Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 112

Behind Gongsun Yu stood a formation of heavy cavalry, all clad in black iron armor.

Each soldier’s face was hidden behind a dark helm, and curved sabers hung uniformly at their waists.

There were no heavy cavalry stationed in the capital. Even the Silver Dragon Cavalry was primarily light horsemen. The heavy riders of Northern Yan, however, were peerless elites, each one capable of facing a hundred foes alone. On the battlefield, they cut down gods and Buddhas alike, invincible across the northern deserts. Prince Yan would never dispatch them to seize someone unless the matter was of utmost importance.

It was clear now that news of Jing Xi’s disappearance had reached Prince Yan and that it had provoked his furious wrath.

The murderous aura radiating from soldiers forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood was something the pampered Imperial Guards could never compare to. In an instant, the entire street froze under that silent, suffocating pressure. Not a sound could be heard.

Inside the teahouse’s main hall, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe hid among the panicked crowd of drinkers, cold sweat beading in their palms.

His Highness had come tonight with only a dozen guards. Against the Imperial Guards and the Cui clan, there might still have been room to maneuver but against the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry, there was no chance of winning, no chance even to negotiate.

Everyone knew how deeply Prince Yan doted on the Thirteenth Protector, Jing Xi.

He would never forgive the Xiao heir who had abducted Jing Xi. And since His Highness had come here despite the risk, he clearly would not abandon Xiao Rong either.

“What do we do now?” Zhou Wenhe whispered.

Song Yang was just as lost. “I don’t know. We’ll have to act as the situation demands. His Highness is the Crown Prince. No matter how arrogant or ruthless Prince Yan may be, he wouldn’t dare harm him.”

Outside, when Gongsun Yu finished speaking, he produced Prince Yan’s token, a dark iron token engraved with the single character ‘Yan.’

At the sight of it, Cui Daohuan’s expression grew solemn. After a pause, he smiled faintly. “Since this incident happened in the capital, it’s my duty to give Prince Yan an account. But if His Highness insists on handling the matter himself, of course I’ll cooperate. However, the culprit inside that building is cunning and dangerous; General Gongsun mustn’t be careless.”

Gongsun Yu inclined his head. “Rest assured, Minister. When the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry seeks someone, no one escapes.” He led two of his riders into the Apricot Blossom Pavilion and went straight up to the second floor.

Cui Daohuan did not leave immediately. He remained in place, ordering the Imperial Guards to maintain the siege.

Among the onlookers in the crowd were Jing Qiu and Jing Si.

They had come upon hearing that the Imperial Guards were arresting Xiao Rong. Seeing Gongsun Yu arrive, both men were startled, shocked that Prince Yan had learned of the situation, and then felt uneasy, realizing that this meant the Prince would also learn they had turned to the Cui clan for help.

Before long, Gongsun Yu came down from the second floor, bringing Xiao Rong and Xi Rong with him.

Mo Dong and Jiang Cheng followed closely behind, their faces tense.

“My guard has nothing to do with this,” Xiao Rong said coldly as they reached the hall. “Let him go.”

Before Gongsun Yu could answer, Mo Dong’s face paled. “Young master!”

“The remaining antidote is where it’s always been. Go fetch it yourself. Then go back to where you came from.” Xiao Rong’s tone was as icy as ever.

Gongsun Yu nodded. “As the Young Prince commands.” With a wave of his hand, the two armored riders stepped aside, clearing a path for Mo Dong to leave.

“My guard as well, General Gongsun,” Xi Rong said evenly. “Please, show mercy.”

“Of course,” Gongsun Yu replied, signaling again for his men to stand down.

Xiao Rong said nothing further to Xi Rong. He knew the Crown Prince would not leave. So he stepped out of the hall first.

A carriage had already been prepared outside the Apricot Blossom Pavilion. Xiao Rong climbed in directly and Xi Rong followed close behind.

Cui Daohuan had not expected that the Crown Prince Xi Rong would also be inside the building. A flicker of cold amusement crossed his face once more.

Gongsun Yu swung onto his horse, saluted Cui Daohuan with formality, then turned his mount and departed, escorting the carriage away.

Mo Dong clenched his fists, wanting to chase after them, but he knew full well that rescuing the Young Prince from the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry was impossible. He could only stop where he stood.

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe hurried over to Jiang Cheng. “What did His Highness say?”

Jiang Cheng shook his head. “His Highness told Sir Song to keep an eye on the martial arts tournament. As for him, he said not to worry.”

Song Yang froze in disbelief.

***

The carriage rumbled down the long street, flanked on both sides by mounted riders.

There were no lanterns hanging from it; the interior was pitch dark, only the faint light of the street lamps flickering in now and then through the shutters.

Xiao Rong sat quietly inside, hands folded in his sleeves. His heart was calm. After all, everything that had happened tonight was part of his plan. Everything was proceeding exactly as he had intended.

What he wanted was simply a face-to-face chance to negotiate with Yan Ju.

He had even made use of the Jing clan in the process.

He had predicted precisely that Jing Qiu would not dare to report Jing Xi’s misconduct and would instead turn to the Cui clan for help, an act sure to offend Yan Ju deeply. Even if that useless Jing Xi returned later, he and the Jing clan would have no choice but to live meekly under others’ shadow.

The only unexpected element had been Xi Rong.

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t have come,” Xiao Rong said softly.

“Enough of that.” Xi Rong reached out and, through the wide sleeve of his robe, gently clasped Xiao Rong’s cold fingers. His voice was low and tender, a tone Xiao Rong had not heard for a long time. “When we see Prince Yan later, just say everything was my doing. I’m the Crown Prince. Even if I truly did abduct Jing Xi, Prince Yan can’t do anything to me.”

