Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 20 Part 2

Songzhou was known for its silk production. A large portion of the tribute satin sent to the imperial court came from there. In the Songzhou Prefecture, the most common sights on the streets were tailor shops of all sizes.

Because they had shopping planned, the three didn’t linger long at the tavern. But Gu Rong, fond of wine and rare to be down from the mountains with unusually full pockets, still asked the owner to pack up two small jars to take away.

Xi Rong carried the wine and inquired about the location of a few reputable shops before directly taking Gu Rong to find one. Jiang Cheng didn’t dare ask questions and simply followed quietly behind.

At the corner of the main street, they indeed found a fairly large ready-made clothing shop.

As the three entered together, the shopkeeper immediately welcomed them with enthusiasm. “Are you here for ready-made garments or custom orders, honored guests?”

Gu Rong, slightly tipsy after the wine, swaggered in, unfastened his money pouch, and dropped it on the counter with flair. “Pick a few sets of the most fashionable spring wear for my brother here. Anything will do, just make sure it’s elegant and dignified.”

Xi Rong walked over and tilted his head. “Isn’t this the silver you just earned today? You’re going to spend it all on clothes for me?”

“Of course.” Gu Rong’s dark eyes curved with a smile. “You’ve put up with my nonsense for so long. It’s rare for me to feel wealth, so today you can pick whatever you like, and I’ll pay.”

“Brother over there, do you need any clothes?” Gu Rong asked Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng, seeing this young master clearly descending into drunken antics again, didn’t dare respond.

“No problem at all. This gentleman is striking in appearance, there are two styles that arrived just yesterday that would suit him perfectly,” the shopkeeper replied with a smile. He pointed at a dark robe embroidered with Buddha’s-hand motifs and trimmed in gold and was about to have a clerk bring it over for Xi Rong.

“The color’s too dark. Bring out something more elegant,” Xi Rong said flatly. “As for the size, go by what I tell you.” He directly recited the measurements.

The shopkeeper smiled and jotted it down, then sent the assistant to find the clothes accordingly.

Jiang Cheng froze.

The measurements His Highness gave clearly weren’t his own, especially height and waist size. Especially the waist! Although His Highness trained year-round and had a lean, strong build, not a beer belly like the Prince of Wei, there was no way his waist was that slim.

Could it be…

Jiang Cheng looked at the young master draped over the counter in a light drunken daze.

So all this time, His Highness had lowered himself to stroll through street shops just to buy clothes for a little swindler?

However, His Highness was always busy with state affairs, so how did he even know the swindler’s clothing size?

The shopkeeper soon returned with several sets of silk robes in elegant shades of pale green and soft white.

“All freshly tailored spring robes made with Songzhou’s unique ‘bright silk,’ and renowned for its superior quality. Would the gentleman like to take a look?”

“Do you like them?” Xi Rong asked Gu Rong, a gentleness in his eyes Jiang Cheng had never seen before.

Gu Rong replied, “You’re the one buying, brother. It’s not my place to say.”

Xi Rong’s lips curved slightly. “But I want to hear your opinion.”

“All right, I’ll take a look for you.”

Gu Rong carefully inspected each set. “I think they’re all very nice, but… that one’s better.” He pointed at the dark robe with the gold trim.

“Then we’ll take them all,” Xi Rong said to the shopkeeper this time.

The shopkeeper quickly caught on to what was going on, grinning as he replied, “This young gentleman has refined features and a graceful figure, perfect for bright silk spring robes.”

“I agree completely. Do you have shoes?” Xi Rong continued.

“Are they for yourself, or—”

“For my younger brother.” Xi Rong reported the measurements and said, “Pick something that matches the color of the clothes.”

“Yes, please wait a moment, sir!” The shopkeeper immediately knew he’d encountered a generous customer and personally led his assistant to the back to select styles. He returned with five pairs of shoes.

Xi Rong chose two and had the assistant wrap them up.

