Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 122

“Please, foster father, give your child justice!”

Jing Xi knelt miserably on the floor of the council hall, crying pitifully.

Even though he had only been detained for a single night, he was soaked through, with several bruises on his face and forehead. His usually pristine silver robe was stained with mud, his hair crown missing, and his stomach burned with hunger.

Born into the Jing clan and later becoming Prince Yan’s most beloved adopted son, Jing Xi had always been surrounded and fawned upon by others, whether in Northern Yan or elsewhere. Never in his life had he suffered such humiliation. At this moment, aside from grievance, anger, and shame, he had only one thought left: to tear Xiao Rong to pieces.

Jing Qiu and Jing Si stood to the side, hands tucked in their sleeves. Seeing his son so wretched, Jing Qiu’s heart ached terribly, but he dared not step forward to comfort him.

He had expected his son to suffer some hardship after being captured, but he never imagined it would be to this extent, especially the bruises on his lips and cheeks, which were clearly not accidental. They were from a beating.

“I thought I would never again have the chance to see my foster father in this life,” Jing Xi cried sorrowfully. “But the heavens pitied me and let me return safely. I only hate myself for being useless enough to fall into Xiao Rong’s trap! You crushed the Xiao clan’s momentum at the martial arts tournament, so that Xiao Rong completely lost his mind and resorted to such vicious tricks against you. It is utterly shameless!”

Jing Xi wailed and wailed.

At times like this, Prince Yan would normally call him forward, comfort him, and give him generous rewards as compensation. As for those bold enough to bully him, there was never a good end for them.

At first, when Jing Xi’s ambush failed and he was instead captured by Xiao Rong, he had been terrified. But after escaping, all his fear evaporated, replaced entirely by relief and gloating joy.

Xiao Rong was cunning, so avenging himself on his own would be difficult. But Xiao Rong had dared lay hands on him. Given Prince Yan’s temper, how could he possibly let Xiao Rong go?

Upon waking, Jing Xi had learned from Jing Qiu that once Prince Yan heard of the kidnapping, he immediately mobilized heavy cavalry to seize Xiao Rong and bring him into the command residence for interrogation. Jing Xi nearly laughed aloud.

Even the heavens were helping him.

Upon hearing Prince Yan had summoned him, Jing Xi hadn’t even changed clothes or treated his injuries. He deliberately came in his most miserable state. The more pitiful he appeared, the more Prince Yan would feel distressed for him and the more brutally he would punish Xiao Rong.

However, unexpectedly, since entering the council hall, Jing Xi had been kneeling on the freezing floor for a full quarter-hour, crying just as long, and Prince Yan still had not told him to rise, nor called him forward.

Was it too dark in the hall? Had Prince Yan not seen how wretched he looked?

Jing Xi, starving and exhausted after a sleepless night of fear, was nearly collapsing from the long crying. His knees throbbed with pain as he lifted his tear-streaked face toward Prince Yan.

This way, surely Prince Yan would notice the bruises on his face; bruises Xiao Rong had deliberately ordered his men to inflict.

However, the moment he looked up, Jing Xi’s heart lurched violently.

Because Prince Yan, sitting on the folding stool, was looking at him with none of his usual warmth or affection; only a cold, unreadable indifference.

How could it be?

Upon seeing the injuries on his face, how could Prince Yan not feel distressed?!

Panic crept into Jing Xi’s chest.

“How did you end up at the West Gate?”

Already flustered, Jing Xi finally heard Prince Yan speak in a very casual tone.

Jing Qiu and Jing Si both exhaled with relief. Since the Prince was asking for details, he must be concerned.

Jing Xi brightened, straightened his back, and replied without hesitation, giving the explanation he had prepared, “Xiao Rong tricked me into going there!” The movement made his knees flare with pain. He couldn’t help but wonder why Prince Yan still wasn’t letting him stand to answer.

“Is that so?” Prince Yan sounded even more casual. “And how exactly did he trick you?”

“He—” Jing Xi’s gaze shifted rapidly. “He used a letter to lure me there. In the letter, he said he had important matters regarding the martial arts tournament to discuss with me and asked me to meet him outside the West Gate.”

“And the letter?”

