Chapter 21

Lord Cheng had one more regret in his life.

He really shouldn’t have provoked the woman in front of him.

Although he enjoyed seeing her flustered, being attended to by her, with her teasing him with touches that were just out of reach, Lord Cheng felt like he had dug his own grave.

His legs hadn’t fully recovered, so he had to turn his back and suffer the consequences himself.

Qin Xiyi chuckled behind his back, but the sight of her son’s innocent smile immediately quelled her laughter.

Should she tell Cheng Mushi about the child’s parentage?

They were so close, yet it felt like worlds apart.

Every time the child called out “Uncle,” and heard Cheng Mushi respond, Qin Xiyi felt a lump in her throat.

And so, amidst harmony and unease, another half a month passed.

Cheng Mushi recovered quickly, almost as if he had never been injured.

Before leaving the valley, Qin Xiyi, carrying the young crown prince, said to Cheng Mushi, “If we manage to get out alive, you should take Ying’er and flee far away.”

Cheng Mushi, who was packing his belongings, stopped and stared at her intently.

Qin Xiyi feigned a casual tone, “You don’t need to be confused. So many guards saw you with me that day. Liang Shi is very suspicious. You took a huge risk in the hall that day. If he finds out we’ve been living together for over a month now, he’ll surely kill you.”

“As for Ying’er… Emperors have always been heartless. I’ve ended up in this situation, and the position in Liang is precarious. I don’t want Ying’er to be trapped in a cage his whole life. You can take him and live under a different name, or change his surname, as long as you can ensure his safety and happiness for his entire life, that’s enough.”

“What name and surname do you want my son to change to?” Cheng Mushi, who had been staring at her, suddenly spoke, his tone unreadable.

Qin Xiyi was momentarily speechless. Cheng Mushi added, “Or perhaps he could change his surname to Cheng, and it would be more convenient for him to be my son…”

“That would be fine too!” Qin Xiyi agreed readily, secretly pleased that he was so understanding.

But Cheng Mushi’s expression turned cold. “Even now, you still don’t want to tell me that Liang Ying is my child, do you?”

Qin Xiyi opened her mouth, meeting Cheng Mushi’s handsome, somewhat petulant face.

As intelligent as Cheng Mushi was, he must have figured it out. But Qin Xiyi had always been reluctant to face it, thinking that the fewer people who knew, the less danger there would be.

She knew that if she returned, it would be a near-certain death. Her own life was not important; the child had to live.

Cheng Mushi… also had to live.

“Liang Shi never touched me. Ying’er is our child,” Qin Xiyi suddenly became agitated. “Take him and leave Liang, don’t go back to Zhao either. The world is vast, there’s always a place to go. If, if…”

If she went back and met Liang Shi, and Liang Shi, in his anger, demanded accountability from Zhao, her weak and greedy father in Zhao would absolutely send Cheng Mushi’s head back.

“At this point, you’ve arranged everything for everyone else, but you’ve completely excluded yourself.”

Cheng Mushi, his anger growing after hearing her words, slammed the table. “Qin Xiyi, from beginning to end, what do you take me, Cheng Mushi, for? Since I’m here, I’ll take you back. As for Ying’er…”

“My son, Cheng Mushi’s son, why should he live in obscurity!”

Qin Xiyi didn’t understand at the time where Cheng Mushi’s sudden, overwhelming confidence came from.

The confidence and dominance in his expression when he mentioned her and the child were something Qin Xiyi had never seen before.

Was this scholar, who drew the precious blade hidden at his waist, even changing his temperament to look down on the world?

However, Qin Xiyi soon understood where this innate feeling came from.

They traveled for two days and two nights, and finally, in a small grove near the exit of the valley, they encountered Liang Shi, who had personally led his troops.

Liang Shi, in a dark blue cloak with a golden silk belt, his pale face flushed with color the moment he saw Qin Xiyi and Liang Ying, his lips trembling slightly. This was the most emotion an emperor could show.

The guards and soldiers all over the mountains and plains knelt down, shouting “Long live the Empress, long live the Crown Prince.”

Their haste left Cheng Mushi with no room to maneuver.

Cheng Mushi stood behind Qin Xiyi, showing no intention of hiding, not even offering a bow.

“It pleases me greatly that you are unharmed!”

Liang Shi hugged the crown prince, his body swaying slightly.

He put the child down and his gaze swept over Qin Xiyi, finally settling on Cheng Mushi. “Your Zhao delegation has already been imprisoned by me. Your Zhao Emperor has sent a letter stating that Zhao’s rebels are at my disposal.”

“Cheng Mushi, why did you meet my Empress in the peach grove? Give me an explanation!”

Cheng Mushi seemed to accept his fate, waving his hand. “The situation is as you see it. Nothing I say will matter, will it?”

Qin Xiyi sighed. She knew the worst outcome was coming.

She looked at Cheng Mushi, who stood beside her with a calm expression, and felt a little more at ease.

At this point, even if Liang Shi were foolish, he should have figured it out.

Explanations, pleas for mercy, acting, seeking sympathy – none of it would work. Qin Xiyi felt that this must be what despair felt like.

If the three of them died here, it would at least be an end.

With that thought, she was no longer afraid.

But she didn’t wait for swords to be drawn. Instead, Liang Shi ordered all the soldiers to retreat a hundred paces, leaving him with no palace staff or guards.

Qin Xiyi didn’t know what Liang Shi was up to. She tightly held her child’s hand, standing beside Cheng Mushi, unwilling to move an inch.

Liang Shi said to Qin Xiyi, “His martial arts are good. I am already at the end of my strength. This is your only chance to escape. Why don’t you take me hostage?”

Cheng Mushi and Qin Xiyi exchanged a look and smiled.

Qin Xiyi said to Liang Shi, “Regardless of your reasons, you have been kind to Ying’er. I am ultimately indebted to you for this.”

Most importantly, even if Liang Shi died, they might not be able to escape. If Liang Shi were taken hostage, the entire Liang would be thrown into chaos.

Liang Shi gave a self-deprecating smile. “My Empress, yet I cannot touch her, nor give her any happiness. I, an Emperor, what’s the difference between me and a eunuch? I am also indebted to you for this.”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Cheng Mushi blurted out, “You clearly know that Xiyi is not the second princess you wanted. She was never meant to be your wife!”

Cheng Mushi’s tone was like scolding a child, but Liang Shi lowered his head and smiled wryly.

Qin Xiyi watched, utterly confused.

“My Empress, you don’t understand, do you? You’ve asked me many times why I kept Ying’er. Today, I’ll give you the answer.”

As Liang Shi spoke, he tore open his brocade robe. The violent movement caused him to bend over and cough uncontrollably. When he straightened up, Qin Xiyi was shocked to discover that Liang Shi also had a butterfly-shaped birthmark on his chest.

It was almost identical to Cheng Mushi’s.

But upon closer inspection, they were different. Cheng Mushi’s was a birthmark, while Liang Shi’s was a brand.

Then Qin Xiyi listened to a long, drawn-out story, a story about Cheng Mushi.