Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 22 Part 1

Led by Liu Xin and Yan Hemei, Assistant Prefect of Songzhou Prefecture, the entire mountainside was sealed tight. Layer upon layer of troops and horses stretched out endlessly in all directions.

Behind them stood several family heads from the other noble families, as well as the magistrates of Quyang County and Songyang County, along with various officials of different ranks from Songzhou Prefecture. The private soldiers brought by the nobles were their own personal retainers, commonly referred to as ‘buqu.’ Liu Xin had brought the largest contingent. The other officials were accompanied by troops from their respective government offices, although those men were all dressed in standard civilian garb, not official uniforms.

Behind the mass of soldiers and horses came a sedan chair, its doors covered with heavy black curtains that concealed the occupant. Surrounding the sedan were uniformed guards with blades at their waists, muscular and trim.

It was obvious that the person inside the sedan held a position of importance.

Yan Maocai also wore an eye-catching purple robe and a golden crown, riding beside Yan Hemei with a proud expression, eyes fixed ahead, exuding an air of assured victory.

“Are you certain the ‘bandit leader’ is hiding up there?” Yan Maocai asked the hunter standing at the front, who was tasked with leading the way.

The hunter nodded. “No mistake. He’s in the wooden hut up there. I wouldn’t dare lie to you, sirs.”

“You probably don’t have the guts anyway.” Yan Maocai snorted coldly.

The hunter glanced at his expression, hesitated a moment, then said, “There’s one more thing I must report.”

Impatiently, Yan Maocai asked, “What is it?”

The hunter said, “Please show mercy to the owner of the wooden hut. That man was deceived and coerced by the bandit leader. He didn’t know the man’s true identity—”

Before the hunter could finish, Yan Maocai directly interrupted him with a sneer. “Hiding a bandit is the same crime as being one. Do I need to teach you that? The wanted posters are plastered all over Songzhou Prefecture. If he truly wasn’t in collusion, why didn’t he report it to the authorities himself? I say he deliberately harbored the fugitive!”

The hunter froze. “But—”

“But what? Don’t tell me you’re trying to plead for these rebels. Or are you involved with them as well?”

“No, I swear, I absolutely am not.”

“Then learn to keep your mouth shut. Once you help this young master capture the bandit, I’ll reward you properly.”

The hunter could only lower his head.

The entire mountain was surrounded by dense troops. Not even birds could escape now. But strangely, there was no resistance or ambush as they had expected.

“I heard he traveled with many shadow guards. Why is there no movement at all?” One of the family heads murmured and then looked toward Yan Hemei, clad in scarlet official robes and mounted on horseback. “Lord Yan, what should we do now?”

Yan Hemei’s gaunt face was expressionless. He said, “If the ‘bandit leader’ is indeed hiding here, escape is impossible. Just go and knock.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Liu Xin’s wave, a squad of troops stepped out from the ranks, their blades gleaming in the darkness, surging toward the wooden hut. Meanwhile, the front-line soldiers behind them raised their bows and nocked arrows, all aimed at the hut.

“This early in the morning, all of you rushing here to pay respects, isn’t it a little too soon?”

Just as tensions reached their peak, a voice rang out, clear and pure as a mountain spring.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw, high up on the mountainside, a young man standing atop a boulder. He wore a plain robe of shimmering brocade embroidered with silver cloud patterns, cloud-toe boots, and a jade belt around his waist. His black hair was tied with a matching silk ribbon, with one long hair strand falling over his shoulder. His wide sleeves fluttered in the morning breeze. Standing leisurely in the dim dawn light, he radiated brilliance, elegant as a jade tree in the wind, noble as orchid and jade, like a being from a celestial realm.

Behind him stood a masked guard dressed in martial attire.

The youth’s appearance was simply too striking.

Everyone was momentarily stunned and Yan Maocai outright gaped.

Even the hunter standing at the front suddenly froze, blurting instinctively, “Gu—” But he cut himself off halfway, staring blankly at Gu Rong as if dumbstruck.

“It’s you!” Yan Maocai finally came to his senses, belatedly.

Gu Rong stood with a folding fan in hand, gazing down from above. His eyes swept lazily over the crowd, no different than glancing at a pack of dogs. He made no eye contact with anyone. Then, lips curling slightly into a smile, he said, “When paying respects at dawn or dusk, one must observe the rites. Since you’ve all come, the least you could do is kneel and kowtow first.”

One of the family heads immediately flew into a rage. “You brat, don’t talk slick! You’re the one harboring that bandit, consorting with criminals! If you know what’s good for you, surrender at once and hand over the fugitives. I might let you die with a whole corpse!”

With a flick, Gu Rong opened his fan and lazily fanned himself twice. Tilting his chin slightly, he turned and said over his shoulder, “General Feiyu, do me a favor and figure out which dog’s barking so much.”

Jiang Cheng behind him: “…”

Good heavens. This young master only said he’d act a little arrogant. He didn’t say this arrogant!

Thankfully, Jiang Cheng had seen a lot while following His Highness through the bureaucracy.

He bowed with calm composure, rested his hand on his sword, and swept a glance over the crowd before answering, “Replying to the young master, the one barking just now is Feng Zhong, family head of the well-known Feng family in Songyang County.”

“Oh? So it was Family Head Feng.” Gu Rong propped his chin on his fan, revealing a look of realization. “That’s the one, right? Already old, yet still knelt before the chief steward of the Xiao Royal Residence, begging to be taken as an adopted son, only to be rejected.

