After Scheming Against the Enemy Nation’s Emperor, I Got Pregnant Chapter 97

Xiao Yun sat there, his expression flickering unpredictably.

Xie Zhe took a peek and couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Majesty, most people would have already sealed the deal by now. You’ve got a whole child on the way, and it still looks… grim.”

Xiao Yun let out a sneer. “The prouder he is now, the angrier he’ll be when the precious baby he raised with his own hands marries me, the ‘scoundrel.’”

Xiao Yun smiled. “If I’m not allowed to send letters, can’t I just sneak in and find my wife myself?”

But the next morning, news came from Yeming Pass that the entire pass was under lockdown. No citizens of Great Ning would be allowed to enter—not even a step.

Under the blazing sun, Xiao Yun stood in disguise, hands on his hips, pacing.

A trusted aide disguised as a Nanruo local returned, soaked in sweat. “I was unable to get in, Your Majesty.”

“What?!” Xiao Yun looked at him in disbelief. “Weren’t all the documents in order?”

He and Xie Zhe had previously entered the Miluo Manor using forged official documents with help from the Miluo intelligence network—smooth and effortless.

The aide looked embarrassed. “The inspections are extremely strict. The Nanruo Emperor has ordered that any strong, able-bodied young men over seven chi tall be considered suspicious and barred from entering for the next ten days.”

“What?!” Xiao Yun exclaimed.

Xie Zhe turned to look at Xiao Yun, who was over eight chi tall, in shock.

“…I see,” Xiao Yun’s face darkened.

Xie Zhe asked, “Shall we ask Miluo for help again?”

The aide said awkwardly, “I already did. They said the old master gave a strict order—Miluo will not assist Great Ning in any way.”

Xie Zhe was stunned. “Why?”

Xiao Yun looked equally puzzled. That old man had just recently promised to stand with him in solidarity.

“All I heard was that Jiang Huaiyi found the old master and said—if he dared to help Your Majesty, what he has always yearned for would be gone forever.”

“….” Xiao Yun took a deep breath.

Back in the tent, he ground his teeth. “He actually threatened to make me lose my child!”

Xie Zhe thought to himself, Jiang Huaiyi is really thinking ahead—he’s guarding against seduction to this extent.

With every road blocked, Xie Zhe said, “Should we send in someone shorter to gather intel?”

“No need. He said ten days.” Xiao Yun’s face remained gloomy. “He’s clearly planning to force Chu Chu into marriage during this time.”

“…He might be doing it willingly, Your Majesty,” Xie Zhe muttered.

“…You don’t need to remind me!”

Xie Zhe asked, “Then what do we do?”

“If I can’t get a letter in, and I can’t get in myself, can’t I send something else in?” Xiao Yun smiled. “Step one is making sure Chu Chu thinks about me every waking moment.”

“Something else?”

For some reason, when Xie Zhe heard those words, his first thought was that Xiao Yun might chop himself down to under seven feet.

“Yes,” Xiao Yun sneered, eyes glinting with the cunning of a seasoned emperor. “He thinks blocking me out will work? I have plenty of tricks.”

….

In the city, at the Commander’s Residence.

Jiang Huaiyi stayed up late writing to Duke Yi, instructing him to send his daughter to the frontier to marry Duan Wang.

After getting scolded and informed of the matter, Jiang Huaichu obediently left Jiang Huaiyi’s quarters and calmly called for Ru Shi.

…

Two days later.

“Your Majesty…” Xie Zhe looked down at the short, stubby creature and was dumbfounded. “This is Your Majesty’s ‘master plan’?”

It was a fluffy puppy, with snow-white, soft belly fur and shiny black fur on its back. Its legs were chubby, its ears were pointy and furry like a fox’s, its nose was wet and black, and its face was honest and adorable—not too sharp.

Sensing Xie Zhe’s scorn and disbelief, the little thing’s shiny black eyes glinted with aggression. It pounced forward and grabbed Xie Zhe’s leg, biting at the hem of his robe.

Xie Zhe: “…”

Cute and fierce.

Xiao Yun said seriously, “Mhm.”

“What kind of dog is this?”

Xiao Yun glared. “It’s not a dog!”

“Then what is it?”

