Nanruo Palace.
Just as the carriage came to a steady stop, Jiang Huaichu didn’t wait for the eunuch to come over with the footstool—he jumped down on his own and strode briskly toward Yazheng Hall, his robes fluttering in the wind.
The head eunuch followed behind, panicked and worried: “Wangye, please slow down! Don’t trip—watch your step!”
Along the way, palace attendants, upon seeing the approaching young man in flowing robes and elegant attire, immediately stopped in their tracks and respectfully bowed to greet him.
A pretty young palace maid mustered her courage and stole a glance at Duan Wang. She froze for a few seconds, then quickly lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red.
Duan Wang—second only to one in power—was not only young and already renowned for his military achievements and wide-reaching fame, but he was also striking in appearance. Though he didn’t quite match the emperor’s imposing and handsome presence, his jade-like elegance made it impossible to look away.
At a single glance, one would almost forget his features entirely, overtaken instead by a sudden and lingering sense of awe, as if Duan Wang bore the beauty of Pan An himself.
What a strange thing.
Only when Duan Wang and the head eunuch had walked off did the palace maids dare lift their heads.
“You were staring!”
“As if Wangye would punish me for it.”
“You better be careful. His Majesty already said—Duan Wang has not yet come of age. Anyone who dares taint him with lewd or improper thoughts is to be flogged to death!”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
“Why is Wangye in the palace today?”
“Word from Yazheng Hall is that His Majesty flew into a thunderous rage after court this morning—no one knows why. Wangye is probably here because of that.”
“Then it’s fine. As long as Wangye soothes him, His Majesty will calm down.”
At the entrance of Yazheng Hall, Jiang Huaichu dismissed the kneeling palace attendants and the head eunuch, then stood alone before the tightly shut doors of the inner hall. He untied the cord on the sachet at his waist, reached inside, and dipped a finger into the white powder within, rubbing it over his hands.
The powder was fine and, once spread, became colorless and scentless.
Jiang Huaichu let out a soft sigh.
Royal brother… I’m sorry.
From within came a man’s voice, icy and frigid, emotions barely restrained and seething beneath the surface—just hearing it made one’s scalp tingle.
“Did the entire journey here still not give you enough time to come up with a lie? You need to stand in front of me to work one out?”
Jiang Huaichu immediately pushed the door open and entered.
Inside, a man sat at the desk, dressed in a dragon robe. His features were upright and handsome. Though only twenty-four or twenty-five, his bearing was solemn and imposing. A single glance from him could make anyone tremble.
And right now, he was glaring at Jiang Huaichu, face stern and eyes dark to the point of being terrifying.
“….Royal brother.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Jiang Huaichu turned around and shut the door firmly. After checking to make sure it was closed tight, he walked toward the desk and finally stood obediently beside the man, head lowered.
“…Royal brother.”
That one word instantly ignited Jiang Huaiyi’s fury.
“You still know I’m your Royal brother? If that old man hadn’t let it slip, how long were you planning to keep this from me? Until you were pregnant? Or until your belly was so big you had no choice but to give birth? Jiang Huaichu, how did I never realize you had this much guts? Are you rebelling?!”
When the old man from Miluo Manor confessed everything, Jiang Huaiyi had nearly fainted from rage.
His only younger brother—for the sake of Nanruo’s future—had actually agreed to that shameless, absurd request from Miluo Manor: to sneak into an enemy nation, seduce Emperor Xiao Yun, and get pregnant with his child.
How had Miluo Manor even thought of such a thing? How could they say it out loud with a straight face? And how could Jiang Huaichu agree to it?
Jiang Huaiyi found it utterly incomprehensible.
“…I was wrong.” Jiang Huaichu looked meek and obedient, reaching to take Jiang Huaiyi’s hand—only to be harshly pushed away.
“Stand still.”
Jiang Huaichu pulled back his hand and could only obediently stand straight, legs together like when he was a child, motionless as he accepted the scolding.
