Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 83

After much effort, the earlier commotion finally subsided. Although Gongsun Yu remained deeply suspicious, he dared not involve himself further in the affairs of Prince Xiao’s heir, especially since the matter now also touched upon the Crown Prince. He only shook his head.

Seeing his caution, Cui Xie did not press him further and merely smiled, deftly changing the subject.

Since the banquet began, Song Yang had been discreetly watching Gongsun Yu’s table, silently sweating. When he saw that Gongsun Yu had not reacted publicly, he finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Judging from Gongsun Yu’s expression,” whispered Cui Jiu when Cui Xie returned to his seat, “he most likely recognized the Crown Prince. But since the matter involves Xiao Royal Residence, he probably doesn’t wish to stir up further trouble and thus kept silent. When His Highness led the northern campaign years ago, he clashed with the Northern Yan Army over passage rights. Now, the Crown Prince has once again gravely offended Prince Yan.”

Cui Xie’s lips curved faintly. “That is the price the Eastern Palace pays for letting passion cloud judgment. Have you found out what really happened that day?”

Cui Jiu shook his head cautiously. “The search party sent into the mountains after Xiao Rong was composed entirely of Silver Dragon Cavalry. Prince Xiao did not allow the Imperial Guards to participate. The two guards who followed Cui Cheng were shot dead. Aside from the men of Xiao Royal Residence, no one knows exactly what happened in the mountains. We only heard that the Crown Prince did help search but who found Xiao Rong first, no one can say. By dusk, Xiao Rong emerged from the hunting grounds with the Silver Dragon Cavalry. The Crown Prince was not seen again, so it seems he didn’t play a very decisive role.”

Cui Xie’s grip on his wine cup loosened slightly, although a shadow still lingered in his eyes.

Seeing this, Cui Jiu said carefully, “Eldest young master, there’s no need to dwell on it. You know what kind of man the Crown Prince is. The Xiao clan has little regard for him and the Crown Prince is not one to throw himself at those who scorn him. That day, it was Prince Xiao’s guards who requested aid first and the Crown Prince had no choice but to agree, if only for appearances. Otherwise, he would’ve openly made an enemy of the Xiao clan.

“Xiao Rong, however, is far colder than you are, young master. If he turns his face against someone, there’s no turning back. Even if the Crown Prince hides it well, he must bear resentment in his heart. Although he now commands the southwestern army, that region lies a thousand li from the capital, too far to offer real power here. Without the backing of the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses, life in the capital will not be easy for him. Otherwise, during this summer hunt, he would not have deliberately held back, too wary even to contend for first place.”

Cui Xie said nothing, merely raised the cup to his lips and drank slowly.

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

Once the Emperor withdrew, the officials soon dispersed as well. The vast hunting grounds quickly fell silent again, broken only by the chirping of summer insects and the distant steps of patrolling guards.

In a secluded grove outside the temporary palace, Xi Rong stood clad in black, hands folded behind his back, his figure blending almost completely into the night.

Song Yang approached quietly, fan in hand, and whispered, “Your Highness, Wang Hao has arrived.”

Xi Rong nodded and turned. A figure cloaked entirely in dark fabric stood five paces away.

“This soldier greets Your Highness,” the man said, kneeling on one knee respectfully. A passing night breeze lifted the edge of his cloak, revealing the insignia of the Imperial Guards beneath.

Song Yang silently withdrew.

***

“My lord,” said Cui Jiu elsewhere in the palace compound, bowing before Cui Daohuan, “the banquet just ended. I delivered the invitation to Gongsun Yu, but he said he must return to Northern Yan soon to report to Prince Yan. Before he leaves, he needs to handle some handovers with the Ministry of War. He likely won’t attend the private banquet of the Minister of State Affairs.”

Cui Daohuan stroked his beard leisurely. “Prince Yan rules the north and is fond of posturing, so it’s understandable. Still, the fact that he agreed to send troops for the martial arts tournament is already enough. I’ve invested great effort in forging this alliance with Northern Yan.

