We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 369: Doesn't He Worry His Son Will Rebel?

New Year's first day.

Initial visit to close kin.

Though Xiao Mo's position now resembled that of a true heir, and Zhou Ruoxi had transcended her concubine role, regardless of circumstances, First Madam Xia Qingke of Xiao Manor remained the undisputed lady of the house. By Qin Kingdom traditions, Xiao Mo was still required to offer his respects.

Having shared breakfast in the courtyard, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao proceeded to greet Xiao Manor's matriarch.

"Mo pays respects to First Mother."

"Siyao pays respects to First Mother."

Upon reaching Xia Qingke's courtyard, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao offered deep bows.

"No need for such formality from the Frost Prince and Princess. Come, take seats." Spotting Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao, Xia Qingke hurried over to support them. "Huanying, fetch tea and treats at once."

"Yes... Mistress."

Xia Qingke herself brewed tea for the pair.

Xiao Mo surveyed the expansive courtyard, noting only Xia Qingke and her maid Huanying present.

He felt a pang of sympathy for Xia Qingke.

Despite her elevated role as the Northern Pacification Prince's consort, her second son had passed away, her eldest was immersed in cultivation without even returning for New Year festivities—merely dispatching letters.

The Northern Pacification Prince, meanwhile, frequently patrolled the borders, rushing through visits upon rare returns.

Xiao Mo gazed at Xia Qingke once more.

The once-youthful lady now bore strands of white amid her hair.

"First Mother, we've brought New Year gifts. We hope First Mother doesn't find them lacking."

Xiao Mo signaled Qin Siyao, who smiled and set the gift boxes on the courtyard table.

"The Frost Prince is overly generous." Xia Qingke served tea to Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao. "How fares your mother's health?"

"Grateful for First Mother's care. Mother remains in good health."

Xiao Mo nodded, engaging in light conversation with Xia Qingke.

Xia Qingke inquired about minor details of Xiao Mo's daily life lately and about Qin Siyao's father emperor and mother empress.

Both Xiao Mo and Xia Qingke steered clear of any topics concerning Xiao Yishe.

After conversing for barely the time of one incense stick, Xiao Mo excused himself and departed.

Exiting Xiao Manor, Xiao Mo clasped Qin Siyao's delicate hand as they strolled toward the imperial palace.

Along the way, Qin Siyao hung her head, appearing downcast and forlorn.

"What troubles you?" Xiao Mo tenderly brushed her hair.

"Husband..." Qin Siyao lifted her gaze toward Xia Qingke's direction. "I sense First Madam is so solitary. Her children aren't by her side, nor is the Prince. She faces the New Year in isolation."

"Indeed." Xiao Mo let out a soft sigh. "Yet she manages family ties and capital alliances. Every affair, great or small, falls to First Mother. It's no simple task."

Observing the woman at his side, Xiao Mo divined Qin Siyao's concern and grinned. "Rest easy. Once wed, I'll return whenever duty allows. And when peace reigns without wars, I'll resign my post. We'll roam the lands together, with peaks and streams as companions."

"I'm not concerned about that..."

Qin Siyao shook her head.

"Though First Madam feels lonely, I believe she finds joy in serving the Northern Pacification Prince.

If you march to battle later, Xiao Mo, I'll handle home matters capably so you stay unburdened.

This is a wife's responsibility.

I just wonder... if First Madam had borne more children, wouldn't this courtyard feel warmer now?"

"Quite likely. So, shall we aim for five?" Xiao Mo teased.

"Who... who said five with you..." Qin Siyao's cheeks blazed crimson as she ducked her head, whispering, "I haven't even wed yet."

Xiao Mo smiled warmly, simply holding Qin Siyao's hand as they pressed on.

Entering the imperial palace, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao offered respects to the Qin Kingdom's sovereign and Empress Shi.

Xiao Mo had assumed the Qin Kingdom's ruler would lounge in the rear palace gardens or bedchambers.

To his surprise, on New Year's first day, the ruler diligently processed state matters in the imperial study, with Empress Shi at his side.

Upon Xiao Mo's arrival, the Qin Kingdom's ruler drew him into an extended deliberation on governance.

Empress Shi recognized that men deep in politics found interruptions tedious, so she led her daughter away to impart lessons on wifely conduct.

Her daughter was far too spirited, after all, pampered by His Majesty and her brothers from youth. Come marriage, she couldn't remain a child needing Xiao Mo's constant tending.

Soon, the First Prince and Second Prince arrived at the palace alongside their wives.