“His father is a white wolf. His mother is a black dog.”

Xie Zhe thought, That still makes it a dog, right?

“Where did Your Majesty get it?”

“I bought it in Junzhou,” Xiao Yun said.

Junzhou was mountainous and forested, full of wolves. There were many wolf cubs for sale. Since wolves were considered noble and even protective, trading them wasn’t uncommon.

“Rare, right?” Xiao Yun grinned broadly, lifting the wolf-dog cub by the scruff.

“You want to give this to Duan Wang?”

“Mhm. Giving a dog would be too low-class. A wolf might scare him. A wolf-dog cub—perfect.”

Xie Zhe hesitated. “This thing looks kind of fierce. He’s still pregnant.”

Xiao Yun gave him a disdainful look and gently placed the cub down. “Just let him see it.”

The little thing let out a bark.

Xiao Yun crouched down and stared intently at it, clearly full of high hopes.

Xiao Yun: “Go back.”

The cub dashed away.

Xiao Yun pulled out a snow-white handkerchief from his robe, waved it like a bullfighter. The cub, seeing it like it was a chunk of meat, darted back so fast it almost tripped, jumping and licking frantically at the embroidered cloth.

Xie Zhe watched and slowly realized, “…You trained it using something of Duan Wang’s?”

“Exactly,” Xiao Yun said cheerfully. “I told you I’m multi-talented. I’ve trained lots of wolves. This one’s smart—learned fast. Now he’ll follow anything that smells like my wife.”

Xie Zhe: “…”

“He also has a secret name,” Xiao Yun added mysteriously.

…

That afternoon, a short-statured commoner knocked on the gate of the Commander’s Residence.

Before the gatekeeper could get a good look, the man shoved a squat little creature into his arms, said “Please deliver this to Duan Wang,” and turned to leave.

The gatekeeper looked down at the silly, dumb-looking thing in his hands and laughed, then went to find Duan Wang.

Inside the room, Jiang Huaichu froze when he saw what the man was holding. He looked at it again, twice.

The gatekeeper smiled, “Wangye, it’s probably a gift from a commoner grateful to you. Their dog had pups, and they insisted on giving you one. They wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Jiang Huaichu was startled. A gift for him? He couldn’t help but glance again.

The gatekeeper observed him carefully. Wangye usually didn’t accept gifts, but this one was rather unique. He cautiously asked, “Would Wangye like to hold it? It seems to really like you—can even recognize you.”

The little creature struggled in the gatekeeper’s arms, staring unblinkingly at Jiang Huaichu. It even gave a small “awoo.”

Jiang Huaichu’s heart softened. After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly extended his hands. “Give it to me.”

As soon as the gatekeeper let go, the pup half-crawled and half-squirmed into Jiang Huaichu’s arms, sniffing him all over with its wet little nose and even licking his neck in excitement.

Jiang Huaichu’s neck tickled. His face flushed faintly.

The gatekeeper smiled. “This puppy and Wangye must have some fate. If you like it, just keep it. At this size, it won’t bite.”

Jiang Huaichu gave a soft “mm” and held the pup.

At dinner, Taifei who had come with Jiang Huaiyi kept calling for Jiang Huaichu, but he didn’t come out. “If you won’t come out, I’m coming in!”

“I’m coming in now!”

She pushed open the door and saw Jiang Huaichu engaged in a battle of wits with a short and pudgy puppy.

“Don’t follow me. I’ll come back to feed you after dinner. If my royal brother sees you, he’ll have you sent away.”

Jiang Huaichu stepped back two paces, but the proud little pup immediately stuck close again, rubbing its ears against his snow-white boots.

“Don’t follow me,” Jiang Huaichu said with a red face. “How about this: I’ll feed you first, then go. Okay?”

The pup just rubbed against his boots.

Jiang Huaichu: “……”

Too focused, the young Wangye hadn’t even noticed Taifei had entered. She asked curiously, “Where did you get such a clingy little pup?”

Jiang Huaichu stood and replied helplessly, “I don’t know either. It follows me everywhere, won’t leave me for a second. Doesn’t bark or fuss—just follows me.”

Taifei laughed. “So obedient!”