“The world bustles for profit; men act for gain,” he mused. “In their youth, Xiao Jingming and Yan Ju schemed together as allies, yet even they turned on each other for self-interest. As long as I’m willing to pay the price, why should Yan Ju not be tempted?

“In the coming month,” he continued, his tone sharpening, “you must devote all energy to the upcoming martial arts tournament. This time, I will reclaim the advantage.”

Cui Xie and Cui Jiu rose together and answered in unison, “Yes, my lord.”

***

With the summer hunt concluded, the Emperor had one final item on his itinerary: a pilgrimage to Huiji Temple to offer prayers for blessings. Thus, early the next morning, he led the court officials toward the temple, which was not far from the hunting grounds.

Although smaller in scale than Ci’en Temple, Huiji Temple was one of the capital’s oldest and most renowned Buddhist monasteries, usually bustling with devotees. But with the imperial visit approaching and mindful of the chaos at Ci’en Temple before, it had closed its gates to the public days in advance. When the imperial procession arrived, rows of monks were already assembled neatly before the gates.

Huiji Temple sat at the outskirts of the capital, surrounded by serene and beautiful scenery.

Xiao Rong had visited a few times as a child, since the abbot, Master Huichong, was an old friend of Prince Xiao. The Prince would occasionally come here in his leisure to hear the old monk preach.

Back then, not long after he’d returned to the Xiao Royal Residence, he was still wild from years spent outside; restless, mischievous, and unable to sit still. Yet under his father’s severe authority, he had no choice but to kneel properly on a cushion for hours, listening to the old monk’s endless chanting.

After greeting the Emperor with palms pressed together, Master Huichong’s gaze landed on Xiao Rong. His kindly face broke into a teasing smile. “The Young Prince has grown up now. You won’t be burning this old monk’s robes again, will you?”

That, indeed, had been one of Xiao Rong’s childhood misdeeds.

Once, following Prince Xiao to the temple and discovering that the visit was not for play but to hear another long sermon, he’d grown impatient. Seizing a moment when the monks weren’t watching, he secretly slipped a tinderbox beneath the old monk’s cushion.

Moments after Huichong sat down, smoke began to rise beneath him. Sparks flared and the robe he wore was quickly scorched through.

Xiao Rong hadn’t meant for it to go so far; he’d only wanted to stop the monk’s droning, not actually burn his clothes. When he realized the trouble he’d caused, he panicked, afraid his father would beat him dead, and hid behind a Buddha statue in the main hall.

It was a well-hidden spot and with his small frame, no one in the temple managed to find him, not even the Xiao Royal Residence’s guards. He stayed there for two full days, hungry and thirsty beyond bearing, before finally sneaking out at night, hoping to steal some food from the monks’ quarters. But just as he reached the door, he ran straight into a Xiao clan guard who had been lying in wait.

He turned to flee, but weak and starving, he stumbled and fell within moments.

When the Prince arrived soon after and Xiao Rong saw his father’s bloodshot and furious eyes, he was so terrified that he hid behind a guard’s back. The old monk had spoken up for him, but it did little good. Back home, Prince Xiao dragged him to the Hall of Repentance and had him flogged so badly he couldn’t get out of bed for ten days.

Still, lying there each day, he was given a bowl of sweet, tangy milk dumplings, his small comfort. With no lessons to recite except reading, the days weren’t so bad. Later, once healed, he craved those dumplings again, but no one in the city could replicate their taste.

When he asked Xiao En, the man explained that they were a northern delicacy from the Hu people. Only one cook in the household knew how to make them and that man had gone home for urgent family business, with no word of return. Xiao Rong sulked for a long time.

During his time wandering the northern frontier, he’d eaten many milk dumplings; they were good ones, too, but none ever tasted quite the same.

Now, hearing the old monk mention that embarrassing story in front of everyone, Xiao Rong flushed slightly. He bowed in the Buddhist manner and said solemnly, “I was young and foolish then. I offended you, Master. I hope you’ll be magnanimous and not take it to heart.”

“It’s nothing,” the old monk laughed heartily. “Thanks to the Young Prince, I received from Prince Xiao a fine kasaya once worn by a revered monk of the former dynasty.”

