Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 130 Part 1

“The Tiger-Lion Pendant!”

“It’s the Tiger-Lion Pendant!”

Someone uttered a low cry, shattering the deathly stillness that the rain had smothered.

Every soldier of the Northern Yan Army recognized this object.

The Tiger-Lion Pendant, carved from a rare piece of top-quality dark black jade from the northern lands and crafted from a single, flawless stone, was the ancestral token of the Northern Yan. It was also the personal pendant worn by each generation’s Prince Yan.

Within the Northern Yan Army, the authority of the Tiger-Lion Pendant was nearly equivalent to that of the princely command token.

“Why is the Tiger-Lion Pendant in your hand?” one of the Northern Yan generals asked in shock and suspicion.

Xiao Rong kept his bow drawn, unmoving. The rain rolling down the bowstring sparkled against the black jade pendant, their gleam intertwining. He said coldly, “Since you know what this is, you should put down your weapons and kneel.”

!!!

In the Northern Yan Army, seeing the Tiger-Lion Pendant was the same as seeing Prince Yan himself. Yet Prince Yan’s personal possession appearing in the hands of Prince Xiao’s only son; this was too bizarre, too unbelievable. It was impossible not to suspect a conspiracy.

The Northern Yan generals exchanged looks but none of them moved.

Xiao Rong’s gaze turned even colder. “If Yan Ju could see from the afterlife the pack of undisciplined, glory-hungry rabble he raised, he would surely be very pleased.”

The remark struck straight at the heart.

The generals’ faces went pale in varying shades.

After a moment, one of them spoke, “Boy, there’s no need to provoke us. Unless we get an explanation today, the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry will not back down! You think you can order us around just because you wave some token at us that you might have stolen or looted? What a joke!”

The one speaking was Meng Hui, one of the renowned Five Tiger Generals of Northern Yan.

His words clearly echoed the thoughts of most of the Northern Yan generals.

Mo Qing and Zhang He had been overjoyed when Xiao Rong appeared; one arrow and one pendant were enough to halt this near-berserk wolf-pack of an army. But upon hearing Meng Hui’s words, their hopes dropped again.

Xiao Rong’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. A thin, cold smile touched his lips. “Then we can test it, whether your blades are faster, or whether the explosives Zhang Qingfang buried are faster. Mo Dong.”

At his call, Mo Dong stepped forward, put away the black jade pendant, and raised a pine-oil torch.

The flames hissed as they burned against the falling rain, wavering in the wind.

Meng Hui demanded warily, “Boy, what are you trying to do?”

Xiao Rong replied, “Zhang Qingfang’s explosives only detonated half. The other half, unfortunately, lies right beneath your feet. If my guard lights the second fuse, you can join Prince Yan in the afterlife. I’m sure he’ll give you whatever explanation you want.”

The Northern Yan generals all visibly blanched.

Xiao Rong continued, “I’m not a patient person. I’ll count to three. If your weapons aren’t on the ground, then prepare to be blown to pieces and die proving your loyalty.

“One.”

The youth’s merciless voice cut through the rain.

At the same time, Mo Dong leapt off his horse and ran toward a half-collapsed slope behind them, torch held high.

“Two.”

The rain fell harder, the downpour intensifying.

The Northern Yan generals’ expressions shifted uncontrollably.

“Three—”

“Wait!!”

Two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Just as Meng Hui shouted, several riders burst out from the forested slope behind them. They wore Northern Yan uniforms as well, but were utterly bedraggled. Their horses and clothing were caked with mud, as if they had crawled through a mire.

“Gongsun!” Meng Hui cried in relief. “Where is the Prince? How is he?!”

Today, Gongsun Yu had accompanied Prince Yan on his outing. Seeing Gongsun Yu finally appear, Meng Hui immediately pressed him with questions.

The other generals likewise turned in unison to look at the group behind him, hope flickering in their eyes.

However, Gongsun Yu only shook his head in silence. The eighteen riders behind him also lowered their heads without a word.

The generals of Northern Yan froze.

Meng Hui could not believe it. “His Highness… could it be that he truly—” Before he could finish, the burly man’s eyes had already reddened.

Gongsun Yu urged his horse forward, passing by the others to stop before Xiao Rong. His expression was bleak. He clasped his hands in salute and said, “Young Prince, I beg you to show mercy. They were only acting rashly out of worry for Prince Yan. I have only one request: please allow us to leave a detachment here to join the Silver Dragon Cavalry in searching for His Highness.”

Xiao Rong’s eyes were cold as ice. He suddenly swung his bow around and aimed the arrowhead directly at Gongsun Yu. “You think that just because they may not have to accompany Yan Ju to the grave, you won’t have to either?”

Gongsun Yu was silent for a long time before he said, “Young Prince, please believe this much: our Prince Yan absolutely did not participate in the ambush against Prince Xiao.”

Xiao Rong let out a chilling laugh without answering.

A Silver Dragon Cavalry general roared, “Gongsun Yu! At this point, you still dare deny it? If Northern Yan didn’t take part in the ambush, why would Prince Yan and his eighteen riders appear here? Why would you be here?!”

Gongsun Yu’s throat tightened. Clearly, he could not refute that. He looked at Xiao Rong and said, “If taking my life will ease the hatred in Young Prince’s heart, then I submit myself to your judgment. I only beg you to spare the others. Northern Yan cannot fall into chaos right now.”

With that, Gongsun Yu removed the blade from his hand and closed his eyes.

For a moment, the air grew heavy again.

