"Mother... this child, how..."
The Empress Dowager raised her hand, stopping Emperor Xuanwen's words. She stepped to the chair and sat down heavily, her face etched with worry. "Tell me, what exactly is wrong with this child? How could he be like this? If you don't speak the truth, I'll take your life immediately!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the little imperial grandson was born with a difficult birth. He was trapped in the womb for too long and could not be delivered. It was Madam Ling who performed a caesarean section to extract the little imperial grandson. He was born in this condition. Madam Ling said it was caused by prolonged oxygen deprivation. As for the large patches of cyanosis on the little imperial grandson's body, it should be caused by poisoning during pregnancy."
The midwife knelt on the ground, trembling as she spoke. She was terrified of saying the wrong thing and losing her status and her life.
"Nonsense! How could there be poisoning during pregnancy? It's clearly due to your incompetence, and you're trying to shift the blame!" Emperor Xuanwen roared, his anger uncontrollable, even his eyes blazing with sparks.
"Your Majesty, every word I speak is the truth. The Imperial Consort was already startled and jolted, and she lacked the strength to give birth during labor!"
"You dog slave, how dare you..."
"Emperor, that's enough!"
The Empress Dowager opened her half-closed eyes and spoke, stopping Emperor Xuanwen as he was about to erupt.
"This child's situation is all retribution, a consequence of their own actions. Those who sought to harm others have ultimately brought retribution upon themselves. It is only this child who suffers such pain for no reason!"
Without needing to guess, it was evident that Liu Menghan had intended to harm someone but was instead harmed herself, leading to this predicament.
"Then what does Mother mean..."
"Send this child away. Don't let him continue to suffer!"
Such a young child, forced to endure such torment, truly pained her heart. It would be better to let the child depart peacefully, to suffer less.
Emperor Xuanwen understood the Empress Dowager's meaning and was startled. He quickly spoke, trying to persuade her, "Mother, this child is of royal blood. He is your and my grandson. How can we do this? With so many skilled physicians, I refuse to believe we cannot save this child. Isn't Feng Jin skilled in medicine? She could perform a caesarean section, so she must be able to save this child!"
With this thought, Emperor Xuanwen eagerly shouted to the outside, "Go summon Feng Jin to the palace! Tell her to come immediately without delay!"
...
"Save... save..."
Liu Menghan mumbled incoherently, her hands moving feebly. After struggling for a long time, she slowly opened her eyelids, her gaze scanning around. The intense pain in her abdomen brought her mind back to clarity in an instant.
"It hurts... it hurts..."
"You still know pain? It seems you won't die anytime soon."
Feng Jin, waiting outside, heard the sound and hurried in. She stepped to Liu Menghan's side and felt her pulse.
The poison was spreading incredibly fast, and it would soon reach her internal organs. It seemed Liu Menghan's end was indeed near, perhaps tomorrow.
"You... why are you here... What do you want to do!"
Liu Menghan's eyes widened sharply upon seeing Feng Jin, her fear undeniable. She tried to move backward, but the pain throughout her body made it impossible to even stir.
"No need to exert yourself. I won't stoop to killing someone who is about to die. Rest assured."
Someone who was already dying, if she were to kill her, it would be a waste of effort, or she would be mentally unsound, or perhaps simply bored and with nothing better to do.
Dying... A flicker of panic crossed Liu Menghan's mind. Her instinct for survival was incredibly strong. She used all her might to grasp Feng Jin's sleeve, her voice bordering on a plea, "Save me... I'll give you anything you want!"
She did not want to die. She wanted to live... to keep living, for as long as she lived, she still had hope.
"I cannot save you. It is too late!"
Feng Jin's tone carried a hint of regret. To end such a life, at such a vibrant age, the beginning of one's life, was truly regrettable. It was a pity, but these were all consequences of Liu Menghan's own actions.
In essence, this was retribution. The net of heaven was vast, and though its meshes were fine, nothing escaped.
"Save me... save me!" Liu Menghan stubbornly continued to tug at Feng Jin's sleeve. Now, only Feng Jin could save her life. No matter what, she would not let go of this lifeline.
"You were poisoned during your pregnancy, and the toxins were passed to the child through the placenta. Upon birth, the child carried the deadly poison within their body, and you would succumb to the poison after delivery. Neither you nor the child would be spared."
The person who administered the poison was indeed cruel-minded. Such a method of killing someone's spirit and body would be unbearable for anyone.
After ten months of arduous pregnancy, one life-and-death experience during childbirth, and now to be told that the day of delivery would be the day of their death, such a fate would be unbearable for anyone.
Liu Menghan suddenly seemed drained of all energy. She appeared weak and powerless, entirely in a state of near-death.
"The child... where is the child?"
After a long pause, Liu Menghan finally remembered the child. She wished to see her child at least once before she died.
"The child's condition is worse than yours. He is also unlikely to survive past tomorrow. The child has already been sent to the palace."
Compared to Liu Menghan, she felt more pity for the child. She only hoped the child would have a better fate in their next life.
"Please... let me see the child."
"Perhaps it's best not to. Seeing him will only bring you more pain. If you don't see him... you can depart more peacefully..."
At present, the toxins in Liu Menghan's body had not fully manifested. She could still feel relatively comfortable, but once the poison fully took hold, the pain would be truly bone-chilling.
Feng Jin hesitated for a moment, then decided to speak, "I have a medicine that can help you depart without pain. If you need it, I... I can give it to you."
She was a doctor, and her life's work was to save lives and heal the injured. Previously, she always encouraged her patients to persevere. This was the first time she was hoping Liu Menghan would depart sooner.
Out of humanitarian consideration, at this moment, she simply wished to make Liu Menghan more comfortable, at least less agonizing.
"Help me... let me see the child."
Feng Jin sighed helplessly, bending down to meet Liu Menghan's gaze. "Regarding the child, I am powerless. Please consider carefully what I have told you. If you need it, just call for me. I will be outside."
As she finished speaking, Feng Jin stood up helplessly and walked out of the prison door.