Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 12

Gu Rong recognized Jiang Cheng immediately. He cupped his hands in a respectful greeting, smiling warmly. “So it’s this brother.”

“Yes, we meet again, young master. It really is thanks to you that my master was saved.” Although Jiang Cheng felt that the young man was quite unreliable, he still saluted and sincerely expressed his thanks. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

What a twist of fate. Of all the people in the world, it was this young master who had come to His Highness’s rescue. It was truly unexpected.

Gu Rong smiled warmly. “This is what people call ‘fate brings us together, even from a thousand miles away.’ The last time we met, we became friends at first sight, and now we have another chance to drink together. I hope you won’t mind that my accommodations are a bit simple.”

Jiang Cheng said, “How could I? I think your residence is a wonderful place.”

Jiang Cheng meant what he said. Spring was in full bloom, with everything growing green. The small courtyard, located halfway up the hillside and sheltered by two peaks, was a refuge from the bustling world, a true paradise. It was a place that made one feel at ease.

If only its owner were a little more reliable.

“Master, young master, please enjoy your meal.” Noticing that Xi Rong was still standing, Jiang Cheng hurriedly stepped aside and invited him to sit down.

Xi Rong instead turned toward Gu Rong. “See if it’s to your taste.”

Gu Rong briefly glanced over the food. Among the ordinary dishes were braised pork, stewed fish in sauce, wine-soaked goose, four-happiness meatballs… and a small jar of wine, which made him raise his eyebrows in surprise. “How rich a meal.”

Jiang Cheng said, “It was prepared in a rush. This is all I could manage. Please make do with it, master.”

He was obviously addressing Xi Rong.

Gu Rong clicked his tongue in awe. “That’s what you call making do? Brother, you’re really generous.”

Xi Rong smiled. “Consider this a small expression of my thanks for saving my life. This wine was specially bought for you. Taste it and see if it’s to your liking.”

Gu Rong’s eyes glimmered with happiness at the mention of wine. Without further ceremony, he sat down and filled his bowl. “Then I won’t be modest.”

Jiang Cheng was taken aback. His Highness had him buy wine… for the little swindler.

Gu Rong asked, “Brother, aren’t you going to sit down and eat with us?”

Jiang Cheng was perceptive and quickly declined, “Thank you for your kindness, young master. I’ve already eaten. I’m here to serve you during your meal.”

Jiang Cheng wanted to serve food to Xi Rong, but Xi Rong stopped him. “We’re outside, there’s no need for so much formality.”

“But your injuries…”

“It’s fine.”

“Yes… then I’ll wait outside.” Jiang Cheng knew His Highness preferred not to be disturbed while dining. He nodded in acknowledgment and retreated.

Once Jiang Cheng had gone outside, Gu Rong said, “Brother, your family’s rules are really strict.”

Xi Rong asked, “Why? Do you dislike them?”

Gu Rong shook his head. “It’s not that I dislike them. I’m just not used to all these rules and I find them restrictive or unpleasant.” He opened the wine jar and poured himself a bowl of wine.

Xi Rong smiled. “There’s no circle without discipline. But you do not need to follow them.”

Gu Rong raised his eyebrows. “Hm?”

Xi Rong said, “I mean… if you come to my home, you do not need to follow any of the rules. You shouldn’t be afraid.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re different from them.”

“Different in what way?”

“If I say you’re different, then you’re different.”

Gu Rong: “…”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Brother, you’re really quite amusing.”

Xi Rong fell silent for a moment and then suddenly asked, “Do you call everyone ‘brother’?”

The two were sitting together in the small cottage in the mountains, casually sharing a meal, much like friends.

Gu Rong nodded. “Isn’t it a fairly common form of address? Is there a problem?”

“There’s no problem.” Xi Rong took a sip of tea. “But there is a small concern. If you call everyone ‘brother,’ I won’t know whether you’re addressing me. Maybe you can call me something else.”

Gu Rong was confused. “Something else? What should I call you then?”

Xi Rong said, “Didn’t you tell the waiter I was your elder brother? I’m the third in my family, so you can call me Third Brother. If you call me with the wrong name, I’ll have to punish you.”

Gu Rong almost forgot about this. Thinking back to all the things he had gotten away with under the guise of using the other’s name, he reluctantly pressed his fingertips to his forehead. “Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

Xi Rong raised an eyebrow. “How is it inappropriate?”

Gu Rong fell back on his intuition. “It feels a bit too intimate.”

After all, they’d only met twice, only two strangers. He didn’t even know the other’s surname or name. Using a form of address like that seemed a bit forward. But openly refusing would be impolite, so Gu Rong chose a tactful way to decline. “It feels like I’m taking advantage of you. Your own brother might be displeased. I think I’ll continue to address you as ‘brother’.”

Xi Rong didn’t insist. “All right. I was a bit abrupt in asking you to change your form of address. We can take it slowly.”

