Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 51

Just now, Xi Rong and the others had been speaking on the cliffs behind the house. To prevent any accidents with Zhang Jiuyi, Jiang Cheng had placed him in the small room where he, Song Yang, and Zhou Wenhe slept before hurrying off to the back of the mountain.

However, Zhang Jiuyi had woken up on his own. Not seeing Ji Ziqing upon waking, he immediately recognized that he was in the same mountain cottage he had visited once before. Naturally, he ran into Gu Rong, who was seated on a straw mat reading.

At that moment, Gu Rong was flipping through a medical text, studying how to properly incorporate the Ice Soul herb into medicine. He was also surprised to see a living person like Zhang Jiuyi suddenly walk in.

“I got separated from Ziqing! He was taken away by those mountain bandits staying at your place!” Zhang Jiuyi exclaimed in panic.

“Mountain bandits?”

“That’s right, young master. The man who opened the door for us earlier was clearly a bandit, armed and highly skilled in martial arts. But, young master, are you part of their group? Did you really try to assassinate Prince Yan? How could you be so bold, trying to assassinate a prince?!” Zhang Jiuyi rattled off all his confused questions like a rapid-fire volley. Finally, he pleaded, “Young master, could you ask your mountain bandit friends to let Ziqing go? He still has an elderly mother at home. If he doesn’t return, Madam Ji will surely be worried sick!”

Gu Rong quickly pieced together the situation.

When Xi Rong had left earlier, he’d only said he had a small business matter to attend to. Gu Rong hadn’t expected it to involve Ji Ziqing. Regardless of the truth, they had just barely escaped their pursuers. They couldn’t risk their whereabouts being exposed by the clueless and naïve scholar in front of them.

Gu Rong immediately set his book down and gently reassured him, “Don’t worry, your friend won’t be harmed. They probably just want to speak with him. They’re not mountain bandits at all, just regular merchants. It’s those powerful clans and corrupt officials who failed to extort money, so they got angry and slandered them as bandits. Master Zhang, if you want to stay out of trouble, it’s best you forget everything you’ve seen here.”

Zhang Jiuyi, although straightforward, was not a fool. He quickly nodded. “Don’t worry. As long as they release Ziqing, I swear I’ll never breathe a word about your whereabouts. If you don’t believe me, I’ll swear on my life or sign something if you like.”

Gu Rong said it wasn’t necessary and, to ease the boy’s nerves, invited him to have a drink.

Gu Rong was elegant in appearance and spoke in a warm, gentle tone. Zhang Jiuyi quickly relaxed and, remembering that his original reason for following Ji Ziqing up the mountain was to enjoy the scenery, soon opened up and began chatting freely with Gu Rong.

It was that scene Xi Rong walked into when he returned.

Zhang Jiuyi was talking animatedly, but the moment he saw Xi Rong, he jolted in fright and dropped his wine bowl.

“Brother, this gentleman came looking for his friend. Are you done discussing matters?” Gu Rong spoke first.

The shadow in Xi Rong’s gaze immediately faded. He nodded. “We’ve finished.”

Not long after, Ji Ziqing returned with Jiang Cheng and the others. Upon learning what had happened, his expression changed and he rushed in to drag Zhang Jiuyi up from the straw mat. “Young master, sorry to bother you. We’ll be leaving now.”

Seeing that he was unharmed, Zhang Jiuyi let out a breath of relief, then said a little dejectedly, “Back to that petty tyrant again. Honestly, I’d rather stay here. Ziqing, I really don’t get why you insist on working for that Yan family. Yan Maocai treats us like servants, barks orders like we’re animals. I’d rather follow a pig!”

Ji Ziqing immediately cut him off. “Watch what you’re saying. Don’t forget that you’re also a clerk at the Yan family’s residence now. Lord Yan has the trust of the Minister of State Affairs. His son may be temperamental, but he pays us well. There are plenty of people who would kill for this chance. Don’t take your blessings for granted. If you really don’t want the job, go resign tomorrow. I won’t stop you.”

Zhang Jiuyi, seeing his friend truly angry, grumbled, “Fine, fine, I was just venting. If I weren’t worried about you being alone at the Yan family’s residence, you think I’d subject myself to that crap?”

The two of them bid Gu Rong farewell and left.

It wasn’t until they passed the courtyard gate that Zhang Jiuyi dared to speak again. “Ziqing, what’s going on? You said you came up the mountain on business. Was it just to meet that man? Are you out of your mind? They’re wanted criminals! Last time at the Golden Lantern Pavilion, they even impersonated Prince Yan’s people to commit fraud! How can you be involved with people like that? If your mother found out, she’d be worried sick!”

“Jiuyi, they’re not bandits.”

Things had gone far enough. If he didn’t tell the truth now, it would only lead to more misunderstandings. After walking some distance and making sure no one was around, Ji Ziqing stopped and said, “The gentleman I spoke with… is His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The mountain wind swept by with a chill, leaving Zhang Jiuyi in stunned disarray. He froze, jaw slack, staring at his friend in horror. His mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg. “Th-The Crown Prince?? How could the Crown Prince… Heavens, I actually met the Crown Prince and behaved so rudely in front of him! Ziqing, wh-what exactly is going on? So you’re loyal to the Crown Prince now, working under him?”

