Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 5

Xi Rong returned to his temporary residence. That night, two important subordinates from the Eastern Palace, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe, rushed over as well.

Song Yang, in his forties, had long served as Xi Rong’s strategist. Everyone in the Eastern Palace respectfully called him ‘Lord Song.’ He was one of Xi Rong’s most trusted confidants.

As soon as they met, Song Yang knelt down to apologize. “It was all my foolish presumption. I acted on my own and sent Chen Changsheng and the others to recruit on behalf of Your Highness, which almost backfired. I deserve ten thousand deaths. Please punish me, Your Highness!”

“You’ve had a long journey, sir. Please rise.”

The room was bright as day under the lamplight. Xi Rong sat in layered shadows, dressed in dark robes and a black crown. He lifted his cool, sharp gaze and tapped a finger on the table as he spoke. “I know you meant well, sir. However, next time you attempt something like this, it would be best to inform me first.”

The words weren’t heavy, but they weren’t light either.

Song Yang stood up, sweat on his back as he replied with embarrassment. In his heart, he understood that Xi Rong was upholding his dignity. Otherwise, if punishment had been directly delivered, he wouldn’t have even had the chance to beg for forgiveness.

“Serve the gentlemen some late-night snacks,” Xi Rong gave another order.

The attendant acknowledged respectfully and immediately went to make the arrangements.

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe quickly expressed their gratitude before finally sitting down.

Zhou Wenhe’s face was filled with anger. “Who would’ve thought His Highness Prince of Wei would stoop so low, resorting to such vile and disgraceful tactics to smear His Highness’s name.”

“Twisting the truth and confusing right and wrong has always been His Highness Prince of Wei’s method. This time, it was my carelessness,” said Song Yang.

The two men exchanged silent sighs in their hearts.

His Highness Prince of Wei’s means might be despicable and dirty, his behavior hypocritical and artificial, but unfortunately, those scholars ate that up the most. With the tactics to twist the facts and buy favor, he had successfully built himself a reputation as a ‘virtuous prince’ over the years, winning much of the public’s support.

In contrast, the Crown Prince’s reputation had grown worse by the day and he was frequently referred to as a yaksha.

“If it weren’t for the Cui clan fanning the flames behind the scenes, how could His Highness Prince of Wei alone stir up such a storm?” Zhou Wenhe clenched his fists in fury.

The room fell into silence.

Jiang Cheng almost burned his hand with the tea and couldn’t help glancing at the hot-tempered Lord Zhou.

Only then did Zhou Wenhe realize his slip of the tongue. He really must’ve had his head kicked by a donkey. Why, of all things, did he have to bring up that hateful Cui clan in front of His Highness…?

He was growing more and more anxious, when from the main seat, Xi Rong said mildly, “Whether it’s the Cui clan or the Prince of Wei, there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing. After the battle in the southwest, I won. And it’s not just the Prince of Wei and the Cui clan who feel uneasy about that.”

Song Yang cleared his throat at just the right moment and picked up the thread. “The battle in the southwest was perilous. If not for His Highness personally holding the front and keeping all sides in check, winning against the odds despite the lack of supplies, who knows how long the war might have dragged on? That must’ve caught His Highness Prince of Wei completely off guard.

“For this Chu River Gathering, nearly all of the Five Great Clans or Seven Noble Houses, save for the Xiao clan, have sent envoys to Songzhou. The level of attention is unprecedented and I fear it is directly related.”

Naturally, because of His Highness Crown Prince’s thunderous actions in the southwest, rumors of his brutality had spread more widely among the people. Those scholars who didn’t know the truth were inclined to believe the rumors spread by His Highness Prince of Wei, keeping their distance from the Eastern Palace.

“But I heard from Chen Changsheng that one young gentleman actually came to submit a name card today…” Song Yang said with a touch of hope.

“Don’t even mention it. He was a little swindler,” Jiang Cheng replied mercilessly.

Song Yang: ?

Having returned in haste, Song Yang hadn’t had time to ask for details. He was surprised. “A little swindler?”

“That’s right. A swindler who moochs food and drink right out of His Highness. The world’s really going downhill.”

Song Yang actually found himself curious. “Most people wouldn’t dare try that. Are we sure he was a scholar?”

“More than that.” Jiang Cheng sipped his tea, shaking his head repeatedly. “If you saw him, my lord, you’d hardly believe it. He looked like a delicate and gentle young man but he could lie through his teeth without blinking. Truly eye-opening. If you ask me, this business of giving wine to anyone who submits a name card should probably be put to an end quickly, Lord Song, before more little swindlers show up.”

Everyone laughed at that.

Song Yang hadn’t expected the only visitor to be such a character and felt a bit disappointed. Then he remembered another matter, hesitated briefly, and pulled out a letter from his robes, standing up. “Your Highness, I have some good news.”