“The letter…” Jing Xi had not expected Prince Yan to ask for specifics. He had invented this excuse on the spot and hadn’t prepared details. Forced into a corner, he said stiffly, “After he kidnapped me, he must have taken it from me.”

“Your Highness.” Gongsun Yu entered from outside. “The two missing officers who left the city with Captain Jing have been found.”

Jing Xi’s face instantly froze.

Two soldiers, bound, filthy, and equally wretched, were dragged inside.

Jing Xi looked back and recognized them as his personal guards. He glared at them but they dropped their heads, avoiding his gaze. So he turned his glare on Gongsun Yu instead.

Gongsun Yu ignored him and said coolly to the two soldiers, “Explain the situation to His Highness yourselves.”

The moment they entered the hall, the two guards collapsed in terror, not daring to look at Prince Yan in the main seat. One of them kowtowed and said, “It was the Thirteenth Protector—no, Captain Jing—who said he wished to avenge the humiliation at the Platform of Challenge two years ago. He had been secretly tracking Xiao Rong for some time. Yesterday, after the martial arts tournament ended, Captain Jing learned Xiao Rong had gone alone by carriage to the West Gate with only one guard, so he immediately led us and more than a dozen men there—”

“You’re lying!”

Jing Xi shot to his feet at once and kicked the officer hard, sending him sprawling to the ground. “You dare slander me in front of my foster father? What is your intent?! Tell the truth, did that Xiao Rong bribe you to frame me on purpose?!”

The officer shook his head and looked only toward Prince Yan. “Every word this subordinate spoke is true. I would never dare deceive Your Highness.”

“You insolent wretch!” Jing Xi’s eyes nearly split with rage. Just as he was about to kick the man again, a soft sound suddenly echoed in the room.

Jing Xi turned and saw that Prince Yan had set his saber on the desk, his fingers tapping lightly on the hilt.

It was a casual, unhurried gesture, yet Jing Xi’s face turned paper-white in an instant. Anyone familiar with Prince Yan knew that this iron-blooded war god, the commander of Northern Yan, almost never touched a blade in daily life.

Jing Xi was Prince Yan’s most beloved adopted son; quick-witted, honey-tongued, and exceptionally skilled at reading expressions. He knew Prince Yan’s temperament inside and out. And although many years had passed in which Prince Yan treated him with what could only be described as indulgent affection, Jing Xi had seen the Prince’s ruthless, terrifying, and merciless side. In Prince Yan’s presence, Jing Xi couldn’t help but harbor a bone-deep instinct of awe and fear.

At this moment, that fear surged to its peak, screaming in his mind.

Realizing only now how badly he had lost control and how gravely he had violated taboo, Jing Xi dropped to his knees with a thud, trembling violently. His voice shook as he pleaded, “They’re only jealous that Your Highness favors me! They deliberately framed me! Please, foster father, see clearly, do not be fooled by these vile men…”

“You’re right. For all these years, this Prince has indulged you far too much. You’ve been at my side long enough to know what fate awaits those who deceive me.”

With a clang, Prince Yan drew the long blade that had slain countless enemies from its sheath and tossed it to the ground. His voice remained calm and unhurried.

However, the calmer it was, the more it terrified Jing Xi.

Because when Prince Yan truly intended to kill, this was exactly the tone he used.

Jing Xi raised his head in disbelief, mind going blank. He no longer had the capacity to think. Nearly crawling and scrambling on his knees, he rushed to the foot of Prince Yan’s couch, clung to his military boot, and burst into tears, shaking like a leaf in the wind. “Foster father, this son was wrong! This son was truly wrong! Please forgive me, spare me just this once!”

“‘This son’?”

Prince Yan flicked his boot, kicking him aside. His wolfish eyes landed sharply on Jing Xi’s tear-stained face, showing not a shred of pity; only disappointment and disgust. “You think you deserve to call yourself that?”

Jing Xi froze, hardly believing his ears.

Standing to the side, Jing Qiu and Jing Si were also horrified. They dropped to their knees at once. Jing Qiu, chilled to the bone, kowtowed repeatedly. “Xi’er was momentarily confused and made a mistake. I beg Your Highness to give him a chance to repent!”

