Chapter 55 – I seem to have found the wrong father for the dragon egg.
Zhao Qi thought He Changzhou hadn’t heard clearly and, suppressing his embarrassment, raised his voice, “I… am… pregnant.”
He Changzhou was even more bewildered, “What does Your Majesty have?”
… Please, don’t make me say it a third time!
To be honest, He Changzhou’s reaction was to be expected. They were in Great jing, not the Eastern Japanese royal court, where men becoming pregnant was utterly unimaginable. It was only because this was happening to Zhao Qi himself that he had to believe it. If the roles were reversed, Zhao Qi would probably laugh until his head fell off if he were He Changzhou hearing such news.
Zhao Qi decided to throw his pride away and said directly, “I am pregnant with a child.”
He Changzhou: “??? ”
“I’m pregnant! I’m expecting a baby!”
He Changzhou tentatively asked, “… Is Your Majesty joking with me?”
Zhao Qi couldn’t be bothered to explain and called over the attendant Xiao Jinzi, saying, “You explain.”
“Understood.” Xiao Jinzi said, “General He, His Majesty has indeed been pregnant for three months.”
He Changzhou still didn’t believe it, crossed his arms, and laughed, “Your Majesty is still angry with me.”
Zhao Qi said angrily, “What?”
“So you teamed up with Xiao Jinzi to trick me? There’s no need for that, Your Majesty. If you’re still angry, feel free to scold, hit, or bite me. But don’t make such jokes.”
Zhao Qi was exasperated, “How could I, the Son of Heaven, joke about such matters? Am I crazy?!”
“General He, here’s the situation.” Xiao Jinzi patiently explained, “During the Wanshou Festival, Young Master Zhao Qiao gave His Majesty two bottles of Eastern Japanese secret medicine, one of which is called ‘Longing No. 2’. Its effect is to make men pregnant. His Majesty must have used this medicine and thus became pregnant with the dragon egg. If General He doesn’t believe it, I can call Physician Cheng over; he has a book that records this.”
The most dreaded thing is the sudden silence.
He Changzhou’s expression was nothing short of spectacular. Shocked, confused, dumbfounded, angry, embarrassed, conflicted… It reached a level that words cannot describe and could even be drawn as an emoji.
Zhao Qi felt a bit like laughing, but he realized he shouldn’t in such a serious situation. Besides, laughing would only be mocking himself, as he was the one who had drawn the short straw.
Zhao Qi maintained a stern expression. “You should take it easy for now.”
He Changzhou was silent for a long time, long enough for the rabbit to be fully roasted. He didn’t speak or move, as if he had been completely petrified.
Unable to hold back, Zhao Qi asked, “What are you thinking?” It’s your child too, at least say something.
He Changzhou picked up the cool tea from the table. Zhao Qi thought he was going to drink it to calm himself, but unexpectedly, he threw the tea directly onto his face—
The tea trickled down He Changzhou’s somewhat youthful cheeks, adding something else to his originally clear eyes.
Zhao Qi felt a pang of sympathy. Seeing his younger brother so scared was tough. But if he had known the consequences, he wouldn’t have been so eager at the time.
“Little Jinzi,” Zhao Qi said, “bring a handkerchief to wipe the general’s face.”
“Yes.”
“No need,” He Changzhou lowered his eyes, his eyelashes damp, his voice hoarse, “Your Majesty, how do men and men have children?”
Zhao Qi was taken aback. What’s this? Do I need to give you a lesson in biology?
“Uh… how men and women have children is the same as how men and men would,” Zhao Qi said.
He Changzhou murmured, “So, it means you need to go into your body, and then…”
Zhao Qi, blushing and embarrassed, interrupted him, “You don’t need to say it out loud!”
“It really is like that…” He Changzhou seemed to awaken from a trance, his eyes filled with a fierce anger, his expression like he wanted to kill someone.
Zhao Qi felt uncomfortable. He knew this was a massive shock for He Changzhou, but why the reaction as if someone had stolen his wife and made him a father? If anyone was hit harder, it should be him with the burden of carrying the child.
“You don’t need to react like this,” Zhao Qi said coldly, “The child was an accident, I understand. Don’t worry, I’ve decided not to keep it.”
He Changzhou’s eyes widened, “You… don’t want it?”
“Yes, I’ve already sent Zhao Qiao to Dongzhou to bring a renowned Eastern doctor. Once the doctor arrives, I’ll get rid of the child.”
He Changzhou clenched his fists tightly, “Why are you telling me this?”
Zhao Qi was puzzled, “You have the right to know. The dragon egg isn’t something I created alone; you’re another parent of the dragon egg. I can’t just handle it without telling you. Besides, if you were a man and later found out you had a child but didn’t know about it, you’d be quite upset.”
