Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 128

Xi Rong had actually concealed many key details. The real situation was far more brutal than what he described.

According to the Eastern Palace’s shadow guards, Zhang Qingfang had not only set up an ambush along Prince Xiao’s route, but he had also planted a large amount of explosives. The moment Prince Xiao entered the ambush zone, the road and the mountainsides on both sides erupted in explosions.

Under the pounding rain, the blasted mountainside collapsed outright, triggering a massive mudslide. Because Prince Xiao had stopped halfway and instructed his personal guards to stay on the outer perimeter, all of the guards accompanying him were kept entirely outside the flow of mud.

By the time those guards forced their way through, the shattered mountain path had already been completely buried under the collapsed mountainside.

They searched and dug through the site for a long time and found only Prince Xiao’s mount, blown apart, grievously wounded, and barely clinging to life.

Just ahead lay a sheer cliff.

Under such circumstances, there were only two possibilities. Either Prince Xiao had fallen into the ravine, or he had been completely buried beneath the mountain.

Either way, there was almost no chance of survival.

For the first time, Xiao Rong could no longer hear the terrifying thunder rolling through the sky. He stood rooted to the spot in a daze.

“How deep is that cliff?”

After a long while, Xiao Rong asked softly.

Xi Rong shook his head. “I don’t know the specifics yet. I’ve already requested permission from the Emperor to personally take men out to the outskirts of the capital to investigate. I’ll have Jiang Cheng stay behind with you. Wait for my news with peace of mind.”

Xiao Rong shook his head. “That’s unnecessary. Take him with you. I’ll be fine.”

He should indeed be fine.

He had already left the Xiao clan and severed all father-and-son ties with Prince Xiao.

All these years, in the corner of his heart he refused to examine, he had even harbored resentment toward Prince Xiao.

He—

Xiao Rong’s thoughts were finally broken by a crack of thunder.

He looked back at Xi Rong again, his dark eyes calm. He even gave Xi Rong a small smile. “Don’t worry. I truly am fine. Your Highness, go without worry. Protect yourself at all costs. Do not take any risks. And be careful of the Cui clan.”

After sending Xiao Rong back inside to rest, Xi Rong stepped out and paused, looking toward Mo Dong, who stood outside, shaken and struggling to maintain composure.

“Do not leave your master’s side. Not for a single step. If anything happens, use this to contact the Eastern Palace’s shadow guards stationed outside. They will assist you with their full strength.”

Xi Rong handed Mo Dong a small black bamboo tube capable of launching a signal flare.

Under ordinary circumstances, Mo Dong would never have accepted something from Xi Rong so lightly. But now, he said nothing. He simply extended his hands and solemnly took it.

Xi Rong turned back for one last glance into the room. Only after allowing his gaze to linger for a moment did he finally turn and leave.

As soon as Xi Rong stepped out of the courtyard, a sharp sound came from within the room.

Mo Dong hurriedly tucked the bamboo tube away and entered the room.

It was dim inside. Although the windows and doors were open, very little light made its way in. Xiao Rong sat motionless on the floor mat, lips tightly pressed together. Not far from him, on the carpeted ground, lay a piece of black jade pendant; its surface cracked but still faintly lustrous. If not for the soft carpet, the jade, when thrown with such force, would have shattered into pieces.

Mo Dong walked over, bent down, and picked it up. When he saw the character ‘Yan’ carved into the jade pendant, he couldn’t help but tense in surprise.

Xiao Rong showed no reaction to Mo Dong’s movements.

Mo Dong did not know why a jade pendant so clearly tied to Prince Yan would be in the heir’s possession and he did not dare ask. He simply hid the pendant away quietly to keep Xiao Rong from seeing it again.

Master and servant remained one seated, one standing; neither speaking a word.

Only when the thunder outside grew sharper and closer did Xiao Rong finally rise. He walked to the window, letting the cold wind pour into his wide sleeves, staring blankly at the roiling black clouds on the horizon.

The rain fell in torrents, washing over the collapsed mountains and ruined paths on the capital’s outskirts.

Silver-armored riders cut through the storm, their figures flickering in and out of the dim mountains and forests.

Mo Qing emerged once more from a steep gully, bloodshot eyes burning with exhaustion. His usually immaculate armor was caked in mud. Because of the severe landslide, his mount had sunk almost an entire foreleg into mud and debris and near the hilltop, it refused to take another step.

