Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 16

“…My birth characters?”

Gu Rong had just woken up when he was dragged onto the stone bed by Xi Rong for an ‘interrogation.’ Rubbing his eyes guiltily, Gu Rong asked, “Brother, why do you ask that?”

Xi Rong stood in front of the stone bed with his hands calmly clasped behind his back, staring at the youth. “I know a bit about fortune-telling. Let me see whether this marriage between you and the Mayor’s son is truly an auspicious one.”

“……”

Gu Rong coughed twice. “No need to trouble you with such a trivial matter.”

Xi Rong smiled slightly. “How can it be a trivial matter? Haven’t you heard? If the birth characters aren’t compatible, not only will married life be full of disharmony, but the couple may even bring calamity to each other. How could that be trivial?

“We met by chance, and that’s already fate. As your ‘brother,’ how could I stand by and watch you fall into danger?”

“……”

The other party was already dead, what need was there to match birth characters?

But Gu Rong didn’t dare tell Xi Rong the truth. He could only steel himself and bluff, “My birth characters are very strong. No one can bring me down. You can rest easy, brother!”

“I’m not at ease. I’m afraid you’ll bring death upon the other party. Would the Mayor let you off then?”

“………………”

Gu Rong had no choice but to obediently recite his birth characters.

Xi Rong nodded and committed them to memory. He asked leisurely, “What about the Mayor’s son’s? Surely the matchmaker told you that too?”

Of course not. But he did know the date of death. So Gu Rong simply made one up.

“Alright, let me calculate for you two.” Xi Rong stood in front of the bed, moving his fingers as he paced around twice, then sighed with regret. “This is truly ominous. Young master, the result shows that on your wedding day, a bloody calamity awaits and you might kill the Mayor’s son.”

“………………”

Gu Rong looked up in surprise. “Brother, you really know how to divine?”

Xi Rong narrowed his eyes. “Oh? So you do know your birth characters don’t match?”

“Ahem.”

At this point, there really was no way to keep hiding it. Gu Rong could only confess honestly.

“A ghost marriage?” Xi Rong’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Young man, you’re something else. Just for money, you’re willing to marry the dead. How much did the Liu family give you as a betrothal gift? I’ll give you the same amount in silver to break off the engagement.”

“That won’t do,” Gu Rong rejected him flatly. “First, I already gave them my word, how could I go back on it? Second, you and I are neither kin nor close, how could I take your money for free? I don’t have the means to repay you. I don’t steal or rob; I earn my silver fair and square.”

“‘Neither kin nor close,’ huh?” Xi Rong repeated the phrase slowly. “So, you’re determined to marry?”

“Of course. I know you’re a man of letters and morals, and you probably find it disgraceful. But this is how I make a living. I never planned to tell you in the first place.”

Xi Rong didn’t speak for a long moment.

Just as Gu Rong thought he was about to be lectured again, Xi Rong nodded and said, “I understand. I respect that. When’s the wedding?”

“In two days, right at the most auspicious hour.”

“Alright. I’ll escort you to your wedding.”

Gu Rong: “…”

After dinner, Jiang Cheng left and Gu Rong took the medicine and bandages into the stone cave to change Xi Rong’s dressing.

Gu Rong was usually carefree, but even he noticed that Xi Rong had been especially quiet today. Worried that something might be wrong with his health, Gu Rong looked up, only to find the properly seated young man looking down at him, his gaze deep and fixed.

He quickly asked, “Did I hurt you just now, brother?”

Xi Rong shook his head. “I was just thinking; since you’re about to get married, this is probably the last time you’ll change my bandages. I ought to cherish it.”

Gu Rong: “…”

Gu Rong knew he wasn’t exactly doing something upright, but a money-making opportunity this good… hesitating even a little would be disrespectful to the darling cash. Besides, he knew his own worth well enough.

He smiled cheerfully and said, “Actually, I’m only half-decent at this. My skills are far below a real doctor’s. That Jiang fellow’s technique when treating wounds the other day looked much more professional. Don’t worry, I’ve already passed all the bandaging know-how to him. He’ll definitely do a better job than me.