Take it slowly? Gu Rong was taken aback.

How could something like this be taken slowly?

But after two years in the mountains, Gu Rong had grown used to letting things go, especially when there was rich wine in his cup. He quickly put the matter aside. He was careful not to drink too much, choosing to sip just a few small cups to avoid making a mess of things. He put down his wine cup and noticed that the young man across from him was looking directly at him.

Curiously, he asked, “Is there something on my face?”

Xi Rong shook his head. “No.”

“If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll think there’s something there.” Gu Rong habitually rubbed the corner of his eye.

It made the corner of his eye, already faintly rosy from the wine, grow even redder. The skin of his face, smooth and pale like fine jade, glowed warmly under the fading colors of sunset, adding a captivating allure, but he was oblivious to it.

He kept rubbing, completely unaware.

Such carelessness…

Xi Rong turned his gaze away, reluctantly lowered his eyes, and slowly tasted his tea. He was not used to this feeling, an attraction he couldn’t control.

At that moment, voices came from outside.

Xi Rong said, “It seems someone’s here.”

Gu Rong finally stopped rubbing his eyes and smiled. “Don’t be nervous, it’s a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Yes, a hunter friend. Brother, you go ahead and eat. I’ll go check.” Gu Rong stood up and left the table. The tabby cat, which had been napping on the ground, sprang up immediately and followed him.

A young hunter was standing at the doorway, face to face with Jiang Cheng, holding quite a few things in his hands. When he saw Gu Rong come out, the hunter’s previously unsure expression turned delighted.

“Little Deity Gu,” he called out with a smile and walked directly into the courtyard, ignoring Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng had been observing the hunter for a while. He saw that the man was just an ordinary hunter and not a threat, so he didn’t intervene. After all, they were not in the Eastern Palace; it was not his place to overstep.

“Brother Han.” Gu Rong smiled in greeting. “Call me Gu Rong. Please, you mustn’t call me Little Deity Gu. I’m afraid I’ll lose years of my life.”

The hunter smiled but said nothing. He turned his head to Jiang Cheng and asked, “Who’s that…? I thought I might have gone to the wrong place just now.”

“A guest. Did Brother Han come by for something?”

“Ah.” The hunter kept his gaze on Jiang Cheng for a moment and then turned back. “I heard from Erya and Little Pang that you’re back, and I came to bring you some game… I heard you bring someone up from the foothills this time. Is that him?”

Gu Rong shook his head.

The hunter sighed in relief. “That’s a good thing. It’s chaos outside. You’re all by yourself, be careful not to bring in a stranger. By the way, do you still have some of that wound medicine you used on me previously? Could I get a bit more?”

“Brother Han is injured?”

“It’s nothing big. I scratched my leg on a thorn bush this morning while entering the mountains.”

Gu Rong lowered his gaze and saw the bloodstains on the hunter’s right pant leg. He said, “Let me treat your wound.”

The hunter insisted, “How can I trouble you with this small matter, Little Deity Gu?”

“It’s fine.” Gu Rong’s eyes glimmered warmly. “It’s just a simple treatment, it’ll be finished soon. The thorn bush might be poisonous. Without proper care, the wound could become infected.”

“Alright then. I appreciate your help.” The hunter held up what he was carrying. “Take these first.” He was holding a pheasant, half a hare, and a piece of venison, quite a generous amount, especially the venison, which was considered a delicacy.

Gu Rong honestly didn’t care much for the game, nor was he proficient in cooking, but he knew they were valuable. Usually, he would politely decline, but this time, thinking he had a guest, he decided to keep them. He could hopefully send the hunter some more medicine in return.

He had that plan when he went out to mooch off from others. After all, hunters frequently injured themselves and their need for wound medicine was greater than ordinary people’s. He made his own medicinal powders and while not especially lavish, he learned the recipes from his teacher and their ability to stop the bleeding was first-rate; a fair exchange for their kindness.

The hunter, seeing him remain silent, worried he might be turning them down, rushed to say, “It’s not worth much. There’s plenty of game in the mountains after spring. Please, you must accept it…”

He paused suddenly when he saw a tall, cold-faced young man who had just come out of the hut. He was momentarily taken aback. “Who is this…?”

Before Gu Rong could respond, Xi Rong said, “I’m his elder brother.”

“Elder brother?” The hunter was taken aback and turned to Gu Rong.

Gu Rong was at a loss for words. Unsure whether to say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ he instead made a show of rubbing his eyes.

Xi Rong walked down the steps and stood at Gu Rong’s side, looking at the game in the hunter’s hands. He turned his head and said, “Rongrong, he made the effort to bring them here; we shouldn’t be impolite by refusing. But a gift should be reciprocated.”

“Jiang Cheng,” he called out and ordered, “go hunt something in return for this brother.”

