After Scheming Against the Enemy Nation’s Emperor, I Got Pregnant Chapter 34

Xie Caiqing watched as the handkerchief, embroidered by Taifei, made its way across Xiao Yun’s face. His lips stiffened slightly. “…I meant for you to wipe your hands… Wipe your mouth.”

Xiao Yun, completely at ease, finished wiping both his mouth and hands.

Xie Caiqing stiffly reached out to retrieve the handkerchief. Xiao Yun glanced at it, then said nonchalantly, “I quite like this handkerchief. Consider it a gift to me.”

Xie Caiqing secretly sighed in relief. Just as he was about to agree, he caught sight of the handkerchief and suddenly recalled Taifei’s endless chatter. For a moment, he hesitated.

“What? You can’t bear to part with it?” Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow.

It’s not the handkerchief he’s unwilling to part with… Xiao Yun narrowed his eyes. Could it be that he likes things the emperor has used? Does he want to keep them as some sort of collection? Is he really that devoted to me?

Well, it makes sense. After all, I did save his life. That day at the palace examination, when he looked up at me, he was completely dazed.

Suppressing a smile, Xiao Yun pretended to offer it back. “Then I’ll return—”

Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened slightly, and whatever hesitation he had vanished instantly. “…If Your Majesty likes it, naturally, it’s yours.”

Xiao Yun clicked his tongue inwardly, a bit disappointed, but casually folded the handkerchief and set it aside, planning to have a servant wash it later.

Xie Caiqing finally tore his gaze away from the handkerchief. “Did Your Majesty enjoy the soup?”

“Mm. Not bad.”

A hint of joy surfaced on Xie Caiqing’s face. “Then I shall bring soup to Your Majesty more often.”

“As you please.”

Having received permission, Xie Caiqing said warmly, “The palace gates are about to be locked. I shall take my leave first. Your Majesty should rest after finishing, as it is better for digestion.”

Xiao Yun nodded.

Xie Caiqing tidied up and made his way toward the exit.

Xiao Yun watched his calm and graceful figure retreat into the dimly lit corridor. Perhaps it was the darkness of the hall or his poor eyesight, but at that moment, Xie Caiqing’s silhouette seemed remarkably like that of a consort. A mischievous thought stirred within him. “Scholar Xie, do you know what it means to send nourishing soup at this hour?”

Xie Caiqing paused briefly, feigning confusion as he turned back. “I do not.”

“It is what consorts do when they wish to request a night of imperial favor.”

Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened in panic, his dark irises filled with alarm. “I didn’t know! I had no such intention!”

“Of course I know that.” Xiao Yun, seeing how quickly he denied it—almost as if the idea repulsed him—felt inexplicably irked. Lazily, he added, “But if you really plan to bring soup often, it’d be best to choose a different time. I wouldn’t want people gossiping, saying you went in and came out so soon.”

Xie Caiqing stood there in a daze. After a few long seconds, his face flushed redder than the candle beside him. “…I understand.”

Xiao Yun remained seated at his desk, looking down at him from above. Watching him scurry away, flustered and shy, he was immensely amused.

He waited until Xie Caiqing had walked far enough before lazily slumping into his chair, stretching out in comfort. Then, in a loud voice, he called, “Yin Xian! Yin Xian!”

Yin Xian, rushed in, terrified that the scholar had somehow angered the emperor. His voice trembled. “Y-Your Majesty…”

“Go to the imperial kitchen and bring me something to eat,” Xiao Yun ordered.

Yin Xian sighed in relief and glanced at the doors, where Xie Caiqing had just hurried out. He was puzzled.

The scholar’s soup should have been enough. His Majesty wasn’t particularly picky either.

Gently, Yin Xian said, “Your Majesty, it’s late. Eating too much before bed isn’t good for your health—”

“Why do you have so much nonsense to say?” Xiao Yun snapped impatiently. “Just go do it!”

“…Yes! Yes, Your Majesty!”

—

At the Scholar’s Manor.

“What?! You gave your handkerchief to Xiao Yun?!” Taifei barely restrained herself from poking Jiang Huaichu in the forehead. “Do you know how long it took me to embroider that?! Just because he wiped his mouth with it, you gave it away?!”

“I…”

“So if he wiped his mouth with your robe, would you give him your robe too? If he wiped his mouth with you, would you just hand yourself over?!”

“…I was wrong.” Jiang Huaichu stood quietly, obediently enduring her scolding. He knew she was exaggerating, but he didn’t talk back.

Taifei huffed. “And will you do it again?”

