Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 28

The flower-patterned tabby had been lurking under the bed for some time. Once the moment was right, it leapt grandly up onto the stone bed and burrowed into Gu Rong’s arms.

It was already the third watch of the night. Gu Rong rarely stayed up so late, but now that all his concerns were laid to rest, he adjusted into a comfortable position and, with the cat in his arms, quickly drifted into a deep sleep.

Xi Rong lay on his back, utterly sleepless.

There’s a saying that once you’ve tasted the marrow, you’ll crave the flavor.

Everything from last night, perhaps Gu Rong had been too muddled to remember the full picture, but Xi Rong remembered every moment and every detail with perfect clarity.

He had always known, as a normal young man, that he was not truly as ascetic as he appeared on the surface. But even so, he hadn’t expected his desires to run so deep.

It had lasted nearly the entire night. If the other hadn’t been completely exhausted from being ravaged inside and out, and if the growing dawn hadn’t shone in through the wooden window to signal the hour, he might have gone on even longer.

He had long known that that body was exceptionally graceful and well-formed, but he hadn’t realized just how seamlessly and how perfectly their bodies could match. Even now, he could recall the sensation of his fingertips brushing over every inch of that skin.

He couldn’t forget it; that jade-like flesh, the repeated peaks of bliss and delirium. He couldn’t forget, either, the breathy cries of ‘Third Brother,’ tangled with desire and confusion, tinged even with a pleading softness, coaxed from him again and again under a mix of coaxing and force.

So entirely unlike the prim and proper young gentleman who woke that morning, refusing to acknowledge any of it.

It was exactly because last night had been so indulgent that tonight felt… especially empty.

Xi Rong turned his head and glanced at the mountain of books that now lay between them. For a moment, he didn’t even know what expression to wear.

He had envisioned many possible conversations they might have today. But he hadn’t expected this one.

Refusing to acknowledge.

As a crown prince raised amid storms of blood and steel, Xi Rong had earned a reputation for ruthless decisiveness. He was even more exacting with himself. One of the ways it manifested was in his habit of nightly self-reflection.

He would review the day’s merits and missteps, weigh gain against loss, and promptly correct any mistakes with either a remedy or a better plan.

Because he had few chances to make mistakes, he had to do everything possible to avoid them.

His narrow victory in the Southwestern campaign had been due in no small part to that very habit and mindset. But that night, in the quiet mountain cabin, with no pressing affairs of state, Xi Rong couldn’t stop himself from once again reflecting and analyzing.

Where had he gone wrong?

Was the experience he’d given Gu Rong last night so bad that the man now avoided him like the plague?

Or was it, had it always been, that Gu Rong simply had no interest in him? That all the moments he had stood up for him before had merely been repayment for a past favor and nothing more?

He said he liked sleeping while holding him, but maybe that was just treating him as a substitute for a cat. Or perhaps, it was nothing more than the drunken nonsense of a muddled mind.

As for the first possibility…

He had simply lived a life of ascetic restraint for over twenty years; it didn’t mean he didn’t understand matters of the bed.

Every adult prince in the palace had a dedicated matron who taught them the essentials and all relevant matters.

Although the mountain environment was rather poor, everything that should’ve been done before and after, he had done meticulously. He’d even carefully bathed and cleaned him, fearing he might develop a fever or suffer any discomfort.

So if it wasn’t the first possibility, then it must really be… the second.

That he had no interest in him whatsoever.

At least, not that kind of interest.

Which would explain why, after spending a night together, the first reaction upon waking was to avoid him like the plague.

Xi Rong’s thin lips pressed into a tight line as he shut his eyes.

Because there were guests at home, Gu Rong didn’t sleep in like usual.

At the first light of dawn, he opened his eyes. He sat up, tossing the cat aside, only to find the outer side of the bed empty. Xi Rong was already gone and the entire blanket had been neatly pulled over him.

That gentleman was ever as diligent as always, frighteningly so.

Gu Rong’s gaze then fell to the little mountain of books stacked between them. Every book still sat exactly where it had been the night before. He let out a silent breath of relief and thought, ‘This solution really works. Now I’ll never have to worry about any more wild nonsense happening again.’

Although a full day and night had passed, the moment he recalled the events of that night, Gu Rong still couldn’t help blushing furiously, so embarrassed he wanted to die.

Because it was simply… too humiliating. Too improper.

Thank heavens it was all over now.

And he and that gentleman had cleared the air, spoken frankly.

The other man didn’t seem to be the type who fussed over such minor matters either. Just too morally upright that he’d insist on taking responsibility.

Gu Rong shook his head, trying to forget everything as quickly as possible. He got out of bed, dressed, tied his hair, washed up in the outer cabin, and then opened the door to the courtyard. Sure enough, Xi Rong and the other three had already prepared breakfast.

“I’m truly sorry for the imposition, making you all cook again,” Gu Rong said with a cheerful smile as he greeted them.

“It’s only right,” Song Yang replied, smiling as he bowed in return. “We’re staying at your place and disturbing your peace. If we didn’t help out with some chores, how could we live with ourselves? Come, please sit!”

Gu Rong took his usual spot beside Xi Rong.

Xi Rong was holding a book, quietly reading. When he saw Gu Rong sit down, he set the book aside and asked, “Have you washed your face?”

Gu Rong nodded.

Seeing Xi Rong’s expression as calm and ordinary as ever, no different from usual, Gu Rong’s heart settled further. Clearly, the other had also put that night behind him.

