Chapter 421: The Marquis's Family Face

He Shi meant that Qin He was being difficult, causing her natal family worry.

Unnecessary worry; He Shi was impatient.

Marquis Qin Yan's wife did not intend to make excuses for Qin He; it was simply Qin He being difficult. She was ill, but it was not a real illness—it stemmed from discontent, a knot in her heart that made her sick.

Strictly speaking, it was not a real illness, but she simply felt unwell.

"Shall we go to Prince Xue's mansion tomorrow?" Marquis Qin Yan's wife asked for everyone's opinion.

The Fifth Lady shrugged: "I have no problem."

He Shi said, "Is there any need to be in such a hurry?"

"We ought to visit," Marquis Qin Yan's wife coaxed He Shi. "We are all noble families; it would look bad if people talked. Besides, our in-laws might mock us for not loving our child. We'll just make the trip, go through the motions."

If the Second Branch and Fourth Branch were at odds, and the Fourth Branch did not go, it would be too obvious. The Marquis's mansion could not let such a reputation spread.

He Shi sighed: "I didn't say I wouldn't go; I just think it's unnecessary. Running around today, I see no major ailment. There's no need to visit for minor illnesses or small misfortunes."

In plain terms, she did not want to go and give Qin He face.

The Heir's wife hurriedly said, "Qin He is truly ill."

"I don't see it," said Lin Shi, who played the villain, speaking up. "She can run and jump; I see no sign of illness. However, her temper is a bit too big; it needs changing. She is married now, no longer a child, yet she still acts on her whims."

Lin Shi spoke with reason and evidence; no one contradicted her.

Since they were busy coaxing her, the Heir's wife, taking advantage of Qin He's absence, tested the people of the Fourth Branch: "Qin He is immature; we won't hold it against her. Tomorrow, we will go to Prince Xue's mansion."

Lin Shi looked at He Shi, and He Shi asked, "What should we bring?"

Marquis Qin Yan's wife briefly explained: medicinal herbs and tonics. He Shi understood; their relationship was distant, and Qin He likely wouldn't care about gifts from the Fourth Branch anyway. Bringing some meat and eggs would suffice.

The quantity was merely enough to maintain appearances. Marquis Qin Yan's wife could not say much; it was already good that He Shi accompanied Cui Shi on this trip. She could not demand He Shi bring anything substantial. If He Shi didn't care about face, she wouldn't go, and no one could force her.

After everyone discussed it, He Shi cemented the idea that Qin He gave her natal family no peace and loved causing trouble. The Heir's wife and others listened helplessly; they had no choice but to coax He Shi to go to Prince Xue's mansion to project an image of family harmony.

The Fifth Lady asked Zhu Shi: "What are you bringing?"

The Third Lady, Zhu Shi, smiled: "My storeroom has nothing good either."

The Fifth Lady understood; she did not intend to bring good gifts. It made sense; the Third Branch and Fourth Branch always moved together, but her branch was in a difficult position. If the gift was heavy, it would hurt her heart; if light, Qin He would surely be unhappy.

The Fifth Branch relied somewhat on the Second Branch and Qin He. Qin He opened shops and brought the Fifth Branch along to earn silver.

After He Shi left with the Fourth Branch, the Fifth Lady said to Marquis Qin Yan's wife: "Eldest Sister-in-law, how about I give Qin He a small spirit vegetable, the chili pepper? Qin Tang gave my branch two small chili peppers."

Marquis Qin Yan's wife felt a block in her chest: "Does your branch have nothing but small chili peppers? Qin Tang gave your branch those to improve your cultivation. How can you turn around and give them to Qin He?"

The Fifth Lady knew it was improper and said, "I just thought it was novel. A spirit vegetable; giving it to Qin He is at least a spirit vegetable. Perhaps Qin He will cherish it, and we can consider the matter settled."

"Either give both small chili peppers to Qin He, or give none," Marquis Qin Yan's wife said. "One is not presentable. Have you ever seen anyone visit another's mansion bringing only a single small chili pepper?"

