After Scheming Against the Enemy Nation’s Emperor, I Got Pregnant Chapter 59

Xie Caiqing stopped thinking about it.

A 24-year-old emperor still being… like that? Xiao Yun wasn’t like his royal brother—he was energetic, indulgent, reckless. That kind of personality made it impossible.

Even if he really had been abstinent before, that only meant Xiao Yun used to be clean. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t get bored of him and move on to someone else. After all, he was the type to act on impulse, discard things after using them—his reputation wasn’t unearned.

If that really happened, Xie Caiqing wasn’t going to fight some palace battle.

So it was better to take things as they came, not to ask for too much—get pregnant quickly and leave.

Taifei and Xie Caiqing walked into the inner chamber. “Didn’t Xiao Yun have you stay for breakfast?”

Xie Caiqing said, “He did. He even ordered me not to run off and said I had to wait for him.”

Taifei was surprised. “Then why did you come back?”

Xie Caiqing smiled with his eyes. “He forced me and forbade me to run—if I don’t listen to him at that moment, he won’t be mad.”

“When our relationship gets a little better, I like to throw cold water on it, just to delay the time when he gets bored of me. He thinks I’m his possession—I have to remind him from time to time that I’m not.”

Taifei looked at the little Wangye with a complicated expression. Even if he were utterly obedient, no one in the world could possibly get tired of him…

….

In the Emperor’s Bedchamber

The palace attendants had returned from the duty room.

Xiao Yun was seated at a desk reading memorials. When he looked up and saw no one behind them, he frowned. “Where’s the Top Scholar?”

The attendant replied, “He returned to his residence.”

Xiao Yun froze for a moment, then ground his teeth. “Got it.”

The palace staff trembled, not daring to lift their heads.

This was the first time an official had ditched an invitation from the emperor. If His Majesty got angry…

Beside him, Xie Zhe nervously said, “Your Majesty, just dock a bit of his salary. He’s still young, after all…”

“Xie Zhe.”

“Your servant is here.”

“Does Xie Caiqing live at the end of Xian Street?”

Xie Zhe paused. “…Yes.”

Xiao Yun said, “That place is a bit remote and cold. Give him that residence on Changping Street.”

Xie Zhe was shocked. “The one on Changping Street?! Isn’t that Your —”

Changping Street was the most prosperous street in Great Ning, where every inch of land was precious. Only officials of rank four and above lived there. You could say it was a place where no commoners passed.

It also had the best teahouses, taverns, and pleasure houses in the capital—endless entertainment.

The location was extremely convenient for both leaving the city and going to the palace—saving both time and effort.

The roads were at least three times wider than other streets, so there was no risk of traffic jams. Soldiers patrolled strictly at night—never had a theft or disturbance occurred there.

Every wealthy merchant and nobleman dreamed of moving there.

The particular residence Xiao Yun mentioned had been his own resting place during private visits. Luxurious decor, stunning architecture, rare rocks and birds—everything one could imagine. It was essentially his private imperial retreat outside the palace, full of Xiao Yun’s beloved treasures.

And now the emperor wanted Xie Caiqing to live there?

Xie Zhe looked utterly stunned. Even he wasn’t allowed to live there—and now the emperor was having Xie Caiqing move in?

The palace attendants were equally shocked. The Top Scholar stood the emperor up, and instead of punishing him, the emperor rewarded him?

“Yes, that one. He likes things more elegant—have someone move all the gaudy golden stuff from my rooms into storage. He doesn’t like noise. And those green parrots—bring them back here, I’ll look after them myself. Oh, I just remembered something!”

Xiao Yun’s eyes lit up.

“Your Majesty?”

Xie Zhe looked at Xiao Yun’s animated expression with a complicated face.

“Those messy flowers in the imperial garden are blooming, right? Move a few pots to his place. No bright red, yellow, or peach colors—pick white, pale pink, light green. The lighter the better. Something delicate and charming—not aggressive!”