“When I return, if you’ve fully recovered, I’ll treat you to a good drink. Of course, if you’re in a hurry to leave before that, I’ll still remember the promise. I won’t go back on it.”

Gu Rong felt he’d spoken very appropriately and thoroughly. But after he finished, he noticed the man across from him showed little reaction. If anything, his eyes seemed even darker.

“Alright. I’ll remember that. Get some rest,” Xi Rong finally said.

Gu Rong nodded, packed away the medicine and bandages, stripped down to his underrobe and outer robe as usual, and climbed into bed early. After their shared bed experience the night before had gone smoothly, Gu Rong no longer had any reservations. He yawned and soon fell asleep.

Xi Rong lifted the blanket and glanced habitually inward. This time, that silky black hair like ink obediently lay along the young man’s waist, not sprawled all over the bed.

With that, there was no need for him to tidy his hair again.

Xi Rong looked away, pulled the blanket over himself, and sat against the bedhead, reading a scroll.

He had barely read a few lines when he suddenly heard a soft rustling from below. Glancing sideways, he saw the tabby cat, nowhere to be seen the entire night before, had appeared in the cave without warning. It was pacing along the edge of the bed, watching Xi Rong closely, and in a flash, it leaped up and nimbly landed at the foot of the bed like it owned the place.

Clearly, the cat was used to sleeping with its master every night. And it seemed to hold considerable hostility toward the intruder who had taken its spot.

Xi Rong narrowed his eyes slightly but hadn’t yet reacted when Gu Rong, who had been sound asleep, suddenly sat up.

“A’Li, come here.” The boy, eyes still sleepy, scooped the tabby cat smoothly into his arms and lay back down facing inward.

The tabby cat peeked out from Gu Rong’s elbow, its cat eyes triumphant as it stared down Xi Rong.

Xi Rong and the cat locked eyes for a moment. Then he set down his scroll, extinguished the oil lamp, and lay down too.

***

Two days later, as promised, the matchmaker arrived right on time with a team carrying a bridal sedan.

Gu Rong was already dressed in a bright red wedding robe. His long black hair, unbound, spilled over the wedding garment. He sat before a basin of clear water, diligently applying makeup to his face. The tabby cat lay lazily by his feet, utterly used to the scene, occasionally swiping at the edge of the red robe with its paw for fun.

Jiang Cheng stood nearby, face full of mixed emotions.

Watching the young man’s face, so heavily powdered it was deathly white and nearly unrecognizable, he thought, ‘Well, the technique… does suit the theme of a ghost marriage.’

He kept a polite smile and said, “I’m quite curious, just how much betrothal money did the Liu family give for the young master to go to such lengths?”

The youth’s beautiful eyes curved gently in a smile. “A flat three hundred taels. But I have to give half to the matchmaker, so I only get one hundred and fifty.”

“Oh, that’s not a small sum.”

“Naturally. Don’t worry, brother. After I finish crying at the grave, I’ll treat you to some fine wine.”

“……”

Jiang Cheng’s face was blank as he thought, ‘No need, really.’

At that moment, Xi Rong came out from within. Dressed in black robes, perhaps just after completing his meditation, his expression looked even more stern than usual.

Gu Rong turned and asked, “Did we disturb your healing, brother? I’ll ask them to keep it quieter.”

Xi Rong said nothing. He walked over, picked up a small box of red rouge from the table without hesitation, dabbed a bit with his fingertip, and said, “The makeup’s a bit too light. Let me touch it up for you.”

Before Gu Rong could say anything, that red-stained fingertip was already gently stroking along one of his cheeks, slowly applying the rouge.

Jiang Cheng, eyes wide, silently backed away.

After smoothing out both sides, Xi Rong said, “That’s good.”

Gu Rong looked into the water basin and asked, “Is it too red?”

“This way it looks festive.”

“Fair enough. Brother, you really attentive in everything.”

“……”

Jiang Cheng looked at the young man’s face, already nearly as red as a monkey’s butt, and silently lowered his head.

“Young Master Gu, the auspicious hour is nearly here. Are you ready?” the matchmaker called from outside.

“Ready, ready.”