Near midday, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao joined for a family banquet.

In the afternoon, after farewells, they shared tea at the First Prince's residence, then called on the Second Prince.

By evening, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao returned to Frost Prince's Manor.

On the second day of New Year, Xiahou Nan escorted Lian Li to Frost Prince's Manor to extend New Year greetings to Xiao Mo.

Lian Li currently lodged at her uncle's home, lacking her own abode.

After dining with Xiahou Nan, Xiao Mo conferred on various issues.

Ultimately, Xiao Mo resolved to acquire a four-courtyard estate adjacent to Frost Prince's Manor for meetings when needed.

Days flowed onward.

In the blink of an eye, New Year festivities faded. Post-Lantern Festival, the year truly concluded.

Xiao Mo persisted in daily cultivation. In spare moments, he perused books or fished, evoking a retired life's ease.

Since Xiao Mo attained Nascent Soul realm, Qin Siyao cultivated with fervor.

Qin Siyao possessed impressive cultivation aptitude.

Her Dao heart shone pure and resolute; she understood her purpose. With Qin Kingdom's resources at hand, she swiftly advanced to late Dragon Gate realm.

Post-New Year, as Second Prince's wedding neared, Qin Kingdom's capital buzzed anew after Spring Festival calm.

News of Qin Kingdom welcoming guest ministers spread across realms.

Increasing numbers of visionary talents flocked to Qin Kingdom, seeking a patron to spot their brilliance and fulfill grand aspirations.

Amid them lurked fame-seekers.

Fools chasing fortune, yet truly many gifted souls awaiting their chance.

Even nations dispatched spies disguised as prodigies.

Qin Kingdom rigorously vetted these guest ministers' origins, though some talents proved too valuable to dismiss.

Take Li Bin, for instance.

Li Bin brimmed with scholarly knowledge across texts. His studies spanned broadly, yet he excelled in key areas.

Li Bin championed "true insight from practice." Practical and adaptive, he tailored solutions to challenges.

Qin Kingdom had held Shu region for fifty years.

Shu boasted natural defenses and vast wealth, a prime domain, yet floods plagued it.

Past rulers yearned to tame it into a "heavenly granary" and vital base for world conquest, attempting myriad fixes to scant success.

Li Bin proposed a bold water management plan.

Crafted from three years' personal surveys in Shu, rooted in reality.

The Qin Kingdom's ruler, intrigued, summoned him for all-night discourses.

Though uncovered as Zheng Kingdom's spy, the ruler feigned ignorance.

Such genius demanded employment, lest he fail as king.

After days of deep talks, the ruler dispatched Li Bin to Shu for flood control.

Once in charge, Li Bin rallied locals around "water diversion for irrigation, flood defense, sediment flushing."

He erected the Fish Mouth Water-Dividing Levee, mimicking a fish mouth to split flows four-to-six by terrain and momentum.

Spring's low waters sent sixty percent to inner river for crops.

Summer floods routed sixty percent outer, forty inner.

Safeguarding Chengdu Plain from deluge.

Li Bin added Flying Sand Weir between rivers post-Fish Mouth.

Precisely height-calibrated: high inner levels spilled sand-laden excess to outer river.

Curved flow dynamics flushed eighty percent inner sediment, enabling "secondary discharge," curbing irrigation silt-up.

He also forged Bottle Neck intake.

With son, using "fire scorch, water quench," they carved a 20-meter-wide, bottle-shaped notch in Yulei Mountain's rock.

This throttled floods into Sichuan-Shu Plain, a narrow "control gate."

Li Bin's "deep dredging, low weir" mantra guided works, etched in stone for posterity.

Every Li Bin request sailed through ruler's approval; treasury poured funds. Defiant officials faced swift exile from Sichuan-Shu.

Ruler called Qin's rogue cultivators: aid the weir, claim heavenly treasures.

Thus, in half a year, Li Bin's grand weir took preliminary form, though greater feats loomed.

Tens of thousands rogue cultivators notwithstanding, full build might need another year. For this eternal legacy benefiting now and ages, no hindrance tolerated.

This half-year saw, beyond guest ministers, other developments.

Second Prince Qin Jingyuan gained Jing Prince title. Fiefs: Lu and Jin Provinces, bordering Jin Kingdom.

Hearing this, Xiao Mo doubted his ears.

Qin Jingyuan's lands neighbored Jin, yet he wed Jin's princess.

Any schemes equaled Qin's gates flung wide to Jin.

Did the Qin Kingdom's ruler fear no rebellion from his son?