Xiaorenshen still had tear droplets clinging to her face. She looked at Madam Zhang with a pair of wide eyes, as if confirming whether she really meant what she had said.
Qin Shiqian, however, firmly refused. “No. The child was just born, and taking her up the mountain would be too dangerous…”
Seeing the two of them unable to reach an agreement, Xiaohua grew anxious as well.
These two were both going to be her sources of food and clothing in the future, the source of her wealth and glory.
If anything happened to either of them, it would affect her future happiness.
At that thought, her eyes rolled twice. She decided this was a good opportunity to win their favor.
“Uncle Qin, your leg hasn’t healed yet, and Auntie has just given birth to the little sister. You both need to recuperate properly.
“Why don’t you tell me what medicinal herbs you need? I’ll go up the mountain and dig them up!”
【Why are you everywhere?!】
Xiaorenshen was displeased the moment she heard that. She became even more certain that she truly did not like Xiaohua one bit.
【Mother said she would take me up the mountain. If I go into the mountains, I can absorb spiritual energy and protect Papa and Mother.】
Qin Shiqian and Madam Zhang exchanged a glance. Both of them were tempted, yet at the same time, hesitation appeared on their faces.
Xiaohua immediately patted her chest and assured them, “Auntie, don’t worry. I often go up the mountain to help Grandma dig medicinal herbs. I’m very capable.”
In the end, Qin Shiqian and Madam Zhang could only repeatedly remind Xiaohua not to force herself. If she could not find anything, she was to come straight back. Only then did they anxiously watch her head up the mountain.
If not for the fact that the circumstances at home had left them with no other choice, they would never have agreed to let Xiaohua go up the mountain to gather herbs.
Seeing that her parents were still staring distractedly at Xiaohua’s back, Xiaorenshen immediately let out several little grunts, drawing their attention back.
The important matter now was not Xiaohua, but Madam Zhou, who was lying on the kang.
After Xiaorenshen had just nursed, she had immediately used spiritual energy to examine Madam Zhou’s body.
Madam Zhou’s body was severely depleted, practically at the end of its strength.
If Xiaorenshen’s spiritual power were still intact, she might have been able to prolong Madam Zhou’s life directly.
But now, she could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.
Madam Zhang came back to herself. She suddenly picked up Xiaorenshen and brought her to Madam Zhou’s side, choking back sobs as she said, “Mother, look. Your son and my child have been born.
“Didn’t you always long for this? Open your eyes and take a look…”
Xiaorenshen waved her little hands, then directly stuffed one finger into Madam Zhou’s mouth.
【Grandma, why don’t you bite me? Once you drink my blood, you’ll definitely get better!】
Unfortunately, Madam Zhou had long since fallen into a coma and did not react to anything happening around her.
Seeing her daughter repeatedly touch Madam Zhou with her little hands, the tears Qin Shiqian had just managed to hold back began flowing uncontrollably once more.
“Mother, look. The child is still so small, yet she wants to wake you up. You must hold on.
“Father’s life or death is still unknown, and there’s been no word at all from Big Brother and Second Brother.
“You can’t just abandon us like this!
“Didn’t you say before that you had to hold on until the day our injustice was cleared and the whole family was reunited?”
Suddenly, a tear slid from the corner of Madam Zhou’s eye.
Qin Shiqian and Madam Zhang became excited at the same time.
“That’s wonderful, Mother. You can hear me, can’t you?”
“Mother, once Xiaohua brings the medicine back, you’ll get better after you take it.”
The couple felt somewhat reassured. Qin Shiqian urged Madam Zhang to drink some congee and go rest.
It was called congee, but there were only a few broken millet grains at the bottom of the bowl; more than half of it was nothing but clear, bland rice water.
Even so, this was already an exceptionally precious food.
The husband and wife pushed the bowl back and forth between them for a long while. In the end, they took turns eating one mouthful each, carefully sharing the millet congee Xiaohua had brought.
Qin Shiqian fed the few millet grains at the bottom of the bowl to Madam Zhang and said, “Xiaohua went to help us dig up medicinal herbs. I can’t sit idle at home either. I’ll look around the front and back of the house and see if I can dig up some wild greens to cook into gruel for you.