Jiang Huaichu: “…”

Taifei gave him a knowing look. “I knew it! Be tidy, but don’t overdo it. Otherwise, you’ll be the one regretting it later.”

“…I understand.”

“You keep saying ‘wrong, wrong.’ When will you actually change?” she grumbled, then sighed at his downcast gaze. “Hah, don’t try to fool me. I’m not your royal brother; your tricks don’t work on me.”

Jiang Huaichu nodded slowly, his hands clasping each other in front of him, his eyes lowered in silence.

Taifei stared at him for a long time before finally relenting. “Stop handing out your handkerchiefs to others, got it? Can’t they wipe their own mouths? Don’t they have their own handkerchiefs? You keep giving them away like this—people might think you’re generous, but really, you’re just…”

She trailed off with an exasperated sigh. “Forget it. I’ll embroider more for you. Clearly, you don’t have enough to waste.”

A tiny smile flickered across Jiang Huaichu’s lips, but he quickly smothered it and murmured, “…forgetting it as usual.”

Taifei glared at him. “What pattern do you like?”

“…The twin fish playing together—the one that Xiao Yun took. I really liked it,” Jiang Huaichu said regretfully.

The moment she heard the words “I really liked it,” Taifei couldn’t hide the smile creeping onto her lips. She barely managed to keep a straight face. “So you don’t like anything else?”

“I like them all, but since the twin fish one was taken, I like that one even more.”

Taifei struggled to keep her mouth from curving up. “Got it, got it! I’ll make you a new one. And I’ll embroider a few more you don’t have yet!”

Jiang Huaichu’s face brightened.

Taifei, however, was deep in thought. The little Wangye was still a child himself, yet he’d have to bear children, raise them… How would that work? Xiao Yun was even more unreliable than he was. She shook her head and, being someone who acted the moment she made up her mind, quickly strode out. But halfway through the door, she turned back and clung to the frame.

“I’ll embroider the twin fish for you, fine, but don’t take it out and use it where Xiao Yun can see! Otherwise, he’ll realize he doesn’t even measure up to a handkerchief!”

“Got it,” Jiang Huaichu replied gently.

…

Early the next morning, Taifei brought out breakfast. She had already eaten and was now humming a cheerful tune while embroidering. As soon as she saw the little Wangye groggily rubbing his eyes as he walked out, she immediately scolded, “Don’t rub! Your hands are dirty! You’ll hurt your eyes!”

Jiang Huaichu instinctively dropped his hands, then sighed to himself. He was so used to being managed that obedience seemed to be carved into his bones.

Thinking back, Xiao Yun’s words about him being delicate and troublesome weren’t entirely wrong. Since childhood, he had rarely had to do anything himself. Before he even realized something needed to be done, there were always people doing it for him. Before Taifei had arrived in Northern Ning, she had practically wanted to feed him every bite of his meals—even when he was seven or eight years old.

Delicate and troublesome?

Xiao Yun was the messy and annoying one.

Jiang Huaichu’s lips pressed together, and he cast aside the thought.

Seeing him yawn again, Taifei asked with concern, “Why are you so tired?”

Jiang Huaichu answered casually, “Stayed up reading.”

“What were you reading?”

Jiang Huaichu sat down, and Taifei immediately put aside her embroidery to serve him a bowl.

“A cookbook,” he said.

“What? Why—oh, heavens!” Taifei was livid. “Since when have you ever had to suffer like this?!”

The little Wangye had never cooked for anyone in his life, yet now he was tending to Xiao Yun’s every need.

“It should be done properly,” Jiang Huaichu said gently. “A clumsy bird must fly early. I can’t do this, I can’t do that—so I have to start from the beginning.”

He sighed. Yesterday was his first attempt, and he had just realized how troublesome it was to serve someone.

Even just handing Xiao Yun a bowl—he had nearly spilled it.

Jiang Huaichu quietly ate his breakfast, his face serious, listening to Taifei’s endless chatter with one ear and letting it out the other.

“I have nothing better to do anyway. Should I make some small clothes for you?” Taifei mused.

“Sir? Young Master? I’m talking to you!”

“…Oh.” Jiang Huaichu snapped back to attention and responded warmly, “No need. I have enough clothes. You should take it easy instead of keeping yourself so busy.”

“Not for you!”

Jiang Huaichu froze.

“I meant…” Taifei coughed. “For that, uh, that—”

“No!” Jiang Huaichu nearly choked on his porridge. “No, absolutely not!”

He had never reacted so strongly before. He coughed several times, his face turning red. “I don’t want it. Don’t do this.”

