Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 24

He didn’t even need to think; it was obvious what had happened. After everything else that had happened, it was barely worth mentioning.

“What’s wrong?”

The frustration on Gu Rong’s face was too obvious and Xi Rong’s voice was heard from behind.

Gu Rong said, “I’m so ashamed. I said I’d help you, but I ended up falling asleep on you.”

Although to be fair, it wasn’t entirely his fault. First, the other’s body was just too warm. Second, he’d had some wine the night before and gotten up early, so he hadn’t slept well.

He had no idea how the other man managed to endure afterward.

Xi Rong’s hands paused briefly and then he gave a soft laugh. “It’s fine. You already helped me greatly.”

“Master, Lord Song and the others have prepared the meal. They invite you and the young master to join them.” Jiang Cheng came in to report not long after.

Xi Rong stopped his hands and asked, “Still sore?”

Gu Rong shook his head, eyes curving in a smile. “Much better. Brother, you’re amazing, even your massage skills are top-notch.

“If you like, I’ll keep massaging you after the meal.”

Jiang Cheng, standing outside and could barely keep himself from covering his ears: “…”

The two exited the room together and indeed saw that a low table had already been set up in the courtyard, laden with steaming hot dishes. Song Yang had a wok spatula in hand and a rag tied around his waist like an apron. Zhou Wenhe was just placing the last bowl of soup on the table.

Gu Rong leaned in for a sniff. A rich, meaty aroma wafted up; it looked like a stir-fried game. Smiling, he said to Xi Rong, “Brother, are all the people in your household so skilled in the kitchen and polished in the hall?”

“You flatter us, young master.” Song Yang untied the apron. “It’s been a while since I cooked; I’m a bit rusty. Please forgive the taste, master, young master.”

Since the table was low, they simply sat on straw mats around it. Once everyone was seated, Gu Rong suddenly let out an “Oh?” and his eyes lit up. “There’s wine too?”

Song Yang said, “We happened to bring a few jars when we went up the mountain. I heard the young master likes to drink, so I had them bring some.”

Gu Rong stared at the two sealed earthen wine jars placed side by side on the table. The longer he looked, the more familiar they seemed. Suddenly, he asked, “Aren’t these the ones given out when the Eastern Palace was recruiting? Did you all also go submit your name cards?”

“…”

The atmosphere grew strangely quiet for a moment.

Song Yang chuckled. “That’s right, we went too. Don’t laugh, young master, we went just to get the wine. Since there were several of us, we got a few jars.” With that, he opened the jars and poured wine for everyone.

Before eating, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe both stood with their cups in hand and solemnly said to Gu Rong, “Young master, thank you for stepping forward today and coming to our aid. Your kindness is beyond words. We toast to you.”

Gu Rong quickly waved it off. “It was nothing. Please, don’t be so formal. You’re both my seniors, doing this is too much for me.”

“They ought to,” Xi Rong interjected. He turned to Gu Rong and said gently, “You just accept it in peace.”

“Master is right,” Song Yang added. “Had it not been for the young master’s clever plan driving off the enemy, we would’ve faced a bloody battle today, and the consequences would have been unimaginable. This toast is deserved in every way. The young master shielded us from disaster and did what we should have done ourselves. If you refuse this cup, it will weigh on our conscience.”

With words like that, any further refusal would be pointless. Gu Rong raised his own cup with a smile. “In that case, let us all drink together.”

Once the three had drunk, Jiang Cheng also stood with his bowl of wine. “I’d like to toast the young master as well.”

Gu Rong looked at him with a half-smile. “What’s this? You’re not cursing me in your heart today, brother?”

Jiang Cheng: “…”

He nearly spilled the wine in his hand.

He glanced quickly at Xi Rong, who sat upright and calm and straightened his expression. “Young master, please don’t joke like that. When have I ever cursed you in my heart?”

“Just kidding.” Gu Rong chuckled and lifted his second bowl of wine. “Today I’ll toast you too, brother. If it weren’t for you backing me up, I wouldn’t have been able to pull that off on my own. Your master had better reward you properly.”

Xi Rong picked up the thread, “I should.”

Jiang Cheng quickly said, flustered, “I dare not claim credit.”

“Credit deserves reward. Don’t refuse,” Xi Rong said. “Besides, someone already claimed it on your behalf.” He turned his head again, a hint of warmth in his gaze.

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe both laughed. Zhou Wenhe added, “Young master, you do have influence. Our master is always strict with rewards and punishments, and outside, he rarely gives out praise.”

He nudged Jiang Cheng. “You should offer the young master another toast.”