Jiang Huaiyi pointed at Jiang Huaichu’s nose, his hand trembling slightly. “Jiang Huaichu! Did I raise you all these years just to hand you over to Xiao Yun?”
“You’re only eighteen! And a man at that! Even young women your age might not be married yet, and you’re telling me you want to let him… and even have his child?”
“You’re going to have a child for that scoundrel?”
This seemed to be the source of his rage. His voice was so loud it was frightening.
Jiang Huaichu didn’t dare make a sound.
Looking at his younger brother, who was as clean and pure as a blank sheet of paper, Jiang Huaiyi had a face full of disappointment and frustration, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Do you even know how children are conceived? Do you think just holding hands will make you pregnant? That hugging will make a baby appear?”
“…” Jiang Huaichu instinctively pressed his legs together and lowered his head even more.
He knew. He had done his research.
“So, is it because I never taught you? Do you need me to explain it to you now? Huh?”
Jiang Huaichu didn’t dare lift his head. He just shook it.
“That senile old fool at Miluo Manor is nearly eighty, his mind is clearly gone, and yet you’re just as bad? You let yourself be talked into this nonsense?”
“If I hadn’t found out, were you planning to just waltz back home with a big belly?”
“You want to show up at twenty, leading that b*stard’s child, and expect me to hold your coming-of-age ceremony?”
Jiang Huaiyi was so enraged by the thought that smoke nearly came out of his ears. “Jiang Huaichu, you’re really something! Are you trying to anger me to death?”
“…” Jiang Huaichu remained calm and composed, standing completely still, but the tips of his ears reddened slightly. He reached out to tug on Jiang Huaiyi’s hand and softened his voice. “Brother, you can scold me all you want, but take care of your health. Don’t… don’t get too worked up.”
Jiang Huaiyi was about to shake him off, but seeing how obedient he looked, not even arguing back, he hesitated and forcibly suppressed his anger.
For a brief moment, he struggled internally before finally letting Jiang Huaichu hold his hand. In a cold voice, he warned, “This matter is not up for discussion. I’m warning you—if you dare leave Nanruo without my permission, I’ll have someone break your legs. Do you hear me?”
Jiang Huaichu’s fingers stiffened slightly but quickly nodded obediently. “I know I was wrong. I really do.”
Jiang Huaiyi took a deep breath. Seeing that his brother was admitting fault so sincerely, he belatedly realized that his earlier words had been far too harsh, unbecoming of a royal.
After all, this was the younger brother he had doted on for so many years. He couldn’t bear to hit him, and if he scolded too harshly, he feared it would hurt his feelings.
He knew Jiang Huaichu had always been well-intentioned. The boy had suffered greatly due to his own health issues, and bringing this up was like rubbing salt in his wounds.
Realizing this, Jiang Huaiyi’s heart softened completely. After a moment of silence, he said sternly, “Nanruo does not need your sacrifice, and I certainly don’t either. Not now, not ever—not even if the country is on the brink of destruction. I, Jiang Huaiyi, do not care for this throne, nor do I fear death. I would never exchange my little brother for survival. So put that thought out of your mind. How many times have I taught you—one may die, but not be humiliated. Do you understand?”
“Just be the little Wangye you were meant to be. Stop carrying burdens beyond your years. As long as you stay on the right path, do whatever you wish. No matter how big the problem, I am here. You don’t need to worry—I am more than capable of handling it.”
Jiang Huaichu looked at him for a long time. Just as Jiang Huaiyi was about to scold him again, he slowly nodded. “I understand.”
Jiang Huaiyi let out a quiet sigh of relief, then said with a straight face, “Do you have anything to say? Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to explain yourself.”
“…No.”
“You admit you were wrong?”
“I do.”
Jiang Huaiyi was satisfied with how quickly he answered.
This whole absurd idea was clearly just a momentary lapse in judgment. Huaichu was still young—he must have been momentarily swayed by that senile old man. But he was smart. A few words of guidance would surely set him straight—
Jiang Huaiyi passed out.
