Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 123

By midday, dark clouds covered the sky and a fine, mist-like drizzle began to fall.

Jiang Cheng wiped the rain from his forehead as he came in from outside. He said to Song Yang, who was pacing in the courtyard, “Sir Song, that Old Master Qi is here again.”

Song Yang immediately asked, “Where is he?”

Jiang Cheng replied, “At the Eastern Palace gate. I stalled him a bit, said His Highness wasn’t in, and the guards are trying to persuade him to leave.”

Song Yang hesitated for a moment and then said, “Send another person at once. Make sure he stays.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened. “Sir Song, are you crazy? His Highness gave a strict order that he won’t be seeing that old man.”

Song Yang gave a meaningful smile. “Go report to His Highness right now. He will meet him today.”

“But His Highness is currently—”

“Don’t worry about that. Just go. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”

Half doubtful but seeing Song Yang’s absolute certainty, Jiang Cheng could only send a guard to keep the man there, then brace himself and head toward Morning Light Hall, where Xi Rong usually resided.

Inside, Xi Rong was having a meal with Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong sat on a couch with A’Li in his arms, while Xi Rong fed him spoonful by spoonful.

“I can do it myself,” Xiao Rong said after swallowing a mouthful of sweet, refreshing lotus-leaf porridge. He felt that, for a simple meal, Xi Rong was fussing far too much. He had hands and feet, his vitality was stable, and he certainly wasn’t suffering from any serious illness.

Xi Rong, expression focused, scooped another spoonful and brought it to him. “It’s a little hot. Let me cool it for you.”

Jiang Cheng’s voice announcing his report came at that exact moment.

Xi Rong calmly watched Xiao Rong swallow the porridge before setting the bowl aside. In a gentle tone, he said, “I’ll be back shortly.” As he rose, his arm was suddenly grabbed.

Xi Rong lowered his eyes and met Xiao Rong’s searching gaze.

“Don’t worry. It won’t take long,” Xi Rong explained.

Xiao Rong ignored that, tossed the tabby cat aside, straightened his robe, strode to the hall entrance, and asked Jiang Cheng, “Which Old Master Qi is this?”

Jiang Cheng looked toward Xi Rong, who was following behind. Seeing Xi Rong’s calm, unreadable gaze and receiving no signal, he lowered his head and didn’t dare answer.

Xiao Rong smoothed his wide sleeves. “So it seems an outsider like me isn’t suited to hear the Eastern Palace’s secrets. Your Highness, carry on. I’ll take my leave.”

“You don’t need to ask him. It’s Qi Qiuyu, headmaster of White Deer Academy.”

Xiao Rong had just stepped over the threshold when Xi Rong’s voice sounded behind him. A broad black sleeve suddenly swept in front of Xiao Rong, blocking the rain drifting in from the eaves.

Xiao Rong casually reached into his sleeve, pulling out the folding fan he hadn’t played with in ages. Turning slightly, he raised a brow and looked back at the tall man standing straight behind him. “Then, is Your Highness going to meet him, or not?”

“I will,” Xi Rong answered firmly and without hesitation.

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help touching his nose.

Xi Rong cast him a sideways glance. “What are you standing there for? Hurry and invite Old Master Qi in.”

Jiang Cheng quickly lowered his hand and replied seriously.

Xi Rong then looked back at Xiao Rong, his tone soft and low. “Well? Can you go back inside now and finish your porridge?”

Xiao Rong didn’t answer. Hands clasped behind his back, fan dangling from his fingers, he slowly drew his foot back over the threshold. As he strolled inside, his gaze swept leisurely around the hall.

Xi Rong’s lips curved almost imperceptibly as he turned to follow.

Qi Qiuyu was soon brought in by Jiang Cheng and Song Yang.

Having argued with the guards at the Eastern Palace gate for quite some time, the old scholar had been rained on. His graying beard was soaked and stuck together, giving him a rather disheveled appearance. Yet his manner remained bold and fiery as always.

Today, Qi Qiuyu had come alone, without any students. Upon entering the hall and seeing Xi Rong standing in the center, dressed in deep black, he straightened his robes and bowed. “Your Highness, I have come to trouble you again. Please forgive the intrusion. I know that Your Highness has been deliberately avoiding me lately, but this concerns an old friend. Shameless as it may be, I had no choice but to come—”

Before he finished, Xi Rong gave a light cough, interrupting him. “Old Master Qi must be joking. I am more than pleased that you’ve come to the Eastern Palace. How could I ever deliberately avoid you?”