Jiang Huaichu looked at the puppy with involuntary tenderness in his eyes. Holding his forehead, he muttered, “If I bring it out, what will my royal brother say?”

His royal brother disapproved of keeping clumsy, noisy animals. Said a person’s surroundings should match their temperament—dogs weren’t refined enough.

“It’s just a dog. Don’t worry about it. Your royal brother’s all bark and no bite.” Taifei beamed at him, clearly delighted with the pup.

Jiang Huaichu thought about it and reluctantly walked out. As soon as he stepped outside, everyone in the courtyard stopped and burst into laughter.

A dopey-looking pup, only a few steps behind, trailed after the elegant, snow-pale young Wangye like a little tail. If anyone looked at him, the pup would bare its teeth, like it was saying, “He’s mine—stay away!”

The usually reserved Wangye now had a touch of life in his expression. He smiled awkwardly and nodded at people. Occasionally, when he ran into acquaintances, his face even turned red.

Taifei followed, chuckling nonstop.

“Oh right,” she said quietly, “did Xiao Yun agree to the ceasefire because of you—”

“Awoo, awoo!”

Jiang Huaichu said nothing.

Taifei squinted. “Then you and Xiao Yun, now—”

“Awoo, awoo!”

She paused. “How is it?”

Jiang Huaichu replied coolly, “What could it be? Me and Xiao Yun together—”

“Awoo, awoo!”

Taifei glared at the pup. “The grown-ups are talking—why are you interrupting?”

“Why not?” she chuckled, lowering her voice. “You and Xiao Yun match so well—”

“Awoo, awoo!”

Taifei burst into laughter. “See? He agrees too!”

Jiang Huaichu looked down at it, not reacting to her words, but a slight smile curved his eyes. He took a few more steps, then his expression changed slightly. He lowered his head and asked, “Xiao Yun?”

“Awoo, awoo!”

Jiang Huaichu: “Xiao Yun?”

“Awoo, awoo!”

The little pup wagged its tail frantically, rubbing against him and circling his ankles.

Taifei, usually a chatterbox, was stunned silent.

A long, awkward silence followed.

Jiang Huaichu’s face turned visibly red. He growled, embarrassed and furious, “Who does this—!”

He couldn’t bring himself to curse. “That’s his name! An emperor and a dog—”

“He doesn’t mind using his own name—why are you angry?” Taifei stared at him, deadpan.

Jiang Huaichu’s face was expressionless, but his cheeks were burning. He quickened his pace, the pup named “Xiao Yun” cheerfully chasing after him.

Jiang Huaichu walked like he was angry at someone, but the little creature stubbornly followed, eyes bright and fixed on him, as if he were its whole world.

It was like deep affection, protection, and companionship.

Jiang Huaichu looked at it for a moment, then his face flushed even more. He flung his sleeves and strode off.

“Watch your step,” Taifei warned, laughing behind her hand. Now that his pregnancy was stable, she wasn’t worried. The little Wangye didn’t talk much—having a noisy pup to keep him company was just perfect. His mood had clearly improved since the dog showed up.

Before dinner, Jiang Huaiyi saw the dopey little creature wagging along behind Jiang Huaichu. His expression darkened. He started to speak a few times but held back, and in the end, said nothing.

He said coldly, “That b*stard Xiao Yun—these past two days—”

“Awoo, awoo.”

Jiang Huaiyi paused. “Hasn’t made a move. Who knows what he’s planning. Xiao Yun and his 300,000 troops—”

“Awoo, awoo.”

Jiang Huaiyi frowned. “Xiao Yun—”

“Awoo, awoo.”

Finally, Jiang Huaiyi lost his patience. “What’s wrong with this d*mn dog?!”

Taifei quickly lowered her head in fear.

Jiang Huaichu, acting as if nothing had happened, wrapped a piece of fragrant chicken in a handkerchief and bent down to feed it to the little one, stuffing its mouth so it wouldn’t keep barking at Jiang Huaiyi. Watching the joy and excitement in the little creature’s eyes, he was silent for a while before nonchalantly stroking its furry head. Remembering how his elder brother had sternly lectured him multiple times, he stood up, aligning himself with the enemy, and said with righteous indignation, “Just now, what was it elder brother said about that dog of a thief, Xiao Yun?”

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