It was a bright and breezy day. After a few more words of courtesy, everyone followed the Emperor into the Great Buddha Hall to offer incense.

By noon, after a simple vegetarian meal, the Emperor went with Prince Xiao to a quiet chamber to hear a Dharma lecture. Others went to rest in the monks’ quarters or wandered the back hills of the temple.

Xiao Rong, uninterested in lectures, returned to his room to rest. After sipping a few cups of coarse tea, Mo Dong entered and reported, “Young Prince, something has wandered in here.”

Xiao Rong, lost in thought, lifted his gaze only to see Mo Dong holding a small creature in his hands. It was fiery red all over and cat-like in shape. It seemed to be a lynx of some kind.

However, a lynx with such vivid color and sleek fur could hardly be wild.

“It must belong to someone,” Xiao Rong said. “Go ask around and see who’s lost their hunting companion.”

“I already have, Young Prince,” Mo Dong replied. “No one’s claiming it. Most likely, it came down from the mountain behind the temple.” The temple was built on a hillside, so that wasn’t impossible.

Xiao Rong himself had kept a lynx once as a boy but his studies and training left no time for it, so he’d handed it over to Xiao En to care for. Every lynx sent to him had been a rare and prized breed, but none as beautiful as this one.

Even Mo Dong admitted he’d never seen a pure red lynx like this before.

Xiao Rong looked again. “Bring it here. Let me see.”

Mo Dong hesitated, afraid the creature might scratch him.

“It’s fine,” Xiao Rong said. “Set it on the table.”

The little beast tilted its head, examined Xiao Rong for a moment, and then, to everyone’s surprise, obediently lay down. When Xiao Rong reached out a finger, the little creature even leaned forward on its own, pressing its head against his hand, inviting him to pet it.

Mo Dong, watching from the side, was utterly astonished.

“Keep it for now,” Xiao Rong said. “If someone comes looking for it, we’ll return it then.”

Mo Dong acknowledged the order.

When the Prince of Jin and Wang Hui heard that Xiao Rong had found a rare red lynx, they all came to take a look. Wang Hui, in particular, was instantly enamored.

Unfortunately, the creature, now nicknamed Chi Nu, was gentle only toward Xiao Rong and refused to let anyone else touch it, much to Wang Hui’s regret.

Mo Dong stood aside, recounting Chi Nu’s glorious exploits from just half a day. When they learned that, in a single afternoon, the temple’s entire mouse population had practically become the beast’s meal, Wang Hui couldn’t help showing his amazement.

“If we’d had this little thing at the hunting grounds,” he said with admiration, “we wouldn’t have needed to fear those vicious hounds.”

The monks’ quarters where the officials rested were close together, so word spread quickly. Many people and quite a few monks came to see the spectacle.

Not far away, Cui Xie was conversing with others. Hearing the commotion, he turned to look and when he saw the crimson creature lying docilely at the young heir’s feet, his expression changed at once. Behind him, Cui Jiu also showed visible shock and disbelief.

“I heard that lynx just wandered into the Young Prince’s quarters by accident,” Cui Jiu whispered. “It must only be a coincidence…”

Cui Xie’s hand slowly curled into a fist. “Do you really believe such coincidences exist in this world?”

“What else could it be?” Cui Jiu murmured. “Red lynxes are rare indeed but not unique. I’ve also heard that in the mountains behind this temple, strange creatures sometimes appear. The monks once caught a red fox there, after all.”

Cui Xie’s face darkened. “Go and find out discreetly whether the Crown Prince brought a lynx along on this trip.”

Cui Jiu immediately understood why his eldest young master was so intent on this matter and obeyed.

Later that evening, when the Emperor heard of the strange beast, he sent Zhang Fu to verify it personally.

Seeing that the Xiao clan’s heir truly possessed such a rare creature, Zhang Fu’s face lit up with delight. “This is a great omen indeed! His Majesty will be overjoyed when he hears of it.”

