Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 58

The Jade Dragon Terrace was the place where the Xiao clan held important meetings. It was also where Prince Xiao handled daily affairs and met with visiting officials. Additionally, it was the designated location for educating the clan’s younger generation. In short, it was a symbol of the clan’s authority.

The name ‘Jade Dragon Terrace’ had been bestowed by the founding emperor of the current dynasty in reward for the Xiao clan’s service in protecting the Emperor. Along with the name, a treasured jade dragon sword had also been granted.

During the reign of the previous emperor, the Xiao clan had been heavily suppressed and many of its younger members perished. After Xiao Jingming was granted his prince title and took over leadership of the family, he established new rules to ensure the clan’s legacy would endure. One such rule mandated that all Xiao clan youths must study at the Jade Dragon Terrace before the age of sixteen. Their instructors were either renowned scholars from the clan or externally hired teachers.

All academic evaluations were also centralized at the Jade Dragon Terrace. Exams were held every two weeks in spring and autumn, and every month in summer and winter, rain or shine. On exam days, unless exceptional circumstances arose, Prince Xiao would always be present to observe.

However, in the past two years, the Emperor had been bedridden with illness, and national affairs and military matters had piled up. Prince Xiao had been too occupied to attend as often.

Gu Rong, more formally known as Xiao Rong, the heir of Xiao Royal Residence, had grown up studying at the Jade Dragon Terrace with the other clan children. He even had a personal living space there and was extremely familiar with the surroundings. He wouldn’t get lost even with his eyes closed.

The buildings at the Jade Dragon Terrace were arranged in layers. At the center was the Hall of Splendor, where Prince Xiao conducted official business. Outside the hall grew evergreen pines and his favorite plum blossoms.

When Xiao Rong entered, aside from Xiao Jingming seated at the main seat, there was another elder relative present, Xiao Hao, an old clan uncle and currently the senior-most member of the Xiao clan.

Xiao Rong walked into the hall and knelt down, respectfully lowering his head in greeting. “This son greets Father.” He then turned to the other man. “Greetings to Granduncle.”

Xiao Jingming did not raise his head. He said flatly, “Stand up. I’m not worthy of such courtesy.”

Xiao Rong remained kneeling respectfully, unmoving.

Xiao Jingming tapped lightly on the table and said, “Since the founding of the Xiao clan, you’re the first who dared escape from the Hall of Repentance. Truly unprecedented. To raise such an heir, what a fortune for me. If anyone should be kneeling, it should be me kneeling to you.”

Xiao Rong said nothing.

Xiao Hao tried to mediate, saying, “Jingming, now that Rongrong has returned, it means he knows he was wrong. Let this pass. The boy looks like he’s lost quite a bit of weight.”

Xiao Jingming responded bluntly, “Uncle, why don’t you ask him yourself? Does he even have the face to accept your kindness?”

Xiao Hao was about to offer more comfort when Xiao Rong spoke first. “Granduncle, I deserve the punishment. Please don’t waste your kindness on me.” After speaking, he looked directly at the man seated at the head of the table. “One must take responsibility for one’s own actions. I was the one who first violated the clan rules. If Father wants to punish me, I will accept it without complaint.”

“Accept it without complaint?” Xiao Jingming finally raised his eyes. “Then tell me. According to the family law, what punishment should you receive for such a shocking act? Can you endure it?”

Xiao Rong remained expressionless. “Of course I know. A hundred strikes of the cane, at least six months of reflection. I’m the heir, so probably two hundred, maybe three hundred or more. I won’t survive it. But I think, since Father humbled himself to summon me back, it probably wasn’t just to beat me to death.”

That line bordered on provocation.

Yet Xiao Jingming didn’t appear angry. He simply let out a cold laugh. “Xiao Rong, do you think I’m being too lenient with you?”

Xiao Rong pressed his lips together, saying nothing, wearing the look of someone too far gone to fear boiling water.

Xiao Hao once again stepped in at the right moment. “Jingming, Rongrong’s safe return is more important than anything. You’re still injured, so please don’t let your anger get the better of you again.”

