Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 88

Song Yang was pacing outside the meeting hall, feather fan in hand, when he saw Jiang Cheng coming in from the courtyard. He looked surprised. “You went to the Ministry of War to wait for the approval document, didn’t you? How did you come back so soon? You couldn’t see anyone?”

Jiang Cheng took something from his robe and handed it over. “Take a look at this.”

Song Yang tucked the feather fan at his waist, opened the document suspiciously, and then broke into a broad grin. “The approval?!” He laughed in delight. “Jiang Cheng, this time you’ve done a great service! I’ll be sure to ask His Highness to reward you well.”

Jiang Cheng sighed. “To get this thing, I stood outside the Ministry of War’s gates for three whole days. I nearly turned into a wooden post. But to tell you the truth, Sir Song, this success has nothing to do with me. I had help from someone important.” He recounted everything in detail.

“So it was Prince Xiao’s heir who helped?” Song Yang was just as surprised.

Jiang Cheng’s expression was complicated. “I didn’t expect it either, that the Young Prince, the heir himself, would step in. But he told me not to let His Highness know.”

Song Yang nodded. “The heir is thoughtful indeed. Then we won’t mention the details for now, but this good news must be told to His Highness. With the approval in hand, His Highness can now assign the generals according to plan and prepare for the martial arts tournament.”

***

“What?! Such a thing happened?!” Matriarch Wang’s face twisted in shock and anger as she looked at the servant delivering the message.

The servant nodded. “It’s absolutely true. Clerk Zhao said that near noon today, it was Prince Xiao’s heir himself who came to take away the Eastern Palace’s approved document.”

“Outrageous!” Matriarch Wang’s face trembled with fury. She had only just devised this scheme to trip up the Eastern Palace, only for it to be ruined again.

Wang Yanshou, sitting lower down, cautiously ventured, “Could there be some misunderstanding? The heir now works at the Chancellery; he often handles correspondence between departments. Perhaps it was just a routine handover. It’s best to verify first.”

“Misunderstanding?” Matriarch Wang gave a cold laugh. “The Minister himself said it, what misunderstanding could there be? Tell me, has the Prince of Jin’s participation in the martial arts tournament been settled yet?”

Wang Yanshou faltered. “I’ve visited him several times, but Xiao Yulin said the matter is of great importance. He’s still familiarizing himself with military affairs and doesn’t dare decide on his own; he must first seek Prince Xiao’s opinion.”

“You can’t even handle such a small thing; utterly useless! And now the Eastern Palace steals the advantage again!” Matriarch Wang cast her son a look of disgust. The wrinkled hand gripping her staff trembled with rage. “That heir of the Xiao clan, time and again, sides with the Eastern Palace! Truly the greatest absurdity under heaven. It seems I’ll have to pay the Xiao Royal Residence a visit myself.”

“Mother, you mustn’t!” Wang Yanshou sprang up in alarm. “If you go now, how will our Wang clan maintain any relations with the heir afterward? I’ve long thought that even if Xiao Yulin oversees the review, the heir’s opinion still carries weight. We shouldn’t have bypassed him to deal only with the third branch…”

Matriarch Wang grew even more furious. “You’re still thinking about maintaining relations? Did that Xiao Rong spare a thought for our Wang clan’s face when he acted so? What he’s done is no different from slapping your mother in public! If I don’t vent this anger today, what face have we left to stand among the Five Great Clans?”

Wang Yanshou glanced at the pitch-black night outside and pleaded again. “Mother, it’s already so late. Surely it can wait until morning.”

“Useless thing! Servants, prepare the carriage!” Matriarch Wang ignored him, rose with her staff, and shouted the order.

***

Half an hour later, a grand carriage drawn by a pair of horses rolled through the night and came to a stop before the gates of the Xiao Royal Residence.

