Pregnant Salted Fish Chapter 46

TL: Hua

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“It really is the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department!” Marquis Wu’an chuckled heartily, gesturing for his eldest son to quickly invite him in. “Chief Eunuch, does your sudden visit mean His Majesty has any important orders?”

Wen Jing couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle at Marquis Wu’an, who was playing along with him. Compared to the inwardly shrewd and cunning Marquis Wu’an, young master Xu was quite pure. “It is not His Majesty’s command.” Wen Jing took out the letter from his sleeve and handed it to Marquis Wu’an. “Wen Jing truly came this time to deliver a letter for Young Master Xu. Marquis, why don’t you first read the contents of the young master’s letter before we discuss further?”

Marquis Wu’an looked up at Wen Jing hesitantly, then lowered his head and opened the letter on the table. He quickly scanned his youngest son’s sprawling handwriting, which was identical to his own, his eyes widening. Then, he carefully re-read the letter from beginning to end.

Wen Jing silently observed Marquis Wu’an. Then, recalling Madam Wu’an’s appearance, he finally concluded that Young Master Xu’s pair of bright and clear large eyes resembled Marquis Wu’an’s, but his delicate and beautiful face was strikingly similar to Madam Wu’an’s.

Marquis Wu’an was startled by the contents of the letter and began to doubt himself. He beckoned to his eldest son and handed the letter to him. “No, no, your father is now at the age of blurry vision. Quickly, see what Ah Qing actually said in this letter?”

His own father’s words were truly difficult to stomach. Xu Xianzhi took the letter with a look of disdain. Soon, his own face also turned extremely grim.

Xu Yanqing’s letter was extremely concise and clear, itemized even. In summary, it meant:

1. To Father, Mother, and Elder Brother: I am informing you that I have now safely arrived in the capital. You don’t need to worry too much.

2. I am currently residing in the Imperial Palace because the child in my belly belongs to the Emperor. This time, while escaping to our ancestral home, I unexpectedly encountered the Emperor on a secret visit to the south, so I couldn’t keep it a secret.

3. If you miss me, come to the Imperial Palace to see me. I’ll be waiting for you in the palace. (Also, I am a victim, so I’ve specially requested if Father can go a little easy on me when you hit me.)

The rest was just nonsensical rambling from that little rascal Xu Yanqing. Xu Xianzhi twisted his stiff neck towards his father, whose hands were visibly clenching. “Father, it seems my eyes aren’t working so well either. Ah Qing actually said he’s pregnant with the Emperor’s child. Do you think Ah Qing might have become stupid because of his pregnancy?

That’s why he’s so audacious, daring to climb over his superiors and implicate the Emperor? If that’s truly the case, how much money will our family have to spend to get Ah Qing out of the dungeon?”

Xu Xianzhi was already envisioning Marquis Wu’an’s residence spending all its fortune to rescue his pitiful younger brother from the dungeon. Why was his little brother so unfortunate, his mind not working well at such a young age?

Perhaps after a trip to the dungeon and the birth of the child, the child would also become dull and foolish.

Seeing the Marquis Wu’an and his son getting more and more outrageous with their conjectures, Wen Jing couldn’t help but twitch his lips. Finally, amidst their wild fantasies, he managed to interject, “Marquis, Prince, you jest…”

Wen Jing hadn’t even finished speaking when Marquis Wu’an, wishing he could shed tears on the spot, forcefully interrupted him. “Chief eunuch, please don’t comfort us anymore. It’s all that brat Xu Yanqing’s fault, but he’s still young, and now he’s pregnant. I hope the chief eunuch can say a few good words to the Emperor and spare his little life!”

Marquis Wu’an spoke with a very pitiable tone. Wen Jing silently waited for Marquis Wu’an’s act to finish before speaking plainly, “The Emperor is a true dragon and naturally would not mistake royal blood. Since Young Master Xu is carrying the Emperor’s child, the Emperor will naturally protect and cherish the young master in every way. How could there be any reason to misuse the law?”

Fearing that Marquis Wu’an would once again feign madness and interrupt him, Wen Jing took a deep breath and quickly finished everything he wanted to say to the stunned father and son: “Presumably, Young Master has explained everything in the letter to the Marquis and the prince. If the marquis, madam, and the prince wish to enter the palace to see the young master, simply instruct this servant. This servant still has matters to attend to in the palace as commanded by the Emperor, so it’s inconvenient to stay long. I will take my leave now!”