Two small chili peppers were not an option either; the Fifth Lady felt the pain of parting with them. They were cultivation resources. Remembering that Qin He had often looked out for the Fifth Branch in the past, whenever she had something good, she thought of Qin He.

However, if the Marquis's wife said one was not presentable, and two hurt the Fifth Lady's heart, then it was settled.

The Heir's wife and the Fifth Lady left together. The Fifth Lady returned to her own courtyard, while the Heir's wife went to the Second Branch's courtyard to inform Cui Shi that she would accompany her to Prince Xue's mansion tomorrow.

Cui Shi immediately made arrangements, and Qin Jue's wife inventoried the gifts to be brought.

Early the next morning, Jiang Shi and Lin Shi went to pay respects to He Shi.

He Shi called Qin Lang: "Go fetch your sister Qin Bi."

Qin Lang agreed and immediately went to Rong Wang Fu.

Qin Lang arrived in time for breakfast. Qin Bi invited him to eat with her. Qin Lang did not stand on ceremony; he was responsible for feeding Rong Yang, while Rong Juan fed the little one. After Qin Bi finished eating, she handed over the little milk bun.

They went to the side hall and placed the child on a small couch.

"Awooo," Qin Bi played with the little milk bun, pretending to scare him.

The little milk bun, Rong Chi, was not afraid at all. He laughed gaily, toppling over sideways.

Qin Bi laughed loudly too, dragging his little feet.

The little milk bun scrambled up: "Again."

"Awooo," Qin Bi opened her mouth wide: "I'm going to eat you."

The little milk bun laughed until he fell over, rolling on the small couch.

After laughing enough, he got up: "Again."

Rong Juan looked at the happily playing little milk bun with a displeased expression: "Enough. In a moment, I'll send you to Yan Guogong Fu. Hurry and grab your small storage bag; don't come back empty-handed."

"Okay!" The little milk bun was very sensible, saying in a milky voice, "I'll come back full."

Qin Bi: "..."

Qin Lang: "..."

Qin Lang paused and asked Qin Bi: "How big is this storage bag?"

Qin Bi gestured: "This big."

"Oh, oh." Qin Lang looked; it was the size of a small basket. Good thing; he had thought they would empty Yan Guogong Fu.

Rong Juan put little shoes on the little milk bun. The child was delighted, his little legs swinging. Qin Bi watched as Rong He Shizi showed endless patience. Rong Yang packed his lessons, preparing to go with Qin Bi to her maternal grandfather's house.

Qin Bi was a bad one; before leaving, she said to the little milk bun who was having his shoes put on: "I won't play with you anymore. We are going to your maternal grandfather's house. We aren't taking you."

Would he cry?

The little milk bun froze, his eyes turning red as he looked at his father. His little mouth pouted, on the verge of tears, and he tattled: "Not taking Rong Chi."

Rong Juan: "..."

"You're provoking him again," Rong Juan said to Qin Bi. "If he cries in a moment, you'll have to coax him again."

"That's right, Sister," Qin Lang did not side with Qin Bi. "How can you deliberately provoke Rong Chi? He loves to join the fun anyway. You could have just left without saying a word, but you had to provoke him."

In a good mood, Qin Bi called Rong Yang and left, causing the little milk bun to shed a few golden tears. Fortunately, Rong He Shizi knew how to coax him; otherwise, there would be a scene. Qin Bi did it on purpose.

Arriving at Qin Yan Hou Fu, they went straight to the Fourth Branch.

The Third Lady, Zhu Shi, was also there, watching to see exactly what gifts He Shi had prepared.

This visit to Xue Wang Fu was purely for the sake of Hou Fu's dignity.

What could He Shi prepare? Ordinary families brought meat or eggs; wealthy families mostly brought medicinal herbs, tonics, or rare melons and fruits. He Shi simply asked Jiang Shi to prepare a bit of meat and eggs.

Did Qin He really intend to eat it? No, it was merely a matter of etiquette.

Once given to Xue Wang Fu, no one cared how Xue Wang Fu would arrange it.