The shopkeeper politely asked, “Would you like this young gentleman to try them on?”

Shoes, after all, were unlike other garments.

Xi Rong replied flatly, “No need.”

As he spoke, he took another pouch of silver from his robes and handed it to the shopkeeper, retrieving Gu Rong’s pouch in return.

By the time they left the clothing shop, it was already evening. The setting sun painted the sky with a fiery blaze.

Although Gu Rong was a bit tipsy, it didn’t affect his walking. He could still chat and joke with Xi Rong as usual. Xi Rong walked quietly beside him, hands behind his back, occasionally responding with a word or two.

Jiang Cheng followed behind, arms full of clothes and shoes, his mood complicated.

If he didn’t already know the background of the young master and wasn’t aware of His Highness’s intent to draw him in, he might really think His Highness had fallen under some fox spirit’s spell.

Just as they exited the city gates and hadn’t walked far, a cloud of dust rose ahead. A troop of soldiers rode toward them with great momentum, frightening the bystanders into scattering to the sides.

“By order of the magistrate; bandits have caused unrest. The city gates are to be closed immediately. We are to apprehend the bandits who plundered Quyang County on the seventh day of last month!”

At the city gate, several soldiers reined in their horses, dismounted, and pasted a white paper notice on the wall. Beside it was a portrait.

On the seventh day of the previous month, Quyang County had suffered a vicious bandit raid. Several aristocratic families had their homes broken into at night, with large amounts of gold, silver, and jewels stolen. One family head had even been beheaded, his head displayed at his gates. After a month of fruitless pursuit, the authorities now claimed they had captured a lone bandit the day before. Under torture, the bandit had revealed the name of the leader and even helped the officials draw his likeness. The notice further stated that Liu Xin, the town mayor, in an act of public service, was offering a bounty of one hundred taels of gold to anyone who could report the whereabouts of the bandit leader.

Jiang Cheng stood at the edge of the crowd, staring at the portrait on the wall, feeling a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to his spine.

Because the so-called portrait of the bandit leader, although some details differed, was nearly identical to His Highness in facial features and outline.

The Cui clan and their followers had truly grown arrogant and ruthless, using such underhanded tricks to blatantly orchestrate His Highness’s death!

“Eh, that portrait—” Gu Rong was also curious and moved to take a look.

But Xi Rong immediately reached out and caught him by the waist, stopping him. “It’s time to go back.”

The three of them made their way back up the mountain. The moon hung high in the sky and most of the wine had worn off Gu Rong.

When they arrived at the courtyard gate, Gu Rong was a little surprised. Outside his once inconspicuous little yard, quite a few figures were standing, two of them appeared to be scholars.

“Huh? And you all are?” Gu Rong tilted his head and asked.

“Master.”

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe had already led their people to bow respectfully to Xi Rong, looking rather disheveled.

Xi Rong removed his mask, turned to Gu Rong and explained, “They’re my subordinates, here to find me.”

“I see! Brother, you truly do have a grand household.” Gu Rong instantly broke into a cheerful smile. He cupped his hands to the group and said, “So you’re all friends from afar. What a pleasure, what a pleasure.”

Song Yang, observing the graceful young man before him, quickly returned the bow. “I suppose this young gentleman is the one who saved our master?”

Gu Rong replied, “It was just a coincidence. I wouldn’t dare claim to be a benefactor.”

“Everyone, why don’t we go inside to talk? My courtyard’s small, but there’s more than enough tea,” he added.

Song Yang looked toward Xi Rong for confirmation.

Xi Rong nodded.

Song Yang, fearing they might startle the young master, didn’t bring everyone in. Only he and Zhou Wenhe entered the yard, while the guards stayed outside.

“We’ve truly imposed on you,” Song Yang said, glancing around the small mountain courtyard with a mix of apology and respect.

Gu Rong crossed his arms and led them inside. “Not at all. I live alone, and I’m not fussy. Make yourselves at home.”