No matter how shocked they were, they couldn’t lose their etiquette. Marquis Wu’an and Xu Xianzhi escorted Wen Jing all the way out of the mansion gate before returning to the study with grim expressions.

Seeing her husband and son go out to send off the chief eunuch, Lady Su, who had been hiding behind a screen, emerged. She picked up the letter from the desk and read it, completely stunned.

Just then, Marquis Wu’an and Xu Xianzhi returned. Lady Su recovered, dazed. “Ah Qing said he’s pregnant with the Emperor’s child?”

Marquis Wu’an walked over and embraced Lady Su. “From what it seems now, that’s indeed the case. We’ll only know for sure after entering the palace tomorrow to see Ah Qing.”

Saying this, Marquis Wu’an couldn’t help but sigh. He was equally perplexed as to how his unruly youngest son could have gotten involved with the dignified and self-restrained Emperor.

Xu Xianzhi was still in a state of bewilderment. A few months ago, he suddenly heard that his younger brother was pregnant with the child of some troublesome person, and he couldn’t help but feel enraged, wanting to find that person and beat them up. How, after several months, did his younger brother tell him that the troublesome person was actually the current emperor?

The elder brother was confused. The elder brother was utterly bewildered.

—

After delivering the letter, Wen Jing quickly returned to Changxin Palace to report the situation. The salted fish young master was currently holding a green leaf that had fallen from a tree, rocking back and forth in a reclining chair, looking utterly at ease.

In reality, the salted fish was not calm inside. Although his family ties were relatively thin in his previous life, this life was different, so he particularly cherished the hard-won kinship he gained after transmigrating into the book.

His father, mother, and elder brother had always loved him so much, and Xu Yanqing naturally didn’t want to hurt their feelings.

Therefore, seeing Wen Jing enter, Xu Yanqing sat straight up from the reclining chair. Yin Yanjun, who was drinking tea nearby, walked over and steadied him.

“Did the chief eunuch deliver the letter to my father and mother?” Xu Yanqing blinked his slightly anxious eyes.

Under the emperor’s indifferent gaze, Wen Jing quickly stepped forward to reply, “Reporting to the young master, the letter has been delivered to Marquis Wu’an and madam. However, they were slightly hesitant. It is likely they will request an audience in the palace tomorrow.”

Xu Yanqing raised a hand and patted his thumping chest, feeling as if he couldn’t escape a beating. Forget it, let him hit me. As long as Father, Mother, and Elder Brother weren’t angry, it would be fine.

“Young master, there’s no need to worry. Tomorrow, I will summon Marquis Wu’an to the palace and explain everything in detail to him.” He raised a hand and pinched the young master’s frowning face. The dignified and self-restrained Taoist Master Xuanchen was now becoming increasingly adept at these small gestures.

The salted fish resolutely shook his head. “Taoist Master, let me see Father and Mother first, then we can talk!” With his father’s fiery temper, if he heard it from the Taoist Master first, he might think his youngest son had learned great disrespect, using the Emperor to pressure his father. He might even get a worse beating then.

So, the salted fish very decisively declined the Taoist Master’s kind offer.

Thinking this, the listless salted fish languidly nestled back into the reclining chair, unable to resist reaching out and pulling Taoist Master Xuanchen’s sleeve to cover his face. “I don’t care, I don’t care. It’s one blade whether I face it head-on or shrink back. We’ll talk when Father and Mother arrive tomorrow!”

With his sleeve pulled by the young master, Yin Yanjun moved a stool and sat beside the young master, taking a fan from the table and gently fanning him.

The weather today was actually quite pleasant, not too hot, and it was especially cool under the large tree. However, the young master had a high body temperature, and after chatting under the tree for a while, a few beads of sweat still beaded on his forehead.

At this moment, it was probably only the salted fish young master who could have the Emperor fanning him. The young master, hiding under the Taoist master’s sleeve, couldn’t help but let his mind wander, and soon enough, he drifted off to sleep.

In a few days, it would be the grand occasion for envoys from various nations to gather at court. Yin Yanjun had been working tirelessly these days, only managing to snatch some time to be with the young master amidst his busy schedule.

