After Scheming Against the Enemy Nation’s Emperor, I Got Pregnant Chapter 56

As soon as Xie Caiqing said that, Taifei looked like she’d been struck by lightning.

A long silence was broken. “Slept together?! Already?! Last night?!”

Xie Caiqing pressed his lips together, not meeting her eyes. “Mm.”

“He… how is he that fast?” Taifei was incredulous.

She had only just sent Xie Caiqing back the day before, and now they’d already slept together? At this rate, would he be pregnant tomorrow?

“You didn’t come back last night…”

Taifei took a deep breath, heart aching. “I thought you were on duty in the archives.”

Xie Caiqing said nothing.

Taifei thought of how someone like the little Wangye had been taken by Xiao Yun so quickly, and she clenched her teeth in anger. Carefully, she asked, “Did it hurt?”

The little Wangye was especially sensitive to pain. Because of his weak health, he’d been pampered all his life and hardly ever endured anything harsh.

“…Don’t ask.” Xie Caiqing looked a little embarrassed.

“My bad, my bad. Then rest well and get some sleep.” Taifei softened her tone.

She left the room, and Xie Caiqing had only just breathed a sigh of relief when she peeked back through the door and asked, barely able to contain her giddy curiosity: “Was he small and fast?”

Xie Caiqing: “……”

Taifei giggled. “Come on, let’s give the folks back in Nanruo a good laugh. When we return, I’ll tell my old girlfriends that the emperor of Great Ning is completely useless.”

Xie Caiqing had to work quite hard to finally send her away. Alone again, he sighed.

Xiao Yun said he wasn’t big. If that were true, then Xie Caiqing was even smaller—not that it made him feel any better.

Why was this even a competition?

…

That night, Xie Caiqing returned to the palace as instructed by Xiao Yun.

It was time for dinner. Yin Xian had just come back and was preparing things.

Xiao Yun sat alone at the table. When he saw Xie Caiqing come in without a word, he smiled. “Top Scholar, come eat with me.”

Xie Caiqing remained standing. “…Your Majesty, I dare not.”

“What’s there to fear? If I say come, then come.”

Even the palace servants looked shocked.

The emperor might seem approachable, but in all these years, the only person who had eaten at the same table with him was Xie Zhe.

Not even his most trusted ministers had been granted such a favor.

Xiao Yun leaned back lazily, watching him.

With so many people watching, Xie Caiqing knew Xiao Yun didn’t care about appearances. If he kept resisting, Xiao Yun would probably just walk over and lift him up, sit him on his lap, and feed him like a child.

Xiao Yun did like holding him like a child, for some unknown reason. And it wasn’t like he was short or particularly cute.

“…Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace.” Xie Caiqing bit his lip, slowly walked over, and sat across from the emperor with his eyes downcast, avoiding eye contact.

The person before him sat quietly, features delicate like a painting—reserved and proper—yet just this morning had blushed with shame and anger while taking him in. Xiao Yun was filled with delight, experiencing for the first time the satisfaction of having both the empire and beauty in his grasp.

Xiao Yun was ecstatic. For the first time, he felt he had both empire and beauty in his grasp.

That side of Xie Caiqing belonged only to him.

And the thought made Xiao Yun beam.

He had once thought conquering beauties couldn’t compare to conquering the world—that beauties were troublesome and dull. Now, not so much. He felt like he couldn’t do without either.

In fact, he wouldn’t mind if Xie Caiqing was troublesome and clingy every single day.

Yin Xian brought a bowl and chopsticks for Xie Caiqing, who thanked him softly.

Xiao Yun began to eat.

Xie Caiqing looked at the dishes on the table and frowned slightly.

Almost everything was meat, though thankfully, there were two light vegetable dishes.

Xiao Yun was tearing apart the eight-treasure duck by hand. He looked up and saw that Xie Caiqing had picked out two stalks of greens and was now flipping them over like he was undressing them—just like when Xiao Yun had undressed him.

Xiao Yun laughed. “My greens aren’t poisoned, you know.”

Xie Caiqing’s chopsticks froze. He lowered his eyes and slowly placed a bite of greens into his mouth, chewing very slowly—like he was waiting for Xiao Yun to look away so he could secretly spit it out.

Even swallowing looked painful.

“They’re not that bad, are they?” Xiao Yun said, baffled. He tried a bite himself. “Tastes fine to me.”

Xie Caiqing didn’t reply.

Xiao Yun pretended not to care and continued eating his duck. After a while, seeing that he wasn’t being watched anymore, Xie Caiqing picked up another bite of greens and stealthily resumed flipping it over.

Xiao Yun looked closer and finally saw—he was carefully picking out the nearly invisible bits of ginger.