Xiao Jingming said nothing. His cool phoenix eyes, few in court dared meet their gaze, swept over the youth in plain robes kneeling upright in the hall. Two years had passed and he had clearly grown taller. His expression unreadable, he finally looked away and said, “Uncle, you talk to him.”

“Very well.” Xiao Hao nodded, then turned to Xiao Rong with a smile, stroking his beard. “Rongrong, in the Da’an Dynasty, men usually receive their coming-of-age ceremony at twenty. But for the Xiao clan, the rules aren’t so strict. And you’re the heir, after all, different from ordinary sons. Your father and I have discussed this and decided to hold your ceremony a year early. It will be three days from now. Once it’s completed, you’ll be able to assist your father more effectively with managing household affairs.”

Xiao Rong was stunned. He hadn’t expected his old uncle to bring this up. But thinking it over, it wasn’t that surprising after all.

At that moment, another palace guard, Mo Chun, reported respectfully from outside, “Your Highness, word came from the palace that His Majesty has awakened.”

Even though Xiao Rong had been gone from the capital for a long time, he knew that the Emperor’s condition was on everyone’s mind and his well-being was tied to the stability of the entire capital.

Sure enough, Prince Xiao immediately stood and ordered his horse prepared. As he passed by Xiao Rong, he paused and glanced at him. “Three days from now, I’ll personally preside over your capping ceremony. Your grand-uncle will inform you of the preparations. If you ever dare to pull this kind of reckless stunt again, I swear there will be no place for Shang Buyu and Cen Yun in the entire Da’an realm.”

With that, he strode out.

Xiao Rong had already guessed that Mo Qing’s precise appearance in the Songzhou mountains was most likely due to Shang Buyu and Cen Yun. Naturally, when he chose to seek refuge with those two, he had already prepared for the worst-case scenario.

At the time, the circumstances didn’t allow him any other choice, so he didn’t regret it.

Besides, from the current situation, it seemed his two unreliable uncles had only given away his location under pressure from his father. They hadn’t revealed anything else.

If that was true, then Third Brother and the others should still be safe.

***

Meanwhile, after traveling day and night without rest, Xi Rong finally arrived at the capital late that evening.

As the torchlight illuminated the familiar, towering city gates of the capital, all the thrilling and perilous events of the past months flooded back to mind. Song Yang and Zhou Wenhe, who followed behind, were overcome with emotion.

When the guards saw Jiang Cheng present the Crown Prince’s token, they couldn’t hide their astonishment.

Since the Emperor’s assassination, the Princes of Wei and Jin had been keeping constant vigil outside the Thousand Autumns Palace; only the Crown Prince had been nowhere to be seen. Rumors had swirled across the court and the public alike. Some claimed the Crown Prince had grown arrogant and disregarded his sovereign, refusing to return to tend to his ailing father. Others said he had met with some misfortune and couldn’t return at all.

Just days ago, another rumor claimed the Crown Prince had slaughtered powerful clans in Songzhou Prefecture.

In short, gossip ran rampant.

Now, seeing the Crown Prince and his Eastern Palace retinue appear at the city gates in the dead of night, how could they not be stunned? No one dared delay. They quickly rushed down from the walls and opened the gate.

After the Emperor’s assassination, the capital had been on edge. At night, once-bustling streets were nearly deserted.

Song Yang pulled the reins and asked, “Your Highness, shall we proceed directly to the palace to visit His Majesty, or return to the Eastern Palace first?”

Although travel-worn and dusty, Xi Rong showed no signs of fatigue. Firelight flickered across his sharp, handsome face. “Since I have returned to the capital, it is only right that I pay my respects and attend to His Majesty first.”

Several clan leaders, including Liu Xin, had been bound and brought back tied to their horses. Xi Rong instructed Jiang Cheng and Zhou Wenhe to deliver them to the Court of Judicial Review, then entered the palace with only Song Yang.

Xi Rong dismounted outside the palace gates. When he arrived at the Thousand Autumns Palace, the lamps were already lit inside. Attendants came and went. Chief Eunuch Zhang Fu stood at the door.

The fact that the Crown Prince was not favored by the Emperor was well known throughout the palace.