He Changzhou took a deep breath, “I understand. Thank you for telling me.”
“It’s nothing,” Zhao Qi said, “Do you have any objections to getting rid of the child?”
“I…” He Changzhou shook his head, speaking softly, “I don’t know. Your Majesty, you decide.”
Although Zhao Qi had already made up his mind, hearing He Changzhou’s response, he felt he had done his part.
“Then it’s settled,” Zhao Qi said. “Oh, and don’t tell anyone about this, or I’ll be too embarrassed to face anyone.”
He Changzhou nodded stiffly, “Okay.”
Seeing He Changzhou looking so dejected, Zhao Qi sighed, “The rabbit is ready. Have a bit to eat.”
After finishing the roasted rabbit, He Changzhou locked himself in his room and didn’t come out all day. When Xiao Shiqing learned he was in Cangzhou, he summoned him to discuss the Western Xia military situation, but He Changzhou declined, citing illness.
Xiao Shiqing didn’t buy it and said, “He Changzhou, being strong and healthy, traveled nonstop from Xizhou to Cangzhou, covering the journey in four to five days instead of ten. Why, as soon as I find him, is he sick?”
Zhao Qi thought to himself that He Changzhou wasn’t really sick but was in a deep state of shock from the huge blow.
“It’s precisely because he rushed the journey that he got sick,” Zhao Qi said in defense of the dragon egg’s father. “Since the Western Xia have withdrawn, there shouldn’t be any major battles. Once he’s better, I’ll have my brother find him again.”
Xiao Shiqing smiled slightly, “Yesterday, you pleaded for Rong Tang, and today you’re covering for He Changzhou. Your Majesty’s heart seems to be inclined towards them. Isn’t that a bit problematic?”
Zhao Qi denied it, “I’m not. I’m just showing concern for my subjects.”
Xiao Shiqing said, “I’m also one of Your Majesty’s subjects. Why doesn’t Your Majesty show concern or favoritism towards me?”
Zhao Qi wanted to laugh, “With someone as strong as my brother, does he really need concern or favoritism from others?”
“I don’t need it,” Xiao Shiqing’s tone was hard to read, but his eyes were deep and intense, “But I want it.”
“Fine,” Zhao Qi said casually, “Next time, I’ll make sure to favor you.”
Xiao Shiqing chuckled, “That’s what you said.”
Worried that He Changzhou might really be ill, Zhao Qi specially sent Cheng Boyan to check on him.
After Cheng Boyan returned, he reported, “Your Majesty, General He’s pulse is normal. I can’t see anything wrong. His illness is likely a psychological one.”
Zhao Qi had just finished taking the prenatal medicine, his distaste almost overflowing. It wasn’t that he was harsh, but He Changzhou’s psychological resilience was too weak. If he couldn’t handle this, could he really cope with the battlefield?
“Did he say anything to you?” Zhao Qi asked.
Cheng Boyan replied, “The general asked a lot about how men can get pregnant. I told him everything I knew.”
“It’s really hard to make him believe in the dragon egg,” Zhao Qi said. “Why was Rong Tang so certain after just checking my pulse, while he seems totally unfazed by men having children?”
Cheng Boyan guessed, “Young Master Rong is well-read and knowledgeable in medicine. Perhaps, like me, he has read ‘The Eastern Travels’ and isn’t surprised.”
“Maybe,” Zhao Qi thought of Rong Tang and felt another pang of discomfort. Since Xiao Shiqing rescued him from Rong Tang’s small black room, he hadn’t seen Rong Tang again. He heard Rong Tang was under house arrest at the Rong residence’s annex but wasn’t sure if he was feeling any better. His illness was most affected by worry and anger, but being under house arrest wouldn’t help him stay open-hearted.
Thinking of this, Zhao Qi sighed. These people never let him have any peace. Xiao Shiqing was better; not only did he not cause trouble, but he also helped him resolve it.
Zhao Qi’s dragon boat had been docked at the Cangzhou riverbank for five or six days and was finally about to set sail again. The day before departure, Xiao Shiqing had issued rewards and punishments to Cangzhou’s officials, cleaned up the bureaucracy, and secretly arranged for the assassination of the Cangzhou governor.
Zhao Qi felt indignation on behalf of the people of Cangzhou. “The Cangzhou officials deceive their superiors and protect each other. It’s really too lenient to only kill one governor.”
Xiao Shiqing was indifferent. “Some people are just following orders; there’s no need to pursue them too vigorously. When the water is too clear, there are no fish. The emperor only needs to kill one as a warning to a hundred. With both grace and severity, they likely won’t dare to repeat their offenses in the future.”
