Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 55

To indulge in pleasure in a place like this, once it began, it was a storm that could not be stopped.

Xi Rong lost himself in it more completely than he ever had before.

Normally, when they were intimate in the wooden cottage, Gu Rong would restrain himself out of shame, aware that others were nearby in the courtyard. He would never make much sound. But this time, their location had shifted to a wide, empty mountain valley.

The wildflowers blooming in every direction concealed all shame, all decorum, all refinement.

Each cry of ‘Third Brother’ trembled at the end, sounding more like sobs than speech, utterly transformed. This little gentleman, turned into an enchanted sprite, still wrapped himself around Xi Rong’s waist like a soft vine, begging for more.

Xi Rong was fully recovered now, his poison half-purged, his strength and stamina intact. He had only ever restrained himself for fear Gu Rong couldn’t handle too much.

However, today was completely different.

He realized then that the refined and seemingly fragile little gentleman possessed astonishing endurance.

Even those things he had never dared try before, he was able to slowly savor every winding, intoxicating facet of the man’s delicate form.

Gu Rong didn’t bite him, but he clung tightly around his waist, and when his arms gave out, those slender white hands gripped the surrounding wildflowers, crushing them and staining the soft ground with streaks of violet nectar.

Until even the ever-composed and self-disciplined Xi Rong was driven to the brink of losing all rationality.

What use were empires? What use was the great cause?

In that moment, Xi Rong truly felt he no longer wanted to fight and no longer wanted anything. All he wished for was to remain in the valley forever, entwined with Gu Rong day after day, growing old together like a pair of carefree immortals.

By the time they were finished, night had fallen.

Stars hung quietly in the vast, dark sky, and moonlight blanketed the mountain path in soft silver, glimmering like snow from a distance.

Xi Rong carried Gu Rong on his back, stepping through the silvery night, ascending the mountain trail.

“Third Brother…”

The man on his back murmured softly in his sleep, full of tender longing. Xi Rong’s lips curved into a smile. His heart melted into warm syrup once more.

Both of them were soaked through.

Afraid Gu Rong might catch a chill, Xi Rong carefully wrapped him in the black cloak he’d brought earlier.

They had, of course, ridden horses to the valley, but halfway back, Gu Rong had insisted on dismounting and being carried, saying he wanted to admire the mountain scenery.

However, the moment he got on Xi Rong’s back, he closed his eyes and fell asleep, his arms still tightly wrapped around Xi Rong’s neck, his damp black hair brushing his skin, and now and then, he’d murmur ‘Third Brother’ again.

He had to take him away.

Even if he had to abduct him, he would take him.

Xi Rong reaffirmed his decision with absolute certainty.

He loved him this deeply and Gu Rong loved him just the same.

How could he possibly be unwilling to go with him?

Wuzhuo, the black horse, followed silently behind its master.

The air carried the scent of fresh grass and unknown wildflowers. The night wind swept through the forest, rustling the leaves. The rain earlier had been heavy and puddles still dotted the mountain path. Wuzhuo, having run freely all day, deliberately stomped into the water, sending up fine sprays with each step.

Unusually, Xi Rong didn’t stop it. Instead, he let the splashes hit the hem of his robe.

Back at the wooden cottage, Xi Rong gently laid Gu Rong on a straw mat and covered him with his cloak, then went out into the courtyard to boil water.

Song Yang immediately came over to help, taking the chance to ask, “Your Highness, did you speak with the young master?”

Xi Rong shook his head.

Song Yang looked completely shocked and disbelieving.

His Highness had taken the young master out since the afternoon and they had only now returned. After spending so much time together, how had there not been a chance to talk?

Uneasy, Song Yang guessed, “Did the young master reject Your Highness?”

Xi Rong shook his head again. “I haven’t had a chance to tell him yet. But I believe he’ll agree. Tomorrow, I’ll tell him everything.”

Why wait until tomorrow and not speak tonight? Song Yang naturally understood.