Jiang Huaichu had been watching him closely and immediately caught him as he collapsed.
“Royal Brother?” Jiang Huaichu called softly a few times.
Jiang Huaiyi didn’t respond.
The sleeping drug was something he had personally prepared. He knew its effects well—Jiang Huaiyi wouldn’t wake up for at least six hours.
Jiang Huaichu carefully pulled one of his brother’s arms over his shoulder and, half-carrying, half-supporting him, gently placed him on the bed. He carefully removed his boots, pulled up the brocade quilt, and tucked him in securely.
He stood by the bedside, looking at him for a long time. Then, without turning back, he left.
…
“You’re back?”
The moment General Huo heard that His Majesty had summoned Jiang Huaichu to the palace, he immediately rode over to his residence to wait. He had been anxiously drinking tea in the side hall when a servant reported that Duan Wang had returned. He hurried out in a panic.
Jiang Huaichu was calm as ever. He glanced at Huo Xiao but said nothing. Huo Xiao understood immediately and followed him inside.
Jiang Huaichu turned back and shut the door firmly.
Before he could say anything, Huo Xiao spoke first. “His Majesty found out?”
Jiang Huaichu nodded.
“…Then how did you manage to leave?”
“I drugged him.”
Huo Xiao’s expression froze for a few seconds. “So… what now?”
Jiang Huaichu washed his hands in a copper basin, carefully scrubbing away every trace of the sleeping powder. “I’m leaving for the border immediately.”
“So soon?” Huo Xiao knew full well that when he said “the border,” he meant the enemy’s territory.
“I’ve already made all the necessary preparations. It’s a little rushed, but now that my brother knows, if I don’t leave now, I never will.”
Huo Xiao fell silent. He wasn’t wrong.
The entire reason they had kept this a secret was because they knew His Majesty would never allow it. If His Majesty got even the slightest inkling, there was no way this plan would ever go forward.
Despite all their efforts, an accident had exposed the truth.
Huo Xiao looked at Jiang Huaichu, his expression full of hesitation. After a long pause, he asked, “Do you really have to go? Now that His Majesty knows, maybe it’s time to let this go…”
He had never supported this plan from the start.
Jiang Huaichu was a noble little Wangye. As a general, Huo Xiao was merely a vassal. But from childhood, Jiang Huaichu had never put on airs with him, always treating him like a half-elder brother. That kind of sincerity—Huo Xiao had always seen it.
Most of the honors he enjoyed today were thanks to Jiang Huaichu.
Putting himself in his shoes, his feelings for Jiang Huaichu were no less than those he held for His Majesty—how could he possibly support this?
But Jiang Huaichu was so eloquent, he couldn’t win in an argument. And he was good at coaxing people, too. Before he knew it, he’d been lured onto this pirate ship—resisting with his words but helping with his actions, again and again…
Huo Xiao was inwardly in turmoil.
How had things ended up such a confusing mess?
If anything happened to Jiang Huaichu in Xiao Yun’s hands, he would be guilty a thousand times over.
Huo Xiao said, “Why don’t you reconsider….”
Jiang Huaichu cut in, “The chief eunuch quietly told me—the Young Marquis has been bullying commoners on the street again?”
Huo Xiao was dazed for a long moment before catching up with the sudden shift in topic. “…Yes. He beat someone.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Huo Xiao didn’t understand why, even now, Jiang Huaichu still had the mood to worry about his royal brother’s extended family. But he realized this was his subtle way of telling him to stop trying to persuade him. He sighed and went along with it. “You seemed too busy to hear it. Should I have the censors write a memorial accusing him?”
Jiang Huaichu frowned. “No. He’s still family. My royal brother has a soft heart. If he punishes him, fine—but if not, it’ll be hard to save face.”