Zhao Qi was persuaded again, shrugged, and said, “Alright, brother makes sense.”
“I need to meet the new governor of Cangzhou. You…”
“I won’t meet him,” Zhao Qi said. “I want to go out and experience the local customs of Cangzhou firsthand.”
Xiao Shiqing was concerned. “Wait until I finish meeting with them before you go.”
“But brother, your martial skills aren’t that great. Even if you accompany me, you can’t protect me.”
Xiao Shiqing found himself unable to refute this.
“Or, brother, can you lend me Fu Zi?” Zhao Qi had already inquired and knew that Fu Zi was one of the top experts in the Tianji Camp, capable of rivaling thousands of troops. “With him protecting me, you won’t need to worry about me being captured anymore.”
Xiao Shiqing pondered for a moment. “Alright.”
“Thank you.” Zhao Qi smiled. “By the way, brother, I have a small, very small request.”
“Speak.”
“After I leave Cangzhou, could you release Rong Tang and give him his freedom?”
Xiao Shiqing’s expression was inscrutable. “What does His Majesty think?”
“I think it’s fine,” Zhao Qi said earnestly. “Anyway, I’m gone, so he can’t do anything to me anymore. At worst, brother could forbid him from leaving Cangzhou?” It was still better than being kept in a secluded villa.
Xiao Shiqing’s face was expressionless. “I’ll think about it.”
Xiao Shiqing’s lack of a direct refusal exceeded Zhao Qi’s expectations. He said, “Alright, brother, think it over. I’ll come back and ask you later.”
Before Zhao Qi left, he took He Changzhou with him. He Changzhou had been closed off for two whole days, and Zhao Qi was afraid he might get sick if he continued like this.
“You…” Zhao Qi said in astonishment, “how did you end up like this?”
The young man in front of him had lost his previous vitality and cheerfulness, his features now carrying a mature, worn look, with a stubbly chin as if he had undergone a transformation from a big boy to a man in just a few days.
He Changzhou moved his lips. “Your Majesty.”
Zhao Qi leaned in and sniffed, frowning. “Have you bathed since you came back?”
He Changzhou froze for a moment, then grabbed Zhao Qi’s hand. “I’ll go right now, Your Majesty, please don’t be displeased with me.”
“I’m not displeased.” Zhao Qi pushed him toward the room. “Go take a shower and shave. I’ll wait for you.”
After waiting for a little less than half an hour, Zhao Qi was greeted by a clean, refreshing young man with a faint scent of grass, and his mood greatly improved. “Let’s go, I’ll take you out for a walk.”
Zhao Qi took He Changzhou and Xiao Jinzi out, with Fu Zi secretly accompanying them for protection.
Although Cangzhou was the largest city in the two Huai rivers’ regions, its prosperity was far less than that of the capital. Recently, it had suffered from flooding, and the common people were struggling to make ends meet. The streets were also rather deserted.
After a round of strolling, Zhao Qi didn’t find anything particularly interesting or tasty. He Changzhou remained silent behind him, lost in thought, and Zhao Qi guessed he was still struggling to cope with the recent blow.
Zhao Qi, bored, turned into a small alley with green-tiled roofs and came across an open-air stall selling Yangchun noodles.
Recalling the Yangchun noodles he had enjoyed at the palace recently, he suddenly felt hungry and called for everyone to sit down and order a serving each.
The stall was run by a hunchbacked old man who had difficulty moving around, accompanied by a small boy of about six or seven with a topknot. The old man prepared the noodles, and the boy brought them to the customers once they were ready.
The little boy was delicately carved and looked like a little attendant of Guanyin, working hard to help his grandfather. He was incredibly cute. He Changzhou stared at the boy for a long time, then suddenly slammed his chopsticks down.
Zhao Qi was enjoying his noodles and asked, “I think the taste is quite good. Is it not to your liking?”
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes?”
He Changzhou seemed to have made a great resolution and said firmly, “Have the child. Give birth.”
Zhao Qi was bewildered. “Didn’t we already reach a consensus?”
He Changzhou smiled self-deprecatingly. “I was too selfish.”
Zhao Qi picked up his bowl to drink the soup and said, “I think you’re doing alright.”
He Changzhou shook his head. “I’ve thought it over for days and nights, and my head is about to explode. I still don’t know what to do. I never imagined you could have children. If I had known earlier, I would have done everything to ensure you were pregnant with my child.”
Zhao Qi spat out a mouthful of soup onto He Changzhou’s face. “…What?!”
T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection
What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