After all, the young master had been carried back on His Highness’s back… Although Xi Rong’s clothing was neat, there were subtle traces of what had taken place.

“Does Your Highness intend to tell him your true identity?”

“It must be said eventually. Since I plan to take him with me, I can’t keep it from him any longer.”

His Highness spoke with such certainty that Song Yang knew the decision had been made. He let out a long breath and smiled. “Honestly, I think the same. That young master is so fond of Your Highness, how could he bear to part from you? The capital is lively; he’s sure to love it. And the Eastern Palace has so many vacant positions, so he’ll definitely find a place to put his talents to use.”

Xi Rong nodded. “I will tell him I intend to make him the Crown Consort. The only Crown Consort. In title and position, I will never allow him to suffer even the slightest indignity.”

Song Yang froze. The relief he had just felt instantly turned into deep worry. His Highness truly meant it.

As the Crown Prince, he actually intended to marry a common-born young man as his official consort. Song Yang couldn’t even begin to imagine the political storm it would unleash in both court and society!

By all rights, as an advisor, he should immediately dissuade His Highness from such a reckless decision and offer sound counsel.

However, seeing his sovereign so deeply in love, how could he bring himself to dampen His Highness’s joy at such a moment?

“I know this will be difficult,” Xi Rong said quietly, lifting his eyes to the pitch-black night sky, “but my mind is made up. No one can stop me.”

It was spoken to Song Yang and also to himself.

Although the night was dark, the stars above shone brilliantly, just like his eyes.

In the past, when he risked his life again and again to seize that position, it had been more out of defiance and unwillingness to yield. But now, he had a clearer, more resolute goal and reason.

Xi Rong’s lips curled into an unconscious smile as he thought of that.

He finished heating the water, prepared a bath, and carefully bathed Gu Rong, cleansing every trace of the day’s indulgence. Afterward, he helped him into clean nightclothes, carried him back to bed, and tucked him tightly beneath the covers.

Only then did he go wash and change himself.

When he returned, Gu Rong was still sound asleep. As usual, Xi Rong prepared a cup of honey water and placed it in the flower basket by the bedside, so it would be within reach. Then he removed his boots and got into bed.

Both of them had thoroughly exhausted themselves in the flower valley and naturally, they wouldn’t be seeking more intimacy tonight. Xi Rong gently lifted the blanket and leaned down to place a soft kiss on the beautiful curve of Gu Rong’s snow-white neck before lying down beside him.

His energy completely spent, Xi Rong soon fell asleep in deep satisfaction.

Around midnight, in a haze between sleep and waking, he felt a pair of arms wrap familiarly around his waist and that soft, warm body pressed against his chest.

Instinctively, Xi Rong reached out and embraced the slim waist he had tormented so thoroughly earlier that day.

A strong floral fragrance began to permeate the air.

Xi Rong rarely noticed such an intense scent indoors. But he had no time to dwell on it because the person nestled in his arms had climbed over him and, taking advantage of his half-conscious state, began to secretly kiss him.

First his chin, then his cheeks, his eyes, and then other places.

The scent of flowers grew headier. The touches, light and cold as raindrops, were faint and fleeting, making Xi Rong almost believe he was in a dream.

“Rongrong…” he murmured softly.

His consciousness grew hazier still. And when that sharp, familiar chill once again pricked the nape of his neck, he was so slow to react that he didn’t immediately realize what was happening.

Beneath the covers, Gu Rong quietly withdrew the golden needle and then once again wrapped his arms around Xi Rong’s waist, letting that familiar warmth envelop him completely.

After a long moment, he tilted his head up in the darkness and reached out a finger, slowly tracing the handsome lines of that beloved face.

He was never one to hesitate once he made a decision, ruthless and even stone-hearted.

He had long come to understand that all good things must come to an end. After two years of wandering the world, he knew this truth better than most.

And so, he had never truly dared to hope that they could stay in the mountain forever, bound to one another till old age.

