After Scheming Against the Enemy Nation’s Emperor, I Got Pregnant Chapter 71

This wasn’t the place to talk. Jiang Huaiyi had a thousand things to say, but in the end, he forced it all into one sentence: “If you don’t leave soon, don’t blame me for using force.”

Xie Caiqing gritted his teeth. “I’ll leave in two days.”

Jiang Huaiyi took a deep breath and flung down Xie Caiqing’s sleeve. “If I find out he touches you again in these two days, I’ll kill him—even if it means I die with him.”

A sovereign who wielded life and death and lived spotless above all others could not tolerate such humiliation.

“…” Xie Caiqing said softly, “I understand. I won’t let him touch me again.”

Jiang Huaiyi’s gaze intentionally or unintentionally avoided Xie Caiqing’s lower abdomen, as if to escape a certain truth—or perhaps, the painful past hidden behind that truth: the younger brother he had personally raised, not yet of age, now begging countless times under the enemy emperor, and the obvious future it implied—carrying a child to face public disgrace, or hiding away under another name to bear children for that beast, and then exhausting half a lifetime raising that child in hardship.

No elder brother could bear such a thing.

And Xiao Yun had so cruelly defiled Jiang Huaichu.

He had cherished Jiang Huaichu for so many years—when had Jiang Huaichu ever suffered like this?

The more he thought about it, the more suffocated and furious he became. He wished he could kill Xiao Yun right then and there to vent his hatred.

Xie Caiqing whispered, “…Then I’ll head back.”

Jiang Huaiyi said nothing. Xie Caiqing didn’t wait for a response. Under his gaze, he straightened his back, cheeks still flushed, forced himself to suppress the discomfort that could no longer be ignored, and walked away, his steps slightly unsteady.

He had only gone a few steps when the world suddenly spun.

Xie Caiqing cried out in surprise, looking up in alarm as his heart skipped a beat.

Also crying out in surprise were the palace maids and eunuchs rushing over after seeing the situation between the top scholar and the emperor of Nanruo from afar.

Jiang Huaiyi had picked up Jiang Huaichu in a bridal carry and turned to walk in the opposite direction of Xiao Yun’s bedchambers.

Xie Caiqing finally snapped back to his senses. Frightened out of his wits, he trembled and whispered, “Royal brother, put me down!”

Jiang Huaiyi frowned and said coldly, “You plan to walk back like that?”

“Put me down!” Xie Caiqing’s voice was shaking.

Jiang Huaiyi sneered, “I am the Emperor of Nanruo. You are your top scholar.”

Xie Caiqing stiffened.

He knew just how stubborn his elder brother was. Once he decided something, no one could change his mind.

His heart felt both warm and panicked. Palace maids and eunuchs had already rushed over. Xie Caiqing forced himself to stay composed and said, “…I suddenly felt unwell and nearly fainted. Thankfully, His Highness of Nanruo helped me…”

He smiled gratefully at Jiang Huaiyi.

The maids and eunuchs were dumbfounded.

The Emperor of Nanruo had publicly carried the top scholar—in that way.

If it had been a lady, this would’ve clearly been a marriage in the making, a joyous affair.

But this was the top scholar. A man.

Of course, if the scholar had suddenly fallen ill, Jiang Huaiyi couldn’t have let him fall. He was the Emperor’s favored courtier, and ignoring him would’ve been disrespectful. But carrying him like this… was just…

The palace maids all blushed and completely changed their impression of him.

Turns out the aloof Nan Huaiyi, cold and distant, was actually gentle at heart and knew how to care for others.

Even the eunuchs were shocked, thinking no wonder Nan Huaiyi had a reputation for virtue and was revered by scholars across the land.

Before, he had shown the scholar a cold face several times, and at banquets he was obsessed with cleanliness—he’d wipe his hands over and over if touched. Yet now, here he was, setting aside all grievances and carrying him. Clearly a sharp tongue and a soft heart—a truly kind man.

“Let us help!” the palace maids and eunuchs hurried to say.

Jiang Huaiyi frowned. “No need.”

Jiang Huaichu didn’t like being touched.

