Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 31

At that moment, Ji Ziqing’s feelings could truly be summed up in three words: shocked, startled, and terrified.

After being rebuffed at the Eastern Palace yesterday when he tried to deliver his letter of intent, he had already resolved to give up that path. In fact, on the way home, he had fallen into a daze of confusion, drinking with his friend at home just to drown his sorrows. Who could have predicted such a sudden twist of fate, that he would end up face-to-face with the infamous, rumored-to-be-cruel and harsh Crown Prince himself?

A crown prince burdened with authority and countless responsibilities would not possibly abduct an ordinary scholar like him without cause.

“Your humble subject actually—”

“I know. You delivered a letter of intent to the Eastern Palace.”

Ji Ziqing froze for a moment, as it was true. Then, lowering his head in fearful confusion, he said, “Your Highness is all-seeing. May I ask why Your Highness has summoned your humble subject here?”

Xi Rong got straight to the point. “I want to know, in a time when all seek to align with the five great clans and seven noble houses, why would you, the top scholar of the Chu River Gathering, come to the Eastern Palace? Was it merely because you were coerced and could not join the Cui clan?”

Ji Ziqing’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected the other party to already have such a clear understanding of his circumstances.

Even though he had never held office, he knew well enough that answering the question incorrectly could cost him his life and doom him forever.

But if he lied, there was no way he could deceive the eyes of the man before him.

Steeling himself, Ji Ziqing kowtowed again and said, “Your humble subject dares not deceive Your Highness. At first, it’s true I had no intention of pledging to the Eastern Palace. Even when I was coerced later, I still held no such thought. The reason I ultimately made that decision was because I was unexpectedly enlightened by the words of a certain sage, which struck me like a sudden awakening.”

At those words, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe exchanged uneasy glances.

It would have been acceptable if Ji Ziqing had simply come as a second choice. After all, given the Eastern Palace’s current situation, they could only hope to pick up those rejected by the noble clans, and even that wasn’t guaranteed.

But to hear that Ji Ziqing, like most scholars, hadn’t even considered the Eastern Palace after being rebuffed by the Cui clan and others, and only changed his mind after advice from a mysterious sage, it sounded very much like a fabricated excuse.

And worse, their shadow guards had uncovered nothing about it.

So Song Yang asked, “Scholar Ji, which sage advised you?”

Ji Ziqing shook his head. “I do not know the man’s name. I happened to meet him on the street.”

“Then how exactly did he enlighten you?” Xi Rong asked this time.

Ji Ziqing briefly recounted the encounter, deliberately omitting some of the more inappropriate things the ‘sage’ had said. “That man made me realize just how blinded I was, how narrow my vision had become… and how foolish and overconfident I truly was.”

Xi Rong let out a faint chuckle. Whether it was at the blunt and tactless nature of the ‘sage’s’ words, or something else, was unclear. “So… you came to the Eastern Palace hoping I would play the role of a stick used to beat snakes, and help you take revenge?”

“Your humble subject would never dare!”

From that laugh, Ji Ziqing understood clearly that his explanation had failed to fully convince them, perhaps even sounded like a clumsy lie. But at that point, he truly had no other defense.

So he simply followed his heart and said, “Your humble subject admits that I came to the Eastern Palace with ambition in my heart. I truly believe that, given my background, I have a better chance of gaining my master’s favor and building a promising future here. But I have studied the classics and sages not merely to become a schoolteacher. I wish to use what I have learned to serve the nation and its people.

“So if I pursue my ambitions through Your Highness, I do not see it as something shameful. Still, I swear to the heavens that I have no intention of exploiting Your Highness’s power for personal revenge. How could a humble and lowly scholar like me ever dare to profane or manipulate someone of Your Highness’s thunderous might? If I do harbor such intentions, may I be struck by lightning and be less than a beast! I beg Your Highness to judge me clearly.”

Song Yang silently nodded in approval. He thought that although Ji Ziqing had a rather rigid temperament, those words were heartfelt and sincere.

A worthy man chooses a worthy master to serve.

For strategists and officials like them, seeking out a wise and capable master in hopes of a better future was not shameful at all; it was almost a given. It was simply that few ever dared speak so plainly about it.

“You’ve been staring at me this whole time. What have you seen?” Xi Rong suddenly asked.

Ji Ziqing was startled. He hadn’t expected the other to be so observant. He could only answer, “A few days ago, the Songzhou Prefecture posted a wanted notice, calling for the arrest of a notorious bandit. The portrait of that bandit… bore a seventy percent resemblance to Your Highness.”

The room fell silent.

“You have sharp eyes,” Xi Rong said. “But did it ever occur to you that having such sharp eyes, now that you’ve boarded this pirate ship of mine, there’ll be no getting off?”

Ji Ziqing gave a bitter smile. “Even if my eyes weren’t sharp, now that I’ve learned Your Highness’s whereabouts, if I bore any ill will, I likely wouldn’t leave this room alive.”

Xi Rong neither confirmed nor denied that and asked, “I used such means to force your allegiance. Do you now regret believing that so-called sage, losing your senses, and bringing your letter to the Eastern Palace?”

Ji Ziqing, however, shook his head.

“From the moment I decided to deliver that letter of intent to the Eastern Palace, I knew I had only one road in this life and that is to follow Your Highness. I have no regrets. I only have one request.”

Ji Ziqing glanced at his still-unconscious friend, Zhang Jiuyi.

“This friend of mine is straightforward and kind by nature. He’s been dragged into this mess entirely because of me and bears no guilt of his own. I humbly beg Your Highness to spare his life.”

Xi Rong answered directly, “His life is in your hands, not mine.”

Ji Ziqing was taken aback, but quickly understood the meaning behind the words. He bowed deeply. “Your humble subject thanks Your Highness for his mercy on his behalf.”

