Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 104 Part 1

Feng Zhong stood behind the moon gate, quietly observing the scene beyond the courtyard wall.

The moon hung bright and round in the sky. Beneath the eaves of the main hall, a young gentleman in a wide-sleeved robe sat cross-legged in lazy repose with one hand propping his head, while the other holding a teacup, sipping as he admired the moonlight.

Behind him stood a young guard with a sword in his arms, occasionally lifting his gaze to the sky.

Feng Zhong gave a cold, silent sneer.

At a time like this, those two master and servant still had the leisure to watch the moon. He crept back inside.

Mu Yin had already removed his official robe and was seated behind the desk, slowly wiping his hands with a cloth. “Today, I went to the Court of Judicial Review to inquire,” he said evenly. “No one from the Crown Prince’s palace filed a report, nor did any other official in the capital. The teahouse fire from last night yielded no witnesses, so the Court of Judicial Review concluded it as a mere feud among common fighters and closed the case.”

“Excellent! It seems things are just as Young Master Mu predicted. Such a lowly aide isn’t worth the Crown Prince’s trouble.” Feng Zhong leaned closer. “The men are ready. They’re all in position around the courtyard. As soon as you give the word, we’ll strike.”

Mu Yin nodded. “Once it’s done, do as you did last night and burn the whole place down. Leave no trace.”

Feng Zhong tactfully stepped back. “You can rest assured, sir. In matters like this, I’m far more practiced than you.” He added eagerly, “I ask no other reward, only that Young Master Mu might speak a few good words for me before His Highness the Prince of Wei.”

“Of course.” Mu Yin gave him a glance. “As long as you carry this out cleanly, the Feng clan will surely become the foremost family in Songzhou.”

The words struck home. Feng Zhong’s eyes gleamed as he bowed deeply in thanks.

The moon climbed higher; its light shifted across the courtyard.

A trusted aide’s voice soon came from outside. “Clan Head, those two in the courtyard have gone to their rooms to rest. The lamps are all out.”

“You’re sure the guard went inside too?”

“Yes.”

Feng Zhong stepped out again, returning to the shadow behind the moon gate. A glance across the courtyard showed darkness everywhere. The main house and the small outer room were both unlit, with only a mat left under the corridor. He quietly raised his hand.

At once, dozens of black figures emerged from the depths of the night, gliding soundlessly toward the courtyard. Some moved toward the smaller room while others moved toward the main house.

Feng Zhong watched as both groups easily broke the locks and slipped inside. He then ordered the rest to ready the oil and torches, prepared to set the place aflame.

He stroked his beard, smiling beneath the moon gate.

However, before his laughter had faded, a piercing scream split the night, followed by the clash of blades.

The sounds of fighting came from the smaller room but as for the screams…

Feng Zhong hadn’t yet pieced it together when a second, then a third scream rang out.

This time, they clearly came from the direction of the main house!

Yet there was no sound of struggle inside. As Feng Zhong stood in growing confusion, the first wave of his men burst out of the house, howling in agony, clutching their eyes, as though something unspeakably horrific lurked within.

Two others trying to break the window were struck down by hidden arrows from inside, collapsing instantly.

Feng Zhong’s brows knotted. Before he could make sense of it, a sharp, fleeting whistle cut through the night sky.

It was gone in a heartbeat but the sudden explosion of startled birds made a chill race down Feng Zhong’s spine.

“Clan Head! It’s bad! A group just appeared outside. They’ve killed all our men we left as lookout!” The breathless report came from his aide.

Feng Zhong’s face drained of color. “Could you see who they were?”

The confidant shook his head. “They were all dressed in black and faces covered. I couldn’t make them out but their martial skill was exceptional. And… it seems they’re not all from the same group.”

Feng Zhong’s face changed, his voice rising with agitation. “Didn’t I tell you to scout the area first?”

“I did, Clan Head. We found nothing. There’s no trace of an ambush. These men seemed to appear out of thin air. Heaven knows when they hid themselves outside.”

In a city like the capital, where hidden masters lay everywhere, Feng Zhong instantly understood that tonight was a trap. He had thought himself the mantis stalking the cicada, never realizing there was an oriole waiting behind.

“What’s going on?” Hearing the commotion, Mu Yin frowned and stepped out from the house.

Feng Zhong couldn’t find words to explain and by then, it no longer mattered. From beyond the courtyard walls, a volley of arrows came pouring down like icy rain, cutting down most of the men he had so carefully prepared. The few remaining assassins barely had time to flee before the young bodyguard, blade sharp and merciless, finished them off one by one.

The air turned utterly still, like dead water.

Feng Zhong’s mind went blank. He looked desperately toward Mu Yin.

Mu Yin gritted his teeth. “We leave. Now!”

They had barely taken a step when two iron arrows struck the ground at their feet, so close they could feel the wind off the tips. At the same time, the burly man who had followed Mu Yin fell with an arrow through his throat, dead before he hit the ground.

Feng Zhong stared at the spreading pool of blood, then raised his head in panic toward the courtyard wall beyond. He dared not move again.

Moonlight sifted through the trees in scattered fragments.

