Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 72

The two camps were set very close together, separated by only the span of an arrow’s flight.

The commanding general of the camp had returned to the capital the past two days to report military affairs to Prince Xiao, leaving daily drills temporarily under Zhang He’s supervision.

Xiao Rong was the first to step out of the command tent.

Zhang He exchanged a look with the deputy general, slapped his own forehead, and muttered to himself that things were bad, before hastily striding after him.

“General, should we inform General Mo Qing…”

“Let’s go take a look first.”

At the other camp, two guards wearing waist tokens from the Jin Royal residence were leaning against a wooden cart used for hauling water, tossing waterskins back and forth as they drank. Beside them stood several young eunuchs, clearly the ones responsible for pushing the cart.

An officer in charge of discipline was questioning the two while holding a brush and a register.

The men only grinned and answered with flippant remarks.

“Come now, Captain Ma, we’ve known each other for years. Why take it so seriously?”

“This water is for His Highness the Prince of Jin, not stolen or plundered. The summer heat has been harsh and His Highness’s appetite has been poor. If he falls ill from lack of clean water, how would you explain it to Prince Xiao?”

Prince Xiao ruled his troops with severity. The Silver Dragon Cavalry was a corps so elite that even the sons of the greatest families in the capital could not force their way in. Under normal circumstances, the two would never dare behave so brazenly.

However, ever since the Prince of Jin had joined the Silver Dragon Cavalry for training, everyone tacitly understood that the cautious Xiao clan had finally declared its stance in the struggle among the imperial princes.

The Prince of Jin’s prestige soared overnight.

The two guards, both scions of the Wang clan and assigned there by Matriarch Wang herself, considered themselves above other attendants. Since the camp was near the northern outskirts and not the main force of the Silver Dragon Cavalry, they had grown bold enough to flaunt special privileges, confident that as long as they did nothing truly outrageous, the commanding officers would show them deference and certainly would not report trivial offenses to Prince Xiao.

Their last words clearly gave Captain Ma pause. He frowned in hesitation, when suddenly a cool voice rang out, “When did the Silver Dragon Cavalry change its rules? This is a military camp. When did every stray cat and dog gain free entry?”

Although cold, the voice was clear as jade, strikingly pleasant to the ear.

The two guards turned to look and saw, behind them, a youth standing with arms crossed, watching at his leisure. He appeared not yet twenty, not clad in armor but in wide-sleeved robes. His features were exquisite, his bearing steeped in arrogance.

Captain Ma instantly moved to salute, but Xiao Rong stopped him.

The two guards of the Jin Royal Residence naturally did not recognize Xiao Rong, nor did they think such a languidly dressed youth, so out of place in a military camp, could be anyone important.

One of them squinted and asked with disdain, “And where did you crawl out from, brat? You think you can meddle in this father’s affairs?”

Smack!

Before the words had even died, the guard was struck hard across the face, two teeth flying from his mouth, blood spilling down his lips.

Mo Dong stepped back and then brought a chair over for Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong rolled up his wide sleeves, revealing a pale wrist, leaned lazily against the chair back, and drew a fan from his sleeve pocket. Toying with it idly, he curled his lips and said, “How amusing. Why is it that people are always so eager to make themselves my father? If my real father were to hear of it, I daresay he would not be pleased.”

The guard clutched his swollen cheek, eyes blazing as he stared at Mo Dong and the youth in the chair. His voice shook with fury and disbelief. “Y-you dare strike me! Do you know who I am?”

Zhang He arrived just in time to witness the scene.

“General Zhang!”

The guard, seeing salvation, pointed a trembling finger at Mo Dong. “That mongrel dared lay hands on me. Why don’t you punish him under military law?!”

“Mongrel?” Xiao Rong pressed the fan against his chin and tilted his head slightly back. “So it seems I am a useless master indeed, if even you must suffer such insults in my stead.”

Mo Dong said nothing. He simply stepped forward and struck the guard again, another vicious slap.

The man’s other cheek swelled up at once.

Accustomed to swaggering under the banner of the Jin Royal Residence, he had never suffered such humiliation in public. Rage clouded his vision, blood roiled in his chest, and he clenched his fists, ready to strike back.

“You dog servant, how dare you!”

A sharp voice rang out from the camp gates.

Moments later, a rider charged in with a retinue of guards. The man on horseback wore finely wrought silver armor, yet his head was bound with a lotus crown. His lips were red, his teeth white, and his features delicate and refined.