Jiang Cheng nodded and turned to leave. He soon came back, holding a hawk and two hares in his hands. “Master, I rushed and could only hunt these,” Jiang Cheng spoke.

Other than the master and servant, both Gu Rong and the hunter were a little surprised.

Rabbits were fine, but a bird of prey was a different matter. Shooting a hawk demanded high skill with a bow and much luck. Jiang Cheng had gotten it in just a moment, adding to everyone’s astonishment. Furthermore, the hawk was still alive, which meant it could fetch a high price if sold at the market. It further proved just how proficient he was.

“Please accept these.” Jiang Cheng handed them over to the hunter.

The hunter was momentarily stiff and then reluctantly accepted them. He was in the process of turning to pass his own game to Gu Rong when a long-fingered hand intercepted him.

“He’s timid. I’ll take it for him,” Xi Rong said.

The hunter forced a small smile and nodded. “All right.”

“See to this brother’s wound,” Xi Rong gave another order to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng nodded, stepped forward, and invited the hunter to sit down under the corridor.

The hunter furrowed his brows and reflexively declined. “No need…”

“It’s the proper thing to do,” Xi Rong insisted.

“This way, please.” Jiang Cheng brought over a stool and invited the hunter to sit.

The hunter reluctantly sat down and rolled up his pant leg.

Jiang Cheng was well-equipped with first-rate medicines from the Eastern Palace and he was experienced in their application, whether from battle or interrogation, and in a short while, he had tended to the hunter’s wound.

In the end, following Xi Rong’s instructions, he directly gifted him the rest of the bottle of wound medicine and two additional bottles of high-grade pills he carried.

“The white bottle contains twenty antidote pills, they can ease most snake and insect poisons. The blue bottle contains a kind of anesthetic that, in small amounts, can temporarily incapacitate large creatures, like tigers or bears. It may aid you in your hunting,” Jiang Cheng explained.

The hunter tightened his grip on the porcelain bottles. He turned to look at Gu Rong, wanting to say something, but in the end, he said, “Since your brother is here, I’ll take my leave first. I’ll come back to see Little Deity Gu another day.”

Gu Rong’s eyes glimmered warmly. “Take care, Brother Han.”

Once the hunter was gone, Gu Rong turned his gaze to the pile of game, especially the venison.

Xi Rong noticed and asked, “Thinking about how you’re going to eat it?”

Gu Rong said, “I’m wondering how I should prepare it. I hear deer pairs well with wine.” He only knew how to boil or dry the meat. It was fine for his own meal, but not a proper way to serve a guest.

Xi Rong said, “We still have plenty of food in the house.”

His reminder made Gu Rong realize something. “Ah, that’s true. With so much, we won’t be able to finish everything.” He was worried just last night about not having food, and now he was worried about how to deal with the excess.

Xi Rong reminded him, “Cooked food won’t keep for long.”

“That’s true. So what should we do with these?”

“We can leave them for now. It’s cool up here in the mountains, so they won’t spoil immediately.” Xi Rong casually tossed everything to Jiang Cheng. “The food is getting cold. Let’s go back in and eat.”

Gu Rong nodded.

***

Once back inside, Xi Rong suddenly said, “I made a decision for you just now. I hope you’re not upset.”

Gu Rong was dipping his chopsticks in wine to ease his cravings. He paused and smiled.

Xi Rong raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”

Gu Rong said, half in jest, “Brother, you do realize you’re a bit overbearing.”

Xi Rong didn’t deny it. “I’m sorry. I’m used to handling things a certain way. However, if I hadn’t stayed here and gotten free food and accommodations, you wouldn’t need to be worried about food. Furthermore, the hunter’s two children showed me kindness, and he’s injured. It’s only right for me to be the one to repay him.”

Gu Rong said, “So I owe you again?”

Xi Rong shook his head. “You’re the one who saved my life. I owe you, not the other way around. It’s just that your Brother Han might not be pleased.”

Gu Rong: “Why?”

Xi Rong: “Did you really not notice?”

“Notice what?”

“That your Brother Han might be a widower?”

“Yes. His wife died many years ago and he hasn’t remarried. Oh, how did you know?”

“I guessed.” Xi Rong suddenly reached up and gently rubbed the corner of Gu Rong’s eye, the exact spot that had been itching all afternoon. “Next time, when you’ve just finished drinking, try not to go out and see people, especially your Brother Han.”

Gu Rong: ?

Xi Rong extended his finger. “There’s something there.”

Gu Rong lowered his head and saw a small piece of fluff. He hadn’t noticed it at all.

The author has something to say:

Baby Rongrong: I think I’ve lost all sense of touch.
Baby, maybe it’s not your problem. Maybe someone else’s tactics are just too tricky.
Also, baby, calling him ‘elder brother’ is going to make him melt. If you don’t change what you call him now, he’ll start pushing you to call him in all kinds of ways later.
Thanks, everyone, enjoy reading!