After Scheming Against the Enemy Nation’s Emperor, I Got Pregnant Chapter 113

Because relocating the capital would take some time, and Xiao Yun’s main camp was still in the desolate outskirts, after some discussion, the wedding was held at the Duan Wang’s residence.

News of the political marriage between the Emperor of Great Ning and the Wangye of Nanruo had already spread a few days ago. Within no time, almost the entire world knew.

Shock, uproar, existential questioning—that was everyone else’s business. The people directly involved, however, wore an air of fearless indifference, as if to say, “Let future generations be the judge.”

After all, both parties possessed enough power, status, and capability to control their own lives. They didn’t need to tiptoe around others or live at the mercy of public opinion. As long as they didn’t care about outside judgment, no one could truly hurt them.

And they were both sparing with their emotions and time, unwilling to give these most precious things to people unworthy or irrelevant.

The wedding took place as scheduled.

On the eighteenth of October, the skies were clear and the air crisp.

At the auspicious hour, Xiao Yun rode the tall white horse he had once mounted while carrying the top scholar, wearing a red flower on his chest. He led the grand and extravagant Great Ning wedding procession from the outskirts of the capital into the city, heading toward Duan Wang’s residence.

After strict screening by guards, the common folk of Great Ning were also allowed to attend the event in person.

The streets were empty, packed with crowds, and filled with deafening noise.

“The Emperor of Great Ning is actually a homosexual!”

“Isn’t that obvious? A twenty-five-year-old emperor with not a single woman in the harem—if that’s not a homosexual, then what…?”

“But even Duan Wang is a homosexual?! He hasn’t even come of age yet…! And he’s actually marrying the Emperor of Great Ning…” The people of Nanruo looked both bewildered and heartbroken, lamenting as if deeply let down.

“Exactly, and to think they both like men… and it’s not just a fling—they’re actually having a formal wedding, and the Emperor even agreed to it!”

The people still couldn’t believe it.

“I used to wish Nanruo had a princess. Though Xiao Yun was from an enemy nation, he’s flawless in every other way and genuinely wanted peace. If our princess had married him, it would’ve been a match for the ages. But now? He ended up with our little Wangye!”

“Tell me about it—my daughter used to swoon over both Duan Wang and the Emperor of Great Ning. Now look at this… she’s been crying so much her eyes are swollen, hasn’t even come out of her room.”

“Hehe, I’m different. I’m more curious—was it Duan Wang marrying a Wangfei, or was it the Great Ning Emperor marrying an empress?”

That comment instantly pricked up the ears of everyone nearby, who turned to listen.

After a few awkward seconds, a Nanruo local quickly said, “Of course it’s our Wangye marrying the Emperor of Great Ning! Didn’t you know? The ceremony’s being held at the Duan Wang’s residence.”

A Great Ning citizen immediately retorted, “Bullsh*t! Of course our Emperor is marrying your Wangye!”

He paused, then suddenly shouted in delight, “…Look over there! Look! Quick, look!”

The grand Great Ning wedding procession had arrived. Behind it followed a magnificent red sedan chair, as large as a boat and carried by thirty-two men. Leading at the front on horseback was the Emperor of Great Ning, adorned with a red chest flower swaying gently, smiling and waving at the overly enthusiastic crowds on both sides of the imperial road—handsome as a deity, brimming with vitality, majestic and awe-inspiring.

The earlier commenter was instantly validated and said smugly, “See? Our Emperor is obviously the groom! Your Wangye is the one in the sedan!”

The short Nanruo man immediately flushed red: “Pah! Our royal family has always been discreet and modest! Who says a bride can’t ride a horse?!”

A Great Ning citizen sneered: “Still denying it? What bride rides on horseback out in public?”

The Nanruo folk scoffed: “Of course others don’t! Great Ning folk are so uncouth and barbaric—who knows if they even observe propriety!”

“Shove your propriety!”

At the same time, countless people were arguing about the same issue.

That question—who was actually marrying whom—was finally answered when the Great Ning Emperor led the sedan out of Duan Wang’s residence, paraded it around the city, and returned.

Xiao Yun understood that this kind of occasion was about making a good impression on the people. But still, he couldn’t help turning back every now and then to glance at the sedan chair, his lips curved in a smile too deep to hide.

This was the wedding he had dreamed of.

Inside that gilded red palanquin—so wide that four or five people could lie down in it—sat Jiang Huaichu, expressionless but blushing fiercely.

As expected, Xiao Yun’s extravagance expressed itself in everything he did: as vast as the sea, as golden as the throne hall, and as red as a ball of peonies.

Nothing missed the mark. Not one bit.

Xiao Yun never failed to live up to expectations.