“…” Xie Zhe said, “The imperial garden…”

“You know what I mean, right? I don’t know the names of flowers, so choose carefully.”

Xie Zhe’s mouth twitched slightly. “…Understood. Your Majesty, this—”

“Right, send him two chefs as well. Xie Zhe—” Xiao Yun suddenly slapped his forehead. “Go to a restaurant and snatch one who’s good at plating.”

Xie Zhe: “…”

Xie Zhe quickly dismissed the stunned palace attendants and was about to take his leave.

“Come back, come back! I’m not finished!”

Xiao Yun paced back and forth. Something else occurred to him, so he waved Xie Zhe over.

Xie Zhe leaned in.

“All the attendants in my house are clean-looking young men, right?” Xiao Yun frowned.

Xie Zhe: “…Yes.”

Xiao Yun thought for a moment. “To prevent them from seducing the Top Scholar while I’m not around, replace them all with maidservants.”

Xie Zhe looked utterly dumbfounded. He stammered, “Your Majesty… maids can do that too.”

Xiao Yun frowned deeply, then immediately smiled. “Then replace them all with old nannies.”

Xie Zhe said, “…As you command.”

“And the most important thing—make sure it’s a big, loud ceremony! Gongs, drums, the whole works—to show My imperial favor—”

Xie Zhe glanced at him.

Xiao Yun calmly corrected himself, “My favor and esteem toward a valued subject.”

“What are you still standing there for?”

Xie Zhe said softly, “Would it still be in time if I offered myself on the dragon bed now?”

Xiao Yun laughed and cursed, “Get lost.”

Leaving the emperor’s sleeping quarters, Xie Zhe sighed and shook his head repeatedly.

With how His Majesty was practically announcing it to the world, how long could he and Xie Caiqing’s “illicit affair” remain a secret?

Xie Zhe suddenly felt that he had been too narrow-minded. At this rate, with the emperor’s lawless personality, it might not even be impossible for him to defy all opposition and marry a male empress…

…

Xie Caiqing and Taifei were stuffed into a carriage, still looking bewildered.

That afternoon, Yin Xian and Fu An arrived at his residence with a group of eunuchs and strong guards. Yin Xian had only just informed him before he blankly nodded his head, and then that whole group started moving his belongings.

It felt like a violent, overwhelming tornado swept him up, spinning him until he was dizzy and confused. Before he knew it, he was holding a bundle and sitting in a carriage.

He hadn’t even packed the bundle himself—it was handed to him already packed.

If not for the attendants’ fawning faces, he might’ve thought he was being thrown out.

Once the whirlwind calmed down, Xie Caiqing hesitantly asked after a while, “Did Xiao Yun give me a house?”

“…Seems like it,” Taifei replied.

After a while, the carriage passed through a street, and Taifei lifted the curtain, exclaiming in delight, “Isn’t this Changping Street?”

“Look, my lord,” she pointed outside the curtain at the luxurious buildings, “that’s the capital’s largest brothel, Fengyue Pavilion. The girls there are stunning.”

Xie Caiqing: “…”

He didn’t know why, but sometimes he felt Taifei was like a female version of Xiao Yun.

Just as full of self-praise.

Taifei was, in fact, the madam of the Fengyue Pavilion.

“Now that we’re here, my lord must go for a visit sometime,” she said cheerfully.

Xie Caiqing: “…Mm.”

When they arrived at the new residence, a group of wrinkled old nursemaids greeted Xie Caiqing with flattering smiles.

Taifei felt a jolt in her heart and turned to look at the little Wangye, who still wore a faint smile.

She nearly burst into laughter.

The little Wangye loved beauty—his servants had always been chosen for their good looks.

But a group of old women? That was perfect. She had been worried there was no one to make sure he ate well, exercised, and went to bed early.

He was always agreeable on the surface but disobedient in private.

Now that there were so many eyes watching him, how could he keep playing both sides?

