Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 11

Fortunately, Xi Rong did not eat a third piece. Gu Rong quickly poured the rest into the cat’s bowl and said solemnly, “Brother, you are injured. It’s not advisable for you to be exposed to the wind. Please lie down and rest.”

Xi Rong smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s just a minor wound. I’m not so weak as to be unable to stand up. It must have been tiring for you to take care of me last night.”

Gu Rong shook his head. “I can only prepare some simple soup and medicine. It’s your strong constitution that kept your fever down and kept trouble at bay.”

“That’s worth a word of thanks.” Xi Rong turned his gaze around the room and noticed a large, seven-layer bookshelf placed against the wall, filled with various books and scrolls. “Do you enjoy reading?”

Gu Rong said, “It’s nothing serious. Just some casual reading.”

Xi Rong walked over and briefly scanned the shelf. There were many popular stories and travel notes, and indeed not many ‘serious’ books. Among them were numerous medical texts, although none were standard medical classics.

Xi Rong was well-read and he quickly and perceptively noticed a few volumes of notes that seemed ordinary at first glance, their covers worn, yet contained a fusion of knowledge from many schools and some exceptionally insightful perspectives. There was a volume that, due to its age and difficult text, was rarely placed on a shelf, and even he had stumbled upon a copy by pure coincidence.

Yet all those notes were placed in the most visible spot on the shelf, evidently for convenient access.

Xi Rong raised his eyebrows inwardly. Interesting.

He kept his expression calm and turned back to ask, “Have you decided what we’re going to eat this morning?”

The question was so abrupt that Gu Rong fell silent. He grew nervous once again. All the rice in his home had already been used up. His only way forward seemed to be borrowing a bit from nearby hunters, hopefully adding some game if luck was on his side. He couldn’t cook game anyway, but that didn’t matter. Everything can be made to taste edible.

Just as Gu Rong was wondering how he might bluff his way through this while retaining his dignity, Xi Rong continued, “While I’m resting here, I shouldn’t take without offering something in return.” He paused and then added, “Let me send a message and have someone bring some food over.”

He seemed used to giving orders.

Gu Rong said, “This…”

Xi Rong said, “I travel the world and dislike being in debt. If you decline, I can only take my leave.”

“All right!” Gu Rong responded without hesitation. “Then I won’t be polite. I’ll go check on the medicine first.”

The two men and the cat went back toward the courtyard together.

Xi Rong glanced out through the opened wooden window and noticed many herbs drying in the yard. It was no wonder the place was filled with a faint, lingering herbal fragrance.

***

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe had been searching the mountains all night without rest. The two were disheveled, their faces smeared with dirt, a far cry from their usual composed, refined appearance as members of the Eastern Palace’s staff.

After receiving the clue about the treasure, Xi Rong put on plain clothes and went into the mountains with Song Yang, Jiang Cheng, and a team of shadow guards. Shortly after entering, they fell into an ambush by assassins.

The assassins attacked fiercely, with each move meant to be a killing strike. At a critical moment, Xi Rong drew his blade, cut down several attackers, and ordered Jiang Cheng and the shadow guards to protect Song Yang, who had no martial skills. In the chaos, the group was separated, losing track of Xi Rong.

Song Yang immediately ordered Jiang Cheng to summon all available shadow guards to search for their prince.

By sunset, the shadow guards had found His Highness’s abandoned horse in the forest, but the prince was still missing.

Song Yang’s heart fell into icy panic.

His Highness’s steed was a fine warhorse, fiercely loyal, following him through many campaigns. If it hadn’t been a matter of life or death, His Highness would not abandon his mount. Furthermore, if His Highness was nearby, the stallion would surely respond to him instead of restlessly turning in circles in distress.

“It’s all my fault!” Song Yang’s face was ashen, his eyes turning red. “If I hadn’t been a burden, His Highness wouldn’t have gone forward alone to fend them off.”

Zhou Wenhe wanted to ease their worries but didn’t know what to say. If something really had happened to His Highness or if he fell into the assassins’ hands, the consequences would be unimaginable, and none of them would be able to redeem their crimes.

“Lord Song!” At that moment, Jiang Cheng came riding back through the forest. His face was glimmering with nervous sweat. “A message from His Highness!”

“What?!”

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe sprang up at once.

Jiang Cheng dismounted, walked up to them, and held up a bamboo tube. “His Highness used a messenger hawk from the Eastern Palace.”

The Eastern Palace kept a number of trained hawks and two had been brought with them on their trip. Who would have thought His Highness, even after losing his horse, still managed to summon a hawk?

Song Yang said immediately, “Quick, see what His Highness wrote.” If he was able to send a message, it meant His Highness was currently unharmed.

Jiang Cheng nodded, opened the tube, and drew out a small piece of paper. As he unfurled it, he recognized His Highness’s handwriting, much to his relief, but his expression grew strange as he read further.

“What does His Highness say?”

“His Highness says he’s been rescued and is already out of danger, asking the two of you not to be worried. But… His Highness also asks you to continue putting up a show of looking for him… and… to buy some food and bring it to him.”

There was a simple map on the back of the note.