From afar, the Prince of Wei also gazed at the scene, musing aloud, “Why does this red lynx look so familiar to me? I could swear I’ve seen it before.”

His attendant quietly reminded him, “Your Highness, have you forgotten? The Crown Prince once had one as well.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I remember it clearly. They said the Crown Prince brought it back from his northern campaign against the barbarians. The lynx even had a charming name: ‘Bi Ji Beast,’ the beast that wards off illness. They said it kept snakes, vermin, and pestilence away. When the Crown Prince became a disciple of Minister Cui, both Cui Cheng and the eldest young master admired that lynx greatly, but the Crown Prince refused to part with it. The eldest young master was quite displeased. Later, I heard the creature fell ill and died, so no one saw it again.”

The Prince of Wei chuckled. “So, when it belonged to the Eastern Palace, no one cared and it wasted away. But now that it’s in the hands of Prince Xiao’s heir, it’s suddenly an auspicious omen. I wonder what the Crown Prince thinks of that.”

Only Jiang Cheng stood there, looking dazed and uncertain. When the hunting party set out from the imperial hunting grounds, Chi Nu suddenly vanished. He reported this to His Highness, who only replied coldly, “Leave it be. Let it live or die as fate decides.” The man had felt some pity but knew Chi Nu had long fallen out of favor, so he dared not speak further.

Yet now, Chi Nu had appeared in the meditation room of Prince Xiao’s heir! How could that not be shocking?

In a daze, Jiang Cheng turned his head and saw His Highness standing within the shadows of the meditation hall, his gaze fixed on the opposite side, where the heir of Prince Xiao and Chi Nu stood surrounded by attendants like stars around the moon.

“If anyone asks,” Xi Rong said coolly, withdrawing his gaze and turning away, his handsome face disappearing fully into shadow, “tell them the Eastern Palace has lost nothing.”

***

They remained at the temple for most of the day. That afternoon, the imperial entourage set out on the return journey to the capital.

Xiao Rong rode back to the Xiao Royal Residence, changed his robe in his quarters, and went straight to the Hall of Repentance.

The steward, Xiao En, did not dare ask much. Later that evening, when Prince Xiao returned to the residence and ordered dinner to be served, Xiao En personally oversaw the arrangements. Smiling, he said, “When I heard the Young Prince was returning today, this old servant had two extra cold dishes prepared. Your Highness, shall I invite the Young Prince to dine with you?”

Prince Xiao rolled up his sleeves and glanced at him. “You needn’t invent excuses to plead for him. This time, his folly is enough for me to invoke the family law.”

Xiao En still kept his smile. “It’s the height of summer, Your Highness. The Young Prince came back and went straight to kneel without even eating. I only fear he won’t endure it.”

Prince Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, silent for a long moment. Then he asked suddenly, “Those letters from two years ago, did you keep them?”

Xiao En froze for a moment and then nodded. “I did, Your Highness. But you once said those letters needed neither to be reported nor presented, so this old servant took the liberty of keeping them privately. Not just those from two years ago, even earlier ones are still there.”

After a pause, Prince Xiao asked, “In the seventh month, two years ago, did he send a letter then?”

Xiao En thought for a moment and then nodded again. “Yes, I remember he did.” It wasn’t that Xiao En had such a good memory, but during that month two years ago, the letters had come in such an unprecedented number that he remembered it clearly; more than ten and each thicker than usual. And that month had been a rainy one, so many of the letters had been sent in sealed bamboo tubes.

“Bring me all the letters from that month,” said Prince Xiao.

Xiao En was startled but obeyed respectfully. Before leaving the room, he couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, what exactly did the Young Prince do this time—?”

Prince Xiao gazed out the window. “Two years ago, he went north to Northern Yan to assassinate Yan Ju.”

Xiao En’s face changed sharply.

***

Xiao Rong knelt in the Hall of Repentance the entire day. By the following evening, he returned to Jade Dragon Terrace to attend the military council convened by Prince Xiao. All the senior officers of the Silver Dragon Cavalry were present.

Upon entering, Xiao Rong said directly, “Father, let me take command over the martial arts tournament next month.”