Jiang Cheng wasn’t the bashful type. Besides, having witnessed firsthand how Gu Rong scared off nearly ten thousand of the troops assembled by the Cui clan with nothing but his words, he truly felt grateful. Without hesitation, he drank two full bowls of wine in one go.

From last night until now, they had been rushing about the mountain without rest. That morning, they prepared for battle with everything they had. Man and horse alike were exhausted. Finally getting to sit down to a proper meal, they quickly polished off the entire table.

Just as they finished eating and Song Yang was suggesting tea in the courtyard, the shadow guard at the gate came in to report: “Young master, Lord Song, the Assistant Prefect of Songzhou, Yan Hemei, has sent ten jars of local Songzhou wine under the name of the Songzhou Prefecture. He says it is to offer a tasting to ‘Protector Jing,’ as a gesture of local hospitality.”

Everyone’s expressions darkened at once.

Zhou Wenhe gave a cold snort. “Looks like Yan Hemei still harbors suspicion; he’s still trying to test us by changing tactics.”

“This isn’t strange. I’ve heard that Assistant Prefect Yan has done quite well under the Cui clan these past years and is deeply trusted by Cui Daohuan. The fact that Cui Daohuan dares to entrust such a large jurisdiction as Songzhou to him speaks volumes. If Yan Hemei could be convinced of today’s events by just a few words, then he wouldn’t be worthy of such high regard from Cui Daohuan.

“But that matter of Yan Hemei having once served as an advisor to the Yan clan is something I only just learned. Young master, how did you find out?”

Having finished his analysis, Song Yang turned to Gu Rong.

Gu Rong replied, “Oh, years ago I wandered up north mooching off food and drink. I happened to overhear someone mention it. I never expected it would come in handy today.”

“More than handy,” Jiang Cheng added. “That feather jade you used could almost pass for the real thing.”

Gu Rong smiled and said, “Too kind, too kind.”

Song Yang then looked at Xi Rong. “Master, how do you suggest we handle the wine?”

Xi Rong gave no immediate opinion. Instead, he turned his gaze to Gu Rong. “What do you think?”

Gu Rong smiled. “The fine wine offered for free, how could we possibly refuse? Brother,” he turned to the shadow guard nearby, “go outside and pass on a message. Say that I accept the wine. When Lord Yan one day travels to Northern Yan, I’ll treat him to the finest ‘Tipsy Rider.’”

The shadow guard looked at Xi Rong.

Xi Rong said directly, “What he says is what I say.”

The guard responded affirmatively and went out to deliver the message.

Song Yang said, “That’s just as well. If we didn’t accept, Yan Hemei might grow even more suspicious. But young master, what is this ‘Tipsy Rider’?”

“A strong northern liquor, very popular in the northern military camps. The taste is rough, sure, but the afterkick is something else. One jar of it and even a big man with an eight-foot spear won’t know which way is up.”

Song Yang nodded in earnest. “Young master, your knowledge is impressive and admirable.”

Gu Rong shook his head. “I’ve just traveled a lot, that’s all. It’s hardly any real skill.”

“You’ve even tried hard liquor?” Xi Rong asked.

“Only a little,” Gu Rong replied. “I didn’t like the taste. I still prefer the mellow, gentle wines of Jiangnan. But brother, given how Yan Hemei operates, he’s likely left informants at the foot of the mountain. It’s too dangerous for you all to remain here. You should leave as soon as possible.”

Song Yang nodded in agreement.

“The young master is absolutely right. Just now, Li Jia and the others went to scout below and found many government troops at the mountain pass; some were from the authorities, and some were private soldiers from the Liu household. While the young master may have bluffed them today, it won’t hold forever. Once they start thinking things through, they might come back in force.”

Xi Rong, however, looked toward Gu Rong again, who was using his chopsticks to dip into the wine. “You’re not leaving with us?”

“Me?” Gu Rong blinked and then shook his head. “Of course not. My home is here, how could I just up and go?”

Xi Rong fell silent for a breath. “If we leave, they’ll definitely come after you. What will you do then?”

Gu Rong gave his usual carefree grin. “Don’t worry. If I could fool them once, I can fool them again. Northern Yan is thousands of miles away. It’s not like they can verify anything that quickly. And even if they do come after me, the worst case is I’ll just go into hiding for a few days.”

The youth said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, like he was entirely used to drifting from place to place and making do with whatever came his way.

Xi Rong asked, “You have no relatives, no home to turn to. Where will you hide? On a beggar’s boat?”

“…………”

Gu Rong replied, “In any case, I have my own ways. Brother, you go in peace, no need to worry about me.”