“Don’t blame me for saying this, Family Head Feng. That steward came from the palace and even served the late emperor. What you did is like mocking the man’s manhood, claiming he’s sterile and heirless. How can you be so sure he won’t father a child someday?

“Alas, inappropriate, truly inappropriate.”

Feng Zhong: ?!?!

Feng Zhong’s old face flushed red in an instant. Rage surged through him, nearly making him cough blood on the spot.

Never mind that it was a matter known to very few, how did the damn brat even find out?

More importantly, he now pledged loyalty to the Cui clan, and the brat had the nerve to dig up that old scandal at such a moment? It was an obvious attempt to sow discord!

And what was that nonsense about possibly still being able to father children?

A eunuch, no matter how high his status, had no roots left. How could he possibly retain such ability?

Even if he somehow did, the man was over fifty! There was no way he could produce children now.

This—this was nothing but utter nonsense.

Feng Zhong’s blood rushed violently. His vision darkened and if not for a trusted aide catching him in time, he might have fallen straight off his horse.

Competition among noble families was fierce. Several other family heads present, who had previously been unaware of the matter, now cast strange looks at Feng Zhong.

Among those involved in the siege on the Crown Prince, aside from Liu Xin, Feng Zhong had been the most proactive. He had not only brought all his private troops but even sent a precious elixir as a tribute to Cui Daohuan, the head of the Cui clan and the current Minister of State Affairs in the capital. Although the other nobles said nothing aloud, many privately disapproved of Feng Zhong’s blatant efforts to steal the spotlight.

Now, to learn that Feng Zhong had once tried to curry favor with the Xiao clan, and in such a disgraceful way, he was the textbook definition of a three-faced lackey. How could they pass up the chance to laugh at him?

Of course, currying favor with the Xiao clan wasn’t something shameful in itself. It was just that most people simply couldn’t manage it.

Finally, Liu Xin cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, don’t be misled by this boy’s lies. Let us not forget our purpose.”

“Indeed!”

Feng Zhong, feeling revitalized by those words, hurriedly glanced behind and added, “Everything… everything that boy said was utter fabrication! Lies! Gentlemen, I say let’s stop wasting words with this boy. Charge in at once! Slay him along with those bandits and serve justice for the people!”

His proposal quickly won the crowd’s approval.

Yan Maocai then spoke up, “Young master, we’ve at least met before. If you hand over the bandits now, I can guarantee your life.”

His eyes gleamed as he gazed freely at Gu Rong’s figure.

That face, even when dressed in plain robes and a cloth mask before, had already stunned him. He had thought about it for days after returning to the residence.

Never did he imagine the boy could look even more dazzling.

“So it’s Master Yan.” Gu Rong’s gaze finally settled on Yan Maocai. He sighed lightly. “It’s just, with so many important figures calling for my head, I’m afraid even you can’t decide my fate.”

Yan Maocai couldn’t bear taunts like that and was just about to speak when Yan Hemei shot him a sharp look to silence him.

Yan Maocai could only shut his mouth, clearly unwilling.

“Lord Yan, let’s not fall for this boy’s stalling tactics. Let’s act now!” urged several family heads.

They immediately signaled for their troops to move. The archers in front, tasked with shooting the target, began slowly drawing their bows, arrowheads aimed at Gu Rong standing on high ground.

Jiang Cheng felt his heart sink at the sight.

“Lord Yan, now that you’ve risen so high in Songzhou, do you still remember your former master?” Gu Rong suddenly spoke coldly.

Yan Hemei, who had already been frowning in thought, revealed the faintest change in expression. His brows drew tighter. He suddenly raised his hand. “Hold.”

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

Yan Hemei’s gaze roamed between Gu Rong and Jiang Cheng, puzzled.

“Just now you called him General Feiyu. May I ask, which General Feiyu do you mean?” Yan Hemei’s eyes locked onto Jiang Cheng with deep scrutiny as he asked.

Gu Rong’s lips curled in a faint smile. “Naturally, the most famous General Feiyu.”

“If that’s so, why does he wear a mask? Why not show his face?” Yan Hemei pressed on.

Gu Rong stared right back. “Since Lord Yan knows of General Feiyu, then surely you know that his face was disfigured in battle.”

Yan Hemei fell silent.

The others watched the two exchanging cryptic remarks. Although they couldn’t grasp the full context, at the mention of the most famous General Feiyu, a name popped into all their minds at the same time. However, that man was under the command of Prince Yan of the North, renowned as the fiercest warrior and the one Prince Yan trusted most. How could he possibly be there?

Yan Hemei looked at Gu Rong, the confusion in his eyes growing deeper. “Then who are you?”

Gu Rong raised his chin. “He called me ‘young master’. If you’ve already guessed he’s General Feiyu, can you not guess who I am?”

At that, not only Yan Hemei, but the faces of all the family heads and officials changed.

If he really was General Feiyu and he addressed that person so respectfully as ‘young master’, then there could be only one possibility; someone from the Northern Yan family, the young commander of the Northern Yan Army.

But Prince Yan had no biological sons, only thirteen adopted sons known as the Thirteen Protectors.

Yan Hemei, who had always been cautious and reserved, scrutinized Gu Rong closely. His gaze shifted rapidly until he finally asked in a hesitant tone, “Could it be… you are Protector Jing?”

“Lord Yan is indeed worthy of once serving in the Yan family,” Gu Rong replied with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. “But let’s leave off the title ‘Protector’. My adoptive father strictly instructed me to act modestly when away from home, lest I tarnish the Northern Yan Army’s name. You may simply call me by my name, Jing Xi.”

Jiang Cheng: “………….”