“Your Highness, please put me down!” Xie Caiqing said anxiously. “This is far too improper!”

Jiang Huaiyi ignored him, instead guiding Jiang Huaichu’s hand over his shoulder and around his neck. He said coolly, “I brought the imperial physician from Nanruo with me. He’s just ahead. Let him take a look at you.”

Xie Caiqing’s expression changed drastically.

He wasn’t really pregnant—he had lied to his elder brother. If the physician examined him, everything would be exposed. His brother might actually break his legs.

“…No need. Your Highness, please put me down. I’m better now.”

Jiang Huaiyi said, “A checkup will put my mind at ease.”

The palace attendants were already blushing from witnessing Jiang Huaiyi’s dramatic change in demeanor. His stern and elegant presence contrasted strikingly with Xie Caiqing’s gentle, refined air. One cold, one warm—even their clothes and manner seemed matched, inexplicably well-suited.

Especially with the top scholar’s flushed cheeks.

If only he weren’t a man…

Finally, one eunuch, flustered, chimed in, “Y-yes, let… let the physician have a look.”

The medical and poison arts of Nanruo were famous throughout the world. A Nanruo physician was worth a fortune and hard to come by—what’s more, this one was personally appointed by the Nanruo emperor. His skill surely surpassed even the chief of the Imperial Medical Bureau. The Imperial Medical Bureau was far from here, and quick treatment was vital. Letting someone from Nanruo take a look wasn’t unreasonable.

Perhaps this was even a gesture from the Nanruo emperor to curry favor with their own majesty.

Jiang Huaiyi said coolly, “If you want to follow, then follow.”

Xie Caiqing panicked, his face pale. “Your Highness…”

Elsewhere, on a shady path, Fu An was sweating profusely as he chased after Xiao Yun. “Your Majesty, please slow down!”

“What is wrong with you?!” Xiao Yun was striding urgently, furious. “What did I tell you?! He was like that and you didn’t stop him?! You let him into the palace?! He came to see me and you didn’t even prepare a carriage—you let him walk?! And instead of staying with him, you ran to inform me?! How did I raise such an idiot?!”

“This servant deserves death! This servant deserves death! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”

Fu An had never imagined the emperor would care so deeply about Xie Caiqing.

“Where is he? Wasn’t he supposed to be in the imperial garden—” Xiao Yun looked around, then suddenly froze in his tracks.

Opposite him, a group of palace attendants was gathered around Jiang Huaiyi.

Dressed in white robes, Jiang Huaiyi stood out starkly amid the red flowers and green leaves—one glance was enough to spot him. He was walking away, back facing Xiao Yun.

Jiang Huaiyi was carrying someone in his arms. The trailing sleeve of the carried person was embroidered with gold on white—an exact match to Jiang Huaiyi’s own robes. Long black hair spilled over Jiang Huaiyi’s arms, and a pale, slender hand rested on his neck—elegant and defined.

At first glance, they looked like a pair of heavenly lovers.

A sense of foreboding surged in Xiao Yun’s chest, and he quickly strode forward.

The palace maids and eunuchs, seeing who approached, panicked and bowed. “Peace and blessings upon Your Majesty!”

Jiang Huaiyi, not far off, didn’t stop—whether he didn’t hear or pretended not to, it was unclear.

Xiao Yun ignored the servants and shouted, “Jiang Huaiyi, stop right there!”

Jiang Huaiyi paused. Xie Caiqing’s normally calm, dark eyes were filled with fear. This is bad, he thought, his heart in his throat. He struggled to get down, but Jiang Huaiyi, enraged at being called out by name, gave a cold laugh. Not only did he not let go, he tightened his grip and turned around with Jiang Huaichu still in his arms.

When Xiao Yun saw the person he’d been searching for in Jiang Huaiyi’s arms, his face darkened instantly. His fury surged—he was practically smoking from every orifice.

“What do you want, Your Majesty?” Jiang Huaiyi said coldly.

“Put him down!” Xiao Yun barked.

Jiang Huaiyi replied indifferently, “The top scholar is unwell and unable to walk. I’m taking him to the Nanruo physician.”