“I did. But brother, next time you really don’t have to bother warming the water for me. I’m not that delicate. Cold water is just fine.”

It was something Gu Rong had only discovered yesterday.

Every morning, the washbasin always held warm water. He had assumed Xi Rong preferred the same until he happened to see him scooping cold water straight from the courtyard well, with no heating at all.

In other words, the warm water had been prepared just for him.

That thought made Gu Rong feel unbearably bad. So while they were on the topic, he brought it up.

Xi Rong merely gave a soft “mm,” neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Then he picked up his chopsticks. “Let’s eat.”

Gu Rong, never one to dwell on things, naturally didn’t overthink the moment. He grabbed his chopsticks too and focused on eating.

After breakfast, Jiang Cheng, Song Yang, and Zhou Wenhe, with nothing urgent to do, decided to make tea in the courtyard. They brought out some salted beans they carried as snacks and basked in the sun to pass the time.

Gu Rong found the salted beans interesting and dragged over a straw mat to join them, sitting cross-legged.

“May I ask, young master, what is this mountain called?” Song Yang asked in idle conversation.

Gu Rong tossed a salted bean into his mouth and bit down. It was crispy and savory, with a unique flavor. He replied, “This mountain isn’t very famous in Songzhou Prefecture, but it does have an elegant name. It’s called ‘Lingyin.’”

“Lingyin Mountain,” Song Yang recited the two words aloud and his eyes suddenly lit up. “Songzhou Prefecture has a Lingyin, Lingyin hides the virtuous. Could this be that very Lingyin Mountain, famed for producing reclusive sages?”

Gu Rong smiled indifferently. “Maybe it did, once upon a time. Now, all the virtuous ones have pretty much left. The only one living here is a useless person like me.”

“Young master is far too modest!”

Song Yang still seemed quite excited by the news.

“Legend says Lingyin Mountain is hidden and extremely hard to find. Who would’ve thought we’d stumble upon it by pure chance? I even heard that during the previous dynasty, two very famous great scholars known as the ‘Two Sages of Qizhou’ withdrew from the world and took refuge in this very Lingyin Mountain. Has young master ever heard of them?”

“The Two Sages of Qizhou?” Gu Rong tasted the name for a moment, then smiled and shook his head. “With such a grand title, I surely don’t know them.”

After saying so, he glanced around and suddenly asked, “Where’s your master?”

This time, it was Zhou Wenhe who replied, “He doesn’t care much for crowds. He’s likely reading in the room.”

Gu Rong thought for a moment, set down his teacup, and rose to head back into the wooden hut.

Sure enough, as soon as he entered, he saw Xi Rong in his dark robe, seated on the straw mat he used for drinking, reading a scroll.

“Brother, why didn’t you come out to the courtyard for tea?” Gu Rong casually sat cross-legged across from him and asked.

Xi Rong lifted his gaze from the book, his eyes settling on Gu Rong. He gave a faint smile. “Are you thinking I’m a dull person, one who neither chats idly nor appreciates the pleasures of tea?”

Gu Rong shook his head. “Of course not. Everyone has different preferences, so how could one standard apply to all? Huh? Brother, why are you reading the Tao Te Jing?”

“I saw it by chance on the bed this morning and suddenly felt like reading it.” At that, he seemed to recall something, paused, and asked, “You don’t mind that I moved your book without asking, do you?”

“Of course not. It’s just that the book isn’t exactly the most entertaining. Brother, what made you want to read it all of a sudden?”

“Is that so? I actually find it quite fascinating. I usually read Confucian texts and haven’t had much exposure to Daoist works. Just now, I came across a few passages that puzzled me. Would you be willing to explain them to me?”

“Me?” Gu Rong was surprised.

“Yes.”

“Young master was able to pull out so many Daoist and Buddhist classics with just a random grab. I’d wager you’re quite learned in both paths. Surely you won’t mind guiding someone as shallow as me?”

“Ahem.” Faced with such humility, Gu Rong could only respond, “You flatter me, brother. I’ve only skimmed the surface.”

Xi Rong gave a small smile. “Even a surface understanding is far better than a complete layman like myself.”

And so, for an entire afternoon and evening, except during meal times, Gu Rong was compelled to sit upright on the mat and seriously explain the entire Tao Te Jing to a sincerely inquisitive Xi Rong through discussion and dialogue. By the time they finally finished discussing the cornerstone classic of Daoism, night had fallen and it was time to sleep.

Xi Rong at last closed the book, looking as if he had truly benefited from the lesson. “Today’s discussion with the young master was truly enlightening.”

Gu Rong rubbed his shoulder. “So long as you didn’t mind me showing off my shallow knowledge, brother.”

“How could I? I can’t thank you enough.” Xi Rong set the book aside. “Shall we sleep now?”

Gu Rong had been waiting for that. Seeing that Xi Rong had already stood up to prepare the bed, he moved to stand as well.

And that’s when the embarrassing moment happened.

He had only just begun to rise when a sharp discomfort shot through his waist, forcing him to fall back down.

Damn it.

Because he’d been sitting so upright all afternoon to talk about that damn Tao Te Jing, the aftereffects of that ridiculous night, that just started to subside, had been completely reawakened.

The author has something to say:

Baby Rongrong: Something feels off.

Xi the Dog: [smiles]

Thank you all, enjoy reading!