Perhaps due to Xi Rong’s infamous reputation, Ji Ziqing was not especially shocked by those thunderous tactics. Just as he had said, when he decided to submit his letter to the Eastern Palace, he had already prepared himself for censure from his peers, friends, and fellow scholars. Compared to the mental preparation, the temper and means of the ruler he might serve had always been a secondary concern. He had even braced himself to be ignored at the Eastern Palace.

Thus, although now forcibly brought aboard the ‘pirate ship,’ Ji Ziqing felt no particular burden. He was not ignorant of the Eastern Palace’s precarious standing, nor the open conflict between the Crown Prince and the powerful noble houses.

Devoting himself to the Eastern Palace and to the Crown Prince was clearly a dangerous, arduous path full of risk. And yet, he did not feel fear. On the contrary, a faint sense of expectation and excitement stirred in him.

The Crown Prince had a terrible reputation, true, but was he truly more wicked than men like Yan Maocai and the noble families of Songzhou Prefecture?

At the very least, the Crown Prince had spared his friend’s life without hesitation.

As Ji Ziqing’s thoughts raced, he heard Song Yang say, “I’ve heard you still have an elderly mother to care for. Rest assured, His Highness will send people to watch over her in secret. She will not lack food or clothing, nor will anyone be allowed to harm her.

“If you have other concerns or difficulties, you may also bring them directly to His Highness. Be at ease, His Highness is upright and aboveboard. He will never use your family or friends as leverage to force your hand.”

This time, Ji Ziqing felt true gratitude from the bottom of his heart. He prostrated himself. “Your humble subject thanks Your Highness for his great benevolence.”

“No need for thanks. At present, I have a task to assign to you. If you perform well, whether I become a sword to slay serpents or a cudgel to beat them, I won’t mind playing the part,” Xi Rong stood up as he spoke.

“Please give your command, Your Highness. Your humble subject will give it his all.”

Ji Ziqing bowed in earnest acceptance.

***

By the time Ji Ziqing stepped out of the wooden cabin again, half an hour had passed.

The sky was in that murky gray just before dawn. Visibility was faint, but enough to move about. Jiang Cheng hoisted the still-unconscious Zhang Jiuyi onto his shoulder, while Ji Ziqing followed behind.

“I’ll take you both down the mountain directly,” Jiang Cheng said succinctly. “But there are too many eyes below, so we’ll have to take a longer path through the hills.”

Ji Ziqing nodded.

He glanced once more around the unfamiliar courtyard. The main house seemed to be the one built directly against the mountain, opposite the gate. He didn’t dare look too closely. Once he had confirmed that his friend’s breathing was steady, he followed Jiang Cheng toward the gate.

But just as they had taken two steps, a creaking sound came from behind them and the door to the main house opened from within. A figure in blue stepped outside.

Jiang Cheng: “…”

His scalp tingled. ‘This is bad,’ he thought.

Ji Ziqing instinctively turned his head.

Out walked a young man in a blue robe, tall and graceful, radiant as jade. His face… his face—

Ji Ziqing’s eyes suddenly widened as realization dawned.

“Young master… it’s you…” He stared at Gu Rong in astonishment, his mind in chaos.

Gu Rong recognized Ji Ziqing instantly as well, his expression mirroring the surprise. “Brother, why is it you? What are you doing here?”

After speaking, Gu Rong looked in confusion toward Jiang Cheng. “Brother, what are you carrying on your shoulder?”

Jiang Cheng: “…”

He nearly coughed up blood. Wasn’t the little rascal supposed to be the biggest sleepyhead? Why did he get up so early today?!

At that moment, Xi Rong, Song Yang, and Zhou Wenhe also stepped out of the smaller side cabin.

The atmosphere turned abruptly, eerily silent.

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe’s hearts leapt into their throats.

Terrible! Why did it have to be the little young master who caught us?

If it had been anyone else, they might still have had ways to manage the situation. But with the young master, they wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him.

“Brother, what’s going on here?”

Gu Rong looked around suspiciously, his gaze finally landing on Xi Rong.

A moment later, Xi Rong spoke in a gentle tone, “Someone was injured. His friend brought him up the mountain for help.”

Song Yang glanced at Ji Ziqing. Ji Ziqing understood and nodded. “…That’s right. My friend here slipped off the mountain path and lost consciousness. I happened to see this courtyard and brought him over for aid. Thankfully… these gentlemen lent a hand.”

“Then why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Gu Rong walked straight over to Jiang Cheng. “Let me take a look.”

Jiang Cheng had no choice but to set the man down on the ground.

When Gu Rong saw Zhang Jiuyi’s face clearly, he let out a surprised, “Oh? It’s this brother.”

Xi Rong, who had silently moved to one side, asked upon seeing this, “You know him?”

“I only had the pleasure of meeting him once by chance.”

Gu Rong reached out, checked Zhang Jiuyi’s breathing, and then examined the back of his head and neck. Finding no visible injuries, he took a golden needle from his sleeve and slowly inserted it into the philtrum between Zhang Jiuyi’s nose and lips.

While doing so, he asked Ji Ziqing, “Brother, are you fully recovered?”

Ji Ziqing nodded. “Thank you for your concern, young master. I’m much better now. Is this… your residence?”

“It is. I didn’t expect to run into you two here again.”

The two of them seemed unexpectedly familiar with one another.

Everyone else wore varied expressions, some even looked stunned.

Only Xi Rong remained utterly silent.

Jiang Cheng, however, sharply noticed that His Highness’s gaze had suddenly turned a shade colder, like the chill fog in the morning mountains; intangible, yet it seemed to seep straight into the bones.

The author has something to say:

Xi the Dog (deadpan): He knows way too many ‘brothers.’
Thank you all, enjoy reading!