Chapter 58

Qin Bi took it lightly, while Lin Yao was speechless.

"Young Lady of the Heir, no seedlings can be eaten in winter," Lin Yao said seriously, pointing to the cabbage seedlings on the ground: "These that have just sprouted two days ago have no taste; they must grow before they can be eaten."

Qin Bi was not an immortal untouched by worldly matters; how could she not know what could and could not be eaten?!

Cabbage seeds were scattered, not very densely, but with a high germination rate; the plants were not sparse at all. Those growing too close together simply could not thrive; picking and digging them up to eat served two purposes.

"The cabbage seedlings are too dense," Qin Bi pointed out, not joking. Standing by the field edge, she said: "On the way back, I will dig up a cluster of the best seedlings to stir-fry for the children."

Hearing this, Lin Yao thought, Good heavens, she still wants to eat them.

"No," Lin Yao said. "The dense ones can be transplanted to other vacant fields."

Guard Yan, who was about to summon plants, walked over and said: "Young Lady of the Heir, you may not know since you spend your time in the inner quarters, but winter vegetables are rare. If you dig up immature baby cabbages, you won't even get a single meal from a handful. Once transplanted and grown, they become full cabbages that cannot be eaten."

Qin Bi still intended to dig up two plants for Rong Juan to eat, after all, baby cabbages were fresh. She had planted a large patch, over half an mu; the vegetable plot was quite big, so digging up one or two plants would not affect the yield.

However, there was no rush now; reclaiming the land was more important, and talking delayed work.

Qin Bi walked to the new vegetable plot, took out a tea bowl. Every time she held the summoning artifact, Qin Bi wanted to laugh; it was truly a tea bowl, incredibly amusing. She didn't even need to summon; she simply waved her hand, and rain appeared.

It was still a fine, drizzling rain. Guards Yan and others summoned plants to till the soil; the plants worked happily in the rain, happier than being given spirit stones or crystal stones.

After a cup of tea, the raindrops grew heavier. Qin Bi waved her hand again, and the wind carried the rain to the vegetable plot to fall.

Winter winds were cold and biting, yet no matter how strong the wind, it could not cover over an mu of land with rain. Yet this wind carried the rain straight to the vegetable plot, sprinkling it everywhere.

Lin Yao was surprised and glanced at Qin Bi again.

She had just entered the path of cultivation and was not yet a member of an immortal sect; she should not possess such ability.

This traveling rain did not stay long. After falling for a while, the vegetable leaves perked up, then the wind ceased and the rain stopped. The area being reclaimed continued to rain, yet even constant rain might not relieve the drought.

Therefore, Guard Yan and others directed the plants to turn over the soil, making it easier for the rain to soak through.

Lin Yao stopped thinking about anything else. Seeing the soil thoroughly wet, he took a bag and scattered cabbage seeds. In the afternoon, he would scatter radish seeds, plus coriander and green vegetables. Coriander did not need much planting; just enough to eat.

At noon, Lin Yao returned once, bringing steamed buns and several stir-fried dishes.

There was also a boiled sweet potato spirit food. Lin Yao said: "The Heir instructed this."

Qin Bi felt warmth in her heart and smiled. Holding the hot sweet potato in one hand and the tea bowl in the other, she watched the summoned rain pour down several meters above the reclaimed field.

Lin Yao and Guard Yan found it strange. Not recalling the rain had its benefits; since the soil lacked moisture, it kept raining. This was impressive; even a continuous light rain was powerful!

After eating, everyone continued reclaiming the land while Lin Yao scattered seeds.

This first strategist of the Rong Prince's Mansion, though a scholar, did not hesitate to guide the rain onto the fields. With the Young Lady of the Heir continuously summoning rain, Lin Yao went all out, planting as much land as he reclaimed.

In the afternoon, farmers from nearby villages curiously wandered by the vegetable plot, their eyes wide open. Some children even tried to crawl into the fields; adults and children were utterly amazed.

"The magic of the immortal sect is truly powerful," an old man said, stroking his beard. "Planted just two days ago, the cabbage and radishes have already sprouted. Look at these seedlings, how fresh and vibrant!"

"Indeed, the seedlings are growing far too fast."

"They sprouted when I came yesterday," a child said. "Changing every day; the immortal magic is truly amazing."

The people of the fief rarely saw members of the immortal sect. Gathering together, they watched the rain with envy and curiosity. A young farm girl looked at Qin Bi with intense envy, and the children even ran closer to watch the rain fall.

These fief residents were not far away. While summoning rain, Qin Bi listened to their conversations.

Qin Bi disliked showing off and instinctively restrained her summoning artifact. However, she was beautiful and wore a satin-lined cloak that exuded nobility, causing everyone to instinctively fix their gaze on her.

"Is this the fortunate Qin He, the immortal lady of the Qin Yan Marquis's Mansion? The immortal lady Qin He is beautiful and creates all sorts of novel things; we even have her shop in our fief."

"It must be her. Only the immortal lady of the Qin Yan Marquis's Mansion possesses such ability."

"The soap sold in her shop is wonderful, very fragrant. Pity I cannot afford it."

"Our fief's shops are so good only because of her favor."

Qin Bi could not bear to listen. Hearing the name Qin He made her unhappy, as it had before and still did. One might ignore what the fief people said, but mistaking her for Qin He was unacceptable.

"Lin Yao," Qin Bi called out to Lin Yao, who was scattering seeds.

"Young Lady of the Heir," Lin Yao stopped.

Qin Bi looked coldly at the fief residents: "I do not wish to be mistaken for Qin He."

Lin Yao said nothing more, knowing this Young Lady of the Heir was on bad terms with Qin He. He walked out of the field, spoke briefly with the crowd, and everyone realized this was the Young Lady of the Heir of the Rong Prince's Mansion, not the Qin He immortal they had assumed.

The fief people knew only of Qin He and knew little about the Young Lady of the Heir. A young girl from a wealthy household looked at Qin Bi, her eyes flashing.

After scattering all the vegetable seeds, Lin Yao rolled up his robe sleeves and began digging up the closely spaced seedlings to transplant them into the reclaimed field. Seeing the sky growing late, Qin Bi went to inspect the vegetable plot.

Qin Bi dug up the three largest cabbages, with no intention of replanting them in the field.

Lin Yao: "..."

"These cannot be eaten," Lin Yao finally realized.

"I planted them," Qin Bi said, gathering the vegetables. "Eating a few is fine."

Lin Yao grew anxious: "One cabbage, once grown, can provide several meals."

Qin Bi narrowed her eyes, and Lin Yao dared say nothing more, feeling only heartache.

Guards Yan and others had no choice but to help with the transplanting. By the time they finished, it was late. Lin Yao activated the teleportation array, and everyone returned to the Rong Prince's Mansion. Qin Bi hurried to warm herself by the fire.

Rong Juan returned and sought Qin Bi first. The child swayed unsteadily: "Mother."

Qin Bi stepped forward, picked up the child, and said with a smile: "I planted vegetables for you; they can be eaten."

"Where?" the child asked, looking around.

Qin Bi showed the child the three baby cabbages. Rong Juan's eyes instantly lit up; such fresh vegetables looked delicious. The child reached out a small hand to grab the vegetables, thinking they would taste good.

"Can I take them into the palace to eat with the young Imperial Prince brother?" Rong Juan asked.