Xiao Rong didn’t reply. He tilted his head and leaned lightly against Xi Rong’s shoulder. “Your Highness,” he murmured, muffled and a little playful, “don’t we look now like a pair of poor, ill-fated lovers?”

Xi Rong smiled silently. “Perhaps so,” he said after a pause, “though to me, it doesn’t feel ill-fated.”

Xiao Rong lifted his gaze to him.

Xi Rong lowered his eyes, a faint smile on his lips. “To be with you, even if it means death, is happiness enough for me.”

His tone was solemn and utterly sincere, without the slightest hint of jest. Xiao Rong knew he meant it. Just as he knew Xi Rong would never abandon him.

Suddenly, Xiao Rong shifted, kneeling upright in the carriage.

“What is it?” Xi Rong asked quietly.

Before he could finish, Xiao Rong cupped his face, turned it toward him, pressed him back against the wall of the carriage, and kissed him.

Xi Rong froze.

Xiao Rong smiled faintly against his lips and kissed him harder.

If this was to be their last moment of happiness, he wanted to leave Xi Rong the purest, most joyful memory possible.

Xi Rong was the Crown Prince. As he himself had said, Yan Ju would not take his life.

As for how Yan Ju would deal with him, Xiao Rong had no certainty at all.

Perhaps they would torture him, force him to reveal Jing Xi’s whereabouts. Perhaps they would find some cruel and unexpected way to make him suffer.

He had dared to kidnap Jing Xi to bargain with Yan Ju. He had never once expected to walk away from it unharmed.

He didn’t care.

All he hoped was that Xi Rong could be a little happier.

From childhood to now, Xi Rong had rarely known joy. So when he met someone as reckless and callous as himself, he bit down and refused to let go, foolishly determined to follow him, even into death.

Xiao Rong’s kisses were still a mess. Wild, without rhythm or order.

“Rong Rong…”

Xi Rong’s breathing grew ragged.

His mind had been full of strategies to deal with Prince Yan, planning to use what little time they had left to discuss their next move. He hadn’t expected Xiao Rong to suddenly start kissing him so fervently.

“You don’t like me kissing you?” Xiao Rong asked.

Before him, Xi Rong could never say the words ‘I don’t.’ He loved everything about him, head to toe, inside and out, without exception. From the very first moment they met in Songzhou City, he had loved him.

All his life, he had lived surrounded by schemes and deceit, until he nearly lost the ability to trust or to love.

He had never cared so deeply, so purely, for anyone before.

He had plotted carefully, step by step, coaxing and ensnaring, just to draw him close, just to make him his own.

How could he possibly not love him?

“I do,” Xi Rong said. “I like it. I like you very, very much.”

Xiao Rong beamed at his reply, then kissed him all over again, whispering between breaths, “Xiao Zhiwei also likes Xi Junjing. Very, very much.”

The noise inside the carriage grew so loud that even Gongsun Yu was alarmed. He spurred his horse closer.

“Young Prince,” he called from outside, his voice edged with warning. “Don’t even think of playing around inside.”

The racket inside indeed fell silent. The Young Prince’s brazen voice soon carried out. “What, does the Northern Yan army also police people’s flirting now?”

“……”

Gongsun Yu was left speechless with shock.

The carriage soon arrived at Prince Yan’s campaign headquarters. Two lanterns bearing the character ‘Yan’ hung high above the gate; heavy troops stood guard at the entrance and soldiers patrolled outside.

Xiao Rong calmly smoothed his robes before stepping down with Xi Rong.

Xiao Rong looked up at the gate. The hand hidden in his sleeve clenched without him realizing it.

“Young Prince, Your Highness the Crown Prince, please.” Gongsun Yu dismounted and bowed to them.

Prince Yan’s headquarters were, of course, far grander than the other garrisons, practically a small noble residence with a two-courtyard layout.

No sooner had Xiao Rong and Xi Rong entered when they were surrounded by the eighteen iron riders who had accompanied Gongsun Yu to report in.

“The Prince wishes to question the Young Prince alone. Your Highness, please come with me elsewhere to rest for a moment.” Gongsun Yu offered the request with respectful deference but unmistakable authority.

Xi Rong gripped Xiao Rong’s hand tightly with one palm while the other flashed and drew the long sword at his waist.

“Impossible,” he spat the cold word from his lips. “I am the one who abducted Jing Xi. Bring whatever accusation you must, let them aim it at me.”

Gongsun Yu said, “Your Highness, this is Prince Yan’s headquarters, not the Eastern Palace. Here, no one may contravene our Prince’s will.”

Xi Rong ignored him, holding his sword across his chest, his gaze icy and unmoving.

This was the second time Gongsun Yu had seen that lone-wolf look in the Crown Prince’s eyes. The first was in the backyard of that inn in Songzhou Prefecture.

Gongsun Yu couldn’t help feeling this would be difficult to handle.

Of course Xi Rong was no match for the eighteen Iron Cavalry, yet the riders could not truly maim the Crown Prince.

As he weighed his options, Xi Rong’s expression suddenly changed. He shouted in a low voice, “Rongrong!”

However, it was too late. A flash of golden needle between Xiao Rong’s fingers plunged directly into the inside of Xi Rong’s right wrist.

Xi Rong’s right arm convulsed violently, beyond his control.

In the next instant, Xiao Rong had already slipped out of the Iron Cavalry’s encirclement.

The eighteen riders immediately closed in around Xi Rong.

Xiao Rong withdrew the golden needle, lifted his eyelids, and fixed Gongsun Yu with a cold look. “Take me to see Yan Ju.

“There is one more thing. Do not harm him in the slightest. If a single hair on his head is harmed, I will make Yan Ju and his beloved son pay with their lives.”