Chapter 137: Watching Wanwan Fake a Pregnancy
Despite the Turkic Khan remaining seated with apparent calm.
Within the Turkic seats, there were others with equally sharp ears who heard those words. Fear caused a silent chaos to spread.
“Antang… has taken the Little Khatun.”
“The Royal Court is in turmoil.”
Before defecting, Antang had once sought an explanation from Ashina Shali regarding the unfair distribution of cattle and sheep, only to be whipped out of the King’s Tent by his older brother.
After his defection, Ashina Shali hated this younger brother deeply. He returned to the King’s Tent and brutally violated Antang’s mother. The two had forged a feud of irreconcilable hatred.
Everyone thought the Little Khatun was well hidden…
So no one expected that this trump card controlling Antang would actually be played by Great Wei! And they didn’t even know when the news had leaked!
That sense of panic continued to spread.
The Turks slowly stopped their singing, dancing, and loud cheering.
The Regent’s “unintentional” disclosure was far more effective than sending someone specifically to spread the news.
Tang Tuan also received the signal. Previously, he dodged while Aruqi attacked; he knew he was no match for Aruqi in a head-on clash of strength.
However, relying on his “kiting” tactics, he had exhausted most of Aruqi’s strength. Aruqi was already a spent arrow. Tang Tuan, whose strength remained, made a desperate charge at this moment, hugging Aruqi around the waist and using all his might to slam him down!
Aruqi collapsed like a mountain.
A loud crash resounded through the ring.
The spectators all rose to their feet.
They saw Tang Tuan press down viciously, smashing his fist into Aruqi.
Aruqi covered his head, and Tang Tuan exerted force again.
Then Tang Tuan controlled Aruqi, locking him tight with his arms and legs, muttering incessantly through gritted teeth as he exerted his strength, still improper as ever:
“Sigh, I’m not even this close to my future wife, letting a big iron ox like you take advantage of me…”
The victory in the ring was clear at a glance.
Outside the ring, the silent contest between the Turks and Great Wei had also determined a winner.
Su Jingzhi laughed coldly and toasted Ashina Shali from afar, raising his wine cup.
Ashina Shali tasted bitterness in his mouth, but regarding himself as a hero, he refused to lose his dignity. So he also raised his cup and drank proudly.
By this point, how could he not understand the cause and effect?
Ashina Shali naturally figured it out now.
He had been stalled in Chang’an by their counter-plot. There was no “Anti-Traitor Array” at all.
From beginning to end, it was just a good show put on by that liar, the Regent of Great Wei, in league with that little bastard Antang!
Ashina Shali’s lungs were practically exploding with rage, and naturally, he was anxious to return to the Turks.
He chose the most high-sounding excuse: the diplomatic mission had lingered in Chang’an for too long, and there were affairs at the Royal Court waiting to be handled, so they would disturb them no longer and take their leave.
Seeing through it but not pointing it out, the Regent did not stop him.
Before the martial arts tournament had even ended, the mission was impatiently packing up to leave.
If not for Ashina Shali being somewhat of a figure of stature who barely managed to complete the entire process, anyone else encountering this situation of having their home stolen would rarely have maintained such extraordinary calm.
With this, the martial arts exhibition came to a close.
…
The Northern Barracks was filled with their own people.
The ring was cleared, the mess cooks started cooking, and the army chefs brought out eighteen different martial arts of cooking to entertain the Little Emperor.
Who knew who had spread the word that the Little Emperor loved snacks? The chef made a whole table of flower buns shaped like small animals for Wei Wanlan. It was simply dazzling. Wei Wanlan had to try hard to maintain his air as the Son of Heaven to keep his eyes from sparkling as he tasted here and pinched there.
The military tent banquet.
The Regent was peeling shrimp.
He washed his hands clean. His slender knuckles lifted the shell of the green shrimp, revealing the pale pink meat. He dipped it in sauce and placed it in the Little Emperor’s bowl.
The Little Emperor’s bowl was piled with several layers of shrimp.
Feeding Wei Wanlan and teasing Wei Wanlan were both very fun. Su Jingzhi enjoyed it tirelessly. Wearing that handsome, expressionless face, as soon as he finished peeling shrimp, he used silver chopsticks to pick out fish bones, leaving only the snow-white fish mash glistening with scallion oil, which he then placed for Wei Wanlan to eat.
He didn’t care what others thought.
He let the generals of the Northern Barracks look on, feeling something was wrong no matter how they looked at it:
The Emperor was a supreme existence.
Although this Little Emperor had once been a puppet, judging by the talent he displayed now and the prestige and popular support he had won, that image of a little puppet was likely a pretense.
But for a Little Emperor who was neither stupid nor clumsy, the Regent appeared overly attentive. Why would he even manage the details of his daily life?
But it didn’t look like raising a cub either… The look in the Prince’s eyes was completely different from the benevolence of an elder toward a junior. Although there was an age gap, they weren’t of father-and-son generations.