It was none other than the Prince of Jin himself.

The Prince of Jin swung down from his horse and, with one kick, sent the guard sprawling, roaring in fury, “Blind cur! How dare you offend the Young Prince!”

Then he turned toward Xiao Rong, bending slightly as he said, “This wretch, relying on a few important errands he once carried out for my Cousin, has grown insolent beyond measure. Although I have admonished him again and again, thinking he had repented sincerely, he has proved incorrigible. Today, he even dared to offend the Young Prince. This is all due to my poor discipline over my men. I beg the Young Prince’s pardon.”

Although Xiao Rong had been in the army for nearly half a month, he usually kept a low profile, so apart from Zhang He and a handful of officers, very few knew of his presence.

The guard, since being kicked to the ground, had already lain there trembling, not daring to move. At those words, he was stricken with horror, his face drained of all color.

The Young Prince.

The youth before his eyes was none other than the rumored heir of Prince Xiao, who had recently returned to the capital!

The one spoken of as arrogant and unruly, yet in truth, he was a refined and striking youth.

Thinking of the insolent words he had just uttered—

The guard knew he had committed an unforgivable offense. No longer caring for dignity, he scrambled and crawled before Xiao Rong, knocking his head to the ground again and again in terror. “Your lowly servant was blind and witless. My crime deserves death a thousand times! I beg the Young Prince, in his great mercy, to spare me this once!”

The other guards and eunuchs, frightened out of their wits, all dropped to their knees as well. Although not groveling as he did, they were pale as paper, trembling with fear.

“These curs are beyond my control,” the Prince of Jin thundered. “I beg the Young Prince to deal with them as he sees fit!”

“Your Highness overstates it.” Xiao Rong rose, folding his fan. “Their offense today concerns military law; thus, military law will see to it. Your Highness manages endless affairs each day, without eyes that see a thousand li nor ears that catch every whisper. How could you possibly watch over the misconduct of every underling? You must not take their faults upon yourself.

“It is only fortunate their transgressions occurred within the camp. Had they acted so outside, leaving others a handle against you, Your Highness’s reputation would have suffered.”

The Prince of Jin nodded. “The Young Prince speaks most rightly. It is my own softness that has emboldened them into such insolence. General Zhang, as for this so-called ‘spring water,’ I knew nothing of it. You must see that they are punished by military law; there must be no favoritism. Moreover, if in the future any of my household servants offend again, you must by no means be lenient on my account!”

The Prince of Jin spoke solemnly to Zhang He, who had stepped forward.

Zhang He inclined his head, gave a great wave of his hand, and immediately the officers of discipline seized and dragged the culprits away, tied up.

The Prince of Jin shed his armor and insisted on personally escorting Xiao Rong back to his quarters. Along the way, after apologizing once more, he said, “My news is outdated. I had no idea the Young Prince had come to the army. Had I known, I would have come sooner to pay my respects.

“At the Hibiscus Garden banquet last time, the feast was far too brief and I left with much still unsaid. Alas, these days, I must both attend to my Imperial Father in the palace during his illness and report daily to camp. I have had no chance to invite the Young Prince again for a drink.”

His tone carried genuine regret.

Xiao Rong smiled with courtesy. “It was only a sudden impulse that brought me here and my stay is fleeting. I wished to disturb no one, least of all Your Highness.”

They quickly covered the distance of a single arrow’s flight.

When they reached the tent, Xiao Rong said, “Your Highness came in haste, doubtless leaving military affairs behind. The weather is sweltering and my tent has no ice basin. I shall not keep you.”

The Prince of Jin nodded. “Indeed, I hurried here at the news and must rush back. I will not impose further on the Young Prince. Fortunately, the summer hunt approaches. Then, I shall surely have a chance to ride and hunt alongside the Young Prince.”

Xiao Rong mused, “His Majesty has not yet recovered. Will the summer hunt still be held as usual this year?”

“Only yesterday, while serving my Imperial Father at the palace, did I hear Him mention it. Although not yet fully recovered, with the physicians’ careful care, He is already able to walk unaided and a full recovery is close at hand. My Imperial Father said the seasonal imperial hunts are a matter of state, tied to the year’s labors and must not be delayed. He even summoned Prince Xiao and the Minister of State Affairs to discuss it. Unless something unforeseen occurs, the Ministry of Rites is already preparing the proceedings.”

When he finished, the Prince of Jin took his leave.

Xiao Rong returned to his tent and ordered Mo Dong to bring in an ice basin.