The sun outside was getting stronger. Yin Yanjun carefully picked up the young master horizontally. The young master had by now completely accustomed himself to the Taoist’s scent. The moment he was embraced, the sleeping young master couldn’t help but nuzzle into the Taoist’s arms.

The young master was sleeping soundly, and Yin Yanjun couldn’t help but curve his lips. He carried the young master all the way into the hall and gently placed him on the bed.

Just as he was about to get up, Yin Yanjun felt a resistance. He then realized that the young master had a hand firmly grasping his lapel.

The young master’s childish appearance held a hint of lovable clumsiness in his sleep. Yin Yanjun squeezed the young master’s hand, and the other obediently released his sleeve.

Not standing up immediately, Yin Yanjun’s long, fair fingers brushed the young master’s delicate brows and eyes, sliding down to his lips. The sleeping young master unconsciously bit Yin Yanjun’s finger with a soft smack.

Yin Yanjun couldn’t help but shiver. Fortunately, the young master tilted his head and released the finger in his mouth. The young master shifted slightly and fell into an even deeper, sweeter sleep.

Outside the door, Wen Jing gently raised a hand and knocked. “Minister Shi of the Court of State Ceremonials and Vice Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites seek an audience with His Majesty.”

Staring at the young master’s sleeping face, Yin Yanjun sighed deeply with a profound meaning. He finally rose from the bedside and walked out of the hall. “Invite them into the side hall.”

“Yes,” Wen Jing acknowledged the order.

Since he was concerned about the young master’s health, Yin Yanjun had instructed Wen Jing to move all his affairs to the side hall after returning to the capital.

Fortunately, Yin Yanjun hadn’t directly made the salted fish young master live in the Hanliang Palace, which was exclusively for the Emperor. If he had done so, the young master would likely have packed his bags in a panic and fled straight to the Marquis Wu’an’s residence.

Minister Shi of the Court of State Ceremonials and Vice Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites were led directly to the side hall of Changxin Palace. They exchanged glances, both feeling extremely confused. As they pondered, they had already walked into the hall.

The Emperor, wearing a relaxed and loose Taoist robe, sat formally at the desk, reviewing memorials. The two officials had no time to ponder further and quickly stepped forward to salute. “This humble subject greets Your Majesty!”

“Rise,” Yin Yanjun calmly raised a hand. “You two ministers came together, for what matter?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the envoy of the Xiling Kingdom has already arrived in the capital,” Minister Shi bowed and presented a memorial to the Emperor’s desk.

The Xiling Kingdom was the first vassal state to bow in allegiance to Daliang. Their monarch, Tuoba Yan Hui, was also a shrewd and sensible ruler, knowing that he stood no chance against Daliang.

Thus, they had submitted to Daliang early on. After so many years of trading with Daliang, the Xiling Kingdom could be considered prosperous.

Yin Yanjun opened the memorial, glanced at it, and then closed it casually. “Three days from now, entertain the Xiling Kingdom’s envoy in Qingyuan Palace. This matter will be entrusted to you two ministers.”

“This humble subject obeys the decree.” Minister Shi and Vice Minister Zhang bowed again.

They came and went quickly. As they reached the palace gate, Vice Minister Zhang finally couldn’t help but speak. “I heard that an esteemed person has moved into Changxin Palace. Has Minister Shi heard anything about this?”

“Changxin Palace is not a place just anyone can live in,” Minister Shi sighed, exchanging a glance with Vice Minister Zhang. “Now, even His Majesty himself is staying in Changxin Palace. I’m afraid a joyous occasion is approaching for our Daliang.”

“Speaking of which, His Majesty is nearing thirty years of age. If there truly is an esteemed person residing in Changxin Palace, wouldn’t that be a joyous event!” Vice Minister Zhang couldn’t help but clap his hands in approval.

However, since they were in the palace, they naturally didn’t dare to say too much. After all, this was considered the emperor’s private matter. If they spoke too much, it would be an offense to imperial dignity. The Emperor, despite appearing gentle and benevolent on the surface, was in reality overwhelmingly majestic and inviolable.

—

Still unaware of the various conjectures about his identity, the salted fish finally, after breakfast the next day, nervously welcomed his father and mother.

As for his elder brother, he was temporarily kept in the Imperial Study by the Emperor for a talk.

The ostrich salted fish looked at his parents walking in, unable to help but peek out from behind the door. In the end, he couldn’t hold back and gave the Marquis and Madam Wu’an a fawning smile.

