"I... I'll go prepare it at once," Li Yaoqin said, not daring to delay. She took Lian Xin to prepare a room.
Hua Yunjin carefully held the person in his arms, trying to position her as comfortably as possible.
Qing Yi felt her pulse and said, "Your Majesty must give birth immediately, or her life will be in danger."
Hua Yunjin's expression turned grave. "Qing Yi, you must ensure Her Majesty's safety. Tell me whatever you need."
Qing Yi nodded, "I won't be polite."
Soon, Lian Xin, Li Yaoqin's maid, returned and said, "Your Highness, my young lady has prepared the room."
"Lead the way," Hua Yunjin said.
Lian Xin curtsied, "Your Highness, please follow this servant."
Arriving at a secluded courtyard, Hua Yunjin saw Li Yaoqin standing by the entrance, looking towards them.
Upon seeing him, Li Yaoqin smiled. "Your Highness, this humble woman could only find a place like this, where no one will disturb us."
"Thank you," Hua Yunjin said, carefully carrying the person into the room and then gently placing her on the bed.
Li Yaoqin watched him handle her with such extreme care, as if she were a treasure. At this moment, all she felt was envy. If she could be treated this way in her lifetime, she would die without regret.
"You all go out. I need two more women," Qing Yi said.
Xue Yan appeared and said, "I am sufficient alone."
Qing Yi shook his head, "No, you're not enough. I can only direct you; I can't perform the actions myself. It's best to have someone with experience."
"This King will quickly send someone to the palace..."
"There's no time," Qing Yi interrupted.
Xue Yan said anxiously, "Where can we find a midwife at this hour? Even if we find one, there won't be enough time."
"Can I?"
Qing Yi turned to see Li Yaoqin stepping forward and asking.
"Have you ever assisted in childbirth?" Qing Yi asked.
Li Yaoqin replied, "I have not, but when my mother was expecting a boy, I watched a midwife deliver him. Although in the end..."
Her brother had not survived, which was perhaps a hidden sorrow for her mother.
"Qing Yi, let's have Miss Li," Hua Yunjin said suddenly.
Qing Yi paused, looking at Hua Yunjin. "Do you trust her?"
Hua Yunjin knew the implication behind Qing Yi's words. He looked at the maiden before him, who was also looking at him, her gaze completely open.
"I trust her," he said slowly.
Li Yaoqin trembled, looking at the person who had just expressed his trust in her. For the first time, an inexpressible joy bloomed in her heart.
"Alright, Miss Li, Xue Yan, you stay. Everyone else wait outside," Qing Yi said.
Hua Yunjin added, "Tell this King if anything is needed."
Qing Yi nodded, "Very well, I understand."
Once everyone had left, Qing Yi said, "Miss Li, you and Xue Yan go inside. One of you will follow my instructions, and the other will constantly report Her Majesty's condition."
"Alright," Xue Yan replied.
Entering the curtained area, Li Yaoqin saw the Empress's assassin's face was pale and bloodless, her brow deeply furrowed.
"Xue Yan, I will listen to Qing Yi and do as he says. You observe Her Majesty's condition," Li Yaoqin said.
At this moment, Xue Yan knew there were no other good options and nodded. "Thank you, Miss Li."
Li Yaoqin lifted the Empress's skirt and saw blood flowing. She instinctively wanted to close her eyes. This was the most blood she had ever seen in her life, but she forced herself to endure.
Qing Yi continued to speak, and Li Yaoqin, fighting her fear, did as he instructed.
"Xue Yan, wake Her Majesty," Qing Yi suddenly said.
Xue Yan was taken aback. "Must Her Majesty be woken?"
Qing Yi replied, "If Her Majesty does not exert herself, we will be unable to do anything."
Xue Yan gritted her teeth and approached Xue Zining, whispering, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please wake up."
"Qing Yi, I can't wake Her Majesty," Xue Yan said, growing anxious after calling out for a long time.
Qing Yi, casting aside all propriety, entered and felt the Empress's pulse. His expression immediately soured. "This is bad, Her Majesty's pulse is very weak. I fear..."
Xue Yan grabbed Qing Yi's collar, her voice full of fury. "Qing Yi, hurry and think of a way! If anything happens to Her Majesty, I will kill you."
Qing Yi pushed Xue Yan away. "You don't need to worry; someone else won't let me off."
"Then hurry and find a solution!" Xue Yan urged.
Hua Yunjin, who was waiting outside, heard the commotion from the room and burst in. "What's wrong with Her Majesty?"
Qing Yi answered truthfully, "Her Majesty's pulse is growing weaker. I fear..." He dared not finish, afraid of being killed immediately.
"Qing Yi, you are the only doctor here. Quickly, tell us what to do."
Qing Yi nodded. "For now, we can try to infuse Her Majesty with internal energy to see if we can wake her."
"Good, I will do it personally," Hua Yunjin stepped forward.
Xue Yan was about to speak when Qing Yi interjected, "You need to save your strength to assist in childbirth. Infusing internal energy – isn't there someone else here?"
Xue Yan had no choice but to agree. Hua Yunjin began to slowly infuse Xue Zining with his internal energy.
"Your Majesty, wake up," Xue Yan continued to call out.
Below Beijiang City, a man in a moon-white brocade robe stood in the flying sand. Even his profile was clear, refined, and handsome, inspiring awe.
"Your Majesty, we have finally reached Beijiang," Xue Feng whispered.
Xue Jingyun nodded, "Yes, we have finally arrived."
Xue Feng looked up at Beijiang ahead. They had faced countless assassinations along the way and finally reached their destination.
Suddenly, Xue Feng felt something was amiss with the Majesty beside him. He turned and saw the Majesty clutching his chest. He quickly asked, "Your Majesty, what is wrong?"
"A'ning is in trouble," Xue Jingyun said, word by word.
Xue Feng paused and shook his head. "That's impossible. I only received a letter from Xue Song yesterday saying Your Majesty was well."
Xue Jingyun turned and walked rapidly towards a certain direction. Xue Feng quickly followed.
Xue Jingyun found a spot with dense foliage, sat down on the ground, and declared, "No one is to disturb me."
Xue Feng nodded, "As you command!"
Xue Zining felt as though she were dreaming a long, distant dream. In it, she saw Xue Wenjie from the past, her Feng Guards, Xue Yunlan, Nangong Yue, and many others.
She walked up to each of them, but they merely walked step by step in one direction.
It was as if she, too, were being pulled by an unseen force, following them forward.
She didn't know why she was following, but she couldn't recall anything. It was as if she could only keep following.
She hadn't seen clearly from afar, but now that they were closer, she saw that the person at the very front was holding a bowl of something, and after they crossed a bridge, they drank its contents.
She followed step by step, and finally, it was the turn of the person in front of her to receive a bowl extended from the mist.