The Little Crybaby Continues to Court Death as a Cannon Fodder - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Xie Xuanying, lying on the floor, was stiff as a board. He hadn’t expected to encounter such a scene, but the absurd thing was that he didn’t feel surprised, nor was he particularly shocked. This wasn’t the first time he had stumbled upon something like this, so much so that he had become practiced in it—he could listen quite calmly, even if his body wasn’t quite as composed.

Hua Jingshi hadn’t lied to him; Qiu Zhiruo really did harbor filthy thoughts toward the Prince, going so far as to commit such an indecent act with him right here.

Just as Xie Xuanying contemplated opening one eye to sneak a peek, a silk quilt was thrown over him. It was saturated with a milky, sweet fragrance and another peculiar scent. Before he could process what it was, a hand-chop struck his neck, and Xie Xuanying plunged back into unconsciousness.

…

The Aftermath

Qiu Zhiruo returned to the couch and pulled the weeping, red-faced Prince back into his arms. The bedding had been soaked to a dull grey. Displeased, he pulled the Prince tighter, embedding their bodies together. Only when he saw that the dampness had stopped spreading did he look up with satisfaction—only to be met with a stinging slap.

Yu Qing wiped his tears, and seeing that Qiu Zhiruo still dared to look at him, he delivered another slap. “Us will surely punish your crimes! You are rebellious, daring to offend your superior!”

“Us… Us will execute nine generations of your kin!”

Qiu Zhiruo let out a soft chuckle. He reached out to cup the wet, flushed face, his voice low and raspy with post-gratification. “Alright, Your Highness, let us not be angry. If you lose your temper, the child will feel it too.”

Yu Qing’s fierce expression instantly froze into a panicked helplessness. He looked down and covered his small belly, feeling something pressing against his palm. He pursed his lips and said crossly, “Take it away quickly. Do not hurt Us’s baby.”

“Let me stay a little longer, Your Highness.” Qiu Zhiruo held him from behind, stroking his abdomen with him. No matter how unwilling Yu Qing was, he had no strength left to resist. Qiu Zhiruo relished this moment of tenderness, intimately kissing the Prince’s ear. “Your Highness, you are so warm.”

“…” Yu Qing turned his head and glared at him, warning him to stop saying such nonsensical things.

Although Qiu Zhiruo had been excessive earlier, after spending some time with him, the bodily abnormalities had indeed lessened—at least the leaking had stopped. Still, the little Prince looked down at the dark stains on the bedding and fluttered his lashes in embarrassment. Clean-freak that he was, he tugged at Qiu Zhiruo’s sleeve. “Us will not sleep here tonight. It is too dirty.”

“And who made it dirty?”

“It certainly wasn’t Us!” the Prince declared righteously, completely forgetting that he was responsible for most of the mess. Qiu Zhiruo didn’t argue; instead, he found this stubborn, posturing act incredibly moving.

Furthermore, Qiu Zhiruo didn’t want the Prince sleeping here either. This was, after all, another man’s bedroom and another man’s bed. To conduct such intimacy in another’s domain lacked the grace of a gentleman. He seemed to have completely forgotten who had knocked the owner unconscious and who had refused to let go of the Prince on that very bed.

“Your Highness, I shall take you back to the Eastern Palace.”

Yu Qing nodded. The conditions here were indeed inferior to the Eastern Palace, where he was accustomed to living. He daintily raised his arms, wordlessly asking to be carried. As he rose, sweat trailed down his slender legs, leaving a shimmering path on his skin.

Qiu Zhiruo wiped him down briefly and wrapped the Prince tightly in his own outer robe. He ordered his subordinates to bring his fresh clothes, and after changing, he carried the Prince with steady steps toward the Eastern Palace.

Eunuchs Lin and Zhang were already prepared. Seeing the door open, they hurriedly raised their lanterns to light the way.

“Master Xie…” Eunuch Lin started hesitantly.

Qiu Zhiruo interrupted indifferently, “Master Xie has already retired. No one is to disturb him without orders.”

Wasn’t he gravely ill? After those two strikes, his condition would surely “worsen.” It would be best if his soul departed tomorrow; for the sake of the child he shared with the Prince, Qiu Zhiruo would burn extra spirit money for him—a merit-building act for the unborn child.

…

The Greed of the Prime Minister

In the shadows, Hua Jingshi watched the procession from a distance. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t get close; the area was surrounded by the Prime Minister’s men. He watched Qiu Zhiruo carrying the Prince, who was swathed in an oversized robe. Whenever the robe slipped to reveal a hint of the Prince’s neck, Qiu Zhiruo’s hand would immediately cover it.

The possessiveness was suffocating.

Hua Jingshi pulled his mouth into a cold smirk. The Prime Minister already had so much—power, influence, status—yet he wouldn’t yield even the smallest scrap of interest. Truly greedy.

Back at the Eastern Palace, Yu Qing fell back into a daze. He allowed Qiu Zhiruo to dry the moisture from his body, leaning limply against the man.

“Are you very tired?”

“Mnh…” Yu Qing was drifting. He leaned his chin on the man’s shoulder. “Uncle, Us is going to sleep. You are not allowed to touch me secretly.”

Don’t think he hadn’t noticed; Qiu Zhiruo had touched him many times just now. He had only been too tired to call him out. It didn’t mean he didn’t know.

…

The Secret of the Womb

The next morning, Qiu Zhiruo had already left. Despite being uncle and nephew, they were still subject and ruler; they needed to avoid suspicion.

Taking advantage of his absence, Yu Qing secretly summoned the imperial physician. After taking his pulse, the physician remained silent, but his face was grave and full of bewilderment. Yu Qing knew then: he was indeed pregnant.

