Chapter 542: Who They Were Prepared For Was Uncertain

"Aunt." Qin Xun's eldest legitimate son touched the warm fur of the fire beast; this patch was orange, with orange tips and white underneath: "Your fire beast fur is so beautiful."

There were also fire-red ones, white ones, and all sorts of colors.

Children love bright, colorful hues, and so do women.

Lady Jiang and Lady Lin loved them immensely; Lady Lin stroked the soft beast fur and exclaimed joyfully, "This color is perfect. Making outer robes for Rong Yang and Rong Chi from it would surely make them look dashing."

The young prince held the little bun, and the little bun, Rong Chi, hearing his name mentioned, nodded: "Dashing indeed."

The little one was a tiny, delicately carved bundle; hearing him say that, Lady He and the others couldn't help but laugh. Women and children alike gathered around, admiring the fire beast pelts, unable to let go.

Qin Bi said to Lady Jiang and the others, "I'll give you each a few pieces of fire beast fur later."

Lady Lin replied happily, "Sister-in-law, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Next, everyone got busy. The children moved aside while Lady He and Lady Zhu measured the fire beast pelts to decide what garments could be made. Small boots were easy; they required little material.

Lady He and Lady Zhu had brought patterns for children's shoes, and Lady Jiang and Lady Lin had brought patterns for Qin Su and the others. Everyone was putting in effort, and Qin Bi felt genuinely happy; her Rong Yang and Rong Chi had people who cared for them.

In the main hall, while Lady He and the others were busy, Qin Bi went to the storeroom to fetch spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and little sweet radishes. She also ordered someone to catch a spiritual duck and kill a pheasant. Qin Xun and Qin Lang accompanied the guards.

The children played in the courtyard; at this age, they couldn't stay indoors.

"Rong Chi!" the Qin children called out.

"Yes!" Rong Chi answered.

The children all burst into laughter, quacking with mirth.

Qin Su took all the little sweet radish candies from his small purse, first giving one piece each to the two little buns, then sharing the rest among everyone. The candies Qin Su had specially brought were meant for sharing.

Qin Xun's eldest legitimate son also carried little sweet radish candies. He ran up to Qin Bi and handed her a handful: "Aunt, please taste. My mother made them. They aren't too sweet, but they're delicious."

Qin Bi took half: "This amount is enough for me."

Putting one piece in her mouth, Qin Bi's eyes lit up: "This is delicious."

Delighted, Qin Xun's eldest legitimate son gave the other half of his candies to Qin Bi. Qin Bi didn't want so many, but the child insisted. Qin Bi took them and distributed them to Rong Yang and Rong Chi.

She didn't give any to the other children; this was her nephew's heartfelt gift, meant specifically for her.

Qin Bi could have given them to her own children, but giving them to others might make her nephew feel uncomfortable. When a child gives something, one must accept it all. Qin Su and the others didn't compare; they were simply happy that Qin Bi liked the candies.

Qin Bi let out a sigh, feeling a touch of sadness. These were truly her family.

These were all her allies; they could not be snatched away by Qin Han.

Qin Bi had observed, naturally relying on intuition, that her nephews possessed immense strength and robust physiques. With dedicated training, they would surely become great generals. Whether they were prepared for her or for Qin He and Qin Han was uncertain.

Deep down, Qin Bi wanted these allies; she could not yield them to Qin He.

Qin Bi went inside to find Lady Zhu, Lady Jiang, and Lady Lin: "Third Aunt, Sister-in-law, the little sweet radish candies you made are delicious. Stop your work for now; each of you make a pot for me. I also have spiritual-energy sweet potatoes; make a pot of sweet potato candy as well."

"Oh my," Lady Zhu put down her work: "Now we have to be busy making food to eat."

Lady Lin asked tentatively, "Do you like the little sweet radish candies I made?"

Qin Bi nodded: "They are quite delicious."

Lady Lin immediately said, "Then let's go make them."

Lady Lin and Lady Zhu went to inspect the spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and little sweet radishes. As these were spiritual foods, the maids and nannies did not need to handle them; Qin Su and the other children plucked the leaves and washed them.

Inside, Lady Jiang and Lady He continued making small capes and small boots. Once Lady Zhu and Lady Lin finished their batches, Lady Jiang would make hers. Each person's flavor would be different.

The maids served tea and water, then stood aside.

Making small clothes and boots for the young heir had nothing to do with the maids.

The nannies could offer opinions; having raised children themselves, they knew how to make small clothes and boots comfortable. Lady He and Lady Jiang were busy making the garments.

Lady Zhu and Lady Lin occasionally peeked in, then quickly went back out.

Qin Bi, whose needlework was passable, carefully worked on a small cape: "Mother, I have collected spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and little sweet radishes. I'd like to give some to you and some to Third Aunt. What do you think?"

"You may give some to your Third Aunt," Lady He paused in her work, thought for a moment, and said, "When you were with your Third Uncle's family, your Third Aunt was quite devoted to you. Alas, if you and He Yan had not been betrothed, your Third Aunt would have found a match for you in your Third Uncle's county town."

When Qin Bi gave spiritual food to Lady Zhu, Lady He felt no jealousy.

Lady Jiang, listening from the side, thought, "Good heavens, Mother-in-law just sits at home and receives spiritual food!"

Lady He added, "You don't need to give me any; your father has already allocated spiritual food to me."

"I want to give it to you," Qin Bi said. "I feel that Mother has been very good to me, a concubine-born daughter, so I wish to give."

Lady He felt complex emotions. She had raised Qin Han for so long, yet Qin Han gave her nothing and even tried to take things from her. Regarding Qin Bi's broken engagement, it was her father and brothers who had done the most work, yet Qin Bi remembered her, the legitimate mother.

Qin Bi valued relationships; Qin Han could not compare.

Lady He sighed, her smile gentle: "Very well, just give me a few spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and little sweet radishes. Don't give me too many."

Qin Bi smiled; she had her own plans.

Lady Jiang, watching from the side, grew so envious she nearly considered taking a concubine for Qin Tang. What good fortune Mother-in-law had, to have such a considerate concubine-born daughter, one no worse than her own biological child.

In the cultivation world, resources were scarce, and everyone valued them highly.

Since Qin Bi always gave to Lady He, it was no wonder Lady Jiang was envious.

In the morning, Lady Zhu and Lady Lin each made a pot of little sweet radish candy, and Lady Zhu also made a pot of sweet potato candy.

Qin Bi tasted a piece of sweet potato candy: "Sweet potato candy is delicious, even better than the little sweet radish candy."

Qin Lang and Qin Xun returned with the guards after catching the spiritual duck and went over to taste a piece.

Qin Lang said, "They are all delicious."

The Young Master Rong, in his study, stood up and went to the storeroom. He lifted a basket of spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and had the guards deliver them to Qin Bi.

The guard said, "Third Lady, please make another pot of sweet potato candy for our Young Mistress."

Lady Zhu: "..."

Qin Xun and Qin Lang: "..."

Lady Lin: "..."

The Qin family suddenly felt immensely confident. When Qin Bi said something was delicious, the Young Master Rong immediately sent a basket of spiritual-energy sweet potatoes. Who could doubt his attentiveness? Lady Zhu, overjoyed, made another pot of sweet potato candy.

Qin Lang and Qin Xun stepped forward to help.

He Shi and the others were all at Rong Juan's Prince Fu; Qin Han went to Qin Yan Hou Fu, but He Shi was not there. Qin Han felt a bitter taste in her heart—why had they all gone to Rong Juan's Prince Fu?