“What brings Matriarch Wang here so late at night?” Xiao En stood atop the long steps before the Xiao Royal Residence, two servants with lanterns behind him. He smiled as he watched the richly dressed Matriarch Wang descend from her carriage.

Supported by two maids, Matriarch Wang stood proudly and asked straightaway, “Is Prince Xiao in? I have an urgent matter and must see him.”

“He is, yes,” Xiao En replied, “but His Highness is currently in conference with the military generals. Unless it is something truly urgent…”

Before he could finish, Matriarch Wang cut him off coldly. “If it weren’t urgent, would I have come at this hour? Xiao En, although you now enjoy Prince Xiao’s favor and bear the Xiao surname, don’t forget that back in the late emperor’s reign, you were nothing more than a lowly eunuch in the palace. When I tell you to announce my presence, you announce my presence. Are you trying to put on airs before me now?”

Xiao En only clasped his hands and smiled politely. “The Matriarch jests. How would a servant like me dare to posture before you? Since the matter is urgent, I’ll personally go announce your arrival. But His Highness is strict and when council is in session, no one is to interrupt. I’m afraid the Matriarch may need to wait a short while.

“Someone, show the Matriarch to the flower hall and serve her tea.”

A servant immediately stepped forward to lead Matriarch Wang into the residence.

Xiao En’s smile faded once she was gone. He turned and headed toward Jade Dragon Terrace.

The terrace was ablaze with light. Inside the council hall, Xiao Yulin was reporting in detail to Prince Xiao about the preparations for the upcoming martial arts tournament. Important generals such as Mo Qing and Zhang He sat on either side. Xiao Rong had come in late after finishing his duties and casually took a seat at the end.

“As for the list of generals participating in the tournament,” said Xiao Yulin, presenting a booklet, “I have already discussed it with General Mo and General Zhang and drafted a preliminary roster for Fourth Uncle to review.” He continued, “There is another matter; the Prince of Jin has volunteered to join the tournament. I dared not decide on my own and would like to seek Fourth Uncle’s and the generals’ opinions.”

“Let’s hear everyone’s thoughts, then,” said Prince Xiao, flipping through the booklet.

Xiao Yuke was the first to stand. “Fourth Uncle, since the Prince of Jin wishes to contribute to the Silver Dragon Cavalry, I believe we should encourage and support him. He has performed commendably during his time with the unit.”

The other generals spoke in turn; some in favor, others hesitant or doubtful.

“What about the rest of you?” asked Prince Xiao.

Only Xiao Rong, seated at the end, remained silent.

Xiao Yuke glanced sideways at him. “Xiao Rong, you’re never short of opinions. Why so quiet today?”

Xiao Rong set down his teacup unhurriedly. “My opinion hardly matters. I’ll go along with the majority. If your view can convince everyone, Xiao Yuke, I’ll gladly support it.”

Xiao Yuke knew he was being mocked, but with Prince Xiao present, he couldn’t retort. He could only glare at Xiao Rong in frustration.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

“Matriarch, His Highness is in council. You really mustn’t go in!”

It was Xiao En’s voice.

Then came a strong, imperious voice in reply. “Prince Xiao, I have an urgent matter and wish to speak with you in person. Might Your Highness spare a moment for an old woman like me?”

Xiao Yuke blinked in surprise. “That sounds like Matriarch Wang.”

“We’ll end the meeting here for today,” said Prince Xiao.

Everyone rose respectfully, answering in unison before taking their leave one after another.

Xiao Rong was the last to leave. As he stepped out of the council hall, he saw Matriarch Wang standing in the courtyard, her face dark with fury, and Xiao En waiting nearby.

Without glancing her way, Xiao Rong walked past.

Matriarch Wang’s gaze swept briefly over the young man before she lifted her skirts and strode straight into the hall.

Inside, Prince Xiao still sat at the head seat, his robe loose, his manner unhurried.

