Chapter 94: This Is Truly Momentous

Qin Tang understood: Rong Yuan was He Yan's child.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Tang looked at his father, Qin Di.

Qin Xun, standing outside the door, was stunned. He glanced around warily; Jiang Shi and his wife were talking not far away. Qin Xun entered the main hall with an expression of disbelief—he simply could not stay outside for such a momentous matter!

Qin Bi glanced at him. Qin Xun walked up to He Shi and handed Rong Yuan over.

He Shi remained in a state of dazed shock, still not having come to her senses. Qin Xun held Rong Yuan, examining him closely; his expression shifted from serious to delighted. Qin Tang and Qin Di watched intently as well.

Rong Yuan bared his little teeth. Look at whom he resembles.

Qin Di: "..."

That toothy grin resembled Qin Bi, yet carried the shadow of He Yan.

Qin Di took Rong Yuan into his arms. The child was well-behaved and said in a milky voice, "Grandfather, take a good look at me."

The soft little child made Qin Di's heart soften. A look of incredulous surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by even greater delight. If this child truly belonged to He Yan, this was truly momentous.

"Father," Qin Tang said, his face flushed with excitement.

Qin Xun was excited too. In Great Yan, there were only two heirs to powerful ministers. Hope for He Yan had faded; only Rong Juan remained as the fourth branch's reliance. Now, if He Yan, known for losing wives and having no children, actually had an offspring—born of Qin Bi—they would have to fight for Rong Yuan's rights.

The imperial family fought for the throne; the households of powerful ministers also had titles to contest.

Who would help them fight? Naturally, the maternal grandfather's family!

Although Rong Juan and He Yan got along well with the Qin family, the gap between them was vast. The positions of powerful ministers held by Rong Juan and He Yan were unattainable for the Qin family in a lifetime.

With Rong Yuan and the child Qin Bi was carrying, the people of Qin Yan Marquis Fu finally had a goal to strive for.

Qin Xun looked at Qin Bi again, admiration in his eyes. Impressive. For the sake of Rong Yuan and the child Qin Bi carried, they should deliberate carefully. Among so many sisters, this one was the most capable.

"What do you mean by 'this is very good'?" Qin Di asked, holding Rong Yuan and finally coming to his senses.

Glancing at the child, Qin Di recalled the time Qin Bi and He Yan divorced. He sighed. Perhaps they had been too hasty back then. If they had not divorced, Rong Yuan would have stayed by He Yan's side and received all the doting.

Fortunately, things were not bad now. He He Shizi doted greatly on Rong Yuan.

"This is a major matter; we must inform He Yan Guogong Fu," He Shi said excitedly.

On this matter, He Shi could not decide alone. Her father could not stop her, nor could her two elder brothers. Qin Bi said, "May Qin He be blessed by the Heavenly Dao of this world. Without He Yan's assistance, it will not work. Therefore, if Rong Yuan returns to He Yan Guogong Fu, our Emperor will feel a subtle unease in his heart."

Qin Di, Qin Tang, and Qin Xun were stunned. He Shi grew anxious: "Your grandfather and grandmother have been so eager for a child they are nearly blind with longing. Even if the Emperor feels uneasy, we cannot ignore the feelings of our He Yan Guogong Fu."

"The Heavenly Dao's blessing lasts only ten years. If it were a cultivator, it would be a hundred years," Qin Bi said calmly, prioritizing Great Yan. "Just wait. If Rong Yuan wishes to return, he will naturally be able to go back to He Yan Guogong Fu."

He Shi could not wait. What did it mean to hide the He family's child from the He family?

Waiting until the Heavenly Dao no longer blessed Qin He would take who knows how long.

Qin Di calmed down and signaled to Qin Tang and Qin Xun. The two went over to explain the pros and cons to He Shi. Along the way, Qin Xun stepped outside the main hall to check; seeing that Jiang Shi and his wife were still there, he returned to speak with He Shi again.

Taking advantage of the moment, Qin Di asked Qin Bi. Learning that no one was preventing Rong Yuan from approaching He Yan, Qin Di felt reassured. Rong Yuan's refusal to recognize He Yan was temporary; sooner or later, he would return to He Yan Guogong Fu.