Yin Xian and Xie Caiqing took a tour of the new mansion. Taifei was so pleased she kept laughing. If not for the people around, she probably would’ve sung Xiao Yun’s praises nonstop.

This residence was in no way inferior to the one the little Wangye had in Nanruo. Though a bit too grand and lacking in scholarly elegance, he was now in a foreign land—he needed something grand to maintain appearances and command respect.

In the conservatory, when Xie Caiqing saw a few elegant, delicate flowers, a smile briefly appeared at the corner of his lips before disappearing again.

The palace maids who had come along were stunned as they watched the graceful scholar gently touch the petals. Their faces flushed.

He was purer and more refined than the flowers themselves, gentle as jade. Who could possibly be worthy of plucking such a lofty bloom?

He was so clean that standing next to anyone else would feel like sullying him.

After the tour, Yin Xian and Xie Caiqing returned indoors.

The interior was different from the exterior—elegant and tasteful. Though the details still needed refinement, the main layout was complete and naturally beautiful.

Xie Caiqing’s expression had relaxed considerably.

Yin Xian sighed inwardly.

His Majesty had truly spared no expense. But if it could win one smile from the top scholar, it was worth it.

At this moment, he sincerely hoped His Majesty would stay devoted and not indulge in a harem of thousands. If every one of them were spoiled like this, the treasury would be emptied.

Once might be excusable.

Xie Caiqing called for tea and hesitantly asked, “Gonggong, did this house cost the state treasury anything?”

Yin Xian laughed. “You needn’t worry, Top Scholar. This is part of His Majesty’s private off-palace treasury—no one in court even knows about it.”

Xie Caiqing was stunned. “Private off-palace treasury?”

“Yes,” Yin Xian said, trying not to laugh.

Xie Caiqing: “…”

In Great Ning, there was a national treasury and an imperial inner treasury. The national treasury was used for state affairs, while the emperor’s daily expenses came from the inner treasury. If he wanted to use public funds, he’d need to apply through the Ministry of Revenue, list the amount and reason, and await approval. If the ministry denied it, even the emperor couldn’t get a coin.

It was troublesome and embarrassing.

Xiao Yun was fond of luxury and never denied himself.

So his inner treasury was famously wealthy.

In simple terms, Xiao Yun had lots of private savings.

Xie Caiqing hadn’t expected that not only did Xiao Yun have a palace treasury, he also had a hidden off-palace treasury.

Just like a man who had a fierce wife and a beloved concubine—and also a secret mistress no one knew about.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows.

He was being allowed to live here, and Xiao Yun wasn’t afraid he—someone from a poor background—might be tempted to steal?

Yin Xian smiled. “All of His Majesty’s treasures are in the back storage. If you’re interested, feel free to take them out and play. His Majesty doesn’t cling to possessions—if something gets broken, it’s fine.”

Xie Caiqing was startled.

It’s fine even if he breaks them?

Yin Xian added gently, “Just don’t give any of the items away. If His Majesty’s belongings get out, it’ll cause trouble and rumors, and might tarnish your good name. Aside from that, do as you please. Spend freely—just don’t say it’s His Majesty’s money.”

Xie Caiqing’s face turned slightly red.

…Didn’t that mean Xiao Yun was keeping him?

He actually wasn’t lacking money—he just couldn’t spend it due to his false identity. Now, borrowing Xiao Yun’s name, he could openly live the life he used to.

Yin Xian smiled and said, “His Majesty cherishes you and likes you. He always pampers those close to him. You can rest assured and live here in peace.”

He walked up to Xie Caiqing and, without asking, stuffed a few keys to the private treasury into his hand.

Xie Caiqing stared blankly at the several glittering gold keys in his hand.

Xiao Yun had… handed over his private funds to him?

To a man he’d only slept with twice?

So reckless—if he grew tired of him later and wanted them back, wouldn’t that be awkward?