Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 26 Part 2

Xi Rong stood behind, watching that seemingly carefree but actually slow and cautious figure, and couldn’t help thinking that it wasn’t entirely his fault for losing control. That waist and its suppleness had exceeded all expectations. No matter how unrestrained he became, it had matched him perfectly.

He couldn’t have held back.

Even now, with Gu Rong only wearing a wide-sleeved, thin robe, that tall, graceful back was as elegant and upright as green bamboo. Just remembering how every inch beneath that robe felt, even standing still and merely looking from afar, every nerve in his body was being relentlessly stirred and provoked.

How could he possibly restrain himself?

But now, the situation had taken a turn.

The delicate gentleman who got confused after drinking, who now woke up all warm and polite, seemed like he had no intention of acknowledging what had happened.

By the time Gu Rong finished washing up and stepped into the courtyard, Song Yang, Jiang Cheng, and Zhou Wenhe were already seated behind the table, waiting. When they saw Gu Rong and Xi Rong come out one after the other, all three stood up to greet them.

That morning’s meal had been prepared entirely by Xi Rong himself. The three subordinates were both flattered and moved, knowing their master had done it to acknowledge their hard work through the night.

At the center of the table was a large plate of scrambled duck eggs, alongside three plates of stir-fried wild vegetables, a dish of cornbread, and a big pot of rice porridge. When Gu Rong arrived, Zhou Wenhe and Jiang Cheng were just helping serve the porridge into bowls.

“Young master, please sit!” Song Yang called out.

Everyone sat down in order, with Gu Rong, as usual, taking his place beside Xi Rong, on the straw mat next to him.

Gu Rong silently glanced at the height of the mat, inwardly sighing. Who would have thought that such a simple everyday motion would now require careful effort to avoid making a scene? Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, he supported himself with one hand on the table and one discreetly on his waist.

Just as he was about to sit, a hand reached out first and gently helped him sit down.

Just as Gu Rong sat down steadily, that hand withdrew at exactly the right moment.

Thanks to the table blocking the view, the entire process was carried out without a trace, silent and seamless.

“……”

Sometimes, when someone was too considerate, or too attentive, it could be a sweet kind of trouble.

Gu Rong straightened his robe sleeves and prepared to eat, because he really was hungry, and the scrambled duck eggs on the table looked especially delicious.

He had just picked up his chopsticks and lifted a piece of egg when, from across the table, Jiang Cheng suddenly said, “Young master, are you ill?”

Gu Rong was caught off guard. “Hm?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Jiang Cheng stared at him suspiciously. “Then why is your face so red?”

“……”

Gu Rong’s hand wobbled and the duck egg nearly fell from his chopsticks. Worried the others might start scrutinizing his face, he quickly said, acting nonchalant, “Is it? It must be the heat.”

Jiang Cheng, in truth, had many more doubts.

For example, they had all eaten the same venison last night. It made sense that His Highness, being strong and robust, could endure it, but the delicate young master hadn’t even had a nosebleed. It was utterly baffling. Where was the justice in that?

“You gentlemen, what’s this all about?” Gu Rong soon noticed the wads of cloth stuffed into the three men’s nostrils.

Jiang Cheng and Zhou Wenhe remained silent. Song Yang let out an awkward chuckle. “It’s all my fault. I added something I shouldn’t have while stir-frying the venison yesterday, so I gave everyone a little… extra boost.

“Thankfully, young master and master weren’t affected. Otherwise, I’d have no excuse, even if I died a thousand deaths.”

Now it was Gu Rong’s turn to fall silent.

Weren’t affected?

They’d been affected so badly that they could’ve flown straight to Heaven’s southern gate.

He would’ve preferred a nosebleed.

“So… what important matter kept you gentlemen out all night?” Gu Rong smoothly changed the subject.

Song Yang chuckled and shook his head. “I can’t say it was anything noble. It’s more like something shady. Best not to taint your ears, young master.”

***

A horse-drawn carriage screeched to a halt in front of the Liu family’s residence.

“Master! Master!”

A servant-looking man leaped down from the carriage and ran to the front gate, pounding it open. He dashed all the way to the courtyard where Liu Xin, the head of the house, resided, panic written all over his face. Falling to his knees outside the house, he reported, “Master, something terrible has happened!”

Liu Xin had already been in a foul mood the past few days. Now, having his rest disturbed early in the morning, his temper flared. He threw on a robe and stormed to the door, barking, “You wretched thing, what are you screaming about so early in the morning?!”

The servant, trembling, pointed in a direction. “Master, the eldest young master’s tomb has been dug up!”

Liu Xin’s eyes widened in shock. He lunged forward, grabbing the servant by the collar, eyes bulging. “What did you just say?!”

“It’s true! Sometime during the night, a group of grave robbers showed up from who-knows-where. They not only dug up the eldest young master’s tomb but also looted all the burial goods inside! Those grave robbers were inhuman beasts. After robbing the grave, they didn’t even bother to return the body properly. Now the eldest young master’s remains are just lying there, exposed in front of the tomb… it’s unbearable to see!”

Liu Xin reeled backward and collapsed.

“Master! Master!”

Behind him, Madam Liu and the maids rushed over and caught him just in time.

“Quick! Call the physician!”

***

“Ziqing, have you lost your mind?!”

Zhang Jiuyi ran frantically down the street, grabbing hold of Ji Ziqing, who was wearing the robes of a scholar. “Ziqing, that young man was just spouting nonsense, and you really plan to go pledge yourself to the Eastern Palace?”

