Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 118

“What was strange?” Prince Yan asked, frowning.

The imperial physician glanced around and hesitated, not daring to speak.

Prince Yan, thoughtful, dismissed Yan Shan as well before entering the council hall and sitting down. His voice was low. “What exactly is going on?”

Only then did the physician gather some courage. “This morning, following Your Highness’s order, I went to take the young master’s pulse. I discovered that his pulse was smooth and flowing, like beads rolling… It was very much like…”

“Like what?”

The physician lowered his voice and murmured a few words.

Prince Yan was startled, his eyes sharp with authority. “Is there a chance you misdiagnosed?”

The physician answered cautiously, “It’s not impossible but the likelihood is extremely small…”

He hadn’t finished when a terrifying bang echoed through the hall. Prince Yan’s face darkened and he slapped the table as he shot to his feet. “That damned brat!”

Even Yan Shan, standing outside, jumped at the outburst. He couldn’t help wondering what the physician had said to anger His Highness so greatly.

Inside the hall, the physician was so terrified he dropped to his knees with a thud. “M–maybe, perhaps it was my incompetence and I misdiagnosed.”

Prince Yan paced with his hands clasped behind his back, face like a storm. After a long moment, he stopped and said in a low voice, “You will go and take his pulse another time later.”

The physician quickly bowed in acknowledgment.

Prince Yan sat back down, his expression beyond foul. After calming himself a moment, he asked, “Have you told anyone else about this?”

The physician shook his head quickly. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Good. You’ve done well. Prepare his prescriptions as usual for now. Do not let this matter spread.”

The physician bowed again. “Your Highness may rest assured. I know the importance of discretion.”

“That Xiao Jingming, he still has the face to criticize me?!” As soon as the physician left, Prince Yan slammed the table again, grinding out the words between his teeth. It took nearly a quarter of an hour for him to calm down before he strode back outside, face still grim.

Seeing Yan Shan waiting there, Prince Yan frowned fiercely. “Did I not tell you to stay inside and keep watch without taking a single step away?”

Yan Shan answered bitterly, “The young master would not allow this old servant to stay. He said I was affecting his appetite.”

“He’s eating?” Some of the tension eased from Prince Yan’s expression.

Yan Shan nodded. “The young master just finished his medicine. His mouth was bitter, so he’s eating lotus cakes from the kitchen.”

“Has the physician taken his pulse yet?”

Yan Shan shook his head. “The young master won’t allow it.”

Prince Yan needed no further explanation. Hands clasped behind his back, he walked to the window. Through it, he saw Xiao Rong leaning against the headboard, holding a warm cup of tea, while Xi Rong used a dagger to cut the lotus cakes into tiny pieces, then fed them to the youth one small bite at a time with silver chopsticks.

“No sense at all. Such a tiny little trick and he’s already been led around in circles,” Prince Yan huffed angrily.

Yan Shan stood respectfully behind him, not daring to say a word.

Only after watching Xiao Rong finish most of the lotus cakes on the plate and stop eating did Prince Yan lift the curtain and walk in. “You. Come with me.” He shot a glance at Xi Rong and frowned.

Xiao Rong immediately took hold of Xi Rong’s hand.

Prince Yan grew even more irritated. “Relax. I’m not going to eat him. I just want to ask him a few questions.”

Saying that, he turned and walked out first.

Xi Rong gave Xiao Rong a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. I’ll go see what he wants.”

Prince Yan was sitting once more in the pavilion in the backyard, this time with a chessboard laid out on the stone table.

Xi Rong stepped into the pavilion. “May I ask why Your Highness summoned me?”

Prince Yan continued pondering his next move, deliberately keeping Xi Rong waiting a while before finally saying, “How far have you two gone?”

Xi Rong blinked and then asked hesitantly, “What does Your Highness mean?”

“You and that boy from the Xiao clan; how far has your relationship progressed? Is that clear enough?”

Xi Rong answered openly, “We are fond of each other.”

“Fond of each other?” Prince Yan gave a sharp, derisive snort. “If you ask me, you’re the one who seduced him.”

Xi Rong did not deny it. “Your Highness is perceptive. It is true that I was the first to be tempted.”

“Not only tempted; you forced him into something he shouldn’t have been involved in, didn’t you?!” Prince Yan suddenly dropped a chess piece with a snap and turned toward him.

Xi Rong did not shy away from the prince’s blade-sharp gaze. He said, “It is true I was tempted by him, but I have never forced Rongrong. Everything between us happened because we both wished it.”

“Mutual affection, is it?!” Prince Yan slapped the chessboard.

Yan Shan immediately stepped from the shadows and leveled an iron sword across Xi Rong’s neck.

Prince Yan rose, hands clasped behind his back, and looked Xi Rong over from head to toe with a gaze full of harsh, cutting disdain. “If you hadn’t deceived him first, would he fall in love with you? As far as I’m concerned, your crimes are unforgivable!”

Xi Rong stood silently, allowing the cold blade to rest against his throat. He could tell Prince Yan’s fury was not an act and completely unlike any outburst before. Xi Rong himself couldn’t help thinking what could have provoked the prince to such genuine rage.

“You thought secretly switching the Gu would make up for your crime. He’s still so young and you seduced him into doing that! And as if deceiving him into it weren’t enough, you even—!

“I’m telling you, even if I carved you into a thousand pieces, it still wouldn’t ease the hatred in my heart!” Prince Yan’s voice rose with every word.

“Yan Shan, teach him a lesson!” he gave the order sharply.

Yan Shan obeyed at once. He withdrew the iron sword from Xi Rong’s neck, then abruptly struck forward with a palm aimed at Xi Rong’s shoulder.

Amazed by the profound strength behind the attack, Xi Rong quickly dodged back. While fending off Yan Shan’s blows, he said, “May Your Highness enlighten me, what unforgivable sin have I supposedly committed?”

Prince Yan gave a heavy snort. “You’re still pretending?! Yan Shan, beat him!”