The Northern Barracks generals lowered their heads and shoveled rice, guessing cautiously and vigilantly, daring not to show it on their faces.
At this moment, Tang Tuan put both hands under the table, extended two thumbs, and pressed them together in comparison, secretly signaling everyone to understand.
There was always someone among the officers who could understand the meaning, and they almost choked to death in fright:
This—
The Prince likes the Little Emperor?
The generals of the Northern Barracks gradually realized.
It was no wonder that from the beginning, the Prince seemed to be planning step by step, giving the feeling that he wanted to reintroduce the Little Emperor to them. He brought the Little Emperor to the Northern Barracks, made them acknowledge the Little Emperor as their master, and even returned military power to him. The Regent was very serious.
As for His Majesty.
His Majesty’s Sin of Self Edict some time ago had shocked the world. Who could have predicted that the Emperor, who already held sole power, would take responsibility for the old debts of the previous imperial family and expose the royal secrets himself?
Although young, his mind was open and upright, worthy of imperial magnanimity!
Thinking about it this way, there was a feeling that the two were extremely well-matched.
—Whoever doesn’t recognize this marriage, we’ll fight them.
From now on, the Northern Barracks Imperial Guard had two great mountains behind them, stable as could be. With two big trees overhead, it was good for shade.
Everything was just great everywhere!
It was already dark in Zichen Hall. The sky was full of stars, and the summer heat was even more severe.
Wei Wanlan was unwilling to stay in the dragon bed at all.
He found it stuffy. After returning from the army, he went to sleep on the liuli glass couch in the study. The airflow there was good, there was no bed canopy, and a bit of breeze could come through.
But after lying there for a while, he wasn’t very still on the couch because his stomach hurt no matter what. His stomach felt bloated, and it was gurgling inside.
Wei Wanlan’s small face crumpled:
“So uncomfortable QAQ”
He lay on his back clutching his stomach, but he wouldn’t allow An Ruyi to call the imperial physician, nor would he allow the Regent into the study.
So the Regent, who had been inexplicably kicked out of the dragon bed, naturally couldn’t rest easy. He followed and stood at the door, afraid something would happen to the Little Emperor.
What he heard was the Little Emperor whispering to An Ruyi:
“Woo woo woo Eunuch An, Zhen ate too much iced fruit. Zhen wants orange peels.”
As everyone knows, orange peels can help digestion.
Wei Wanlan likely knew he had violated his agreement with the Regent and, fearing the Regent would deal with him, wanted to solve it himself.
Su Jingzhi furrowed his brow.
Eunuch An came out of the study. Master and servant locked eyes, and the eunuch sold out the Little Emperor very quickly:
“This servant deserves death. I was just inattentive for a moment and let His Majesty eat fruit… he ate half a washbasin’s worth.”
The Regent took a gentle breath.
He estimated in his head: half a washbasin of fruit, all stuffed into Little Wan’s belly.
Then Little Wan ate snacks at the martial arts tournament, and afterwards had a meal at the Northern Barracks, eating shrimp and fish, stuffing a belly full of random things…
To hide his discomfort from him, Wei Wanlan’s method of solving indigestion was actually to eat?
Eat orange peels!?
It was hard to imagine Wei Wanlan’s train of thought.
Little Wan was sometimes smart.
But most of the time, he was silly.
Since being afflicted by the Double-Life Gu, he had indeed been eating more. Was it related to the changes in the meridians throughout his body?
Su Jingzhi certainly couldn’t allow Wei Wanlan to eat orange peels on top of everything else, fearing the Little Emperor might burst by morning.
So with a light cough, the Regent knocked on the door and walked into the study.
“Xiao Wan.”
Wei Wanlan vigilantly covered his stomach.
He hurriedly covered his belly with his sleeping robe, like a little hedgehog ready to curl into a ball and run away at any moment:
“Regent, didn’t Zhen say not to let you in…”
Su Jingzhi saw him hugging his belly, unable to digest the food, and found it funny, but deliberately spoke with a pained voice:
“Wanwan. An Ruyi said you are unwell. This Prince is very worried.”
Wei Wanlan hadn’t expected that in the snap of a finger, An Ruyi had gone out and sold him out.
Wei Wanlan pouted, feeling Eunuch An was two-faced, helping the Regent manage him: “It’s nothing. It’ll be fine in a while.”
“We cannot wait.” Su Jingzhi was already serious, but when he furrowed his brows, he looked incredibly grave, his tone lowering a few degrees. “It is all this Prince’s fault.”
“Eh???”
Zhen ate too much, what are you blaming yourself for!
Wei Wanlan held his stomach in even greater surprise. The gas inside rolled and gurgled even more. He blinked his deer-like eyes at the Regent, very astonished.