“You just gave birth and still have to nurse the baby. You can’t go hungry.”
Looking at the daughter already asleep in her arms, Madam Zhang finally felt a trace of comfort in her heart.
“Husband, look at how well-behaved our daughter is!
“She didn’t cry or fuss at all after being born. She hasn’t caused us the slightest bit of trouble.”
Qin Shiqian looked at his daughter’s fair, tender little face. His heart was filled with both relief and guilt, leaving him with a jumble of emotions.
She should have been born into an official family, a young lady who grew up carefree and without worries.
Instead, she had been dragged down by the adults and born at the most difficult time their family had ever faced.
He gently took his daughter’s little hand in his own and said in a low voice, “When your mother first became pregnant with you, Father wished he could prepare the finest things in the world for you.
“The whole family looked forward to your birth and to watching you grow up.
“For you to be born under such conditions… Father has failed you.”
Xiaorenshen’s hand rested in Qin Shiqian’s broad palm. It was so delicate that it looked as though it had been carved from Hetian jade.
Qin Shiqian secretly made up his mind. For his daughter’s sake, he had to become strong. He absolutely could not allow himself to be defeated by the difficulties before him.
Toward evening, Xiaohua came running into the room, panting heavily as she carried a basket.
“Auntie, can you see whether these are the right ones?”
Madam Zhang took the medicinal herbs out of the basket and examined them one by one. She exclaimed excitedly, “Yes, yes, these are exactly the ones.
“Xiaohua, you’re truly amazing!”
Qin Shiqian had already brought over a wooden basin. He wrung out a cloth and reached out to help Xiaohua wipe the sweat and dirt from her face.
“Uncle Qin, it’s all right. You’ll get dirty.”
Xiaohua seemed a little embarrassed and took a step backward.
Qin Shiqian smiled and said, “It’s precisely because you’re dirty that you need to be wiped clean!
“Though, you’re actually quite cute like this. If you hadn’t spoken, I would have thought someone’s little kitten had snuck over here.”
Xiaohua allowed Qin Shiqian to gently wipe her face and hands clean.
On the surface, her face flushed with shyness, but inside, her heart was already surging with excitement. She practically wished she could acknowledge him as her father on the spot.
Once Madam Zhang had the medicinal herbs, she did not dare delay and immediately began boiling the medicine.
Xiaohua stayed in the room with Qin Shiqian, watching over Xiaorenshen, who was still asleep.
Xiaorenshen’s spiritual power was insufficient now, and she constantly felt sleepy. Aside from nursing, she spent nearly all her time asleep.
Fortunately, babies naturally slept a great deal. Qin Shiqian and Madam Zhang merely thought their daughter was exceptionally obedient and easy to care for. Neither of them noticed that anything was wrong.
Standing beside Qin Shiqian and looking at the infant in his arms, Xiaohua asked tentatively, “Uncle Qin, may I hold the little sister?”
Qin Shiqian immediately shook his head. “No.”
Seeing the disappointment on Xiaohua’s face, Qin Shiqian felt that his refusal might have sounded too harsh.
So he added, “You’re still too young. You can’t carry the little sister.
“But you can come over and touch her face.
“Look at her. Isn’t she adorable? Her eyelashes are so long and beautifully curled…”
Once Qin Shiqian began praising his daughter, he could not stop. The love in his eyes was so thick it seemed almost ready to spill over.
Xiaohua released the corner of her clothing, which she had been gripping tightly. She did not touch Xiaorenshen’s cheek, but instead reached out and touched her neck.
The baby was not only soft and fragrant but also incredibly fragile.
Xiaohua imagined her own hands closing around the baby’s neck. She wondered what it would feel like, and whether it would be easy to snap.
She secretly encouraged herself.
There was no need to hurry. She could take it one step at a time.
There were still two years before the Qin family was cleared of their charges and returned to the capital. That was more than enough time for her to kill this little whelp and take her place.
After coming here, she had already changed many things.
So even if some details deviated, it was not a serious problem.
She would personally correct them one by one.
As long as she ensured that the main plot remained unchanged, no one could stop her destiny of soaring to wealth and honor.