Yun Xiao shook her head, biting her lip fiercely. The fresh marks left by her teeth were as red as peach blossoms, accentuating her face, which was as pale as paper, making it look ethereally alluring.
As the two medical attendants received their orders and were about to step forward, a sound suddenly came from outside the room.
"Wait a moment."
As the voice fell, a figure appeared. It was Ji Qingge. He had walked in directly from outside, and Shangguan Yin's face turned as dark as if he were about to kill someone.
Here they were, in the midst of childbirth, and he, a man, had come to join the excitement. Moreover, he showed no shyness about such matters. Shangguan Yin felt an immediate urge to kill him.
Liu Xing and Jing Yun rushed in, looking at Shangguan Yin and speaking with sorrow, "Prince Ji says he has a way to save the mother and child. Your Majesty, please let him try."
Shangguan Yin was stunned by this. Yun Xiao was so weak she was on the verge of collapse. Hearing Liu Xing's words, she felt like a drowning person grasping at a straw, disregarding all the customary etiquette.
"Murong, let him try. I don't want to lose this child."
Upon hearing Yun Xiao's words, Shangguan Yin looked coldly at Ji Qingge and said in a deep voice, "If anything goes wrong, my Dong Qin will be enemies with Xi Liang for generations."
Ji Qingge ignored his bloodthirsty ravings, only looking at Yun Xiao with surprisingly gentle eyes. He slowly said, "You must believe me. I will help you adjust the baby's position in the womb, allowing it to enter the pelvis smoothly."
His gaze made people believe him involuntarily, and Yun Xiao couldn't help but nod.
Ji Qingge no longer looked at anyone else, turning to command the two startled female officials standing by his side. Could a man enter when the Empress was giving birth?
But at such a moment, they couldn't afford to think. They quickly followed Ji Qingge.
Subsequently, the two leading medical attendants only followed Ji Qingge's commands.
Ji Qingge used his internal energy to adjust the fetus's position. The leading medical attendant slowly guided, and the three cooperated perfectly. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the joyful voices of the two palace maids were finally heard.
"Excellent, it's in the pelvis, it's in the pelvis, we can see the head!"
After speaking, they looked up at the Emperor sitting by the side and the Empress lying down.
Ji Qingge had already slipped outside. The subsequent tasks could be handled by the medical attendants.
Inside the room, two medical attendants prompted Yun Xiao, "Come, Your Majesty, push, push harder. The little prince is almost visible."
Zhi Qiu, on Yun Xiao's other side, constantly cheered her on, "Sister, push harder. You'll deliver the baby very soon."
Seeing the mother's hardship, Zhi Qiu couldn't help but think of her deceased mother, and her heart ached.
Shangguan Yin gripped Yun Xiao's hand even tighter, encouraging her. This time, he resolutely refused to leave Yun Xiao's side for even half a step. He had to witness her give birth to the child with his own eyes. Only then would he be relieved if both mother and child were well.
Yun Xiao was still a doctor, and she knew exactly how to cooperate with the medical attendants. As long as the child was safe, she would be relieved.
Inside the room, voices of encouragement, cheers, and the Emperor's pained cries were constantly heard.
Until the loud cry of a newborn baby rang out, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
The child was completely unharmed and could cry. Although its face was a little dark, appearing to be caused by oxygen deprivation, it was fortunately alright.
One medical attendant took care of the newborn baby, while another dealt with the umbilical cord and other items. After a series of cleaning and tidying, they helped the Empress lie down comfortably.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty and the Empress on the birth of the Dragon Prince."
As the announcement was made, cheers erupted outside. The Fengya Pass soldiers who had heard the news all cheered. Soon, firecrackers and fireworks lit up the streets, with more and more of them.
Even the common people knew that the Empress had given birth to a Dragon Prince. This was the first prince of the Dong Qin Dynasty, so how could they not be happy? Everyone seemed to see a long-term hope.
It was a lively scene.