Su Jingzhi continued even more painfully: “Blame this Prince for failing to take good care of Xiao Wan. Xiao Wan is uncomfortable, and this Prince doesn’t even know the cause.”
…Uh, he couldn’t very well say he had polished off half a basin of iced fruit cuts before going to the Northern Barracks, could he?
He had to continue playing dumb.
Wei Wanlan covered his stomach, saying he didn’t know what was going on either, asking the Regent not to blame himself or worry.
But Su Jingzhi wanted to summon the imperial physician immediately.
What kind of people were the imperial physicians?
One check of the pulse, one open mouth, a burp smelling entirely of fruit… look, listen, question, and feel—he would be done for sooner or later.
He didn’t know how the Regent would “deal with” him then.
Wei Wanlan shivered fuzzily. Woo woo woo, don’t tickle the soles of my feet QAQ.
A brilliant idea popped out of Wei Wanlan’s little head. He knew Su Jingzhi would never refuse him.
Enduring the bloating in his stomach, Wei Wanlan leaned in close, changing the subject stiffly but politely:
“Regent, let’s play house, okay?”
Su Jingzhi was baffled.
Wei Wanlan: “…You take care of Zhen, and Zhen will pretend to be pregnant.”
Su Jingzhi: “!!!”
Wei Wanlan had already “entered the role” and hugged his stomach. He was a dummy but also a drama king; he was digesting his food openly and honestly now.
The sound of the water clock in the study was exceptionally clear at this moment.
Su Jingzhi’s throat bobbed, his heart hot: “What did you say?”
The little dummy was naturally unaware of the impact his words had on Su Jingzhi. While wholeheartedly avoiding risk, he patted his stomach:
“It’s just playing house anyway. Come play with Zhen quickly. Zhen is pregnant with cubs, and they’re all yours. Sour for boys, spicy for girls—Zhen wants to eat orange peels now.”
“…”
He hadn’t forgotten the orange peels.
Yes, pretending to be a pregnant woman meant he could legitimately eat orange peels.
He didn’t know if this was smart or stupid!
Su Jingzhi simply felt that Wei Wanlan’s train of thought was unexpectedly magical.
He had brewed a bellyful of words to educate and advise this little dummy, but was rendered helpless by the cries of “pregnant,” “sour for boys, spicy for girls,” and “they’re all your cubs, you have to take responsibility.”
He lowered his eyes to look at Wei Wanlan’s slightly bulging belly.
A restless fire seemed to ignite in his heart.
He lifted the corners of his mouth. He knew he couldn’t unilaterally stop this game and expose Little Wan for overeating.
Because this little dummy might pretend to cry at any moment, clutching his stomach and saying Su Jingzhi caused “fetal gas movement”…
Su Jingzhi had even thought of the lines for Wei Wanlan:
“Woo woo. Five pitiful little cubs, you have a bad Father King. When Zhen was carrying you, he made Zhen angry.”
“Cubs, come out quickly and seek justice for Zhen. The six of us will live in Zichen Hall and kick the bad Father King out.”
Su Jingzhi was completely between laughter and tears.
Perhaps he could handle Ashina Shali, dominate the battlefield, and awe the court.
But.
He really couldn’t handle Wei Wanlan.
Couldn’t handle him at all; he was completely wrapped around his finger.
He might fall captive to Little Wan’s every smile and frown for the rest of his life.
“I’m afraid you can’t eat orange peels. The oranges aren’t ripe this season; the taste is sour and bitter, not good.” Su Jingzhi coaxed carefully, treating Wei Wanlan with the same dedication to the role. His large hand covered Wei Wanlan’s dragon belly, causing the little dummy to tremble slightly.
“This Prince will take you for a walk in the Imperial Garden.”
Exercise to help digestion.
Wei Wanlan thought his plan was brilliant. He didn’t have to be scolded. Walking in the Imperial Garden at night was fine.
He patted his belly full of sliced fruit again, entering the role once more to perform a milky-voiced dub:
“Mn mn, thank you Father King, the cubs like to go too~”
Forget it.
How could Su Jingzhi have any intention of educating Wei Wanlan now?
Just that “Father King” called on behalf of the cubs had already called away the Regent’s soul.
As long as he was happy, how could he let Little Wan be unhappy?
Supporting Wei Wanlan over the threshold, they left the study and headed out.
At this moment, Wei Wanlan bent over, clutching his stomach. The bellyful of food finally couldn’t be digested in his stomach. His small face scrunched up, he called for a maid to bring a container, and then opened his mouth and vomited—”Wah la wah la.”
The sliced fruits were revealed without a doubt.
The Little Emperor felt guilty.
The Regent was zen.
After all, if he dared to blame Little Wan, Little Wan would insist this was “morning sickness.”
What fault did Little Wan have? He was just in character.
Recommended Reads
![Enemies on a Narrow Road [Esports]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/enemies-on-a-narrow-road-214x300.jpg)