Whether it was Ji Ziqing’s sudden appearance, or those ever-loyal attendants constantly by his Third Brother’s side, Gu Rong knew clearly that this man was not someone who could cast everything aside as he had, to live in seclusion, untouched by worldly affairs, nor had he ever intended to ask such a thing of him. That would only have made things harder for himself.

From the start, he had entered this relationship with no illusions; he had simply wanted to indulge in pleasure.

What he hadn’t expected was that the one to break their promise first and the one to leave first would be himself.

Such was the fickleness of fate.

In the darkness, Gu Rong traced the outlines of that face slowly, trying to etch it into memory.

He had always been lighthearted and callous. If he didn’t carve those features deep into his mind, he feared that, a few years from now, he might forget what he looked like, and forget that in the secluded Songzhou mountain, there had once been a Third Brother who had treated him so, so well.

If nothing unexpected occurred, they would likely never see each other again in this life.

The brief romance, like morning dew, would eventually fade with time.

If his Third Brother ever thought of him again, perhaps he would only remember him as a sly little swindler.

He traced the contours of that face one last time.

Then, Gu Rong pressed a final kiss to Xi Rong’s chin, gently let go, and slowly sat up.

The night was quiet, deep and still.

He dressed himself in robes, shoes, and socks, sat for a while on the straw mat, sipping wine beneath the star-hung sky. Then he rose, walked to the medicine furnace, and carefully retrieved the last three petals of Ice Soul.

***

Xi Rong was awakened by a shaft of sunlight piercing his eyes.

When he opened them, a rare throb of pain struck his head. They usually slept in the cave deeper within the mountain, where morning light rarely reached, unless it was already quite late.

Xi Rong sat up and immediately felt a sharp sting at the back of his neck. The pain was all too familiar as he had experienced it twice before. A chill of unease rose in his chest. His movements stalled. He turned toward the inside of the bed and as expected, it was completely empty. The only quilt lay entirely over him.

He looked out at the wooden cottage. Sunlight poured through the window, flooding the room with brightness. It was already mid-morning.

He was normally disciplined in his routine. No matter how late into the night he’d been entangled with Gu Rong, he rarely overslept.

The uneasy feeling deepened.

Xi Rong got out of bed, dazed, and pushed the door open.

In the courtyard, Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe had already finished cooking and were chatting idly over a straw mat. Seeing Xi Rong emerge, they immediately stood and saluted.

Xi Rong scanned the courtyard swiftly but Gu Rong was nowhere to be seen. He asked, “Where is he? You two didn’t see him?”

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe exchanged a glance before Song Yang responded quickly, “Your Highness means the young master? He wasn’t sleeping inside with you?”

It wasn’t unusual for Gu Rong to rise early since he often had his own routines: drying herbs, feeding the cat, tending to his Gu, and other matters.

However, perhaps the unease in Xi Rong’s heart had grown too intense, because at those words, his lips trembled slightly. “No. He wasn’t in the room.”

Song Yang offered, “Maybe he went out to gather herbs?”

Truth be told, they had found it odd as well. His Highness, ever self-disciplined, had not stirred even when the sun was so high. Still, they hadn’t dared disturb him and only waited outside quietly.

“You’re right. Yesterday, he did say he planned to collect some purple perilla. I’ll go check.” Without another word, Xi Rong strode straight out of the courtyard.

Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe were both taken aback. Something about His Highness’s expression was clearly off.

The cottage door remained ajar. Zhou Wenhe suddenly pointed at the straw mat inside. “There seems to be a letter on it.”

Song Yang rushed in. On closer inspection, he saw that the mat where the young master usually sat to read and drink was indeed holding a letter, along with a small wooden box.

The box was open.

Inside, neatly arranged, were three pills, refined from the remaining Ice Soul.

The author has something to say:

Xi the Dog: Countdown to losing my mind.
Thank you all, happy reading.