Once inside, Gu Rong moved to prepare tea, but Xi Rong stopped him. “I’ll do it.”

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe quickly rose to help, but Xi Rong stopped them as well.

The two could only sit back down on the straw mat, uneasy and respectful.

Song Yang tidied his disheveled robe and said to Gu Rong across from him, “We were in a hurry to travel at night. Please forgive our unkempt appearance.”

Gu Rong smiled and nodded. “Mountain roads are hard to travel at night, it’s perfectly normal.”

Song Yang had originally been worried that Gu Rong might probe further into why they looked so disheveled, but after saying that, the youth didn’t ask another word.

When Xi Rong returned with the tea, Gu Rong stood up of his own accord. “Brother, you all talk. I’ll step outside and check on the herbs.”

The young master truly had a rare sense of tact.

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe secretly let out a breath of relief.

Their discussion was indeed not fit for outsiders to hear, but since they were in the young man’s home, they couldn’t just ask him to leave.

However, Xi Rong said, “We’ll talk in the courtyard. You rest and have something to eat first.” He poured a bowl of hot tea for Gu Rong, then picked up the teapot and cups and stepped outside first.

The other three immediately stood up and followed.

Gu Rong guessed the group likely had important matters to discuss. He sat back down on the straw mat, nibbled on a few pastries they’d brought back earlier with the hot tea, and then went into the stone cave. An oil lamp was already lit inside; Xi Rong must have done it while boiling tea. The bed had also been remade.

But what truly made Gu Rong pause was what lay atop the stone bed.

There were several brand-new spring robes and two pairs of new shoes. Forget the robes for a moment, those two pairs of shoes were unmistakably his size.

He’d been too drunk to notice that during their visit through the clothing shop, the other had been shopping for him.

Gu Rong suddenly had a thought and reached for his waist. Sure enough, his own money pouch was still there, the silver inside just as heavy as before.

It wasn’t until midnight that Xi Rong returned to the room.

Gu Rong sat with his arms folded on the stone bed, eyes closed but not asleep. At the sound of the door, he opened them instantly.

Xi Rong stood in front of the bed, his dark robe tinged with the cold dampness of the mountain night.

“Did I wake you?” he asked gently.

Gu Rong smiled and shook his head. “No. Are you all finished talking?”

“Yes.” Xi Rong glanced at the neatly folded robes and shoes still lying on the bed. “Did you try them on for size?”

Gu Rong replied, “No need. Brother, you really—”

“Rongrong, I’ll likely have to leave earlier than planned,” Xi Rong suddenly said.

Gu Rong was stunned, needing a moment to process the words. Then he remembered that they were, after all, strangers who had met by chance. It was perfectly natural for the other to leave.

So he asked, “Now?”

“Probably.”

Darkness settled into Xi Rong’s gaze, something cold and obscure that Gu Rong had never seen before.

Gu Rong seemed to understand something. “Because of your enemies?”

Xi Rong nodded. He didn’t elaborate further, simply stared intently at Gu Rong and said, “Truth is, I’m not a gentleman. I even thought about…”

He stared at the youth in the azure robe, delicate and radiant like jade, his lips pressed tight. A coldness surged in his eyes, completely swallowing the last warmth. In the end, he said nothing more, only smiled faintly.

“But that would be too selfish. I probably don’t deserve it anyway. Rongrong, take care.”

Out in the courtyard, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe stood together.

Zhou Wenhe said, “I’ve surveyed the terrain. This place is actually an excellent hiding spot. But His Highness insists on leaving, I fear it’s—”

“Because he doesn’t want to implicate that young master inside,” Song Yang finished.

***

Late that night, at the Liu family’s residence.

Liu Xin was awakened by a flurry of urgent knocking. He threw on a robe and opened the door, only to find his steward standing outside. “What’s the matter in the middle of the night?” Liu Xin demanded angrily.

The steward replied, “Family head, a hunter has come, claiming to know the whereabouts of the ‘bandit leader,’ and has come forward to report it!”