Soon, the shadow guards carried in the wine. True enough, there were ten full jars, all sealed with yellow clay. Song Yang, Zhou Wenhe, and Jiang Cheng went off to discuss matters. Gu Rong strolled over to the wine jars, arms behind his back, and inspected them one by one.

“This Assistant Prefect Yan really did spare no expense,” he said. “He even sent thirty-year-old Dukang.”

“Want to drink some together?” came Xi Rong’s voice from behind.

Gu Rong looked surprised. “Brother, you’re inviting me to drink?”

“What, I can’t?”

“Of course you can. It’s a rare fine day and this wine from Songzhou is worth a fortune. Not drinking it would be a waste.”

“Then let’s have this Dukang?”

“Sure.”

Xi Rong took the wine and asked, “Where do you want to drink it?”

Gu Rong thought for a moment. “There’s a nice clearing behind the house.”

The two of them left the courtyard together and circled around to the back of the house. As expected, Xi Rong saw a flat clearing. It was early spring and the ground was already covered in grass. Sitting atop the small hill, they had a clear view of the distant waterfalls and majestic peaks.

They sat directly on the ground, facing the opposite mountain.

Xi Rong lifted the wine jar, poured two bowls, and asked, “Do you come here often?”

Gu Rong nodded. “When I’m bored, I come sit here and absorb a bit of what the sages call ‘righteous energy,’ to help broaden my mind and spirit.”

The breeze stirred the youth’s wide sleeves and the jade ribbon around his neck.

Gu Rong had tied all his black hair into a bundle with a silk ribbon, letting it fall behind his shoulders in a long, sleek strand, which made his slender, elegant neck look all the more refined and striking.

Xi Rong suddenly let out a low laugh.

Gu Rong turned his head. “Brother, what are you laughing at?”

Xi Rong said leisurely, “I’m laughing at someone who claims to be uneducated and uncultured, yet when they speak, it’s full of quotes from the sages. They don’t sound like someone ignorant of books at all.”

Gu Rong lifted his wine bowl, sipped lightly, and smiled. “I’m just borrowing the sages’ names to bolster myself. If they knew, they might not be too pleased.”

“Rongrong,” Xi Rong called softly. “Today, everyone else has already thanked you. But the one who ought to thank you most hasn’t yet.”

He spoke solemnly, “Rongrong, thank you.”

Gu Rong looked amused. “Brother, must we really be so formal with each other?”

Xi Rong seemed pleased by that response.

Gazing out at the undulating mountain peaks, he said, “Maybe you think it’s nothing, but do you know? When I heard you stood up for me and frightened off nearly ten thousand pursuers, I was… surprised, deeply moved, and truly grateful.

“Rongrong, in this world, not everyone would risk their life for another without expecting anything in return. In fact, almost no one would. At least, not in my experience.”

“But brother, didn’t you also risk your life for me? If not for coming back to rescue me, you wouldn’t have been cornered in the mountains either.” Gu Rong calculated the matter very clearly.

Xi Rong shook his head.

“That’s not how the account goes. I came back to save you because you were implicated by me. That was my duty. But you stepping out for me was a risk taken for nothing…

“In truth, I want to know, Rongrong, why did you stand up for me today? Was it just because I came back for you and you wanted to repay the favor?”

Gu Rong nodded.

“Of course. You risked your life to come back for me. Naturally, I should do everything I can to save you in return.”

Xi Rong fixed his gaze on the youth’s clean and refined profile. “Nothing else?”

Gu Rong hesitated. “Brother, what are you implying?”

Xi Rong fell silent for a long while and then said, “Actually, I wanted to take you with me from the very beginning. But because the journey was too dangerous, I gave up the idea in the end.”

Gu Rong was startled. “From the beginning?”

“Yes.”

Xi Rong’s gaze was frank and unreserved. “You said I was an upright gentleman, but honestly, I’m really not that much of a gentleman. Rongrong, you’re still so young. Are you really planning to stay in these mountains your whole life? Have you never thought about leaving, going somewhere else, living a different kind of life?”

“A different kind of life?”

“That’s right. Do you truly prefer this quiet, even solitary, existence? Why do I feel like you’re the type who’d enjoy liveliness more?”

Gu Rong drank another sip of wine and, for a moment, couldn’t answer.

A different kind of life.

He had, in truth, already lived many kinds of lives.

Changing from one to another, he honestly no longer knew which suited him best. He didn’t think the question was rude; he simply couldn’t answer it.

After all, he seemed to have been born missing something in the realm of emotions and desires.

Xi Rong continued, “You said before you’re good at reading people. Well, so am I. You always say you’re heartless and carefree, but are you really? If you were, you wouldn’t have risked your life to save me.

“Rongrong, come with me. Try a livelier place. Will you?”

“No.”