Jing Qiu could not understand how things had escalated to this point. His son had suffered such a grievous injury, yet Prince Yan had not asked after him, and now even wanted to punish him under military law!

All the prosperity the Jing family enjoyed in Northern Yan these years came entirely from Prince Yan’s favoritism toward his youngest son.

He could not imagine what would happen to their family if his son truly lost Prince Yan’s favor.

No, no, that could never happen. Absolutely not!

At that birthday banquet years ago, Prince Yan had taken one look at his youngest son. After the boy bowed before him, this awe-inspiring prince of the northern frontier, a man whose word alone could shake armies, had seemed slightly drunk, even teary-eyed, and murmured, “Call me Father.”

They had all witnessed how Prince Yan favored the boy over the years. How could he possibly bear to cast him aside?

Jing Qiu kowtowed desperately, smashing his forehead until blood seeped out.

Prince Yan did not spare him a glance. His gaze remained fixed on Jing Xi. “You once served as a Protector of the Northern Yan Army. I will give you a choice. If you pick up that blade and sever one arm yourself, I will spare your life.”

Jing Xi’s eyes widened in terror as he stared at the blade lying on the ground, its cold glint chilling to the bone. He shook his head violently, tears pooling again as he threw himself forward and clung to Prince Yan’s leg. “No, no, foster father, please spare your son!”

Jing Qiu and Jing Si also blanched once more, their foreheads already bleeding as they kowtowed desperately. “We beg Your Highness to show mercy! Spare Xi’er!”

Seeing Prince Yan standing motionless, his gaze indifferent and unmoving, Jing Xi finally felt a coldness that seeped into his very bones. Wrapped in overwhelming terror, he turned and pleaded to Gongsun Yu, “General Gongsun, please, please speak to my foster father for me and beg him to spare me this once!”

Gongsun Yu was surprised as well. Prince Yan had never been this severe.

However, in his view, Jing Xi fully deserved today’s outcome. So he simply stood by in silence.

Jing Xi kept begging Prince Yan.

Prince Yan kicked him aside and his eyes flashed like lightning.

“Being incompetent is one thing. But among the men of the Northern Yan Army, nothing is valued more than backbone. And you don’t even have that much. Detestable! I must have been blind back then to take in someone like you; spineless and bloodless. Nothing but poison to quench my thirst. You are truly unworthy!

“Gongsun Yu, convey my order. Jing Xi has repeatedly violated military law. His crimes are unforgivable. Effective immediately: sever one of his arms and expel him from the Northern Yan Army. As for the Jing brothers, for poor discipline in raising their son and disrupting military order, they will receive corporal punishment.”

Jing Xi collapsed on the ground.

Jing Qiu and Jing Si instantly froze mid-kowtow, abruptly lifting their heads, only for their faces to drain of all color as they slumped again.

Jing Xi was gagged and dragged away by the execution soldiers. The Jing brothers were also tied up and taken out.

Prince Yan returned to his couch, picked up his wine cup, and drank a mouthful in the dim light.

Yan Shan entered, silently picked up the blade, wiped it clean, put it back on the table, and said, “Is Your Highness grieving over the matter of the Jing boy?”

Prince Yan shook his head. “I only feel disappointment in him. What I’m thinking about is that last night, Rongrong used Jing Xi to threaten me, claiming he’d kidnapped Jing Xi, yet he said nothing about Jing Xi trying to ambush and kill him. In his heart, he has no trust or expectation of me at all.”

So that was the reason.

Yan Shan couldn’t help giving a small, reassuring smile. “The Young Prince has been separated from Your Highness since childhood and he has often heard rumors that you favor the Jing boy. Naturally, he would misunderstand Your Highness.”

“Yes, how did I ever do something so foolish in the first place?” Prince Yan spoke with deep regret. Then he couldn’t help adding, “But the way Rongrong looks at me still carries a hint of resentment. Tell me, could there be other reasons? For example, could that dog Xiao Jingming have been slandering me constantly in front of Rongrong?”

Yan Shan didn’t dare respond.

Just then, a deputy general announced from outside, “Your Highness, Minister Cui Daohuan has sent someone over, saying he has urgent matters to discuss with you.”