Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 97

I would not be updating the novel here any longer. Please head to Mistmint Haven for continuous updates. See yall there~

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While rumors of every kind were flying wild outside, Xiao Rong was fast asleep on the bed of his newly rented house.

Perhaps his earlier chill hadn’t yet fully recovered because he slept straight through from daylight until evening. When he finally woke, his throat felt parched. Remembering the agent’s words that there was a well in the courtyard, he slipped on his shoes and went to draw some water.

Passing through the moon gate, he found there was indeed a stone well with a bucket tied to a rope beneath a pomegranate tree.

Xiao Rong had been pampered since childhood, used to fine clothes and rich food. Even when he’d lived in the mountains, he’d never actually fetched water himself. As he stood by the well, studying how to do it, a slow, drawling voice came from behind.

“Who gave you permission to draw water here?”

Xiao Rong turned his head and saw, not far away, a young man in a brocade robe lounging in a rattan chair. His face was fair and handsome, his attire refined to the smallest detail, but his brows and the corners of his eyes carried a sharp, mean edge. Two servant boys stood behind him, one on each side, fanning him gently, while several burly attendants lingered nearby, clearly bodyguards.

Xiao Rong crossed his arms and smiled with easy grace. “I’m the new tenant next door.”

At the sight of his face, the man in brocade was momentarily taken aback. Then his brows lifted slightly, revealing a flicker of hostility and suspicion. “Oh? And where does this young gentleman serve?”

“Me?” Xiao Rong replied lightly. “Just a minor official, hardly worth mentioning.”

“A capital official?”

“Indeed.”

The man’s expression grew even more wary. “Strange. How is it that I’ve never seen you before?”

“There are six ministries and nine courts in the capital,” Xiao Rong said evenly. “People come and go by the hundreds every day. That’s hardly surprising.”

The man’s eyes flickered thoughtfully. “So young, yet already holding an official post in the capital. You must have had someone of influence backing you. Who might your patron be?”

Xiao Rong shook his head. “No patron, really. I do know a few friends in the office, though. You seem very interested in my affairs. Why, are you offering to introduce me to some powerful benefactor?”

That only deepened the man’s suspicion. His gaze turned mocking. “There are plenty of people in this world who want to climb high. Don’t think that just because you’ve got a pleasant face, you can leap to the top in one bound. Since you’re renting the house next door, I’ll lay down the rules first. This well is mine. Without my permission, you’re not to draw water from it.

“And the kitchen, though technically shared, is off-limits as well. I dislike others touching my things. If you want to eat, find your own way. One more thing, I advise you not to set your sights on anyone from the Wei Royal Residence, no matter whose favor you’re after. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Just then, a servant boy hurried in to announce, “Young Master Mu Yin, Clan Leader Feng has arrived.”

A short, sharp-faced man in a richly embroidered robe entered, followed by several attendants carrying heavy gifts.

“Young Master Mu Yin!” He bowed deeply but when his gaze fell on Xiao Rong standing under the pomegranate tree, his face changed at once. “You—!”

Xiao Rong bowed in return with a composed smile. “Ah, Clan Leader Feng. It’s been a long time.”

“You…” Feng Zhong looked as if he’d seen a ghost, shock and disbelief written across his face.

Mu Yin glanced between them with interest. “What? You two know each other?”

Through clenched teeth, Feng Zhong spat, “Know him? More than that! If not for this little swindler, I wouldn’t have been driven to ruin, left like a homeless dog!”

Although the mountain raid in Songzhou had long passed, Feng Zhong still remembered his humiliation vividly. Because of this sly youth’s tricks, he had lost all trust from the Cui clan and Yan Hemei. Later, when Xi Rong purged the great aristocrats, Feng Zhong had been forced to abandon his wealth and flee to the capital in search of protection.

Even here, he had met obstacle after obstacle. Only recently had he managed to attach himself to Mu Yin, the most favored confidant under the Prince of Wei.

Xiao Rong said calmly, “Clan Leader Feng, a chance meeting is fate. Why must you draw swords the moment we meet?”

“Who shares fate with you?!” Feng Zhong glared at him up and down and then suddenly sneered. “Weren’t you following the Crown Prince before? What’s this now? Has even the Crown Prince thrown you aside?” He gave a short laugh. “Makes sense. The Eastern Palace can hardly protect itself, so how could it protect you?” There was a touch of satisfaction in his tone.

