In the courtyard, within the water pool.
Feng Shu labored to give birth, biting down on the cloth strip in pain so hard that it almost tore. Dongxue and Xia Zhu wanted to help her up, but Feng Shu shook her head. She was afraid that Yuwen Jing might barge in unprepared once again, leaving her no ti to return to the water pool. The pain was unbearable. Dongxue and Xia Zhu couldn’t move her, and Feng Shu knew Xie Jue was not far away. She pushed herself even harder to deliver the child.
Yuwen Jing had stationed dozens of Jinyi Guards to surround the courtyard, ensuring no one could enter. Dongxue and Xia Zhu comforted Feng Shu on the side, doing all they could to help with the delivery.
Feng Shu, exhausted, accepted the sticky rice balls and pastries that Xia Zhu brought over, while Dongxue subrged herself into the water to check the dilation of her birth canal.
After another wave of contractions subsided, Feng Shu had a brief mont of respite. Xia Zhu said, "Miss, you must relax. Giving birth is imnsely dangerous; fear and panic will only lead to complications. Right now, there’s no doctor or midwife, only us. We will risk our lives to protect you. Please trust us, Miss—you must live. The child already has no father and cannot be without a mother!"
Feng Shu’s tears rolled down uncontrollably. She had been living like a walking corpse; the child was her lifeline, her only source of happiness. Her brother was gone, and now the child had no father.
She wanted to join Xie Zhang in Huangquan, yet she also wanted to raise the child, to tell him personally what kind of man his father was. She wanted to see the child grow up safely on behalf of Xie Zhang.
"The child..."
Dongxue surfaced from the water, exclaiming in delight, "Miss, push harder! The baby’s position is perfect. Just a little more effort!"
"Okay..."
Suddenly, sounds of killing from Xiangguo Temple echoed through the air. No one knew what had caused the commotion. Feng Shu heard the clash of blades, and her heart filled with fear and urgency.
The longer Xie Jue stayed at Xiangguo Temple, the greater the danger. She had to deliver the child as quickly as possible so Xie Jue could take her away!
Xia Zhu grabbed a piece of clothing to drape over Feng Shu’s shoulders and fed her a slice of ginseng.
Outside Xiangguo Temple, two Shadow Guards had been discovered and were fighting fiercely to escape. Xu Zhou led dozens of Iron Cavalryn to intercept, drawing hundreds of Jinyi Guards out of Xiangguo Temple.
On one side, bloody battles raged; on the other, Feng Shu labored painfully in the water pool.
It was the convergence of death and new life!
Suddenly, the secret passage within the room was opened, and Xie Jue and Shadow Guard Seven erged. Xia Zhu was startled but relaxed upon seeing Shadow Guard Seven. Xie Jue hadn’t expected to find Feng Shu laboring in the water pool.
"Sister-in-law, why is it like this?" Xie Jue hurried over to the edge of the pool, disregarding decorum. "Sister-in-law, you... you... how are you?"
"Ting Feng?" Feng Shu, delirious from the pain, recognized Xie Jue’s voice. "It’s really you!"
"It’s , Sister-in-law. Don’t be afraid; there are people outside to cover for us. You don’t need to worry about anything!" Xie Jue cald her with a gentle voice, fearing for her safety. Observing Feng Shu’s precarious state, he instructed Dongxue, "The mother’s life is most important."
Dongxue was overjoyed. She had feared Xie Jue’s focus at Xiangguo Temple would be solely on Xie Zhang’s bloodline, neglecting Feng Shu’s health. She hadn’t expected Xie Jue to prioritize Feng Shu.
Feng Shu shook her head, but she was too pained to speak. Shadow Guard Seven also entered the water to assist Dongxue. Both had so experience delivering foals and could cobble together their limited know-how.
"Can a child be born underwater?" Xie Jue hesitated, staring worriedly at Feng Shu laboring in the pool.
"It should be possible." Dongxue was uncertain but had no choice but to try. There were no other options; the child had to be born in the water.
"Save the child... forget ." Exhausted, Feng Shu finally managed to voice what was in her heart.
Shadow Guard Seven and Dongxue looked up at Xie Jue. He shook his head gently and sat by the edge of the pool. "Sister-in-law, you and the child will both be safe. Trust !"
That single reassurance was enough to settle Feng Shu’s heart.