With drums beating, crowds roaring, and such fanfare, for Xiao Yun, this wedding was near perfect.

But how had it come to this—Xiao Yun marrying him? With him sitting in a thirty-two-man-carried bridal sedan?

Though… he was technically the bottom… but if the people of Nanruo found out…

Jiang Huaichu looked down at his noticeably rounded belly, his face growing redder.

What kind of dream were you even having, Jiang Huaichu? Like this, who would believe you were Xiao Yun’s husband?

Didn’t you know your own position?

Besides, if not the sedan, could you even ride a horse?

Jiang Huaichu sat in silence for a long moment, then quietly lifted the curtain and looked out at the radiant man ahead—so vivid, full of life, smiling brilliantly.

He thought to himself, Forget it—whatever he wants today, I’ll give it to him.

After all, there was no hiding it anyway.

His heart was beating a little fast. Sitting alone in such a massive bridal sedan while surrounded by so many people outside, Jiang Huaichu’s breathing quickened slightly, and his cheeks flushed even redder.

If I’m not embarrassed, then it’s others who’ll be embarrassed instead.

Even if he was, he’d still have to pretend he wasn’t.

Jiang Huaichu clasped his hands together, silently reciting the lines Xiao Yun had taught him, waiting for him to come lift the curtain. Outside, Xiao Yun was basking in the attention of the crowd, as if treading on clouds, nearly euphoric—his very bones felt like they were melting.

Clearly, this excited and thrilled him even more than his coronation had.

Soon, the entire world would know: Duan Wang was his bride, and their love would carry on.

This was his Xiao Yun’s wife. And their child.

No man in the world could possibly marry someone more impressive than his wife.

No man in the world could possibly be as impressive as him—he not only married such an extraordinary person, but that person was now carrying his Xiao family’s little treasure…

Xie Zhe, watching the emperor who looked utterly intoxicated—as if he’d overdosed on some potent elixir—gave a subtle cough, reminding him to maintain some semblance of imperial decorum.

Xiao Yun snapped out of his reverie and was just about to leap gracefully off his horse when someone suddenly came running out of the residence.

“Wait!”

Xiao Yun turned in surprise.

The person rushing out of the palace gates was the chief eunuch from Jiang Huaiyi’s side.

Xiao Yun’s face darkened immediately. This wasn’t part of the plan. This idiot with no sense of timing had just ruined what should have been his flawless wedding.

But the eunuch didn’t seem to notice the murderous intent emanating from Xiao Yun. Holding a brazier, he hurriedly placed it beneath Xiao Yun’s horse, and under the emperor’s confused gaze, he cast him a glance and raised his voice, shouting: “The bride must step over the fire basin!”

“…?”

“?!!” Xiao Yun stared at him in disbelief.

This was not part of the carefully negotiated and fiercely argued wedding process that he and Jiang Huaiyi had agreed upon!

The rowdy surroundings fell silent. A dead, pin-drop silence.

Inside the palanquin, where Jiang Huaichu had been closely monitoring the situation, a stifled laugh burst out. He couldn’t stop even after a long while.

Now that’s what you call a “downright display of authority.”

His heart ached a little for Xiao Yun, but it was also warmed.

His imperial brother still feared he’d be wronged.

The eunuch shouted again, “The bride must step over the fire basin to ward off bad luck and welcome fortune, so their future will be full of prosperity!”

He gave a smug hum and shot a triumphant glance at Xiao Yun: “The bride must step over the fire basin!”

Xiao Yun gritted his teeth, his glare so dark it looked like he might pounce and bite the man to pieces. The officials of Great Ning all grimaced awkwardly.

In that eerie stillness, Xie Zhe subtly tugged the hem of Xiao Yun’s robe, worried he might explode and ruin the entire ceremony.

But Xiao Yun only huffed out a laugh and shot Xie Zhe a look.

Did he really look like the petty type?

He’d been embarrassed once—now it was his bride’s turn. One for one, perfectly fair. The ceremony was still flawless.

With that thought, Xiao Yun jumped down from the horse in grand style, his face unflinching, heart calm, and with bold, commanding steps leapt over the blazing fire basin.

For a few seconds, it felt like the air around them had frozen. Then, as if on cue, the Great Ning crowd erupted into jeers, while the Nanruo crowd broke into wild cheers and whoops.

The Great Ning emperor strode up to the bridal palanquin, bent his regal body, and reached inside with his hand.

A long, slender, fair hand emerged to meet his. Xiao Yun’s smile bloomed at once, and he gripped the hand tightly, like he never intended to let it go for the rest of his life.

The hand hesitated, tugged back slightly as if embarrassed—but ultimately stayed in his grasp, holding on tighter.

The crowd roared with ear-shattering excitement.