When Zhang Fu saw Xi Rong approach, he was only momentarily surprised before he slowly descended the steps, shaking his horsetail whisk and bowing. “This humble servant greets Your Highness.”

Xi Rong looked toward the light spilling from the hall and said, “I have come to pay my respects to the Emperor. Would you please announce me?”

Zhang Fu turned and entered the hall. Not long after, he returned and said, “His Majesty says he is weary today and wishes to rest. He will see no one. Your Highness, please return.”

Hearing this, Song Yang was taken aback. But just then, two figures emerged from the hall, one following the other.

The man in front had a fair, scholarly, round face and a plump belly. He wore a blue jade hair crown and a loose-sleeved scholar’s robe. It was none other than the Prince of Wei, who had cultivated a reputation for virtue in recent years. Behind him was the Prince of Jin, with a white jade lotus crown, red lips and white teeth, and an elegant bearing. His robes were richly adorned.

The two princes, one backed by the Cui clan and the other favored by Prince Xiao, had both served in the elite Silver Dragon Cavalry, giving them a uniquely high status. Zhang Fu immediately smiled obsequiously, clearly eager to please, and had young eunuchs bring cloaks and hand warmers for them.

Seeing Xi Rong standing outside, the Prince of Wei was the first to pause. His eyes flickered and he slowly said with a smile, “Isn’t this the Crown Prince? So you’ve finally returned. In the past few days, when Father’s condition was dire, we brothers kept vigil outside the hall day and night, anxious for his health. Only you were missing. I was genuinely worried that something unfortunate had happened to you.”

Xi Rong replied, “I did encounter some difficult matters, but they have now been resolved. I thank the Prince of Wei for your concern.”

The Prince of Wei gave a small smile. “Father always tells us that brothers must be united. It’s only natural to care. But some things, outsiders might not understand.”

With that, the Prince of Wei departed at a leisurely pace. The Prince of Jin, helped into his cloak by an attendant and eunuch, followed shortly after.

Zhang Fu turned to Xi Rong. “Your Highness should return as well.”

Xi Rong glanced sideways at him and then suddenly knelt stiffly before the hall. “It was a failing on my part not to return to the capital in time to tend to Father’s illness. Leaving like this would only weigh on my conscience. Since His Majesty has retired, I will kneel here and serve him from outside for a while.”

Although his tone was calm, the look in his eyes sent a chill through Zhang Fu.

The Crown Prince, after all, carried a reputation for ruthlessness. Knowing better than to argue, Zhang Fu stepped aside and said in a sharp, high voice, “Then Your Highness, please do as you wish.”

Xi Rong remained kneeling until the lights inside the hall were extinguished. Only then did he rise and leave. Back at the Eastern Palace, Xi Rong quickly bathed and changed before heading to the council hall.

The hall was brightly lit. His staff of Eastern Palace advisors were already seated on both sides.

When Xi Rong entered, everyone rose and saluted him in unison.

The staff who had stayed in the capital began reporting key developments in turn. One advisor said, “It’s been reported that Cao Ancheng from the Censorate has gathered a large group of censors, intending to impeach Your Highness for disobeying imperial orders, disrespecting the Emperor, and showing disloyalty and unfilial conduct. They claim Your Highness used the excuse of eliminating corrupt nobles in Songzhou to seize wealth and deliberately delayed returning to the capital.

“According to my sources, more than twenty memorials have already been drafted against Your Highness. Cao Ancheng is still lobbying others to join him. If these documents make it to the Grand Secretariat and then the Imperial Court, I’m afraid the consequences could be dire to Your Highness.”

Song Yang’s expression changed. “That Cao Ancheng again.”

Zhou Wenhe cursed bitterly, “That bastard! A damn rabid dog! He must be acting on orders from the Cui clan and the Prince of Wei.”

Song Yang said, “The evidence against Liu Xin for illegal land seizures is irrefutable. No matter how good Cao Ancheng is at stirring public opinion, he can’t overturn hard proof. His only tactic now is to relentlessly accuse Your Highness of failing to return to attend the Emperor’s illness and paint you as disloyal and unfilial. Normally, this wouldn’t matter much, but now, in these troubled times, when even the Emperor’s stance is unclear…”

What they had feared most before returning to the capital had, after all, come to pass.