Ji Ziqing nodded. “That’s right. I kept it from you before because I didn’t want to drag you into this and bring disaster upon you. I hadn’t planned to bring you along today either.”

Zhang Jiuyi’s head was still buzzing, his eyes glazed as he walked forward for a while. Then he suddenly stopped. “So, you entered the Yan household as a clerk under the Crown Prince’s orders?”

Ji Ziqing nodded again.

Zhang Jiuyi looked dazed. Then he suddenly gripped Ji Ziqing’s hand tightly and said, “Ziqing, why don’t you take your mother, I’ll take my father and mother, and we’ll all leave Songzhou Prefecture together?!”

Seeing his friend remain silent, Zhang Jiuyi became anxious. “I may not be as well-read as you, but I know that in court right now, the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses all support the Prince of Wei or the Prince of Jin. Not a single one backs the Crown Prince. He’s already offended the Cui clan and so many noble families. Following the Crown Prince is like throwing an egg at a rock. You’re destroying your future, Ziqing!

“No! Actually, you’re not just destroying your future; you might lose your life as well! I know you feel unappreciated, that you’ve been suppressed and mistreated by Yan Maocai and have grown disillusioned, but you can’t be this reckless. Think of your mother! She’s getting old and if anything happens to you, how could she bear it? Be honest, did the Crown Prince threaten you into doing this?”

Ji Ziqing slowly shook his head. “I chose this of my own free will. I know it’s a difficult path, even an irrational one. But once the bow is drawn, there’s no turning back. Since I’ve chosen this road, there’s no retreat. But Jiuyi, you’re different. Your family is better off than mine. You’ve done nothing to offend the Yan household. You still have options and you can choose another future.”

Of course, Ji Ziqing also firmly believed that with Xi Rong’s capabilities, had he shown the slightest hesitation or disloyalty earlier, he would not have walked down that mountain alive.

As he had said, the moment he chose to serve the Crown Prince and the Eastern Palace, there was no turning back.

“I…” Zhang Jiuyi fell silent. “My head’s a mess. Let me think for a bit.”

He had thought being a scapegoat for the Yan household was miserable enough but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined stumbling into something a thousand times more terrifying.

***

Xi Rong emerged from the stone cave to see Gu Rong still sitting on the straw mat, flipping through books. A few more volumes had appeared before him. Xi Rong quietly returned to his seat and picked up the book he’d been reading earlier.

“You don’t want to ask what business I had with Ji Ziqing?” Xi Rong suddenly spoke.

Gu Rong looked up from his book, smiling. “Whatever it was, I’m sure it was something important to you. Since you sought him out, I assume he’s able to help you in some significant way.” Perhaps sensing Xi Rong’s mood, he added pointedly, “Don’t worry, I’m not that nosy. You don’t have to explain everything to me.”

Those words couldn’t be more considerate.

The Crown Prince, who ought to feel honored, was silent for a moment. Then he asked casually, “Weren’t you curious why he went to work for the Yan family? Why didn’t you just ask him?”

Gu Rong shook his head. “That Scholar Ji isn’t the impulsive type. If he made that decision, he must have had his reasons. If there’s something he’s not at liberty to reveal, me asking would just make things awkward. Besides, if he wants to establish himself in Songzhou Prefecture, bowing his head for a while and humbling himself under the Yans could be a smart way to survive. It’s better than going head-to-head with Yan Maocai and becoming a target.”

Xi Rong fell into a second silence. “You’re quite thoughtful and considerate of him.”

“Well, the situation is a bit unusual. It’s only natural to speculate,” Gu Rong replied casually and then lowered his gaze to continue reading.

“Would you like some wine?” Xi Rong asked again.

Gu Rong shook his head once more. “No more. Another drink and I’ll start getting dizzy.”

Xi Rong let out a soft “Mm” and also went back to his book.

The wooden house fell into a peaceful silence, broken only by the sound of pages turning. It was their first evening together since returning and naturally, the night held special meaning. With no outsiders around to watch them, they were finally free to do anything they wanted.

Xi Rong had envisioned many scenarios for how the night might unfold but he never expected Gu Rong to be completely absorbed in medical texts, as if they had never entered a relationship at all.

He didn’t want to pressure him. But he also absolutely couldn’t accept their relationship regressing.

Gu Rong’s medical texts were quite eclectic, many from unorthodox schools with few reputable classics, so this time he had deliberately borrowed some more standard volumes from Shang Buyu and Cen Yun. Even so, those orthodox works rarely mentioned the Ice Soul or how to refine it. Gu Rong could only refer to the preparation methods of other extremely cold medicines and record them for comparison.

So in addition to the books, Gu Rong had a set of paper and brush in front of him, taking notes as he read.