“The Crown Prince?” Mu Yin’s expression shifted subtly. He gave Xiao Rong a measuring look. “So, you’re one of the Eastern Palace’s men?”

Xiao Rong smiled, studying Feng Zhong with amusement. “How strange. How did Clan Leader Feng know I belonged to the Crown Prince?”

Feng Zhong froze, realizing too late that he had slipped up. He covered his mouth, muttering awkwardly, “I guessed, can’t I? But why are you here? Don’t tell me you’ve come to curry favor with Young Master Mu and find yourself a new branch to climb?”

To Feng Zhong, that seemed very likely. After all, compared with the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin, who both had the support of powerful families, the Crown Prince Xi Rong’s prospects at the moment were rather bleak.

“Young Master Mu,” he warned darkly, “this little con man is sly as a fox. Don’t let him trick you!”

Xiao Rong only sighed regretfully. “With someone as outstanding as Young Master Mu before me, even if I did go to the Wei Royal Residence, I fear there would be no future for me there. Clan Leader Feng worries too much.” Then, with a teasing glint in his eye, he added, “But you’re right. People naturally strive upward and water flows downward. Now that you’ve reminded me, I am tempted. Tell you what, I’m feeling rather thirsty. If Clan Leader Feng fetches me a bucket of water, I’ll give up the idea of joining the Prince of Wei entirely and never compete with you. How about that?”

Feng Zhong was nearly beside himself with rage.

Mu Yin, however, was thoroughly entertained. He raised a languid hand and said, “Give him a bucket of water.”

A page took the order, called over a burly servant, and soon a full bucket of water was drawn and handed to Xiao Rong.

However, Xiao Rong, true to his pampered habits, sighed delicately. “This bucket’s far too heavy for me. Why not trouble Clan Leader Feng to deliver it for me personally?”

“You—!” Feng Zhong’s eyes nearly bulged from his head.

Mu Yin chuckled. “Clan Leader Feng, for the sake of your future, why not make the trip?”

Feng Zhong, needing Mu Yin’s favor, had no choice but to swallow his anger. He carried the heavy bucket himself, following Xiao Rong into the neighboring courtyard, and under Xiao Rong’s direction, poured it carefully into the water jar.

By the time he set down the wooden bucket, panting hard, he still couldn’t quite comprehend how he had somehow ended up acting as this little swindler’s water boy.

“Master,” one of the pages asked curiously, “could that man next door really be from the Eastern Palace?”

Mu Yin’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If Feng Zhong said so, it’s probably true. An Eastern Palace man, eh? With a face like that. If the Prince of Wei ever saw him, that would be trouble indeed.”

The page chuckled. “But I heard the Crown Prince is infamous for his cruelty and sharp temper, nothing like His Highness the Prince of Wei, who’s known for his courtesy. Serving under the Crown Prince’s hand, that fellow must be suffering plenty. He’s nowhere near as fortunate as you, Young Master.”

Mu Yin’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Fortunate? I can’t afford a single moment’s carelessness. None of the people around His Highness is easy to deal with. In the shadows, who knows how many are waiting to climb over me?”

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There was no tea and no brazier. Xiao Rong could only pour himself a pot of cold water. He’d lived like this for quite a while in the mountains, so he didn’t mind it. His limbs still felt weak and after a few gulps, he lay down again and quickly fell back asleep.

He slept for a long time.

When he finally opened his eyes again, the sky outside was a deep indigo and the distant crowing of roosters drifted faintly through the air. Curled up on his straw mat, his body still languid, Xiao Rong didn’t want to move.

However, just then, a faint creak reached his ears.

Instantly alert, Xiao Rong sat up and in the same motion, a small crossbow bolt shot from his sleeve.

The arrow was laced with potent poison; even a scratch would be enough to paralyze a man in an instant.

Clang!

A flash of sword light deflected the dart mid-air, sending it clattering harmlessly to the floor.

“It’s me, Young Prince.”

A voice came quickly from outside.

Xiao Rong still held the small crossbow in his hand. When he heard the voice and looked carefully, he saw a tall, slender man in a silver-white martial robe, a sword in one hand and a teapot in the other.

It was Mo Dong.

Xiao Rong lowered the crossbow, his tone cold. “Why are you here?”

“The Young Prince is my master. Wherever my master goes, I naturally follow,” Mo Dong said softly.