Inside the room, the medical attendants packed away the items and restored the chamber to its cleanliness.
Yun Xiao was somewhat weak and listless. She looked at the little one beside her, her heart filled with deep maternal love and relief. Yufan, thankfully you are alright, otherwise, mother would not forgive herself.
The little one was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of what had happened. Its wrinkled little face really didn't resemble anyone. Its hands were thin and had no flesh, almost like little claws. Zhi Qiu stood to the side, gazing entranced, completely mesmerized.
Yun Xiao looked up at Shangguan Yin with her eyes full of tenderness.
"Your Majesty, everything is fine now."
Shangguan Yin's heart was suddenly stirred, and a warm current surged through him. He thanked the heavens for preserving the mother and child. He reached out and clasped Yun Xiao's hand, all understanding passing between them without words.
Yun Xiao smiled faintly and said softly, "Zhi Qiu, call Prince Li in."
She knew Qingge would appear here, certainly to obtain the antidote and save those Xi Liang soldiers.
And after giving birth, her heart had become much more compassionate than before, thanking everything in the unseen world. It wasn't entirely because Li Ge had saved them, mother and child, but a genuine realization.
Zhi Qiu received the order and walked out. Prince Li, Ji Qingge, was indeed standing outside the door. Hearing Zhi Qiu's summons, he walked in.
He didn't feel awkward about his previous help at all.
In the past, his ambition was to save lives and heal the injured.
Later, because the Crown Prince was too cruel, all the ministers in the court begged him to return, and only then did he participate in politics. Therefore, as a physician, he felt no discomfort towards a patient.
"Thank you."
Yun Xiao said softly, looking at Ji Qingge. He was refined and striking, his pupils always holding a hazy mist that was impossible to decipher.
"It's nothing."
Ji Qingge shook his head. Even if Xiao was not the Empress of Dong Qin today, but an ordinary person, he would not stand by and watch someone die.
Yun Xiao took out the antidote and handed it to Ji Qingge. "This is the antidote. Dilute it with water, and the poison will be neutralized. They will not die."
"Good."
As soon as Ji Qingge received the antidote, he turned to leave. He was eager to detoxify those soldiers immediately.
However, after taking two steps, he stopped as if remembering something and slowly said, "Regarding the Crown Prince being the leader of the Blood Bandits, I have already investigated. He has also confessed. I will escort him back to the capital, and the Xi Liang country will give Dong Qin an explanation."
After saying this, he strode away, disappearing into the night.
His long robes fluttered like clouds, and in an instant, he was gone.
The sky was filled with fireworks, brilliant and dazzling. This was the sixteenth day of the seventh month in the second year of Yongji.
Three days later, a grand procession returned to the capital, bringing the newborn prince. The entire nation celebrated. The people of Dong Qin were overjoyed and danced with delight. Fireworks and firecrackers were set off continuously for three days in the capital.
The soldiers marched quickly and soon arrived at their original encampment. Shangguan Yin, Yun Xiao, and the others, due to the newborn child, traveled a bit slower and returned to Yan Capital a few days later.
At the city gate, Zhi Qiu stopped the carriage and slowly bid farewell to Yun Xiao, "Sister, I have to go back."
Yun Xiao looked at her, seeing the loneliness in her eyes, and felt unwell. She had no sisters, and Zhi Qiu was so lovable. She treated her like a sister. Unfortunately, although she was simple, she was very persistent in her feelings. She let go of what was not hers.
"Zhi Qiu, can't you stay with your sister a little longer? Look, the baby can't call you yet."
Zhi Qiu glanced at the sleeping baby, her eyes betraying an unconcealable softness. But she remained as free-spirited and decisive as ever. She nimbly mounted her horse and rode away into the last rays of the setting sun, disappearing into the golden light.
"Sister, take care. I'm going back. Master must be missing me."
In reality, she missed her master. Because of loneliness, besides her sister, this place truly did not belong to her.