Matriarch Wang bowed slightly in greeting. “I beg your pardon for intruding so late and disturbing Your Highness’s council.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Prince Xiao said casually, setting aside the booklet in his hand. “For the Matriarch to come so late, I wonder what urgent matter brings you here.”

Xiao En accepted a freshly poured cup of hot tea from a servant and placed it beside Prince Xiao.

“See that tea and a seat are prepared for Matriarch Wang,” Prince Xiao instructed.

“There’s no need for tea.” Matriarch Wang took her seat, refusing the offered cup. Fingers clutching her string of prayer beads, she looked squarely at him. “I came tonight to ask, Prince Xiao, does the Xiao clan still consider the Wang clan an ally, sharing fortune and loss alike?”

The room fell silent.

Prince Xiao smiled faintly over the rim of his teacup. “What prompts the Matriarch to say such a thing?”

“Perhaps you should ask your heir.” Her tone sharpened. “The young heir’s recent conduct has shown neither regard for the Wang clan nor for me.”

Prince Xiao gently stirred the tea leaves floating on the surface. He turned to Xiao En. “And what foolish thing has Xiao Rong done this time to provoke the Matriarch’s wrath?”

“There’s no need to ask them, Prince Xiao,” Matriarch Wang cut in, her anger flaring anew. She recounted in full what had happened at the palace banquet days earlier, especially that exchange outside the palace gate that had utterly ignited her fury. “I also heard,” she added, “that today, the heir himself went to the Ministry of War to retrieve the martial arts tournament approval on behalf of the Eastern Palace. I had no idea the heir and the Crown Prince had grown so intimate. Such behavior makes me doubt whether the Xiao clan truly intends to support the Prince of Jin and maintain its alliance with the Wang clan.”

Her words fell like a stone into still water.

Xiao En’s heart sank.

“Indeed,” Prince Xiao said at last, his tone even. “It seems I’ve spoiled the boy; he’s grown a little too willful.” In the quiet that followed, his voice was calm, almost placid. “But Xiao Rong’s actions hardly represent the Xiao clan’s stance. The bond between our houses is not something a single young man can determine.”

He lifted his eyes to her. “Shall I apologize to Matriarch Wang on his behalf?”

Matriarch Wang froze, caught off guard.

“Look into it,” Prince Xiao said to Xiao En, his tone turning cool, “find out who’s been whispering nonsense into the Matriarch’s ear and leaking the Ministry of War’s internal affairs.”

Xiao En bowed. “Yes, my lord.”

Matriarch Wang stiffened again. Under Prince Xiao’s steady, unreadable gaze, a chill crept down her spine.

In her mind, she had imagined Prince Xiao would summon Xiao Rong to apologize in person, thus smoothing over both the unpleasantness at the palace banquet and today’s offense in a way that left all parties dignified.

Afterward, he could easily steer the talk toward the Prince of Jin’s participation in the martial arts tournament, ending the night’s visit on a graceful note.

She had never imagined that Prince Xiao would respond like this.

The reason Matriarch Wang had the nerve to come tonight was partly anger and partly because Prince Xiao had, for the first time, allowed Xiao Yulin to preside over the martial arts tournament. She had recently heard a rumor that at the start of Prince Xiao’s rule, his heir, Xiao Rong, had been sent away to a monastery for three years, raised among rough mountain monks and came back with a wild, untamed temperament. Because of this, Prince Xiao had little affection for him, favoring instead his nephew from the third branch, Xiao Yulin, and had even once considered replacing his heir.

However, since Xiao Rong was his own son, such a move would have been against the ancestral laws and the matter had quietly died down.

Naturally, this was far from Matriarch Wang’s first time keeping an eye on the Xiao clan’s inner affairs.

When Xiao Jingming was granted his title and the Xiao clan rose above the Cui clan to lead the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses, she had even considered selecting a few promising girls from her own family to send into the Xiao Royal Residence; if not as the Prince’s wife, then as his concubines, which would still be a fine future. After all, Xiao Jingming was in his prime yet had only one son, Xiao Rong. For a man of his rank, that was far from sufficient heirs.