“……” Xiao Yun stifled a laugh, then turned and said seriously to a servant, “Bring a couple of vegetable dishes—no ginger.”

Xie Caiqing was stunned: “…Your Majesty, there’s no need to go to such trouble.”

“You’re so picky, Top Scholar. If there’s anything else you don’t eat, better say it now instead of messing with my food again.”

Under Xiao Yun’s teasing gaze, Xie Caiqing’s cheeks flushed slightly. He wasn’t picky—Xiao Yun, as the emperor, was just too careless.

He softly instructed the palace attendants.

As Xiao Yun listened, his expression gradually shifted from curious amusement to utter disbelief.

Not only was Xie Caiqing particular about seasonings, but also about the texture of ingredients, the oil temperature, cooking time, and taste—he could tell if something was slightly off. On top of that, he politely requested that the dishes be plated nicely…

Xiao Yun glanced at the dishes Xie Caiqing had eaten from and his expression became indescribable.

He only ate those with decent plating. The rest, not even a bite.

Xiao Yun laughed. “Looks like I don’t just need imperial chefs—I also need a plating artist. Otherwise, I’ll starve my top scholar to death.”

Xie Caiqing: “…”

“Now I understand the phrase ‘better starve than eat what’s beneath you’—it’s because the food wasn’t plated well and had scallions, ginger, or garlic.”

Xie Caiqing flushed with shame and frustration. How dare Xiao Yun say that about him! He, the emperor, ate with his hands, tore into heavy meat dishes, didn’t care about balance or health, and devoured food like a storm—barely chewing before swallowing.

While the attendants brought new dishes, Xiao Yun tore off a piece of chicken leg and handed it over.

Xie Caiqing looked at the slightly greasy and ugly piece of meat in mild horror. “Your Majesty…”

“You said you don’t eat red meats. Chicken is white meat—just have a few bites,” Xiao Yun said. “I see you’ve only been fighting with those two vegetables all this time—not a single bite of meat.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Take it.” Xiao Yun said, “No wonder you barely have any meat on your bones and get tired from the slightest effort, always saying you can’t go on…”

The palace attendants were still present. Xie Caiqing’s face flushed red in an instant. As if to prevent the emperor from continuing, he quickly reached out and took the unsightly drumstick, bit his lip, and sulkily began chewing on it.

Xiao Yun watched as he delicately held the chicken leg, tearing off tiny pieces and chewing slowly—he couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Soon, Xie Caiqing’s lips glistened with a layer of oil. He no longer looked so fragile—he seemed livelier.

Xiao Yun said, “It’s healthier to have a bit more weight, improves your complexion, and you’re less likely to get sick. I’ve checked your pulse—your body is too weak. You need good food to replenish. You can’t eat so lightly all the time.”

Xie Caiqing was startled.

Xiao Yun knows medicine? There was no such record in Miluo.

He would have to be cautious in the future.

Xiao Yun added, “Since no one manages you, I’ll just manage you. Anyway, even if you gain weight, I’ll still like it.”

Yin Xian, the palace attendant serving soup and aware of their relationship, flushed crimson.

Xie Caiqing paid him no mind.

There were plenty of people trying to manage him—he just didn’t listen.

He only obeyed outwardly and disobeyed behind their backs.

Xiao Yun grinned. “Top Scholar, do you know that when commoners choose a daughter-in-law, they prefer sturdy ones with wide hips who are strong and hardworking—easy to bear children. That’s what’s desirable. Someone like you wouldn’t get married. Can’t lift anything, picky about food, wants everything pretty, only I can afford to raise you.”

“…” Xie Caiqing drifted into thought—indeed, common women with such traits were considered easier to conceive and give birth.

He glanced down at himself.

He looked too slim—probably not someone easy to carry or bear children.

“…”

Xie Caiqing started eating with more willingness, his expression no longer as resistant—something Xiao Yun hadn’t expected. He smiled, and for the first time didn’t leave after eating. He sat, arms folded, watching Xie Caiqing eat.

…

These past few days, Xiao Yun hadn’t touched him, as promised—Xie Caiqing was a little disappointed.

The palace physician’s ointment worked well—there was no more pain at all.

With nothing to do, he wrote a letter to his elder brother to inquire about his situation, and privately handled a few matters related to Nanruo.

That evening, he was on night duty. The other ministers greeted him with smiles as they left.

The Top Scholar was now favored by the emperor, almost always seen at his side—his prominence was starting to overshadow Commander Xie Zhe. The ministers, sensing the shift, became especially warm and friendly toward him.