“Your Majesty…” Xie Caiqing looked at Xiao Yun anxiously and tried to get down again.

Jiang Huaiyi’s expression turned several shades colder. Xie Caiqing immediately froze, not daring to move.

Xiao Yun, seeing how Xie Caiqing was calmly allowing himself to be held by Jiang Huaiyi—without even resisting—was instantly enraged. Jiang Huaiyi had some nerve to lay hands on his person! Fury blazed in his chest: “Put him down! We don’t need Nanruo meddling in our affairs!”

Jiang Huaiyi retorted, “I am visiting Northern Ning—is this how Northern Ning treats its guests?”

Xie Caiqing grew more anxious and tugged Jiang Huaiyi’s sleeve in secret.

Jiang Huaiyi didn’t even glance at him. He stared coldly at Xiao Yun. “If I put him down and he’s unwell, are you going to make him walk back on his own? Your Majesty’s treatment of his courtiers is rather harsh.”

Xiao Yun had now walked right up to him, his tone equally frigid. “Who said he’d walk? I told you to put him down.”

Jiang Huaiyi laughed mockingly. “I was simply being considerate to the top scholar. No need for such pettiness, Your Majesty. Arguing with me over this—it’s rather childish.”

Xiao Yun couldn’t take it anymore. “Childish, my *ss! That’s my d*mn wife you’re holding!”

His spit nearly landed on Jiang Huaiyi’s face.

Jiang Huaiyi was about to explode but then registered what Xiao Yun had just said. He froze—he never expected Xiao Yun would admit it openly.

Xie Caiqing also froze, then turned bright red as he realized the implication, flustered and panicked.

Who knew how many of the gathered servants had heard that? Even Jiang Huaiyi looked stunned by Xiao Yun’s shamelessness. His face went from pale to flushed, veins bulging on his forehead.

Whose wife? That was the little Wangye of Nanruo.

“Bedside companion? I had no idea the emperor of Northern Ning had such a taste for playing with his ministers. Truly a first in the history of Great Ning,” Jiang Huaiyi sneered.

Xiao Yun smirked, “And I didn’t know the emperor of Nanruo liked coveting other men’s wives. A paragon of virtue, a model for all ages.”

Jiang Huaiyi’s face darkened. “You…”

Xie Caiqing’s heart pounded in terror.

“Are you going to let go or not? I was already being polite. You got snubbed at the banquet and now you’re picking a fight with me? You think just because that old man Miluo backs you, you can step all over me? I didn’t hit you out of respect for elders and because I was too lazy. And now you’re ungrateful, trying to push even further? Will you let go or not? Don’t refuse a toast and demand a punishment—”

“Your Majesty!” Xie Caiqing interrupted.

“Don’t be scared, sweetheart,” Xiao Yun instantly switched to a gentle tone, coaxing him.

Then he turned back to Jiang Huaiyi with a cold smile. “I’m counting to three.”

Jiang Huaiyi was trembling with rage.

Xie Caiqing looked toward him. “Your Highness…”

Xiao Yun didn’t bother counting. He wasn’t going to let Xie Caiqing stay in Jiang Huaiyi’s arms a second longer. He stepped in, pried open Jiang Huaiyi’s hands, and pulled Xie Caiqing into his own embrace, wrapping his arm around Xie Caiqing’s shoulder.

Finally satisfied, he looked down at the black of his robes next to Xie Caiqing’s white and raised his brow.

Now that matched.

He looked lazily at Jiang Huaiyi like a victorious general.

Xie Caiqing: “…”

Once again, he was reminded of how powerless an individual could be.

More and more people were crowding onto the path behind them.

Seeing Xie Caiqing still glancing apologetically at Jiang Huaiyi, Xiao Yun turned his face back with force, making sure he looked only at him. Carrying him in his arms, he turned and left, leaving behind stunned palace attendants—and Liu Yun, who had rushed over to help the emperor upon hearing there was an argument between the emperor and the Nanruo Emperor, only to witness His Majesty swaggering off with the top scholar in his arms.

“Elder!”

“Elder!”

Liu Yun fainted, and the palace attendants were thrown into chaos.