Ji Ziqing paused, glanced at his friend, and said, “But what he said made sense. I’d love to join the Cui clan or some other great house, but with my background and station, what could I possibly offer to compete?

“Maybe… the Eastern Palace really is a way forward.”

“But you know the reputation of the Eastern Palace and that man. If you enter their service, the scholars of the world will spit on you!” Zhang Jiuyi urged, voice urgent.

However, Ji Ziqing had already made up his mind. He shook off his friend’s hand and strode decisively toward the direction of the Eastern Palace’s residence.

Zhang Jiuyi had no choice but to follow.

However, when the two arrived at the Eastern Palace’s residence, they were informed that the Crown Prince was recovering from an illness and could not receive visitors.

“I told you, this Eastern Palace is unreliable. At a time like this, when talents are being recruited, if the Eastern Palace truly wished to show respect for scholars and draw in capable men, how could they shut their doors to all guests?”

Zhang Jiuyi let out a breath of relief.

Ji Ziqing frowned, clearly still unwilling to give up. Just then, a sudden commotion broke out in the street. It turned out a unit of soldiers was heading out of the city.

“What’s going on?” Zhang Jiuyi grabbed a passerby who looked to be in a hurry.

The man replied, “You haven’t heard? Last night, the tomb of the eldest young master of the prominent Liu family in Quyang County was broken into by a gang of grave robbers. The Liu family reported it and now the authorities are going after the culprits.

“But if you ask me, it’s all for show. Everyone knows only the most desperate and fearless scoundrels take up grave robbing. Still, for the sake of the Liu family’s reputation, the authorities have to go through the motions. That’s why everyone’s heading over to watch the spectacle.”

Ji Ziqing said to Zhang Jiuyi, “Let’s go have a look too.”

***

Jinlin Inn, the place where the envoy from the Cui clan was staying.

Cui Jiu sat in a carved wooden chair, eyes half-closed, one hand rubbing his temple. He glanced at Liu Xin, who was kneeling on the floor sobbing his heart out, nose running, and said slowly, “Family Head Liu, don’t just cry. If you have something to say, say it.”

Liu Xin wiped his tears with his sleeve and said, “This humble one wishes to ask Your Excellency to uphold justice on my behalf.”

“What now? Have you caught the grave robbers?”

“There’s no need to search. I know that it was the Eastern Palace!”

Cui Jiu let out a cold laugh. “So you want me, a servant of the Cui clan, to go request an imperial decree and, under the name of grave robbery, arrest the Eastern Palace? Setting aside whether that man would even stoop to something so deranged, let’s say he did, do you think the people would believe it? Would the court officials believe it?”

Liu Xin heard the chill behind his words and instantly broke into a cold sweat.

“This humble one… that’s not what I meant.

“I only think that the Eastern Palace did this as provocation and revenge. Just because he’s got some so-called Northern Protector, is Your Excellency really willing to let such a golden opportunity to strike slip away?”

Cui Jiu gave him a look.

“Of course I recognize your loyalty, Family Head Liu. But do you think the Grand Tutor has less desire to eliminate the Eastern Palace than you? But to call that person a mere ‘Northern Protector’ is overreaching. If that boy truly is Prince Yan’s Thirteenth Protector, then yes, you’ll just have to swallow the insult. Prince Yan is not someone either of us can afford to cross.

“But don’t worry. I’ve already sent someone to the north to personally verify the claim. We’ll know the truth very soon.”

***

The chaos at the foot of the mountain did not disturb the quiet peace on the mountain.

Having decided not to leave for the time being, Song Yang, Zhou Wenhe, and Jiang Cheng cleaned out a previously unused storage room in the courtyard. They patched the roof and turned it into a temporary lodging.

Xi Rong still shared the inner stone cave with Gu Rong.

Before, he could sleep peacefully. But after last night’s absurd event, sharing the same bed suddenly felt inexplicably awkward.

“Brother, are you truly not leaving?”

Unable to sleep, Gu Rong decided to strike up a conversation to ease the tension.

Xi Rong nodded.

After a brief silence, he tilted his head and asked, “With so many of us staying here, are we disturbing your peace?”

Gu Rong shook his head. “Not at all. I’m only worried that if you stay here, it might be dangerous for you.”

Xi Rong replied, “But you’re in danger too. If you’re not afraid, what do we have to be afraid of?”

“Is that the only reason?” after a short hesitation, Gu Rong asked again.

Xi Rong smiled. “What do you think? Could there be another?”

Gu Rong’s scalp prickled again with tension.

What was he supposed to say? He couldn’t very well ask, ‘You’re not staying just to take responsibility for me, are you?’

Xi Rong didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out, intending to pull Gu Rong’s blanket up a little. Gu Rong’s body instinctively scooted away. Realizing that was too obvious, he immediately tensed and froze.

Xi Rong paused mid-movement. After a moment, he put down his book, pulled on his boots, and got off the bed.

Gu Rong heard him move and turned his head to ask, “Brother, where are you going?”

Xi Rong calmly draped his robe over his shoulders and said, “You won’t be able to sleep with me here. I’ll sleep outside tonight. You should rest well.”

With that, his wide sleeves swept as he walked straight out.

The author has something to say:

King Rongrong: The sky has collapsed.
Xi the Dog: Time to perform a tea ceremony for everyone.
Thank you all, enjoy reading!