With a slow creak, Xiao Rong pushed open the door and stepped out. He glanced at the corpses littering the courtyard before turning, smiling as if nothing were amiss. “My, my. You two are rather unneighborly. I treated you as good neighbors, yet you came here to take my life. How curious.”

Mu Yin no longer bothered to pretend. “So you knew all along.”

Xiao Rong’s smile didn’t waver. “With the ruckus you made, how could I not know?”

Feng Zhong realized there was no escape. His heart hardened. “What do you intend to do?”

Xiao Rong’s tone was almost lazy. “That’s something I’ll have to think about. The two of you: one a favorite of the Prince of Wei, the other soon to be. You must be worth quite a bit of silver.”

Hearing him mention the Prince of Wei, Mu Yin’s confidence returned. He gave a cold laugh. “Enough talk, boy. If I’m not mistaken, those men outside belong to the Eastern Palace. Since you know we serve the Prince of Wei, you’d best be sensible and call them off before things get ugly. It won’t look good for either side. If you hadn’t interfered with the Ten-Days Gathering in the first place, we wouldn’t have had to deal with you. In the end, you provoked this. His Highness is merely returning the favor.”

“Oh?” Xiao Rong looked amused. “So, by your words, tonight’s little affair was on the Prince of Wei’s orders?”

Mu Yin’s expression faltered. “Don’t talk nonsense. I merely act on His Highness’s behalf to teach you a lesson. You, a lowly adviser of the Eastern Palace, dared to offend the Prince of Wei himself. Tell me, is that not a capital crime?”

A cold laugh cut through the night.

The small courtyard door opened and a group of men entered with lanterns.

At their head was an elderly man in brocade robes, speaking in a calm, unhurried tone, “In this capital, matters of the Xiao Royal Residence are not for outsiders to meddle in. If you two have something to say, perhaps say it to me instead.”

Feng Zhong stared, his knees nearly giving out.

Mu Yin’s face also froze in disbelief.

He had lived long in the capital and naturally recognized that this was no ordinary figure but the steward most trusted by Prince Xiao himself, Xiao En. He had even glimpsed him once when attending a banquet alongside the Prince of Wei.

The rarely seen chief steward of the Xiao Royal Residence was here, of all places!

And Feng Zhong recognized him too. Years ago, he had sought to attach himself to the Xiao clan but found no path in. Knowing Xiao En had once served as a palace eunuch under the previous dynasty, Feng Zhong had even tried to flatter and beg to call him ‘godfather.’

However, although Xiao En had listened with a polite smile, he had merely shaken his head and walked away.

To this day, Feng Zhong still could not tell what that smile meant.

From that moment on, he gave up all thought of currying favor with the Xiao clan and instead sought refuge under the Cui clan through Yan Hemei, the assistant prefect of Songzhou.

Later, in Songzhou, Xiao Rong had publicly exposed that shameful incident, disgracing him before everyone and shattering the Cui clan’s trust, leaving him like a dog driven from its home.

So now, seeing Xiao En appear as if from thin air, how could Feng Zhong not be stunned?

While the two men were still reeling, Xiao En had already stepped down from the veranda, bowed respectfully to Xiao Rong, and said, “This old servant came late and let the Young Prince be disturbed.”

Mu Yin and Feng Zhong both stared in disbelief. Young Prince?

The heir of Xiao Royal Residence?

They had nearly killed the heir to the Xiao Royal Residence but how could the heir possibly be living here?!

Xiao Rong gave Xiao En a faint glance without speaking, merely turning his eyes toward the darkness beyond the courtyard. But apart from the shifting of branches and moonlight, nothing stirred there. Then he said to Mo Dong, “Clean up the courtyard. Tie them up.” After that, he turned and went back inside.

Xiao En sighed. He dared not follow, only stood under the eaves and gestured for his men to assist with the aftermath.

By the time all was settled, the moon was high in the sky. Xiao En looked around the courtyard and then called Mo Dong over. “I’ve brought some food and supplies. Deliver them to the Young Prince for me.”

Mo Dong did not take them.

Xiao En didn’t scold him. Instead, he smiled. “You’ve improved since before. Well, never mind. If you take them, the Young Prince probably won’t accept them anyway. Go on with your work.”

Mo Dong hesitated. “And you, Chief Steward?”

“I’ll stay outside with my men. If anything happens, contact me using the shadow guards’ signal.” After giving his orders, Xiao En departed.

Mo Dong entered the room to report. “The two men are bound and locked up.”

Xiao Rong sat behind the desk, lighting the oil lamp.

Mo Dong paused and then said softly, “Chief Steward Xiao and his people seem to be staying outside.”

“No need to mind them. They only wish to know where I go and what I do.” His tone was utterly calm.

Mo Dong blinked. “Young Prince means… Chief Steward Xiao is watching your movements?” As soon as he said it, Mo Dong realized he had spoken out of turn.

Xiao Rong did not answer and only said, “That’s fine. It puts both sides at ease.”

Mo Dong hesitated again. “Then, will you interrogate those two tonight?”

“Let them stew for a night.”

“Yes, Young Prince.”