Yet Xie Caiqing, though favored, remained humble. He treated everyone equally and held no grudges, even toward those who had wronged him—winning admiration from all.

After exchanging greetings with a smile, he neatly arranged a stack of documents and placed them on Liu Yun’s desk.

Tonight, Liu Yun and he were on night duty. They had to stay up through the night in case the emperor issued an order or needed someone to consult.

Liu Yun said, “Sigh, His Majesty avoids me like the plague—disappears the moment he sees me. I haven’t laid eyes on him in over half a month. Luckily he spoils you now—I can pass on messages through you.”

“As your student, it’s my duty,” Xie Caiqing replied gently.

Liu Yun sighed. “When will I get to see him again?”

“When His Majesty is at leisure, he calls me to amuse him. But if something important happens, he’ll turn to you first, without question.”

Liu Yun stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

“That’s true, very true.”

He looked at Xie Caiqing and grew fonder by the moment. He advised, “The more favored you are, the more humble you must be. Never become arrogant. Maintain dignity in front of His Majesty—act with restraint and caution. Don’t overstep, or you’ll lose the grace of a refined scholar.”

Xie Caiqing listened respectfully.

After dinner, he reviewed a few documents. Before he knew it, it was nearly midnight.

By now, the emperor was likely asleep.

Liu Yun, though spirited, was elderly and couldn’t stay up all night. At Xie Caiqing’s urging, he went to sleep in the inner room next door.

The duty room was quiet. Xie Caiqing carefully walked to the side, poured himself a warm cup of tea, and took a sip to refresh himself. He quietly sighed, counting the days until he could return.

According to Miluo’s medicine, it would take at least a month to know whether or not he was pregnant.

Far too long. Far too hard to endure.

Just as he reached for a book to rest his eyes, he turned his head—and saw someone stepping through the door.

Xiao Yun entered wearing a black daily robe, carrying a lantern. The golden embroidery on his robes shimmered faintly in the dark, exuding an air of extreme nobility.

Because Liu Yun had gone to sleep, Xie Caiqing had extinguished most of the candles to avoid disturbing him, leaving only a single lamp at his own desk. The duty room was dim.

In the flickering candlelight, Xiao Yun immediately saw Xie Caiqing dressed in a plain robe.

Xie Caiqing feigned surprise. “Your Majesty…”

Xiao Yun raised a finger to his lips, signaling him to stay silent. He set down the lantern and walked toward Xie Caiqing.

The top scholar instinctively took two steps back and turned his face away, tense and uneasy, like he was deeply afraid.

In the blink of an eye, the man stood in front of him—tall and handsome.

Xie Caiqing turned back and steadied himself. In a low voice, he said, “Your Majesty must be here to see my teacher? He has already gone to bed. I will go wake—”

Xiao Yun pulled him back with one swift motion and whispered, “Why wake that old man? I came to see you. It’s perfect that he’s asleep. I was just thinking on the way here about how to trick him into handing you over.”

“Your Majesty…” Xie Caiqing looked flustered. He seemed to have resigned himself to fate, no longer resisting as fiercely as before, but still visibly anxious and scared.

Xiao Yun spoke gently, “Be good, come back with me.”

Xie Caiqing’s voice trembled. “Your Majesty…”

Xiao Yun suddenly asked, “You said Liu Yun is asleep?”

Xie Caiqing looked at him. “…Yes.”

Xiao Yun smiled, then suddenly scooped him up by the waist.

Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened. “Your Majesty—”

Xiao Yun leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “Be good, don’t speak. I came alone. I can’t bear to have you walk all that way back again. Which room are you staying in?”

Xie Caiqing immediately understood his intention. Even knowing it was just for show, a wave of embarrassment flooded his face. He pressed his chin to Xiao Yun’s shoulder, panicked. “Your Majesty… not here… Liu Yun is nearby… back in my room I… mmph—”

Xiao Yun kissed him, a surge of breath overtaking him. Xie Caiqing’s knees nearly buckled.

“Mm…”

Held firmly in Xiao Yun’s arms, surrounded by darkness, they looked like a secret pair of lovers sneaking away together.

After a while, Xiao Yun pulled back, released him slightly, and used one hand to gently caress his flushed face. With a smile, he said, “What’s this? I taught you how to breathe during a kiss last time, and you still haven’t learned?”

Xie Caiqing panted softly, lips tinged with heat. The air he inhaled was cool—hot and cold clashing—his chest heaving rapidly.

“I’ll have to teach you again tonight.”

Xie Caiqing turned his face away.

“Which room?” Xiao Yun asked in a low voice.

Knowing he wouldn’t be let off otherwise, Xie Caiqing swallowed his pride and, gritting his teeth, said, “…That way.”