Qin Di glanced at Rong Yuan in his arms. The child Qin Bi was carrying had not yet been born; now they had to fight for Rong Yuan!

The vegetables in the fiefdom could wait. Qin Di held Rong Yuan and did not hand him to Qin Bi. When He Shi tried to take the child to dote on him, Qin Di sidestepped and refused. He used a summoning magic treasure to call Qin Tan back from wherever he had been sent.

Qin Tan returned quickly via the teleportation array. Qin Lang was puzzled; why had his father suddenly come back?

"Father, why have you returned?" Qin Lang hurried over.

"Go to your fourth uncle's place," Qin Tan said, stepping out immediately.

Qin Lang's eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands together: "Are we discussing going to the second branch to beat someone up?"

Qin Tan paused: "What happened in the second branch again?"

So it wasn't about beating anyone up. Qin Lang was somewhat disappointed. He followed Qin Tan and recounted the rumors spreading from the second branch. Qin Tan felt it unlikely they had called him back for such a trivial matter.

Entering the main courtyard of the fourth branch, Qin Tan saw Qin Di holding a child and smiled: "Qin Bi has returned."

Qin Di nodded and led Qin Tan away: "Let's talk in the study."

Qin Tang and Qin Xun followed. Qin Tan, having served as a County Magistrate, possessed the ability to read people's expressions. Seeing the serious looks on their faces, he followed them to the study. Qin Lang entered the room, picked up Rong Yuan immediately; the two had a close relationship.

Qin Xun snatched the child back and walked in front of Qin Tan and Qin Di.

Qin Di glanced at Rong Yuan: "He Yan's child."

Qin Tan froze, then suddenly stood up: "What?"

Qin Lang was stunned into silence. Qin Tan, momentarily lost in thought, exchanged a glance with Qin Di, took a deep breath, and said with grave seriousness: "Let's deliberate. We must fight for Rong Yuan's title."

Qin Di nodded; that was exactly what he meant.

The discussion lasted half a day. There was no help for it; too many factors needed consideration. The third and fourth branches lacked sufficient strength, yet a great opportunity lay right before them. The children of the two powerful ministers' heirs in Great Yan were both born of the fourth branch's daughters. If the maternal grandfather's family did not fight for them, who would?

They must protect the child Qin Bi was carrying and also plan carefully for Rong Yuan.

According to Qin Tan, they should bring the first branch into the plan. However, Qin Yan of the first branch was close to the second branch. Since Rong Yuan currently did not wish to recognize He Yan, revealing this to the first branch would be inappropriate. Qin Di wanted to wait and see.

Now, when they needed people, Qin Tan and Qin Di realized the Qin family had too few children; they were not enough.

Qin Tang and Qin Xun deliberated. Indeed, their children were few. Otherwise, a group of younger brothers could serve Rong Yuan, attending to him day and night. The Qin children naturally prioritized Rong Yuan.

Rong Yuan was still young; growing up peacefully would not be easy.

At this moment, Qin Bi was keeping He Shi company. Jiang Shi and Lin Shi were also present. The two women wondered what the men were discussing, seeing their grave expressions. Could they be planning to fight the second branch?

Lin Shi felt uneasy. Jiang Shi, however, was surprised by Qin Bi's composure. In the past, whenever He He Shizi visited, he would watch the child play, never letting him out of his sight, as nervous as could be.

Rong Yuan had been gone for quite a while, yet Qin Bi sat calmly.

Naturally, Qin Bi could sit calmly. As long as they were not fools, her father and brothers would protect Rong Yuan well. He Shi was distracted, her heart burdened with worry. If He Yan had not insisted on taking a secondary wife, none of this would have happened.

Now, after such a long detour, Rong Yuan had run off to the Rong family.

He Yan Guogong Fu still longed for a child, yet she had driven him away herself.

Qin He was still fortunate. This concubine-born daughter was nothing but a troublemaker. He Shi had never looked down on Qin He as much as she did at this very moment.