Xi Rong lifted his eyes.

Song Yang said, “When I left the southwest, the Cao family took the initiative to send word. They said they have a granddaughter of marriageable age and if Your Highness doesn’t mind, they’re willing to marry her into the Eastern Palace.”

“Could it be the Cao family of Ruanling?!” Zhou Wenhe’s eyes lit up.

“That’s right, the very same Cao family, one of the Seven Noble Houses. Although not among the Five Great Clans, the Cao family has long established itself in the court and has considerable influence. Many of their descendants are in officialdom. If Your Highness could marry into the Cao family, it would be greatly beneficial for both you and the Eastern Palace.” Song Yang couldn’t hide his pleasure.

In the royal family, marriage alliances had always been the most common and fastest way to solidify one’s position and power, even the emperor was no exception.

Among the princes, the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin had married daughters from the Liu and Wang clans respectively, both reputable among noble families. But His Highness, despite being the heir, had yet to marry a crown princess, partly because he was half-foreign in blood.

There was also the old incident years ago that had led to rumors of madness surrounding His Highness. Moreover, the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses had all looked down on him for his impure bloodline, with none willing to form a marriage alliance with the Eastern Palace.

As for prominent noble families like the Xiao and Cui clans, they weren’t even worth hoping for. For years, even some of the less powerful of the Seven Noble Houses had turned up their noses at the Eastern Palace. Their difficult situation was evident.

If His Highness Crown Prince wasn’t naturally resilient, always planning before taking action, and hadn’t managed to steady himself time and again in the face of conspiracies and desperate situations, it would still be uncertain who would be sitting in the position of crown prince today.

As for the matter of marriage, Song Yang had nearly given up hope. He never expected that after the great victory in the southwest, the Cao family from among the Seven Noble Houses would actually take the initiative to seek reconciliation. It came as an overwhelming surprise and joy to him.

A marriage alliance with the Cao family didn’t only mean an additional strong supporter for His Highness at court, it also meant His Highness was finally being accepted by the orthodox scholarly class represented by the Five Great Clan and the Seven Noble Houses. It was an extraordinary sign.

On his way there, Song Yang had been filled with excitement. But that excitement faded as he realized how unusually quiet the room had become.

He looked up and saw his lord still seated behind the desk with the same calm, indifferent expression as always, showing none of the joy he had expected.

“If I recall correctly, the Cao family also has a daughter who was taken as a concubine by the Prince of Wei,” Xi Rong said.

Song Yang nodded. “That’s true, but—”

“No need to say more,” Xi Rong interrupted.

His gaze swept darkly across the desk covered in scrolls. “The Cao family chose me because the Prince of Wei favors the Cui clan and neglects the Cao family, even looking down on them. I know that marrying into the Cao family would bring many benefits. I know you’ve worked hard to arrange this and I understand that noble houses like the Cao family hedge their bets on many fronts. This is normal.

“But if I were truly relying on a marriage alliance to clear my path, I would never have fought through life-and-death situations to reach this point. This matter need not be brought up again.”

Song Yang didn’t dare argue and could only obey, slowly sitting back down.

He also understood that the Cao family, a household of only middling power among the Seven Noble Houses, would not dare ask outright for the position of crown princess unless they already harbored some measure of disrespect for the Eastern Palace. Even so, for the Eastern Palace, it was already the best option available.

The Cao family had seen this clearly, hence their boldness in making the offer.

After the discussion ended, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe walked together back to their quarters.

With his hands behind his back, Zhou Wenhe asked, “Why the heavy heart? Is it because His Highness rejected the Cao family’s marriage offer?”

Song Yang replied, “I can understand His Highness’s rejection and honestly, I’m not even that surprised. What I don’t understand is this; great men don’t fuss over minor details. His Highness has endured countless humiliations to get where he is today. When he sought to enter the Cui clan years ago, we both saw the lengths he went to. The advantages of marrying into the Cao family are clear, so I don’t understand why he would reject them so decisively. It doesn’t align with how he usually acts.”

Although Zhou Wenhe had a fiery temper, he was quite perceptive. With a thoughtful look, he said, “You’re worried that His Highness still holds a grudge over what happened back then?”

“Yes. That incident nearly ruined his life.” Song Yang sighed heavily.

“If Heaven had eyes, it would’ve struck down that wretched Cui clan long ago!” Zhou Wenhe said bitterly.

Song Yang sighed again. “The Cui clan is at its peak, how could they be struck down just like that? I’m just worried that now that we’ve rejected the Cao family, the road ahead will only be more difficult for His Highness.”

Both men grew solemn. Zhou Wenhe tried to offer comfort, “You’re worrying too much. No matter how powerful the Cui clan is, they’re still constantly being suppressed by the Xiao clan at court.”

But it didn’t bring Song Yang much comfort.