The physician stammered for a long time, not daring to speak. It was the Prince who spoke coldly first: “Us have simply had no appetite lately. Do not speak nonsense.”

The physician wiped cold sweat from his brow and agreed repeatedly. As he rose to leave, he ventured, “Your Highness, shall I prescribe some medicine to… protect Your Highness’s appetite?” He glanced meaningfully at Yu Qing’s belly.

Yu Qing knew the man meant fetal-protection medicine. He nodded. Seeing the Prince was listening, the physician recalled the Prince’s previous “wild” reputation and added, “Your Highness should be careful during ‘intimacy’ recently. Although the pulse is steady, and intimacy is permitted… given your poor appetite, one must not be careless…”

The little Prince’s face turned bright red. Under the curious gaze of the servants, he stammered, “Us… We naturally know! If the appetite is poor, one must be careful!”

…

The Chosen Father

Yu Qing had no appetite for breakfast, but by lunch, he was famished. Yet, everything tasted bland. During pregnancy, one’s emotions are sensitive; comparing the current food to Hua Jingshi’s cooking, he felt like he was eating slop. He wanted Hua Jingshi back, but the man sent word that he was “too ill” to cook.

That night, Yu Qing tried to summon Hua Jingshi back to the Eastern Palace, but Qiu Zhiruo talked him out of it, using “rumors” as an excuse to make the prideful Prince yield.

He hadn’t felt this aggrieved before. Today, he felt exceptionally wronged. While eating, he suddenly burst into tears. Why couldn’t he even have a decent meal? He just wanted Hua Jingshi back! Who did Qiu Zhiruo think he was?

The Emperor heard of the “hunger strike” and sent a new batch of handsome, talented men to the Eastern Palace.

“They’re just a few favorites. If they’re gone, they’re gone. Why hurt your body over it?” the Emperor sighed, looking at the Prince huddling under his quilt.

“I don’t want them! I don’t want anyone! I want… I want to sleep!” Yu Qing shouted from under the covers. He was just frustrated and wanted to throw a tantrum.

The Emperor eventually coaxed him out and promised to let the hostages move back if it would make him happy. “But people will say bad things about me,” the Prince complained.

The Emperor laughed. “Whoever dares gossip about my precious son, I’ll execute their whole family.” It was a very “tyrant” thing to say.

Yu Qing hugged the Emperor’s waist, feeling some safety in his father’s unconditional support. But it wasn’t enough. “Is Uncle very busy lately?”

“Qiu Zhiruo? Yes, very busy. He’s always pestering me about scrolls. I think I’ll arrange a marriage for him in a few days so a wife can keep him busy.”

Marriage? Yu Qing looked up, dazed. Was Qiu Zhiruo getting married? A sour, burning irritation rose in his chest. Qiu Zhiruo had just said he’d be the father of the child, yet he was about to become someone else’s husband.

Fine. The Prime Minister’s status was too conspicuous anyway. He should choose someone safer and more hidden to be the child’s “other father.”

…

The Shadow’s Reward

After the Emperor left, Yu Qing summoned Cang He.

He was his personal shadow guard. He knew many things that couldn’t be hidden.

“You know Us is pregnant, don’t you?” Yu Qing covered his stomach, looking coldly at the tall man kneeling before him.

He was dressed in black, showing only a pair of sharp eyes. He was built like a predator, yet he was loyal, quiet, and someone Yu Qing had known since childhood. He was the perfect, “safe” choice.

“This subordinate knows,” Cang He replied, head bowed.

“The child needs a legitimate status. Us know it is unnatural for a man to conceive.” Yu Qing had thought about finding a girl to cooperate with, but he didn’t want to trap a woman in a lie or a marriage without love. He didn’t like lying.

After a long pause, Yu Qing said slowly, “Us wants you to be the child’s other father. Do you have any objections?”

His lips moved, but the Prince interrupted him. “There is no rush. You can think about it.”

But Cang He was already drowning in a sea of emotion. When he first learned of the pregnancy, he was lost and panicked. But he had never imagined a chance like this. He loved the Prince silently, knowing his own low status. To even be allowed to touch the Prince’s foot was an honor; he never dared dream of more.

Now, he could have a place by the Prince’s side.

“If you are unwilling, then—”

“Your Highness, this subordinate is willing.”

Yu Qing looked down. Recently, he had become more “plump,” possessing a ripened, fleshy softness. His chest showed a slight curve through his robes, and his cheeks glowed with a healthy luster.

The discomfort in his chest made him frown. He pulled his collar open irritably; the pink area had expanded due to the pregnancy. His small hands squeezed crudely, as if venting his frustration on his own body. The snowy skin quickly turned red, making Cang He’s throat go dry with obsession.

He wanted to volunteer, but his low self-esteem held him back. He watched with burning eyes as the milky scent filled the room.

The Prince eventually grew tired and reclined on his chaise longue. He beckoned with a finger. “Come here.”

Cang He obeyed. As he leaned in, the black cloth was torn from his face, and his collar was yanked down. He fell onto the chaise. His face landed exactly where the Prince had been squeezing.

“You know what to do, don’t you? You must have seen clearly when the Prime Minister helped us.” Yu Qing gasped slightly and kicked the man’s leg with his foot. “Did you watch?”

The voice was lazy and teasing.

His voice was hoarse. “I watched.”

“To what extent?”

“I saw the Prime Minister go… all the way.”

His breath hit the Prince’s skin, making Yu Qing let out a pained, soft moan. The Prince warned him with a heavy press of his knee: “Us does not like pain. Help Us well. If Us is satisfied, there will be a reward.”

A reward? This was already the reward.

He heard the Prince’s command:

“Lick.”