Huo Xiao nodded. “Then should we just—”
“Send a few soldiers-turned-ruffians. Beat him up in the dark, nice and clean. Make sure no one knows it was our people.”
Huo Xiao gave him a look like he was used to this kind of thing. “…Alright.”
Then he seemed to recall something and pointed to a scroll placed on a nearby desk. “That… the Young Marquis came by earlier and gifted you a calligraphy piece by Zhang Shiqing. Said he’d searched for it for three months and paid a hefty price to get it. Since you weren’t here, he left it for you. He also said he’d visit another day to admire it with you…”
He gave Jiang Huaichu a sidelong glance.
Zhang Shiqing was a calligraphy master renowned across the land, and Jiang Huaichu was fond of collecting his works.
“…Still going to beat him?” Huo Xiao asked in a low voice.
Jiang Huaichu paused, then answered calmly, “Yes.”
Huo Xiao shot him another look.
Jiang Huaichu added, “Just hit him a little less. Don’t touch the face—might interfere with his brothel visits.”
Huo Xiao stifled a laugh. “…Alright.”
Jiang Huaichu continued, “Leave the task to your men. You need to leave for the border within two hours.”
Huo Xiao sensed the underlying message. “…You’re afraid His Majesty will dispatch troops to bring you back?”
Huo Xiao had long commanded forces on Nanruo’s border. This time, he’d only managed to return to the capital with Jiang Huaichu. Border generals were not allowed to stay long in the capital. He had been waiting to return with Jiang Huaichu.
Jiang Huaichu said nothing.
Huo Xiao said, “I can leave. But if His Majesty sends an envoy all the way to the border to deliver an imperial edict mobilizing the army, what do I do then? You know how stubborn your royal brother is…”
Jiang Huaichu replied, “When a general is on the battlefield, he need not follow every royal order.”
Huo Xiao was stunned. “Aren’t you afraid your royal brother might execute me in a fit of rage?”
Jiang Huaichu’s tone remained calm. “I’m not asking you to defy an edict. Just return first. If my royal brother wants to mobilize troops, he has to send an imperial envoy with the command token. When that happens, have your men dress as mountain bandits and intercept the envoy. Treat him well—good food and drink—for a few months. I’ll be back by then. If my royal brother asks, just say you never saw the envoy and received no decree. If he suspects the truth, without hard proof, he can’t convict you.”
Huo Xiao felt once again how out of his depth he was: “…And what if His Majesty really goes off the deep end and wants me dead?”
He shot Jiang Huaichu a look.
Normally, that’d be impossible. Nanruo was short on capable generals, and the border still needed him. But when it came to Jiang Huaichu, His Majesty was capable of anything.
If Jiang Huaichu even lost a single hair, the emperor might very well tear Huo Xiao limb from limb.
Jiang Huaichu glanced at him. “Everyone at the border reports to me. If my royal brother gives the order—who would carry it out? By the time anyone from the capital travels all the way down to punish you, I’ll be back.”
Huo Xiao: “…” That was truly a perfect counter to a perfect strategy.
“I really have gotten on your pirate ship now.”
Jiang Huaichu’s eyes curved with a smile. “And now there’s no getting off.”
Huo Xiao was momentarily dazzled by the smile. By the time he came to, Jiang Huaichu had already started undressing.
Because of a health condition, Jiang Huaichu was more sensitive to cold than most. Though it was already early spring, he was still bundled up. He kept foxes himself, so he refused to wear luxurious fox fur—only simpler lambskin pelts. But given his status, no one dared look down on him for that.
Huo Xiao watched as he removed the thick plain overcoat, undid the soft, creamy-white jade-like sash and hung it aside, then took off the moon-white outer robe embroidered with gold thread. His breath hitched slightly.
Underneath, Jiang Huaichu’s body was slim and well-proportioned, with a narrow waist and long legs. His underclothes were spotless and smooth, not a single wrinkle. The skin on his neck was lustrous like jade, with a faint, cold-toned mistiness—a color that could only come from being pampered and nurtured by immense wealth and privilege.