Gu Rong suddenly shook his head. “Brother, you’re really too good with words. I almost got talked into it. I can’t go with you. Really, I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” Gu Rong lifted his chin. “Because I’m lazy. I really can’t deal with walking long distances. And brother, I really am heartless and carefree. Haven’t you noticed? I don’t have much emotion. I don’t cry or get upset over others. I’m fine with bluffing people and playing tricks, but asking me to do serious things with you, I just can’t. Please let me off.

“You’re… not mad, right?” Seeing Xi Rong silent for a while, Gu Rong cautiously asked.

Xi Rong shook his head.

“Of course not. Whether to go or stay is your freedom. It’s fine. There’s still time. You can think it over.”

Gu Rong, while carefree, was not indecisive.

That kind of thing wasn’t really something to think over. But out of respect, he didn’t continue pouring cold water on the idea. After all, someone offering to take him along was, in itself, a gesture of warmth and goodwill.

The two quietly drank wine and admired the view. Unknowingly, they kept at it until the sunset dyed the sky red.

Night fell quickly in the mountains. Gu Rong wobbled as he stood up, intending to follow Xi Rong back, but Xi Rong reached out and supported his waist.

“I’ll carry you back,” Xi Rong said. As he spoke, he let go and turned around, kneeling down with his back facing Gu Rong.

Gu Rong looked at him with a surprised expression. “You’re going to carry me?”

“Get on,” Xi Rong said, glancing over his shoulder when Gu Rong didn’t move.

Gu Rong thought for a moment, shook his head to clear it, confirmed it wasn’t a hallucination, then obediently stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Xi Rong’s neck, and lay down on his back.

His legs were quickly lifted by a pair of strong arms.

Gu Rong beamed, poking his head out to look at Xi Rong’s profile. As if it were a novel experience, he said, “So this is what it feels like to be carried.”

“Comfortable?” Xi Rong asked.

“Comfortable, incredibly comfortable. Not having to walk is really the best feeling. But it’s tough on you, brother…” Gu Rong mumbled, half-drunk.

“It’s not tough,” Xi Rong replied.

His steps were steady as if he were walking on level ground, even on the dark mountain path.

“I told you, you’re light. I can carry you with one hand.”

Gu Rong praised enthusiastically, “You really are amazing, brother.”

The small courtyard was pitch dark. No lights were on inside. Gu Rong made a puzzled noise. “Brother, where did your friends go?”

“They went out to take care of something. They’ll be back later,” Xi Rong replied.

“Oh.”

Xi Rong carried him straight into the stone chamber, gently placed Gu Rong onto the stone bed, and turned to light the oil lamp on the stone table.

Gu Rong sat cross-legged on the bed, looked down at his robe stained with wine, then suddenly remembered something. He began looking around and feeling along the bed.

Xi Rong noticed and asked, “What are you looking for?”

“Clothes.”

“What clothes?”

“The clothes I wore this morning. Brother, where did they go?”

Xi Rong paused slightly and said, “Don’t look for it. It was torn. I’ve already put it away.”

“Torn?”

Gu Rong propped his head up and thought about it. It wasn’t impossible. Bright silk was delicate and the bathtub’s material was rough. With any large movements, it was very likely that the fabric got caught and ripped.

What a shame, it was such expensive clothing.

Without the fixation on finding his clothes, Gu Rong immediately shrugged off his outer robe and lay down to sleep.

The others were gone, and Xi Rong had nothing else to attend to. He lay down on the outer side of the bed as usual, leaning against the bedhead to read.

Soon, the sound of slow, steady breathing came from Gu Rong’s side. Xi Rong gazed at that slender back, stared for a moment, then looked away and returned to his book. But just as he was turning the page, his hand stilled.

He clearly felt a wave of heat suddenly surge within his body.

Of course, it was nothing like the savage, scorching pain of his usual attacks, but it was distinctly different from normal.

Just as he frowned in thought, wondering what had gone wrong, Gu Rong, who had seemed fast asleep, suddenly threw off the blanket and sat up. While loosening the collar of his inner robe, he looked up with his dark eyes and asked, “Brother, don’t you feel really hot?”

Xi Rong’s gaze paused. Then he suddenly remembered.

Today, they had not only drunk thirty-year-old Dukang wine, but also eaten spicy stir-fried venison.

The author has something to say:

Xi the Dog: Never thought I’d one day drink wedding wine sent by the enemy.
Saw some readers asking, so to clarify: this story is mainly focused on the romance, not heavy on political intrigue~ The last book had too much plot, so this one I wanted to focus more on the couple’s love story. But we’ll still hit the important story beats, though we’ll stay close to the main characters.