Qi Qiuyu was hot-tempered. Seeing Xi Rong act this way, he thought to himself that these princes and imperial heirs were indeed skilled at pretending. He was just about to retort with ‘Your guards certainly didn’t say so’ when another voice cut in.

“The whole world fears the Crown Prince’s bad reputation. Yet for the sake of an old friend, Old Master Qi is willing to risk his own safety. Such loyalty is truly admirable. If Master Ouyang were still alive, he would surely be moved.”

Qi Qiuyu turned toward the voice and only then noticed a young gentleman dressed entirely in plain white, seated on a couch to the side of the hall. Slender as bamboo, with refined features and elegant bearing, he looked like a youth carved from frost and jade.

Qi Qiuyu was shocked when he heard the boy speak so casually of his old friend and even address the Crown Prince directly without a single ‘Your Highness.’ “And this young man is…?”

Xiao Rong stood up with a smiling ease. “Old Master Qi truly has a poor memory. We just met half a month ago at the Ten-Day Gathering.”

“It was you!” Qi Qiuyu nearly jumped. No wonder the boy’s voice had sounded faintly familiar from the moment he spoke. Qi Qiuyu’s emotions surged and he hurriedly asked, “Young friend, could you tell me how exactly did you came by that Winter Plum Painting?”

Xiao Rong considered for a moment. “The saying goes that courtesy must be repaid. If I tell you the truth, what does Old Master Qi intend to offer me in return?”

Qi Qiuyu froze. He naturally understood what Xiao Rong meant. After a moment of hesitation, he answered earnestly, “I only want information. I will not demand the Winter Plum Painting itself.”

Xiao Rong tapped his fan lightly and smiled. “That is because you know that information regarding Ouyang Mo’s whereabouts is worth no less than the Winter Plum Painting.”

Qi Qiuyu immediately stepped forward, voice urgent. “You truly know where Ouyang Mo is?”

Xiao Rong: “He’s merely a strange, eccentric old hermit. Others might not care, but Old Master Qi, you are now a renowned scholar of great virtue. Why be so fixated on the whereabouts of a mere commoner?”

“I…” Qi Qiuyu turned his head aside. “We were close friends. I wish to see him once more.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Rong stared at the old scholar’s trembling beard. “But from what I’ve heard, Ouyang Mo never mentioned having a friend by the name of Qi Qiuyu.”

Qi Qiuyu seemed struck by a heavy blow. All color drained from his face. After a long silence, he let out a bitter laugh. “He was right not to mention it. I am indeed unworthy of being his confidant.”

“Oh?” Xiao Rong looked leisurely interested. “And why is that?”

Qi Qiuyu could not speak. His entire bearing collapsed all at once, as if frost had struck him, and half his spine bowed in a single moment.

“…This old man shall take his leave…” After some time, the old scholar murmured this in defeat. Leaning heavily on his cane, he turned toward the doors.

Xiao Rong watched the stooped figure, white-haired and frail, slowly retreating. Then he said suddenly, “Ouyang Mo indeed never mentioned having a close friend named Qi Qiuyu, but before he died, he said that his Winter Plum Painting still lacked a dedicatory inscription. It was the one great regret of his life.”

Old Master Qi’s figure suddenly froze. When he turned back again, his face was already covered in tears, his voice shaking violently. “He… he has already…” The shock and grief in Old Master Qi’s eyes were overwhelming. His whole body trembled and he couldn’t finish the sentence.

Xiao Rong nodded. “Five years ago, Ouyang Mo passed away in Qizhou. When he died, he suffered no illness and no pain, with only brush, ink, and paper for company. On his desk lay that Winter Plum Painting.”

Old Master Qi’s cane crashed to the floor. He slowly slid down after it, sitting on the ground as tears fell like rain, dotting his scholar’s robe.

“Hengzhi… I wronged you, I wronged you…”

“I am a man who breaks his word…”

“We clearly agreed to submit a memorial together back then. But when the moment came, I feared offending the powerful and bringing harm to my kin. I shrank back and left you to face the storm alone. How am I worthy to inscribe anything on the Winter Plum Painting?”

“Hengzhi… I am not worthy…”

Old Master Qi wept bitterly, each cry wrenching at the heart.

Outside the hall, Song Yang and Jiang Cheng heard the sorrow from within and could not hide their astonishment.