Xie Jue could see how dire Feng Shu’s situation was. In his mories, Feng Shu always appeared in front of him and Xie Zhang as a strong and heroic figure, but now, she was weak and struggling, her vitality waning.
The pregnancy had taken a heavy toll on her. Instead of a glowing maternal figure, she seed frail and sickly. The once radiant peony now visibly withered. Xie Jue thought if his elder brother were still alive, he would make the sa choice.
"Young Madam, push harder! The child’s head is visible!" Shadow Guard cried out with excitent. Outside, the commotion escalated further. Xie Jue frowned as he walked to the door, peering outside.
At Xiangguo Temple, the fighting grew increasingly intense. Xie Jue had ordered a diversion to mislead the enemy, with fifty Ningzhou Iron Cavalryn under Xu Zhou orchestrating the effort to draw away the Jinyi Guards. anwhile, his Shadow Guards kept a close watch on Yuwen Jing, ready to assassinate him before he could intrude on Feng Shu’s delivery.
With the Jinyi Guards now diminished by over a dozen n, Xie Jue’s expression darkened as he returned inside. Suddenly, the sound of a baby’s cry pierced the air. The child had been delivered in the water. Shadow Guard Seven quickly lifted the soaked newborn, who looked pitiful, and Dongxue hurried to cover the baby’s mouth.
Outside, one of the Jinyi Guards frowned. "Did I just hear a baby crying?"
"You must have misheard."
"Maybe soone brought a baby to the mountain for blessings today."
Dongxue kept the baby’s mouth covered, while Feng Shu had fallen into semi-consciousness, nearly losing awareness. Xie Jue approached and carried her in his arms. Xia Zhu ca over to change Feng Shu into dry clothes. Xie Jue turned his back while Xia Zhu finished, then placed Feng Shu gently onto the bed.
Dongxue brought the baby over as well. The child had been born full-term, healthy and robust.
"Master, it’s a young boy." Shadow Guard Seven was ecstatic. The Eldest Young Master now had a successor—nothing could bring more joy.
Xie Jue was filled with happiness too, carefully cradling the baby. It was his first ti holding an infant, and he was so cautious that he couldn’t be more careful. Blood ties truly were the deepest bond in the world.
One glance at the baby, and Xie Jue was already fond of him, driven to protect him with his life.
Elder Brother, this is your son!
You have living blood in this world. Can you see this from the heavens?
Zhixu and I will ensure he grows up safe and sound.
"Master, we must leave now!" Shadow Guard Seven reminded him. The longer they stayed on the mountain, the more dangerous it beca. "Young Madam won’t follow you. Six and Eight will stay behind to protect her. Take the young boy and leave."
"Wait for Sister-in-law to wake up. She hasn’t seen the baby yet."
Dongxue and Xia Zhu also feared Xie Jue might cruelly take the boy away without letting Feng Shu et him. Their Miss had braved death to give birth to him. She hadn’t even had a chance to see him yet, who knew if they’d et again soday? At the very least... she should see him once.
Feng Shu slowly awoke, still fatigued. Xie Jue placed the child beside her. "Sister-in-law, it’s a boy."
"A boy... a boy is good!" Feng Shu tilted her head to look at the baby. A newborn’s features were indistinct, but Feng Shu was certain he would resemble Xie Zhang.
Handso, upright—a true gentleman.
Overco with attachnt, she kissed the baby, her heart and eyes filled with his little face. "Ting Feng, Shadow Seven, please excuse us for now."
"Of course!"
Xie Jue led Shadow Seven behind the screen, while Feng Shu weakly cradled the baby. She asked Dongxue to help her breastfeed him. The baby would soon have to travel to Ningzhou with Xie Jue, so at the very least, he had to eat well before leaving. Perhaps... this would be their only embrace, their only eting in this lifeti.
The baby, innocent and docile, suckled with tiny clenched fists that felt powerful. Feng Shu felt a sense of relief. She had worried that her poor health during pregnancy might result in a weak child, but seeing his strength and vitality now, she knew everything would be all right.
Ting Feng, his nickna will be Ruyi," Feng Shu said with a gentle smile. "My brother once said that if he ever had children—no matter whether boy or girl—their first child’s nickna should be Ruyi. He hoped the child would live with ease and fulfillnt, growing up safe and sound."
"...Okay." Xie Jue’s eyes turned red. "Ruyi it is."
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