Lady Su couldn’t miss her son’s nervous look. With a hint of heartache for her youngest, she still couldn’t help but step forward and tug at his ear. “You, Xu Yanqing, your wings have hardened, haven’t they? You hid such an earth-shattering event from your father and mother. Do you want to kill us?!”

“Ow, Mother, be gentle! My ear’s going to fall off!” Even though Lady Su wasn’t using much force, the young master deliberately put on a grimacing, pitiful act.

Mu Yu couldn’t help but secretly chuckle from the side. His young master had been like this since childhood. No matter how much trouble he caused, as soon as the madam found out, he would put on this pitiful, begging act.

Wen Jing and Mu Yu exchanged glances. Both abandoned the grimacing, begging young master, closed the hall door, and let them talk privately inside.

After all, he was the child she had raised with so much hardship. Lady Su knew her youngest son’s nature. This time, the little rascal had caused such a big mess. She naturally wasn’t willing to let it go easily. Holding her youngest son’s ear, she slowly pressed him into a chair. “Tell me, how much have you been hiding from your father and mother all this time?”

While his wife was scolding their son, Marquis Wu’an sat calmly, holding his teacup, watching the show. He took a sip, only to realize that the teacup contained only warm water.

Marquis Wu’an glanced meaningfully at his impudent youngest son and chose to remain silent. After all, when dealing with a misbehaving child, his wife’s fighting power was always stronger than his.

“Mother, Mother, my ear is really going to fall off!” The pitiful little one blinked his moist, big eyes, trying to charm his cold-hearted mother.

Lady Su finally huffed coldly, letting go of her youngest son’s red ear. Then, looking at her youngest son’s prominently swollen belly, a surge of maternal affection finally overwhelmed her, barely maintaining a hint of coldness on her face. “Quickly, tell me the truth. What exactly is going on between you and the Emperor?”

The salted fish silently raised a hand and touched his slowly warming ear. He tentatively glanced at his mother, who still seemed to be fuming. “The Taoist master and I were truly just a wrong coincidence, really, I swear!”

Hearing his youngest son refer to him as “Taoist Master” repeatedly, Marquis Wu’an inadvertently looked up at the palace’s decorations, then thought of the palace’s name. How could he not know what the Emperor was planning?

However, Marquis Wu’an had always been good at feigning madness. He slammed his teacup heavily on the table. “Then explain it bit by bit. Whether it’s a coincidence or a misunderstanding, your father and mother have time to listen to you finish.”

The young master was startled at his father’s sudden action. Lady Su couldn’t help but raise a hand and lightly smack her husband’s arm. “What are you doing? Is that how you scare a child?”

Marquis Wu’an looked pitiful and innocent. At home, they had agreed to be “cold and ruthless” and get to the bottom of it from their youngest son’s mouth. Why had his wife suddenly turned sides so quickly?

Xu Yanqing gave himself an inward thumbs-up and continued to speak mournfully, “Originally, I was staying at Yunshui Courtyard and planned to drug Su Hanfeng. But that insidious person switched my tea, causing me to drink the drugged tea by mistake and stumble into the next courtyard. Under the influence of the medicine, I… did that with the Taoist Master.”

The Taoist being poisoned with an aphrodisiac was an imperial secret, and Xu Yanqing naturally didn’t intend to reveal it.

Therefore, he was only slightly vague about this matter. “At that time, I only thought I had forced myself upon the immortal-like Taoist next door. The next morning, I woke up and irresponsibly ran away. So, actually, when you get down to it, the Taoist Master is also a pitiful victim forced by me.”

The decisive and dignified emperor had become a “pitiable victim” in his youngest son’s mouth. It seemed the Emperor had indeed charmed his youngest son quite thoroughly. Marquis Wu’an, who felt he had grasped a tiny bit of the truth, snorted coldly. “Then continue. Why did you, after properly resting and recuperating in Xu Family Village, suddenly get involved with the Emperor on a secret visit again?”

What do you mean “get involved”? The salted fish young master disdained his father’s shallow understanding.

However, under his father’s glare, he still honestly replied, “I was indeed staying properly at the ancestral home. It just so happened that the emperor came to the village with the doctors from the medical clinic for a charity consultation. That day, there was a sudden heavy rain, and I had already gone to bed early. I only learned the next day that the Emperor and his party had borrowed our courtyard to stay.”