This mount, named Snowmane, had been a gift from Prince Xiao. It was a rare breed horse of the capital and Mo Qing treasured it deeply, always grooming and feeding it himself and rarely entrusting it to anyone else. But now, faced with Snowmane’s resistance, Mo Qing lost his usual composure. He drew his whip and, ignoring the horse’s exhaustion and struggle, lashed it hard across the flank, forcing it to cross the massive boulder blocking the path as it cried out.

The officers of all ranks tasked with the search returned one after another.

They stood in silence, rain pounding against their armor, their eyes all reddened, unable to speak.

The Silver Dragon Cavalry had been personally founded by Prince Xiao. Most of the officers serving in it had been personally selected and promoted by him. In their eyes, Prince Xiao was nothing less than a god. This disaster had struck so suddenly that none of them could accept it.

“General… what should we do now?” a young officer choked out the question.

Mo Qing did not answer.

Another senior officer burst out angrily, “Isn’t it obvious? We ride straight to the Northern Yan command post and avenge the Prince!”

“Exactly! Prince Yan is a heartless beast. To think he colluded with Zhang Qingfang, that traitorous rabble, to murder the Prince—! Those people in Northern Yan must all be killed so they can pay in blood for this debt!”

“That’s right! Blood for blood! If we cannot avenge this hatred, how can we face the Prince’s grace in recognizing our worth?”

In an instant, cries for vengeance tore through the curtain of rain and echoed across the mountains.

Mo Qing finally swept his gaze over the crowd, his expression hard. “This is the capital region, the imperial heartland. Acting without authorization is no different from treason! The truth has not yet been confirmed. Whoever disobeys military orders and acts on his own will be punished under military law!”

Yet even Mo Qing himself understood how pale and powerless his reprimand sounded under such circumstances.

If the Prince truly suffered an accident, then within the Silver Dragon Cavalry, within the Xiao clan, and even throughout the entire capital, the situation would spiral into unpredictable chaos.

“General!”

Just then, another set of rapid hoofbeats rushed down the mountain path.

A soldier tumbled off his horse, gasping for breath, his arm wounded. He reported to Mo Qing, “Rebels have launched a surprise attack on the Shoushan Camp! The situation is critical!”

All the assembled generals’ faces changed instantly.

Shoushan Camp was the first defensive line guarding the imperial capital. If Shoushan fell, the Silver Dragon Cavalry would have no choice but to retreat to the inner perimeter.

Since the founding of the Silver Dragon Cavalry, the capital’s defenses had always been impenetrable. If Shoushan were lost, it would deal a devastating blow both to the capital and to the Silver Dragon Cavalry.

Mo Qing pulled himself from the tangle of thoughts, put on his helmet, mounted his horse, and commanded, “Generals of the Third and Fifth Battalions, return with me immediately to reinforce Shoushan. The rest are to remain here and continue the search.”

The generals answered in unison.

***

Laughter echoed endlessly within the Cui residence.

“Heaven favors me! Truly, heaven favors me!”

Minister Cui Daohuan stood under the eaves, his face glowing with delight as he stroked his beard. “I only meant to use Yan Ju and Zhang Qingfang to eliminate Xiao Jingming first, then deal with Yan Ju afterward. Who would’ve thought Yan Ju would die in the capital outskirts as well?! This rainstorm has cleared away two of my greatest obstacles. Wonderful, wonderful!”

Cui Jiu stood respectfully to the side.

He laughed. “This is all thanks to Master’s flawless planning. Zhang Qingfang has already redirected his troops to attack Shoushan. The Silver Dragon Cavalry is in disarray and leaderless. If Shoushan falls, that will be an unforgivable crime. Then the Master can naturally take over the Silver Dragon Cavalry.

“Besides, with Prince Xiao dead, the Xiao clan will fall into chaos. Without the Xiao clan, how could the Prince of Jin possibly contend with the Prince of Wei?”

“Exactly.” Cui Daohuan exhaled in absolute satisfaction. “Xiao Jingming, no matter how powerful you were and how high a storm you stirred up, could you outmaneuver heaven itself? After all these years, I can finally wash away my humiliation and my Cui clan will no longer be suppressed by your Xiao clan.

“Prepare my court robes. I am entering the palace at once to meet the Emperor.” With a sweep of his sleeves, Cui Daohuan issued the order.

***

Xiao Jingcheng paced anxiously around the room, unable to sit still, glancing outside again and again.

Thunder rumbled across the sky and across his chest.