Xiao Rong’s expression didn’t change. “I left a letter telling Mo Qing to assign you to work under Xiao Yulin. Xiao Yulin is a hypocrite. He won’t mistreat you for being one of my old men and might even favor you. You should go.”

Mo Dong didn’t move. Instead, he dropped to his knees. “A loyal man serves no second master. The Xiao clan’s shadow guards have never served two. If the heir no longer wants me, there’s only one road left for me: death.”

Xiao Rong lifted his eyes slightly, a spark of interest glinting there. “How strange. Weren’t you the one who begged your master before, saying you didn’t want to serve me and asked for someone with a gentler temper?”

Mo Dong froze. Then, realizing what Xiao Rong meant, his face went deathly pale. “That was when I was young and foolish, speaking nonsense,” he said hoarsely. “Please believe me, Young Prince. In my heart, you have always been the only master I acknowledge. I have never wavered.”

Xiao Rong’s voice stayed indifferent. “That’s odd. I thought you liked masters with good tempers. Xiao Yulin has a fine one. You should be happy to serve him.”

Mo Dong’s face went even whiter. “I admit, when I was first assigned to your side, I was afraid of you, Young Prince. But later I realized that you’re only sharp-tongued. You’ve never truly made things hard for me. To me, you are the best master there is. I’d give my life for you. If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it with my death.” Without hesitation, he raised his sword and laid it across his neck.

“Enough.” Xiao Rong waved lazily. “I don’t understand all that shadow guard nonsense and I’ve no interest in watching people kill themselves. If you follow me, know this: I have no money to pay your wages.”

Mo Dong immediately lifted his head. “As long as you don’t drive me away, I don’t want pay.”

Xiao Rong had slept an entire day on a thin mat, little better than lying directly on the boards. By morning, his bones ached all over. He stared at Mo Dong for a long while. Just when Mo Dong began to fidget under the scrutiny, Xiao Rong asked, “Do you know how to make a bed?”

Mo Dong blinked, glanced at the so-called bed consisted of bare wooden planks, and felt a pang in his chest. He rose quickly. “Please wait a moment, Young Prince.”

When Xiao Rong slipped on his shoes and got up, he found that the cold water on the table had been replaced with a pot of steaming tea. He poured half a bowl, sat down, and drank slowly while thinking. Before long, Mo Dong returned.

He came in carrying an armful of quilts and bedding, dumped them all onto the wooden frame, and began to make the bed.

Since it was summer, besides the padding, Mo Dong had bought a new bamboo mat and a cool pillow.

Xiao Rong took out two silver notes from his robe and handed them to him.

Mo Dong shook his head. “I can’t take your money, Young Prince.”

“If you don’t take it, how could I feel right spending yours? This is all the money I brought with me. You’ll keep it for me. Anything we need, take it from there. Say another word and don’t bother showing yourself again.”

Mo Dong had no choice but to accept.

With a softer bed beneath him, drowsiness soon returned. After sitting up for a short while, Xiao Rong toppled sideways and drifted off again.

Mo Dong drew a thin blanket over him, shut the door quietly, and went out.

When Xiao Rong woke again, the sun was already high.

Mo Dong came back with steaming food and they ate together. Then Mo Dong couldn’t help asking, “Young Prince, do you truly mean to live here from now on?”

“If you can’t bear it, you’re free to leave anytime,” Xiao Rong said.

Mo Dong shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. I meant, have you really decided to leave the Xiao clan?”

Xiao Rong skipped the question entirely. “That old hag and those bastards from the Xiao clan haven’t gone to the Jade Dragon Terrace to make trouble, have they?”

Mo Dong shook his head.

There were no walls that didn’t leak wind.

In a single day, news of his departure from the Xiao clan had likely spread, at least among the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses. Those hoping to stir up chaos now had no grounds to go crying before Prince Xiao. Once the Xiao clan appointed a new heir, with Prince Xiao’s thunderous methods, all hidden unrest would be swiftly put down.

With that, Xiao Rong’s only remaining concern could finally be laid to rest.

At present, what troubled him more was someone else and something else entirely.

If Xi Rong found out that he had deliberately deceived him last night, when they were even sharing a bed, who knew how mad the man might become?

He would have to think carefully about a way to handle it.

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I would not be updating the novel here any longer. Please head to Mistmint Haven for continuous updates. See yall there~