“Reading too long at night will hurt your eyes. Tomorrow, I’ll help you look too,” a low, gentle voice sounded, accompanied by a long shadow falling over him.

Gu Rong looked up and sure enough, Xi Rong was standing right in front of him. He nodded, set aside the book and brush, stretched lazily, and was just about to stand when a pair of hands reached out and scooped him up in a bridal carry.

Completely caught off guard, Gu Rong’s first reaction was embarrassment. After all, from childhood to now, he had rarely been held in such an intimate way. But then he remembered that they were already in a relationship, so being carried like this wasn’t really a big deal. Besides, after reading for so long, his legs had indeed gone a bit numb. Being carried in like this actually felt quite comfortable. So he didn’t move at all, letting the other place him down gently onto the stone bed.

The bed had clearly been carefully prepared because the bedding was softer than ever before. Whatever had been laid beneath it made it several times more comfortable than the hard board beds at his two uncles’ home.

However, what truly surprised Gu Rong was that the bed was now covered in delicate pink peach blossoms. On the stone table beside it sat a pair of red candles and two wine cups already filled.

Gu Rong was taken aback. “This is…”

As one sat and the other stood, Xi Rong said, “I heard there’s a folk tale: if two lovers make a wish to the Flower Deity and drink peach blossom wine together, they will stay in love until their hair turns white, never parting. Tonight, shall we hold a simple ceremony before the Flower Deity? Think of it as a promise from me to you.”

Gu Rong truly hadn’t been prepared for this kind of moment. But seeing the anticipation on Xi Rong’s face, he couldn’t bear to refuse. After a moment’s thought, he nodded.

After all, it was just a simple folk custom. The other must have gone to great lengths to prepare this. If he refused, wouldn’t that ruin everything? And truthfully, looking at the flowers scattered across the bed and room, it was hard not to feel moved.

With that, his mindset relaxed a great deal.

He stiffly asked, “What do we need to do next?”

Xi Rong’s lips curled lightly. “I heard the Flower Deity dwells in the southeast. Let’s start by making a wish in that direction?”

Gu Rong nodded reservedly. “Alright. But I also heard that if you say your wish aloud, it won’t come true. Why don’t we just say them silently?”

Xi Rong agreed.

The two knelt side by side facing southeast, silently praying in their hearts. Then they drank the wine from the table together.

After setting down his cup, Gu Rong asked, “Does this mean we can go to sleep now?”

“Yes.”

“What about all these flowers?”

“Tradition says we must lie among them for the whole night.”

“Oh.”

The two lay down with Gu Rong on the inner side and Xi Rong on the outer.

Gu Rong asked, “Aren’t we supposed to blow out the candles?”

Xi Rong replied, “They’re supposed to burn through the whole night.”

Just as he finished speaking, a shadow darted lightning-fast across his line of sight and landed squarely in Gu Rong’s arms.

It was the tabby cat.

Gu Rong instinctively wrapped his arms around it. “The Flower Deity didn’t say we couldn’t sleep with a cat, did they?”

Xi Rong’s chest rose and fell slightly, then he shook his head. “No.”

“Where are you going?” Seeing Xi Rong suddenly get up, Gu Rong turned his head and asked.

“To grab a book,” Xi Rong replied in a low voice. Moments later, he returned carrying a thick stack of Buddhist scriptures. It was one of the three ‘mountains’ of books that had previously been moved elsewhere.

Gu Rong, hugging the cat with only his head sticking out, asked, “You’re going to read all of that?”

Xi Rong stacked the books again between them, picked up the top one, the Diamond Sutra, and said, “I want to calm my mind.” Xi Rong silently flipped through the sutra.

Page after page.

Suddenly, Gu Rong let out a soft gasp from within the covers.

Xi Rong immediately set down the book. “What’s wrong?”

Gu Rong replied, “I think one of the flowers you laid out pricked me.”

“Let me see.” Xi Rong’s expression changed slightly. He had clearly handled them with great care.

He pulled back the blanket, helping Gu Rong sit up, and carefully inspected each blossom one by one. None of them had any thorns and in fact, several had already been crushed flat. Peach petals were scattered everywhere.

Gu Rong slowly lay back down. “It was probably just my imagination.” Petals clung to his sleeves and hair, their lush color striking against him. Then he looked up at Xi Rong, who had suddenly gone still above him, his gaze heavy, like molten lava simmering in the eyes of a beast about to pounce. Gu Rong said, “Aren’t you going to keep reading your sutras?”

“I didn’t take in a single word just now,” Xi Rong murmured. “Rongrong, to tell you the truth, I want to sleep holding you.”

“Oh.”

“Would you… mind?”

Gu Rong turned his gaze away. “I… guess it’s fine.”

Xi Rong’s heart pounded wildly. “And the cat…”

Gu Rong slowly inched deeper beneath the blanket. “Didn’t you make a cat bed for it?”

The author has something to say:

Kitty Cat: In the end… I gave my heart to the wrong person!
Thank you all, happy reading.

E/N: You know what that wedding ceremony is? Happiness before the heartbreak T^T