“I’m serious about it!”

“It’s way too soon!”

“Well, you should plan ahead! If I start embroidering now, I can have clothes ready until he’s ten years old!”

“…No,” Jiang Huaichu said, his dark eyes filled with both dread and gloom. For the first time, he broke his usual rule of not speaking while eating. “There’s too much uncertainty. It’s still early.”

“That’s exactly why you should look forward to it! The more you anticipate it, the sooner it’ll happen!”

Jiang Huaichu was so terrified he felt like his rabbit ears were standing on end. He looked utterly pained. “Please, don’t.”

“Then hurry up and make it happen! Your imperial brother is hopeless—I’ve already imagined playing with your child, teaching them to call me ‘Auntie.’ What do you think? A little Eldest Princess or a little heir? A little Eldest Princess, right? Boys are hard to raise. Girls are better—so pretty and gentle. If it’s a boy and he turns out like Xiao Yun, wouldn’t that be a disaster? Don’t you agree? No, wait—boys can be nice too! Lively and fun! You’re quiet, so he could liven things up for you…”

Jiang Huaichu: “……”

At that moment, he finally understood why his always dignified and solemn imperial brother used to flee the moment he saw Taifei.

Taifei grew more and more excited. She had never had children of her own and had been waiting years to hold a grandchild. “He clearly cares for you… so hurry up!”

Jiang Huaichu gritted his teeth. “That’s not the same. If he were just an ordinary man, then maybe… But the thing is, he recovers too quickly. I have to make him chase me first—that way, his suspicion will be at its lowest. And what if I don’t get pregnant right away? He has to go through great lengths to obtain me—only then will he cherish me and want to keep me forever. If I just hand myself over, he’ll discard me just as easily. You don’t know how fast his passion fades…”

The usually slow-paced little Wangye had never spoken so quickly in his life. He bit his lip. “Anyway, I’ll make it happen as soon as I can. Just don’t bring this up again. If… If I do get pregnant, then you can embroider.”

Taifei let out a disappointed “oh,” but in her heart, she thought: Even if he won’t let me, I can still secretly make them.

…

Ever since that night when he brought the soup, for the next two or three days, Xie Caiqing continued to serve by the Emperor’s side. However, following the Emperor’s advice, he didn’t come late at night anymore, opting instead to arrive during the day as soon as he finished the tasks Liu Yun assigned him.

At first, Yin Xian thought he was trying to curry favor with the Emperor and compete for recognition, so he was wary. But seeing that Xie Caiqing only poured tea, arranged memorials, and quietly attended to tasks without speaking much to the Emperor, he gradually took a liking to him.

To everyone, Xie Caiqing was the perfect example of silent devotion—repaying a kindness without asking for anything in return.

The palace maids and eunuchs were all deeply fond of him.

The top scholar had a gentle and courteous nature, treating others with warmth and understanding. Though he presented them with gifts, it never felt like he was trying to curry favor.

The gifts themselves were not particularly valuable in monetary terms but were filled with sincerity—handmade sachets with different fragrances to repel mosquitoes, specialty scented tea from Junzhou, and peace charms folded by his aunt, which had been blessed at a temple.

These were thoughtful yet practical gifts that wouldn’t make the recipients feel indebted to him.

The palace maids especially loved the sachets. Given that the scholar was both handsome and gentle by nature, it wasn’t long before they began looking for every opportunity to approach him, striking up conversations and teasing him just to see him blush.

The emperor, however, remained indifferent toward him—he would exchange a few teasing remarks when they met, but if they didn’t cross paths, he wouldn’t actively seek him out. When they did happen to run into each other, the scholar would always lower his head and avoid direct contact.

That day, as Xiao Yun entered the imperial study, he spotted Xie Caiqing carrying a tray of tea from a distance and frowned.

Xie Zhe, keenly observant, coughed lightly and whispered, “What’s wrong? Does Your Majesty not wish to see him?”

Xiao Yun said nothing.

“If you don’t want to see him, why not just send him away?”

“It’s not that,” Xiao Yun walked inside. “Seeing him is annoying, but not seeing him is also annoying. Do you understand?”

“How can both seeing and not seeing him be annoying?” Xie Zhe asked curiously.

Xiao Yun shrugged, half-smiling. “It’s like having a stunning sister-in-law who takes care of you meticulously—so much so that she’d even dress you if you let her—but her heart belongs to your elder brother, the one who raised you. Do you get it now?”

“If you were in my place, would you want to see her or not?”