“The Cui clan is hard enough to deal with. The Xiao clan is even more unfathomable. That Prince Xiao is famous for his kind face and ruthless methods. Over the years, he has made Cui Daohuan eat humble pie more than once. And don’t forget how His Highness got the nickname ‘Demon Yaksha’ in the first place.” |2|

Some long-buried memories suddenly rose to the surface.

Zhou Wenhe’s face turned a mix of green and red. “If you hadn’t reminded me, I’d have forgotten that arrogant lunatic brat with all his talent in Xiao Royal Residence!”

***

Gu Rong sneezed hard. After sleeping soundly, he woke to find daylight streaming in through the windows.

He instinctively reached for the familiar civet cat that usually curled up beside him, but instead, his hand met a patch of smooth, cool fabric. Rubbing his eyes, he realized he was lying in an unfamiliar room. He wasn’t on his usual stone bed, but on a large bed with soft quilts and carefully arranged decor.

Oh no. Where was he?

Gu Rong snapped awake. He sat up and looked around. He had only an underrobe on, while his outer robe was hanging neatly on a nearby rack, and his shoes were placed in order by the bed.

It didn’t look like he’d been robbed. So what happened?

He had no memory of anything after getting drunk. He vaguely remembered squeezing into an old boat cabin by the river with two beggar brothers and falling asleep under the breeze and moonlight.

So how had he suddenly been transported elsewhere?

Still groggy, Gu Rong got up, put on his shoes and robe, and opened the door, only to see an attendant dressed in inn staff attire standing at the doorway with a copper basin in hand, waiting attentively.

“Young master is awake?” the inn attendant greeted him warmly.

Gu Rong nodded, instantly realizing it was an inn. But that wasn’t the important part. What mattered was how could he afford to stay at such a finely furnished, clearly expensive inn.

“I am…?” Gu Rong nervously rubbed his forehead, unsure whether he had done something shameful or reckless while drunk the night before.

He hadn’t yet figured out how to explain himself when the attendant spilled everything like beans from a jar, “Young master was drunk last night and it was your elder brother who brought you here. He instructed us to take good care of you!”

Gu Rong froze. “My elder brother?”

“Yes! Young master is graceful and refined, with a noble air. Your elder brother is also a man of impressive bearing and grandeur, truly a pair of outstanding talents from the same family!”

Gu Rong had been wondering where the supposed elder brother had come from. But hearing that, something occurred to him, and he asked, “That… elder brother… Was he wearing dark robes and a black crown, with a sword at his waist?”

“That’s right!”

So it really was that man. Gu Rong was quite surprised.

The attendant said, “I’ll help you wash up, young master, then take you to the main hall for breakfast.”

Now that he understood the situation, Gu Rong let out a breath of relief. “You can leave the things there. I’ll manage myself,” he said.

Once the attendant had left, Gu Rong wandered around the room and spotted three boxes of osmanthus cakes placed on the small table beside the bed.

It really had been that gentleman who brought him here.

How utterly embarrassing.

He must have made a complete fool of himself while drunk last night and all in front of that man. And he’d even boasted so boldly about drinking together like equals. What’s worse, that gentleman probably thought he was wealthy, sending him to such a lavish inn.

Gu Rong quickly washed his face and re-tied his black hair before heading downstairs looking halfway presentable. It was still early and there weren’t many people in the main hall. The attendant hurried over to greet him and invited him to sit for breakfast.

Gu Rong was painfully aware of how little money he had and could hardly afford to eat at such an expensive place. He asked a little guiltily, “Your establishment is clearly large and prosperous, with many guests every day. I imagine quite a few people must run up tabs?”

The attendant answered seriously, “Young master, you jest. The guests who stay here are all distinguished and reputable, who would stoop to leaving debts?”

“Not even one?”

“Absolutely none! Please rest assured, young master.”

“…”

Gu Rong could only brace himself and pretend to be calm. “I’m in a hurry, so I’ll skip breakfast. Just let me settle last night’s room fee—”

The attendant quickly said, “No need to worry, young master. Your elder brother already paid for three days in advance.”

“Huh?”

“It’s true! Not just the room, your elder brother also said your meal expenses are covered. He told us to let you order whatever you like. Young master, you’re truly blessed to have such a thoughtful and generous elder brother! Oh, right, you mentioned you were in a rush just now…”

“Ahem.” Gu Rong crossed his arms and covered his mouth, clearing his throat. “I just remembered that my brother asked me to handle something for him this morning. Silly me, I forgot all about it. At this hour, that place probably hasn’t opened yet. Never mind, I’ll eat first before I go.”

“Exactly! No matter how urgent the task, you need to eat first to have the strength for it!” The attendant quickly cleared a table. “Please have a seat, young master. I’ll go get you a menu.”

The author has something to say:

Baby Rongrong: Everyone, bear witness, I already called him ‘brother,’ so freeloading one meal isn’t too much, right?