Gu Rong grabbed the bridal veil beside him and stood up. He said to Xi Rong, “Brother, I have to go now. For the next two days, I’ll trouble that other gentleman to change your dressings. As for the things here, everything is yours to use as you please, except for the herbs in the courtyard, those mustn’t be touched. If you need to leave, just lock the door for me.”

Since it was only a ghost marriage, the Liu family had sent a rather plain wedding robe, and it didn’t fit very well. But even so, Xi Rong still saw a kind of striking brightness in him.

He remained silent, his eyes dark and deep, lost in thought. After a while, he said, “I’ll walk you out.”

Matchmaker Zhao had been waiting outside for quite some time. When the door finally opened, she was overjoyed. But the moment she saw the young master’s brightly painted face, she was startled. “Young master, why have you painted your face like this?!” Then, seeing Xi Rong coming out together with Gu Rong, she was startled a second time. “And this gentleman is…?”

“I’m his elder brother. I’m here to escort him to his wedding,” Xi Rong replied.

Gu Rong turned his head and only then realized Xi Rong was now wearing a wooden mask.

Matchmaker Zhao gaped, eyeing Xi Rong from head to toe. Although his face was hidden, just his imposing height and sharply defined jawline were enough to make her eyes light up. “Oh my! To think the young master has such a dignified and commanding elder brother! This gentleman, may I ask your age? Are you married?”

Xi Rong walked past her without a word.

Matchmaker Zhao: “…”

She lowered her voice. “Young master, your brother seems to have quite the temper.”

Gu Rong nodded in full agreement. “Not just bad, he’s downright impossible. He especially hates it when people try to arrange matches for him. You’d best not provoke him.”

Matchmaker Zhao’s face was full of regret. “Understood, understood. Now then, young master, shall we get you into the sedan? We don’t want to miss the auspicious time.”

The bridal sedan was parked right at the courtyard gate.

A few of the Liu family’s servants were playing suona and drums with great ceremony.

Xi Rong was already standing before the sedan. When he saw Gu Rong approaching, he turned his gaze away and lifted the curtain for him to get in. Then, to the stunned looks of Matchmaker Zhao and the Liu family’s servants, he himself stepped in as well.

“Wait—gentleman—!” Matchmaker Zhao was startled for the third time that day. She hurried to the sedan. “Sir, what do you mean by this?”

Xi Rong’s expression was calm and cool. “As I recall, according to wedding tradition, an elder brother escorting the bride is supposed to accompany her the whole way to the groom’s house. What? Did I remember wrong?”

Matchmaker Zhao was momentarily stunned. “Well… um… technically, no.”

However, this wasn’t a normal marriage, it was a ghost wedding.

Most people considered such things inauspicious and avoided them at all costs. This was the first time she’d ever seen a family member not only not avoiding it but going out of their way to join the procession.

“B-brother, you’re not serious, are you?” Gu Rong was also surprised and lifted the veil.

Xi Rong turned his head. “I am. I told you, I’d escort you to your wedding today.”

“Uh…” Gu Rong scratched his head awkwardly.

He’d thought it was just the kind of casual send-off at the gate. Who would’ve thought it’d be like this?

He was about to try persuading him otherwise when Xi Rong reached out and gently lowered the veil back over his head. Then, lifting his eyes to the matchmaker, he asked, “Liu family’s sedan surely can fit two people?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but those eyes, cold as winter frost, carried a pressure no one dared challenge.

Besides, he wasn’t wrong.

Although the wedding robe sent by the Liu family had been perfunctory, the bridal sedan was a real one from the Liu residence itself, far better than any rental sedan from a carriage shop could provide.

Matchmaker Zhao, ever the smooth talker, quickly laughed and said, “What a thing to say, sir. That sedan could fit three people, let alone two. It’s an honor to have you personally escort the bride, truly a fine occasion!”

Still, even if it was to escort the bride, having two ‘brothers’ sit in the same bridal sedan just felt odd.

The Liu family’s servants had never seen anything like it either. But their job was just to carry the sedan to its destination; they didn’t concern themselves with the rest. Seeing that Matchmaker Zhao had no objections, they resumed the ceremonial music and din.

The author has something to say:

Xi the Dog: Successfully joined the play.
Thank you all, enjoy reading!