Hearing footsteps outside, Xiao Jingcheng hurriedly lifted the curtain. Seeing the steward running through the rain, he asked urgently, “Well? Did you get the details?”

The steward wiped rain from his face and nodded, pale. “We asked clearly. The news is confirmed. Prince Xiao was ambushed on his way to deal with the rebels and is now missing. The Silver Dragon Cavalry is still searching, but most likely, there is little hope. The news has already spread throughout the capital. I heard even His Majesty has sent the Crown Prince to the outskirts to assist in the search.”

Xiao Jingcheng froze on the spot. “H–How could this happen?” He stared blankly, muttering to himself.

“Master, this is no time to lose your wits,” the steward reminded.

Xiao Jingcheng finally snapped out of it, his heart pounding wildly. “This is a disaster. A true disaster,” he murmured to himself twice.

Then a servant entered to report, “Master, Matriarch Wang is here. She says there is an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

“Invite her in!”

“Yes!”

Matriarch Wang clearly came in haste. She had not even brought her dragon-headed cane, which never left her side.

Xiao Jingcheng said, “Matriarch Wang, you must have come because you heard the news.”

Matriarch Wang nodded gravely. “Exactly so. I truly never expected such a turn of events.”

“Yes. My fourth brother was so formidable, so how could he possibly fall to Zhang Qingfang and that demon Prince Yan?” Xiao Jingcheng still felt as though all of this were unreal.

Matriarch Wang took a sip of tea and asked, “I wonder, Third Master Xiao, what are your plans for what comes next?”

Still trapped in shock, Xiao Jingcheng blinked in confusion. “What comes next?”

“Exactly.” Matriarch Wang’s aged face carried a severity he had never seen before. “If Prince Xiao has truly met with misfortune, then upheaval is very likely within the Xiao clan. The most important thing now is to quickly establish a new head of the clan and stabilize the situation.”

Xiao Jingcheng finally snapped fully awake. “Matriarch Wang is right, but… as for this new head…”

She immediately said, “Third Master, how can you be confused at a time like this? With Prince Xiao gone, naturally, the heir should take charge. The clan has not yet formally named a new heir, but the candidate is known to all, is he not?

“In terms of seniority within the Xiao clan, you hold the greatest authority aside from Prince Xiao, Third Master. You should gather the clan elders at once and formally recommend Young Master Yulin as the new heir to preside over the clan.”

Of course, Xiao Jingcheng had already reached the same conclusion. But this thing he had pursued in vain for so many years, now suddenly falling from the sky like a meat pie, felt unreal and dreamlike.

“Of course.”

Xiao Jingcheng exhaled slowly.

“I will go see my clan elders immediately. With my fourth brother gone, our Third Branch is the only remaining direct line. By birth and by rank, the household should fall to us, and Yulin is the new heir of the Xiao clan besides.”

Saying this, Xiao Jingcheng looked toward Matriarch Wang with barely concealed eagerness. “Today, I must thank Matriarch Wang for the reminder!”

Upon hearing of Prince Xiao’s misfortune, Matriarch Wang had been deeply anxious. Now, seeing Third Master Xiao so receptive, she knew she had gambled correctly. She replied humbly, “There is no need for thanks. I only ask that Third Master continue to support our Wang clan in the future.”

Xiao Jingcheng waved his hand. “You’re too polite. Matriarch Wang, rest assured that our Xiao clan and your Wang clan are one family from this day forward!”

***

Dusk approached. Rain continued to fall in steady sheets, showing no sign of stopping.

Mo Dong silently entered the room and lit the lamp on the desk.

By the window, Xiao Rong had sat the entire day silently. The lamplight outlined the youth’s thin but upright figure.

Mo Dong glanced at the untouched food that had long gone cold, then quietly collected it onto a tray.

Just then, urgent knocking sounded outside.

Mo Dong guessed it must be someone sent back by Xi Rong with news. Not daring to delay, he quickly went out into the courtyard to open the gate. But when he opened the door and saw who stood outside in the pouring rain, he froze.

“Master?”

Mo Qing was panting heavily, his armor soaked in blood. Clearly, he was badly injured.

He did not answer Mo Dong and instead walked straight into the courtyard. But when he reached the corridor, Mo Qing stopped. He did not step further inside. Facing the door of the room, he dropped heavily to his knees and bowed deeply.

His voice was hoarse as he said, “Your humble general, Mo Qing, respectfully invites the Young Prince to return and take command to save the Xiao clan from disaster.”