Everyone’s gaze settled on Gongsun Yun, the solitary figure sitting on his horse in the rain, utterly desolate, and the cold-faced Xiao Rong opposite him, bow drawn.

Xiao Rong kept his fingers on the bowstring for a long time, but in the end, he slowly lowered his bow. “Killing you would dirty my hands. I accept your condition but you may leave at most ten men.”

Gongsun Yu’s eyes flew open.

However, the eighteen riders who had come with him suddenly dismounted as one and knelt before Xiao Rong.

Gongsun Yu was startled and only then did he see that a black jade pendant had appeared in Xiao Rong’s hand.

The eighteen riders were Prince Yan’s personal guards and they had always obeyed only Prince Yan’s command.

A deep flash of shock passed through Gongsun Yu’s eyes. “The Tiger-Lion Pendant… how could that be in your hands?”

Xiao Rong ignored the question and only looked at the eighteen riders. “It seems there are still some in Northern Yan who understand military discipline. Let them stay.”

The eighteen riders bowed their heads to him in silence.

Xiao Rong swept his gaze toward the other side. “And you? Will you imitate those undisciplined fools and throw away your honor as well?”

The Silver Dragon Cavalry generals had already fallen silent the moment they saw the Jade Dragon Sword; they were thoroughly shaken. Now, seeing the cold sharpness in the young man’s eyes, a natural, commanding presence despite his youth, they too lowered their weapons in shame.

***

Deep in the forest beyond the mountain road, another large force was gathered in formation. Leading them were Cui Cheng and Cui Jiu.

“Well?” Cui Cheng asked immediately when the scout returned.

The soldier knelt. “General, the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry and the Silver Dragon Cavalry have stopped fighting.”

“They stopped?”

Cui Cheng and Cui Jiu were both caught off guard.

“Impossible!”

Cui Cheng’s brows drew together sharply. “They were fighting to the death just now, so how could they suddenly stop?”

Cui Cheng’s plan today had been simple. Lie in wait and once the Silver Dragon Cavalry and Northern Yan Iron Cavalry fought each other to exhaustion, the Imperial Guard would step in to ‘clean up,’ reaping all the benefits.

This way, the Imperial Guard could cripple portions of both elite armies with almost no loss. Otherwise, with the sheer number of fierce generals in their ranks, the Imperial Guard would not even be able to chew through them.

“I dare not lie, General. They truly stopped,” the soldier said, equally baffled.

Cui Cheng’s grip tightened on his reins.

Knowing his impatience, Cui Jiu quickly said, “Young Master Cheng, don’t worry. The Minister’s real plan comes afterward. Whether Northern Yan Iron Cavalry or the Silver Dragon Cavalry, both armies will sooner or later fall into his hands. Since the situation changed, we should return and report to the Clan Head.”

With things as they were, Cui Cheng could only nod reluctantly.

***

Jade Dragon Terrace.

Rain drizzled down, washing over the sprawling pavilions and the two proud winter plum trees standing atop the grand platform.

The council hall was silent. Xiao Hao stood in the center, his expression grim. Seated on either side of him were important representatives of the Xiao clan.

The room was dim. The candles had been lit early and their flickering light cast shifting shadows across the faces of those present.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xiao Hao finally frowned and spoke, looking at one particular person. “Third Brother, Jingming’s fate is still uncertain. For you to bring up the matter of establishing a new heir right now, isn’t it far too early?”

This was the first time today that Xiao Jingcheng was seated in the chief seat on the left. Hearing this, he raised his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eyes and sighed.

“Such a sudden calamity, how could I, as his elder brother, feel any ease in my heart? But, Uncle, as the saying goes: a country cannot go a single day without a ruler, a family cannot go a single day without a head. The Cui clan has always regarded our Xiao clan as a thorn in their side. Cui Daohuan, in particular, cannot wait to restore the Cui clan to the foremost position among the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses. In such extraordinary times, if the Xiao clan does not even have someone to take the helm, chaos will be inevitable. My proposing this matter is for the sake of the Xiao clan and for the greater good.”

“Third Master speaks truly,” the long-faced man sitting next to Xiao Jingcheng added.

“Elder, the Xiao clan is a great clan, not an ordinary household. Without someone in charge, it really would be improper. Although His Highness Prince Xiao did not expressly name who should be the new heir of the clan, everyone knows full well that among the younger generation, the one he valued most was Yulin. In my opinion, these are exceptional times, so there is no need to pick an auspicious date. Why not choose a lucky hour today, take Yulin to the ancestral temple, offer incense before the ancestors, and settle the matter?”

At these words, some stroked their beards in silence, some exchanged glances, and others secretly observed everyone’s reaction, including Xiao Hao’s.

Naturally, some voiced agreement.

Those who supported the proposal were mostly like Xiao Jingcheng, men who held idle posts at court, normally cowed by Prince Xiao’s authority, seldom daring to speak during clan deliberations, and who had little presence in clan affairs.

“Settle it?”

Xiao Hao suddenly looked sharply at those speakers. “You speak so lightly. Let me remind you of something: Prince Xiao did not name a new clan heir, true, but he also never abolished Rongrong’s position as heir. If you want to establish a new heir, you must first enter the palace and obtain an imperial decree abolishing the current heir.”

Seeing Xiao Hao angered, those who had echoed the idea no longer dared make a sound. Only Xiao Jingcheng muttered under his breath, “That isn’t much trouble. It’s just about His Majesty giving approval and the Ministry of Rites completing the formalities.”