Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 47

The room Gu Rong had been staying in was on the west side.

When he pushed open the door, he saw someone sitting on the straw mat behind the writing desk. It was Cen Yun.

“Uncle, what brings you here?” Gu Rong asked as he knelt on the opposite side. “Surely it’s not just to have a drink with me in the middle of the night?”

Cen Yun didn’t respond to that, instead fixing him with a probing look. “Rongrong, tell me honestly, did you leave home this time because of some falling-out?”

Two cups of tea sat on the desk. Gu Rong picked one up, took a sip, and shook his head. “No, Uncle. Why would you think that?”

“You’re still trying to lie to me.” Cen Yun’s expression darkened at once. “The last time we saw you was a year and a half ago. If you really were just out for a break, how could it stretch to nearly two full years without going home? And isn’t Xiao Jingming’s birthday coming up soon? Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t you be hurrying back to the capital right now? What are you still doing wandering around in the mountains? Your uncle may be getting old, but my brain still works. Don’t think you can fool me with nonsense.”

Gu Rong remained as lazy and nonchalant as ever. “Uncle, isn’t it a bit hasty to make such judgments based on just that? A grand and noble prince like Prince Xiao has no shortage of people fawning over him and celebrating his birthday. Whether I’m there or not makes no difference. I’m a lazy person; rushing back on horseback is just exhausting. Besides, I think life in these mountains is pretty great. If not, why would you and Uncle Shang have lived here for decades?”

“How can that be the same?” Cen Yun shook his head repeatedly. “We’re just two old men, alone and unburdened, free to do as we please. But you? You’re the only heir of Prince Xiao. The entire weight of the Xiao clan is bound to fall on your shoulders someday. Do you really think you can escape that fate?”

Gu Rong replied indifferently, “Just pick someone else. It’s not like there’s a law in the land that says I have to be the heir. The Xiao clan is full of capable descendants; surely, they can find one to take the title. Besides, he’s never liked me. Making me the heir was never his wish; it’s just something done out of necessity. Now that I’m giving up the position, isn’t it perfect for both sides?”

A vein pulsed at Cen Yun’s temple. “What, are you saying you truly don’t plan on going back?”

Gu Rong smiled and countered, “If I stay here in the mountains with you two from now on, won’t that make you happy, Uncle? Didn’t you both support my ‘heroic decision’ at first and hope I’d stay?”

“Stay with us?” Cen Yun rolled his eyes. “More like stay with your friend, don’t you think? He’s not alone, you know. It’s already late, so does he really need you hovering at his side all the time?”

Feeling guilty, Gu Rong lifted his sleeve and took a sip of tea to cover his expression.

Only after confirming there was nothing suspicious on his face did he set the cup down and say seriously, “He saved my life. Of course I have to repay him in some way. Wasn’t it you who taught me to repay kindness, Uncle?”

Seeing that Cen Yun still frowned, Gu Rong added, “Don’t worry, Uncle. Prince Xiao is swamped with affairs of state and doesn’t have time to come after me. Whatever I do won’t drag you two into it.”

Cen Yun shot him a glare. “We’re already half-buried in the ground. You think we’d be afraid of getting implicated by a brat like you? What I’m worried about is you. You’re still so young, headstrong and impulsive, and you’re already trying to follow us into mountain seclusion? You think living a reclusive life is that easy? Just the loneliness alone, you might not be able to endure.

“Even if I can’t stand many of the things Xiao Jingming does, how can there truly be lasting resentment between father and son? You’re his only flesh and blood. Even if he’s strict with you, do you think he doesn’t still care? All right, it’s late. Get some rest. I’ll leave you be. But remember my words. Don’t act on impulse.” Cen Yun rose to his feet, hands behind his back, and left the room with a sigh every few steps.

Gu Rong remained seated behind the desk, finished the rest of his tea, then took off his outer robe and went straight to bed.

He understood Cen Yun’s concern and that it came from a good place. But Gu Rong was not someone prone to hesitation. Once he made a decision, he never second-guessed himself, never wavered, and never burdened himself with pointless guilt. The kind of person who, as the saying goes, is like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

That emotional confession earlier in the other room was the same. Now that he had chosen that person, he wouldn’t go back on it.

He didn’t even care about the man’s name, background, where he came from, what kind of business he did, or what secrets he held. He was already retreating from the world. Why should he care about worldly views?

And so, lying in bed, Gu Rong couldn’t help but start replaying in his mind the touches and entanglements they’d just shared.

Which made his face heat up again.

However, after the heat came a rush of joy that he couldn’t suppress. Because that feeling of being endlessly accepted and indulged by someone, no matter what terrible things he did, was undeniably wonderful. As despicable and selfish as it might sound.

However, he was used to being carefree and callous. How long the warmth would last, even he didn’t know. Naturally, feelings could change. The man who now risked his life for him might not stay so impulsive and blinded by affection forever.

Who knew which of them would fall out of love first?

Love, after all, was always laced with a touch of indulgence. The happiness of the moment was what mattered; why think too far ahead?

And because he fell asleep in joy, Gu Rong slept soundly and woke up at dawn feeling refreshed.

Unlike his usual idle mornings, today he had a purpose. After washing his face and dressing in his outer robe, he tied up his hair neatly, making himself look presentable, and left the room, heading straight for the east room to see Xi Rong.

Xi Rong was already awake, lying flat on his back. When he saw Gu Rong come in, he looked a bit surprised.