To that end, Matriarch Wang had even gone to great lengths to investigate the late mother of the heir, hoping to discover what kind of woman had received Prince Xiao’s favor but she found nothing useful.

And now, as if doused with a bucket of cold water, her anger cleared into sudden, bitter clarity.

Indeed, no matter how angry she was, how could she have stormed over here to demand an explanation from Xiao Jingming over something so trivial?

Who was Xiao Jingming, after all?

Whether the rumors were true or not, Xiao Rong was still the heir of the Xiao clan. For her to come and accuse him was, in truth, to accuse the Xiao clan of failing to discipline its heir, an insult not just to the young man but to the entire Xiao clan and its patriarch.

And Prince Xiao’s calm response had made his meaning perfectly clear: No matter what the heir did, he could not be in the wrong and outsiders had no right to interfere.

Humiliation rose in Matriarch Wang’s face, flushing and paling all at once.

She forced a stiff smile. “Your Highness jests,” she said. “Now that I think of it, the heir must have been momentarily misled. It seems I have indeed made much ado over nothing. I… shall take my leave.”

When Matriarch Wang, her face pale and tight, finally left, Prince Xiao sat back, thoughtful, and asked, “What nonsense has that Xiao Rong been up to lately?”

“In this old servant’s view, it was indeed Matriarch Wang making a fuss over nothing,” Xiao En replied. “I heard from Mo Qing that during the last hunting outing, it was the Crown Prince who found the heir first and even shot down Cui Cheng with a single arrow. Perhaps because of that, the heir feels indebted to His Highness.” Xiao En smiled as he spoke.

***

Xiao Rong returned to his residence and told Mo Dong to keep watch outside before entering alone.

After returning from the council meeting, he had come here first to change clothes before attending and he remembered leaving the lamp lit when he went out. Yet now the room was pitch-dark.

He lit the lamp on the desk, straightened, and looked around. Everything was in its place; the same arrangement as before, even the book he had left half-read that morning still lay open on the table, yet something felt faintly wrong.

He stood there, frowning slightly in thought, when a tall figure stepped out from behind the screen, hands clasped behind his back.

Xiao Rong’s eyes widened as he saw the face; familiar, but impossible to see here and now. He instinctively glanced back at the door to make sure it was tightly shut before striding forward, astonished. “Your Highness, why are you here?”

Xi Rong’s lips curved in a faint smile. “I heard that old woman came to cause you trouble. I came to see for myself.” Sensing Xiao Rong’s unease, he added, “Don’t worry. I slipped in disguised among the Wang clan guards.”

Xiao Rong blinked and then realization dawned. “So you know everything?”

“They couldn’t fool me,” Xi Rong said simply.

“It was that old woman who overstepped, interfering with the Ministry of War’s duties and obstructing official process,” Xiao Rong said coldly. “Even if my father hears of it, he won’t care. She’s the one who’ll end up tripping over her own arrogance. I only acted because I couldn’t stand seeing them bully others. It was nothing more than lending a hand. Your Highness, truly, you needn’t worry about it.”

“I know,” Xi Rong said softly. “I just couldn’t rest easy. And also—” He paused, his gaze deepening. “Rongrong, I’ve been thinking these past few days. That last gesture you made at the Apricot Blossom Pavilion, what did it mean?”

Xiao Rong froze, suddenly uneasy. “Ah, that? It didn’t mean anything. Your Highness, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll have them bring supper right away.”

Before Xi Rong could respond, Xiao Rong turned quickly and slipped out the door.

***

“The Young Prince wants a late-night meal? Four dishes and a soup?”

In another wing, Xiao En raised an eyebrow when he heard Mo Dong’s report.

The heir’s appetite had been poor lately and he’d barely touched his dinner these past few nights, sending it back almost untouched. But tonight, suddenly, he was hungry again.