Jiang Cheng was perplexed. If His Highness was already safe, why would there be a need for food delivery? Was he staying somewhere poor, without food?

Song Yang exchanged glances with Zhou Wenhe. “It looks like His Highness doesn’t want the fact that he’s been rescued to be made public. So we must prohibit anyone from leaking the information and continue with our search as if we hadn’t gotten this message.”

***

An hour later, Jiang Cheng, with food and wine in hand, followed the map and arrived at a small courtyard halfway up the mountainside.

Indeed, he was carrying a jar of wine, something His Highness had expressly ordered him to buy.

Jiang Cheng was growing more and more confused. His Highness was injured, so why would he be drinking wine? It was completely against his normally disciplined lifestyle. If he hadn’t recognized His Highness’s handwriting, he would have suspected a trap.

It was high noon. The courtyard was silent and empty.

Jiang Cheng stepped forward and knocked. After a moment, the door opened and a cold silhouette appeared. Jiang Cheng was taken aback and was about to kneel, but he was stopped by Xi Rong. Then Jiang Cheng noticed the bandage wrapping him. His expression shifted. “Your Highness—”

“It’s fine. Just flesh wounds. Come in. Step quietly,” Xi Rong gave another order.

Jiang Cheng nodded and quietly fell into step behind him, making sure not to make a sound. He was a master martial artist, as such it was not a difficult task for him. He was just wondering why His Highness would give such an unusual command.

He also noticed something strange; the house owner hadn’t come out to greet him, yet His Highness opened the door while injured instead. He began to suspect that someone vulnerable might be staying there.

After entering the wooden hut, Xi Rong asked Jiang Cheng to set up the food and wine. He then walked into the adjoining stone cave.

There was no barrier between the cave and the wooden hut. Jiang Cheng quietly placed the food and wine while sneaking a brief glance into the cave. He was surprised to see a young man resting there. He was not weak or disabled, but was a youthful, healthy man, resting on his side with his arm as a pillow and his knees slightly drawn up. His blue sleeve fell gracefully alongside him, nearly touching the floor. He was evidently sleeping quite soundly.

At his side, a large and exceptionally plump cat was resting. It was very chubby. Jiang Cheng had never seen a cat that big.

One person and one cat, side by side, created a beautiful picture, yet Jiang Cheng was filled with confusion. Was that the owner of the courtyard?

Wasn’t His Highness the injured one? How come His Highness was busy running back and forth, injured and tiring himself, while that person was fast asleep? It seemed as if His Highness was the owner there instead.

Out of loyalty as a subordinate, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but frown, thinking that the house owner was really lacking in proper manners. No wonder His Highness had him bring food. Without him, His Highness might have gone hungry.

“Rongrong, wake up. It’s time to eat.”

At that moment, Jiang Cheng heard His Highness, normally known for his cold demeanor, speak in a nearly affectionate tone. Jiang Cheng’s hands trembled as he was setting the dishes down; he nearly doubted his own ears.

His Highness… his wise and majestic master… was he… possessed by someone?

Rongrong.

The strange and distant form of address made Gu Rong slowly wake up in confusion. He opened his eyes and was surprised to realize he was resting.

He felt a little sleepy after finished boiling the medicine. Clearly, just last night, he fell asleep directly on the food table, so how was he now in a bed?

It must be a dream. But the feeling underneath him was so clear and real.

Gu Rong tightened his garments and sat up, letting out a small “Eh?” and then he discovered he really was resting on the stone bed. What was going on? He raised his eyes and saw Xi Rong standing in front of the bed.

Xi Rong asked, “Awake?”

Gu Rong: “…”

He scratched his head. “I… How… am I here?”

Xi Rong said casually, “The window is drafty. It’s not a good place for a long rest, so I carried you in here.”

Carried…

While injured, he actually carried him. Gu Rong didn’t know whether to be more surprised or more ashamed. The most alarming thing was that he hadn’t noticed a thing. It was really impolite.

“I’m sorry to have made you go to this trouble,” Gu Rong said in embarrassment. He was a well-mannered person to the bone. He stood up and made a solemn bow, his expression full of remorse, much like a student who had made a big mess.

“It’s fine.” Xi Rong’s eyes glimmered with a smile. “If I hadn’t taken your bed last night and kept you from resting, you wouldn’t be sleepy today. Are you still sleepy?”

Gu Rong shook his head and wished he could find a hole to hide in.

Xi Rong said, “Then let’s go eat.”

Gu Rong nodded.

The food was already warm, so there was no need for much preparation.

Jiang Cheng stood outside in the main room, bracing himself, his eyebrows furrowed in suspicion, wondering just what kind of unreliable person the homeowner really was. Not only was there a lack of care and concern, but he even let His Highness carry him to rest while injured!

And yet, when he saw the young man follow His Highness out, Jiang Cheng was still momentarily taken aback.

The homeowner… was that little swindler who had mooched off food and drink from His Highness back in Songzhou? No wonder he was so unreliable!

The author has something to say:

Jiang the Workhorse: Guys, now it suddenly makes sense.
From being a workhorse at the foot of the mountain to being one on the mountain…
Isn’t that progress in some way?