Inside, Old Master Qi struggled to stand with the aid of his cane. With grief-clouded eyes, he looked at Xiao Rong. “Thank you, young friend, for telling me the truth. My old friend is gone. In the years left to me, I have no other wish. I shall take my leave.”

He turned to go, but Xiao Rong said, “Wait.”

Old Master Qi halted. “I know what you want, young friend, but I’m sorry. I am old and frail; already at the twilight of my life. I will not take part in court struggles, nor can I give you or His Highness what you desire.”

Xi Rong stood silently to the side, saying nothing.

Xiao Rong also said nothing. He merely turned, picked up the Winter Plum Painting from the desk and held it out toward Old Master Qi.

Old Master Qi raised his head, startled.

Xiao Rong said, “Since it lacks its inscription, you should take it.”

Old Master Qi was stunned. “I just told you I cannot offer you any help.”

Xiao Rong’s lips curled slightly. “You truly aren’t worthy of calling yourself Ouyang Mo’s confidant, nor do you measure up to his pure and upright heart. But Ouyang Mo was blind and he refused to let anyone but you write on this painting. To me, something incomplete is no better than scrap paper.”

Old Master Qi shuddered again. He studied the young man, then finally voiced his doubt. “How did you come to know him?”

Xiao Rong played with his folding fan. “He was just a washed-up old drunk, not like you, Old Master Qi, with disciples all over the world and endless praise wherever you go. Living under my master’s roof, of course he had to flatter me to secure a warm meal and good wine. He even said I had a good foundation and wanted to take me as his disciple. But too many people wish to be my teacher and he wasn’t high enough on the list.”

The young man’s words were sheer arrogance.

The phrase ‘washed-up old drunk’ echoed painfully in Old Master Qi’s mind. His heart felt pierced by needles. He pressed a fist to his chest, coughing violently, then finally took the Winter Plum Painting with trembling hands and bowed deeply. “Thank you for looking after Hengzhi. Since he taught you his techniques, he must have been very fond of you. You have done me a great kindness. This old man has nothing with which to repay it.”

Clutching the Winter Plum Painting like a treasure, Old Master Qi departed.

Only then did Xi Rong smile. “You gave away the Winter Plum Painting just like that?”

Xiao Rong closed his fan and shook his head. “I only felt a moment of pity seeing an old man cry like that. The old thing truly has a foul, stubborn temper. Ouyang Mo was quite the fool as well.”

Xi Rong said, “He is now the head of White Deer Academy, with countless disciples. I think he fears implicating innocent students, which is why he won’t be drawn into politics.”

Xiao Rong turned indignantly. “I’m insulting him, so why are you defending him?”

Xi Rong nodded obediently. “You’re right. That old man’s temper is indeed foul and stubborn.”

Xiao Rong burst into laughter. “I know it won’t be easy to change his stance. But from today onward, he must face that Winter Plum Painting every single day. I want to see how long his so-called Dao heart can hold.”

“A clever plan, young master,” Xi Rong said, lips gently curved. “Though your temper seems especially short today.”

Xiao Rong reflexively touched his own face, looking slightly guilty. “Does it?”

“A little. But I still like it.”

His whisper was soft and warm, making the tips of Xiao Rong’s ears itch.

Xiao Rong had just begun to smile when Zhou Wenhe approached with hurried steps, stopping outside the hall and reporting with a grave tone, “Your Highness, the Ministry of War has sent word that Prince Yan has already arrived at the Martial Arts Arena. Today’s martial contest will proceed as scheduled. I heard Prince Yan intends to display the Northern Yan Army’s famed Fish-Scale Formation. Many regional troops are already wavering.”

“Fish-scale Formation?”

Outside the hall, Song Yang’s expression changed. “They say the formation shifts endlessly, its killing power immense. The northern tribes fear it greatly. And it specifically counters the Silver Dragon Cavalry’s Long-Serpent Formation. Prince Yan intends to seize victory quickly.”

Inside, Xi Rong looked at Xiao Rong. “You’ve only just recovered. Stay and rest in the Eastern Palace.”

Xiao Rong shook his head. “I’m going.” Under Xi Rong’s gaze, he smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t act rashly. I want to see for myself how Yan Ju makes a fool of himself.”

***

A fine rain also shrouded Jade Dragon Terrace.

After reporting the news, Mo Qing looked at Prince Xiao standing silent in the rain.

“My lord, Prince Yan is using the Fish-Scale Formation clearly to target the Silver Dragon Cavalry. The cavalry may need to rally all its elite forces.”