Feng Jin reached out and pushed Ling Mo Han, signaling him not to continue scaring Lu Shi. Lu Shi was an honest man, how could he withstand such intimidation? He would surely be scared out of his wits.
She had to admit, this man was truly wicked, filled with all sorts of malicious schemes. She wondered how Lu Shi had endured so many years by his side; it must have been quite a hardship.
Lu Shi was so grateful for Feng Jin's intervention that he almost prostrated himself on the ground.
"Replying to young madam, your subordinate just went in to check. Liu Meng Han still has a breath, but she appears somewhat dazed now, staring at the window without saying a word..."
Lu Shi informed Feng Jin of Liu Meng Han's current state in detail. Looking at Liu Meng Han's condition, it seemed she was not far from death.
"Lu Shi, take your men and guard the outside. I'll go in and take a look first."
Feng Jin couldn't help but tighten her grip on the basket in her hand and strode inwards. After taking a couple of steps, she sensed something was amiss and turned to look at Ling Mo Han, who was closely following her.
"It's not appropriate for you to go in. Why don't you wait here for a bit? I'll come out once I'm done."
Without waiting for Ling Mo Han's agreement, Feng Jin made the decision herself, pushed Ling Mo Han aside, and walked in alone.
Liu Meng Han, lying listlessly on the bed, felt someone enter. Her eyeballs rolled, and her gaze finally landed on Feng Jin at the doorway. Her long-held calm emotions suddenly surged.
She twisted her body, trying to sit up, but found herself completely without strength. The slightest movement sent piercing pain through her, making even the tips of her bones ache.
"There's no need to exert yourself. Your body is extremely weak now, and you can't possibly sit up. It's best to lie down and rest. Less struggle, and you might feel a bit better."
Feng Jin kindly advised, placing the basket beside Liu Meng Han. She directly lifted the quilt covering it, revealing a baby's face, bruised and purplish.
"This... this is..."
Liu Meng Han was suddenly startled by the child's terrifying appearance. Her heart trembled, and even her voice wavered slightly.
"This is your child. He has already stopped breathing. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, in her kindness, has permitted me to send the child out of the palace. After you depart, the child will be buried with you, thus reuniting mother and son."
"Child... my... my child..."
Liu Meng Han looked closely at the child's face and felt her heart being torn apart. Her child, born after ten months of arduous pregnancy, had passed away without her ever holding him.
It was all her fault. She had caused this. She had caused the child's death...
Liu Meng Han could no longer suppress her emotions and burst into tears. Her emotions were too agitated, and she choked, immediately finding it difficult to breathe.
Fortunately, Feng Jin noticed Liu Meng Han's distress in time and quickly administered acupuncture to stabilize her temporarily.
"If you want to look at the child for a while longer, then calm your emotions. If you continue to get agitated, your life will be forfeit immediately!"
Feng Jin's tone was extremely stern, carrying a clear warning. Liu Meng Han's current condition was no different from an eighty-year-old woman; even normal breathing was difficult. If she became so agitated, she would surely die from a lack of breath.
"I... I understand..." Liu Meng Han replied weakly. In her remaining short time, she just wanted to look at her child properly.
She had endured for so long, just to see her child one last time and resolve her lingering attachment. Now that she could be buried with her child, she was already content and had no further regrets; she could close her eyes in peace.
"Child... did the child look peaceful when he passed? Did he suffer?"
The thought of her child suffering because of her caused her heart to feel as if a piece of flesh had been brutally gouged out, making the pain unbearable.
"Before the child's poison took effect, I gave him some medicine. He passed away peacefully, without suffering any pain at all."
"That's good... that's good..."
Liu Meng Han lowered her head, gazing at the child, murmuring to herself. Looking at the child now, her heart was filled with contentment.
In this life, she had been plotting and scheming. Yet, in the end, she herself had become a victim of scheming. Now, facing death, she looked back at her past actions and found them utterly meaningless. After a lifetime of struggle, she could take nothing with her; she would only depart alone.
She had also caused her child to suffer along with her. If she could choose again, she would never live such a life. She wanted to live for herself...
"Can I have some of that medicine? I want to taste if the medicine the child took was bitter..."
This was the only thing a mother could do for her child. The path to the underworld was lonely and cold; how could she let her child walk it alone?
Feng Jin took out a small red porcelain bottle and placed it beside Liu Meng Han: "This medicine is extremely potent. After taking it, there will be no pain, and you will pass away within fifteen minutes."
"You need to think clearly. Once this medicine is taken, there is no room for regret. With your current body, you can last for another day. Is there anything you are concerned about that you haven't done? It would be better to depart without regrets."
"My life has been utterly meaningless anyway. My greatest regret is not giving birth to this child healthy and strong. Now that my child is gone, the path to the underworld is so cold, and he is so young. How can I bear... bear to let him go alone and so lonely? I... I must go quickly to accompany him..."
Liu Meng Han's heart was now incredibly peaceful, and all her malice had dissipated. She reached out, picked up the porcelain bottle from the bedside, poured out a pill, and swallowed it without hesitation.
Mustering all her strength, she held the child, who had long since grown cold in the cradle, and gently kissed his forehead: "Why is your body so cold? Mommy will warm you up."
Feng Jin could not bear to witness such a scene. She felt a slight sting in her nose, and tears began to fall uncontrollably. She turned away directly, unable to watch any longer.
"Wait for me, Mother... Mother is coming to accompany you now, and I won't let anyone bully you anymore."
Liu Meng Han held the child tightly in her arms, a satisfied smile on her lips. Her gaze finally fell on Feng Jin's retreating back: "I entrust the aftermath for myself and the child to you..."
"Rest assured, I will make proper arrangements for you and your child." After saying this, Feng Jin turned and walked out. Liu Meng Han did not have much time left; she should be allowed to look at her child a little longer.