Song Yang continued thoughtfully, “Cao Ancheng doesn’t hold a high rank in the Censorate. He’s likely so invested in this because Your Highness previously rejected the Cao clan’s marriage proposal. He bears a grudge and perhaps he’s also chasing fame.”

The advisor who had first reported the matter nodded. “That’s right. Cao Ancheng is quite eloquent, and his memorials are extremely provocative. I heard that his last one impeaching Your Highness was widely circulated in the capital. Some people even printed copies and spread them around. Cao Ancheng has been basking in the attention ever since and is now a regular guest at various literary gatherings.”

“Since ancient times, the scholar’s pen has slain without blood,” another advisor said bitterly. “Unfortunately, we don’t have allies in the Censorate. We can’t even mount a proper counterattack.”

Song Yang fell silent as he listened.

As Crown Prince, His Highness certainly valued the power of scholars. Over the years, the Eastern Palace had used many methods to attract talent, including members of the Censorate.

But the Censorate, although internally divided into factions, all belonged to different literary circles. Regardless of affiliation, those circles harbored deep prejudice and hostility toward the Crown Prince and the Eastern Palace.

To the Eastern Palace, the capital’s literary circles were like an impenetrable fortress of bronze and iron.

The Cao clan’s offer of marriage had actually been the closest the Eastern Palace had ever come to penetrating that wall. But to everyone’s surprise, the Crown Prince had rejected the proposal without hesitation.

The fallout from that rejection was proving even worse than expected.

“And there’s more,” another advisor added. “The Cui clan has been trying to win over Imperial Censor Liu Bingyang. If he also bows to the Cui clan, the situation for Your Highness will become even more precarious.”

“Liu Bingyang?” Song Yang’s expression grew serious.

“Yes,” the advisor confirmed. “Liu Bingyang hails from the prestigious Liu clan in Qizhou. He holds considerable sway among the literati. If he joins the impeachment efforts, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone present showed worried expressions.

Xi Rong, who had been silently listening to the discussion, finally raised his eyes and spoke, “Keep a close watch on Liu Bingyang. We absolutely cannot allow him to be used by the Cui clan.”

By the time the meeting ended, it was already deep into the night.

The palace maid stepped forward to serve him, but Xi Rong waved them away.

After sitting alone in silence for a while, Xi Rong returned alone to his bedchamber and had someone bring in the cat cage he had carried all the way from Songzhou.

The palace maid was naturally puzzled. The Crown Prince was known for his obsession with cleanliness. Not to mention his bedchamber, even his workspaces were spotless and free from the slightest speck of dust. There was no way he would allow something like a wild tabby cat in his quarters.

Moreover, the Crown Prince was famously diligent. Most of his day was spent either studying, training in martial arts, or handling government affairs. He was never like the other idle sons of noble families in the capital who amused themselves with cockfights or keeping exotic pets for entertainment.

Before the tabby cat appeared, there hadn’t even been a single birdcage in the Eastern Palace.

What’s more, the cat he had brought back didn’t even look like a rare breed. It looked like an ordinary countryside stray, except unusually plump. There was nothing else remarkable about it.

Xi Rong placed the cat cage directly beside his bed. After opening the cage door and placing food and water inside, he closed the door again.

The reason he brought the creature back was only to preserve a memory. The thought of holding it to sleep, or letting it roam freely through the Eastern Palace, was absolutely out of the question.

There’s a saying that goes ‘Objects evoke memories of people.’

Lying alone in his bed at the Eastern Palace that night, Xi Rong couldn’t help but revisit all that had happened in the mountains of Songzhou. That ruthless farewell letter, so cold and final, was still kept close to his body and he took it out night after night to touch and reread.

The cold reception he experienced at the palace today truly didn’t matter to him at all because whenever he was idle, his mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of him.

Now, Songzhou was a thousand miles away.

Everything about it felt like a distant dream.

On his first night back in the capital, Xi Rong realized for the first time that he might truly never see Gu Rong again.

And the very thought made his chest clench with uncontrollable pain.

The author has something to say:

Xi the Dog: Another day of missing my wife.
Thank you all, happy reading!