Xiao Yun used his other hand to lift the palanquin curtain and fixed it to the top, revealing the inside to the crowd.

There, a man in ceremonial red robes stepped out—elegant and composed. When he met Xiao Yun’s teasing and affectionate gaze, his usually calm face flushed slightly before he looked away nonchalantly and gracefully emerged.

Duan Wang had always been adored by the people. The moment he stepped out, the atmosphere soared to another climax. The cheers were so thunderous, it felt like nearby teahouses and inns trembled.

The two stood side by side and exchanged a smile.

One tall and imposing, the other slender and graceful. One bold and vivid, the other serene and poised.

Both were powerful and influential.

A match that felt strangely perfect.

No one had ever imagined that Duan Wang of Nanruo and the emperor of Great Ning would one day become a couple.

The onlookers held their breath, stunned by the sheer beauty and harmony of the scene—it was as if they were witnessing something transcendent.

No one knew how long the spell lasted before it faded and people slowly began noticing something… else.

Something oddly conspicuous.

Duan Wang’s belly… was visibly rounded.

Another bout of silence fell—deeper, heavier than when the Great Ning emperor leapt over the fire basin.

Xiao Yun held tightly onto Jiang Huaichu’s hand, carefully guiding him over the threshold of the mansion. When he saw his face calm yet his ears red enough to drip blood, he couldn’t help it—his lips curled up into an irrepressible smile.

Jiang Huaichu silently shot him a glare.

Xiao Yun struggled to suppress his grin, leaned in a little closer, and said seriously in a low voice:

“You’re my precious little one. What’s there to be afraid of?”

“It’s nothing, really—once you face it, it’s just whatever, right?”

“You’re amazing. Such a big deal, and you walked through it so easily. You must really love me, and really love our little one too.”

“You look so good like this. Really, really. They’re not talking because they’re all stunned and jealous of me.”

“See how round it is? That’s because our baby is healthy and growing fast.”

“So what if you’re pregnant? Can’t a man get pregnant? It’s not like you chose your body—and frankly, I’m just lucky as h*ll. A male bride and a baby? I must’ve hit the jackpot.”

The whole way, it was Xiao Yun softly chattering. Jiang Huaichu, led along by him, kept trying to shut him up with his eyes. By the time he snapped out of it, that short, painfully embarrassing stretch of road had already been crossed.

Now, all that remained before him were the smiling faces of family, waiting to welcome him home.

And at his side—was family too.

…

Outside, chaos had erupted. A riot in movement, in noise, in people’s very minds.

The crowd outside was collapsing—collapsing in understanding, in belief, in trust in their own judgment.

“Oh my god, did you see that???”
“Th-that was…”
“No, no way! That can’t be real!”
“The young Wangye is pregnant with the Great Ning emperor’s child?!”
“HEAVENS!”
“I refuse to believe it!!”
“Wait—wait—this information—OH MY GOD!!”
“That… that belly looks like it’s just a couple months away from birth! It’s huge!”
“Good god!!”

…

The uproar outside no longer reached Duan Wang’s estate.

A wedding between two men didn’t have as many customs—no bridal veil, for one. Jiang Huaichu was already far along in his pregnancy, easily fatigued. Xiao Yun had pared down all unnecessary formalities wherever he could.

Compared to the fanfare outdoors, inside the estate, the ceremony was simple and clean.

Both of their birth parents had passed away, so the two families had agreed to each provide one person to stand in as elders.

From Jiang Huaichu’s side, it was Jiang Huaiyi; from Xiao Yun’s, the old manor lord.

Jiang Huaichu looked up at the two seated above them, each with vastly different styles, and stifled a laugh.

Surrounding them were the people he loved—and who loved him back.

Taifei smiled at him, eyes tinged with red.

Jiang Huaichu’s heart brimmed with warmth.

The auspicious hour had arrived. The master of ceremonies called out loudly:

“First bow—heaven and earth!”

Jiang Huaichu and Xiao Yun each held one end of the ceremonial silk ball. They looked at each other and smiled, then bowed in unison.

First bow—heaven and earth. Thanks to fate, for letting them meet despite all odds.

“Second bow—to the elders!”

They turned and bowed respectfully to the two seated elders.

Second bow—to the elders. Thanks for their raising, for shaping them into men who knew right from wrong, and capable of love.

“Third bow—between spouses!”

At last, Jiang Huaichu and Xiao Yun faced each other. In each other’s eyes, they saw only the best reflection of the person before them.

They smiled, as if they’d agreed on it long ago, and bowed in perfect sync.

Third bow—between spouses. Thanks for each other’s persistence, for the happy ending they’d earned. A promise for the rest of their lives, to weather all storms together.