He looked like a flawless piece of white jade—the most pampered person in all of Nanruo, whose fingers had never touched mundane tasks.
A faint cool fragrance unique to Jiang Huaichu lingered in the air, making Huo Xiao’s heart inexplicably quicken.
He had known Jiang Huaichu for many years, but Jiang Huaichu had never undressed in front of him.
He rarely allowed even his closest attendants to touch him—let alone Huo Xiao.
Jiang Huaichu had always been kept under strict watch by his royal brother, and he held himself to high standards—always reserved and proper, never stepping out of line.
He was always the picture of composure, meticulously dressed and aloof.
Today, in a moment of urgency, he was in a rush to change and leave.
Huo Xiao stared at him for a few seconds, then inexplicably averted his gaze, his heart pounding wildly, his thoughts a mess.
What was this feeling?
The young Wangye was a man.
But he was going to become Xiao Yun’s…
And Xiao Yun was a man too…
So why did Xiao Yun get everything? He already held most of the world in his hands—why did he get Jiang Huaichu too?
Jiang Huaichu was so modest, so reserved. Even with him, they’d always maintained the most distant, gentlemanly relationship. And now, he was going to be—
With that scoundrel among scoundrels, that rogue of all rogues—Xiao Yun.
Huo Xiao felt as if something was stuck in his throat, and more inappropriate thoughts surged uncontrollably, making him flush with embarrassment.
What on earth was he thinking?!
Jiang Huaichu, however, didn’t notice the change in his expression. He continued dressing in a low-profile travel outfit, walked to the bed, lifted the neatly arranged bedding, and retrieved a bundle that had been hidden in a secret compartment beneath.
“The border is in your hands now. If anything happens, contact the spies—I’ll do my best to assist you. I’ll be back in at most half a year.”
“Half a year?” Huo Xiao, already unsettled, was instantly furious. “You think too highly of him!”
From Nanruo to Ning Country, where Xiao Yun resided, even with the fastest horses, a round trip would take over two months.
That meant Jiang Huaichu believed he could conceive Xiao Yun’s child in just three months? And that didn’t even account for the time needed to get close to him.
Jiang Huaichu coughed lightly.
Nanruo and North Ning shared a border, and with Huo Xiao stationed at the frontier, conflicts with Beining’s troops were inevitable. He also seemed to have a personal grudge against Xiao Yun—his hatred wasn’t anything new.
Jiang Huaichu said, “It’s early February now. My brother’s birthday is at the end of August—I have to be back before then. That’s why I said six months.”
Huo Xiao finally understood but still huffed, “That guy’s already twenty-four, an emperor at that age with no heirs—who knows if there’s something wrong with him? Huaichu, you’re still young. You don’t understand—just because a man looks good doesn’t mean he’s… functional—”
“How old is His Majesty?”
Huo Xiao: “…”
His Majesty was twenty-five—older than Xiao Yun by a year—and he didn’t have any heirs either.
“That’s different…” Realizing the hole he was digging, Huo Xiao wisely chose to shut up.
Jiang Huaichu smoothed the bedding, folded his discarded clothing, and placed it back in its usual spot precisely as before. Only then did he feel at ease.
Now that the moment of departure had arrived, he turned to Huo Xiao and sincerely said, “I’m relying on you—no one else can help me with this.”
Huo Xiao met his gaze.
For a long moment, he resisted, but in the end, he heard himself respond softly, “Go. I’ll do as you ask.”
Jiang Huaichu smiled faintly at him.
Huo Xiao lowered his head.
Author’s Note:
- This is not an mpreg setting where all men can conceive. The protagonist is unique.
- The protagonist is not intersex but has a cloaca (explanation later in the story).
- The protagonist genuinely enjoys having children and is completely willing.
- The author loves pregnancy plots and is writing for fun. Personal preference—no need to force yourself. The most important thing is for readers to enjoy the story.