Gu Rong first checked his wound. Confirming there was no issue, he sat cross-legged on the straw mat beside the bed as usual.

The two of them locked eyes.

With tender warmth in his gaze, Xi Rong asked, “Why are you up so early?”

Gu Rong replied, “I wanted to be the first person you saw. And I also wanted you to be the first person to see me.”

There was no mistaking the directness of those words.

Xi Rong no longer felt like his heart had been filled with honey. It felt like it had melted into honey itself.

Gu Rong hadn’t expected himself to be so bold… so indulgent… when it came to matters like this. After speaking, even his ears flushed a little. He deliberately asked, “No one else has come by yet, right?”

“No,” Xi Rong replied. “You’re the first.” A smile curled at his lips and his heartbeat had never felt so chaotic and intense.

“Mm.” Gu Rong gave a small nod, then suddenly stood up and cupped Xi Rong’s face, still pale but visibly more handsome than the day before, and without any rhythm or method, rained down a flurry of kisses on him. Afterwards, he grinned like a little fox and said, “I’m collecting this much for today first.”

So he had been keeping track of last night’s ‘debt.’

…He really didn’t care if Xi Rong lived or died, huh?

Xi Rong, blood surging and heart racing, thought as much.

Almost instinctively, he grabbed that slim waist, about to flip over and pin Gu Rong down.

But Gu Rong was faster; he arched his waist up and pressed a hand to Xi Rong’s chest. “I’m the debt collector. You don’t get to. If someone sees, you’ll be thrown out.”

As if to confirm that very warning, footsteps suddenly sounded outside.

The two of them immediately released each other like guilty thieves.

It was Jiang Cheng who entered.

Seeing Gu Rong already inside, Jiang Cheng looked quite surprised. The young master had actually woken up early instead of sleeping in!

Naturally, Jiang Cheng had come to check on Xi Rong’s condition. “Lord Song and Lord Zhou are making breakfast. They asked me to come see how you’re doing, master.”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t shake the strange feeling in the room. That talkative young master was now quietly sitting, propping up his chin and staring at the ceiling. His Highness lay flat on the pillow, clearly still in a blood-deprived state, yet his chest rose and fell with suspicious vigor. The two of them… actually looked like they’d had a falling-out.

Jiang Cheng tensed up. “Is Your Highness’s wound troubling you?”

“I’m fine,” Xi Rong replied coolly. “Go help Lord Song and Lord Zhou with breakfast.”

Jiang Cheng was stunned. He was a martial arts fanatic who didn’t know the first thing about cooking. Usually, he was in charge of washing dishes or maybe carrying a tray, nothing more. And now His Highness was sending him to cook. He didn’t dare ask further, so he simply bowed and took his leave.

Once the room returned to silence, Xi Rong reached out and took Gu Rong’s hand. He called softly, “Rongrong.”

Gu Rong, still propping his chin, didn’t look down. “Mm?”

Xi Rong said, “Look at me, will you?” His voice was pitiful, almost pleading.

So Gu Rong slowly lowered his hand and met his gaze.

At once, Xi Rong’s lips and eyes filled with joy. He gently caressed Gu Rong’s slender, elegant wrist and said, “Now that our hearts belong to each other, I realize that I never told you my real name.”

Gu Rong hadn’t really cared, but he played along. “Now that you mention it, you didn’t. What is it?”

“My mother’s surname was Li. She gave me the courtesy name Junjing. I prefer that name,” Xi Rong said it plainly.

Gu Rong nodded. “Li Junjing… It sounds lovely. I like it too.”

Xi Rong was clearly delighted by that approval. Then he reached into his robe and took something out, placing it into Gu Rong’s palm.

Gu Rong looked down. It was an item wrapped in a handkerchief, still warm from being kept close to the body. It was clearly something important. And it was heavy, with notable weight.

“Open it and see,” said Xi Rong.

Gu Rong, curious about its contents, unfolded the handkerchief and found inside a finely forged copper key, far larger than an ordinary one. He asked, “What is this?”

He had, in fact, guessed that the other might, like in the storybooks, give him a token of affection. He thought it would be something elegant like a jade pendant, a fan tassel, or something of that sort. He never expected this.

Who gives a key as a love token?

Xi Rong, however, said earnestly, “This is the key to my private treasury. All the money I’ve saved from my business dealings over the years is stored inside. Although it’s not a fortune, it’s more than enough to support you for a long time. I thought about it all night and only this can truly convey my sincerity toward you. Now that our hearts are joined, I must give you something real and tangible as a form of security.”

After a pause, he added, “Don’t worry, I’ll work hard to earn more in the future.”

Gu Rong: “…………”

So, in the other’s eyes, just how extravagant did he think he was?

Outside, a foot that had been about to step into the room silently retreated.

Song Yang had rushed over after Jiang Cheng, who’d insisted on helping him make breakfast, whispered to him while he was focused on stir-frying, that His Highness and the young master seemed to have had an argument.

It was a serious matter.

He’d immediately dropped the spatula and tiptoed over to check on the situation…

Only to stumble upon this scene.

That wooden block Jiang Cheng had nearly gotten him killed!

However, Song Yang too couldn’t help but feel dazed and distressed. His Highness had really just handed over the key to the Eastern Palace’s private treasury?

Wasn’t that a bit too rash?

The author has something to say:

Baby Rongrong: Caught the lifeline of the entire Eastern Palace off guard.
Xi the Dog: The dutiful crown prince is working hard to make money for his wife.
Thank you all, happy reading!