“Hmph, full of holes.” Marquis Wu’an wanted to slam the table harder, but Lady Su shot him a cold glare. He wisely pulled back his hand, only gripping the teacup tightly, narrowly avoiding crushing it. “Even if the emperor sought shelter and stayed at the ancestral home during the rain, he should have left when the weather cleared. Unless you tell me, how did the Emperor know that you, a young man, were pregnant with the imperial child?”

“Then it’s all the fault of this little bean in my belly that hasn’t been born yet,” the salted fish sighed helplessly, explaining his physical condition one by one. “In short, the reason I’m now pregnant with the imperial child and living in the Imperial Palace instead of going home is because the little bean in my belly can’t do without his emperor father’s comfort.”

The salted fish was innocent, so the salted fish decisively pushed all the blame onto the unborn, speechless little bean in his belly. It was simply perfect.

Hearing his youngest son describe how pitifully he had thrown up during morning sickness, Lady Su couldn’t help but lovingly stroke her youngest son’s chubby cheek again. “So, are you much better now?”

The young master obediently let her stroke him and nodded. “The Taoist Master staying at our ancestral home for a few days made me seventy to eighty percent better. Perhaps the little bean just longs for his emperor father. However, during the journey back to the capital recently, I rode in the carriage for several days and threw up a few times. Now, after a few days of rest, I’m much better.”

“It’s good that you’re alright; it’s good that you’re alright.” After all, he was the youngest son they had doted on and raised. The thought that her youngest, despite being male, had to endure the pain of pregnancy and childbirth made her heartbroken. Thus, she couldn’t help but feel a little resentment towards the Emperor.

Sometimes people are just this selfish. Even though the Emperor was also an innocent victim in this matter.

But ultimately, the one who suffered the most was her youngest son, so Lady Su privately sided completely with her youngest.

Marquis Wu’an sighed. Regardless of how much truth or falsehood was in his son’s words, he slowly said, “So, you plan to live in the palace permanently now?”

“I’ll have to wait until the little bean in my belly is born first, then we can talk about it!” Saying this, Xu Yanqing instinctively raised a hand and patted his belly.

That gesture made Lady Su tremble with fear. She couldn’t help but raise her hand and swat away the young master’s provocative hand. Instead, she reached out herself and gently stroked her son’s prominently swollen belly. The little bean was very cooperative with his grandmother, kicking once under Lady Su’s hand.

“Oh, quite strong! This mischievousness is just like when you were little.” Lady Su couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. Then, looking at her currently lazy youngest son, her tone held a hint of disdain. “I don’t know how you suddenly became such a little lazy bug, but you’re still Mother’s good little lazy bug.”

The salted fish young master chuckled. Laziness was not just a joy but a supreme pursuit.

Marquis Wu’an couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous of his wife’s hand on his son’s belly, so he said sourly, “Once the child is born, have you thought about what you’ll do then?”

With the bothersome heat cycle, the salted fish young master still planned to discuss it with the Taoist using the little bean in his belly as leverage.

At that time, he would ask the Taoist to help him through a heat cycle every three months. He thought that such a gentle and considerate good person like the Taoist would surely not refuse. Therefore, Xu Yanqing rubbed his ear and said, “Naturally, I’ll go home. Are you planning to abandon me in the palace?”

However, he would have to separate from the Taoist then. Thinking this, the salted fish suddenly felt a dull sensation in his heart. He couldn’t quite describe what kind of feeling it was.

Seeing him speaking so earnestly, Marquis Wu’an couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. He was just afraid that his foolish son would be devoured, then sweet-talked into dizzy confusion, and would no longer think of returning to the Marquis Wu’an’s residence!

Someone like the emperor had calculated so much for his family Ah Qing. He even remembered trivial details like pregnant people not being able to drink tea. How could he easily let his foolish son leave?

However, it seemed his foolish son was completely unaware of the emperor’s intentions, still thinking of going home. He was truly slow-witted to a certain extent. It seemed that if the emperor wanted to win his foolish son’s heart in the future, his path to love would be quite bumpy.

Marquis Wu’an smirked inwardly, maintaining a serious expression on his face. He swore that if he ever saw the emperor in a comical situation, he would definitely not kick him when he was down.

“Your Majesty!” Wen Jing’s voice came from outside the door.

 

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