someone to deliver fifty bars of soap to the Hou Fu. Normally, Qin Han was not so generous, but cultivation resources were simply impossible to obtain elsewhere.

Cultivation was arduous; cultivation resources could not be bought with mortal-world goods.

Qin Han had considered that awakening a spiritual root was best followed by training in a small space within the lower-level beast realm. Once initial training was passed, one could enter the path of cultivation, at least grasping some of its principles.

However, Qin Han dared not take risks. The beast realm's small space was less fraught with danger than rife with murderous intent; killing to seize treasures was far too common. If Qin Han went to the beast realm's small space, she would only live in constant fear, let alone Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren.

If her husband and children went, Qin Han would worry herself to death.

Father Qin Di could sit at home and wait for cultivation resources; why not Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren? Qin Han also wished to emulate Father Qin Di. If Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren refused to risk themselves in the beast realm's small space, they would have to find other ways to obtain cultivation resources.

He Shi had originally intended to summon Qin Bi, but after thinking it over, since Qin Bi had children, she simply sent Qin Tang and Jiang Shi over. Lin Shi and Qin Lang heard of it and went along, bringing several Qin family children.

Qin Bi was searching for a summoning artifact depicting a stream. She intended to farm, but with winter approaching, she could only plant some Chinese cabbage; the wheat was already sown, and once the cold set in, nothing would grow.

The little milk bun had gone to the Yan Guogong Prefecture. Both Rong He Shizi and Rong Yang had accompanied her. No one knew what they were going to do; if there was no urgent matter, there was no need for all of them to go to the Yan Guogong Prefecture.

She had already told Rong Yang she was going to farm, yet the little bun still followed her.

When Qin Tang and his wife, along with Lin Shi and Qin Lang, arrived, Qin Bi set down the summoning artifact and went to the courtyard. The sun was bright that day, so receiving guests in the courtyard was not cold, but it would turn chilly by mid-afternoon.

A maid served tea. Qin Tang took a sip and stated his purpose: "Qin Bi, Qin Han wants to procure cultivation resources for Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren. Having no other avenue, she has set her sights on the spiritual ducklings. Qin Han has asked Mother several times, but Mother has not agreed. Now that Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren can cultivate, and they have not yet entered the path, they indeed need to consume things with spiritual energy. What do you think? Perhaps you could give her a few spiritual ducklings."

Lin Shi also said: "Mother gives one spiritual duckling, Elder Brother gives one, and your Second Brother gives another. After eating these, it will surely benefit Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren to some degree."

The reason they consulted Qin Bi was that the spiritual ducklings for Qin Di and his wife had all been provided by Qin Bi, so she needed to be informed.

Qin Bi said: "No."

"This..." Jiang Shi hesitated, then said: "Qin Bi, you know that in the past, neither Rong He Shizi nor He He Shizi cared for the Fourth Branch. The Fourth Branch had little income. Qin Han married into a merchant family and lacks no silver. In recent years, Jiang Mo has frequently given Mother silver. Refusing even one spiritual duckling is unreasonable."

Why did a young lady of the Hou Fu marry a merchant? Precisely for the financial support of the Jiang family behind her.

In recent years, the Jiang family had not only frequently given silver to the Fourth Branch; in opening shops, Jiang Mo possessed certain skills and offered considerable advice to the Xue Wang Fu and Qin Yan Hou Fu. The shops could achieve their current success only because Jiang Mo contributed greatly.

Qin Bi's head ached again: "But the spiritual ducklings were gifts I gave to Father and Mother."

Qin Han did not ask her directly but asked He Shi, showing she did not feel indebted to her.

Could such a mindset be indulged? In Qin Bi's view, it could not be indulged.

Qin Lang saw Qin Bi pressing her forehead and asked with concern: "Sister, what is wrong?"

"Headache." Qin Bi said to Qin Tang: "Elder Brother, do not put me in a difficult position. I cannot afford to expend my mental energy."

Qin Tang nodded and dropped the subject: "Very well. Only Qin Xun and I will each give Qin Han one spiritual duckling; that makes two. Qin Han does not want Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren to train in the beast realm's small space; she only wants to obtain resources from others. This is not a long-term solution."

Anyone could expend mental energy, but not Qin Bi; her lifespan had already been damaged.

They drank tea and chatted. Qin Han and Qin He indeed had a good relationship. The reason Jiang Mo and Jiang Ren awakened was that Qin He had provided the Spirit Condensing Elixir. For the Fourth Branch, it was a good thing that Jiang Mo could awaken.

Qin Lang could not quite understand and asked Qin Bi: "Sister, I simply do not understand. Why were both Rong He Shizi and He He Shizi so cold toward the Fourth Branch back then? He He Shizi is Fourth Aunt's own nephew, and Rong He Shizi was originally betrothed to the Fourth Branch's legitimate daughter. Why did they both neglect the Fourth Branch? Rong He Shizi even said the future Princess Consort would still be chosen from the Fourth Branch, so why did he ignore them completely?"

It was precisely because of the maneuvers by these two powerful ministers' heirs that the Fourth Branch had a difficult time those years.

Qin Bi did not know either. Jiang Shi still needed to return home to catch spiritual ducklings for Qin Han, so she called Lin Shi to leave first. Qin Tang and Qin Lang did not depart, and several children stayed behind. A maid brought melons and fruits for the children to eat.

When Rong He Shizi returned from the Yan Guogong Prefecture, he sat down and spoke with Qin Tang and the others. Learning that Qin Han had asked He Shi for spiritual ducklings, Rong He Shizi raised an eyebrow: "Jiang Mo does not wish to train in the beast realm's small space anymore."

Qin Tang nodded: "Qin Han is not at ease."

Rong He Shizi said: "Asking you directly seems only natural to her."

Qin Tang explained: "Jiang Mo has helped the Fourth Branch greatly in recent years."

Rong He Shizi fell silent. As a powerful minister, he understood perfectly well.

Qin Bi directly asked the question Qin Lang had raised earlier: "We of the Fourth Branch have treated you well, Rong He Shizi. Why have you been so lukewarm toward the Fourth Branch? You do not seem to look after the Hou Fu much either."

Rong He Shizi glanced at Qin Bi: "Do you truly wish to know?"

Qin Bi said nothing. Qin Tang and Qin Lang looked eager. Qin Lang said: "We do wish to know. Why? You and our Hou Fu had agreed that the Princess Consort would be chosen from the Hou Fu, yet the Princess Consort still does not favor our Hou Fu."

Afterwards, Qin Lang muttered softly: "Especially the Fourth Branch."

Rong He Shizi's expression remained calm. He did not mind telling the Qin family: "It was agreed that my Princess Consort must come from the Fourth Branch, yet the women selected by the Hou Fu in recent years were not from the Fourth Branch."

He, a dignified Rong He Shizi, was treated so perfunctorily by the Hou Fu.

Qin Tang was stunned and said in confusion: "Except for Qin Han, the ages were all unsuitable. Since you did not favor Qin Han, we could only choose from the Hou Fu."